Stuff You Should Know

In the late 90s, a strange musical instrument was excavated under the streets of CDMX. Listen in to learn all about the Aztec Death Whistle

During the Cold War, the CIA used the legend of a vampire named Aswang to scare locals into not helping the communists.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

West Virginia is home to sensitive radio telescopes that could easily pick up your cell phone’s signal on Mars. And the cell reception on Mars is about as good as it is in the NRQZ, since cell towers are banned in the interest of furthering astronomy.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

Since 1972 neighborhoods have been officially banding together to prevent crime together. Does it work? It seems to. Does it go too far? It often does, yes.

Today we dive into the interesting story of paranormal power couple the Warrens, inspiration behind The Conjuring movie franchise.

Everybody’s always bagging on pessimists and telling everybody they should be more optimistic. Well, nuts to that! There are plenty of benefits from being a pessimist. Although being an optimist still wins in basically every category ☹

The idea of prison labor is relatively new in the annals of crime and punishment. And it's just as bad as you think.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

We’ve done episodes on cake, cookies and, at long last, pie. Belly up to your pod player and prepare to crave some pie!

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

Rice may be the most eaten food on the planet, accounting for 50% of the caloric intake of Asian countries and 25% worldwide. Learn all about this edible cereal crop today.

Graffiti – the good kind, done with lots of style and skill – developed when some kids in NYC took up cans of spray paint and started to figure out how to outdo one another. They laid down styles that are so fine they’re still being used by artists today.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

People who’ve found themselves in life-or-death situations with their endurance at its limit have reported sensing another presence with them, urging them to continue on and survive. No one knows what the heck is going on here but it sure is interesting.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

In 1905, an engineering mistake created a brand new 400-square-mile sea (lake?) in the California desert. People made the most of it at first, but it didn’t take long to become a toxic brew that now threatens the health of anyone in breathing distance.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

Did Native Americans really smoke peace pipes? Well yes and no. They smoked pipes for many reasons, sometimes to commemorate peace. But they never called them peace pipes.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

Co-producer Ben knocked it out of the park again, taking the two classic horror stories we read for our annual Spooktacular - Caterpillars and The Deep Drowse – and creating a moody Halloween masterpiece for your spooky listening enjoyment. So enjoy it!

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

A legend in Tennessee tells of the real-life Bell family, who were haunted back in 1817 by a ghost witch - arguably the worst kind of either of those things.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

There aren’t too many independent horror movies that make the British Film Institute’s 250 Best Films Ever Made list – AND – make an appearance in the teen comedy Summer School. That makes sense because there’s no other movie quite like The TCSM.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

Have you ever thought much about screaming? Well we have, and today you'll learn everything we learned.

It's seven years' bad luck for you if you break a mirror, buddy, sorry. But have you ever wondered why? People have come up with all sorts of great reasons since time immemorial.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

Quick, name your favorite geological mystery. You can’t do it! Well, don’t worry. In this episode we’re going to tell you all about what will surely be your favorite (albeit only) one when we get into one weird millennium that happened not that long ago.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

Today we complete our music video duology with a dive into the mellow pool of VH-1.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

If you died away from home but wanted to be buried there, don’t worry – Taoist priests had you covered. They’d just have your animated corpse walk itself back home.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

If you've ever wanted to hear a couple of Gen X'ers wax nostalgic about MTV, then you're in luck.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

The concept of hospice was created as a way to help people with only a few weeks to live spend their last days comfortable an surrounded by friends and family in the hope they can pass away peacefully. It’s kind of crazy hospice was ever a radical idea.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

Did you know that the "the call is coming from inside the house" urban legend may be based on a very grisly murder case from the 1950s?

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

Today we kick off the scariest month with the legend of La Lechuza - The Witch Owl.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

It seems ridiculously irresponsible with the benefit of hindsight, but the concept of giving Hitler everything he wanted was the policy among the UK and France as a way to keep the world from sliding into a second world war. Turns out it didn’t work.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

The secret military base Area 51 is inextricably linked to every secret, shady project the US government is rumored to be involved in – from reverse-engineering alien technology to coordinating a one-world government. The truth is much more mundane.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

The Far Side is one of the greatest cartoons in history. Today we go to great lengths to convince you of that.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...

The death cap mushroom lives up to its name. It’s a mushroom cap that causes death. Find out why.

Sound effects are one of the unsung parts of any movie or TV show – they’re best when you don’t even notice them making what you see on screen even more real, and when they’re off you notice immediately. Learn how hard this amazing craft is in this episode.

omny.fm/shows/stuff-...