World domination and workplace automation... should we be worried? Maybe! It's complicated! Let's talk about some common myths and misconceptions about robots. Join host Justin as he breaks down the history of robots, from ancient steam-powered birds to Leonardo da Vinci's automaton knight.
The Cold War is relatively recent history, but there are till plenty of myths about it to debunk. Justin wages war against Cold War misconceptions, from the romantic image of the Cold War-era spy to the comedic oeuvre of Yakov Smirnoff (sort of). If you think the only Cold War close call was the Cuban Missile Crisis, you'll want to watch. You'll learn about why the end of the Cold War is a bit harder to pin down than you might think, and how toilet paper (or lack thereof) led to a breakthrough for military intelligence.
Learn the real stories behind the original paleo diet, Stone Age dentists, and cavewoman hunters. Host Justin Dodd breaks down some common myths and misconceptions about the Stone Age.
Do cats always land on their feet? Can cats swim? What does it really mean when your cat purs?
James Bond, Sydney Bristow, Johnny Fedora... how accurate are these fictional representations of secret agents? On today's episode of Misconceptions, we're diving into the sexy, secretive world of spies. Who do spies spy on? How long have spies been around? And is espionage always... effective?
Death is inevitable, but it doesn't have to be confusing. Today, we're answering some of the internet's favorite questions about dying. Morbid? Maybe. Interesting? Definitely. What does cremation actually involve? Why are funerals so expensive? Does the soul have a measurable weight? Host Justin Dodd breaks down some common myths and misconceptions about the thing that unites us all... death.
46 misconceptions about the 46 presidents of the United States. It turns out, we don't know everything about our Commanders in Chief. Did George Washington actually chop down a cherry tree? Did Lincoln own enslaved people? And how did Theodore Roosevelt REALLY feel about teddy bears?
Charles Manson and Jim Jones are two of the most infamous, sinister cult leaders. But are they the exception, or the rule? Let's break down the myths surrounding cult communes, women-led cults, and the average demographic of a cult member.
Do bath salts turn you into a cannibal? Is marijuana a gateway drug? Does Adderall make you smarter? Drugs, both legal and illegal, are widely misunderstood. Today, we're going to answer some burning questions, all the way from cocaine to caffeine.
It's the 1980s. Everyone is rocking a mullet, drinking New Coke, and avoiding strangers due to the widespread kidnappings of children. Which of these cliches is fact, and which is fiction? The 1980s were an iconic decade that some of us lived through, and some of us have absorbed through TV and movies. Let's see what society remembers correctly, from the death of hair metal to the use of payphones for criminal activity.
What is the real sixth sense? Is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit actually the normal body temperature? And how many bones do humans REALLY have? The human body is incredible and confusing. Let's figure out what's true and what's a myth about the thing that unites us all: bodies.
Are serial killers more intelligent than the average person? Are all serial killers obsessed with sex? How many murders does one have to commit to become a serial killer? If you're obsessed with true crime but want to know the real facts about serial killers, we're here to share the truth about this horrifying category of killers. Host Justin Dodd breaks down some common myths and misconceptions about the murderous world of serial killers.
OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, affects millions of people around the world. So... why do most people still assume it just means you're very picky about how organized your desk is? On today's episode of Misconceptions, we try to answer the questions that everyone seems to get wrong about this mental disorder. What is the difference between an obsession and a compulsion? Does everyone who experience intrusive thoughts have OCD? Is 'Monk' an accurate depiction of the disorder?
Forensic science usually provides the key piece of evidence in true crime shows and podcasts. But what misconceptions about forensic science are making their way into popular culture? What details about forensics do shows like CSI and Law & Order get wrong? Is blood spatter analysis as foolproof as we assume? Has DNA evidence ever steered juries in the wrong direction? Join host Justin Dodd (@juddtoday) as he breaks down some common myths and misconceptions about the investigative world of forensic science.
Spoiler alert: One dog year is NOT equal to seven human years. Dogs have been man's best friend for thousands of years. But how well do we really know these adorable, furry friends? Do they really see in black and white? Are neutering and spaying bad for your dog? What does it mean when they eat grass? Host Justin Dodd breaks down some common myths and misconceptions about the the BEST pets, dogs.
Cryptocurrency is either the future or a fad, depending on whom you ask. Either way, there are plenty of misconceptions about cryptocurrency that need to be debunked. Are NFTs different than crypto? How does a blockchain work? What is crypto mining's environmental impact? What happens when the crypto market fluctuates? Host Justin Dodd breaks down some common myths and misconceptions about the transactional world of cryptocurrency.
Did an apple really fall on Isaac Newton's head? Is there gravity on the ISS? Did Schrödinger, uhh... murder a cat? Physics is all around us, and yet, most of us hardly understand it. Today, we're going to answer some burning questions, all the way from electrons to atomic bombs. Host Justin Dodd breaks down some common myths and misconceptions about the world of physics.
50 misconceptions about the 50 states of the United States. It turns out, we don't know everything about the fifty nifty. Is Wyoming really the Equality State? How many cowboys are in Texas? And why might a swim off the coast of California be unpleasant? Host Justin Dodd breaks down some common myths and misconceptions about the 50 states that make up the USA.
It's the 1990s. Everyone is playing pogs, sporting blue eye shadow, and prepping for Y2K. Believe it or not, '90s kids aren't the only people who remember this iconic decade. But let's see which parts we remember correctly, and which cliches are purely fictional. Host Justin Dodd breaks down some common myths and misconceptions about the '90s.
Japan is a fascinating country with rich history and culture, but some of that is often overshadowed by the misconceptions people believe to be true. Is Japan really a high-tech wonderland from straight out of a sci-fi movie? Do Japanese people's diets only consist of sushi? Are tattoos a one-way ticket to being banned from public facilities? Join host Justin Dodd as he debunks some of these popular myths and stereotypes about Japan.
Cows DON'T have four stomachs, toads CAN'T give you warts, and pigs DON'T sweat a lot. Yeesh, that's a lot of negatives. But those are just three of dozens of misunderstood facts about animals we're going to be sharing today. From dogs to ostriches to lemmings, let's get into it.
Is social media a young person's game? Do influencers get a huge paycheck for every picture they post? Do social media companies really sell your data to advertisers? In this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd delves into some common myths surrounding the digital world of social media.
New year’s resolutions aren’t doomed to fail, Halloween isn’t about devil worship, and Christmas isn’t celebrated on December 25th because Jesus was born that day. On today’s episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd debunks a handful of common misconceptions about major holidays.
You probably have a pretty clear idea of what a 1950s family looks like. Well, it wasn’t all white picket fences and Jell-O molds. In this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd debunks some myths this so-called golden era.
Doctors, lawyers, firefighters, oh my!| Today we're debunking myths about 50 different professions. What's the difference between a Realtor and a real estate agent? A translator and an interpreter? Host Justin Dodd (@juddtoday) gets to the bottom of it all.
The Great Depression was caused by the 1929 stock market crash and plunged the entire country into poverty… right? Maybe not so much. In this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd busts some Depression-era myths.
Did early human ancestors hunt dinosaurs? Are we actually related to apes?
Do Florida Man stories really happen all that often in Florida? In this episode of Misconceptions, Justin Dodd, a born and raised Floridian, debunks several myths about the Sunshine State, from the Fountain of Youth to the Florida Man.
The 1970s were an iconic decade that some of us lived through, and some of us have absorbed through TV and movies. Let's see what society remembers correctly, from the rise of hair metal to the sexual revolution. Host Justin Dodd breaks down some common myths and misconceptions about the '70s.
Pop culture has shaped the way a lot of us think about college and higher education. If movies and University courses will be so demanding that you’ll constantly be pulling all-nighters, pounding coffee and energy drinks in order to stay awake to cram for your next big test, right? On this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd breaks down these higher-level myths. If your professor is 15 minutes late, are you really allowed to leave? How important is picking the right major in college? Does everyone join a fraternity or sorority? And what about the whole “freshman 15” thing? Grab your books, and let's dive in.
Blue balls, STIs, and popping your cherry. We're covering all of the topics you've always wondered about but were too embarrassed to ask in our latest episode of misconceptions.
With so much emotion surrounding funerals, it’s easy to see why people simply avoid thinking about them and continue to believe in certain misunderstandings about the process. What have we gotten wrong?
Is print media dead? Is all media biased? Are journalists rolling in dough?? Today on Misconceptions, we're covering the wide world of journalism. The world of media has changed so much in just a few decades, so it makes sense that we're all a little unclear on the current state of it all. Join host Justin Dodd (@juddtoday) as we debunk some common misconceptions about journalism.
Can lightning hurt you while you’re inside? What’s the true shape of a rainbow? And is there a chance that snow isn’t actually white? Join host Justin Dodd as he unpacks some myths and misconceptions about weather.
From diving to gymnastics to the strange world of curling, there are a lot of Olympic sports that we don't fully understand. Seriously, why do curlers yell so much??
When some of us picture Africa, we imagine a vast land where safari animals roam freely and in tandem with the village people. Where food and water are perpetually sparse, winding dirt paths are your only method of travel, and technology doesn’t exist. But, of course, none of that is accurate. On this episode of Misconceptions, host Bethel Afful breaks down some myths about African culture, from what makes up African cuisine, to folklore you may not have heard of.
Is the nickname The Windy City simply a reference to Chicago’s weather? What’s the difference between the London Eye and your average ferris wheel? Is Beijing’s Forbidden City actually forbidden? In this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd debunks some myths about famous major cities.
When you think of the most famous ancient Greek sculptures in the world–The Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo, Hermes of Olympia—you immediately think of smooth, white stone. But ancient Greek statues were originally colorful. REALLY colorful.
Like pretty much every generation once it reaches its teen years, Gen Z has attracted lots of negative stereotypes. But as these children of the digital age enter their adult years, so come the misconceptions.
If you spent hours playing The Oregon Trail on the computer back in the day, there’s probably one sentence you’ve seen a lot: “You have died of dysentery.” But what are the things we get WRONG about the infamous trail? In this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd debunks myths about the Oregon Trail. So grab your food, ammunition, and spare wagon parts, and let's get rolling.
Does searing a steak really lock in its juices? Will cast-iron pan be unusable if you wash it with dish soap? And what pasta water practices do you actually need to follow? In this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd breaks down some myths about cooking, from the terrifying ordeal of cleaning a cast iron skillet to whether or not microwaves are as harmful as people say. Preheat the oven, grab your mixing bowl, and subscribe to Mental Floss on YouTube for new videos every week.
There are a lot of mysterious things about Earth’s icy continent, Antarctica. Like, why aren’t there any polar bears? In this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd takes a look at a few more misconceptions about Antarctica, from its alleged populations of bears to its current ownership.
The CIA is shrouded in mystery, but there are some things we do know about the agency, and many things we all get wrong. On this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd takes a closer look at some common myths and falsehoods about the CIA, or Central Intelligence Agency. If you were hoping for the Culinary Institute of America Misconceptions video, you’re just going to have to wait.
On this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd, unpacks some myths about menstruation, from the idea that people who have their periods are unusually unclean, to whether or not menstrual blood is to blame for animal attacks.
People often confuse the Arctic with Antarctica. Both are cold and icy, but that’s basically where the similarities end. On this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd corrects some myths about the Arctic, from its wildly varying temperatures to its complete lack of a certain bird.