Podcast
NO SUCH THING
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope · EN
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. Why don’t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot 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. If you’ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.
New episodes on Wednesdays.
For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show.
And if you have any questions you’d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail: (860) 325-0286.
34episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
TINY CAMERAS!?! We found out what those customer satisfaction buttons actually do
Apr 100:35:30Summary readyThis 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. For links to research and more, check out our newsletter. Like this episode? Check out Is your phone listening to you ... and should you care?DEV-ITORS NOTE: After the interview, HappyOrNot clarified that cameras are standard on their touchscreen devices, but the button devices don’t have them. ICYMI: Manny wrote a book and you can check it out here! It's called Colored People Time: A Case for (Casual) Rebellion, and it's a collection of essays about the ways that time wraps itself around our most personal moments. Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (860) 325-0286See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Should athletes be allowed to bet on themselves?
Mar 2500:48:55Summary readyManny wrote a book and you can check it out here! It's called Colored People Time: A Case for (Casual) Rebellion, and it's a collection of essays about the ways that time wraps itself around our most personal moments. If you're around NYC, the boys will be discussing the book in a live event on March 29th, order tickets here. Now, on today's episode, Manny, Noah, and Devan discuss the sports betting takeover happening in the United States and around the world, and are joined by Danny Funt, the author of Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling. They also debate whether athletes should be allowed to bet on themselves, since they're already incentivized to win their games. Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (860) 325-0286.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Was Benjamin Franklin a fraud?
Mar 1801:00:52Summary readyWe know Benjamin Franklin as a founding father, crucial in the establishment of the United States, discoverer of electricity, kooky writer of almanacs, and inventor of much, much more. But is it possible that good old Benny is actually a complete scammer? We investigate a conspiracy theory that Mr. $100 is not all he’s cracked up to be. Our guest this week is Claire Aubin, historian and host of This Guy Sucked, with a special thanks to our instigating debaters Kelsey and Rich. Buy Manny's Book, Colored People Time, and see NO SUCH THING in conversation about the book on March 29 in NYC. For links to research and more, check out our newsletter. Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (860) 325-0286.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Are dentists scamming us? We investigate
Mar 1100:57:51Summary readyOn today’s episode, we tackle a question we’ve all wondered: Are dentists scamming us? We dive into the dark history of dentistry, find out why dental insurance sucks, hear from someone who uncovered a dentist drilling teeth for profit, and talk to a startup founder who’s looking to upend the whole industry. Lilly Kaplan — licensed therapist and Reality Test newsletter author — sits in for Manny this week. Listen to: Do you need therapy? (ft. Lilly) Our guests this week are: AJ Jacobs, journalist and New York Times bestseller. Dr. Sarah Stuefen, general dentist in Iowa and spokesperson for the American Dental Association. Dr. Cheryline Pezzullo, general dentist and clinical associate professor. Dr. Brandon Zeidler, doctor of dental surgery. Tyler Burnett, cofounder of Wally Health. For links to research and more, check out our newsletter. Have a question you want us to answer or a dentist story you want to share? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (860) 325-0286See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Why are there so many twin films?
Mar 400:46:45Summary readyOn this week's episode, the boys chat with Chris and Lizzie, the hosts of the What Went Wrong podcast about why Hollywood produces so many "twin films," movies that have very similar concepts and that release within a year of each other. They also debate whether A Bug's Life or ANTZ is the better movie, and talk through some controversial Hollywood development rumors. For links to research and more, check out our newsletter. Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (860) 325-0286.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Should the internet be a public utility?
Feb 2500:34:49Summary readyWhy is it such a hassle to deal with internet service providers? Spotty service, hidden price increases, and only one company servicing my neighborhood. Am I up against a local monopoly? And what’s the deal with 5G home internet? I’ve been battling my ISP for years, and it’s time to find some answers. Our guest this week is Emily Stewart, senior correspondent at Business Insider. Also featuring guest co-host Rachel Askenazi, journalist and founder of Throwing Spaghetti Media. For links to research and more, check out our newsletter. Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (860) 325-0286See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Will AI take our jobs?
Feb 1800:49:17Summary readyIs AI actually coming for your job? This week, we take a peek under the hood of autonomous AI tools. What they do well, where they still fall short, and how much we can expect them to improve in the future. Investigative reporter and Shell Game host Evan Ratliff joins us alongside AI researcher and Shell Game technical advisor Maty Bohacek to break it all down. Listen to Shell Game >> Check out our newsletter and follow us on Instagram. Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (860) 325-0286See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Why do divorced guys act like that?
Feb 1100:48:29Summary readyWhat happens to our brains and bodies after a breakup? Semafor media reporter and Mixed Signals co-host Max Tani joins the pod to unpack “Divorced Guy Energy,” from Justin Trudeau and Kanye West to Breaking Bad’s Walter White — and what psychology and sociology say about how men change after divorce.Our guests this week are psychologist and YouTuber Maika Steinborn and sociologist Jessica Calarco, author of Holding It Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net, we dig into the science, sociology, and cultural forces behind divorce, masculinity, and midlife reinvention.The Cut: The Most Divorced Guys of 2025, in Order Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (860) 325-0286See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Are outdoor cats happier than indoor cats?
Feb 401:00:36Summary readyThis week, Kate Lindsay—ICYMI host, Embedded author, and proud cat lover—sits in for Manny, and we go deep on everything you’ve ever wanted to know about cats. Our expert this week is Dr. Mikel Delgado, a cat behaviorist, scientist, and author of Play With Your Cat! Listen to:• Are suburban dogs happier than city dogs? • Why can’t adults order from the kids’ menu? For pics of Kate’s very cute cats, check out our newsletter — and follow us on Instagram for video clips and behind-the-scenes moments. Have a question you want us to answer or have feedback for the show? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (860) 325-0286See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Can humans be cloned?
Jan 2800:51:00Summary readyWhy are there so many celebrity clone conspiracy theories? Is there really a Melania Trump body double? Have scientists actually tried to clone humans? And, how does cloning actually work? We hear from an alleged clone himself, and talk to a biosciences expert to find out how feasible these theories actually are. This week features Chelsey Weber-Smith, whose show American Hysteria covers all sorts of strange hoaxes, moral panics, and odd misunderstandings. Also featuring Hank T. Greely, director of Stanford University’s Center for Law and the Biosciences. For links to research and more, check out our newsletter. And listen to our clone playlist on Apple Music or Spotify. Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at (860) 325-0286See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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