Best Popcorn Effect Podcasts (2025)

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Can You Really Die of Boredom? 8:17

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11m ago8:17

8:17

No, you can't literally die of boredom -- but it can lead to some high-risk behaviors. Learn more about boredom, ennui, and how to shake them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on these articles: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/emotions/bored-to-death.htm; https://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/human-nature/ennui Se…

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Does Cashmere Cost So Much? 7:11

4d ago7:11

7:11

Cashmere can be more expensive than other wools because producing it is such an intensive process -- for the goats that grow it and the humans who care for them. Learn more in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/why-is-cashmere-so-expensive.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy …

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Why Is There a Pooping Figurine in Some Nativity Scenes? 6:09

5d ago6:09

6:09

In Catalonia, there's a two-hundred-year-old tradition of including a figurine of a man pooping in the shadows of Nativity scenes. Learn about el caganer in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-christmas/pooping-man-catalan-nativity-scene.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for …

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How Do Rice Cookers Work? 10:25

6d ago10:25

10:25

These small appliances help home cooks achieve excellent rice via two categories of technology: ingeniously simple physics, or incredibly complex algorithms. Learn about heat-sensitive switches and fuzzy logic in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://home.howstuffworks.com/rice-cooker.htm/printable For more about the history of…

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How Can Mudlarking Turn Trash Into Treasure? 10:13

7d ago10:13

10:13

Mudlarking means sifting through riverbank muck in hopes of finding lost or discarded historical artefacts. Learn how it works, especially in the River Thames, in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/archaeology/mudlarking.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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How Do Walruses Work? 11:13

9d ago11:13

11:13

These arctic animals have complex social structures and may eat 6,000 clams in a single meal. Learn more walruses in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/walrus.htm/printable See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

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What Happens When Your Immune System Turns on You? 12:25

21d ago12:25

12:25

Your adaptive immune system remembers specific germs and fights them really effectively -- but it can sometimes make mistakes and attack your own healthy cells. Learn how the adaptive immune system works (and how it can go wrong) in this episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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How Can Slime Mold Think Without a Brain? 8:14

23d ago8:14

8:14

Slime molds are collectives of single-celled organisms that don't have neurons, much less brains, but they can move, solve mazes, and remember where food is located. Learn what we know (and don't know!) about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/biology-fields/slime-mold-facts.htm See omn…

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What's the Difference Between Cougars, Pumas, and Mountain Lions? 7:09

26d ago7:09

7:09

Although there can be small differences, all of these are local names for the same species of cat, Puma concolor. Learn about them in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/cougar-vs-mountain-lion.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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Who Named the Americas? 7:43

26d ago7:43

7:43

In the early 1500s, a sailor by the name of Amerigo Vespucci published lurid pamphlets about his travels to a distant continent. Learn how a pair of mapmakers regretted naming that continent after him in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/amerigo-vespucci.htm See omnystudio.com/li…

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BrainStuff Classics: Would Turkey Be So Popular Without Thanksgiving? 4:44

1M ago4:44

4:44

Americans eat a LOT of turkey around the winter holidays, but why? Learn about turkey's festive history and when we eat the most of it in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/turkey-popularity.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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Could a Solar Flare Wipe Out Earth's Electronics? 9:34

1M ago9:34

9:34

Powerful events on the surface of the sun, like solar flares and coronal mass ejections, produce radiation and magnetic waves that could indeed affect electrical and communications systems here on Earth -- though they'd have to be massive. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/solar-flare…

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How Can Dolphins Detect Sea Mines? 11:07

1M ago11:07

11:07

The U.S. Navy has been training bottlenose dolphins for operations like detecting undersea mines and guarding vessels since the 1960s. Learn about the Marine Mammal Program in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/dolphin-disarm-sea-mine.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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How Does the Skin Barrier Work? 10:52

1M ago10:52

10:52

Our skin is our first line of defense as we move through the world, providing both a physical barrier and an immune barrier against microbes and other dangers that could make us sick. Learn how the skin barrier works in this episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

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What's the History of Skid Row? 11:25

1M ago11:25

11:25

In downtown Los Angeles, the 50-block neighborhood called Skid Row is home to thousands of low-income people who live in tents, run-down hotels, and other temporary shelters on a permanent basis. Learn how Skid Row came about (and has persisted) in such a wealthy place in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffwo…

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How Do You Make Hoshigaki? 6:11

1M ago6:11

6:11

Hoshigaki are a type of dried fruit made by massaging a persimmon every day for weeks. Learn more about this traditional Japanese treat in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/tools-and-techniques/hoshigaki.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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How Does Psoriasis Work? 12:35

2M ago12:35

12:35

Psoriasis is a condition where an overactive immune system causes discomfort and discoloration of the skin. Learn what we know (and don't know!) about how psoriasis works in this episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

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Could 'Y'all' Fill a Gap in Modern English? 6:38

2M ago6:38

6:38

Unlike other languages, modern English doesn't have a second-person plural pronoun. Learn how 'y'all' is stepping up in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/yall.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

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BrainStuff Classics: How Do Paleoartists Create Dinosaur Drawings? 6:28

2M ago6:28

6:28

Short answer: Very carefully. Learn about the history and modern practices of paleoart in this classic episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Is the Winchester House Built So Strangely? 7:27

2M ago7:27

7:27

We can't prove whether the Winchester Mystery House is really haunted, but it was definitely built for ghosts. Learn the story of how its strange construction was one woman's unending quest in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/afterlife/winchester-mystery-house.htm See omnys…

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Is the 'Number of the Beast' an Ancient Riddle? 7:25

2M ago7:25

7:25

The number 666 has been adopted by modern horror media as a demonic symbol, but what (or whom) does this number really refer to? Learn about the Book of Revelation and ancient wordplay via numbers in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/666.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i…

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Could Piranhas Really Eat a Cow in Under a Minute? 8:06

2M ago8:06

8:06

Piranhas are very efficient eaters, but their frothing feeding frenzy seen in horror movies is mostly based on a myth started by Theodore Roosevelt. Learn more in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/piranha-eat-cows.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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Göbekli Tepe: How Does Humanity's Most Ancient Monument Work? 8:40

2M ago8:40

8:40

In Turkey, a set of prehistoric columns rivals Stonehenge -- but they're 6,000 years older. Learn what we know (and don't know) about the hunter-gatherers who built Göbekli Tepe in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/european-history/gobekli-tepe.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio…

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Why Are There Sriracha Shortages? 11:46

2M ago11:46

11:46

This blockbuster style of hot sauce started with the Huy Fong brand, but that original 'rooster sauce' is often out of stock. Learn how a combo of weather and legal drama are at the root in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/sriracha.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information…

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How Do Levees Protect Us? 9:56

2M ago9:56

9:56

Levee systems make it possible for us to live alongside bodies of water with less danger of flooding. Learn how engineers design them -- and why levees sometimes fail -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/structural/levee.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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What's the Difference Between Socialism and Communism? 11:09

3M ago11:09

11:09

Socialism and communism are often mentioned in the same breath, and they do share a common history, but socialists aren't necessarily communists -- and vice versa. Learn more about both concepts and how they've been put into practice in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/socialism-vs-communism.htm Se…

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How Do Vaccines Prevent Diseases? 13:39

3M ago13:39

13:39

Our bodies can often prevent us from catching the same illness twice, and vaccines use that bodily system to prevent us from getting sick in the first place. Learn how the immune response works, what goes into vaccines, and why vaccines are safe for kids in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness…

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BrainStuff Classics: How Did Sealab Work? 6:15

4M ago6:15

6:15

In the 1960s, advances in technology allowed brave aquanauts to explore deeper into the ocean than ever before, but the project was shut down. Learn how Sealab worked -- and how that technology is still used today -- in this classic episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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How Do Slow Lorises Work? 8:50

4M ago8:50

8:50

The slow loris is the world's only venomous primate, but it looks like a cuddly plush toy. Learn why you shouldn't go in for a snuggle in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/slow-loris.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

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How Do Venus Flytraps Work? 11:14

4M ago11:14

11:14

Venus flytraps can photosynthesize like most other plants, but they supplement their diet by catching insects and arachnids. Learn what we know (and don't know!) about how they accomplish this feat in today's episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/venus-flytrap.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for…

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How Did Jerry Lawson Change the Course of Video Gaming? 10:19

4M ago10:19

10:19

In the 1970s, Jerry Lawson was instrumental in creating the first cartridge-based video game console and the first digital joystick -- and he did it as one of the only Black engineers in Silicon Valley at that time. Learn about Lawson and the Fairchild Channel F in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com…

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Why Is Glass Transparent? 9:01

4M ago9:01

9:01

Glass windows are as solid as the materials that surround them, yet they let light through. Learn the physics of why glass can be so transparent -- and why it took humans thousands of years to create totally clear glass -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/question404.htm See omnystudio.com/list…

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BrainStuff Classics: Should We Retest Licensed Drivers Periodically? 7:03

4M ago7:03

7:03

Although some driving skills can deteriorate with age, experienced drivers tend to be the safest drivers. To an extent. Learn when and how experts think drivers should be retested in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-driving-safety/auto-safety-testing/should-licensed-drivers-be-tested-peri…

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How Did President Jimmy Carter Work? 10:25

4M ago10:25

10:25

As a U.S. President, Jimmy Carter championed education and renewable energy as keystones of a healthy nation. Outside of office, he helped other nations grow democracy, built afforadable housing with his own hands, nearly eradicated guinea worm disease -- and still found time to teach Sunday school. Learn about Jimmy and Roselynn Carter in this epi…

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Why Are Truffles So Expensive? 10:27

4M ago10:27

10:27

Truffles are fungi that grow underground, are almost exclusively foraged, and taste best extremely fresh. Learn about truffle biology, truffle flavoring, and truffle crime in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/truffles.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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How Do Alligator Snapping Turtles Work? 7:25

4M ago7:25

7:25

This positively prehistoric-looking freshwater turtle is the largest in North America -- and it catches fish by wiggling a worm-like lure. Learn more about alligator snappers in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/reptiles/alligator-snapping-turtle.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat…

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Did Victorians Really Have a Language of Flowers? 10:48

5M ago10:48

10:48

In floriography, flowers and other plants are associated with meanings or sentiments (like physical emoji) -- but could you really send a message with a bouquet? Learn about the fad of floriography in Victorian England in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/cultural-traditions/flori…

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How Did the Cowboy Gallop into American History? 6:00

5M ago6:00

6:00

Cowboy culture didn't start in the Wild West. Learn about the Spanish, Indigenous, and Black history of cowboys in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/cowboys.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

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How Does Skin Tan and Burn? 10:29

5M ago10:29

10:29

When our skin deepens in color after sun exposure, it's trying to protect us from damage. Learn how it works -- plus why you should help it out with sunscreen, and why some people burn instead -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/sun-care/sunscreen.htm See omnystudio.com/listener…

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BrainStuff Classics: Why Are Opossums Awesome? 6:38

5M ago6:38

6:38

They eat trash and they look a little freaky, but the North American opossum is a smart, clean, disease-fighting, and all-around fascinating creature. Learn why in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/mammals/opossums-so-darn-ugly-theyre-adorable.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf…

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BrainStuff Classics: What Happens to Donated Blood? 5:24

5M ago5:24

5:24

After you donate blood, it goes through a complex system of testing, processing, and storage before it can be delivered to patients who need it. Learn how the system works in this classic episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

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6 Historical Words That Don't Mean What You Think 9:50

5M ago9:50

9:50

Originally, Hedonists believed in moderation and Luddites were just looking to protect their job security. Learn about these and other words that've changed their meaning in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/10-historical-words-that-dont-mean-what-you-think.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privac…

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How Do HeLa Cells Work? 11:34

5M ago11:34

11:34

Most of the human cells grown in labs that are used for scientific research come from samples taken from one woman in the 1950s. Learn about the amazing yet nonconsenting contribution of Henrietta Lacks in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/hela-cell.htm See omnystudio.com/…

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Why Is North Sentinel Island Totally Off-Limits? 9:41

6M ago9:41

9:41

This small island in the Bay of Bengal is home to one of the last uncontacted peoples on the planet -- and they seem to want to keep it that way. Learn how North Sentinel Island has remained independent in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/world-history/north-sentinel-island.htm See omnystudio.com/…

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How Have Obituaries Changed? 8:20

6M ago8:20

8:20

Public death notices about common people are a fairly recent development, and they've changed a lot since their inception. Learn how obituaries went from dry statements to tributes to truth in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/funerals/obituary-history.htm See omnystudio.com/liste…

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BrainStuff Classics: What Is the Mandela Effect? 6:35

6M ago6:35

6:35

When many people share a false memory, that's the Mandela Effect in action -- but how does it happen? Learn how our individual brains misremember stuff and how false memories can spread in this classic episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

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BrainStuff Classics: What's the History (and Future) of Toilets? 6:04

6M ago6:04

6:04

The 'modern' toilet was invented in the 1700s. So what was it like in the past, and how could we improve on it in the future? Learn more about waste technologies in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/toilets-past-future-flush.htm See omnystudio.com/listener fo…

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What Does Habeas Corpus Mean? 11:13

6M ago11:13

11:13

Habeas corpus is a centuries-old legal concept that basically means that the government has to have a valid legal reason if it's going to detain you. Learn why habeas corpus is so important -- and when it's been suspended in the U.S. -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/habeas-corpus-important.ht…

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Who Named the Planet Earth? 5:32

6M ago5:32

5:32

In most European languages, the planets are all named after Roman gods -- except for the planet you're hanging out on right now. Learn how Earth and the other planets got their names in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/who-named-planet-earth.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

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Does the Bunyip Really Roam Austraila's Wetlands? 6:07

6M ago6:07

6:07

A cryptid with a fearsome bellow, the bunyip is said to stalk the unwary who swim or walk alone at night in parts of Austraila and New Zealand. Learn about the potential real-life inspirations for the bunyip in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/australian-bunyip.ht…