Adam Ruins Everything

Introducing: Factually! - Adam's new podcast

Adam has a brand new podcast! Factually! is a show full of fascinating facts that will make you see the world in an entirely new way. Adam sits down with experts, journalists, and Pulitzer Prize winners to talk about topics like big tech, trans issues, and gun control. If you liked this show, you're going to love Factually! Look up Factually! in your podcast app and subscribe now so you don't miss an episode.

Ep 47: Rachel Weil on Femicom and the Value of Preserving Classic 'Girl' Video Games

Do you remember all of those video games that were made for girls back in the 90s? Well they're not being archived the same way that stereotypical boy games are being preserved. They don't have value in the gaming community and many of these games are being forgotten even though they were just as creative and innovative for the industry. Our guest Rachel Weil is trying to change that by preserving these 'girl' games by going around the world and collecting these games and talking to the peopl...

Ep 46: Dr. Azra Raza on Mouse Model Misconceptions & Other Ways We Can Improve Cancer Research

When we think of conducting science experiments on subjects, we immediately think of mice models. But today's guest, Dr. Azra Raza, who appeared on Adam Ruins Science, says there's a more effective way. On the TV show Dr. Raza discussed how the mouse model scientists use for their research is actually ineffective; even though a medicine might work well on a rodent, the results don't translate as well as we thought to humans - especially when it comes to cancer research which is what Dr. Raza ...

Ep 45: Dr. Kathryn Hall on the Surprising Power of Placebos

Placebos are commonly dismissed as "fake" treatments that have no real power on you or your body. But scientists are realizing more and more that placebos are more powerful than we realized. New research shows that while placebos may not cure diseases, they can reduce symptoms of our ailments like irritable bowel syndrome and even Parkinson's disease, and in the process actually make us feel better. Even traditional medicine takes advantage of the placebo effect, which could mean the placebo ...

Ep 44: Dr. Daniel Jolley on Why Conspiracy Theories Are Harmful

What once seemed like a fringe movement, conspiracy theories appear more pervasive than ever. Our guest Dr. Daniel Jolley points out, conspiracy theories have been around for centuries; social media, however, has given them a wider platform and megaphone. Believing in such theories can seem like harmless speculation. But if enough people accept ideas like the faking of the moon landing or 9/11 being a government inside job, they'll feel they have no agency. This can lead to very dangerous eff...

Ep 43: Professor Teresa Ghilarducci on the Future of 401(k)s

As humans, our inclination is to live in the present - not save 40 years down the line - which makes saving money for retirement hard. In the 90s many companies began offering 401(k) programs, a retirement savings plan sponsored by an employer which lets workers save and invest a piece of their paycheck before taxes. It seemed like the perfect solution to our retirement woes. But 401(k)s aren't the full proof saving plan we once thought. Even judiciously setting aside money in a 401(k) might ...

Ep 42: Professor Ellen Dunham-Jones on Retrofitting Suburbia

While they may sport perfectly manicured lawns and beautiful white picket fences, suburbs are not the idyllic neighborhoods we think they are. They make us more sedentary, sometimes less safe, and they can even perpetuate segregation. But instead of leaving the suburbs we can actually address these issues and improve our suburbs through redevelopment and retrofitting neighborhoods to make them greener, healthier, safer and more affordable. Our guest Ellen Dunham-Jones, who appeared on Adam Ru...

Ep. 41: Heather Jarvis on the Unsustainability of Student Loans

Student loans are an absolute necessity for many students in today's economy, but they're also among the worst forms of debt you can have, burdening students and sometimes permanently crippling their financial lives. Our guest Heather Jarvis, who appeared on Adam Ruins College, is going to tell us how we got here and give us practical tips on navigating the world of student loans. Heather is an attorney and student loan expert. She has practiced public interest law for more than a dozen years...

Ep 40: Dr. Arjun Srinivasan on Antibiotic Resistance

Is the antibiotic resistance apocalypse approaching? This week's guest, Dr. Arjun Srinivasan, who appeared on Adam Ruins the Hospital, says yes.

Ep 39: Jessica Huseman on Why Filing Taxes Is Unnecessarily Difficult

We all know how filing taxes is a pain. Every April Americans dig through receipts, meet with accountants, claim their expenses, and pray they're not audited.

Ep. 38: Professor Brian Nosek On Science's Reproducibility Crisis and Opportunity

We've seen it time and time again. A journal publishes a seemingly significant scientific study which gains traction in the press only to be subsequently deemed irreproducible.

Ep 37: Professor Stephan Lewandowsky on the Backfire Effect

On Adam Ruins Everything, we're all about using persuasive, rational arguments to bring awareness to a topic and hopefully change some minds along the way.

Ep 36: Nikole Hannah-Jones on the Rippling Effects of Redlining and Segregation

Many people have an idyllic view of the suburbs. You can have a lawn! Access to good schools! Safety! But much of that American dream has been historically reserved for white people.

Ep 35: Professor Natasha Dow Schüll On How Casinos & Slot Machines Are Designed to Facilitate Gambling Addiction

When it comes to gambling, there's a perception people get addicted because there's always that glimmer of hope they can hit the big jackpot. But according to our podcast guest, Natasha Dow Schüll, many gamblers, and more specifically many slot machi

See You Soon

We'll be back next week with a brand new Adam Ruins Everything podcast episode. Thanks for tuning in!

Ep 34: Dr. Joann Elmore and Dr. Janie Lee on Why Mammogram Screenings are More Complex Than We Imagined

For decades women have been told that they should start getting yearly mammograms at age 35. We think of it as a no-brainer, and mammograms do save lives. But their effects are much more complicated than we originally anticipated.

Ep 33: Anne Curzan Talks Grammar and the Flexibility of Language

Professor Anne Curzan, who is this week's podcast guest, says it's normal to notice dialectical differences between different communities but we shouldn't shame people for talking as they do.

Ep 32: Kevin Hall Gives Us the Skinny - Losing Weight and Keeping it Off is Hard

It's rare to hear about a researcher from the National Institute of Health collaborating with a reality TV show. But that's exactly what Dr. Kevin Hall, a clinical researcher at the NIH, did after watching episodes of The Biggest Loser.

Ep 31: Courtney Jung on the History of Formula Feeding and Why It Gets a Bad Rap

Ep 30: Jackie Stevens Exposes the Bizarre World of Immigrations Courts and Detention Centers

Immigration is such a hot topic these days, but it's rare we actually get into the logistics of how the system works (or doesn't).

Ep 29: Pete Hammond Pulls Back the Curtain on Awards Shows

On Adam Ruins Hollywood, Pete Hammond explained how behind every award show is a whole lot of campaigning.

Ep 28: Jean Twenge and Adam Discuss Their Differences on Generational Differences

Ep 27: Hayley Marie Norman Gets Existential After her TV Death

On season one of the Adam Ruins Everything TV show, Hayley Marie Norman played Adam's foil and budding love interest until she faced her untimely TV death in the season finale. But on this week's podcast, Hayley is back!

EP 26: Dr. Josh Sharfstein on the Dangers of Supplements and Why Health Regulation is Important

Dr. Josh Sharfstein has been working for decades to keep Americans safe - he's the guy who took Four Loko off the market and ensured transparency at the FDA. He also appeared on Adam Ruins Shopping Malls.

Ep 25: Bud Hammes on Why Talking About Death Is Life-Changing

Death is one of the hardest things to talk about, but our guest today encourages us to get real about the end.

Ep 24: Roy Samaan on Why Airbnb is Bad for Housing Markets

As our country is mired in a nation-wide housing crisis right now, we decided to dive into one of the many causes of this crisis: short-term housing.

Ep 23: Susan Crawford On Investing in Internet Infrastructure

Today's Adam Ruins Everything podcast guest is the go-to person when it comes to internet infrastructure: Susan Crawford.

Ep 22: Why Fast Fashion Fails Us

If you wear clothes, you're going to love this Adam Ruins Everything podcast.

Ep 21: Jan MacKell Collins On How Prostitution Built The Wild West

So much of what we've seen on TV and in film about the Wild West depicts the rugged cowboy who is always ready for a showdown. But the Wild West was much more nuanced than that.

Ep 20: Doug Massey Gives Us the Facts on Immigration

From the push to build a border wall to the recent executive order temporarily banning immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, there are so many emotions associated with the current immigration policy proposals. But what are the real facts regarding immigration history in this country? And what are immigrants'  actual impacts on our society? Today we try to answer those questions with our guest Professor . Doug is a Sociology Professor who appeared on His research focuses on internation...

Ep 19: Rachel Bloom On Why Awards Shows and Red Carpets Aren't As Glamorous As You Think

On Adam Ruins Hollywood, Adam shattered the facade of awards shows, red carpets, and reality TV.

Ep 18: Game Designer Jonathan Blow Unpacks 'The Witness'

On the Adam Ruins Everything podcast, Adam typically brings experts who appeared on the TV show to further expand on the arguments they make on the show. But during the off-season of the TV show, we thought we'd try something new.

Ep 17: Dale Jamieson Tells Us Why 'Going Green' Won't Stop Global Warming (And Why He Still Has Hope for Our Planet)

Professor Dale Jamieson debunks the myth that 'going green' will stop global warming.

Ep 16: The Failure of the War on Drugs

Just say no...to the War on Drugs! On this week's Adam Ruins Everything, we talk to Sheriff John Urquhart who appeared on the Drugs episode of the TV show.

Ep 15: Ethan Zuckerman On Why the Internet is a Less Creative Place

On this week's podcast, Adam talks to Ethan Zuckerman from the MIT Media Lab.

Ep 14: Voting Rights and Criminal Justice Reform with Daryl Atkinson

On this week's podcast Adam talks to Daryl Atkinson, who appeared on not one but two episodes of Adam Ruins Everything the TV show - Adam Ruins Voting and Adam Ruins Prison! Daryl is a Staff Attorney for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice.

Ep 13: Trophy Hunting with Rosie Cooney

On this week's podcast, Adam and guest Rosie Cooney discuss how trophy hunting can actually preserve wild species. It sounds insane and paradoxical, but countries that actually manage trophy hunting well can save species like rhinos from extinction....

Ep 12: Solving Homelessness with Rudy Salinas and Dorothy Edwards

Rudy Salinas and Dorothy Edwards work for Housing Works LA, an organization which creates accessible housing and service options by actually giving people homes and ensuring they can stay in those homes.

Ep 11: Bad Forensic Science with Chris Fabricant

Chris Fabricant is Director of Strategic Litigation at the Innocence Project. Adam and Chris discuss outdated forensic techniques such as bite mark analysis, why DNA analysis works, and Chris' bizarre deposition with bite mark "expert" Michael West.

Ep 10: Parking with Donald "Shoup Dogg" Shoup

If you have any questions about parking, Donald Shoup will definitely know the answer. The Distinguished Research Professor at UCLA's Department of Urban Planning is the author of The High Cost of Free Parking and studies how parking...

Ep 9: Matrimony Myths with Stephanie Coontz

You've seen it from rom-coms to Hallmark cards - our society is obsessed with everyone finding their soulmate. But did you know the idea of 'the one' is a relatively new concept in our culture? In fact, marriage and love were completely separate entities

Ep 8: Hydration and Hyponatremia with Tamara Hew-Butler

Professor Tamara Hew-Butler, who appears on the Adam Ruins Football episode of the TV show, explains why too much water while exercising can actually be dangerous.

Ep 7: Elections and Voting Rights with Ed Ayers

Adam is joined by historian Ed Ayers to talk about our forefathers' democratic vision for the United States, the historical implications of our current election, and misconceptions about the discipline of history.

Ep 6: The Malleability of Memory with Elizabeth Loftus

Professor Elizabeth Loftus joins Adam to discuss collective memory, repressed memory, and even some of Adam's own memories.

Ep 5: Science Journalism with John Bohannon

Science journalist John Bohannon is a contributing correspondent for Science magazine and has a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Oxford University. John discusses his fake chocolate study, his latest expose on Sci-Hub, and much more.

Ep 4: Security and Big Data with Bruce Schneier

Bruce is a brilliant cryptographer and security expert. He and Adam talk about current problems facing the TSA, gun control, and how data and security intersect.

Ep 3: Mass Extinction and Video Game Music with Emily Axford

Emily Axford of Adam Ruins Everything Talks Mass Extinction and Video Game Music.

Ep 2: Death Acceptance with Caitlin Doughty

Adam talks to Caitlin Doughty, a death acceptance advocate, and the founder of the non-profit funeral home, Undertaking L.A. The two discuss the bizarre world of funeral conventions, body compositing, and get deep about the afterlife.

Ep 1: Municipal Transit with Seleta Reynolds

Adam is joined by Seleta Reynolds to talk about municipal transit and reducing our reliance on cars.