NO SUCH THING

Are we in the midst of a reading crisis? News outlets are constantly reporting on the death of reading. School test scores by measures like the “Nation’s Report Card” say math and literacy levels are down to their lowest rates since the early 1990s. Schools aren’t even assigning full books in class anymore. We talk to children’s book author Jason Reynolds, an active teacher in Chicago public schools, and a professor who’s looked into the actual research and says the literacy crisis doesn’t even exist.
Our guests this week are author Jason Reynolds (buy his new book Soundtrack here), professor Paul Thomas, and teacher Kelsey Clodfelter.
For links to research and more, check out our newsletter.
If you liked this episode, check out: Do audiobooks count as reading? and Should schools ban phones?
Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286
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On today's episode of NO SUCH THING, Manny, Noah, and Devan, jump into the mailbag. Should you keep your eggs in the fridge? Why do some people sneeze so loudly? Where did we get the 24 hour day from? Why and how does medicine expire? And what's the traditional jelly in a PB&J: grape or strawberry?
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 [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This 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 [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. 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 [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We 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 [email protected] or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.