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NO SUCH THING

NO SUCH THING

iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope 70 episodes Latest May 27, 2026

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 on topics like why men don't ask follow-up questions, whether schools should ban phones, or if dating an AI chatbot is cheating. Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer. NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can't agree on. New episodes on Wednesdays.

Episodes

Are personal injury lawyers frauds and scammers? Jun 10, 2026 3817 We’re doing a money etiquette episode! Submit your questions, horror stories and other scenarios for us to discuss by leaving a voicemail at 860-325-0286 or sending an email to mannynoahdevan@gmail.com You can hardly go for a drive, take a walk in the neighborhood, or turn on a television without being bombarded by ridiculous ads for personal injury lawyers. Are these flamboyant charact
Why aren't people having kids anymore? (ft. Derek Thompson) Jun 3, 2026 3092 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 causing the birth rate to decline, and then Manny has a heartfelt conversation with writer (and fellow
Can YouTubers actually hold police accountable? May 27, 2026 3629 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 and influence of some of the movement’s biggest creators, from Philip Turner (The B
Super-Agers: Why do some old people age better than others? May 20, 2026 3019 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 cognitively impressive. Of course, there are many who… aren’t. What differentia
Should we still circumcise babies? May 13, 2026 4481 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 explore the origins of the procedure, its health impacts, and why attitudes around it ar
Why did Taylor Swift stop singing in a country accent? May 6, 2026 4079 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, how Drake changed the way people think about authenticity in hip-hop, and why Adele and
Does micromanaging actually work? Apr 29, 2026 3779 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, office odors, and more. Our guest this week is Erik Baker, historian
Is recycling a complete scam? (PART 2) Apr 22, 2026 2052 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 help of Nayeema Raza, host of  Smart Girl Dumb Questions), we hear from Davis All
Is recycling a complete scam? (PART 1) Apr 22, 2026 2567 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 help of Nayeema Raza, host of  Smart Girl Dumb Questions), we hear from Davis All
Kids can’t read anymore. Does it matter? (with author Jason Reynolds) Apr 15, 2026 3560 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 anymore. We talk to children’s book author Jason Reynolds, an active t
Eggs in the fridge, expired meds, loud sneezes, and more (Mailbag) Apr 8, 2026 2640 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? ICYMI: Manny wrote a book and you can check it out here! It's called Colored People Time: A Case
TINY CAMERAS!?! We found out what those customer satisfaction buttons actually do Apr 1, 2026 2130 This week we’re answering a question from a listener named Emma: What do those smiley-face customer-satisfaction buttons you see in airport bathrooms actually do?  We track down the Finland-based company behind them, HappyOrNot, and uncover a hidden world of analytics, cameras, and AI.  Our guest this week is Scott Erickson, HappyOrNot’s VP of US Sales and Global Channels. Fo

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