Nowhere in the world are lawns as revered as they are in the United States. The picture-perfect patch of grass is so deeply rooted in the American psyche it feels more like a default setting than a choice. Americans spend countless hours every year seeding, watering, mowing, and fertilizing patches of grass that don't make much sense, economically or ecologi ... Show More
Oct 7
The Baby Elephant and The Elixir of Poo
When baby Asian elephant Linh Mai was born at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, her mother rejected her. Then things got worse. Linh Mai couldn’t digest her formula, she was losing weight, and her care team was running out of time.Join us behind the scenes at the National Zoo to le ... Show More
35m 30s
May 2018
How Stupid Is Our Obsession With Lawns? (Rebroadcast)
<p>Nearly two percent of America is grassy green. Sure, lawns are beautiful and useful and they smell great. But are the costs — financial, environmental and otherwise — worth the benefits?</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com ... Show More
28m 26s
Mar 2020
SYSK Distraction Playlist: How Grass Works? Yes, How Grass Works
<p>There’s nothing more boring than watching grass grow, which is why Josh and Chuck aren’t asking you to do that. Instead, you can learn about all sorts of neat things about grass - like how American became obsessed with perfect lawns - in this episode.</p><p> </p> Learn more ab ... Show More
49m 36s
Oct 2023
To Be Greener, Get Rid Of Your Grass
Who doesn't love a lush, perfectly manicured grass lawn? It turns out, a lot of people are actively trying to get rid of their lawns, ripping out grass in favor of native plants, vegetables, and flowers to attract pollinators. As the realities of climate change become starker, mo ... Show More
14m 40s
Nov 2025
The Grass and the Furious: Ladies... Start Your (Lawnmower) Engines!
On this episode of Our American Stories, across small-town America, fields that once grew corn and clover now host something unexpected: racing lawn mowers. The smell of fuel mixes with cut grass, and the sound of modified engines echoes across the open air. For Julie Tynmann, th ... Show More
19m 28s
<p>Welcome to the first episode of our podcast! In this episode: Madeline smacks her lips a lot (sorry, we're new to this) and we talk about front lawns, community spaces, geodesic domes, and the housing crisis. </p>
<p><em><strong>Patreon: </strong></em></p>
<p><em>htt ... Show More
