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All Seasons

Season 1

  • S01E01 The Racial Wealth Gap

    • May 23, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E02 Designer DNA

    • May 23, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E03 Monogamy

    • May 23, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E04 K-Pop

    • May 30, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E05 Cryptocurrency

    • June 6, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E06 Why Diets Fail

    • June 13, 2018
    • Netflix

    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.

  • S01E07 The Stock Market

    • June 20, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E08 eSports

    • June 27, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E09 Extraterrestrial Life

    • July 4, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E10 !

    • July 11, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E11 Cricket

    • July 18, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E12 Weed

    • July 25, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E13 Tattoo

    • August 1, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E14 Astrology

    • August 8, 2018
    • Netflix

    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.

  • S01E15 Can We Live Forever?

    • August 15, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E16 The Female Orgasm

    • August 22, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E17 Political Correctness

    • August 29, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E18 Why Women Are Paid Less

    • September 5, 2018
    • Netflix

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

  • S01E19 The World's Water Crisis

    • September 12, 2018
    • Netflix

    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?

  • S01E20 Music

    • September 19, 2018
    • Netflix

    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.

Season 2

  • S02E01 Cults

    • September 26, 2019
    • Netflix

    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.

  • S02E02 Billionaires

    • October 3, 2019
    • Netflix

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

  • S02E03 Animal Intelligence

    • October 10, 2019
    • Netflix

    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.

  • S02E04 Athleisure

    • October 17, 2019
    • Netflix

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

  • S02E05 Coding

    • October 24, 2019
    • Netflix

    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?

  • S02E06 Pirates

    • October 31, 2019
    • Netflix

    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.

  • S02E07 The Next Pandemic

    • November 7, 2019
    • Netflix

    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.

  • S02E08 The Future of Meat

    • November 14, 2019
    • Netflix

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

  • S02E09 Beauty

    • November 21, 2019
    • Netflix

    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?

  • S02E10 Diamonds

    • November 28, 2019
    • Netflix

    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.

Season 3

  • S03E01 Sugar

    • July 16, 2021
    • Netflix

    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?

  • S03E02 Royalty

    • July 23, 2021
    • Netflix

    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.

  • S03E03 Flags

    • July 30, 2021
    • Netflix

    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.

  • S03E04 Dogs

    • August 6, 2021
    • Netflix

    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.

  • S03E05 The End of Oil

    • August 13, 2021
    • Netflix

    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?

  • S03E06 Chess

    • August 20, 2021
    • Netflix

    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?

  • S03E07 Your Skin

    • August 27, 2021
    • Netflix

    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.

  • S03E08 Apologies

    • September 3, 2021
    • Netflix

    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?

  • S03E09 Hurricanes

    • September 10, 2021
    • Netflix

    As the planet warms, hurricanes could become even more dangerous and destructive. What can be done to survive and minimize the threat of these storms?

  • S03E10 Plastic Surgery

    • September 17, 2021
    • Netflix

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

  • S03E11 Dance Crazes

    • September 24, 2021
    • Netflix

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

  • S03E12 Time

    • October 1, 2021
    • Netflix

    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?

  • S03E13 Country Music

    • October 8, 2021
    • Netflix

    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?

  • S03E14 Fairy Tales

    • October 15, 2021
    • Netflix

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