Seasons & episodes

S1 · E1How To Make Small Talk 2020-10-23 · 28 min＋

John Wilson reflects on the delicate balancing act of making – and safely redirecting – casual conversation, highlighting the rewards and risks of small talk.

S1 · E2How To Put Up Scaffolding 2020-10-30 · 27 min＋

John Wilson offers a unique history of New York’s hideous yet sprawling network of overhead “protection,” otherwise known as scaffolding – and contemplates what it might take to reduce its nearly 300-mile eyesore presently overtaking the city.

S1 · E3How To Improve Your Memory 2020-11-06 · 26 min＋

John Wilson taps into his “Memory Palace” for an unforgettable exploration into our ability – or inability – to remember things.

S1 · E4How To Cover Your Furniture 2020-11-13 · 25 min＋

While trying to live peacefully with his furniture destroying cat, John Wilson explores the challenges of keeping an object in pristine condition.

S1 · E5How To Split the Check 2020-11-20 · 25 min＋

John Wilson attempts to make sense of the intricacies – and fairness practices – behind the complex art of splitting the check.

S1 · E6How To Cook the Perfect Risotto 2020-11-27 · 29 min＋

To thank his elderly landlord for all the times she has cooked and cleaned for him, John attempts to make her favorite dish. Season finale.