Joe Posner — Executive Producer

Episodes 44

The Racial Wealth Gap

74%
May 23, 201816m
1x1

Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.

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Designer DNA

80%
May 23, 201817m
1x2

Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing.

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Monogamy

75%
May 23, 201818m
1x3

What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.

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K-Pop

80%
May 30, 201820m
1x4

Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style."

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Cryptocurrency

77%
June 6, 201814m
1x5

Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and how it's coveted.

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Why Diets Fail

75%
June 13, 201814m
1x6

Atkins. Paleo. Keto. Do any work in the long term? Experts look at marketing, food environments and genes to explain why diets are often unsuccessful.

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The Stock Market

67%
June 20, 201817m
1x7

Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.

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eSports

67%
June 27, 201817m
1x8

Is fake violence a sport? Fans, shoutcasters, and eSports icons break down today's video games and the explosive popularity of competitive gaming.

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Extraterrestrial Life

70%
July 4, 201818m
1x9

Despite decades of searching, we have yet to discover extraterrestrial life. Scientists discuss the reasons, including: Are aliens just too snobby?

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!

63%
July 11, 201815m
1x10

Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has adapted across history, literature and internet-speak.

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Cricket

70%
July 18, 201816m
1x11

Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in becoming more accessible entertaining and profitable.

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Weed

77%
July 25, 201820m
1x12

Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quests for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp.

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Tattoo

73%
August 1, 201818m
1x13

They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.

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Astrology

70%
August 8, 201818m
1x14

Do zodiac signs prescribe your fate? Or do horoscopes' accuracy lie in the placebo effect? Take a look at the science, history and lure of astrology.

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Can We Live Forever ?

77%
August 15, 201818m
1x15

Can we uncover the secrets to extending the human lifespan? Experts discuss how developments in science -- even the French lilac -- hold some clues.

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The Female Orgasm

70%
August 22, 201818m
1x16

The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why and how women are embracing hands on solutions.

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Political Correctness

77%
August 29, 201818m
1x17

Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.

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Why Women Are Paid Less

70%
September 5, 201818m
1x18

Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty."

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The World's Water Crisis

87%
September 12, 201818m
1x19

The global water crisis is at an inflection point. How do we price our most valuable resource, while also ensuring access to it as a human right?

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Music

70%
Season Finale
September 19, 201819m
1x20

When does sound become music? Why are humans so uniquely able to master musicality? Researchers talk rhythm, octaves and the magic of song and dance.

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Cults

75%
September 26, 201925m
2x1

How do cults lure people in and exert control? Learn a cult’s telltale signs, and how loneliness and life online makes indoctrination easier than ever.

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Billionaires

80%
October 3, 201923m
2x2

There are more billionaires than ever. But how does this vast accumulation of wealth affect the world? Mark Cuban and Bernie Sanders offer insights.

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Animal Intelligence

78%
October 10, 201922m
2x3

What goes on inside an animal's mind? Figuring out how they think and feel might just be the key to understanding our own place in the world.

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Athleisure

73%
October 17, 201916m
2x4

It began with bloomers. Then came spandex. Now we sport leggings and other activewear everywhere. How did comfy, casual clothing go mainstream?

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Coding

73%
October 24, 201924m
2x5

Computer code now controls how we live. But how did these programming languages evolve? And how can they be used to build a new and better world?

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Pirates

70%
October 31, 201920m
2x6

In pop culture, pirates are often depicted as booty-looting rogues, but their history is far more complicated. See how they became enemies of humanity.

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The Next Pandemic

85%
November 7, 201920m
2x7

If you're not worried about a looming global pandemic, you probably should be. Are we prepared for an outbreak? Bill Gates and other experts weigh in.

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The Future of Meat

85%
November 14, 201923m
2x8

The planet's current rate of meat consumption is unprecedented -- and becoming unsustainable. In the future, will meat alternatives be the answer?

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Beauty

67%
November 21, 201916m
2x9

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but what exactly makes things such as art and architecture aesthetically pleasing, and why do we like looking?

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Diamonds

73%
Season Finale
November 28, 201923m
2x10

A diamond is forever. But why is that? Dig into how these mined pieces of carbon became both a status symbol and a sparkly sign of everlasting love.

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Sugar

85%
July 16, 202124m
3x1

Once crucial for survival, sugar now poses a health risk. Is there a way to satisfy our primeval craving for sweetness in a healthy, balanced way?

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Royalty

75%
July 23, 202125m
3x2

How do monarchies survive when they no longer wield power? By presenting a royal fairy tale that may not reflect the reality of the past — or present.

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Flags

75%
July 30, 202125m
3x3

A flag can unite, divide and terrorize. Explore how a piece of cloth transformed into a powerful symbol of both love and hate, freedom and oppression.

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Dogs

80%
August 6, 202120m
3x4

Who's a good dog? They all are! From puppy-dog eyes to feats of heroism, see how canines evolved into humankind's best friends and sources of pure love.

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The End of Oil

70%
August 13, 202124m
3x5

Oil led to huge advancements - and vast inequities. As the planet warms, why is it so hard to turn away from fossil fuels, and can it be done in time?

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Chess

70%
August 20, 202123m
3x6

For centuries, chess has captured hearts and minds — and pawns — and it's more popular than ever. What makes this ever-changing board game so special?

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Your Skin

70%
August 27, 202122m
3x7

Don’t panic, but our skin plays host to trillions of bacteria, fungi, mites and other microscopic guests. Go beyond skin-deep with our largest organ.

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Apologies

65%
September 3, 202121m
3x8

Apologizing is tough, and in this era of public mea culpas, forgiveness isn't guaranteed. What makes for a good apology, and why does it hold such power?

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Hurricanes

70%
September 10, 202123m
3x9

As the planet warms, hurricanes could become even more dangerous and destructive.

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Plastic Surgery

75%
September 17, 202121m
3x10

The Instagram face. A shapely posterior. Cosmetic surgery can make the latest beauty trends a reality. Explore its origins and effects, inside and out.

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Dance Crazes

70%
September 24, 202123m
3x11

From the waltz to voguing, dance crazes have connected people throughout history. But when a dance catches on, who gets the credit — and compensation?

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Time

75%
October 1, 202122m
3x12

Time flies… sometimes. Its passage can seem to speed up and slow down. Why do we experience time the way we do, and how do we take back some control?

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Country Music

70%
October 8, 202124m
3x13

Dirt roads. Pickup trucks. Hip-hop? As the borders around country music shift, who decides what defines the popular genre, and who gets to be a star?

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Fairy Tales

80%
Season Finale
October 15, 202124m
3x14

Fairy tales have survived thousands of years for a reason. Explore their far-flung history and how the stories speak to fundamental human concerns.

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