The Best Episodes of Adam Ruins Everything
Last Updated: Jan 27, 2019
In Adam Ruins Everything, host Adam Conover employs a combination of comedy, history and science to dispel widespread misconceptions about everything we take for granted. A blend of entertainment and enlightenment, Adam Ruins Everything is like that friend who knows a little bit too much about everything and is going to tell you about it... whether you like it or not.
#1 - Adam Ruins Prison
Season 1 - Episode 21
When Emily gets tossed in the slammer, her cellmate reveals that corporations make money off prison inmates while the system does nothing to reduce crime. Adam then sheds light on jail rehabilitation and solitary confinement.
8.06
#2 - Adam Ruins Drugs
Season 1 - Episode 20
Adam weeds through the misconceptions of marijuana and exposes the blunt truth about the War on Drugs - that it stemmed from a racist and political agenda. Plus, Adam illustrates why prescription pills are the true gateway drug.
8.04
#3 - Adam Ruins Shopping Malls
Season 1 - Episode 16
Adam and Emily go on a shopping spree of knowledge and find that malls were created as tax loopholes, nutrient supplements are often unregulated, and most eyeglasses are made by one manufacturer that inflates its prices.
7.99
#4 - Adam Ruins Giving
Season 1 - Episode 1
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.
7.99
#5 - Adam Ruins Voting
Season 1 - Episode 7
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.
7.98
#6 - Adam Ruins Restaurants
Season 1 - Episode 5
Adam explains why tipping is a custom worth ditching, shows that experts can't tell the difference between wines, and reveals that mislabeled seafood is rampant in the industry.
7.94
#7 - Adam Ruins Sex
Season 1 - Episode 10
Adam reveals that circumcision was popularized by a bunch of masturbation-curbing 19th century prudes. Plus, he reveals why the fear of having herpes is overblown and explores why the term "pop your cherry" is a bunch of nonsense.
7.92
#8 - Adam Ruins Weddings
Season 1 - Episode 15
Emily and Murph's wedding day is here - but Adam's gift of information may rain on their parade. Adam reveals how most wedding "traditions" were recently created by consumerism, and that divorce is actually a wonderful thing.
7.92
#9 - Adam Ruins Security
Season 1 - Episode 2
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.
7.91
#10 - Adam Ruins Forensic Science
Season 1 - Episode 4
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.
7.89
#11 - Adam Ruins Hollywood
Season 1 - Episode 13
Adam Ruins everything about Hollywood from award shows to reality television
7.89
#12 - Adam Ruins Hygiene
Season 1 - Episode 6
Adam reveals that the term "halitosis" was popularized in a 1920's 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 modern times.
7.88
#13 - Adam Ruins Christmas
Season 1 - Episode 25
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.
7.87
#14 - Adam Ruins Cars
Season 1 - Episode 3
Adam exposes the surprising truths behind car dealerships, unearths the dirty little secrets of car ownership, and reveals that the concept of "jaywalking" was created by auto manufacturers to blame pedestrians for car crashes.
7.86
#15 - Adam Ruins Immigration
Season 1 - Episode 18
Adam illustrates how: a border wall wouldn't keep out legal immigrants who overstay their visas, racist mass deportations have historically led to disaster, and immigration courts are a huge mess.
7.86
#16 - Emily Ruins Adam Ruins Everything
Season 2 - Episode 8
Emily takes over to "ruin" Adam, pointing out where his facts fall short. She debunks the idea that IQ tests measure intelligence and points to information Adam has gotten wrong in the past. Plus, she explains the "backfire effect."
7.86
#17 - Adam Ruins Work
Season 1 - Episode 8
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.
7.84
#18 - Adam Ruins Housing
Season 1 - Episode 19
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.
7.84
#19 - Adam Ruins Summer Fun
Season 1 - Episode 9
Adam reveals that extended vacation makes you dumber, and that iconic rodent Mickey Mouse has made a mess of our copyright laws.
7.84
#20 - Adam Ruins Having a Baby
Season 2 - Episode 1
Adam dispels the myth about getting pregnant after 35, delves into breastfeeding vs formula, and explores postpartum depression for women - and men.
7.84
#21 - Adam Ruins Animals
Season 1 - Episode 17
Adam explores how purebred dogs are genetic monsters created by bored Victorians; domestic cats are overpopulated killing machines that threaten other animals; and wild animal trophy hunting can actually help endangered species.
7.84
#22 - Adam Ruins The Internet
Season 1 - Episode 23
While on a magical technological journey, Adam shows that smartphones are not the society-killers you'd think they are, American cable service providers are basically cartels, and most "free" sites are actually very costly.
7.83
#23 - Adam Ruins What We Learned in School
Season 2 - Episode 6
Adam shows that Columbus didn't discover America, King Tut was a dud and the rules of grammar are not as ironclad as people think.
7.81
#24 - Adam Ruins Nutrition
Season 1 - Episode 11
Adam shows why vitamin supplements don't make us any healthier, and that the "balanced breakfast" we've been sold is anything but. Later, he reveals how most of the nutritional science the media reports on isn't science at all.
7.81
#25 - Adam Ruins Death
Season 1 - Episode 12
Adam explores death. Included: immortality; the American funeral industry; medical decisions.
7.80