Stuff You Should Know

In 2014, a young German man walked into an airport in Bulgaria with a flight booked, then suddenly ran out leaving all his posessions behind, never to be heard from again. This is the story of Lars Mittank.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between 2007 and 2016, 17 disembodied feet - still wearing shoes - have washed ashore between Washington and British Columbia. What's behind the sudden influx of Vancouver's mystery feet? Find out in this classic episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Owning a home in the US is a way to pass wealth down from one generation to the next and lift families into a comfortable life down the road. But there have been barriers to buying homes that Black Americans have faced from the time of slavery to today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

California is a pretty cool name. And the story about where it came from is even cooler.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sacagawea was only 16 when she joined the Corps of Discovery. That is one seriously impressive teenager.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite tons of people using cotton swabs each day to clean the earwax from their ears, cerumen (as earwax is clinically known) is actually quite beneficial to the health of your ears - and even kind of ingenious as your body's defense goes. Learn more in this classic episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NAACP has long been one of the most robust and effective non-profits in the USA. And while it has faded a bit from its glory days, it still remains a vital cog in the battle for equality.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1986 Cleveland released more than a million helium balloons at once! It didn’t go at all according to plan!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know Groundhog Day – the holiday on February 2 when you wake up and have to go through the same day over and over again. It turns out the holiday has deep roots in a pagan past, and has survived in a surprisingly similar form.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cultures around the world over the years have been inspired by, then repulsed, then inspired by maggots' ability to heal persistent wounds. We are in an inspired-by phase right now. Learn more in this classic episode.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.