Podcast Episodes

The Fascinating History of Ice Cream Trucks

The iconic ice cream truck holds a special place in American culture -- but where did they come from? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive deep into the waffle cone of ice cream history for the…

Published on 2 years, 8 months ago

The Strange Tale of Charles Entertainment Cheese, Part Two: Betrayal and Nostalgia

As Nolan Bushnell's Chuck E. Cheese concept took America by storm, competitors entered the field. In the second part of this two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore how Charles Entertainment Chee…

Published on 2 years, 8 months ago

The Strange Tale of Charles Entertainment Cheese, Part One: Atari and Pizza

For many Americans, Chuck E. Cheese is an immediate hit of pure nostalgia -- the pizza! The birthdays! The games! And, of course, the characters. In this week's special two-part episode, Ben, Noel an…

Published on 2 years, 9 months ago

CLASSIC: What's the Deal with Smashing Cake at Weddings?

Weddings are an ancient tradition, and over the millenia the various rituals associated with (theoretically) life-long partnership have evolved and changed. One ritual in particular became both promi…

Published on 2 years, 9 months ago

THE LAST SOVIET - EP 5: Three Hot Days in August

Season 1 Episode 5

Sergei makes the decision to stay in the space station. But a few weeks later something happens that changes everything. Mikhail Gorbachev disappears. What happens over the next 3 days will decide th…

Published on 2 years, 9 months ago

CLASSIC: Conquest via Bird Poop: One Island at a Time

If you land on a deserted island, you might be tempted to search for the basic stuff first -- food, water, shelter, and so on -- but don't forget to keep an eye out for guano! Why, you ask? Well, due…

Published on 2 years, 9 months ago

The Architecture of Spite, Part One: Lovers, Loiterers and Murderers

At its best, architecture is a kind of poetry made tangible, frozen in time for generations to come. But, as it turns out, architecture can also be a tremendous avenue for all sorts of less cool emot…

Published on 2 years, 9 months ago

Turn, Turn, Turn: A History of Turn Signals

If you've ever been stuck in traffic, you know turn signals are a vital part of safe driving (though not everyone seems to think so). But where did these nifty little blinking lights come from? Why d…

Published on 2 years, 9 months ago

A Legally Haunted House

These days, many people associate the idea of a 'haunted house' with horror novels, campfire tales and scary movies. But what happens when someone goes to court, claiming their new house is haunted? …

Published on 2 years, 9 months ago

The Oddly Dark History of Crash Test Dummies (Not The Band)

As automobiles took the world by storm, manufacturers quickly realized they needed to make a ton of safety improvements -- and fast. But how could you accurately determine what happened in a car cras…

Published on 2 years, 9 months ago