Mar 15 2025

Selects: How the Flu Works

Selects 63 min 7 movies discussed
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Every year the flu virus makes the rounds, laying up young and old alike for days before moving on to another hapless victim. But flu viruses can mutate and once in awhile they turn into something much deadlier, a pandemic that can kill millions. Learn all about it with Josh and Chuck in this classic episode.

AI Summary

This episode of Stuff You Should Know covers everything you need to know about the influenza virus, from how it spreads and infects your body to the symptoms and complications that make it so dangerous. Josh and Chuck break down the different strains of flu, explain why it kills hundreds of thousands of people worldwide each year, and dive into some fascinating history like the devastating 1918 pandemic that infected a third of the world's population. They also discuss practical prevention methods, why antibiotics don't work on viruses, and the importance of vaccines, especially for protecting vulnerable populations.


Movies Discussed

Electric Vehicles: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Electric Vehicles: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
2025 NR
★ 10.0
"I think his younger brother was Pennywise the clown in the IT movie, right? — Josh references the IT movie when discussing actor Bill Skarsgård's role as Pennywise the clown." — Josh
Fargo
Fargo
1996 1h 38m
★ 7.8
"Is SARS guard the one who's in Fargo? — Josh asks about an actor appearing in the film Fargo during a discussion about the Skarsgård family." — Josh
Poltergeist
Poltergeist
1982 1h 54m
★ 7.2
"the little girl from Poltergeist died from, at 12, from a heart attack brought on by the flu — Chuck mentions that a child actress from Poltergeist died at age 12, initially thought to be from flu complications but actually from a stomach blockage." — Chuck
Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars
2010 TV-14
★ 8.0
"recently on that, uh, pretty little Liars, I think, one with Nicole Kidman — Chuck references Pretty Little Liars when discussing an actor's recent television work." — Chuck
Stranger Things
Stranger Things
2016
★ 8.6
"that's when you just lay in bed and watch stranger things too — Josh suggests watching Stranger Things as a recovery activity, mentioning he recently finished season two." — Josh
The Simpsons
The Simpsons
1989
★ 8.0
"This is a Simpsons overlooked, overlooked Simpsons bit from us — Chuck introduces listener mail about an overlooked aspect of The Simpsons that was mentioned in a previous episode." — Chuck
True Blood
True Blood
2008
★ 7.6
"the son was the dude on, uh, True Blood, the Vampire Show — Chuck mentions True Blood as a vampire TV show when discussing an actor's filmography." — Chuck

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