NO SUCH THING
NO SUCH THING
Join Manny, Noah, and Devan — three best friends and journalists — as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research. Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don’t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer. NO SUCH THING is an expl…Social links:
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Why aren't people having kids anymore? (ft. Derek Thompson)
On today's episode, Manny asks whether Noah and Devan want kids, as a part of a conversation about the declining birth rate around the world. They hear from Anna Louie Sussman, author of the upcoming book "Inconceivable: The Impossibility of Family in an Age of Uncertainty," about what's actually c…
51:31
Can YouTubers actually hold police accountable?
Today’s episode was inspired by a question from a listener who goes by Santa: What’s the deal with First Amendment auditors? We trace the history of people who film the police, from the Black Panther Party to Berkeley Copwatch and the rise of auditor culture on YouTube. We also explore the methods …
1:00:28
Super-Agers: Why do some old people age better than others?
On today's episode of NO SUCH THING, we’re talking about so-called “Super Agers,” the term used to describe people who are at least 80 years old, but are still sharp as a tack. Maury Povich. Joy Behar. Anthony Fauci. Bernie Sanders. Martha Stewart. There are a ton of octogenarians who are cognitive…
50:19
Should we still circumcise babies?
New data shows that less than half of American newborn boys are circumcised, a major decrease from around 90% in the 1960s. But how and why did circumcision become so common here in the United States? This week, we speak to an epidemiologist, a sociologist, and an anti-circumcision “intactivist” to…
1:14:40
Why did Taylor Swift stop singing in a country accent?
On today’s episode, we’re tackling a question from a listener named Joel: Why do singers lose their accents when they sing? Our guest this week is New Yorker writer Kelefa Sanneh. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore identity in country music, why Taylor Swift stopped singing with a twang…
1:07:59
Does micromanaging actually work?
This week’s topic came from a listener who asked if micromanaging is a more productive work-style than a more “free range” approach. We talk about our own work experiences, and answer a few other miscellaneous work questions about performance improvement plans (“PIPs”), handling an incompetent boss…
1:02:59
Is recycling a complete scam? (PART 2)
Growing up, we were told to always recycle plastic to save the planet. But does recycling actually do anything? In this special two-part investigation, we explore the history of recycling, the rise of “disposable” plastics, and find out how effective recycling actually is. In part one (with the h…
34:12
Is recycling a complete scam? (PART 1)
Growing up, we were told to always recycle plastic to save the planet. But does recycling actually do anything? In this special two-part investigation, we explore the history of recycling, the rise of “disposable” plastics, and find out how effective recycling actually is. In part one (with the h…
42:47
Kids can’t read anymore. Does it matter? (with author Jason Reynolds)
Are we in the midst of a reading crisis? News outlets are constantly reporting on the death of reading. School test scores by measures like the “Nation’s Report Card” say math and literacy levels are down to their lowest rates since the early 1990s. Schools aren’t even assigning full books in class…
59:20
Eggs in the fridge, expired meds, loud sneezes, and more (Mailbag)
On today's episode of NO SUCH THING, Manny, Noah, and Devan, jump into the mailbag. Should you keep your eggs in the fridge? Why do some people sneeze so loudly? Where did we get the 24 hour day from? Why and how does medicine expire? And what's the traditional jelly in a PB&J: grape or strawberry?…
43:59