Bidets: Now More Than Ever

This episode of Stuff You Should Know dives deep into the history and modern use of bidets, exploring everything from their origins as furniture pieces in 18th-century France to their evolution into high-tech toilet seats in Japan. Josh and Chuck uncover why Americans have largely rejected bidets despite their popularity worldwide, tracing the resistance back to Cold War-era rivalries with France, unfortunate associations with brothels during World War II, and embarrassment around discussing menstruation. They also highlight Arnold Cohen, an American inventor who created the modern bidet seat in the 1960s, which was eventually perfected by Japanese manufacturer Toto and launched as the Washlet in 1980, sparking a global revolution in bathroom hygiene that's finally catching on in America.