Episode #102817: SYSK Selects: How SPAM Works

In this week's SYSK Select episode, SPAM is a canned meat product made from pork shoulder and ham. First introduced in 1937, this iconic food has spread to stores across the world. But what exactly is it, how did it get here -- and why is its shelf life "indefinite?" Tune in to find out.

AI Summary

# Stuff You Should Know - Spam Episode Summary

This episode dives into the fascinating and surprisingly complex history of Spam, the iconic canned meat product that's been feeding Americans for over 75 years. Josh and Chuck explore everything from how Spam got its quirky name at a boozy 1930s New Year's Eve party to its unexpected starring role in World War II, which turned it into a global phenomenon and made it a cultural staple in Hawaii and beyond. Along the way, you'll learn what's actually inside that pink brick of meat, how it's manufactured in a surprisingly automated process, why health experts worry about it, and discover some wild trivia like a Monty Python sketch that became so iconic it spawned actual internet terminology.

Movies Discussed

50 First Dates

2004 1h 39m

★ 6.9

"I remember in 51st dates, it was a big thing. Anytime they were at the restaurant, there was some spam joke. — Referenced spam jokes appearing in the movie set in Hawaii, a major spam-consuming region." — Josh

Monty Python's Flying Circus

1969

★ 8.3

"We have to mention Monty Python's Flying Circus. They had a very famous skit about spam. — Discussed the famous Monty Python sketch featuring spam prominently on a restaurant menu with Vikings singing." — Chuck

Muppet Treasure Island

1996 1h 39m

★ 6.7

"Muppet Treasure Island featured a character called Spam, S-P-A, Apostrophe, A-M. A big warthog who wore a necklace of shrunken pig heads. — Discussed a character named Spam in the Muppet movie and a lawsuit Hormel filed against Jim Henson company over the character." — Josh

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