Short Stuff: Honorary Degrees

In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, the hosts dive into the fascinating world of honorary degrees, exploring why universities hand them out and what they actually mean. They trace the tradition back to 15th-century Oxford and discuss how what started as a distinguished honor has become a bit of a minefield, with some universities like MIT and Stanford refusing to give them out altogether. Along the way, you'll learn about the notable people who've tried to use these degrees as if they were real credentials, the universities now cracking down on that practice, and some pretty eyebrow-raising examples of honorary degrees that had to be rescinded.