Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant have been talking into microphones for nearly two decades. Think about that. Since 2008, these two guys from Atlanta have produced thousands of hours of audio. It’s a massive library. If you started listening to every single one of the stuff you should know episodes right now, you wouldn't finish for months. You'd also probably become the most interesting (or most annoying) person at any dinner party.
The show works because it doesn't try too hard. It feels like sitting in a bar with two friends who just spent all weekend in a library. They aren't experts. They are "professional explainers." They take topics that sound incredibly boring on paper—like the history of the Slinky or how grass works—and turn them into narrative gold. It's about the "rabbit hole." One minute you're learning about how a ballpoint pen functions, and the next, you're hearing a philosophical tangent about the nature of human invention.
The Evolution of the SYSK Catalog
Early episodes were short. We’re talking ten minutes of quick facts. But as the show grew, the format breathed. It expanded. Now, a standard Tuesday or Thursday release usually runs 45 to 60 minutes. They’ve mastered the art of the "Short Stuff" too, which fills the gaps on Wednesdays for those of us with short commutes.
What makes certain stuff you should know episodes stand out isn't just the topic. It's the chemistry. You have Josh, who is often the more research-heavy, philosophical driver, and Chuck, the grounded, film-loving foil. They disagree. They get things wrong. They issue "corrections segments" that are sometimes more entertaining than the original episodes. That humility is why the show has survived while thousands of other podcasts have died in the digital graveyard.
Why Some Topics Just Work
Some episodes become "classics" almost instantly. Take the 2013 episode on "How Body Farms Work." It’s grisly. It’s fascinating. It’s exactly the kind of thing you want to know but feel weird googling. They walked listeners through the Forensic Anthropology Center at the University of Tennessee, explaining how scientists use decomposing bodies to solve crimes. It wasn't shock value; it was science delivered with a specific brand of gentle curiosity.
Then you have the "Sunken Treasures." These are the episodes about things like the history of the Murphy Bed or how sneezing works. You think you know these things. You don't. Did you know the inventor of the Murphy Bed, William Murphy, supposedly created it because he lived in a one-room apartment and wanted to entertain a lady opera singer? At the time, it was considered improper to have a woman in a room with a visible bed. Problem solved. Fold the bed into the closet.
Navigating the Best Stuff You Should Know Episodes
If you're a newcomer, the 2,000+ episode backlog is terrifying. Where do you even start? Honestly, don’t go in chronological order. The early stuff is rough. The audio quality is... let's say "vintage."
Instead, look for the "Heavy Hitters."
The episode on the Dylov Pass Incident is a must-listen. It covers the 1959 mystery where nine hikers died in the Ural Mountains under bizarre circumstances. Josh and Chuck break down the theories—from infrasound to secret military tests—without falling into the trap of cheap conspiracy theories. They keep it grounded in what we actually know.
Another essential is the DB Cooper episode. It’s a classic true crime story, but they approach it with a focus on the physics of the jump and the peculiar details of the ransom money. It captures the imagination because it’s one of the few episodes where they don't have a neat answer at the end. The mystery stays a mystery.
The Science and Tech Deep Dives
Sometimes they get technical. They’ve done episodes on "How Artificial Intelligence Works" (several times as the tech changed) and "How Quantum Computing Works." These are arguably the hardest to produce. Explaining the "observer effect" or "qubits" to a general audience without using a whiteboard is a nightmare. Yet, they manage to use metaphors that stick.
- The Grid: An episode explaining how the North American power grid functions. It makes you realize how fragile society actually is.
- Nuclear Power: A multi-part look at how we split atoms to boil water.
- The Internet: Not just how it works, but the weird history of how it was built by researchers who just wanted to share data.
The Cultural Impact of the Show
It’s easy to dismiss a podcast as "just entertainment." But SYSK has a weird way of influencing culture. They’ve done "Live" shows across the globe. They had a TV show on Science Channel (it was short-lived, but charming). They even have a book.
But the real impact is in the "SYSK Army." That’s what the fans call themselves. It’s a community of people who value being "generalists." In a world that demands hyper-specialization, there is something rebellious about knowing a little bit about everything. It’s a defense against boredom.
The show also tackles heavy social issues. Their episodes on The Stonewall Uprising, Rosa Parks, and The Tulsa Race Massacre show a different side of the duo. They acknowledge their own perspective as two white men and often cite experts and primary sources to ensure they aren't just skimming the surface of sensitive histories. They do the work.
Misconceptions and Fact-Checking
Josh and Chuck are the first to tell you they aren't scientists or historians. They make mistakes. Occasionally, a listener who is a PhD in Mycology will write in to tell them they got a specific mushroom fact wrong.
That’s part of the charm. They aren't an encyclopedia; they are a gateway. The goal of stuff you should know episodes isn't to be the final word on a subject. It’s to get you interested enough to go read a book about it. They use sources like HowStuffWorks (their home base), The New York Times, Smithsonian Magazine, and various academic journals.
Hidden Gems in the Archive
Everyone talks about the "Black Panthers" or "The Tylenol Murders" episodes. But the real magic is in the weird, niche stuff.
1. The History of the Porta-Potty:
Seriously. It’s a fascinating look at sanitation and the logistics of human waste at scale. It sounds gross, but it’s actually a triumph of engineering.
2. How Cake Works:
It’s not just a recipe. It’s chemistry. It’s the evolution of ovens. It’s why we celebrate birthdays with sugar and flour.
3. The Voyager Golden Record:
This is perhaps one of the most moving episodes they've ever done. It talks about what humanity chose to put on a golden record sent into deep space. It’s a love letter to the human race.
Practical Ways to Listen
If you want to get the most out of your listening experience, stop treats the podcast as background noise.
Try the "Themed Binge" approach.
Pick a category—say, "Disasters." Listen to the episodes on the Titanic, the Hindenburg, the Hyatt Regency Walkway Collapse, and Chernobyl. You start to see patterns in human error. You see how one tiny engineering flaw or a moment of hubris leads to catastrophe.
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Or try the "Nature Track."
Listen to "How Trees Talk," "How Spiders Work," and "The Secret Lives of Ants." You’ll never look at your backyard the same way again. You start to realize that there is a complex, invisible world happening right under your feet.
How to Find Specific Episodes
Since the back catalog is so massive, the search function on most podcast apps is... lacking. A pro tip is to use a dedicated search engine or the iHeartRadio website specifically. If you're looking for stuff you should know episodes about a specific person or event, type "SYSK + [Topic]" into Google. It's usually more accurate than the Spotify search bar.
Moving Forward with Your SYSK Journey
Don't feel pressured to catch up. You don't have to "finish" this podcast. It's a resource. It's a library.
Next Steps for the Curious Listener:
- Start with the 'Short Stuff': If you’re busy, listen to the 15-minute episodes on Wednesdays to get a feel for the tone.
- Check the 'Selects': Every Saturday, they re-release an older "classic" episode. These are curated by the hosts and are usually a safe bet for quality.
- Follow the Sources: If an episode really grabs you, look at the show notes. Go buy the book they referenced. That’s where the real learning happens.
- Join the Conversation: The SYSK community on social media is surprisingly wholesome. People often share follow-up articles or photos related to the week's topic.
The beauty of these episodes is that they remind us that the world is still interesting. Even the "boring" stuff has a story. Whether it's the history of the Frida Kahlo or the mechanics of a zipper, there is always something you didn't know. Just hit play and start with whatever title makes you say, "Wait, how does that work?"