This week on A Little Knowledge, Joe and Jackson put down the research and start telling each other jokes. And somehow, Jackson's Uncle Dewey ends up becoming the star of half of them.

We trade jokes, see who can actually make the other one laugh, and discover just how many punchlines can involve one unsuspecting uncle. Then Joe reaches way back into the family history to tell the completely, absolutely, definitely true story of how his great-grandpappy met Billy the Kid.

Jokes, Uncle Dewey, questionable family history, and very little actual knowledge. Pretty much exactly what you'd expect from A Little Knowledge.

This week on A Little Knowledge, we're talking about something almost everyone does—swearing.

Why do humans swear in the first place? Why do certain words feel so much more satisfying than others? Joe and Jackson share some of their favorite swear words, talk about where our colorful language comes from, and dig into a little of the history behind profanity.

And because apparently swearing wasn't enough, we also travel way back to take a look at the earliest known written joke—proving that humans have been trying to make each other laugh (and probably offend each other) for thousands of years.

It's language, history, bad words, ancient jokes, and just enough actual information to be dangerous. In other words… A Little Knowledge.

This week, Joe and Jackson dive into the surprisingly fascinating world of swearing. They swap stories about growing up, the role bad words played in their families, and how their early exposure to profanity shaped the way they think about language today. Along the way, they explore why humans swear, why certain words carry so much power, and whether cursing is really as bad as we've always been told.

The conversation then takes an unexpected turn into classic '80s comedies like The Three Amigos and The Jerk. Are these movies still hilarious, or have changing social norms and cancel culture changed the way we watch them? Joe and Jackson debate whether comedy should be judged by the standards of its own time or by today's expectations—and, as always, they don't pretend to have all the answers.

From childhood memories and family traditions to profanity, nostalgia, and the evolution of comedy, it's another episode filled with curiosity, laughs, and just enough knowledge to get everyone arguing afterward.

This week, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible journey of fatherhood and the moments from childhood when we first realized what was possible—those little milestones that made us feel like we were growing up.

Of course, we don't stay on topic for long. Joe lovingly talks about his preferred way to clean the floors, while Jackson passionately defends the importance of a well-organized rack and how big it is. It's another mix of heartfelt stories, questionable detours, and the kind of conversations that only happen when you've been friends for years.

We'd like to dedicate this episode to our friend Dan and his family.

What makes something "cool," and who gets to decide? This week, Joe and Jackson tackle sneaker culture, the psychology behind collecting, and the invisible social economy of cultural currency and cultural capital. From limited-edition Jordans to everyday status symbols, they explore why people value what they do—with plenty of tangents, questionable expertise, and laughs along the way. It also happens to be one of their longest episodes yet.

This week, Joe and Jackson step into the world of sneaker culture—a world filled with hype drops, resale prices, limited editions, and people who camp overnight just to buy shoes. They explore what makes a pair of sneakers more than just footwear, why some people treat them like works of art or investment portfolios, and whether cultural currency can really be worn on your feet.

This week, Jackson drags Joe into the strange world of perception and forces him to confront a reality he'd rather ignore: blue birds aren't actually blue... and neither is the sky. What starts as a conversation about how our brains interpret light quickly turns into an uphill battle as Joe desperately searches for loopholes, sings a little Rosette, and attempts to derail the discussion every chance he gets.

This week, Joe takes the lead on a deep dive into the history, psychology, and cultural impact of the color red while Jackson jumps in with questions, observations, and the occasional derailment. From prehistoric cave pigments and royal robes to warning signs, advertising, politics, and pop culture, they explore why no other color has carried so much meaning across human history. Along the way they discuss why red grabs our attention, how it became a symbol of love, danger, power, and revolution, and why it still dominates everything from fast-food logos to sports cars.