Adam Ruins Everything - Season 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.

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.