Your Brain on Facts: Recent Episodes
Moxie LaBouche
Host Moxie LaBouche brings you a weekly half-hour of things you didn't know, things you thought you knew, and things you never knew you never knew.
Topics range from the history of nursing to the Balinese funeral rite David Bowie requested, from the origin of the Vulcan salute to the theft of Canada's strategic maple syrup reserve.
This is your brain on facts. yourbrainonfacts.com
How hard was it to steal the Mona Lisa? What does the word "ponzi" actually mean?
Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod,
(Chronic health problems sometime require an encore performance of a past episode.) Hundreds dead, thousands homeless, entire communities wiped out, yet most of us have never heard of what happened in Rosewood 1923, Tulsa 1921, or Chicago 1919. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
What do limestone, leather, plastic and mulberry tree bark have in common? They've all been used to make money, plus lots of other materials besides! Join me for a quick jaunt around the world and through history and we look at a fraction of the history of currency. Shirt raising money for Ukraine Red Cross Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Steve Oxen
Who was General Tsao of chicken fame? Where do Danish pastries come from? Is pad Thai actually Thai food? All that and more in this patron-voted episode! 1-star review shirt! and shirt raising money for Ukraine Red Cross Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod,
How did rubber ducks go from lumps of rubber that didn't even float to a cheerful childhood staple? Let's look at where they came from, where they're going, and why they keep showing up at violent political protests. 1-star review shirt! and shirt raising money for Ukraine Red Cross 00:38 Bit of backstory 07:13 Bert's best buddy 10:25 Review, patrons, thanks! 12:00 Ducks for charity or science 17:58 Giant ducks, wild and domestic 20:16 Can You Hear The Duckies Sing? 22:45 THE Rubber Duck Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod,
Finally, I get to the subtopic that launched not one but two episodes, the Gentleman Pirate Stede Bonnet, as well as the most interesting boring thing I could find and why science didn't get a handle on scurvy until nearly WWII. (Apologies in advance because I was red-lining my mic throughout and I have no idea why -- I'd been doing VO jobs all day with no such issue.) 1-star review shirt! and shirt raising money for Ukraine Red Cross 01:03 Ye scurvy dog 08:27 Gratitude et al 11:30 The doldrums 15:49 Livestream for the Cure 17:46 The Gentleman Pirate, Stede Bonnet Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod,
What started as a need to tell the real story of "Gentleman Pirate" Stede Bonnet has turned into a myth vs history two-parter! I love when that happens. Hear about pirate pensions, the makeup of the mariners, and civil unions on the seven seas. Special thanks to Charlie and Jesse over the in Brainiac Breakroom for help with the title. 1-star review shirt! and shirt raising money for Ukraine Red Cross Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod, and Tabletop Audio Calm History Podcast
It's the return of our occasional series, We Can't Have Nice Things. This week, we look at radio contest and promotions that went badly wrong, often at the draft stage. Free nude wedding anyone? 1-star review shirt! and shirt raising money for Ukraine Red Cross at yourbrainonfacts.com/merch 02:45 Radio Luxembourg's Ice Block Challenge 06:02 Bait & switch 10:12 Rules are rules 17:36 Review and news 20:40 No accounting for taste 22:15 Library of Chaos 27:27 Good, better, breast 30:08 Playing matchmaker Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Bobby Richards .
Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear leather jackets with chains, long hair, and lots of eyeliner! Today we look at three times heavy metal musicians said "We're not gonna take it" and defended the freedom of speech, but were they "Breaking the Law" and just "Howl(ing) at the Moon"?
0:42 Twisted Sister vs Congress
17:07 Reviews and news
19:58 Ozzy Osbourne's Suicide Solution
26:20 Judas Priest, Better Than You
28:28 Subliminal back-masking
1-star review shirt! and shirt raising money for Ukraine Red Cross at yourbrainonfacts.com/merch
Links to all the research resources are on the website.
Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt.
Music: Kevin MacLeod,
It’s not unusual for the business side of the music business to include trips to the courthouse. Usually, these are for copyright infringement, someone else ripping off your schtick. In the halcyon days of 2005, the band Slipknot was moved to sue, of all people, Burger King for their commercial with a fake band, all in scary masks and costumes, called Cock Rock.
The best way to describe the 1980’s would be to say, you had to see it to believe it. Weird times, man. If we weren’t panicking about Russia, we were moral-panicking over Satanic things like heavy-metal music and Dungeons and Dragons, the things that make life worth living and were supposedly at the core of wildly rampant crises of child sex abuse and teen suicide. In the red corner, the busy-body buzzkill today is Tipper Gore, then-wife of then-congressman Al, who had it in her head that rock music was a huge threat to the bedrock of society. Feel free to picture Helen Lovejoy [sfx clip]. And in the blue corner, an unlikely hero in the form of Dee Snider, front man of oh so typical larger than life hair metal band Twisted Sister.
The trouble started when Tipper bought her 11-year-old daughter a copy of the album "Purple Rain," the smash-hit album from the R-rated film, both courtesy of Prince. And Tipper was shocked, *shocked to hear inappropriate lyrics. She clearly did not know his body of work. "Darling Nikki" was a bridge too far, and if you know, you know. With bra cups brimming with righteous indignation, Tipper gathered like-minded, and I’m assuming bored, wives of senators, cabinet members, and prominent businessmen to for the Parents Music Resource Council or PMRC. But this wasn’t censorship, the PMRC wanted everyone to know. It was just about helping parents make informed decisions. They wanted to see music rated like movies, with warnings for the R-rated stuff.
Critics pointed out that that was easier said than done. The Motion Picture Association of America rated about 350 movies a year. By contrast the Recording Industry Association of America saw 25,000 songs a year being released in those days. To focus their efforts, the PMRC threw down the gauntlet on the "Filthy Fifteen," a list of songs from the likes of Madonna and Sheena Easton to AC/DC and Judas Priest, that were part of what Gore called "the twisted tyranny of explicitness in the public domain." I did a Thundercats burlesque number to one of the songs. Care to guess which one?
While the PMRC wasn’t an official government anything, the record industry needed to stay on their good side. They were lobbying for a tax on blank cassettes, absolutely besides themselves over the idea of losing money to tape dubbing. Four members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation were all married to PMRC members. This was enough for the RIAA to cross the street to get away from the principles of free expression in hopes of getting the blank-tape tax.
When the Senate committee called for hearings on this issue. Arguing for totally’not’censorship, you guys, were PMRC members, child-health experts, and religious figures. Standing up for their rights as musicians was an interesting trio – Twister Sister’s Dee Snider, folk singer John Denver, and I would not insult him by trying to affix a label, gonzo rock god Frank Zappa. We don’t know how many musicians were invited, but they were the only ones who showed up.
Anyone else who was invited missed the chance for a lot of press – the hearing room was packed with reporters and tv cameras til the fourth estate were packed in like sardines. PMRC husband Sen. Hollings played their hand right away, referring to the music in question as "porn rock," saying "If I could find some way to constitutionally do away with it, I would." I bet he’s fun at parties. Sen. Paula Hawkins waved off concerns about artists' rights of free expression under the First Amendment as she waved away the idea of parental responsibility, and bemoaned rock music becoming much more explicit in the 30 years since Elvis. A 2012 study by Elizabeth Langdon at Cleveland State University found that music has indeed grown more explicit in its sexual content, but "the sexual attitudes and behaviors (and related outcomes) of adolescents do not appear to be following suit at the national level."
When it came time to make their case before the government, Tipper Gore and Susan Baker, wife of then-Treasury Secretary James Baker, testified on behalf of the PMRC. Album art, a much bigger part of the whole music buying and enjoying process. Remember liner notes with all the lyics? It was like Christmas! Those albums that had Playboy, Boris Vallejo, or Saw vibes on their jacket were used as evidence. A local pastor read salacious lyrics about bondage, incest, and "anal vapors"...to unrestrained tittering and laughter. A child psychiatrist testified that David Berkowitz, the serial killer called "Son of Sam," was known to listen to Black Sabbath. sigh You shouldn’t be allowed to get a degree without understanding the difference between correlation and causation.
Then the defense took the stand. Rally, lads! Zappa was up first, looking as not Frank Zappa as I ever saw, with short hair and a suit. "I've heard some conflicting reports on whether or not people on this committee want legislation. I understand that Senator Hollings does." Sen. James Exon butted in, saying he might support legislation that makes the music industry "voluntarily" clean up its act, which Zappa astutely pointed out is “hardly voluntary." [sfx clip]
"The PMRC proposal is an ill-conceived piece of nonsense which fails to deliver any real benefits to children, infringes the civil liberties of people who are not children, and promises to keep the courts busy for years, dealing with the interpretation and enforcement problems inherent in the proposal's design. It is my understanding that, in law, First Amendment issues are decided with a preference for the least restrictive alternative. In this context, the PMRC's demands are the equivalent of treating dandruff by decapitation."
He took dead aim at the inherent conflict of interest and said the whole issue was a facade for "trade-restraining legislation, whipped up like an instant pudding by the Wives of Big Brother." Chef kiss. The senators were less impressed. Thankfully the next at-bat was Ivory soap clean, openly devout Christian John Denver, or as Dee Snider later described him, "mom-American-pie- John-Denver-Christmas-special- fresh-scrubbed guy."
Despite his broad appeal, Denver was no stranger to censorship, which he warned the PMRC was approaching. "Rocky Mountain High," one of his biggest hits, was banned from some radio stations for drug references that weren’t actually there. "What assurance have I that any national panel to review my music would make any better judgment?" Denver asked the senators. A "self-appointed moral watchdog," he argued, was antithetical to the ideals of a democratic society, the sort of thing you saw in Nazi Germany. Denver then excused himself from the hearing because he had a meeting with NASA in hopes of becoming the first civilian in space. Not a word of a lie. Luckily, he didn’t make the cut; the flight in question was the catastrophic last flight of the Challenger.
With the opening acts out of the way, it was time for the headliner, Dee Snider, who quite plausibly believes [1] “the PMRC — or the senators whose wives were in the PMRC — invited me to make a mockery out of me in front of the world." When Snider walked in, they probably thought they’d gotten their wish. He was wearing his “dirtbag couture” – jeans, a tank top, sunglasses, and voluminous bottle-blond hair.
But Dee Snider wasn’t the airhead they were expecting. He introduced himself as a married father, a Christian, and neither drinks nor does drugs. He’d brought his Army and NYPD veteran father with him. (Zappa brought his kids, Moon Unit and Dweezil because they were Twisted Sister fans.) He addressed Tipper personally for her misinterpretation and misrepresentation of his song "Under the Blade," which they claimed was about S&M and rape, citing the lyrics “Your hands are tied, your legs are strapped, a light shines in your eyes/You faintly see a razor's edge, you open your mouth to cry.” Snider countered was about their bassist Eddie Ojeda having surgery, literally going under the knife. "Ms. Gore was looking for sadomasochism and bondage and she found it," indicating the bondage was a metaphor for fear. Snider later wrote for the Huffington Post that he enjoyed the "raw hatred I saw in Al Gore's eyes when I said Tipper Gore had a dirty mind."
Snider highlighted another accusation from Tipper Gore, "You look at even the t-shirts that kids wear and you see Twisted Sister and a woman in handcuffs sort of spread-eagled." This was a complete untruth. Twisted Sister "never sold a shirt of this type; we have always taken great pains to steer clear of sexism in our merchandise, records, stage show, and personal lives. Furthermore, we have always promoted the belief that rock and roll should not be sexist, but should cater to males and females equally." He challenged Tipper to produce any such shirt and when asked about it again by Senator Al Gore, Gore clarified for the record that "the word 't-shirts' was in plural, and one of them referred to Twisted Sister and the other referred to a woman in handcuffs." Snider stuck to his guns insisting Tipper was referring to Twisted Sister before Senator Gore changed the subject.
During Snider's testimony, Senator Ernest Hollings from South Carolina asked him about different perceptions of obscenity and vulgarity. He read part of a Supreme Court verdict in the Pacifica Case involving the Federal Communications Commission (famous for the role George Carlin's "Seven Dirty Words" played in it). In the case, the Supreme Court ruled that "Patently offensive, indecent material presented over the airwaves confronts the citizen not only in public, but also in the privacy of the home. The individual's right to be left alone, plainly outweighs the first amendment rights of an intruder."
They still hadn’t figured out who they were dealing with. Snider pointed out there was a difference between the airwaves” as opposed to a person going with their money to purchase an album to play in their room, in their home, on their own time. The airwaves are something different."
Sen. Al Gore opened his questioning of Snider by asking what the initials of their fan club “S.M.F.” stood for.
[x] "It stands for the Sick Motherf------ Friends of Twisted Sister," Snider testified.
"Is this also a Christian group?" Gore asked, to a smattering of laughter.
"I don't believe profanity has anything to do with Christianity," Snider said. I could watch replays of that hearing all day.
[y] "The beauty of literature, poetry, and music is that they leave room for the audience to put its own imagination, experience, and dreams into the words," Snider testified. "There is no authority who has the right or the necessary insight to make these judgments. Not myself, not the federal government, not some recording industry committee, not the PTA, not the RIAA, and certainly not the PMRC," Snider said. [sfx clip?]
When it was said and done, it's unlikely that many minds were changed by the hearing. Although, despite the protestations to the contrary, quite a few senators and witnesses had explicitly argued in favor of government action. No laws were passed, but they still got results. The RIAA agreed to work with the PMRC on labeling objectionable content with a bold black and white sticker reading "Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics." So the rockers kinda lost, but they were awesome and I’m counting it as a moral victory.
That black and white sticker was worse than a Scarlet Letter. Huge retailers like Walmart would not sell "labeled" records, period, cutting out a huge slice of the marketplace for "labeled" artists. Some smaller stores were threatened with eviction if they stocked "labeled" records. The city of San Antonio barred "labeled" artists from performing. Maryland and Pennsylvania debated requiring retailers to keep it in an "adults-only" area of the store. Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra was prosecuted in California over "Distribution of Harmful Material to Minors."
But musicians would have the last laugh. The explicit lyrics sticker very quickly went from mark to shame to selling point. Retailers realized the money they were missing out on and began stocking the albums. Teens and young adults would often buy albums *because they had the warning. In fact, if you were hard-cord or counter-culture or punk in any way but didn’t have a warning label, scoff! There was also a shed load of reaction music, including Danzig’s only mainstream hit. [sfx clip] Nowadays, not only have our buying habits changed, but our standards have too.
MIDROLL
CW: The following section is about news events subsequent to suicides, without going into too much detail about the suicides themselves. If that’s not where your head is today, no worries, we’ll catch up next week.
In 1986, Sharon Osbourne called her management client and husband Ozzy Osbourne that he had to get on a plane as fast as possible and get to LA. Like a phone call from a movie, she refused to tell him why, but demanded he go now. Ozzy landed in LA into the loving embrace of a batallion of reporter’s microphones and those stupidly bright news camera lights, asking him how he responded to the suicide. What Sharon could have taken 10 seconds to explain to him was that the previous year, 19 year old John McCollum was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his California bedroom. The album Blizzard of Oz which he’d allegedly been listening to for at least six hours straight, was still spinning on the stereo turntable. McCollum’s parents believed Osbourne was responsible, that his song “Suicide Solution” was a proximate cause of their son’s death. Okay, that was about 20 seconds, but I stand on my statement.
In their lawsuit, McCollum’s parents claimed that there were hidden lyrics in the song that incited John to kill himself, with messages like “get the gun and try it, shoot, shoot, shoot.” Osbourne countered that the song wasn’t about a solution as in an answer, but a solution as in a liquid, specifically the one he was at the time slowly killing *himself with, and which has killed AC/DC’s Bon Scott, alcohol.
[ozzy 1] "Suicide Solution wasn't written about, 'Oh that's the solution, suicide.' I was a heavy drinker and I was drinking myself to an early grave. It was suicide solution," Ozzy said later. "Wine is fine but whiskey's quicker. Suicide is slow with liquor. That's what I was doing for a long while.”
The plaintiff’s case was that the song Suicide Solution should be exempt from the first Amendment’s freedom of speech. In the US, you’re free to express any viewpoint or feelings, up to a point – it is not legal to directly incite specific, imminent actions which cause harm to others. That’s hard to prove and virtually every attempt to hold an entertainer responsible for allegedly inciting action has failed. One notable exception, and a replacement for the tired old ‘you can’t yell fire in a crowded theater’ example is that of radio disc jockey The Real Don Steele, who told listeners to hurry as quickly as they could to a certain Los Angeles address to win a prize. This is 1970, only two years after seat belts became mandatory, and people were getting in crack-ups, and one motorist who had no idea what was happening was killed. In a case still taught in law schools everywhere, his family sued and the California Supreme Court ruled in their favor. I really could do a whole episode just on radio promotions going terribly, terribly wrong. At issue in the McCollum case was not whether there actually were hidden lyrics, but whether such lyrics are protected speech or incitement to violence. If successful, the McCollum lawsuit would have had sweeping consequences for artists in every medium, potentially holding them liable for the actions of those who watched, read or listened to what they’d created. At the very least, it would have made Ozzy too big a liability for any record label or concert promoter to associate themselves with, and it’s not hard to imagine that that pariah status would spread to other metal bands.
[ozzy 2]“I feel very sad for the boy, and I felt terribly sad for the parents. As a parent myself, I'd be pretty devastated if something like that happened. And I have thought about this, if the boot was on the other foot, I couldn't blame the artist."
The suit wasn’t just about Suicide Solution; they also blamed the song Paranoid. Data point of one, but I can disprove that one by sheer force of math; it’s probably my most-listened-to Ozzy or Sabbath song, with the very Un-Sabbath Laguna Sunrise as a close second.
Plaintiff’s counsel Tom Anderson claimed McCollum had been a normal, happy well-adjusted young man, who listened to ″Suicide Solution″ for hours before killing himself, and that a low-frequency hum on the record, only audible if you were using headphones as McCollum had been, had caused him to be more susceptible to the song’s hidden message. Attorneys for CBS, Ozzy’s record label and party in the suit, argued that Osbourne was no more responsible for a listeners’ actions than Shakespeare would be for Hamlet’s soliloquy, Tolstoy for Anna Karenina throwing herself under the wheels of a train, or the producers of “M.A.S.H.” for choosing “Suicide Is Painless” for its theme tune. When Judge John Cole dismissed the case, spoiler alert, he left room for the plaintiffs to appeal over the mysterious hum, which they did; the appellate judge upheld the dismissal.
This wasn’t the last time a fan’s suicide resulted in legal action. The family of another young man brought a similar lawsuit against Osbourne in 1986. Their case was also unsuccessful.
5 years later, CBS was back in court, though this time it was Judas Priest who found themselves in the dock, but with a pseudoscience twist. In December 1985, 20-year-old James Vance and 18-year-old Raymond Belknap of Nevada, concluded a day of drinking, drugs, and heavy metal with an alleged suicide pact by means of self-inflicted shotgun fire. Belknap died instantly, while Vance survived for a further three years, though without the lower half of his face, before eventually succumbing to complications.
The two families subsequently alleged that Priest had placed subliminal messages throughout 1978’s Stained Class album, inciting fans to kill themselves. The worst offender on the album was Better By You, Better Than Me, where messages like ‘Let’s be dead’ and ‘Do it’ were smuggled in by means of backmasking. Let’s hop out of the shallow end for a deep dive here. Backwards-masking or backmasking an intentional recording in which a message is recorded backward onto a track that is meant to be played forward. It goes all the way back to the 70’s, the 1870’s, when Thomas Edison discovered the novelty of playing recorded music backwards. The beat generation of the 50s started to purposely include reverse audio into their music and artists continued to play around with it for decades. The Beatles deliberate [...]. This splashed fuel on the Paul-is-dead urban legend/conspiracy theory with supposed messages like “Paul is dead, miss him, miss him,” in “I’m So Tired” and “turn me on, dead man” in Revolution 9. Audiophiles kept an ear out for it, but it didn’t come to wide public knowledge until the 80’s. These days, Easter eggs and hidden goodies are shared on social media and YT, but back then, it was conservatives ruining cassettes and vinyl records by playing them backwards in church, community meetings, local access television, whatever venue they could get. They claimed that the backwards speech could subliminally influence the listener when listening to the music in the normal way. They found backmasking in everything from Elvis to Led Zepplin. Supposedly Stairway to Heaven contained Satanic commands like “here’s to my sweet Satan,” “serve me,” and “there’s no escaping it.”
Audio Engineer Evan Olcott claims that backmasking or finding phonetic reversals is purely coincidental in which the spoken or sung phonemes, a fancy word for individual speech sounds, seem to form words. Our brains make sense of our environment, or they try, any road, and that can mean convincing themselves that garbled sounds are actually words. There’s a key to claims of backmasking and it’s priming, telling the listener what they’re going to hear. [sfx example]
Backmasking is supposed to work subliminally, meaning literally below the threshold of sensation of consciousness. In theory, subliminal messages deliver an idea that the conscious mind doesn't detect. For those too young to remember Tyler Durden’s projectionist hobby, the prime example of subliminal messages is a single frame of text slipped into a video, which *has been used on TV by both corporations and political candidates. Whenever one of these comes to light, there is always much contention, yet thoroughly negligible results. If you can find a properly organized scientific study that bears out claims that messages you don’t know you saw can influence people’s behavior, call us here in the studio. Until then, I plant my banner on the hill of It’s Utter Crap.
At the time, Priest guitarist Glenn Tipton said: “It’s a fact that if you play speech backwards, some of it will seem to make sense. So I asked permission to go into a studio and find some perfectly innocent phonetic flukes. The lawyers didn’t want to do it, but I insisted. We bought a copy of the Stained Class album in a local record shop, went into the studio, recorded it to tape, turned it over and played it backwards. Right away we found ‘Hey ma, my chair’s broken’ and ‘Give me a peppermint’ and ‘Help me keep a job’.”
At one point, frontman Rob Halford was called upon to actually sing part of the song while on the stand, which he looks really uncomfortable doing without so much as a metronome to accompany him. “It tore us up emotionally hearing someone say to the judge and the cameras that this is a band that creates music that kills young people. We accept that some people don’t like heavy metal, but we can’t let them convince us that it’s negative and destructive. Heavy metal is a friend that gives people great pleasure and enjoyment and helps them through hard times.”
Eventually, the case against Judas Priest and their label was dismissed. The judge did agree that you could hear words other than the printed lyrics, but these were “only discernible after their location had been identified and after the sounds were isolated and amplified. The sounds would not be consciously discernible to the ordinary listener under normal listening conditions”.
And that’s… Slipknot filed a copyright infringement suit claiming Burger King misappropriated their images. The King fired back that Slipknot didn’t invent masked rockers, the post-apocalyptic gas masks aesthetic, or white guys with dreadlocks and, therefore, had no copyrights to claim. Ultimately, I guess they all realized they had more important things to do and the case was dropped.
Sources:
https://johndenver.com/about/biography/#:~:text=He%20then%20became%20a%20leading,during%20take%2Doff%20in%201986.
https://www.ranker.com/list/dee-snyder-speech-parents-music-resource-center/melissa-sartore
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_(Danzig_song)
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/dee-snider-pmrc-interview-2015/
https://www.suicideinfo.ca/resource/musicandsuicide/
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/judas-priest-suicide-lawsuit-subliminal-messages/
https://www.loudersound.com/features/how-a-suicide-pact-was-almost-the-end-of-judas-priest
https://pop.inquirer.net/106559/the-auditory-phenomenon-called-backmasking-unmasked
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/backward-message-songs/
https://www.livescience.com/does-subliminal-messaging-work.html
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/an-ozzy-osbourne-fan-commits-suicide
https://www.kerrang.com/ozzy-osbourne-the-suicide-solution-controversy-and-what-the-song-actually-means
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-12-20-mn-4460-story.html
https://apnews.com/article/05b56baebdc9ceaff3433f50fc941298
https://www.loudersound.com/features/how-a-suicide-pact-was-almost-the-end-of-judas-priest
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1758714.html
https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/287706/that-time-slipknot-sued-burger-king-over-coq-roq-chicken-fries-commercial
https://loudwire.com/remember-when-slipknot-sued-burger-king/
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/backward-message-songs/
Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear leather jackets with chains, long hair, and lots of eyeliner! Today we look at three times heavy metal musicians said "We're not gonna take it" and defended the freedom of speech, but were they "Breaking the Law" and just "Howl(ing) at the Moon"? 0:42 Twisted Sister vs Congress 17:07 Reviews and news 19:58 Ozzy Osbourne's Suicide Solution 26:20 Judas Priest, Better Than You 28:28 Subliminal back-masking 1-star review shirt! and shirt raising money for Ukraine Red Cross at yourbrainonfacts.com/merch Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod,
1-star review shirt! and shirt raising money for Ukraine Red Cross.
It's another one of those episodes all about a topic that sounds totally mundane and boring! Where did apples come from? Was Johnny Appleseed real? Why does planting apple seeds lead to disappointment? And why are some apples considered intellectual property?
Links to all the research resources are on the website.
Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt.
Music: Kevin MacLeod, Tabletop Audio, and Steve Oxen.
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What’s more wholesome and iconic than an apple? In the Bible, Eve ate an apple and now half of us have to have periods and crap. In fairness to apples, the Bible just says “fruit” and it was Milton’s “Paradise Lost” that declared the fruit was an apple because the Latin word for apple, m-a-l-u-s, is also the word for evil. There’s the Greek myth of Atalanta, who would only marry the man who beat her in a footrace, so Aphrodite helped a Melanion cheat by dropping golden apples that she stopped to pick up. An apple fell on the head of Isaac Newton, leading to the discovery of gravity – prior to that, everyone weighed a lot less. The record label that gave the world the Beatles and one of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world use an apple as their logo. [tiktok] Bonus fact: The Apple computer logo has a bite taken out of it so it isn’t mistaken for a cherry, which I don’t think would really have been so great a danger, and is *not a nod to Alan Turing, the famous mathematician who helped Britain win WWII but was hounded by that same government for being gay and took his own life with a poisoned apple. Steve Jobs and co repeatedly said they wished it was that clever.
We say something is “as American as apple pie” and even though Ralph Waldo Emerson dubbed apples “the American fruit,” the tasty, sweet malus domestica as you’re used to it is about as native to North America as white people. That’s not to say there was nothing of the genus malus in the new world; there was the crabapple, a small, hard, exceedingly tart apple, which is better used for adding the natural thickener pectin to preserves than anything.
The story of apples actually begins in Kazakhstan, in central Asia east of the Caspian Sea. Malus sieversii is a wild apple, native to Kazakhstan’s Tian Shan Mountains, where they have been growing over millions of years and where they can still be found fruiting today. There’s evidence of Paleolithic people harvesting and using native crabapples 750,000 years ago, give or take a week. The original wild apples grew in ‘apple forests’ at the foot of the snow-tipped mountains, full of different shapes,sizes and flavors, most of them bad. Kazakhstan is hugely proud of its fruity history. The former capital city of Almaty claimed the honor of ‘birth place of the apple’ about 100 years ago. Seems a suitable sobriquet since the name ‘Almaty’ was previously recorded as ‘Alma-Ata’ which translates from Kazakh as ‘Father of the Apples,’ though in Latin Alma means mother or nurturer, which feels more fitting but that’s beside the point.
This origin story was not without controversy, but what am I here for if not to teach the controversy? In 1929, Russian scientist Nikolai Vavilov first traced the apple genome. He identified the primary ancestor of most cultivars of the domesticated apple to be the ancient apple tree: Malus sieversii. There used to be some controversy over this, but it has since been confirmed, through detailed DNA testing, and a full sequencing of the genome, as recently as 2010.
It was probably birds and traveling mammal species that initially transported apple seeds out of Kazakhstan long before humans started to cultivate them – by eating the apples and then pooping out the seeds. By 1500 BC apple seeds had been carried throughout Europe by the Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans. Bloody Romans. What have they ever done for us? I mean apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans really ever done for us? Oh yeah, apples. The Romans discovered apples growing in Syria and were central in dispersing them around the world from there, using the Silk Road as a means of transport from East to West. Romans were a fair hand at grafting, taking a cutting from one apple variety and attaching it to a rootstock (young roots and trunk) from another tree – more on that later. As such, the Romans started to grow apples in Europe and Britain that were bigger, sweeter, and tastier than any before. Let’s not forget variety. There are a whopping 2,170 English cultivars of malus domestica alone.
Apples arrived in the new world first with the Spanish in the warm bits and then with English settlers in the cooler bits, which when I say it sounds like it was done on purpose. Ask an American child how apples spread across the nascent US and they’ll tell you it was Johnny Appleseed. We tend to learn about him around the time we learn about “tall tales,” i.e. American folklore –stories like the giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, or John Henry, who could hammer railroad spikes in ahead of a moving train – so it can be a little tricky to be sure if Johnny Appleseed is real or not. Don’t feel bad, a friend of mine just learned that narwhals were real the other year when she wanted to be one in a cryptid-themed burlesque show.
Johnny Appleseed, real name John Chapman, was a real person, though naturally some aspects of his life were mythologized over time. Details are sparse on his early life, but we know that Chapman was born in Massachusetts in 1774 and planted his first apple tree trees in the Allegheny Valley in Pennsylvania in his mid-twenties. He then began traveling west through Ohio, planting as he went. These were frontier times. We’re talking about a good 70 years before the transcontinental railroad, so much of the area he went through did not yet have white settlers in it, but Chapman seems to have a knack for predicting where they would settle and planting nurseries in those spots. Chapman was also a devout follower of the mystical teachings of Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg, and he tried to spread Swedenborgian doctrine as well. People were open to some parts of it, like kindness to all animals, even the unpleasant ones.
The apples that Chapman brought to the frontier were completely distinct from the apples available at any modern grocery store or farmers' market, and they weren't primarily used for eating, but for making hard apple cider. Cider was a mainstay item for the same reason people drank beer at breakfast, because it was safer than the water supply. This didn’t actually apply as much in the not-yet-destroyed frontier as it had back in London, but old habits die hard.
I’ve often wondered why cider is such a staple beverage in the UK, but only resurfaced in the last 20 or so years here in the States, where we have to specify hard cider” because the word “cider” normally means a glorious, thick, flavorful unfiltered apple juice you only get in the fall. It’s thanks to the colossal failure that was that “noble experiment,” Prohibition, when some people didn’t like drinking and told the rest of us we couldn’t either. "Up until Prohibition, an apple grown in America was far less likely to be eaten than to wind up in a barrel of cider," writes Michael Pollan in The Botany of Desire. "In rural areas cider took the place of not only wine and beer but of coffee and tea, juice, and even water." The cider apples are small and unpleasant to eat, so they were really only good for cider-making. As such, during Prohibition, cider apple trees were often chopped down by FBI agents, effectively erasing cider, along with Chapman's true history, from American life.
But Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman wouldn’t know anything about all that. Within his own lifetime, tales of his activities began to circulate. Most of these focused on his wilderness skills and his remarkable physical endurance. Chapman cut an eccentric figure. He wore a sack with holes for his head and arms rather than a proper shirt and after he’d worn through multiple pairs of shoes, he gave up and went barefoot. Perhaps his most distinct feature, the one always included in drawings, apart from a bag of apple seeds, is his soup pot, just about his only possession, which he wore on his head like a hat.
Starting in 1792, the Ohio Company of Associates made an offer of 100 acres of land to anyone willing to make a homestead on the wilderness beyond Ohio's first permanent settlement. These homesteads had to be permanent; no pitching a tent and saying ‘where’s my land?’ To prove their homesteads were the real deal, settlers were required to plant 50 apple trees and 20 peach trees in three years. Since an average apple tree took roughly ten years to bear fruit, you wouldn’t bother unless you were in it for the long haul. He might have looked like a crazy hermit, but Chapman realized that if he could do the difficult work of planting these orchards, he could sell them for a handsome profit to incoming frontiersmen. “On this week’s episode of Frontier Flipper, Johnny plants an orchard…again.” Wandering from Pennsylvania to Illinois, Chapman would advance just ahead of settlers, cultivating orchards that he would sell them when they arrived, and then head to more undeveloped land.
That was very clever. What wasn’t clever was Chapman growing apples from seed at all. This is the bit about grafting, in case you were jumping around looking for it. Statistically, at least one person was really waiting for this part. Apple trees don’t grow “true-to-type,” as WSU tree fruit breeder Kate Evans explains. That means that if you were to plant, for instance, Red Delicious seeds in your backyard, you wouldn’t get Red Delicious apples, not that you’d want to, but more on that later. Boy, what a tease. Instead, planting and breeding means matching a scion to a rootstock. The scion is the fruiting part of the tree – most of what you actually see. The rootstock is everything that goes in the ground, as well as the first few inches of the trunk. Buds from one variety are attached to the rootstock of another and they grow into a tree that will produce apples.
But matching up the scion and rootstock isn’t enough to grow good apples. You also need a tree to act as a pollinator. “If you don’t have good pollination, you can end up with misshapen or small unattractive fruit,” says Jim McFerson, director of the Wenatchee extension. Up to ten percent of an orchard can be pollinators, and most today are crabapple trees. Apple trees cannot normally pollinate themselves. Unlike, say, peaches, which can and do self-pollinate, predictably producing peaches virtually identical to the parents, the viable seeds (or pips) will produce apples which don’t resemble the parents. This requirement for pollination is how there have come to be so many varieties in the world, at least 20k and that’s a conservative estimate.
For context, there are only two varieties of commercial banana and just one kiwifruit.
Grafting was an established way of propagating apples and was commonly done in New England, so why didn’t Chapman do that? Apart from the fact that it’s easier to travel with just seeds and planting is faster than graftering, as a member of the Swedenborgian Church, Chapman was forbidden from cutting two trees to cobble together a new tree and it was thought to make the plants suffer. John “Johnny Appleseed” Chapman died in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1845, having planted apple trees as far west as Illinois or Iowa. A century later, in 1948, Disney solidified his legend with an animated version of his life. The cartoon emphasized his Christian faith, but conveniently left out all the Swedenborgian stuff.
MIDROLL
Speaking of varieties, as well we might, what would you guess the most popular apple variety has been for the past, say, 70 years? The apple whose name is half-lying but unfortunately it’s lying about the important half, the Red Delicious. They are the most iconic apple across most of the world. Don’t believe me, just check emoji packs in other countries. Their appearance is the whole reason these apples exist, with their deep, even red color and dimpled bottom that look so enticing in the produce department; it’s also the reason they suck and are terrible. They taste of wet cardboard and have the mouthfeel of resentment. Their flavor and texture were sacrificed for botanical vanity and shippability.
Even apple growers hate them. Mike Beck, who tends 80 acres of apples at Uncle John’s Cider Mill, admits he grows some Red Delicious to add color to some of his ciders, but he won’t eat them.
The Red Delicious was first called the Hawkeye, and one Jesse Hiatt found it growing as a random sapling on his Iowa farm around 1870. The fruit that eventual tree produced was sweet and fruity, but it wasn’t red, rather red and yellow-striped, like an heirloom tomato. Of course, back then, those were just called tomatoes. It was introduced to the market in 1874 and the rights to the Hawkeye apple were sold to the Stark Brothers Nursery, whose owner thought it was the best apple he’d ever tasted. By 1914, Stark’s renamed the variety Red Delicious, and over time, produced a fruit with less yellow and more red year over year. It also gained its buxom top-heavy shape and five little feet nubs on the bottom.
As with any product, it took a hefty shovelful of marketing for Red Delicious to gain a following, but gain it did. Current estimates have Red Delicious being 90% of the apple crop at one point. That point happened in the 1950s, thanks to that force of nature, changes in buying habits. PreWWII, people would buy food right from the farm or at farmers markets, then the modern grocery store, with its cold storage, and the refrigerated truck courtesy of Frederick Jones. Bigger stores need to move more product and a big pyramid of shiny, sports car red apples by the front window will really bring the punters in. Growers could sell them to packers, who in turn sold them to those grocery store chains, which also fueled a change in their taste. Orchardists bred and crossbreed the Red Delicious to get that perfect shape and color, uniformity and resilience to handling and shipping; they just left off tiny considerations, very minor concessions really, like taste and texture.
But there’s change a-foot again. People began to realize you can have an apple in your pack lunch or the big bowl at the fancy hotel reception desk that you’d actually want to eat. Now we’re all about those Sweet Tangos, Braseburns, and Honeycrips. Unwilling or unable to admit defeat, however, the Red Delicious is still out there. But like a lot of has-beens, its seeing more success abroad than at home, and they’re exported to the western Pacific Rim, Mexico and parts of Europe.
Apart from random saplings popping up randomly, new varieties of apples take a lot of people a lot of time and effort, to say nothing of a robust research & development budget. Take Washington State University Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, for example. In 1981, now-retired horticulturist Bruce Barritt set out to create an apple bred for flavor and long storage instead of appearance, to compete with the Fuji from Japan and the Gala from New Zealand. Like breeding animals, you start with two parents with known traits, then selectively breed for the ones you want over the course of several generations. You have to have the patience of a Buddhist monk, since apple trees take four to five years to bear fruit and you know whether or not it worked. Barritt needed that patience to eventually create the apple that actually made mainstream, even international, news in 2019 – the Cosmic Crisp. These are no small potatoes, either. There’s probably a French language joke in there. The marketing budget alone is $10 million. A $10mil marketing budget….for an apple.
Cosmic Crisps are mostly a dark-ish red with yellowy speckles reminiscent of stars. The website, did I mention it has its own website, says [commercial read] “The large, juicy apple has a remarkably firm and crisp texture. Some say it snaps when you bite into it! The Cosmic Crisp® flavor profile is the perfect balance of sweet and tart, making it ideal for snacking, baking, cooking, juicing or any other way you like to enjoy apples.” Hire me for voiceovers at moxielabouche.com for lightning-fast voiceovers because I was one time hit by lightning.
The first Cosmic Crisp seed began in 1997 with pollen from a Honeycrisp flower, applied by hand to the stigma of an Enterprise. Racy stuff. Honeycrisp as we know are lovely and Enterprise apples were known for disease-resistance and long storage life. Storage life is important because an apple has to be as good in late spring as it was when it was picked in the fall, as most to all of the apples you buy are. Yep, all apples are picked at once and sold for months to come. Holding up in winter storage is one of malus domestica’s best features. If that bothers you on principle, though, don’t look up harvesting oranges for juice – it’s positively depressing.
After two years of greenhouse germination, the very first Cosmic Crisp trees were planted, and a few years later after that, fruit happened. That was when, according to Barritt, the real work began. He’d go through the orchard, randomly picking apples and taking a bite. “Most were terrible, but when I found one with good texture and flavor, I’d pick 10 or 20 of them. Then I put them in cold storage to see how they would hold up after a few months,” he told PopSci in 2018. Barritt’s team would compare the apples for crispness, acidity, firmness, how well it stored, and on and on anon, to determine which trees to cross with which and start the cycle all over again. They weren’t testing only Honeycrisp and Enterprise, but lots of crisp varieties – Honeycrisp is just the one that worked. It took until 2017, a full 20 years after the first seeds went in the ground, for Cosmic Crisp trees to become available to growers, to say nothing of the fruit reaching the public. The project actually outlived Barritt’s participation, when he retired back in 2008 and turned everything over to WSU horticulture professor Kate Evans.
There’s still the question of why, why spend literally hundreds of millions of dollars to create a new apple? This wasn’t about developing a product to sell and make money, it was about saving an entire region’s industry. The pacific northwest farmed Red Delicious apples like there was no tomorrow and in the 90’s, tomorrow got real uncertain. In the last three years of the decade, farmers lost around $760mil with fields full of fruit fewer and fewer folks wanted to fork over their funds for. That was the problem that Barritt set out to solve. They needed an apple that had it all - movie star good looks, full of flavor with a crunchy bit. By the end of 2019, Washington farmers were growing 12,000 acres of Cosmic Crisp trees and there’s talk of Cosmic Crisp’s having a strong chance at taking over the market.
If you have a bit of land and want to grow your own Cosmic Crisp, you going to have to wait even longer than usual. It’s only available to grower in WA for the first ten years to give the growers an advantage. Remember, you can’t plant seeds and get a tree that gives you fruit like the one you ate to get the seeds. Don’t worry, just five more years.
But you can’t, like, own a tree man. I can but that’s because I’m not a penniless hippie. Sorry, Futurama moment, but the point still stands. Because this is America and we’ve never seen a person, place, thing, or idea we didn’t want to legally own and monetize. We’re talking about patents and before I go any further, do you have any idea what a pain it is to search for apple patents and *not get results about Apple the company. According to the US Patent and Trademark Office, “a plant patent is granted …to an inventor … who has invented or discovered and asexually reproduced a distinct and new variety of plant, other than a tuber propagated plant or a plant found in an uncultivated state. The grant, which lasts for 20 years from the date of filing the application, protects the inventor’s right to exclude others from asexually reproducing, selling, or using the plant so reproduced.” So if you make a variety of plant that no one else has ever made, or at least no one has patented, you have ultra-dibs for 20 and no one else is supposed to breed, sell, or do anything else with plants of that variety.
Plant patents became a thing in the early 1930’s, a fine time in American agriculture soughdustbowlcough first granted to Henry Bosenberg for a CLIMBING OR TRAILING ROSE (USPP1 P). Since then, thousands of plant patents have been granted, and that includes apples. Apples as intellectual property. The beloved Honeycrisp was patented in the late 1980’s by the University of Minnesota. The Honeycrisp blossomed in popularity, pun allowed, among consumers, both grocery shoppers and growers. Nurseries would sell the trees to anyone who called and ordered one, but since it was patented, buuuut growers would have to pay a royalty of one dollar per tree to the University of Minnesota until the patent has expired. With an average size of 50 acres per orchard and 36 trees per acre, that only comes to $1800, which isn’t too, too bad. A much tighter rein was kept on University of Minnesota’s patented MINNEISKA, which produces the SweeTango apple. Only a small group of apple growers has been given license to grow this variety of apple and they have to pay royalties as well. UM also has multiple trademarks registered, so anyone who tries to sell an apple under that name or a similar one may find themselves in court. Now how about them apples? Hey, at least I waited until the end.
Sources:
https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/horne-creek-farm/southern-heritage-apple-orchard/apples/apple-history/origins-apples
https://www.americanscientist.org/article/the-mysterious-origin-of-the-sweet-apple
https://www.theorchardproject.org.uk/blog/where-do-apples-come-from/
https://www.britannica.com/story/was-johnny-appleseed-a-real-person
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/real-johnny-appleseed-brought-applesand-booze-american-frontier-180953263/
https://www.nwpb.org/2017/05/03/want-to-grow-an-apple-tree-dont-start-with-apple-seeds/
https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/cosmic-crisp-apple-guide/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/red-delicious-apples-suck_n_5b630199e4b0b15abaa061af
https://suiter.com/how-do-you-like-them-apples-enough-to-patent-them/
https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/04/30/526069512/paradise-lost-how-the-apple-became-the-forbidden-fruit
https://www.businessinsider.com/cosmic-crisp-apple-washington-state-scientists-2020-11
https://suiter.com/how-do-you-like-them-apples-enough-to-patent-them/
People used to say "If you believe that, I have some swampland in Florida to sell you," but they really should have said, "I have some lovely acres in the Republic of Poyais you can buy, but you have to act now!" Presenting one of my favorite con artists ever, the man who declared himself prince of a South American country that didn't exist, Gregor MacGregor (yes, that's really his name). Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Want to start a podcast or need a better podcast host? Get up to TWO months hosting for free from Libsyn with coupon code "moxie." Remember back in episode 155, Hate to Burst your Bubble, we talked about, among other things, the Florida real estate boom and bust of the 1920s? It’s where we get the phrase, “if you believe that, I have some real estate in Florida to sell you.” 100 years before that, we could have been saying, “I have some acreage in Poyais to sell you.” Never been to Poyais? Trust me, it’s amazing. The weather is always perfect, sunny and warm. Located along the eastern coast of present-day Nicaragua and Honduras, the soil of Poyais is so fertile, you can get three harvests of corn a year. The trees are heavy with fruit and the forests teem with entrees in the form of game animals. If you look into the rivers, you’ll not only see water cleaner and more pure than you’ve ever seen in your life and more fish than you could hope to catch, but in the river bed, the sparkle of gold fills your eyes, not from flecks and dust, but nuggets as big as walnuts, just laying there, waiting for you to scoop them up. The only thing missing is settlers to develop and leverage its resources to the fullest. Wanna get your share? Better hurry; hundreds of people are investing all their savings in a piece of the perfect Poyais. All you have to do is [] to the Cazique or prince. Who is the prince of this equatorial new world paradise? A Scotsman named Gregor MacGregor.
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T-shirt for Ukraine, all proceeds and matching donation to Ukraine Red Cross at yourbrainonfacts.com/merch There are four Sundays a month, but more than a dozen days we call "Black Sunday." Here are three -- two forces of nature and one parade of schadenfreude. 02:42 Black Blizzard 12:45 Bondi Beach 24:42 Disneyland Quote reader: Vlado from It's Not Rocket Surgery Promo: Remnant Stew Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Dan Lebowitz, Kevin MacLeod, Want to start a podcast or need a better podcast host? Get up to TWO months hosting for free from Libsyn with coupon code "moxie."
Who you gonna believe -- me or your lying eyes? Today we look at court cases where people try to avoid taxes by arguing that things aren't the things that they clearly are. 00:50 Tomato 08:18 Jaffa Cakes 17:48 Hydrox vs Oreo 37:40 X-Men Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Want to start a podcast or need a better podcast host? Get up to TWO months hosting for free from Libsyn with coupon code "moxie."
Our Patrons have a nose for good topics, so today we 07:04 Smells and space 14:40 Ham-sniffer 21:17 It's the pits 30:48 Aromatherapy Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod, and The Mini Vandals.
Sources: https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/premium-iberian-ham-sniffers-are-tired-from-sniffing-so-much-ham https://www.rd.com/article/outer-space-smell/ https://www.gentside.co.uk/food/spains-ham-sniffers-prepare-for-a-hectic-season-sniffing-800-hams-daily_art8817.html https://www.rd.com/article/outer-space-smell/ https://www.rd.com/list/foods-banned-space/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EBdhpSh7_I&ab_channel=Mashable https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/chemical_terrorism/cyanide_tech.htm https://science.howstuffworks.com/nasas-sniffer-job.htm https://theconversation.com/six-curious-facts-about-smell-128533 https://www.verywellmind.com/why-do-we-associate-memories-so-strongly-with-specific-smells-5203963 https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/smell-disorders https://www.scienceabc.com/eyeopeners/why-does-food-taste-bad-on-airplanes.html https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/sfa/aac/silver-snoopy-award https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/smell-disorders#2 https://theplaidzebra.com/odour-tester-chocolate-taster-strange-careers-diverge-traditional-9-5/ https://www.communitynews.org/princetoninfo/coverstories/this-job-stinks-from-one-who-knows/article_66ce8eb0-7066-51be-8081-be9bcc24c8be.html https://www.statista.com/topics/5174/essential-oils/ https://www.verywellmind.com/why-do-we-associate-memories-so-strongly-with-specific-smells-5203963 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-smelling-test-the-genetics-of-olfaction-2192370.html https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/blog/essential-oils-cats/ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/aromatherapy/faq-20058566
Why did no one tell me about Moms Mabley?!! Hear about her and other 'living loud and proud' ladies (Dorothy Parker, Mae West, Tallulah Bankhead) on this International Women's Day. 01:00 Tallulah Bankhead 13:00 Mae West 23:00 Moms Mabley Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod, David Fesilyan, Dan Henig. and/or Chris Haugen.
Sources: https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/204532%7C103917/Mae-West/#biography https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mae-West https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/52283/13-things-you-might-not-know-about-mae-west http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/04/this-day-in-history-mae-west-is-sentenced-to-10-days-in-prison-for-writing-directing-and-performing-in-the-broadway-play-sex/ https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tallulah-Bankhead https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/05/real-cruella-de-vil-tallulah-bankhead https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/09/theater/theater-the-pain-behind-the-laughter-of-moms-mabley.html https://dorothyparker.com/gallery/biography https://bookshop.org/books/your-brain-on-facts-things-you-didn-t-know-things-you-thought-you-knew-and-things-you-never-knew-you-never-knew-trivia-quizzes-fun-fa/9781642502534?aid=14459&listref=books-based-on-podcasts https://www.mamamia.com.au/tallulah-bankhead-cruella/
Voted on by our Patreon, we dive into the deadly side of sculpture, painting, ballet and more! 01:36 Blucifer 04:00 Get the lead out 10:00 Ballet blazes 20:45 Death by a thousand face 26:43 The Conqueror and the conquered Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod, David Fesilyan, Dan Henig. and/or Chris Haugen.
Sources: https://www.ozy.com/true-and-stories/the-ballet-girls-who-burned-to-death/71244/ https://www.racked.com/2017/12/19/16710276/burning-dresses-history https://www.oddee.com/item_99203.aspx https://bookshop.org/books/your-brain-on-facts-things-you-didn-t-know-things-you-thought-you-knew-and-things-you-never-knew-you-never-knew-trivia-quizzes-fun-fa/9781642502534 https://www.armco.org.uk/asbestos-survey-news/asbestos-was-used-as-fake-snow-in-many-old-hollywood-movies/ https://www.grunge.com/267772/the-amazing-life-and-tragic-death-of-lon-chaney/ https://www.dogfordstudios.com/killer-art-art-that-has-actually-killed-people/ https://news.artnet.com/art-world/7-deadly-art-materials-to-watch-out-for-1081526 https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/11/how-important-is-lead-poisoning-to-becoming-a-legendary-artist/281734/ https://noahchemicals.com/blog/the-toxic-histories-of-five-famous-pigments/ https://www.dogfordstudios.com/killer-art-art-that-has-actually-killed-people/ https://owlcation.com/stem/Cinnabar-A-Beautiful-But-Toxic-Mineral-Ore-and-Pigment https://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/newsroom/blogs/its-snowing-asbestos-the-haunting-truth-about-the-white-christmas-killer-set-and-continued-imports-and-use/ https://www.cpr.org/2019/11/04/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-blucifer-the-demon-horse-of-dia https://www.burlington-record.com/2021/06/11/blucifer-just-turned-13-but-the-family-of-the-artist-who-died-creating-it-would-prefer-you-dont-call-it-that/ https://www.livescience.com/64224-sculptor-unknowingly-poisons-herself-with-her-own-art.html
Necessity is the mother of invention and these inventions had real mothers! Hear about Black female inventors, the tribulations of research, and a story I didn't expect to find and couldn't pass up. 01:00 L'histoire 06:36 Martha Jones's corn husker 07:55 Mary Jones de Leon's cooking apparatus 08:56 Judy Reed's dough kneader-roller 10:30 Sarah Goode's folding bed-desk 11:40 Sarah Boon's ironing board 17:15 Lyda Newman's hairbrush 19:33 Madam CJ Walker's Wonderful Hair-grower 22:03 Biddy Mason Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod, David Fesilyan, Dan Henig. and/or Chris Haugen. Sources: https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/mason-bridget-biddy-1818-1891/ https://la.curbed.com/2017/3/1/14756308/biddy-mason-california-black-history https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/biddy-mason-memorial-park https://alliesforracialjustice.org/shark-tank-in-the-1800s-black-women-reigned-in-household-inventions/ https://interestingengineering.com/black-inventors-the-complete-list-of-genius-black-american-african-american-inventors-scientists-and-engineers-with-their-revolutionary-inventions-that-changed-the-world-and-impacted-history-part-two https://www.ipwatchdog.com/2021/02/08/revolutionizing-cooking-mary-jones-de-leon/id=129701/ https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/lyda-newman https://interestingengineering.com/black-inventors-the-complete-list-of-genius-black-american-african-american-inventors-scientists-and-engineers-with-their-revolutionary-inventions-that-changed-the-world-and-impacted-history-part-two https://laist.com/news/la-history/biddy-mason-free-forever-the-contentious-hearing-that-made-her-a-legend-los-angeles-black-history
Congrats to Hearts & Wheels, who won week 2 of #moxiemillion, by sharing the show to help it reach 1 million downloads this month! Necessity is the mother of invention and who was in a more necessitous position than victims of the Atlantic slave trade? You may revolutionize industries, but good luck getting a patent. 00:47 Patents and law 06:40 Benjamin Bradley 09:10 Benjamin Montgomery 16:30 Thomas Jennings 23:15 Henry Boyd Links to all the research resources are on the website. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod, David Fesilyan, Dan Henig.
Sources: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/with-patents-or-without-black-inventors-reshaped-american-industry-180962201 https://atlantablackstar.com/2014/02/11/5-inventions-by-enslaved-black-men-blocked-by-us-patent-office/4/ https://www.blackenterprise.com/black-history-month-inventions-black-slaves-denied-patents/ https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2021/08/05/sarah-boone-inventor-ironing-board-and-first-black/ https://theconversation.com/americas-always-had-black-inventors-even-when-the-patent-system-explicitly-excluded-them-72619 https://www.blackenterprise.com/black-history-month-inventions-black-slaves-denied-patents/ http://www.blackpast.org/aah/reed-judy-w-c-1826 https://web.archive.org/web/20180802193123/https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/news-updates/uspto-recognizes-inventive-women-during-womens-history-month https://www.yesmagazine.org/health-happiness/2016/03/21/10-black-women-innovators-and-the-awesome-things-they-brought-us https://www.nkytribune.com/2019/02/our-rich-history-henry-boyd-once-a-slave-became-a-prominent-african-american-furniture-maker/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/first-african-american-hold-patent-invented-dry-scouring-180971394/ https://blackinventor.com/benjamin-bradley/ https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/goode-sarah-e-c-1855-1905/
Congrats to Richard Enriquez, who won week 1 of #moxiemillion, by sharing the show to help it reach 1 million downloads this month! Cleopatra-schmeopatra! Hear the stories of three queens of Africa who should also be household names. Starring the clever queen Moremi, the fierce queen Amanirenas, and the terrifying queen Ranavalona. Links to all the research resources are on the website. 3:06 Moremi of Ife 10:54 Amanirena of Kush 23:00 Ranavalona I of Madagascar Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod, David Fesilyan, Dan Henig.
Sources: https://www.pulse.ng/bi/lifestyle/7-most-powerful-african-queens-in-history-you-need-to-know/dwhncf5 https://www.rejectedprincesses.com/princesses/amanirenas https://artsandculture.google.com/story/queen-amanirenas-the-story-of-the-white-nile-nubi-archeress/bALSN3WTK_YEJA https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/Who-Was-the-One-Eyed-Queen-Who-Defeated-Caesar https://face2faceafrica.com/article/amanirenas-the-brave-one-eyed-african-queen-who-led-an-army-against-the-romans-in-24bc https://historyofyesterday.com/madagascars-mad-queen-that-you-ve-never-heard-of-25e27ebe121d https://www.madamagazine.com/en/die-schreckensherrschaft-ranavalonas-i/ https://oldnaija.com/2019/11/06/moremi-ajasoro-history-of-the-brave-queen-of-ile-ife/ https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/queen-moremi-did-you-know-about-the-courageous-legend-whose-statue-is-the-tallest-in/hr4llg4 https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/hausa-queen-amina-51267.php
I thought you might also like the show "What Was That Like?," real people in unreal situations.
With half the world's continents being home to a panoply of monkey species, it's no wonder the people of Center & South America, Asia, and Africa hold monkeys in high esteems as mythological and religious figures. Hear about Hanuman, howlers, Hapi, and a helluva lot more (and yes, Sun Wukong, obviously). Links to all the research resources are on the website. 04:45 Japan: Sarugami 09:57 Central/South America: howler monkey god 13:50 Africa: Gbekre Hapi, Babi 17:35 India: Hanuman 27:00 China: Sun Wukong Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Become a patron of the podcast arts! Patreon or Ko-Fi. Or buy the book and a shirt. Music: Kevin MacLeod, David Fesilyan, RKCVC, and Chris Haugen.
Sources: https://www.wilderutopia.com/environment/wildlife/howler-monkeys-among-the-maya-divine-patrons-to-the-artisans/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howler_monkey_gods Hart, George (2005). The Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses (PDF) (2nd ed.). Routledge. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-415-34495-1. http://africancreationenergy.blogspot.com/2015/12/african-monkey-gods.html https://yokai.com/sarugami/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babi_(mythology) https://symbolsage.com/sun-wukong-monkey-king/ https://symbolsage.com/three-wise-monkeys/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapi_(Son_of_Horus) https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hanuman https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/monkeys-india-delhi-parliament-video-rhesus-macaques-government-offices-a8679151.html https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-monkeys/monkeys-run-amok-in-indias-corridors-of-power-idUSKBN1OA01R https://mythopedia.com/topics/sun-wukong https://www.vbtutor.net/Xiyouji/summary.htm https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-29175870 https://www.theoi.com/Georgikos/Kerkopes.html http://www.hellenicaworld.com/Greece/Mythology/en/Cercopes.html
Javier Leiva from Pretend did a podcast with me!!!! Like what you hear? Become a patron of the arts for as little as $2 a month! Or buy the book or some merch. We teach each other about: 03:10 a pig in a poke 06:30 salting a mine 10:00 melon drop 14:50 vanity awards 21:55 Baltimore stock-broker 25:00 fake casting agents Plus learn the three most interesting things about me! Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
How'd it go for the first BBC announcer with an accent? How much work can you get if you "make it" in voiceover? How much did the woman behind Siri make? And what's a pencil got to do with any of this? All this and more in part 2! Like what you hear? Become a patron of the arts for as little as $2 a month! Or buy the book or some merch. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 00:25 RP and Wilfred Pickles (voiced by Simon Jackson) 04:26 The cast of Futurama work a lot! 08:17 Voiceover is easy! (right?) 11:30 #moxiemillion 12:30 Trying to find a job 13:55 Props and accessories 15:55 AI (even worse than the movie) 18:24 Bev Standing vs TikTok 20:50 sponsors: Sly Fox Trivia, Sambucol 23:06 Susan Bennett, the voice of Siri 27:53 It's in the game Music: Kevin MacLeod, Track Tribe . Links to all the research resources are on the website.
From a rogue radio operator, to Bugs Bunny, to the lady who recorded all the time and temperature message for the phone company, we look at some history and notable names in voicework (which is what I do for a living, hire me!) Like what you hear? Become a patron of the arts for as little as $2 a month! Or buy the book or some merch. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 02:52 Jane Barbe, the voice on the telephone 04:58 Reginald Fessenden and the first voice transmission 07:46 early animations and Mel Blanc, the man of 1000 voices 13:34 Win prizes in the #moxiemillion challenge 15:45 why you never heard Snow White's voice again 18:10 "In a world....", Don LaFontaine and Redd Pepper 23:25 the Transatlantic accent and early tech 26:55 Received Pronunciation or BBC English Music: Kevin MacLeod, David Fesliyan. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
I thought you might also like the show Everything Everywhere Daily. It's like YBOF, but shorter and more often.
Happy new year! Or is it? It depends on which calendar you're using. Like what you hear? Become a patron of the arts for as little as $2 a month! Or buy the book or some merch. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music: Kevin MacLeod, David Fesliyan. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
Happy holidays to all my beautiful Brainiacs! Enjoy this bonus mini episode on a bit of history that, while not obscure, should be better-known (and taken to heart) by more people -- the WWI Christmas Truce.
Voted on by our Patreon, we look at the what, how, and for-gods-sake-why of some of those most hated holiday songs! 02:40 Banned songs 08:09 Wonderful Christmastime 10:45 Chipmunks Song 16:36 Little Drummer Boy (Peace on Earth) Like what you hear? Become a patron of the arts for as little as $2 a month! Or buy the book or some merch. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music: Kevin MacLeod, David Fesliyan. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
Sources: https://www.cbc.ca/music/read/david-bowie-bing-crosby-and-the-story-of-the-strangest-christmas-duet-ever-1.5008343 https://theconversation.com/christmas-earworms-the-science-behind-our-love-hate-relationship-with-festive-songs-89268 https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/worst-christmas-songs-of-all-time/3/ https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/story-behind-the-christmas-song-paul-mccartneys-wonderful-christmastime/ https://www.songfacts.com/facts/paul-mccartney/wonderful-christmastime https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/637970/banned-christmas-songs-past https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chipmunk_Song_(Christmas_Don%27t_Be_Late) http://www.christmassongs.net/chipmunks-christmas-song https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_Bagdasarian https://nowweknowem.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/david-sevilles-the-chipmunk-song-won-three-grammy-awards-today-in-1959-the-top-winner-at-the-inaugural-grammy-awards-now-we-know-em/ https://holidappy.com/holidays/History-of-Christmas-Carols-Little-Drummer-Boy https://www.newsweek.com/story-behind-bowie-bings-unlikely-holiday-duet-sends-welcome-message-divided-times-opinion-1478295
Strategic reserves -- everything from Canadian maple syrup to seeds -- are intended to stabilize prices or to help us survive, in both the short and long term. So what are we keeping and why? (and what happens if someone steals it?!) Like what you hear? Become a patron of the arts for as little as $2 a month! Or buy the book or some merch. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music: Kevin MacLeod, David Fesliyan. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Links to all the research resources are on the website. Sources: https://listverse.com/2015/12/14/10-of-the-strangest-items-governments-are-stockpiling/ http://theweek.com/articles/454970/logic-behind-worlds-4-weirdest-strategic-reserves https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2012/12/20/why-maple-syrup-is-controlled-by-a-quebec-cartel/?utm_term=.8628802d4fe2 http://mentalfloss.com/article/87144/15-strategic-reserves-unusual-products https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter_mountain https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-27/europeans-eat-into-butter-mountain-in-sign-high-prices-to-linger https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omBxXzdBR2Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiZ75XbG7YA https://verdict.justia.com/2015/07/15/raisins-regulations-and-politics-in-the-supreme-court https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Raisin_Reserve https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/one-growers-grapes-of-wrath/2013/07/07/ebebcfd8-e380-11e2-80eb-3145e2994a55_story.html?utm_term=.74d6dccd2110 http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/industry-markets-and-trade/market-information-by-sector/horticulture/horticulture-sector-reports/statistical-overview-of-the-canadian-maple-industry-2015/?id=1475692913659 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-01-02/the-great-canadian-maple-syrup-heist https://explorepartsunknown.com/quebec/canadas-maple-syrup-cartel-puts-the-squeeze-on-small-producers/ https://modernfarmer.com/2014/01/illustrated-account-great-maple-syrup-heist/ http://time.com/4760432/maple-syrup-heist-prison-fine/ http://www.ediblegeography.com/syrup-stockpiles-wine-lakes-butter-mountains-and-other-strategic-food-reserves/ http://www.ediblegeography.com/syrup-stockpiles-wine-lakes-butter-mountains-and-other-strategic-food-reserves/ https://www.ft.com/content/982ed0e4-8a1d-11e4-9b5f-00144feabdc0 https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/articles/b/guest_blog/posts/confeusion-a-quick-summary-of-the-eu-wine-reforms http://mentalfloss.com/article/87144/15-strategic-reserves-unusual-products https://listverse.com/2015/12/14/10-of-the-strangest-items-governments-are-stockpiling/ http://www.nww2m.com/2015/06/scitech-tuesday-when-the-rubber-meets-the-road/ https://insideecology.com/2018/01/12/the-frozen-ark-project-biobanking-endangered-animal-samples-for-conservation-and-research/ https://www.researchitaly.it/en/news/the-ice-memory-project-is-underway/#null https://www.arctictoday.com/ice-cores-best-link-ancient-climates-scientists-racing-preserve-still-can/ https://www.rbth.com/blogs/2014/05/12/the_men_who_starved_to_death_to_save_the_worlds_seeds_35135 https://www.amusingplanet.com/2018/08/the-scientists-who-starved-to-death.html
From music hall to Red Dwarf, pantomime to Absolutely Fabulous, we look at the history of British comedy, the names, shows, and historical events that made it what it is today. Like what you hear? Become a patron of the arts for as little as $2 a month! Or buy the book or some merch. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music: Kevin MacLeod, Steve Oxen, David Fesliyan. . Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Links to all the research resources are on the website. “The story so far: In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.” Thus begins Douglas Adams’ Restaurant at the End of the Universe, sequel to his culture touchstone The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. That’s the book that gave us the answer to life, the universe and everything, though not the question. Welcome to episode number 42, which I have decided to devote to [drumroll] the history of British comedy. That means we’re going to try to cram hundreds of years, thousands of performers, and a dozen mediums into a half-hour show. But don’t panic. My name’s Moxie and this is your brain on facts.
Sources: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/truth-behind-keep-calm-and-carry-on https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/feb/17/the-five-stages-of-british-gags-silliness-repression-anger-innuendo-fear https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Goon_Show https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Wisdom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hancock%27s_Half_Hour https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/apr/17/gender.filmnews https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_the_Horne http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/1011109/index.html https://www.britannica.com/topic/Monty-Pythons-Flying-Circus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galton_and_Simpson http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/fawltytowers/ http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2014/06/history-brits-better-satire https://www.britannica.com/art/music-hall-and-variety https://www.biography.com/people/charlie-chaplin-9244327 https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1107&context=ghj https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U77CXPANrCc&list=PL9e1sByp65ixpMQlW9hpMMdomwSwGK9-Y
In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, and it's been downhill for New World peoples ever since. Today we look at residential schools, the occupation of Alcatraz by Indians of All Tribes, the Oka crisis (aka the Mohawk resistance), and Sacheen Littlefeather's Oscar speech. YBOF Book; Audiobook (basically everywhere but Audible); Merch! Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs .Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod, Steve Oxen, David Fesliyan. Links to all the research resources are on our website.
Sources: https://www.history.com/news/how-boarding-schools-tried-to-kill-the-indian-through-assimilation http://www.nativepartnership.org/site/PageServer?pagename=airc_hist_boardingschools https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17645287 https://hairstylecamp.com/native-american-beard/ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/03/i-promised-brando-i-would-not-touch-his-oscar-secret-life-sacheen-littlefeather https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/reflections-of-oka-stories-of-the-mohawk-standoff-25-years-later-1.3232368/sisters-recall-the-brutal-last-day-of-oka-crisis-1.3234550 https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/oka-crisis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArOIdwcj2w8 https://www.history.com/news/native-american-activists-occupy-alcatraz-island-45-years-ago
A microphone is a good enough platform for getting back at people, but an entire recording studio is even better. Popular music is littered with songs getting back at an ex lover, from Waylon Jennings to Taylor Swift, but a fair number of the tracks you know by heart are actually clap-backs to the people in the mixing booth or the record label offices. YBOF Book; Audiobook (basically everywhere but Audible); Merch! Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs .Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod, Steve Oxen, David Fesliyan. Links to all the research resources are on our website.
Quick, switch over to Vodacast to see the pictures I talk about in the episode! From using a train in a car race to marathon doping with deadly poison, there's far more excitement in racing than simply declaring a winner. YBOF Book; Audiobook (basically everywhere but Audible); Merch! Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs .Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod, Steve Oxen, David Fesliyan. Links to all the research resources are on our website. Sources: https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/01/01/the-historic-new-york-to-paris-race-in-1908/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-1904-olympic-marathon-may-have-been-the-strangest-ever-14910747/ http://biologywriter.com/on-science/articles/pigeons/ https://owlcation.com/humanities/The-Toronto-Stork-Derby https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/paris-or-bust-the-great-new-york-to-paris-auto-race-of-1908-116784616/
Quick, switch over to Vodacast to see the pictures I talk about in the episode! We all lose things -- keys, wallets, patience -- but how do you lose an entire city? Hear the stories of three American towns built in a hurry but kept off the map, secure Soviet enclaves known by their post codes, ancient cities found by modern technology, and the ingenious engineering of underground dwellings. YBOF Book; Audiobook (basically everywhere but Audible); Merch Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod, . Links to all the research resources are on our website.
Source: http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/history/laser-scans-reveal-maya-megalopolis-below-guatemalan-jungle.aspx https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/lost-city-cambodia-180958508/ https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29245289 https://www.citylab.com/design/2018/05/inside-the-secret-cities-that-created-the-atomic-bomb/559601/ https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-to-build-secret-nuclear-city https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/may/03/off-the-map-the-secret-cities-behind-the-atom-bomb-manhattan-project https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/soviet-closed-cities https://metro.co.uk/2015/05/28/theres-a-whole-town-in-australia-that-lives-underground-5219091/ https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2016/09/coober-pedy-opal-mining/ https://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/coober-pedy-underground-homes.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2005/12/14/burlington_nuclear_bunker_feature.shtml https://theculturetrip.com/africa/south-africa/articles/a-lost-african-city-has-just-been-discovered-by-scientists/ https://www.historicmysteries.com/derinkuyu-underground-city-cappadocia/
As a special treat and thank-you to all my gracious and kind supporters, I present my take on the origin of the jack-o-lantern from its Irish folklore roots. If you've been a long-time follower of my buddy Shawn at Ink and Ash (formerly Stories of Yore and Yours), you may have heard this version, and you'll recognize Shawn's voice. Shawn was nice enough to let me re-use some of his audio, but I didn't realize when I asked him that there was fake crowd noise on the track. That pushed me to add crowd noise to my version, and once you add one sound effect, it's a slippery slope before you find yourself forgoing the work you actually had the meager strength for and making an audio drama instead. The wonders of the neurodivergence. The Irish voice is courtesy of voice actor Mark Manning . Speaking of Ink and Ash/SYY, if you want some really spooky, and I mean brain-itchingly creepy to listen to, you've got to check out The Hole. (Another story I wrote is on that episode, pure coincidence.)
♪♫This is Halloween! This is Halloween!♫♪ Supporters on our Patreon and fans in our FB group chose the topics for today's episode (plus now there's a sub-reddit): 01:35 sorting Dracula fact from fiction 07:49 how horror stars got their stars 20:01 when did clowns become scary 23:29 the history behind zombies 28:38 movie monster fast facts! Mentioned in the show: Overly Sarcastic's Frankenstein run-down Cutting Class podcast on Christopher Lee Oh No! Lit Class on The Phantom Who needs a costume when you could wear this?! Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by Kevin MacLeod
Twins, synchronicity, science, anomalies, and dark mysteries.
Support the show Merch, book Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
From Irish selkies to Japanese kitsune, from Navajo skin-walkers to Ethiopian werehyenas, there doesn't seem to be a culture in the world that doesn't have at least one shape-shifter in its folklore or mythology. Personal update: Hey, so can we talk for a minute? Come sit by the fire while I dump out my purse. You might have noticed (you really couldn't have missed it), there hasn't been a lot of YBOF happening lately. The reason for that, as some of my longtime listeners know –I can't believe people have been listening this long– I have a chronic, idiopathic pulmonary condition. Idiopathic means we don't know what the hell it is. We being myself, three pulmonologists, two cardiologists, endocrinology, a full GI workup, even saw a Johns Hopkins doctor who had no idea what I was dealing with and stumping a Johns Hopkins doctor isn't as cool as it sounds. So it's kicked up again. It does this. It could last for an hour, a day, a week, or 6 weeks, like now. The trouble is, I do voice-overs for a living. The irony is not lost on me. And I got into voiceover after the onset of this mystery condition because it's what I want to do. And when covid hit it was goddamn jolly well time to get out of retail. So doing voiceover requires my lungs and then there's no lungs leftover for the podcast, and VO pays the bills.
For those who like things quantified, as I dom for the past week, for example, I've been able to record for about 2 minutes andt hen I need to stop for 5. I can repeat that cycle for up to 30 minutes, but then I have to lie down for 30 minutes at least. So work gets done really, really, really slowly. It's especially complicating because I just took on the largest job by word count that I've ever done. I'm not saying this to pity whore, get sympathy, get attention, fish for compliments or anything like that –I always feel so awkward when that reaction comes in. I just wanted you to know what's going on with the show, which means what's going on with my lungs. Because what's going on with my lungs is what's going on with the show. What's the bottom line here for the podcast going forward?I'm not giving up on it – 160+ episodes in, I'm not going to bail now. I just can't always do it. I've also become increasingly reluctant to rerun the old episodes because I go back and listen,and I just can't stand the way they sound. It's probably much worse for me than normal people because my ears have become increasingly attuned to vocal and sound qualities.
So I will do my utmost to get new episodes made, but if there isn't one that week, it's not because I didn't want to. And I appreciate everyone sticking with me through this inconsistent schedule. I know it's not good for the algorithms and stuff like that, but I don't care about algorithms. I care about you enjoying the show. I am doing my best to take care of myself, but it's hard when you have these mercurial changing shifting symptoms and no continuity of care. I don't even know who to see at this point. So please be patient, stick with me spread the word on social media, whether you see me post or not. And hey, if you know a good diagnostician within say 3 hour drive of Richmond, Virginia to shoot me their number. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program already in progress. Special guests: Worst Foot Forward Pink river dolphins Linfamy Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book! Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. Learn why parents objected to such diverse classics as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Ender's Game and which book is banned in the most countries. Will Shel Silverstein turn your kids into cannibals? Is a baby penguin spreading the "gay agenda"? We look at children, young adult, and LGBTQ books challenged or banned for silly reasons. With special guest Megan Danger from Oh No! Lit Class podcast. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
For every Star Wars, there's a hundred middling films and outright flops. Plus, hear about movie so unlucky, they may actually have been cursed, in a sample of the Your Brain On Facts audiobook. Read the full script. Support the show. It's been quite a while since we got a review for the YBOF book. Can you take a sec and let us know what you thought? Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by David Fesliyan and Kevin McLeod
Sources:
https://www.triviagenius.com/5-movies-that-lost-the-most-money/XtY_ghx5DQAG1g4j https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/643698/movies-that-bankrupted-studios https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/86201/6-movies-ruined-their-studios https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a843659/expensive-movie-flops-bombs-box-office-failure-justice-league/ https://chillopedia.com/15-movies-that-killed-careers/
The devil is in the details. This week, we look at how missing or inserted commas, forsaken hyphens, and flat-out typos have led to expensive chaos. Read the full script. Support the show. It's been quite a while since we got a review for the YBOF book. Can you take a sec and let us know what you thought? Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by David Fesliyan and Kevin McLeod
Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. The Olympic games have come and gone, but what kind of games have gone before? Today we look at events removed from the Olympics, like pistol dueling and poodle grooming, plus the legit legend that was Jim Thorpe. Read the full script. Support the show. It's been quite a while since we got a review for the YBOF book. Can you take a sec and let us know what you thought? Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Editing by Adam of Odd Dad Out. Music by David Fesliyan and Kevin McLeod
It's been quite a while since we got a review for the YBOF book. Can you take a sec and let us know what you thought? Voted on by our Patreon supporters, today we're looking at people you've probably heard of but might not know that much about, the bakingest people in America, the Pennsylvania Dutch. Who are they? What's chow chow? How do you powwow, and why did it get a man murdered? Read the full script. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Editing by Adam of Odd Dad Out. Music by David Fesliyan and Kevin McLeod
It's been quite a while since we got a review for the YBOF book. Can you take a sec and let us know what you thought? "Everybody complains about the weather, but no one does anything about it." - Charles Dudley Warren Except, sometimes, people do. Or at least they try. This week, we look at weather manipulation, cloud seeding, hail cannons, and whatever the hell "orgone" is. Read the full script. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Editing by Adam of Odd Dad Out. Music by David Fesliyan and Kevin McLeod
It's been quite a while since we got a review for the YBOF book. Can you take a sec and let us know what you thought? People have been using animals, making war, and using animals to make war for a long time now. Think Hannibal’s elephants, Roman war horses, k9 units in Vietnam. But for every example of animals being used successfully, there are any number plans, proposals, and projects that didn’t make it into the field. Read the full script. Hang out with your fellow Brainiacs. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by David Fesliyan and Kevin McLeod
It's another one of those episodes where I take a seemingly mundane topic and splash around in its unappreciated awesomeness. This time -- trees! Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by David Fesliyan and Kevin McLeod.
This week, YBOF is going true crime as we look at a pitiless poisoning, a terroristic tampering, and some killer coffee. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by David Fesliyan and Kevin McLeod.
Smoke the tires with me today as we take on a trio of patronymic car creators and their pride & joy projects that failed spectacularly. *Yes, I know "VIN number" is redundant. Naming episodes can be trickier than you'd think.
Voted on by our Patreon supporters, we look at a game where losers would be put to death (or was it the winners?) and some baseball players playing for their lives. Read the full script. Today's sponsors: Love Letter. Moxie LaBouche Voiceovers, Military True Crime Addict and our MERCH! Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by Kevin McLeod.
Another topic voted on by our Patreon supporters, and added to by our listener FB group, this one turned into a two-parter on 'the last of their kind.' If you haven't check out the People episode, please do! Read the full script. Guest quote readers: Mike from Genuine Chit Chat and Steve from Mancave. Today's sponsors: Podcorn; Love Letter. Moxie LaBouche Voiceovers, and our MERCH! Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by Lyrical Piano, Kevin McLeod.
Why is Pride Month in June? Did the Stonewall Riots start the gay rights movement? Did Marsha P Johnson really throw the first brick at Stonewall Inn? We answer all those questions and more as we revisit this pivotal moment in gay rights. Read the full script and find sources. Support the show. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram, email,. Music by Kevin MacLeod
Another topic voted on by our Patreon supporters, and added to by our listener FB group, this one turned into a two-parter on 'the last of their kind' -- people first, animals next week. Read the full script. Music by Lyrical Piano, Kevin McLeod. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Guest quote readers: Bill from With Confetti in our Hair, Dustin from Sandman Stories Presents, Z Hagen from Wasteland Active Radio, Jeff from Mt Rushmore podcast, Vlado from It's Not Rocket Surgery Today's sponsors: Podcorn; The Art of Bombing; WorkPatterns; Love Letter.
While the world goes mad for dogecoin and NFTs, we look at four times when a suddenly popular commodity drove an economic boom and bust, from tulips to trains, in the XL episode. Read the full script. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Today's sponsors: Highbrow Drivel; Podcorn; Why Do We Say That?; WorkPatterns.
As voted on by our Patreon, today we look at hostile architecture and guerilla gardening. Guest quote readers: Jason from Memester of the Week, Dustin from Sandman Stories Presents, Najee from Weekly Cooldown, and Chris from This Week Today. Today's sponsors: Highbrow Drivel; Follow Friday. Music by Kevin MacLeod and Chris Haugen.
Updates on the Guinness world record and current troubles for some podcast listeners. As voted on by our Patreon patrons, today we're talking about mud. This ubiquitous combination of water and dirt is useful to science, employed in health and beauty, a little-known component of professional sports, and even eaten. Read the full script. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book!
What do PT Barnum's performer General Tom Thumb, Elvis's manager Colonel Tom Park, and wrestler turned cartoon character Sargent Slaughter have in common? 00:53 General Tom Thumb 08:58 Colonel Tom Parker 25:34 Sargent Slaughter Read the full script. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book!
If a little is good, a lot must be better, right? You'd be surprised how many common, innocuous things in our world can actually kill you. Just when you thought it was safe to drink water.
Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book! Guest quote reader: Shawn from Ink & Ash, formerly Stories of Yore and Yours. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
True stories of people who educated themselves, to turn the law from a sword into a shield. Guest quote readers: CJ from Been Through Some S***, Chris from This Week Today. Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book! Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
With guest presenters, in approximate order of appearance: Bunny Trails A Star Wars podcast Footnoting History Grammar Girl Reel Feels Die-alougue Gurus of Comedy Lexitecture Ignorance Was Bliss Happily Ever Aftermath Doomsday Strange Animals In the Doll World MyhandleisJonathanBlade Self Shoots from the Hip Jackie Watches Stuff Nerd Lab Nutrition Diva Ready, Set, Roll Shame Pinata Sleep Whispers NocaNews Quiz and Hers This is Her Place Savvy Psychologist Useless Information Ballsy History Varmints Worst Foot Forward The Jury Room Because Language I Know Dino The Curious Professor Ink and Ash
It's that time again, April Fools Day, which means time for Operation Switcheroo, when dozens of podcasters share each other's episodes on their feed. (Admittedly, it was a better joke when April Fools actually fell on episode day.)
Enjoy this episode of Play it by Ear - Aric, Brady and Todd talk memories of classic commercials, embarrassing moments in their lives, and movie quotes that stand the test of time.
FB: playitbyearpodcast T: @playitbyearpod2 I: play_it_by_ear_podcast
The meme that inspired the episode. Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book! Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Alternative title - The P-pop Spectacular. Whether you call it anana, pineapple, or King Pine, it's been a long, strange trip for this fascinating multi-fruit. Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book! Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Voted on by the supporters at patreon.com/yourbrainonfacts. Whether its snails in your garden, homicidal hogs, or cats hunting on the Sabbath, sometimes, if you can't kick them out of your town, kick them out of your religion. Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book! Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Staying home this past year has been rough, but it's got nothing on the lives of people who woke up to a wall running through the middle of their city. Hear some of their amazing escapes! Guest quote readers: CJ from Been Through Some S***, Maddox from Break a Wish, Torey from Hutchinstruttin, and Aric from Play It By Ear. The real hot air balloon Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book! Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
From Irish selkies to Japanese kitsune, from Navajo skin-walkers to Ethiopian werehyenas, there doesn't seem to be a culture in the world that doesn't have at least one shape-shifter in its folklore or mythology. Special guests: Worst Foot Forward Pink river dolphins Linfamy Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book! Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Come up to the lab and see what's on the slab...cuz it's not what I was trying to make! But, you know what, we can make this work. Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book! Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
What do you get when you mix baseball mud, a dead outlaw, drinking snacks, and a harrowing survival story? Today's episode! Enjoy this clip show to pad out the schedule while I wait to hear back from the Guinness World Record people. More details inside!
Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book! You can know a song by heart, by do you REALLY know where it comes from? Check out these strange and surprising origins of popular songs. Mentioned in the show: Dan Rather with REM, literal video for Total Eclipse of the Heart Guest quote readers: Bill from The Big Impact, Bill from The Slipshod Pod, Alex from USUK. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod, Dan Liebovitz, Steve Adams, Bobby Richards, Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book! Voted on by our Patreon, we present an episode on weird things your body could be doing ... right now... and you don't even know about it! Close-up of kidney stone Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod, Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
We knew things weren't going to be quiet before the inauguration, but damn, man. Hence, I declare a revisit of Distraction Day. Here's an episode of some of the best bits that were originally on the Patreon (the greatest hits that weren't too weird, gross, or swear-y, anyway).
Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by Kevin MacLeod
Need some light reading in a heavy world? Good thing there's the YBOF book! A wise man once asked "Where is the blue food?" but that's burying the lead when it comes to food and color. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod, Freedom Trail Studio Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Didn't get what you wanted this holiday season? Good thing there's the YBOF book! Baller balls, extravagant evenings, riotous receptions, and sinful shindigs, join us for a trip through some of history's greatest parties. Guest voices: Shawn from Stories of Yore and Yours and Drew from Reel Feels. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod, Dyalla, Emily Sprague, Jesse Gallagher, SYBS, Joel Cummins. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! One man's holiday feast is another man's traumatic experience. With special guests Where Does It Go? Hear about kiviaq, hakarl, cheating for meat, molded salads, catepillar mushrooms, cazu marzu, and balut. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
What's a Christmas cracker? Why are there so many Hallmark movies? Join myself and Mike from Genuine ChitChat as we compare and contrast (and hold each other accountable for what our countries do for Christmas).
You know Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, but did you know this song, and the poem it was based on, were both written by Jews? You won't believe how many classic Christmas songs were! Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
You've probably heard about the Austrian Christmas demon Krampus, but what about Befana, the Italian Christmas witch? In what country do you need reservations for Xmas dinner at KFC? Where do people wish you happy holidays with a specific request for presents? Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Having a Covid Christmas sucks, but we'll make it through. And hey, at least we're not making our turkey out of spam, and hanging decorations won't get you a $20,000 fine or sent away for "re-education." Guest readers: Zack from Wasteland Active Radio; David from Don’t Assume; Paul from Varmints; Adam from Odd Dad Out; Bill from Big Impact Radio; Mike from Genuine Chitchat. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod, E's Jammy Jams, Aaron Kenny, MK2. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Got a clever kid in the family this holiday season? Get them a copy of the YBOF book! Growing up in the 1980's made it seem like you would eventually burst into flame, be given free drugs, or be snatched by a stranger. The reality? Not so much. Guest voices (in no particular order): Connor and Luke - No Highway Option ; Jake – Hearts Against Balance ; Chris – Play Comics Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod, Audionautix, Chris Haugen, Unicorn Heads, Dan Lebowitz, Tabletop Audio. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Got a clever kid in the family this holiday season? Get them a copy of the YBOF book! We all have music styles and instruments we don't like, but rarely are we in an actionable position to do anything about them, unlike the stories in today's episode. 01:00 Bagpipes 06:45 Glass armonica 15:15 Harmonium 22:11 Sax 31:21 Drums 34:20 Rehearsal room Guest voices: (in no set order) Zach - Wasteland Active Radio; Matt - The Campaign; Andrew - 1999; Thomas - Physical Attraction; Drew - Misery Machine. Mentioned: Nicholas Brother, This Exists Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod (and several others) Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Got your copy of the YBOF book? The greatest hits of broadcast signal hijacking. Topics include: Cold War era, Southern Television (video), Zombies (video), Naughty fun, and Max Headroom (video). Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
"The Indians taught the pilgrims to farm and the pilgrims invited them to Thanksgiving, with cranberry and pumpkin pie." -every elementary school text book. Boy were we sold a bill of goods! Ferret fact from fiction in this episode voted on by our patrons. Presidential voices by Old Nerds Drinking podcast. Have you had a chance to review the YBOF book? I'm hoping we can average one a week. Talk to your fellow Brainiacs on FB or Reddit. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by Kevin MacLeod and Chris Haugen
...with ants! By popular demand, we scratch the very surface of the surprising and diverse world of the ant. Talk to your fellow Brainiacs on FB or Reddit. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by Kevin MacLeod Have you had a chance to review the YBOF book? I'm hoping we can average one a week.
From Vietnamese snake wine to vodka made from milk, corn beer with spit in it and whisky made from pee, mankind will make liquor with or out of just about anything! Talk to your fellow Brainiacs on FB or Reddit. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by Kevin MacLeod Have you had a chance to review the YBOF book? I'm hoping we can average one a week.
Today is the most stressful election day in the lives of many, so I declare it instead to be...Distraction Day. To that end, here's an extra-long episode of some of the best bits that were originally on the Patreon (the greatest hits that weren't too weird, gross, or swear-y, anyway).
Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by Kevin MacLeod
Have you had a chance to review the YBOF book? I'm hoping we can average one a week. ♪♫This is Halloween! This is Halloween!♫♪ Supporters on our Patreon and fans in our FB group chose the topics for today's episode: 01:35 sorting Dracula fact from fiction 07:49 how horror stars got their stars 20:01 when did clowns become scary 23:29 the history behind zombies 28:38 movie monster fast facts! Mentioned in the show: Overly Sarcastic's Frankenstein run-down Cutting Class podcast on Christopher Lee Oh No! Lit Class on The Phantom Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by Kevin MacLeod Sponsor: Podcorn
Why do we give them, who gets one, and, more importantly, who doesn't? Sponsors: Podcorn, Libysn (code: moxie), Pigeon (code: moxie) Have you had a chance to review the YBOF book? Someone posted a bad review :( and I'd love to get the average back up. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by Kevin MacLeod
"Why didn't the slaves revolt?" They did. A lot. We just weren't taught about it. Here's a humble start at fixing that. 04:56 Stono Rebellion 11:35 New York plot 15:56 Black Seminole 22:45 Nat Turner - Garbled Twistory 27:40 German Coast Uprising 32:50 Occupation of Alcatraz promo: Everything Everywhere Did you get a chance to leave a review for the YBOF book? Someone just posted a bad review :( and I'd love to get the average back up. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
We just can't have nice things....like forests. Hear the stupid causes of some of modern history's most destructive wildfires and find out why putting out fires is actually making things worse.
Did you get a chance to leave a review for the YBOF book? Someone just posted a bad review :( and I'd love to get the average back up. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
From the profound to the prophetic, from the ironic to the ignominious, from founding fathers to TV stars, we look into the final utterances of the famous and infamous alike. Did you get a chance to leave a review for the YBOF book? We're trying to get 100 reviews in the first year! Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Did you get a chance to leave a review for the YBOF book? We're trying to get 100 in the first year! For want of a nail, the kingdom was lost. Guest voice: Brandon Schexnayder of Southern Gothic Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Trouble With Tribals by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/6621-trouble-with-tribals License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Did you get a chance to leave a review for the YBOF book? 00:45 Mona Lisa 06:50 Bob Ross 11:50 Rosalind Franklin 18:00 Charles Ponzi 24:50 R. Lee Ermy Music by Kevin MacLeod and TrackTribe. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Did you get your get a change to leave a review for the YBOF book? Heart Queen Pink Floyd Mike Oldfield Contractually obligated albums Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Did you get your copy of the YBOF book? Do you have a minute to leave a review? Did Mel Brooks lie to us--is it really good to be the king? Stagnant gene pools Ignoble Deaths British royal family ties The Death of the Queen Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Did you get your copy of the YBOF book? Do you have a minute to leave a review? Victoria Woodhull Margaret Ives Abbott Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell Dr. Rebecca Crumpler Bessie Coleman Annie Edson Taylor Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Did you get your copy of the YBOF book? Do you have a minute to leave a review? 00:30 moveable-type press 05:35 circumnavigation solo Atlantic flight telephone lightbulb Enigma out and proud Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Did you get your copy of the YBOF book? Do you have a minute to leave a review? Anyone can name an animal after what it looks like, but why waste the chance to immortalize your favorite singer or make your personal vendetta part of science history? Music by Kevin MacLeod and Table Top Audio. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Did you get your copy of the YBOF book? Do you have a minute to leave a review? From rainbow parties to Spiritualism to two bands touring as a single band that doesn't exist, we take a look at some noteworthy hoaxes and false panics. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Did you get your copy of the YBOF book? Do you have a minute to leave a review? Why do we dye raspberry-flavored things blue? Why does mint feel cold? How are Kit Kats like Soylent Green? Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Did you get your copy of the YBOF book? Do you have a minute to leave a review. From birds flying the coop, to snakes slipping away, to apes getting up to monkey business, hear about crafty critters making a break for it. Special guest: Life, Death, and Taxonomy Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Did you get your copy of the YBOF book? Refreshing treat or miracle cure to ensure a long, healthy, sexy life? You decide! (Psst, it's the first one.) 00:50 Carbonated water 03:45 Patent medicines 12:30 Moxie cola from Fantastic History of Food 18:23 Pepsi 21:06 Coke 27:05 7-Up and bipolar disorder Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Show us your copy of the YBOF book and tag the podcast!
From protecting themselves to protecting endangered animals, women amassed are a formidable thing indeed.
00:44 Gulabi gang
07:10 Sun Ladies 11:20 Jergertroppen 16:00 Black Mambas by Herstory On The Rocks 20:30 Akashinga Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
00:50 History of the world 03:20 Hanging gardens of Babylon 05:48 Chinampas, by Nooks and Crannies 1:35 Victory gardens 19:03 Gardening while black 24:00 Cool examples 27:20 In space Music by Kevin MacLeod and Audionautix Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Have you ordered your copy of the YBOF book? Hundreds dead, thousands homeless, entire communities wiped out, yet most of us have never heard of what happened in Rosewood 1923, Tulsa 1921, or Chicago 1919. 02:50 Rosewood 10:23 Tulsa 19:00 The Conspirators podcast 23:10 Chicago Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
The YBOF book is out today! We're under attack by a virus, but what about all the microorganisms that make our food yummy, keep our bodies healthy, and help us reverse our damage to the planet? 01:35 Microbiome 07:00 Lacto-fermentation 10:45 Everything I Learned From Movies 13:50 Koalas and mosquitoes 19:45 Plastic and coral 25:23 Superfund sites Promo: Genuine Chit-chat Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Since colonial times, African-Americans have fought in America’s wars. Black soldiers have put their lives on the line for a country that for centuries has enslaved, segregated, and discriminated against them. Until the Korean War, blacks served in segregated units under racist leadership and were often relegated to labor and service units. Despite the continuous discriminatory treatment that denied blacks full participation in America’s wars and military efforts, these brave men and women lived lives that deserved to be remembered. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Pre-order the YBOF book or get bonus content. Sometimes you wanna go where nobody knows your name...because there's nobody there. But why? 01:00 Motivations 05:26 Christian hermits Guest: Pontifacts 14:25 Ornamental hermits 19:35 Unboxing Day! 20:20 Science hermit 25:28 The North Pond Hermit Promo: The Contrarians Music by Kevin MacLeod and Tabletop Audio Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
https://insidethekandidish.wordpress.com/2020/05/30/dear-white-people-this-is-what-we-want-you-to-do/
Pre-order the YBOF book or get bonus content. Livestream 4 The Cure We spit them out without a second thought, but seeds are as fascinating as they are important. 01:49 Size matters 07:35 Getting around (squirting cucumber video) 12:10 Guest: Better Than Human 19:39 Methuselah 23:30 Seed vaults 25:10 The seeds of Leningrad Promo: 10ish Music by Kevin MacLeod and Tabletop Audio Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself, even if it means inhaling strange gasses, being stung by wasps, or swallowing patient's bodily fluids. Promo: 5 Minute Wine podcast Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
Pre-order the YBOF book or get bonus content. Livestream 4 The Cure 2:00 Ricky Megee 5:48 Jose Alvarenga Trivia prizes from Fireside Games and Greenbrier Games. 12:53 Anna Bagenholm Sic Parvis Magna 21:50 Juliane Koepcke Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Pre-order the YBOF book or get bonus content. Thank you to all of those who are literally risking their lives while people claim the virus isn't a real threat and demand to be allowed to get haircuts and go to the movies. Susie King Taylor Lucky 13 Build Face Shields Music by Kevin MacLeod and Johnny Mandel. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Pre-order the YBOF book or get bonus content. Frugal is all well and good, but sometimes the people with the most money go to the most drastic extremes to keep every last bit of it. 01:30 John Elwes 04:25 Daniel Dancer 09:28 Hetty Green 16:23 Gratitude and Socializing 18:35 J. Paul Getty by I Have So Many Questions podcast 25:30 Edward Wedbush Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Pre-order the YBOF book! or Get bonus content. Don't Risk getting the facts in your Cranium all Scrabbled up. (Are these puns getting played out? It seems a bit dicey.) Promo - Deconstruction Workers 02:22 Ancient games - Irving Finkel and Tom Scott 11:30 Figuring out the rules 14:55 Gratitude and socializing 16:47 Go directly to jail 19:30 Monopoly 23:52 Cluedo 28:30 POW escape kits Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Pre-order the YBOF book! or Get bonus content. 01:40 Puritans and Mother Shipton 04:31 Popes 07:31 Planet Clarion 09:50 Community 12:00 Harriet Livermore 13:19 Prophet Hen of Leeds 16:34 Millerites 21:44 Listen, Rinse, Repeat; Reviews4Good, promo: Ghost Town 24:43 Heaven's Gate 29:11 Harold Camping Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. Music by Unicorn Heads
Pre-order the YBOF book! or Get bonus content. While we're sheltering in place from the pandemic, we look at how people dealt with the intense shortages of the Great Depression and WWII. 02:05 Aunt Sammy 04:00 Eleanor Roosevelt 07:00 Sample menu Emmymadeinjapan's Hard Times series 09:08 Foods still with us 12:26 Flour sack dresses 14:17 Gratitude and TRIVIA CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT 16:00 Promo - Jason & Mindy 16:48 US rationing 18:55 UK rationing 24:00 "Dig for Victory" and the British Restaurant 26:55 "Beauty is Your Duty" 29:00 Clothing rations Music by Kevin MacLeod and the US Marine Band Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! Be a smart cookie and don't fall for these food-based urban legends and conspiracy theories. (Sorry for all the thumps. My new mic stand is not compatible with my wild gesticulations.) 00:05 Vocal Fries promo 01:54 McDonald's 07:41 New Coke, Monster, tap water 13:04 Kosher tax 14: 56 Gratitude 16:13 Now You've Seen It promo 17:00 KFC - four-legged chicken 21:08 Fondue 23:10 Sugar 27:33 Chipotle Spider silk goats 31:50 Old wives tales Get bonus content. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
Follow the stories of five people (an outlaw, a murderess, a nightclub dancer, a natural wonder, and a first lady) who covered a lot of ground... after they died. 01:58 Elmer McGurdy 07:24 Hazel Farris 11:48 Marie O'Day 16:55 Julia Pastrana 25:37 Eva Peron Mentioned: Marie O'Day's Palace Car Get bonus content. Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram, email. Music by Kevin MacLeod
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! It's birthday time for both the show and the host here at Your Brain On Facts, so let's go around the world to see how different people celebrate theirs. 01:55 Backstory 04:53 New World 09:46 Europe 16:35 India/Nepal 19:09 Africa 22:00 Gratitude 25:01 Asia Get bonus content. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! We're having a spa day on Your Brain On Facts. For us, that means myth-disabusement and obscure facts, rather than facials and a mani-pedi. 1:30 History of the spa 07:50 The San 13:29 a recent review 18:00 Snake oil 20:50 Zzyzx The MedLife Crisis video about how modern medicine has allowed, and even helped, alternative medicine, to thrive. Get bonus content. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! Your Brain On Facts celebrates 100 episodes with 100+ facts. Enthusiastic virtual high-fives of thanks to our guest presenters: 01:15 Bunny Trails 02:40 Footnoting History 03:56 Andy's Podcaster Podcasting Podcast 05:15 Strange Animals 07:02 Bring On The Weird 08:00 Pretend 09:09 Ignorance Was Bliss 10:45 Self Shoots the S*** 12:39 Where Does It Go? 14:12 Human Circus 15:57 Varmints 17:32 Obscura 19:04 Patreon special offer 20:52 Exploress 22:10 Lexitecture 23:44 Irrationally Exuberant 26:01 Interrupted Tales 27:13 Presidencies Of The Unites States 28:23 Short Stories of Augie Peterson 29:58 Stories of Yore and Yours 32:03 A Podcast About Something 34:48 Anytown USA 35:43 Talk The Talk 37:11 Fresh Hell 38:47 Conspiracy Theoryology Don't forget about the Patreon special offer! Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! if you thought the men got swept under the rug, history has been even less kind to these innovative women. 1:15 Alice Parker 4:30 Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner 9:55 Gratitude 11:40 Dr. Shirley Jackson 16:10 Patreon special offer 17:50 Marie Van Brittan Brown Get bonus content Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! Sure you know Edison, but do you know Latimer, Drew, West, or the other men of color who made the tech you use every day? Lewis Latimer James West Gratitude Garrett Morgan Charles Drew Get bonus content Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! If you think animal mating habits get weird, wait until you hear about these gestations/incubations and births. 01:18 Gestation periods 03:45 Pregnant pauses 07:28 Got milk? 12:04 Male birth 15:11 Gratitude 18:41 Big mouths 23:08 Parthenogenesis Get bonus content Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! The greatest hits of broadcast signal hijacking. Cold War era Southern Television (video) Zombies (video) Naughty fun Gratitude Max Headroom (video) Recently Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! While history is full of stolen ideas and missed opportunities, hear why some inventors chose not to profit from their ideas. 02:17 friction matches 04:56 polio vaccines 08:42 McNuggets 13:32 gratitude 15:35 LEDs 19:16 ballpoints 23:15 WWW Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod , Audionautix, Jeremy Blake, and TrackTribe. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! As voted on by our Patreon patrons, today we're talking about mud. This ubiquitous combination of water and dirt is useful to science, employed in health and beauty, a little-known component of professional sports, and even eaten. 02:22 Haitian mud cookies 06:31 Southern white dirt 10:22 Mud worth more than gold 13:23 Gratitude 15:14 Baseball-rubbing 20:29 Tough Mudder Support the show Music usually by Kevin MacLeod , but I can't for the life of me remember where I downloaded this song from. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod and Audionautix. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! You know Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, but did you know this song, and the poem it was based on, were both written by Jews? You won't believe how many classic Christmas songs were! 00:50 Why this topic? 02:31 A sample of examples 06:00 Irving Berlin and White Christmas 10:21 Heatwave songs 11:57 Xmas protest tune 13:41 Robert May and Rudolph 23:27 Gratitude 25:08 But why? Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
You've probably heard about the Austrian Christmas demon Krampus, but what about Befana, the Italian Christmas witch? In what country do you need reservations for Xmas dinner at KFC? Where do people wish you happy holidays with a specific request for presents? 01:22 Christmas as a holiday 03:00 Holiday Punishers 05:32 Gryla and Sons 10:25 TV yule log 16:19 First we feast! and African traditions 21:18 Christmas in China 24:40 The other yule log 25:42 Yule Goat Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! Just because it's in all the history books, doesn't mean it's true. 00:50 Julius Caesar was namesake of the Caesarian section 08:00 Chastity belts 13:25 Iron Maidens 23: 00 Slaves built the pyramids Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! From the Yellow Pages and Golden Book, to Mao's little red book, three different green books and more! Music by Kevin MacLeod, Audionautix, and Rooster Teeth (I love you, please don't sue). Support the show Read the script. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! One man's holiday feast is another man's traumatic experience. With special guests Where Does It Go? Kiviaq Hakarl Cheating for meat Molded salads Catepillar mushroom Cazu marzu Balut Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! 2:00 Car-makers and Big Oil killed electric street cars 05:00 The feds are watching me! 13:45 Mind control Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
Flashing back to a two-parter on heroic animals, innovations from the field, and noteworthy bad-asses. Topics include a pigeon who saved hundreds of lives, a crossbow for grenades and Jack Churchill, who went into WWI with a claymore and bagpipes, despite not being Scottish. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! What could be more wholesome than reading a book or riding your bike? It depends on who you ask. Many things that are commonplace today were the cause of moral panics, people believing they would bring about the downfall of society. 2:35 waltz, Charleston, turkey trot 9:17 bicycles 15:53 telephone 18:29 mail 21:50 novels 25:10 couches 26:45 forks Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! Special guest: Ignorance Was Bliss When you run out of people to blame, blame the devil. Hear a few of the times people tried to use demonic possession as their 'get out of jail free' card. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! "We told you we had living, breathing monstrosities. You laughed at them, yet but for the accident of birth, you might be even as they are! They did not ask to be brought into the world, but into the world they came." Thus begins a movie such as had never been seen before and hasn’t been seen since, Tod Browning’s “Freaks!” Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! The conclusion of our twin episodes, wherein we look at conjoined and a parasitic twins. 1:15 science overview 3:45 separation surgery 06:03 Masha and Dasha 11:15 parasitic twins 14:15 fetus in fetu 18:25 Edward Mordrake 22:25 diprosopus Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
PRE-ORDER THE YBOF BOOK! The first of a pair of episodes about twins, synchronicity, science, and dark mysteries. 1:00 science overview 3:00 twin studies 08:30 twin language 19:35 June & Jennifer Gibbons Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
Being hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned is no reason to give up the fight. 00:40 Jan Zizka 07:20 Gate Pa 15:50 Saraghari 21:20 Attack of the Dead Men Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full odds1. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
The following podcast contains frank discussions of human sexuality and anatomy. Listener discretion is advised.
Sigmund Freud may be the father of psychoanalysis, but he got a LOT of stuff wrong. Special guest extravaganza with Bunny Trails, Ignorance Was Bliss, Interesting Sex, and The Story Behind podcasts. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
Think your boss is all up in your business? Imagine if he was also your landlord and social director. What if you left work and went home, but you were still on company property? With special guests, Cutting Class podcast! 3:00 08:05 Pullman, IL 14:20 Hershey, PA 17:25 shout-outs and thanks 19:05 Fordlandia, Brazil Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
From Zuckerman's Famous Pig to a sow in the British Royal Navy, from a porker winning acting awards to pigs for president! Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
As voted on by our patrons, we look at three non-Europeans who saved the lives of Jews during the Holocaust of WWI--a Japanese Christian, an Indian Hindu, and a Moroccan Muslim--and were honored as Righteous Among The Nations. Documentary Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod and Audionautix Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
Mankind has waged war for many reasons: land, oil, a pretty face, a wooden bucket, you name it. How did a pig put the US and UK on the brink of war in Canada? Who declares hostility over watermelon? And what about the Golden Stool? Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
Remember that time you were stuck in traffic for more than an hour? Imagine if that lasted a whole day. Or two. Or twelve! Today we look at a biblical traffic jam, ships stranded for years, and flight delays like you wouldn't believe. 00:56 Beijing 12-day jam 10:32 8 years in the Suez canal 17:29 Our no-fly list Read the full script and find sources. Support the show. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Join the discussion. Music by Kevin MacLeod
In our instantly-connected world, there are entire groups of people you may never have heard of, whether they have never had contact with others or they live alongside the better known population. Learn about the Sami of Norway, Yali of New Guinea, Ladakhi of India, and more. Read the script. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod and Audionautix. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram.
From toothpaste & OJ to a cat mayor, from B batteries to solar sneezes, how many different topics can fit in one episode? Find out now! Support the show. Join the discussion. Music by Chris Haugen
Lat week, the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, we celebrated how we went to space, but how do we go in space? Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Support the show. Join the discussion. Music by Audionautix
The triumphs and tragedies of the tiny tots of Tinseltown. 02:55 Judy Garland 06:35 Shirley Temple 14:17 Coogan's Law 21:12 Twilight Zone 25:25 Babies Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Support the show. Join the discussion. Music by Kevin MacLeod
We've been filming animals as long as we've been filming ourselves, but what goes into making an animal a star and, more importantly, keeping them safe on the job? 00:45 first animal protagonist 01:57 Rin Tin Tin 06:10 Lassie 08:53 harrowing horses and protecting animals on set 24:11 Roar Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Support the show. Join the discussion. Music by Kevin MacLeod
You want it, you need it, but if you get too much, it could kill you. Salt is so much more than just a seasoning; it has changed the course of human history! 03:00 your body and salt 05:55 drinking saltwater 11:10 paying Roman soldiers in salt 14:50 how salt makes food taste good 17:40 salt mining and a big booboo 24:33 zany alternatives to road salt Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Support the show. Music by Kevin MacLeod
Einstein didn't flunk math, people in Columbus's time didn't think the earth was flat, and lemmings don't fling themselves off cliffs. Why is it the false facts spread so quickly and dig in so deep? 02:10 Everything you think you know about pirates 08:00 Ellis Island name changes 13:05 Sharks don't get cancer 20:50 Alpha wolves Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Support the show. Music by Kevin MacLeod
My father was a sci-fi fan of the old school. The man had the entire original Star Trek series on VHS, commercial free, and an Enterprise technical manual. So in his honor, a little late for Father's Day, we go back in time to look to the future as we dive into the wormhole of classic sci-fi. With segments voiced by Shaun Ennis, host of Stories of Yore and Yours. You can find all the links used to research this episodes on our website, but here's the one you wanted, the pics of the skant uniform. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Support the show. Music by Kevin MacLeod and sound effects from freesound.org.
(Science With Savannah, Age 7 will be on the YBOF feed while we try to work out some technical problems with its feed.) How do dogs bark? Do they have different barks for different reasons? Do wolves bark? Music by audionautix.com
(Science With Savannah, Age 7 will be on the YBOF feed while we try to work out some technical problems with its feed.) Why is all this air moving? Are there different kinds of wind? What is equilibrium? Music by audionautix.com
Why is Pride Month in June? Did Marsha P Johnson really throw the first brick at Stonewall Inn? Did the Stonewall Riots start the gay rights movement? Read the full script and find sources. Support the show. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram, email, and you can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669. Music by Kevin MacLeod
(Science With Savannah, Age 7 will be on the YBOF feed while we try to work out some technical problems with its feed.) How do fish breathe underwater and worms breath in the dirt? Do insects have lungs? Why are things in the air more harmful to birds than other animals? Which animals breathe through their butts?
Here's a special trio of topics for your Tuesday (or whenever!): Great Moments in Forgetting Your Mic Was On Chuck Cunningham Syndrome Childish Weapons of WWII Read the full script and find sources. Support the show. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram, email, and you can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669. Music by Kevin MacLeod
Post-op's been a bit rough, so to tide you over until the next proper episode, here are some fan-selected favorite clips as well as the first episode of our new show, Science with Savannah Age 7. Support the show. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram, email, and you can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669. Music by Kevin MacLeod
In the first "Like Butter in the Bank," we talked about strategic reserves -- Canadian maple syrup, Chinese pork, Indian cotton, European butter, and American raisins -- intended to stabilize prices. Today we look at stockpiles designed to help us survive, in both the short and long term. Read the full script and find sources. Support the show. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram, email, and you can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669. Music by Kevin MacLeod
Some of the most iconic photos of the 20th century, from "Migrant Mother" during the Great Depression to "The Dying Marine" in Vietnam, were taken by women making their way in an industry that was not prepared for them. Mentioned in the show: Migrant Mother Pics of Jessie Beals Dickie Chapell's Last Rites Read the full script and find sources. Support the show. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram, email, and you can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669. Music by Kevin MacLeod and Audionautix
There is something in modern man that makes him look at society and say “I could do this better, but smaller, and over there.” What does it take to build a utopia? No one knows yet, because they've all failed. Support the show. Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram, email, and you can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669. Music by Kevin MacLeod and Twin Musicom
This topic came from our monthly Patreon topic poll. It didn't win, but a patron was curious how I would make this topic interesting. What do you know about Finland? ... That's what I thought! So sit back, close your eyes (unless you're driving) and fill your brain with fine Finnish facts. Guest segment from Conspiracy Theoryology Audio feedback from Bunny Trails podcast Support the show. Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram, email, and you can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669. Music by Kevin MacLeod
(Thanks to special guests Sophia and Matryoshka for jingling their collars in range of the mic.) The havoc that human beings (and a cat named Tibbles) can wreak on native birds, in an episode that wasn't supposed to be all-bird, but here we are. Podcast partner: The Short Stories of Augie Peterson Mentioned: mustached kingfisher Support the show. Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram, email, and you can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669. Music by Kevin MacLeod
Follow the stories of five people (an outlaw, a murderess, a nightclub dancer, a natural wonder, and a first lady) who covered a lot of ground... after they died. Mentioned: Marie O'Day's Palace Car Support the show. Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram, email, and you can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669. Music by Kevin MacLeod
Voice acting is so much more than just cartoons; it’s documentary narration, GPS voices, smart speakers, and so much more. And if you can get in good, your career will be legendary, even if no one knows your name or what you look like. Support the show. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
April Fools! But it's the good kind of prank. Today I'm participating in Operation Switcheroo, where podcasts hosts share their feed with a similar show to help grow our audiences by introducing people to shows they might not have heard of.
Your regularly-scheduled YBOF will be up tomorrow.
Click here for more Useless Information.
When you think of world-saving heroes, you think Superman, Captain America, Randy Quaid in Independence Day. But there are real life people who have saved thousands, even millions of lives within living memory, and you’ve probably never even heard their names. Support the show. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
From Twinkies and PMS to sleepwalking and The Matrix, we look at brilliantly bizarre legal strategies people have tried and sometimes even succeeded with. Mentioned: Abused Goddess photo campaign Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
From military dolphins to railroad monkeys, hear about some of the more surprising jobs that our cousins in the animal kingdom can do. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script and find sources. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
Welcome to the third installment of our infrequent series: We Can’t Have Nice Things. This time, we’re looking at people who, through ignorance or malice ruins something not theirs -- vandals. Their motives range from greed, to anger, to unchecked egomania. Some get caught, while others get away to screw things up somewhere else. If researching this script taught me anything, it’s that nothing is sacred to them, literally. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
Since colonial times, African-Americans have fought in America’s wars. Black soldiers have put their lives on the line for a country that for centuries has enslaved, segregated, and discriminated against them. Until the Korean War, blacks served in segregated units under racist leadership and were often relegated to labor and service units. Despite the continuous discriminatory treatment that denied blacks full participation in America’s wars and military efforts, these brave men and women lived lives that deserved to be remembered. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
The human body can be a frail and fragile thing; we can be taken out by a small clump of our own cells. Then there are some bodies that seem to be made out of pure testicular fortitude. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
We've all been through bad break-ups, but we should count ourselves lucky we were exiles, imprisoned or beheaded. Special guest: Fan Theory World Check out our new tiers and limited time special offer on Patreon. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
In the third installment of our sometimes-series We Can't Have Nice Things, we get back to basics and look at brazen acts of vandalism on natural wonders, works of art, and more. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
From using a train in a car race to marathon doping with deadly poison, there's far more excitement in racing than simply declaring a winner. Check out our new tiers and limited time special offer on Patreon. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself, even if it means inhaling strange gasses, being stung by wasps, or swallowing patient's bodily fluids. Check out our new tiers and limited time special offer on Patreon. Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
What is the oldest playable instrument we've found? How do you make music with lightning? From clacking rocks together to the magnificent Marble Machine, musical instruments are as varied as our imaginations. Special guest, Elizabeth from Archivists Bet On Sexy Witches Music by Kevin MacLeod All music used remains property of its original owner and was used under the fair use doctrine for educational purposes. Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
Mankind has waged war for many reasons: land, oil, a pretty face, a wooden bucket, you name it. How did a pig put the US and UK on the brink of war in Canada? Who declares hostility over watermelon? And what about the Golden Stool? Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the fill script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
Sigmund Freud may be the father of psychoanalysis, but he got a LOT of stuff wrong. Special guest extravaganza with Bunny Trails, Ignorance Was Bliss, Interesting Sex, and The Story Behind podcasts. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the full script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
7 billion people spread across 59 million square miles, but we all need to eat and we eat more things that are than same than different. Learn about pizza preference, drunk foods, and truly unique fare around the world. Support the show Music by Chris Haugen Read the fill script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email. You can also leave a question or fact of your own on my voicemail at 804-404-2669.
You've probably heard about the Austrian Christmas demon Krampus, but what about Befana, the Italian Christmas witch? In what country do you need reservations for Xmas dinner at KFC? Where do people wish you happy holidays with a specific request for presents? Promo: Soulstory podcast Watch the Yule Goat. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the fill script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram or email.
In our instantly-connected world, there are entire groups of people you may never have heard of, whether they have never had contact with others or they live alongside the better known population. Learn about the Sami of Norway, Yali of New Guinea, Ladakhi of India, and more. Support the show Music by Kevin MacLeod and Audionautix. Read the script. Reach out and touch Moxie on FB, Twit, the 'Gram.
As long as we have had media on which to record our art, there have been competing formats. While more modern examples like Betamax vs VHS or Blu-ray vs HD DVD may leap to mind, format wars go back as far as the days of Thomas Edison and the first audio media, wax cylinders. We'll also look at 8-tracks, 16-2/3 RPM records, "self-destructing" DVD's, and a string of Sony failures. Mentions: EngineerGuy Music by Kevin MacLeod Read the script. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
From naming ceremonies around the world and adult circumcisions, to unexpected disasters and baptising the dead whether they want it or not, we look at different ways people are made part of their faith or community. Music by Kevin MacLeod and Tabletop Audio. Read the script. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Think you don't speak French because you failed it in high school? Wouldn't know Hindi from Urdu? You actually speak them every day! Mentions: NativLang, Marge Bruchac's letter Music by Kevin MacLeod, and Chris Haugen. Read the script. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
From the Yellow Pages and Golden Book, to Mao's little red book, three different green books and more! Music by Kevin MacLeod, Audionautix, and Rooster Teeth (I love you, please don't sue). Read the script. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
From music hall to Red Dwarf, pantomime to Absolutely Fabulous, we look at the history of British comedy, the names, shows, and historical events that made it what it is today. Like what you hear? Become a patron of the arts for as little as $2 a month! Music: Kevin MacLeod and John Phillips Sousa. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
There are many reasons why an individual or group would eat other people - religious rites, shows of strength, signs of respect, and of course desperation. Cannibalism can be split into four often overlapping categories: by choice, by necessity, endo-cannibalism (eating people within your group), and exo-cannibalism (eating people outside your group). Special guests: Heather from Nature Vs Narcissism and Seth from Sketch Nerds. Music: Kevin MacLeod and Tabletop Audio Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
George Carlin wasn't wrong with his list of 7 dirty words you can't say, but he missed a whole lot. Everyday parts of our media and surprisingly innocuous things were banned from movies, TV, and radio for the better part of the twentieth century. Lucille Ball was pregnant on "I Love Lucy," but they weren't allowed to say the word 'pregnant.' Movies were forbidden from showing drugs, murder, silhouettes of nudity, "excessive kissing," and a lot more. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. I Am Running Down the Long Hallway of Viewmont Elementary by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license. Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/ Links to all the research resources are on the website.
There are some musicians that leave an enduring legacy through long and storied careers, like the Rolling Stones, who formed in 1962 and swear 2018 for be their final year touring, for real this time. There are actors who are iconic because they have been on our TV’s or the silver screen for decades, like Sean Connery, James Earl Jones, and our beloved Betty White. But by the same token, there are musicians, actors, and shows that are like a stone dropped in a pond -- their appearance was brief, but their ripples continue to this day. With special guest, Dan LeFebvre from Based On A True Story podcast. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept 15 to Oct 15. Join us in celebrating cultural touchstones and famous people, as well as learning things like the distinction between Latino and Hispanic. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
Will Shel Silverstein turn your kids into cannibals? Is a baby penguin spreading the "gay agenda"? We look at children, young adult, and LGBTQ books challenged or banned for silly reasons. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. Learn why parents objected to such diverse classics as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Ender's Game and which book is banned in the most countries. With special guest Megan Dangerous from Oh No! Lit Class podcast. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
Goats are the internet’s second favorite animal, a ruminant quadruped that gives us milk, meat, fiber, and hilarious videos. Legend has it they also discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls, cataract surgery, and coffee. They can climb seemingly impossible heights and escape every kind of fence mankind has invented. They feature in the zodiac and the mythologies of most of the world. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
What’s in a name? That which we call a city by any other name would smell as sweet. Some nicknames are obvious. Denver, CO is the Mile High City because it’s precisely one mile above sea level. Dallas, Texas is The Big D; everything’s bigger in Texas. But which American city can also be called The Emerald City, which state is the Land of Lincoln and what’s a buckeye or a Sooner? Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
If you want to open an actual door to the past, you’ll have to do it without a doorknob. The patent for the a knob that turns to move a latch inside the door wasn't filed until 1878. Lots of things, from CPR to timezones to sliced bread, that seem like they've been around forever are actually quite young. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
Genghis Kahn's empire killed 2/3 of Northern China, but people under his rule knew unrivaled gender equality and religious freedom. Mother Teresa gave aid to the poor, but also encouraged their suffering. Spiky cacti sometimes contain life-sustaining water, and even the most beautiful roses have thorns. We’re all some mix of good and bad. Thanks to our special guests Dimly Lit podcast. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
There is a literal world of funeral practices to choose from, from an Irish wake to Tibetan sky burial, from New Orleans Jazz funerals to Balinese ngaben cremation, from being buried in a car-shaped coffin in Ghana to burying the head of family with a funnel in their mouth in Nigeria, so you can give them palm wine during the funeral. Thanks to our special guests from Life in Stories podcast. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
Tests are all around us. You probably took one the minute you were born. We look at tests named for the people who created them - Bechdel, Myers-Briggs, Apgar, and more.
01:25 Bechdel-Wallace
09:00 DuVernay
13:40 Myer-Briggs
18:10 Apgar
Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod . Links to all the research resources are on the website.
Without getting into current politics, we can’t ignore the plight of children seized from parents of a particular group. And it’s not the first time either. A century ago, the American government took tens of thousands of children from Native families and placed them in boarding schools with strict assimilation practices. Their philosophy - kill the Indian to save the man.... 01:00 Indian Schools 09:00 Australia's "stolen generations" 16:00 Ceausescu's orphans 20:15 the Dionne quintuplets Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod and archive.org. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
Death doesn’t mean everything stop for you. There are lots of ways we can live on after shuffling off the mortal coil. From body parts taken from famous bodies, to cells that won't stop growing, to a taxidermied person on display in a museum, we look at bodies and body parts that don't let death slow them down. Topics: 02:35 Henrietta Lacks 06:40 Operation Mincemeat 10:15 Abraham Lincoln 12:00 JFK 13:45 Albert Einstein 16:30 Joseph Haydn 17:20 Frederic Chopin 18:30 Napoleon 23:45 the Tswana warrior Thanks to our special guests Dumb and Busted podcast. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod and YouTube music library. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
I’m pretty good at this wife business, but I can’t say that I would take over my husband’s public office after his death, re-edit his film to launch a genre-defining franchise, or kill an enemy general after he was over-run. However, there are a lot of women in history who would, and did, all those things and more. From French pirates to Chilean warrior to American filmmakers, we look at women who earn the title "super wife." http://bit.ly/StarWarsEdit Bunny Trails Podcast Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod and archive.org. Links to all the research resources are on the website.
“The body is a temple and it’s our job to decorate it." From tatau in Polynesia to Sailor Jerry to the oppressed class that gave rise to the Yakuza, we touch on some highlights from the history of tattoos. Huge thanks to my guest presenter Mike "Hobbit" Bickett from Geeks Under the Influence Podcast network. Check out the episode of Smack My Pitch Up he let me do with him. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod and archive.org. Links to all the research resources are on our website.
We all lose things -- keys, wallets, patience -- but how do you lose an entire city? Hear the stories of three American towns built in a hurry but kept off the map, secure Soviet enclaves known by their post codes, ancient cities found by modern technology, and the ingenious engineering of underground dwellings. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Links to all the research resources are on our website.
For Independence Day, we're doing a two-parter on heroic animals, innovations from the field, and noteworthy bad-asses. Topics include a pigeon who saved hundreds of lives, a crossbow for grenades and Jack Churchill, who went into WWI with a claymore and bagpipes, despite not being Scottish. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Links to all the research resources are on our website.
For Independence Day, we're doing a two-parter on heroic animals, innovations from the field, and noteworthy bad-asses. Topics include a pigeon who saved hundreds of lives, a crossbow for grenades and Jack Churchill, who went into WWI with a claymore and bagpipes, despite not being Scottish. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod.
Ecce Homo was a fresco of Jesus Christ that had degraded significantly over time. No one asked the little old lady next door to help. She had no training, but how hard could it really be? Pretty damn hard, as it turns out. In place of the Renaissance-style face was now a smeary circle, wreathed in what looks like a marabou balaclava, with a nose like a folk-art sock doll, the crooked, misplaced eyes of a failed anime sketch, and a mouth like a lipstick smear left by a bass. In the height of irony, many priceless works of art and antiquities have been destroyed by the people who were trying to preserve them. Modern art can be especially susceptible to accidental destruction by well-meaning parties. Some things were destroyed by unthinking or unfeeling people. Some relics were destroyed for the sake of money, even entire pyramids. Some things were destroyed by people who think they’re more important than, ya know, the history of the planet and its people. But seeing is believing! You can find galleries of some of the examples here and here. All of the links used in our research are on the website. Thanks to our super-fan Michael K for his review, support and today's topic.
Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod and sound effects from freesound.org.
My father was a sci-fi fan of the old school. The man had the entire original Star Trek series on VHS, commercial free, and an Enterprise technical manual. So in his honor, a little late for Father's Day, we go back in time to look to the future as we dive into the wormhole of classic sci-fi. With segments voiced by Shaun Ennis, host of Stories of Yore and Yours. Topics include Mary Shelley, Jules Verne, HG Wells, Robert Chambers and cosmic horror, NOT H. P. Lovecraft, William Hodgson and dying earth, Richard Jeffries and the invention of post-apocalptia, Olaf Stapledon and the multi-verse, the origin of the word "robot," Hugo Gernsback's Amazing Stories, John Campbell's Astounding Stories, the first and the longest-running sci-fi TV show and where all the tapes went, and the OG of sci-fi... Star Trek!
You can find all the links used to research this episodes on our website, but here's the one you wanted, the pics of the skant uniform. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod and sound effects from freesound.org.
A strategic reserve is a commodity held back by governments to stabilize prices or protect against shortage. Your mind may go immediately to the 35 million barrels or so of crude oil that the US has in storage, but there are all kinds of strategic reserves around the world. From cotton in China, to butter and wine in the EU, to the Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve, we talk about strange stockpiles (mostly food) and their effect on producers and consumers. To read more about any of these topics, you can find all of the research resources on our website. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod and sound effects from freesound.org.
We assign a great deal of significant to last words. We expect them to be deep and profound, the sort of thing you immortalize on a $3,000 headstone. We hope we’ll say something really clever when it’s our turn, and not “what’s this button do?” or “hold my beer.” But you may end up with last words like American author Henry David Thoreau, who simply said “moose...Indian.” From the profound to the prophetic, from the ironic to the ignominious, from founding fathers to TV stars, we look into the final utterances of the famous and infamous alike. Read the full script at yourbrainonfacts.com/last-words Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod and sound effects from freesound.org.
Some actors fall victim to typecasting, but others have a single character they can't disassociate themselves from. Sometimes that means always being cast as a character similar to the one they made famous or that made them famous, or not really being cast at all. Reach out and touch Moxie on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Music by Kevin MacLeod and sound effects from freesound.org.
If a monkey takes a picture in the woods, can the monkey claim the copyright? Trademark and copyright laws can get pretty sticky. For the layperson, trademark, copyright and patent sound interchangeable. Find our who called dibs on phrases like "you're fired," "one more thing," and "let's play." Learn about cases where people tried to claim things they couldn't, only to get smacked down in court. If you work in advertising, stay tuned for a list of words and phrases that will cost you a lot of money.
In this episode, we cover the way people in Victorian Europe used (and abused) Egyptian mummies, whether or not mummies were burned for fuel, Catholic saints who do not decay, natural mummies preserved in ice, moss, and salt, child mummies of the Andes, and Buddhist monk mummifying themselves.
From the skin between your thumb and forefinger to the stringy things you have to pick off bananas, today's episode will teach you dozens of names for everyday items, even if you can't tell your natiform from your weenus. Here are your new vocab words, in order of appearance: acnestis niddick feat glabella caruncula philtrum weenus rasceta pericule lunules Morton's toe minimus Brannock device hallux throat vamp aglet paresthesia obdormition dysania armscyes nurdle wamble borborygmus crapulence crepuscular rays apricity petrichor chrysalism pareidolia natiform phosphene zarf anecdoche kenopsia monachopsis vellichor joska masticate misophonia vagitus accumbation scurryfunge muntin punt agraffe ulage barm cornicione phloem bundle druplets anemoia defenestrate zugzwang mondegreen eggcorn malaproprism spoonerism grawlix agitron octothorpe intterobang griffonage jot tittle apthong palindrome semordnilap contranym lemniscate obelus
When you think of big heists, your mind probably goes to banks, jewelry, and fine art, or maybe a casino vault; carefully organized plans by people dressed in black turtlenecks with plenty of cool gadgets and close calls. What we remember as the daring heist of one of the world’s most famous paintings was really neither of those. The theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa wasn’t even noticed when it happened. That story, plus a stolen art technique that made a man world famous, credit stolen for one of the most important discoveries in biology, the man who was namesake the pyramid scheme, and a stolen film role that launched a career. Thanks for bearing with me through the rough audio quality lately. I've been studying and practicing and I think you'll notice real improvement starting this week.
A microphone is a good enough platform for getting back at people, but an entire recording studio is even better. Popular music is littered with songs getting back at an ex lover, from Waylon Jennings to Taylor Swift, but a fair number of the tracks you know by heart are actually clap-backs to the people in the mixing booth or the record label offices.
From trolls and griefers, to crashing virtual funerals and spreading digital plagues, we look at online gamers ruining everyone else's fun in the first of our series We Can't Have Nice Things.
Small things can have reverberating effects on history, both good and bad. In 1453, the great walled city of Constantinople, which had withstood sieges for 1,100 years, fell to the Ottomans...because someone left the door open.
Mel Brooks said it best, “It’s good to be the king.” There’s the seemingly limitless power and unspendable amounts of wealth. On the flip-side, though, there’s the back-stabbing, political intrigue, and of course, the inbreeding to deal with.
Hop on down the bunny trail as we examine the origins of some beloved Easter traditions and teach the goyim a little about Pesach.
In the age of bigger, better, faster, more, it’s easy to default to thinking that we invented everything, that the complex things that make up our lives couldn’t have existed in the times we view as primitive. Oh, how wrong we are.
We dip our toes into the deep water of "the first woman to..." with pilots, daredevils, doctors, and athletes.
There exists a small deserted town, which has been seized by eminent domain and condemned by the state. Why would an entire town that once housed over a thousand residents be shuttered? Because the ground under their feet was on fire.
Take, for example, George Washington’s youthful proclamation on the lumberjacking of his father’s cherry tree - “I cannot tell a lie. I did cut it with my hatchet.” It’s one of the first presidential facts American children learn in elementary school. The trouble is, that story is a complete fabrication.
Gutenberg may have gotten all the press, but he wasn't the first to use movable type. Think you know the first video game or who was the first to fly across the Atlantic? Listen in and see!
You say potato, I say a dangerous tuber that people will only eat in the face of actual starvation. You say tomato, I say a poison apple from the mysterious new world that’s killing the aristocracy.
From a lone example of a trilobite in Hunan, China named Han Solo to a butterfly pea flower reminiscent of a Georgia O'Keefe painting, called clitoria ternatea, the naming of species offers almost as much in the way of entertainment as it does scientific classification.
From rainbow parties to Spiritualism to two bands touring as a band they're not, we take a look at some noteworthy hoaxes and false panics.