How the Monopoly Board Game Became a World War II Escape Kit

How the Monopoly Board Game Became a World Wa...

Up next

The Bizarre Parable of New Coke, Chapter One: Sweeter, Stranger, Strange

Heads-up! We are extremely biased on this one. Back in the 1980s, Coca-Cola was terrified of losing the Great Soda War to Pepsi. In the depths of desperation, they futzed with the golden goose — the secret formula for one of the most popular sodas on the planet. In the first spic ...  Show more

"Resting Bicycle Face": Bikes and Women's Rights

Nowadays bicycles are a common sight across the world -- they're efficient, convenient, and a great way to get in some exercise. Yet in the late 1800s they were ground zero for a culture war over women's rights. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max discover how the humble 'safet ...  Show more

Recommended Episodes

SYSK Selects: How Monopoly Works
Stuff You Should Know

Since more than 1 billion people have played it, you’re probably familiar with the board game Monopoly, but we bet you don’t know its secret origins as a left-wing socialist teaching tool. Join Josh and Chuck as they chase it down in this classic episode.

Learn mor ...  Show more

The secret history of Monopoly
Witness History

In 1904, a left-wing American feminist called Lizzy Magie patented a board game that evolved into what we now know as Monopoly. But 30 years later, when Monopoly was first marketed in the United States during the Great Depression, it was an out-of-work salesman from Pennsylvania ...  Show more

Do Not Pass Go (2022)
Throughline

There's more to Monopoly than you might think. It's one of the best-selling board games in history — despite huge economic instability, sales actually went up during the pandemic — and it's been an iconic part of American life at other pivotal moments: a cheap pastime during the ...  Show more

Do Not Pass Go
Throughline

There's more to Monopoly than you might think. It's one of the best-selling board games in history — despite huge economic instability, sales actually went up during the pandemic — and it's been an iconic part of American life at other pivotal moments: a cheap pastime during the ...  Show more