Adam Ruins Everything

Adam exposes why shoe companies that give away free footwear do more harm than good, and explains why you should stop giving food pantries your leftover canned goods.

Adam sets his sights on security, explaining that airport security wastes too much of our time and money, medicine safety seals do nothing to protect us, and your credit card number isn't remotely secure.

In this episode, Adam revealed the surprising truths behind car dealerships, unearthed the dirty little secrets of car ownership, explained how auto manufacturers turned "jaywalking" into a crime and much more. Here are his sources.

Adam uncovers the scary truth behind unreliable methods that are commonly used to build evidence in criminal cases. He explains why polygraph machines are pseudoscientific hokum, demonstrates why your memories cannot be trusted, and exposes the flaws of forensic sciences like fingerprinting, hair strand matches and bite mark analysis - which often send innocent people to jail.

In this episode, Adam dives deep into the hidden truths of dining out. He explains why tipping is a custom we'd be better off without, shows that even experts can't tell the difference between fancy wines, and reveals that fraudulently labeled seafood is rampant in the restaurant industry.

Adam reveals that the term "halitosis" was popularized in a 1920s ad campaign that used cruel ads to make people insecure about their breath, and explains why running water is one of the greatest miracles of the modern age.

Adam explores the twisted history of the Electoral College, explaining that the Founding Fathers did not want most Americans to vote. He also takes a stab at fixing a political system that seems rigged against true democracy.

Adam shows how the 40-hour work week not only exhausts employees but also harms businesses, reveals the legal mess of hiring interns and freelancers, and explores how discussing your salary with co-workers is actually a good thing.

Summer fun is the focus. Included: the impact of extended vacations on one's intelligence; video games; and a gender bias.

Adam puts the focus on sex. Topics include circumcision and herpes.

Adam explores nutrition. Included: truths about vitamin supplements; a look at balanced breakfasts; the lack of science in "nutritional science."

Adam explores death in the Season 1 finale. Included: immortality; the American funeral industry; medical decisions.

Adam unveils some hidden truths in Hollywood including a discussion about reality programming.

Adam hits the gridiron to show why the playoffs almost never determine which team is best, and explores how hydration myths that have been spread by sports drink companies are putting kids at risk. Adam also tackles the topic of football-related brain injuries, illuminating how much the game must change if it is to remain part of our culture.

A couple's wedding day is here, but Adam's gift of information, like the fact that most wedding "traditions'" were created by consumerism, may rain on the parade.

Adam and Emily go on a shopping spree of knowledge. He illustrates that malls were created as tax loopholes for greedy developers and are now crumbling under their own weight, and outlet stores are a scam selling purpose-made, low quality merchandise. Also, Adam shows how nutrient supplements are often dangerously unregulated concoctions of garbage ingredients. Emily bursts Adam's bubble by showing that nearly all eyeglasses are made by one manufacturer that hugely inflates prices thanks to their monopoly on the industry.

In this episode, Adam explores how purebred dogs are genetic monsters created by bored Victorians, that domestic cats are hugely overpopulated lethal killing machines that threaten other animals, and how wild animal trophy hunting can actually help endangered species in the long run.

Adam takes us on a journey to illustrate that an expensive border wall wouldn't keep out the majority of immigrants who enter legally and overstay their visas. He then explores how the relatively recent militarization of the Mexican-American border has created an illegal immigrant problem where there wasn't one before, racist mass deportations have historically led to disaster, and immigration courts are a huge mess that are broken from top to bottom.

Adam Ruins Housing: Adam gets evicted from his home, and while searching for a new place, he exposes the harsh realities of real estate. Plus, Adam explains why helping the homeless is a lot simpler and more straightforward than you might think.

Adam investigates marijuana, the War on Drugs and prescription pills.

Adam and Emily shed light on jail rehabilitation, solitary confinement and the fact that corporations make money off of prison inmates.

Prostitutes actually helped settle the West; explaining why the All-American Cowboy is a myth; that the real hero of the west wasn't a person at all, but air conditioning.

Adam shows how complaints about the Internet are as old as society itself, people in Europe and Asia pay less for faster Internet than in the U.S., and how we pay for sites like Facebook and Google with every keystroke of our information.

Rhea takes on helping Emily's cellmate Kendra, and reveals the struggles public defenders face, while Adam shows how juries are never completely impartial, and everything you heard about the McDonald's coffee lady was wrong.

Ho ho...huh?! Adam teaches his sister that the real St. Nick story is a lot creepier than she thought, and modern Santa was created by commercialism only a century ago. Adam also reveals how gift-giving actually hurts the economy.

Adam meets a young dad on a personal mission to save the world and end climate change...until Adam turns his world upside down. Find out why electric cars and green products don't make the impact you've been promised.

In the Season 2 premiere of Adam Ruins Everything, host Adam Conover interrupts the lives of Emily and Murph by delivering some unexpected baby news. With the help of top experts, Adam shatters the belief that getting pregnant after 35 is next to impossible, and uncovers the truth about the age-old argument of breastfeeding vs formula. Plus, Adam explores what you didn't know about postpartum depression - for both women and men.

Host Adam Conover takes us on a dieting roller coaster ride, illustrating all the reasons low-fat diets can actually make you fatter, and why counting calories is a waste of time.

Adam Conover explains that inflated hospital costs have created a system that's unaffordable and unfair. Plus, reckless prescription of antibiotics is making them worthless, and you might not need a mammogram.

This week, Adam swipes right on knowledge by exposing the major flaws in dating sites. Plus, infamous alpha males - and the wolves that inspired them - don't really exist, and personality tests are a total failure.

Adam poses the question of what makes great art and shows why pieces visible to the masses are revered, regardless of artistic merit. He exposes the masters as copycats, and reveals that today's art market is a moneymaking scheme.

Adam takes a crew of kids and their teacher on a ride through the toon-iverse in his first animated episode. He shares how Christopher Columbus didn't discover America and would have been forgotten to history if not for the work of an American author well known for his tall tales. Then they visit the pyramids and learn why King Tut was a dud in the annals of Egyptian History. Plus, the rules of grammar are not as iron clad as you'd think.

School's in session with Adam Conover, as he explains why the chances of becoming a drop out billionaire are not in your favor. A college degree is a necessity in today's economy, but selecting a top school is harder than you think since rankings are manipulated by a system that has little to do with the quality of education. Plus, the formerly groundbreaking student loan system has created trillions of dollars in debt through shady privatization signed off on by Uncle Sam.

This week, Adam's world gets turned on its head when his friend Emily takes over to "ruin" him, pointing out where a few of his facts fall short. She debunks the idea that IQ tests measure intelligence and reveals their racist history, then does a rapid fire battle against information that Adam has gotten wrong in previous episodes. Plus, she explains the "backfire effect," and why proving someone wrong, even with hard evidence, won't necessarily convince them to change their mind.

Adam Conover and his girlfriend take a journey across America, where he reveals that Mount Rushmore was built on stolen Native American land, Vegas slot machines are purposely designed to be addicting and more.

Adam explains how the idealized lawn is an unnatural monstrosity, and that the design of the suburbs is slowly killing you. Plus, the racist history of suburban planning led to today's institutionalized segregation in schools.

Adam explains why doing taxes is unnecessarily complicated, the economic numbers we hear don't reveal much, and American manufacturing can't return.

Adam debunks the fake moon landing theory, proving that with 1969 technology, it would have been easier to land on the moon than to fake it.

Pricey "detoxifying" treatments cleanse you of cash (and may do more harm than good), while MSG's scary reputation is undeserved. Plus, the placebo effect is way more powerful than you think!

Strangers with poisoned candy don't exist, the panic over Orson Welles' War of the Worlds broadcast didn't happen and mediums are total frauds.

Testing mice means wasted resources because what works on them often fails on humans. Scarce funding stops scientists from seeking cures, and there's no money in reproducing results, even though it's essential in proving findings.

Adam explains that unregulated food expiration dates lead to waste and that your 401(k) won't be enough to support your retirement. Plus, Adam's girlfriend Melinda proves that even with research, the future is unpredictable.

Adam Conover undermines everything you thought you knew about the American Revolution.

Reanimated History: The Pilgrims didn't break bread with Native Americans, but did dig up their graves! There was no romance between Pocahontas and John Smith, and cities in the New World rivaled London in scale before their "discovery."

Reanimated History: Adam Conover reveals that the US kicked off the Cuban Missile Crisis, and that you've probably never heard of the lone female politician who stood up to McCarthy! Plus, a bureaucratic mistake brought down the Berlin Wall.

Ancient History of Violence, An: Reanimated History: Adam shares that it was against the rules for gladiators to kill opponents, and tells the story of a Celtic woman who brought the Roman Empire to its knees. Plus, the brave "300" Spartans numbered closer to 7000.

Copernican Ruin-aissance, The: Reanimated History: Adam sheds some light on Copernicus, who was actually supported (NOT persecuted) by the Catholic Church. Plus, a rogue dwarf revolutionized what we know about anatomy, and just wait until you hear about Tulip Mania!

100 Years Ago Today: Reanimated History: Adam digs into the Panama Canal, where Teddy Roosevelt formed a new country to snag free land. Plus, one man fought to keep food from killing us, while the Spanish Flu killed more Americans than all 20th century wars combined!

Adam Conover is back to take aim at critics on both sides of the gun debate in America. He explains why an assault weapons ban would not be effective and demonstrates how the Second Amendment has been twisted to fit the NRA's agenda.

Adam has a rude awakening for everything you thought you knew about sleep (or lack of it), from the mattress industry to supposedly lazy teens to sleep aids.

Adam logs in to dulge into monopolistic tech companies by stating that Amazon's monopoly over online shopping harms consumers; that copyright law is abused to prevent unauthorized repairs; and that tech companies not only routinely evade taxes, but also downright eradicate competition.

Adam causes turbulence when he reveals that reward miles drive up costs, and revisits the "golden age" of air travel to uncover smoky, sexist death traps in the sky. Plus, airline mergers are crippling smaller cities.

Adam dishes out the facts on the avocado trade being ruled by drug cartels, and Big Pork making bacon a pop culture hit while covering up its huge health risks. Plus, America's food problems stem from corn.

Adam tackles classic television stereotypes, from the racism behind public pools, to the model minority myth of Asian Americans, to the on-screen toxic masculinity that's masking the problems young men face today.

Adam hits pause on the myth that connects video games to real-life violence, and reveals that Monopoly was a rip-off of an anti-capitalist teaching game. Plus, Olympic organizers get rich while athletes struggle to get by.

Adam digs up the dirt on nature, revealing that Mount Everest is a frozen pile of poop, natural disasters are actually man-made, and there is no such thing as untouched wilderness.

Adam lets his freedom flag fly by examining why America doesn't have higher rates of social mobility. He then uncovers the flaws within our constitution and examines our country's progression and regression.

Adam and Emily prepare for a big night out by revealing the marketing ploy that led to women shaving and the fashion agendas that created pockets. Then, the two friends pour back the truth on alcohol consumption.

Adam takes down the do-gooders and reveals how Teach For America is harmful to both students and teachers. He then uncovers the ineffectiveness of recycling and calls out the billionaires who create charities for tax breaks.

Adam shines a headlight on why drivers are rarely prosecuted for car accidents that result in death. He breaks down border patrol's problematic search policies and examines the messed-up history of corpses and medical studies.

It's time to face the music, as Adam reveals the racism behind rock & roll's origins and the egregious fees of Live Nation's monopoly. He then defends musicians who "sell out" to make a living in today's digital landscape.

Don't let Adam's facts bug you as he uncovers the benefits of spiders, serves up knowledge on why we should be eating more bugs as a protein source, and illustrates the benefits of little bugs on your gut health.

Adam polices the truth behind the overuse of SWAT Teams, illustrates how using school officers can create a pipeline for prisons, and examines the origins and intended purpose of police officers.

Adam battles with his own inner self-doubt over how his biases affect the show and the influence (or lack thereof) of advertising on the series' integrity.