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NO SUCH THING

NO SUCH THING

iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope 70 Episodes Sep 16, 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

Should ugly people be a protected class?
Should ugly people be a protected class? Sep 16, 2026 2812 This week, Manny, Noah, and Devan debate whether there's a such thing as an "ugly tax," social penalties for being unattractive. The more academic term for this is "lookism," which is the discrimination against people for the way that they look. Should less attractive people be a protected class of minority? Manny interviews Thomas Spiegel, professor of philosophy at the Miyazaki International Uni
A musician defends using AI in his music (Part 2)
A musician defends using AI in his music (Part 2) Sep 11, 2026 2319 In part 2 of our series on AI music, Devan confronts 1010benja on his use of generative AI on his new EP 1010: Time Has Nothing To Do With What You Choose… ICYMI listen to part 1: Can AI music be good? Listen to 1010benja on Apple Music and Spotify and check out his website demetriusproduction.com Read 1010benja's Hearing Things interview Tell us your thoughts about 1010benja’s use of
Can AI music be good? (Part 1)
Can AI music be good? (Part 1) Sep 9, 2026 2778 On today's episode, the boys discuss the many various goings on in AI music generation. Manny "creates" a few different versions of the NO SUCH THING theme song (that he actually produced without AI) using generative AI, and asks Noah and Devan to compare and contrast original songs with their AI cover counterparts. Finally, we hear from Charlie Harding, audio engineer and host of the Switched on
Are cops stalking you with a nationwide camera network? (Inside Flock)
Are cops stalking you with a nationwide camera network? (Inside Flock) Aug 31, 2026 3063 Today’s episode is all about Flock, the controversial nationwide network of artificial-intelligence roadside cameras. Drew Harwell, a tech reporter at The Washington Post, explains his reporting on cops using the technology as a tool for stalking and the victims and advocates fighting for change. Check out Drew’s reporting:  How rogue officers turned a nationwide camera network i
Are suburban dogs happier than city dogs? (Remastered)
Are suburban dogs happier than city dogs? (Remastered) Aug 26, 2026 3102 On this week’s episode, we're revisiting one of our favorite questions: Are suburban dogs happier than city dogs? To find out, we spoke with one of the leading dog cognition experts, Alexandra Horowitz. She heads the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard and is the author of Inside of a Dog. We'll be back next week with a new episode. The credit song is Big Dog by Maurice featuring Kenny Ning and Cer
What is "Colored People Time?"
What is "Colored People Time?" Aug 19, 2026 3212 In a special live-taped episode, the boys discuss Manny's new book "Colored People Time: A Case for (Casual) Rebellion, a collection of humorous essays about the way time wraps itself around all of our lives. If you like this podcast, you'll love this book, and buying it will mean that Manny can finally pay back Devan and Noah in approximately $7 million in sports betting debt. Buy Manny's book he
Presenting Smart Girl Dumb Questions: What Does Love Hurt? with Dr. Justin Garcia
Presenting Smart Girl Dumb Questions: What Does Love Hurt? with Dr. Justin Garcia Aug 12, 2026 3676 NO SUCH THING is looking for questions for an upcoming LAUNDRY MAILBAG. Leave us a voicemail by calling (860) 325-0286 or email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com We're taking a quick break for August to work on upcoming episodes, so this week we're sharing an episode of Smart Girl Dumb Questions. The show is hosted by our friend Nayeema Raza, who listeners might remember from episode #60: Is rec
Could you land a plane in an emergency? (Remastered)
Could you land a plane in an emergency? (Remastered) Aug 5, 2026 2110 This week, we present a remixed and remastered version of our third ever episode. Do you think you’d be able to successfully land a plane, with no prior pilot experience and relying only on air traffic control assistance? A YouGov survey found 13% of people are “very confident” that they could. In this episode, we explore why some people (like Manny) are prone to overconfide
Should you recline your airplane seat?
Should you recline your airplane seat? Jul 29, 2026 3054 This week, we unpack the moral chaos of air travel. When flying, is it ever acceptable to recline your seat and claim those precious extra inches of space? Is there an ethical argument for reclining? Ergonomically, what is the most comfortable position? Why do we act like completely different people when we’re up in the air? And is this all a distraction from the real villains, greedy airlin
Why are public bathrooms designed so poorly? (Devan Design Week)
Why are public bathrooms designed so poorly? (Devan Design Week) Jul 22, 2026 3289 For this edition of Devan Design Week, Devan Design Week II, we're going deep on bathrooms. We'll explore why hotels are getting rid of bathroom doors and walls, the movement to Bring Back Doors, whether bathroom sensors are actually racist, and if they're better for the environment and cleaner. Finally, we'll rank our favorite and least favorite bathroom locks. Our guests this week are: Sadie f
Are millennials the elite generation? (And are people actually getting dumber?)
Are millennials the elite generation? (And are people actually getting dumber?) Jul 15, 2026 2729 This week, we unpack what makes a generation. From the Silent Generation to the Zoomers and beyond, are these groupings only useful to stir up competition and resentment? How did Gen Z become more conservative, more pessimistic AND more empathetic than their predecessors? We also explore recent research on a troubling trend of declining IQ scores. Does this back up an argument that millennials are
Do audiobooks count as reading? (Remastered)
Do audiobooks count as reading? (Remastered) Jul 8, 2026 2286 This week, we're presenting a remastered version of our VERY FIRST EPISODE. Take a walk down NST memory lane, or visit for the first time, and stick around until the end to hear a quick conversation looking back on one of our earliest arguments. What began as an innocent debate soon devolved into accusations of deception and trickery. Is it misleading to say you read a book if, in actuality, you l

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