Phase slips are topological fluctuation events that carry the superconducting order-parameter field between distinct current carrying states and impart a non-zero resistance to quasi-one-dimensional superconductors. With the recent progress nano-fabrication, it has become possible to shrink the diameters of superconducting wires and ask fundamental questions about the essence of superconductivity at the nanoscale. By presenting our theories for a set of recent experiments on current-biased nanowires, I will argue that the distribution of switching currents (at which the wire stochastically switches from a superconductive to normal state) can provide a powerful probe for (quantum) phase-slip events. I will also discuss how Joule heating plays an important role in dictating the dynamics at the nanoscale and in the context of very recent experiments argue how shunting the wire can provide a way of tuning the dynamics in a controllable way.