The How in the World Podcast

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EPISODE 46: IS AIRPLANE AIR SAFE?THE QUESTION: How in the world can I feel safe about breathing airplane air in the midst of a pandemic? SYNOPSIS: This week, we talk about airplane air and if it’s safe (germ-wise) to fly. Specifically, you’ll learn:

How airplane air differs from submarine air The different ways that airplane air is circulated and filtered How airplane air compares to that of an operating room A little bit about germs and science

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HOW IT WORKS

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BONUS STUFF

Mark got on a bit of a soapbox about experiencing life in the new COVID-infected world. He’s exactly right, though. If you’re like us and plan to live your life while you can - instead of cowering in a corner until someone deems it safe - check out our international adventure travel company, Hobnail Trekking Co. We’d love to help you check off your bucket list items, SAFELY. If you’re interested (or maybe just a little curious), find us at www.hobnailtrekkingco.com, or all over social media (links on our website).

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open M: On this episode of the How in the World Podcast, we answer the question: How in the world can I feel safe about breathing airplane air in the midst of a pandemic? INTRO M: Our topic today is something that is extremely, I guess, controversial and pushes a lot of people’s buttons, and that is, the safety of flying in an airplane, and more specifically, breathing airplane air. In fact, I’m sitting right across someone who has always been very suspicious of airplane air. H: And I make no bones about it. I don’t like flying because I don’t understand it and I don’t like the fake air that smells weird. So when this topic came up, I was anxious to do some research and justify my apprehensions. As you’ll see in a few minutes, this didn’t exactly work out the way I expected.. M: No, it didn’t. But let us cover a couple of disclaimers right up front. First, Holly and I are not doctors or scientists. What we’ve done is gathered a bunch of research about this and we will include the things that seem to be a consensus among all these other experts, so we feel pretty sure that we are giving you accurate information. H: Right, and you should also know that we own an international adventure travel company, Hobnail Trekking Company, that has been adversely affected by the COVID pandemic, as you would imagine, so we have a vested interest in getting good information about this – negative or positive – so that we can responsibility advise people about getting back into the air and onto the trails around the world. Everything we tell you today is fact, not conjecture, unless we say it is. M: OK, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s start by talking about the perception of airplane air. Many people — I’d even say MOST people — think of an airplane like they would a submarine, as far as air is concerned. They think that the air the plane takes off with (or the submarine submerges with), is the same air the plane lands with, and is just recycled again and again. H: Right, that what I always believed. I also assumed that the air shooting out of that little valve above my seat probably contained whatever virus or bacteria that some other passenger had recently expelled through a sneeze or cough. And it smells funny but I blast it on my face anyway to help me be not nauseous. M: Again, in your defense, I think most people believe that. H: Buuuttttt, it’s not true. M: No, it’s definitely not true. It’s also not true that the air you leave with is the air you arrive with. But first, it will be helpful if we tell you how the airflow in an airplane actually works. If I may, honey, I’ll cover this part. H: Yep, please do.

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EPISODE 45: UNDERSTANDING ACCENTSTHE QUESTION: How in the world do we speak the same language but with different accents? SYNOPSIS: This week, we talk about accents (specifically American regional), where they come from, and how they develop. Some of the questions we’ll answer include:

What is the difference between an accent and a dialect and a language Why do some people seem to have their own language entirely – yet it’s all English What affects the kind of accent you have Which form of English (British or American) is the oldest Whether accents are innate or environmental? How Webster changed the English language – and why

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BONUS STUFF

Are you as obsessed about the British Antarctic Survey group that’s developed its own accent as we are? If so, here’s a handy little video about some results of the study (forgive the LONG ad at the end). And if you prefer to read, this article is a quick, easy read (and has some really great photos, too). While we were researching this Antarctic phenomenon, we discovered this gem on how Antarctica got its name.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open ACCENTS This week’s episode answers the question: How in the world do we speak the same language but with different accents? INTRO H: Okay, so when I first started researching my part of this, I felt kinda dumb. M: Why? H: Because the very first thing I found was so obvious that I was like “duh”, next episode. But then as I researched more, I discovered some pretty cool stuff. So I committed. M: Yes, I did, too. There were definitely some surprises. Let’s get into it. H: Okay, but first, before people come at us, a little disclaimer. We are not linguists - although it sounds like an incredibly interesting area and if I had a few more lifetimes, I may want to become one. But anyway, we’re not experts on this - or most things, really. M: Right. We’re just doing the research for you so you can enjoy your drive to/from work without having to remember to look this up later. You sit back and enjoy; we did the work for you. H: And obviously, if you think we’re wrong, send us an email and let us know! We don’t want the millions of people who listen to our podcast to be misinformed! Hahaa M: hahaha H: Okay, enough silliness, let’s talk about accents. First, there are two kinds of accents, but we’re only talking about one of them today. We’re not talking about the accent you have when you speak a language that is not your native language, like when I speak the few Spanish words I know in a southern American English accent. No, we’re not gonna talk about that M: For many reasons. H: Indeed. We’re talking about regional accents, specifically in the US - but also generally. You know, like a southern accent or a midwestern accent - those kinds of accents. M: I’m familiar with those accents, yes. So the obvious answer you found to our question is simply that regional accents are formed by the immigrants that first arrived and settled in that area. So it’s like Swedes settling in Minnesota so the people there now speak a form of Swedish-accented English. H: Yes, that’s basically it. And there’s a really neat animated video map thing of this in our show notes that’s really cool and worth checking out. But I feel like we’ve already gotten ahead of ourselves. Let’s start with what, exactly, an accent is - and how it differs from a dialect. And those differ from a language. M: Okay. But before you get into that, it’ll be wise to let our listeners know where WE are from so they can use US as examples of the forthcoming information, right? Because we obviously have different accents. H: Good point! OK, I grew up in northern Virginia, right outside of Washington D.C., in what you would call a “melting pot” of cultures. M: Right.

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EPISODE 45: THE SKINNY ON VACCINESTHE QUESTION: How in the WORLD are vaccines created – and how do they work? SYNOPSIS: This week, we get into a question that many of us — probably almost ALL of us — have had for the past two years: What's the deal with vaccines?? We cover:

What's in them How they work How they're tested How some are originally meant for one thing, but change to something else, and Other stuff.

Important to know: There are NO POLITICAL OPINIONS in this episode! (We avoid that like the plague, no pun intended.)

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BONUS STUFF

Although most doctors and scientists will tell you that vaccines are safe, they still are interested in data that suggests otherwise –and they’ve even set up a system for people to record their adverse reactions and, in extreme cases, even be compensated when they’re experienced serious side effects. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting Systems (VAERS) has an online reporting system where patients (and parents of patients) and healthcare providers can report any and all adverse events after a vaccine has been administered. Vaccine manufacturers report all adverse events that they’re aware of, too. This is an important way to continue evaluating the effects of vaccines. The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) may compensate you if you experienced a serious and long-term adverse effect from a vaccine.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open H: On this episode of the How in the World podcast, we answer the question “How in the WORLD are vaccines created – and how do they work?” INTRO H: Just to be very, very clear – this episode is not a political statement about the COVID vaccine. All the talk of the COVID vaccine was the inspiration behind wanting to understand more about vaccines but we’re not talking specifically about the COVID vaccine but rather just vaccine development in general. Okay? M: Yeah, we work hard to not be very political. That’s not what our podcast is about. H: True. There’s plenty of that to go around on Facebook. M: Hahaha. And we should let you know that we are not scientists or scholars, either. H: No, we’re actually quite far from it. M: Just like our opening says, we did the research so you don’t have to. Plus, I know you may listen to us while you’re driving to work, and we definitely don’t want you to do the research while driving. That’s dangerous. So let’s get to it. H: Let’s do it. Also, we’re going to attempt to keep the science jargon to a minimum - mainly so WE can understand it. M: Please. H: Actually, we’re going to dumb it down to like a 4th grade level. M: Even better. H: Okay, I think it was my mom who told me about the immune system in our bodies. She described them to me when I was a kid as little soldiers. These little soldiers see something that isn’t right in your body and think it’s an enemy and they attack it. Some of the things it attacks are defeated easier than others and for really tough enemies, it can take a very long time to figure out that enemy’s tactics – lifetimes, even. This is why some things, like cancer and Alzheimers’ disease, is so hard to beat. They are very, very tough enemies. M: Exactly. And this is why we don’t die from the common cold. Our body’s soldiers can pretty easily defeat that enemy. It’s not a tough enemy. Thank God, because who doesn’t get the common cold on a regular basis?! H: For real. And for things like the common cold, once our body encounters and defeats it once, it knows what that enemy’s weak spot is and it can attack and defeat it again – barring any outstanding issues. And the common cold is generally so easy to defeat that we don’t even need help to do it. Our bodies just know what to do. M: But for others, we often do need a little help. That’s where vaccines come in.

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EPISODE 43: COLONIZING MARSTHE QUESTION: How in the world are humans planning to colonize Mars within the next couple of decades? SYNOPSIS: This week, we look at a real-life scenario that has humans colonizing Mars within the next 20 years! We discuss:

The timeline of SpaceX launches, which begin in only four years from now, Who the first human Martians will be, Why Mars is the best and really ONLY choice for places humans can go, What "terraforming" means and how it will affect Mars, And a lot more.

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TRANSCRIPT

Click to open 043: Colonizing Mars On today’s episode of the How in the World Podcast, we answer the question: How in the world are humans planning to colonize Mars — within the next couple of decades? (Intro) M: OK, let us start with a couple of disclaimers. First, there are several different plans floating around out there to colonize Mars, so we had to settle on one. This plan was given to us by a good friend who worked at SpaceX for years and who was responsible for the propulsion systems of several of the rockets. In other words, he was…a rocket scientist. This guy has since retired to travel the world, but he is still very smart and keeping close tabs on the program, so I felt like the plan he turned us on to was a safe way to go. But again, this is only ONE possible scenario out of, I’m sure, hundreds. And yes, I know it sounds like science fiction, but it’s actually not. H: Right. And the second disclaimer is, this will be a VERY dumbed down version of the plan because, A) it needs to be so that WE can understand it, and B) to describe it in great detail would take much longer than we usually run on this podcast. M: Yes, this will be the Cliff Notes version. H: But nonetheless very cool and exciting. M: Absolutely. H: And because, honey, you are the official space nerd in the family who knows the entire history of the space program by heart, and who has seen every space documentary and feature film several times each, and who cries at the end of “The Right Stuff” every time, you will be taking the lead on this episode. Just consider me to be the Ed MacMahon to your Johnny Carson. M: Well, OK. This is wild, wacky stuff. H: OK, I didn’t say to actually impersonate Johnny Carson. M: Got it. Sorry. OK, so we should first address the question of why Mars? Why not some other planet in our solar system? This one is fairly straightforward. There are really only two options of other places in our solar system where humans could go to colonize: Mars and the moon. H: Why not the other planets? M: Well, the short answer to that is, none of the others could be habitable, even on their best days. Mercury and Venus, the two planets closer to the sun than us, are just too hot, among other things. And once you get beyond Mars, which is one planet further away from the sun from us, those other planets are either too cold or they are made up primarily of gases. H: So, it would be like trying to live on a cloud? M: Pretty much so, yes. But a very terrible, poisonous cloud that is trying to kill you. H: I don’t like the sound of that. M: Nope. H: But what about the Moon? Why don’t we colonize the moon first, if we’re so hell-bent on colonizing another planet? M: Good question, and I’ve had the same thought. I recently read an article on the National Space Society website that provided this analogy, which I thought made a lot of sense: Back in the days of Columbus — the age of exploration, some people call it — Europe was kind of the Earth of today. It’s where most “first-world” people lived. H: OK. M: Europeans were trying to explore unknown parts of the world that they could colonize. So, compare the moon to Greenland and Mars to North America.

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EPISODE 42: EXPLORING THE WORLD’S STRANGEST CHRISTMAS TRADITIONSTHE QUESTION: How in the world do various cultures celebrate Christmas in some really, REALLY odd ways? SYNOPSIS: There’s no better time than this week to talk about some interesting Christmas traditions from around the world. Some of these we’d like to adopt ourselves – and others, well ... just listen in and you’ll understand. Specifically, we talk about all of this PLUS MUCH MORE:

Italy’s Christmas Witch Iceland’s Christmas Cat and 13 Yule Lads Japan’s KFC Tradition Sweden’s obsession with Donald Duck Krampus (need we say more?)

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RESOURCES

Here's an awesome set of illustrations of the Yule Lads in Iceland. Check out the amazing Swedish Kalle Anka HERE. And HERE'S the American version.

BONUS IF YOU’VE READ THIS FAR

We just wanted to take a moment to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. Mark and I are blessed to be able to bring you the podcast each week (well, mostly each week) because we also learn new things, we get to share a little of ourselves, and we get to do something together. Thanks for listening, truly.

LAST WEEK

Episode 41: Why do practically all of us need our wisdom teeth removed?

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EPISODE 41: WHY DO PRACTICALLY ALL OF US NEED OUR WISDOM TEETH REMOVED?THE QUESTION: How in the world is it possible that pretty much all of us need our wisdom teeth removed when God made us perfectly to begin with? SYNOPSIS: If you’re one of the 90% who will have to have your wisdom teeth removed (or one of the 10% whose will grow in perfectly), you’ll want to listen to this week’s podcast. Why, you ask? Because you’ll learn:

What wisdom teeth are, anyway Why they are so problematic for so many of us Why your dentist may recommend their removal Why some dentists recommend you leave them in

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This little animated video gives you a quick overview of the podcast. (Of course, we'd rather you listen to the podcast, too!) CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

Okay, the hyperdontia photos we promised. A “normal” case of hyperdontia is a few extra teeth, like with Freddie Mercury. He had four extra teeth in the back of his mouth, which pushed his teeth forward into the iconic overbite that helped define Freddie Mercury and that he believed allowed him to sing with an incredible range. His mouth probably looked something like this:

But extreme hyperdontia can involve a LOT more than four extra teeth, as seen in these x-rays of an 11-year-old girl:

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open This week’s episode answers the question: How in the world is it possible that pretty much all of us need our wisdom teeth removed when God made us perfectly to begin with? INTRO H: Okay, I feel like we need to start with the second part of our question of the week – God making us perfectly. If you’re a Christian, you may be aware of Psalm 139, verse 14, of the Bible that talks about how we were all fearfully and wonderfully made. But even if you can’t easily quote Bible verses – but still believe in God – you probably also believe that He created all of us — meaning each part of our anatomy. And if you do, you have to ask yourself: Did God actually make all of us with the same design flaw? I mean, sure, we each have our own flaws – some of us more than others! - but I personally don’t believe God created humans all with the same flaw. Specifically, I’m referring to wisdom teeth. M: Hahaha, okay. I was REALLY wondering where you were going with that. H: Yeah, sorry about that. I just don’t think God would make us all have the same big design flaw that creates pain or teeth problems or requires surgery. So that’s why I picked this topic this week. How is possible that we ALL need our wisdom teeth removed??? M: Let’s give a little background first. H: Good idea. M: Wisdom teeth are the third (and last) set of four molars - and the biggest ones – that you get in your mouth. At least, most people get in their mouth. Somewhere between 5 and 37 percent of people don’t get all four, and some don’t have any at all! But most folks do, and they usually start to come in between the ages of 17 and 25, which is why they are called “wisdom teeth,” because they are older and wiser, in theory, than baby teeth. H: I’ve always wondered about that! M: Well, I’m glad I could be of service. So yeah, it’s pretty crazy that you’re still growing teeth into your twenties! H: It really is. And then they often are removed shortly thereafter. But WHY? Well, according to WebMD, it seems that 90% of people have at least one wisdom tooth that’s impacted. This means that it can’t come in the right way because it’s stuck on the tooth next to it (usually sort of a 45-degree angle-ish), and pushes into the side of that tooth. Although this sounds awful, you probably won’t even feel any pain. But it can cause problems later on, when the wisdom tooth weakens the root of the molar next to it from that constant pressure. Or when you get gum disease from it. Or more cavities. So your dentist may want it out before it ever causes any trou...

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EPISODE 34: HOW CHRISTMAS TREES ARE GROWN AND WHY THEY COST SO MUCHTHE QUESTION: How in the world are real Christmas trees produced and why do they cost so dang much? SYNOPSIS: Many people get their Christmas tree this week, after the effects of the Thanksgiving turkey have worn off. Should you get a real tree or an artificial tree? This week’s episode answers all of your questions about real trees, including:

Won’t Christmas trees sprout and grow on their own? How long does it take for a Christmas tree to grow, and what’s involved in growing it? Can’t you plant a Fraser Fir seedling and then come back in several years and cut down your perfect, full-grown Christmas tree? Is a Christmas tree a fire hazard? How do you tell if a tree is fresh or not? Does adding aspirin or Spite to the water in your tree stand keep your tree fresh longer? Isn’t buying an artificial tree saving a real tree?

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GALLERY

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FEATURED VIDEO

This short video produced by the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association about the Fraser fir is a good overview of why these trees are so special. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

RESOURCES

Check out THIS STORY Mark wrote about a ghostly experience he had on the family's Christmas tree farm, Booger Mountain, many years ago. And here's AN ARTICLE Mark wrote about how his dad marketed the Christmas tree business and created an iconic Christmas brand.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to view How Christmas trees are grown and why they cost so much

In today’s first holiday episode, we answer the question, how in the world are real Christmas trees produced and why do they cost so dang much? H: Welcome to the podcast, folks, and if you’re joining us for the first time, you picked a goodie! We usually cover topics that, at the outset, we know little or nothing about. But not today. M: Nope! H: That’s because today’s topic is something that my husband not only knows about but has lived. And I mean, really lived! Give us a nutshell, honey. M: OK, I’ll try to be brief. From the time I was old enough to walk through about my early 30s, I was involved in the Christmas tree industry. I was raised on both Christmas tree lots and Christmas tree farms, first in Raleigh, North Carolina, and then in the northwest North Carolina mountains in the county of Ashe. My dad, Hal, was a pioneer in the production of Fraser Fir Christmas trees, which have become the world’s most popular Christmas tree species. In both 1982 and ’83, my parents were named Grand Champion growers by the National Christmas Tree Association, and both of those Christmases, my family provided the White House Christmas trees to President and Ms. Reagan, which started a long relationship between my dad’s farm and the White House. For around 20 years, we provided a truckload of trees, wreaths, and pine roping to the White House. And from the late ‘60s to today, the tree company my dad founded — Booger Mtn. Christmas Trees — still provides trees to the Piedmont area of North Carolina and is one of the most iconic holiday brands in that area. Although my parents have retired, the company is still operated by the brother and a close friend of the family. So yes! I do know a great deal about Christmas trees! H: So we decided that a good way to handle this episode would be for me to ask Mark all of the most frequently asked questions people have about Christmas trees so that we can separate myth from reality and so you can get the real story on how they’re grown and why they’re so expensive! And for the record, these are things that Mark and his family have answered for more than half a century! The questions don’t really change. M: No, they really don’t. And I’m ready if you are. H: OK, let’s start with Christmas tree farming. Don’t tree farmers simply go up into the mountains and cut down these trees that are just growin...

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EPISODE 39: WHAT IS THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER ALL ABOUT?THE QUESTION: How in the world did the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier become one of the most solemn and respected sites in the world? SYNOPSIS: This week, we answer all of your questions about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the incredible Sentinels who guard it 24/7. Specifically, we’ll cover:

What requirements and training is mandatory for all tomb guards How the unknown soldiers were selected for Arlington National Cemetery How many soldiers are buried in the Tomb of the Unknowns How long the tomb guards have protected the unknowns

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GALLERY

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This is an amazing look behind the scenes of the Sentinels. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

RESOURCES

THIS VIDEO is a little old but the interview with the Sentinel is fascinating. He is all business. The respect is just awe-inspiring. The Society of the Honor Guard lists all tomb guards on THIS PAGE, including when they served. If available, they include photos of each guard and their hometown and their reflections on their service. Pretty cool (and note, those whose badge was revoked are no longer on this site – serious business, folks.) Dig around a bit on this website as it’s full of great information. The official website of The Old Guard. You can read more about how to join The Old Guard here, too. And of course the website for Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

BONUS STUFF

It’s so easy to geek out on this history. Although instead of “geek out,” maybe it should be “patriot out?” Anyway, THIS ARTICLE includes a letter written by a young lady who witnessed the dedication ceremony and interment at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1921. HERE'S A GREAT VIDEO by a Chicago TV news station where a veteran talks about the significance of the coins on the tombs of those who have fallen. Check out THIS ARTICLE in the Army magazine about the 4th female Sentinel. She’s a badass!

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open Tomb of the Unknown Soldier This week’s episode answers the question: How in the world did the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier become one of the most solemn and respected sites in the world? INTRO H: Veteran’s Day 2020 was last week and we were watching the ceremony on TV where the President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and I had so many questions. So BOOM that’s how ideas for episodes are born! In fact, we’ve had a bunch of ideas recently. I’m not sure what that means – maybe we’ve been watching too much TV or something. M: Well, there have been a lot of events and questions raised. Like Veteran’s Day and Christmas coming and like the SpaceX mission to the ISS. And like our 7th-grader, Pete. H: Yeah, he’s asked us a few good questions lately! I’ve got them all in my notes. But before we get to today’s episode, I have to mention MY favorite veteran, my dad. Although he passed away 10 years ago, I think of him every day. He was my hero. The best dad ever in the world – no offense, sweetie. M: None taken. He was a great guy. H: He had a really interesting time while in the Army, first as a model for army promotional posters, literally, a poster boy. Then as a member of General MacArthur’s Honor Guard, where he hung out with the General and his wife, watching movies every Friday night. That was a very cush job. M: But then, crap got real when he became a forward observer during the Korean War. That’s the guy who is part of a team of 3 who go ahead of the rest of the group and radio back to them to tell them where the enemy lines are and stuff. It is a very dangerous job, maybe the most dangerous in the military at that time. H: But then he came home. And he met my mom and they had ME! Yay! Thanks for indulging me a moment to recognize him. Okay, let’s get to it. First, the basics.

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EPISODE 21: HOW DID WE NAME OUR DAYS AND ESTABLISH THE WEEKEND?THE QUESTION: "How in the world did the days of the week get their names?" and "Who decided that Saturday and Sunday would be the weekend and when?” SYNOPSIS: Ever wonder where the names of the days of the week came from? Especially the weirdly-spelled “Wednesday”? And who decided that Saturday and Sunday would be the “weekend”? We’ve got those answers for you, plus:

How easy it is to give us an idea for an upcoming podcast Why the English names of days of the week are so unlike the Romance languages How both pagan and Norse gods are involved How Christians and Jews together created the modern weekend

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This is a pretty neat whiteboard video that provides another perspective on how our days were named. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

Here’s another video that talks about the naming of days of the week. This one interested me because it’s eerily similar in style to one that our son, Pete, made for our Himalayan trekking company, Hobnail Trekking, a couple years ago when he was only 10. Here it is. Pete takes after his mom for all of the good things and his dad for all of his bad habits. :)

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open How did we name our days and establish the weekend? M: Alright, welcome back to the podcast. So this topic stems from a conversation I had with our 13 year-old son, Pete, a couple of weeks ago on a Monday afternoon. As we drove home from basketball practice, Pete was lamenting the fact that the weekend had gone by so quickly and decided that weekends should be four days long and the work week — or in his case, the school week — should only be three days. H: That sounds about right. M: Yep. So this conversation naturally led to the questions, “Who decided how long the weekend would be” and “How were the days named?” That, I thought, was a perfect topic for our podcast! H: That’s pretty good. See, that’s exactly WHY we came up with this podcast. We wanted to answer those kind of questions. M: Yeah, it really is perfect. So let’s start with how the days of the week were named. I know you’ve been researching this, so go ahead and start us off. H: OK, be glad to. So let me begin by saying that each of the various resources I found on this topic had slight variations, but generally, they were all in agreement. So I’m going to present a version that is a homogenized version of all of them. M: Alright, that makes sense. H: So prior to Christianity, specifically, in the days of the Babylonians, there were several pagan gods running around, doing things with thunder and lightning and water and all kinds of stuff. M: Right. H: At the same time, these folks were also very into studying our planets and moon and the sun, and placed a lot of importance on these “heavenly bodies.” So at some point between around 1900 BC and 540 BC, the Babylonians decided there would be seven days in a week that were named after the five known planets plus the sun and the moon. Since the sun and the moon were the best known and most important, they would start out the week. Back then, they started the week with Sunday. Monday followed. M: So the first two are obvious: Sun-day and Moon-day. H: Right. Then, they went in the order slowest to fastest in the Earth’s sky. Tuesday was named after Mars, Wednesday after Mercury, Thursday after Jupiter, and Friday after Venus. M: OK, but those don’t sound anything like our days. H: Right, because that has to do with two things: language and the pagan gods. In the language of the day, they were basically saying “Mars’ day,” “Mercury’s day,” and so on. But when the Anglo-Saxons invaded Great Britain, which was much more recent on the timeline, they decided to swap out the planet names for their gods’ names. OK, you take over from here. M: Alrighty.

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EPISODE 37: HOW DOES THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE WORK?THE QUESTION: How in the world does the Electoral College pick our president?

SYNOPSIS: This week, we explain what in the world the Electoral College is, anyway. Listen to discover:

How many members are in the electoral college and how that was number determined A little about the makeup of Congress and its membership Why the Census is important What a “faithless elector” is and why it matters

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This map depicts the way the Electoral College assigned to each state have shaken out since 2012.

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TRANSCRIPT

Click to view transcript Electoral College This week’s episode answers the question: How in the world does the Electoral College pick our President? INTRO H: Well, today is Thursday, November 5, 2020, and it’s been a quiet couple days around here in the US. M: Yeah, sure wish there was something on the TV to incessantly watch and keep checking my phone about. Hmm… What could that possibly be? Oh, how about the…2020 elections! It’s been a wild couple of days, folks, and it looks like it could be wild for a bit longer. So let’s all practice our deep breathing and relaxation methods. H: As of the time that we’re recording this, I believe this election has come down to maybe four states that haven’t yet counted all of their votes. But once that’s done, it’s still not over. M: Nope. H: Because once all votes are counted, we’ll know what the results of the popular vote are, but we won’t officially know yet who won this election. This is not only because there will be many lawsuits to wade through, but also because we don’t elect our President based on the popular vote like you would in a classroom election in elementary school. We use the Electoral College. M: I’ve always been a little foggy about the electoral college, so I’m glad we’re covering this today because it forced me to dig deeper and really learn about it. H: Well, you could have just asked your wife who, by the way, is a political science by education, you know. M: Yes, I’ve been told that before. H: So I get a little invested in Presidential elections and the preceding debates and political discussion?! It’s fascinating! And frustrating and maddening and stupid also. But so fascinating. Ahhhhh, the strategy! But anyway, let’s talk about the electoral college. M: Yep, that’s why we’re here, so let’s do it. H: For starters, you know how annoying all of those census ads and mail and information and everything was, reminding us how important it is that we fill out our census form so that everyone is counted? M: Yes, I remember seeing a ton about the census recently but I believe you filled out the form since you’re our family’s designated form-filler-outer. H: I am. I enjoy it. Because again, I’m a political scientist so data and surveys and stuff matter. Anyway, the census is used to determine a lot of things – most notably funding to your state for certain services. If you have a disproportionate number of school-aged kids, for example, it tells the US Government that you’ll need a disproportionate amount of funding for schools. I mean, that’s dumbing it down a bit but that’s a biggie – funding. M: Doesn’t it also tell you how many representatives you’ll get in the US House? H: It does! Every state gets two Senators, so there are a total of 100 senators in the US Senate. But representatives are totally different. M: Because they’re allocated based on the census count? H: They are. There is always just 435 of them, but how they’re allocated can change. So if everyone emptied out of California (which currently has 53 districts, and therefore 53 representatives) and moved to Wyoming, which currently has just one representative, those numbers would turn on their head. By the way, Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota,

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EPISODE 36: TRICK-OR-TREATING AROUND THE WORLDTHE QUESTION: How in the world do kids trick-or-treat in the US and around the world?

SYNOPSIS: This week, we talk about trick-or-treating traditions across the US as well as a few around the world. As we get closer to Halloween, listen in to discover:

The best and worst candies for Halloween What kids in other countries say instead of “trick or treat” How trick-or-treating differs in different parts of the US When trick-or-treating became popular in the US When and where the term “trick or treat” originated

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FEATURED VIDEO

Take a few minutes (less than 5) to enjoy this awesome History Channel video about the origins of Halloween! CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

RESOURCES

For those of you who are looking for healthy candy to give out on Halloween (read: mortify your kids and make them the laughing stock of the neighborhood), check out this article on the 20 best treats.

BONUS STUFF

FROM HOLLY: This is a little random, but isn’t it always a little random in this part of the show notes? When searching for trick-or-treating photos in my free photos sources, WHY did I keep ending up with photos of skateboarding? Is there a skateboarding move called “Trick or Treat”? And the other thing I kept finding was a bunch of photos of nurses (not the sexy Halloween kind, but the normal awesome – and maybe also sexy? - kind) giving people shots. WHAT IS THIS???? Also, another completely random topic – macarons. I came across this photo of some really cool Halloween-colored macarons. Until yesterday, Mark and I thought macarons and macaroons (below right and left, respectively) were the same thing. Thanks to the Great British Baking Show, we discovered that these delicious cookie things are macarons (one “o”) while the coconut things are macaroons (two “o”s). Were we the only ones calling the cookie things macaroons? Have we been living under a rock?

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Episode 35: How in the world did these five haunted house attractions become known as the world’s scariest?

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EPISODE 34: OUR TOP 5 SCARIEST HAUNTED ATTRACTIONSTHE QUESTION: How in the world did these five haunted house attractions become known as the world’s scariest? SYNOPSIS: People who love to do everything in a big way will love the haunted houses we talk about this week on the podcast. These are not your normal, everyday, run of the mill haunted houses. Nope. These are EXTREME. Listen to find out about:

The Polish haunted house where you actually experience pain The attraction at an amusement park in the Netherlands that is filled with creepy actors The American horror experience that is individualized based on YOUR specific fears The immersive haunted experience here in Tennessee that NOBODY has ever made it all the way through

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FEATURED VIDEOS

A Travel Channel host goes through the Dent School House. Pretty funny, actually.

In this video, an American guy goes through the Super Scary Labyrinth of Fear in Japan. The good stuff starts at around the 4:10 mark. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

RESOURCES

So, we're not including videos of several of the houses we mention in the podcast because, honestly, they're just a little too graphic for our site. But if you want to go check them out, here are their homepages: Dent Schoolhouse The Lost Souls Alley The Super Scary Labyrinth of Fear Blackout McKamey Manor

BONUS STUFF

Summertown, Tennessee, is an interesting little town, and I’m frankly not surprised that an insanely terrifying (but also quite interesting) haunted house is now located there. This small town of around 600 residents is partially situated in three different counties and is home to “The Farm”. The Farm is a communal living intentional community that has been written about extensively, including this article (https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2007/05/thefarm200705) in Vanity Fair several years ago. Started in 1971, and known for being the birthplace of midwifery (pun intended), this hippie commune’s focus is on nonviolence and respect for the Earth – your basic hippie commune. But where others have closed and residents have moved on, The Farm boasts over four generations of families have lived – and thrived – there. Since its establishment, The Farm has founded several nonprofits and currently houses about 200 residents. You can actually visit as a guest and even eat with the residents in community, as long as you like vegan food. And although some of the main homes (several converted school buses) have since been deserted and are rusting remains, you can see these, too, if you take a tour there. The stories that come out of this commune are, well, typical of the stories that come out of communes. We know a couple who grew up there, and other than wearing a lot of tye-dye, they are nice, normal, respectable people. But then, McKamey Manor wasn’t there when they were growing up. http://www.thefarm.org/ https://thefarmcommunity.com/

LAST/NEXT WEEK…

Episode 34: How in the world did these 10 locations become known as the most haunted places on earth? Episode 36: How in the world did America incorporate worldwide customs for its own unique Halloween?

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EPISODE 34: OUR TOP 10 MOST HAUNTED PLACES ON EARTHTHE QUESTION: How in the world did these 10 locations become known as the most haunted places on earth? SYNOPSIS: Do you love spooky stories? This week’s episode talks about 10 really spooky places across the world, why they’re haunted, and who haunts them. Listen in to learn about:

Two different haunted forests across the world from each other The most haunted home in New Orlean’s French Quarter and the atrocious acts that went on inside The Civil War’s most haunted battleground The most haunted home in England An island off the coast of Venice that is so haunted, it’s illegal to visit!

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FEATURED VIDEO

Here is a pretty dang weird video shot by a family visiting the Gettysburg Battle Field in 2001. What do you think? CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

RESOURCES

First, the NOT scary stuff – here are links to some of the places we discussed on the podcast.

Banff Springs Hotel The Queen Mary The Ancient Ram Inn Gettysburg National Park Tower of London Leap Castle

And then some of the scary stuff:

Banff Springs Hotel: http://taximike.com/ghosts.html (a sloppy website but full of great stories from readers of incidents that they witnessed at the hotel) The Ancient Ram Inn: http://www.thebohemianblog.com/2015/07/the-ancient-ram-inn-a-visit-to-englands-most-haunted-house.html (outstanding story of a visit to the Inn with great photos – including one of John Humphries!)

BONUS STUFF

I hate to get all serious on the podcast, but I think it’s important this time. The Suicide Forest in Japan IS considered a haunted forest, so it fit our podcast theme. But it’s also quite different. Choosing to take your life is different than suffering the fate that someone else has chosen for you. I hope that anyone considering suicide will stop and reconsider other alternatives (professional counseling, support groups, the love of family and friends). No matter how bad things seem, there are other choices and it WILL get better. Most importantly, you are not alone - and people care about you. I promise. In the US, the suicide hotline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255), and the Crisis Text Line is 741741. Please reach out.

LAST/NEXT WEEK…

Episode 33: How in the world did 10 amazing castles become iconic historical landmarks? Episode 35: How in the world have these commercial haunted houses become known as the world's scariest?

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EPISODE 33: OUR TOP 10 COOLEST CASTLESTHE QUESTION: How in the world did 10 amazing castles become iconic historical landmarks? SYNOPSIS: Castles aren’t really a thing in the US, so we decided to learn about some really cool ones across the globe. Listen in to learn all about our 10 favorites, plus:

What characteristics and primary purpose are required elements of a “real” castle Several common themes in castle construction Several common (dark) themes related to castle ownership, and The incredible history related to some of these fortresses

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GALLERY

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FEATURED VIDEO

This is a pretty interesting video on how medieval castles worked. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

This topic is just so cool that really, the best bonus material we can provide are videos related to some of these castles. Eltz Castle: This diagram shows the three houses that together make Eltz Castle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eltz_Castle#/media/File:Burg_elz.gif Gorgeous drone footage of Eltz Castle and its surroundings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=136&v=6POPGOP7nrM&feature=emb_logo Short educational video about the castle, including some inside shots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS2Zs8j4oEU And the last cool video (in our show notes) of Eltz Castle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRG-FSTGUMI Castle Stalker: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (clip where they arrive at Castle Aaargh): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PckeXD7Xyc Because who doesn’t love John Cleese (and he talks about his movies): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1RSIwexj9g Very short video showing Castle Stalker in its gorgeous natural setting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iotrr18tA2E Hochosterwitz Castle: Time lapse video of the building of this iconic castle in Minecraft: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57lC4nm8_dU Potala Palace: Evidently their toilets are famous. They’re the typical Eastern toilet (i.e., hole in the ground), but this one drops almost 200 feet! http://tibetwebdigest.com/curiosity-towards-the-potala-palace-toilet/

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Episode 32: How in the world did an obscure outcropping of rocks in Tennessee become a world-famous tourist destination called Rock City?

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EPISODE 32: WHY SO MANY AMERICANS WANT TO SEE ROCK CITYTHE QUESTION: How in the world did an obscure outcropping of rocks in Tennessee become a world-famous tourist destination called Rock City? SYNOPSIS: In this week’s episode, learn about the curious tourist attraction, Rock City. Specifically, you’ll hear about:

How the daughter of a German immigrant created Rock City Whether or not you can actually see seven states from Lover's Leap “See Rock City” barns and the man who painted all of them How garden gnomes became part of Rock City

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FEATURED VIDEO

Interested in visiting Lookout Mountain? Watch this video first! Also, check out Rock City's website. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

If you’re planning a visit to Rock City, plan to stay in Chattanooga (or a nearby area) for at LEAST two nights. That’ll give you plenty of time to see Rock City and the Chickamauga National Military Park on Lookout Mountain (as well as drive through the quaint village of Fairyland). But while you’re in the area, you’ll definitely want to ride the Incline Railway (much more exciting than you’d guess!), and take the time to walk through the incredible Ruby Falls. It does not disappoint. Plan to spend an entire day at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga so that you’ll have plenty of time to visit both the freshwater and the saltwater sections of the exhibit. This place is truly amazing. You can get a good deal on purchasing Rock City, Incline, and Ruby Falls tickets at the same time. And I promise we’re not being paid by the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, but this town is so cool and is full of a variety of shopping, restaurants, cultural events and attractions, and an indescribable energy. We go there every chance we get. I hope you get a chance to visit and I hope you love it as much as we do! (If you want restaurant recommendations, get in touch with us.) LINKS: Chickamauga National Military Park Incline Railway Ruby Falls Tennessee Aquarium

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Episode 31: How in the world does a person become a refugee and how does that refugee end up in the United States?

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EPISODE 31: UNRAVELING THE MYTHS AND TRUTHS ABOUT REFUGEESTHE QUESTION: How in the world does a person become a refugee and how does that refugee end up in the United States? SYNOPSIS: In this episode, we talk about the refugee resettlement program in the US. It’s not political – just the facts. Listen in to find out:

Who a refugee is How many refugees are in the world How a refugee gets to the United States How resettlement agencies and the community ensure a refugee’s success Why resettling refugees is the right thing to do

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GALLERY

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FEATURED VIDEO

This short video was made in celebration of World Refugee Day, which is on June 20th of each year. It’s a few years old and the statistics are out of date (there are more than twice as many displaced people now than there were in 2010), but we think it gets the message across well. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

RESOURCES

If you’re a data geek like I am (Holly), you’ll love playing around with these data tables. Or digging deep into this website. Although specific to Tennessee in some instances, here’s a great set of FAQs compiled a few years ago. And because we love infographics, here’s a great one (note that these numbers include all of those are displaced – not just refugees).

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Episode 30: How in the world did some of the most bizarre human conceptions and natural oddities become popular tourist attractions?

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EPISODE 30: THE WORLD’S CRAZIEST TOURIST ATTRACTIONSTHE QUESTION: How in the world did some of the most bizarre human conceptions and natural oddities become popular tourist attractions? SYNOPSIS: Pack your bags! This episode will inspire you to do some traveling – though not to your normal tourist destinations but to some really bizarre ones. Among many other things, you’ll learn about:

What Buddhist Hell looks like Where to pee with a great view Several creepy doll tourist destinations Where mallard ducks have the most luxurious life

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GALLERY

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FEATURED VIDEO

Here's a neat video about Japan's "Valley of Dolls."

Enjoy this news report about the young man who pogo-sticked up the world's steepest street! CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

RESOURCES

Check out Mark's 2019 article about his visit to House on the Rock in Spring Green, Wisconsin. It's hilarious! Fremont Troll: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fremont_Troll, https://seattle.curbed.com/2019/6/4/18650083/fremont-bridge-troll-history-location (great article about the Troll’s history) Wang Saen Suk Monastery Garden (Hell Garden): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Saen_Suk House on the Rock: https://www.thehouseontherock.com/ Mother Shipton’s Well and Pretrifying Cave: https://www.mothershipton.co.uk/the-park/ Nazca Lines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazca_Lines The Catacombs: https://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church): https://www.sedlec.info/en/ossuary/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedlec_Ossuary Cat Island: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tashirojima Island of the Dolls: https://isladelasmunecas.com/ Village of Dolls: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagoro, https://unusualplaces.org/nagoro-a-creepy-japanese-village-where-dolls-replace-the-departed/ Phallus Museum: https://phallus.is/en/ Market Theatre Gum Wall: https://unexpectedproductions.org/gumwall/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gum_Wall Peabody Hotel (Memphis): https://www.peabodymemphis.com/peabody-ducks Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain: https://www.rainbowmountainperu.com/ Pink Sands Beach (Bahamas): https://www.bahamas.com/vendor/pink-sand-beach, https://www.bahamas.com/islands/eleuthera-harbour-island, http://www.pinksandsresort.com/ (Pink Sands Resort is one of the places Mark and I stayed on our honeymoon!) The Doorway Railway: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hanois-train-street (great photos here), https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/life-on-hanoi-train-street-vietnam (cool story about the first coffee shop there) Underground Theme Park: https://www.salinaturda.eu/en/locatie/salina-amusement-park/ Cockroach Hall of Fame: http://planomagazine.com/planos-past-the-cockroach-hall-of-fame-museum/ (great article with pictures and video about the museum, which unfortunately closed) Soviet Bunker Tour: http://sovietbunker.com/ (even cooler than I imagined, actually) Avanos Hair Museum: https://www.chezgalip.com/the-hair-museum-of-avanos/ Lake Natron: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Natron Ramen Noodle Museum: https://www.cupnoodles-museum.jp/en/yokohama/ Baldwin Street (World’s Steepest Street): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Street Yeti Scalp: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeti, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khumjung, Underwater Park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gr%C3%BCner_See_(Styria) (they no longer allow scuba diving in the park, bummer) Ghost Town of Namibia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolmanskop, https://kolmanskop.net/

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Episode 29: Exploring some of the world's wackiest jobs

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EPISODE 29: SOME OF THE WORLD’S WACKIEST JOBSTHE QUESTION: How in the world is it possible that people around the world are making good livings by doing really weird occupations like literally watching paint dry? SYNOPSIS: You don’t need a fancy college degree or years of training for some important and unusual jobs across the world. Tune in this week and hear about some of these bizarre jobs, including:

Great options for those with outstanding customer service skills (but not in the normal way) Kinda gross but high-paying jobs Some ideas for those who love to work with animals (again, not in the normal way)

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See. We weren't kidding. There's an apology industry in Japan. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

RESOURCES

Here's a cool website to find a really awesome place (including private island) to care for. Check out the guy this episode is NOT copying, Mike Rowe. For more information on NASA’s sleep study (and other NASA gigs), GO HERE.

All fun and jokes aside, you should definitely pick a job you’re passionate about. I mean, you will most likely spend more time at work than you do with your family – so choose something you enjoy! You may enjoy it for varying reasons, and that’s okay! You may enjoy it because it makes you a lot of money and you can retire early and spend ALL of your time with your family. You may enjoy it because it utilizes your special gifts and skills and makes you feel fulfilled. And you may enjoy it because you work with friends who are just like family. All of that is great! Mark and I choose work that we enjoy so much, we don’t even realize we’re working. Isn’t that the ultimate goal?

LAST WEEK…

Episode 28: How in the world do people in other cultures bury and memorialize their dead in amazing and bizarre ways?

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EPISODE 28: THE WORLD’S MOST BIZARRE BURIAL RITUALSTHE QUESTION: How in the world do people in other cultures bury and memorialize their dead in amazing and bizarre ways? SYNOPSIS: This week, we try out a different format for our podcast while we discuss various funeral and burial rituals from around the world. Specifically, you’ll learn about:

The fantasy coffins of Ghana The gruesome and profound sky burials of Tibet Several funeral traditions that are more celebratory than sad Burials that incorporate nature in unique ways

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GALLERY

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FEATURED VIDEO

This is a fantastic BBC video about the Indonesian Torajan rituals of keeping the corpse of loved ones in the home, sometimes for years, until a grand burial can be conducted. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS MATERIAL

This is brief look at the beginning of a Hindu cremation ceremony at the Pashupatinath Temple complex in Kathmandu. We filmed this is April 2018.

This is a good look at the self-mummifying monks that Holly talks about in the podcast, although we don't necessarily buy into the alien stuff at the very end.

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Episode 27: How in the world did Croatian soldiers of the 1600s influence modern business fashion?

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EPISODE 27: THE ODD ANCESTRY OF THE MODERN NECKTIETHE QUESTION: How in the world did Croation soldiers of the 1600s influence the business attire of the modern-day man? SYNOPSIS: Ever wondered where and when the necktie started being a standard of men’s business attire? This week, we’ll cover all that and more, including:

What Croatian soldiers of the 1600s have to do with neckties The real purpose of the necktie and why it’s phasing out Some early carvings depicting necktie wearers How many ties you should own, and what colors define you

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GALLERY

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FEATURED VIDEO

Thanks entirely to this episode, Mark has dedicated himself to perfecting the full-Windsor knot. (For the past 40 years, he's been lazily using the half-Windsor.) Here's a video with an astounding 26 MILLION VIEWS that will show you (and Mark) how to master this skill. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

Tired of the same ol’ knots? We know you have time on your hands because if you’re like us, you’re still partially quarantined or working from home. Check out these really cool and creative options for tying a tie – with photos and videos! https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Different-Tie-Knots-You-Need-To-Try/ If you try any of these, send us a picture of how it turned out! Better yet, a video of you doing it. We’d love to see it! And also, I think I don’t hate this attempt to update the modern tie. Am I crazy? http://www.carltonfranklin.com/

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open H: This week’s episode answers the question: How in the world did Croatian soldiers of the 1600s influence the business attire of the modern-day man? INTRO H: Neckties are one of the many reasons why I’m glad God made me a girl. It looks so uncomfortable. Something tied around your neck ALL DAY LONG, no matter how hot it is. I’m so fidgety that something like that would just make me crazy. I mean, even sleeves annoy me at times. M: You would be TERRIBLE if you had to wear a tie. H: Are they as awful as I think they are? M: They’re not fun but you get used to it. H: I guess that maybe over time, men have evolved to be okay with wearing neckties in the same way that women have evolved to be okay with wearing pantyhose. Except I haven’t evolved to be okay with wearing pantyhose, though. And the really weird thing about neckties is that it’s a normal part of men’s business attire but doesn’t serve any purpose at all except decoration. If it was a winter thing and provided warmth, I’d get it. M: It’s true. They ARE just for decoration – and always have been! If you haven’t guessed yet, our topic today is the weird history of the necktie and its role in modern-day fashion. Let’s get into it. H: Yep, I think we should! M: When you said that men have had a while to get used to neckties, you weren’t kidding. In fact, we’ve had 400 years to adapt. Neckties date back at least 400 years, to the 1600’s, when King Louie the 13th saw the Croatian soldiers wearing a piece of cloth around their neck as part of their uniform and liked it. While the soldiers’ use of the tie was practical – it held their jackets on — Louie liked the decorative effect it created and adopted it as mandatory attire for Royal functions. The name “la cravate,” a derivation of “Croat” or “Croatian” as a way to honor those soldiers, is still the name that the French use for a necktie today. H: But even before the Thirty Year War when King Louie saw the Croatian soldiers wearing them, ties – of a sort – were depicted on figures on Roman columns that date back to as early as 113 AD, as well as on the terracotta Chinese soldiers that were buried in 210 BC. The ties on those terracotta soldiers were said to be protecting their Adam’s apple, which they believed was their source of power. There’s also theories that they’re protecting them from cold,

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EPISODE 26: THE AMAZING ODYSSEY OF LOUIS ZAMPERINITHE QUESTION: How in the world did an Olympic long-distance runner become one of WWII's most inspirational heroes? SYNOPSIS: In this unscripted and solo episode (Holly was tied up with kid stuff), Mark looks at the incredible and inspiring life of Louis Zamperini, immortalized in Laura Hillenbrand's epic novel, "Unbroken."

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If you do nothing else here at this page (other than listen to the podcast), WATCH THIS VIDEO! It is one of the most inspirational short documentaries you'll ever see. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

This is me (Mark) with Mr. Zamperini during my visit with him in 2012. His son, Luke, took this photo with my camera and didn't have the focus quite right, so it's a little blurry. Luke was very kind and pretty much set up the meeting himself, for which I'll always be grateful.

LAST/NEXT WEEK…

Episode 25: How in the world did the infamous Patterson footage of 1967 make Bigfoot a household name? Episode 27: How in the world did neckties became an ingrained part of male fashion?

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EPISODE 25: BEHIND THE INFAMOUS PATTERSON BIGFOOT FOOTAGETHE QUESTION: How in the world did the infamous Patterson footage of 1967 make Bigfoot a household name? SYNOPSIS: This week, we will dig a little into the infamous Patterson footage of 1967, which depicted perhaps the world's only clear film of an alleged Bigfoot. Among the topics we discuss are:

Bigfoot in the public consciousness before 1967 What happened on that day, Oct. 20, 1967, according to the surviving witness How the film was distributed, and Why it is so impactful

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FEATURED VIDEOS

I can't vouch for any of this, but it is a well-done, thoughtful video that addresses the body ratios of humans versus those of the Patterson Bigfoot and others.

Same YouTuber produced this video. Again, he makes a compelling case, this time regarding the body of the man who claims to be in the Patterson footage versus the footage itself.

Again, the same YouTuber, "ThinkerThunker," gives us a compelling look at the strange gait of the subject of the Patterson footage. You've got to admit, he has a fascinating point here.

This is pretty fascinating. The presenter here is a longtime Hollywood makeup artist and creature suit-designer, a fellow named Bill Munns. He has done exhaustive studies on the Patterson footage, including this one. If you have about 12 free minutes, I highly recommend watching it. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

If you really want to do a deep dive, we have included here several article links. Check them out and make your own conclusions.

A story about 1967 witness Bob Gimlin. History.com article on the origin of Bigfoot. In-depth article on the 1958 incident and resulting newspaper story Smithsonian article about the psychology behind belief in Bigfoot

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open This week’s episode answers the question: How in the world did the infamous Patterson footage of 1967 make Bigfoot a household name? M: OK, anyone who knows me personally knows how much I love all things Bigfoot. H: I can vouch for that. M: I’m not, however, one of those Bigfoot fanatics. I don’t go searching for Bigfoot or spend time on social media arguing vehemently in favor of Bigfoot’s existence or anything like that. I just think that the topic is fun and fascinating. H: And because I’ve been married to this guy for 23 years, the Bigfoot stuff has grown on me, too. I also love other monster myth stories, too, like the Loch Ness Monster, for example. M: Yeah, I think that’s partly due to the fact that we were children of the ‘70s, the decade when monster stories kind of exploded on TV. Plus, it helps that we are imaginative people by nature. H: Probably so. M: Now, the Bigfoot topic is monstrous, no pun intended. It could clearly be a podcast of its own — and there are many podcasts devoted entirely to Bigfoot — so today, in the interest of time, we will narrow the focus down to the most famous and influential film clip in the history of monster lore: the Patterson footage. Even with just that and barely touching on it, this will be a longer-than-usual podcast for us. H: Yeah, there’s a lot to cover. And even if you’re not already familiar with the details of this footage, you’ve been exposed to it in some form, unless you have lived under a rock for the past 50 years. M: Right. For example, when most people picture Bigfoot in their minds, they picture a particular image, the famous Bigfoot pose: in stride, one arm forward, one arm back, head turned, looking back over its shoulder to face the camera. That pose comes from frame 352 from the Patterson film. Aside from, perhaps, certain frames from the Zapruder film of JFK’s assassination, frame 352 is probably the most widely known and distributed frame of any film in history. But the big question, of course, is: Is it real or just a hoax?

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EPISODE 24: THE INSANE BARKLEY MARATHONSTHE QUESTION: How in the world did Martin Luther King’s assassination contribute to the creation of the world’s most difficult ultramarathon trail run event? SYNOPSIS: In this episode, you’ll learn about one of the United States’ most exciting yet grueling trail races, the infamous Barkley Marathons. Listen in to hear all about it, including:

A little background on the race creator, Lazarus Lake What inspired him to create the Barkley How many people have completed this race since its inception Some of the crazy quirks of the race (not the least of which is the application/entry process)

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FEATURED VIDEO

This video gives a 4-minute explanation of fireworks. Not exactly the same terminology as what we used, but you'll get the idea. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

Hopefully we explained how fireworks are made in a way that was simple to understand. It’s super complicated and technical and science-y in reality, and for those of you who want to geek out (like Holly does), checks out these cool charts! Curious about what makes the colors in fireworks? Thanks Wikipedia for this great chart!

Color Metal

Red Strontium or Lithium

Orange Calcium

Yellow Sodium

Green Barium

Blue Copper

Indigo (dark blue) Caesium

Silver Titanium

Violet Potassium or Rubidium

Gold Charcoal, Iron, or lampblack

White Titanium, aluminium, beryllium, or magnesium powders

This chart (thanks again Wikipedia!) talks about how several other chemicals are used in fireworks. Also very interesting.

Name Fireworks Usage

Aluminium Aluminium metal is used to produce silver and white flames and sparks. It is a common component of sparklers.

Barium Barium salts are used to create green colors in fireworks, and it can also help stabilize other volatile elements.

Carbon Carbon is one of the main components of black powder, which is used as a propellent in fireworks. Carbon provides the fuel for a firework. Common forms include carbon black, sugar, or starch.

Chlorine Chlorate and perchlorates are common oxidizers.

Copper Copper compounds produce blue colors.

Iron Iron powder is used to produce sparks in sparklers.

Potassium Potassium nitrate, potassium chlorate, and potassium perchlorate are common oxidizers. The potassium content impart a faint violet color to the sparks.

Magnesium Magnesium metal burns a very bright white, so it is used to add white sparks or improve the overall brilliance of a firework.

Sodium Sodium imparts a gold or yellow color to fireworks, however, the color is often so bright that it frequently masks other, less intense colors. Sodium lamps operate with the same optical emission.

Oxygen Oxygen is a component of chlorate and perchlorate, common oxidizers.

Sulfur Sulfur is a component of black powder, and as such, it is found in a propellant/fuel.

Strontium Strontium salts impart a red color.

Titanium Titanium metal can be burned as powder or flakes to produce silver sparks.

Zirconium Zirconium, like titanium, burns to produce oxides that emit brightly. It is used in "waterfalls".

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open This week’s episode answers the question: How in the world do fireworks actually work their magic? (Intro) H: We recently celebrated the Fourth of July here in the US and hand-in-hand with 4th of July are fireworks. Some are amazing, like the ones I experienced in Washington DC when I was a kid and young adult – and others are equally awesome, yet smaller and more personal, like we usually do here at our house now with just us and the kids. M: Even though fireworks aren’t really my thing, it’s always kinda fun to buy a few at the roadside stands and not really know what they’re gonna do until we light it off. We had some cool ones this year that were totally unexpected. H: We did, and I agree that that’s part of the fun. People who create those huge displays for entire cities can’t wing it like we do. M: Hahaha, they definitely cannot wing it, no.

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EPISODE 22: WHERE DID YOUR FAVORITE FREAKING CURSE WORDS COME FROM?THE QUESTION: Episode 22: How in the world did obscenities find their way into spoken language, what purpose do they serve, and what do your favorites actually mean? SYNOPSIS: This week, we talk about cursing. No, we’re not ACTUALLY cursing – just talking about it and its history. Listen in and you’ll discover:

When each George Carlin's "7 Words You Can't Say on TV" were first used and deemed inappropriate How and why curse words may change over time When cursing may actually be helpful (and when it’s not) What “minced oaths” are, and how they are used

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FEATURED VIDEO

We didn't discuss this scene in the podcast, but I had to include it. Sure, you've seen it 147 times, but you know you wanna watch it again. "Only I didn't say fudge..."

CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

Other cultures have their own versions of cursing. Here are some of our favorites (English translation) found from a simple online search: Hindu

“Son of an owl!” (in Hindu culture, owls are considered lazy and stupid)

Gaelic

“A shroud on you!” “May the cat eat you, and may the devil eat the cat” “May your friends have a fine day. . .burying you.” “May the devil make a ladder of your back bones while picking apples in the garden of hell!”

Farsi

“Screw up of God!”

German

“Heaven thunder weather!” (sort of like our version of “dammit!”) “Evolutionary brake” (you are stopping the progress of man) “A face like ground meat”

French

“Merde” (means the word that rhymes with “skit”, but also means “good luck," as in "break a leg.")

Swedish

“The wheel is spinning but the hamster is dead.” “He’s got bad luck when he’s thinking.” “Gnomes in the attic” (that person is a little crazy) “Doesn’t have all their horses at home”

Japanese

“Hit your head on a corner of tofu and die!” “You” (in a rude way)

Dutch

“I fart in your direction.” (this one brings out the 7th grade boy in all of us)

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open This week’s episode answers the question: How in the world did obscenities find their way into spoken language, what purpose do they serve, and what do your favorites actually mean? Buckle up, because this one’s gonna take a minute. (Yosemite Sam cursing.) M: Ah, yes. Of all the wonderful and weirdly inappropriate things that kids of the 1960s and 70s enjoyed, the silky sounds of Yosemite Sam spewing unintelligible curses is easily near the top of the list. H: Hahaha. And isn’t it funny that although the words are made up, they somehow still sound offensive? M: Yes, and that’s one of the reasons I wanted to include the Yosemite Sam clip. It just reinforces the point that curse words, taken out of context, aren’t necessarily dirty. It is, I think, a combination of the meaning that we assign to the words AND the way they sound that makes them offensive. Because in reality, a word is just a sound. An utterance. But the delivery of that utterance can effect that way that you react to it. Yosemite Sam cursing is an auditory masterpiece to the ears of any kid who wants to feel older and secretly wants to swear actual curse words, but is terrified of the consequences, both real and imagined. H: That is so hilarious! When you’re a kid, cursing is so taboo that you’re afraid that your mouth might seize up and stop working if you say a bad word. M: Oh, this may be hard to believe, but I can actually remember the day when I first purposely uttered my first curse word. I was about 8-years-old and was walking along the street in my neighborhood in Raleigh, N.C., by myself and decided to try it, just to see what would happen. I really, truly thought that something would happen, like a lightning strike or a booming voice from God or something, but I still decided to risk it. I remember exactly where I was standing. H: So, what word did you say? M: OK,

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EPISODE 21: HOW DO ‘SAILING STONES’ MOVE?THE QUESTION: How in the world do big stones in the Death Valley desert move all by themselves? SYNOPSIS: This week, we explore Death Valley’s mysterious “sailing stones." In addition to uncovering the mystery of these desert rocks, we’ll also discuss the following:

A short history lesson on Death Valley National Park Some of Death Valley’s superlatives What Death Valley and the Dead Sea have in common Death Valley’s most famous movie appearance

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FEATURED VIDEO

Here's the video we refer to in the podcast. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

Although the name Death Valley is certainly apropos based on its elevation, rainfall, and average temperature, it wasn’t named for that reason alone. Story has it that a group of prospectors during the 1848 Gold Rush were trying to make it to California before others did, so they chose a “shortcut” called the Old Spanish Trail. This group of folks must not have been well read, because everyone knows these shortcut stories don’t end well. Their trail led through Death Valley, which (as we learned in today’s episode) is want for water and plant life. With nothing to eat, the group slowly began to starve. To survive, they had to start killing off their work animals and burning the wood from their wagons to build a fire. When the group finally left, one woman looked back and said “Good bye, death valley," and the name stuck. Some stories say that it was a man who said this but we like the woman version best.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open This week’s episode answers the question: How in the world do big stones in the desert move all by themselves? INTRO M: Nature is amazing. H: It absolutely is. And if you didn’t believe us after last week’s episode about how plants disperse their seeds in really cool and strange ways, perhaps you’ll believe us after today’s episode on sailing stones. But first, a disclaimer. M: Yeah, let’s go ahead and get this out of the way. Holly and I are not scientists but we like science and have done a ton of research on this and are providing you with what we believe to be the best information available. If we get it wrong, let us know. We may just do a follow-up on it. H: For some reason, every time I say “sailing stones”, I start getting a song in my head. Is there a song called “Sailing Stones”? M: I think you’re thinking of the Little Feat song, “Sailing Shoes,” which was also covered by Robert Palmer and one of my all-time favorite bands, New Grass Revival. And it was covered by me when I was a musician, but I digress. H: Oh, okay thanks. That was making me crazy. Anyway, if you have no idea what we’re talking about when we say “sailing stones”, we’re talking about the huge rocks that appear to move by themselves. Huge rocks don’t move by themselves, you say? Well, these do! And we know they do because of the trail they leave behind. It’s as if someone pushed them along, but there’s no footprints. So we know they moved on their own. And the most notable occurrence of this is in Death Valley in California. It’s a desert, so the trails they leave behind are REALLY obvious. M: They are. And we’ve got some cool photos of this in the show notes on our website. But let’s talk for a minute about what are where Death Valley is, to give a little background on this. H: Terrific, go for it. Ominous name, Death Valley. M: Yes, and it’s appropriately named, too. Death Valley – or Death Valley National Park – is located on the border of California and Nevada and has, within its borders, sand dunes, badlands, salt flats, valleys, mountains, and canyons. Pictures of this area are truly breathtaking. It became a national park in 1994, but the Death Valley National Monument was declared in 1933, which was just after the end of the gold and silver boom in that area....

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EPISODE 20: HOW INSANELY CREATIVE PLANTS DISPERSE THEIR SEEDSTHE QUESTION: How in the world do the monkey-no-climb tree, the coconut tree, the tumbleweed, and other plants disperse their seeds? SYNOPSIS: This week, we talk about plants who spread their seeds in really strange and cool ways. Specifically, you’ll learn:

What exactly tumbleweed is, anyway A negative consequence of our ability to travel around the globe Why trees need their seeds to disperse more distantly than a small plant Why coconut trees typically grow right on the beach

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VIDEOS

Try as we may, we simply COULD NOT find a video or audio file of the monkey-no-climb tree’s seed exploding in its natural habitat. We did, however, find this little joy of a video that shows one exploding in “captivity."

And because we’re all 14-year-old boys at heart, we had to include this short clip of a squirting cucumber. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

Am I (Holly) the only one who didn’t know that mistletoe grew in treetops? What I always thought were squirrel nests or a clump of dead leaves or something was really mistletoe! Also, naturally-occurring mistletoe (primarily in the British Isles and Europe) has WHITE berries, not red. Although a really cool tradition at Christmas and an overall kinda neat plant – especially the way it propagates – mistletoe is truly a parasite and causes significant damage to its host. Not just in the way we described in this episode, mistletoe can also spread to other plants through birds’ ingesting and excreting it, or even from it being stuck on their feet or beak and then them landing on a nearby tree. Effects on its host can include stunting, reduced growth, and loss of upper branches. A heavy infestation of the plant can even kill its host. Bad plant! Not only that, but it’s leaves and berries are toxic. The effects of ingesting mistletoe includes blurred vision, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and even seizures and cardiac arrest! These effects are especially prevalent in small children and animals – so if you do have live mistletoe hanging in your home at Christmas, be sure to keep your kids and pets away from it.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open This week’s episode answers the question: How in the world do the monkey-no-climb tree, the coconut tree, the tumbleweed, and other plants disperse their seeds? M: There are some things in the natural world that, for me anyway, make a very, very strong case for intelligent design, or you could say, provide evidence of a higher power. Do you know what I mean? It seems unlikely that some things just happened to evolve on their own. H: Yeah, I totally know what you mean. The spaghetti squash is my prime example. M: Today, we will touch on one of these topics from the natural world, and that is how many plants — y’know, plants that don’t have brains and intelligent thought or anything — have somehow invented super-creative and brilliant ways to disperse their seeds. H: And since this is a science-based episode, let me add that Mark and I are not scientists, and are providing you with what WE believe is the best available research. If you think that something we say might be incorrect, shoot us an email and we may do a follow-up. M: Yes, thanks for mentioning that. So, to set this up, we need to get a little philosophical for a moment. H: Uh oh. M: Don’t worry, it won’t take that long. But hear me out. H: OK, I’m braced. M: So, if you look at life in its most basic sense, living things are born (or hatched or planted), they live, and they die, but as far as the living world is concerned, life has only one job: to reproduce. That’s it. If you strip away everything else, that’s really our only job as living organisms. H: But then our purpose on Earth is done? OK, keep going. M: OK.

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EPISODE 19: THE BIG APPLE BAGLETHE QUESTION: How in the world did bagels become associated with the Jewish culture and New York City? SYNOPSIS: This week, we learn the history of the bagel and how it made its way into the fabric of New York City and Jewish culture. You’ll also learn:

Several theories on when the bagel was first created A few reasons why the bagel has a hole in it What makes New York bagels different When and what led to the rise in popularity of the bagel

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FEATURED VIDEOS

Check out this excellent history of the bagel.

Want to try making your own bagels at home? Watch this video. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

Evidently New York and Montreal are in a competition for who has the best bagels. We’ve never even heard anything about Montreal bagels (apologies to our Canadian friends!), but perhaps folks that live there have never heard the hype about New York bagels, either. Many of the Jews who immigrated to North America ended up in Montreal. As is normally the case, they brought with them their own traditions, but tweaked them a bit and created their own style. That’s why the Montreal bagel is similar to – but different than – the New York bagel. The difference between a New York bagel and a Montreal bagel is three-fold:

Montreal bagels are made with eggs, sugar, and no salt. Also, they are boiled in water with honey. These differences result in a bagel that’s sweeter than a New York bagel. Montreal bagels are cooked in wood-fired ovens. This makes their crust even crunchier – as well as giving it a richer flavor. Montreal bagels have a bigger hole. The tube of dough that makes the bagel is thinner. They’re equally as delicious with spreads (or alone!) but don’t make good sandwiches because of this.

There are a few really authentic bagels shops in Montreal, and they don’t make as many flavors as the ones found in New York (which, in our opinion, is just fine – who needs a zillion flavors?!). Their version of the “everything” bagel is the “all dressed” bagel. Now we’re basically just need to do a bagel tour up north, stopping in BOTH New York AND Montreal. Who’s in? And by the way, HERE is Maria Balinska’s book that made her famous for knowing a crap-ton about bagels.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open M: Before we get to this week’s episode, a quick disclaimer. Holly and I are neither historians nor bakers, but we have done our research and will be providing you with what we consider to be good information – but that doesn’t mean that we might not get something wrong. If you think we made a mistake, please shoot us an email and let us know. We may even do a follow-up to correct it. H: Thanks honey. You know I love bagels. M: I do know that. H: And unless I just have a really strange friend group, sharing bagels with a tableful of people often brings us around to a discussion about what makes a bagel good. And if that table includes anyone who has lived or spent any amount of time at all in New York, the discussion will center around the “fact” that New York bagels are better than any other bagels. M: But it’s all relative, right? New York’s bagels might be the most famous – an issue we’ll discuss in this episode – but that doesn’t mean they're the best for every human on earth. Maybe someone from Tennessee who has always enjoyed bagels from Tennessee would go to New York and decide theirs weren’t as good as the ones in Tennessee. That could happen, right? We wouldn’t even know what a bagel is SUPPOSED to taste like — as if there has been some definitive, official decision to that affect — so maybe we’d like the Tennessee version better! H: I mean, I guess. But I think you’re just being ornery. M: Maybe H: But before we get to the topic of New York bagels, let’s talk about the history of bagels. As our family history buff,

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EPISODE 18: THE AMAZING MONKEY TEMPLE OF KATHMANDUTHE QUESTION: How in the world has a colony of monkeys overtaken a Buddhist temple in Kathmandu? SYNOPSIS: In this episode, we discuss Kathmandu’s famous “Monkey Temple," Swayambhunath. If you ever have the opportunity to visit in person, you won’t want to turn it down, trust us. But if not, listen to this week’s podcast to find out:

How old the temple is (hint: it’s really really REALLY old) How large the colony of rhesus monkeys is and why they’re there One theory on how the monkeys got there in the first place, and What a stupa is and why it’s significant to the Buddhist culture

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FEATURED VIDEOS

This video is FANTASTIC. We don't know what else to say about it. You MUST watch it.

Here is some video I (Mark) shot during our March/April 2018 trip to Nepal. This is a nice overview of the steps leading up to the Monkey Temple, a quick look around, an interview with Holly, and a look over the city. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

All joking aside, the Monkey Temple was one of the highlights of our trip to Nepal. And that’s saying a lot. The history and reverence of the site is palpable. The colors are stunning. The views are breathtaking. And being surrounded by the people of Nepal is just plain wonderful. A few tips if you find yourself in Kathmandu and can visit the temple:

Seriously, don’t try to pet the monkeys. They are INCREDIBLY cute but one look at those canine teeth will remind you not to get too close. They might get close to you, and don’t be afraid if they do, but don’t try to touch them. Take a bunch of pictures, though. Walk the stairs to the top. It’s not about the exercise, but the experience. To fully realize the impact of the temple, you’ve got to see it from climbing those stairs. Bring money for souvenirs. The Monkey Temple was probably the very best place to buy stuff. It has more of a festival-like feel like nearby Thamel, which is more like a shopping mecca (and is great, too). The Temple is covered with vendors, many who are also the artists who are making the craft while you watch. DEFINITELY you’ll want to haggle about the price. Don’t pay what they ask because it’s much more than they’re willing to take. Keep in mind, however, that American dollars so a LOT further in Nepal so as you find yourself in a tough negotiation over $2, just let them win. It’s a poor country and that $2 means a lot more to them than it does to you. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy Swayambhunath. Don’t rush or try to squeeze it in before another commitment. Vendors aside (there are dozens and dozens of them), the temple structures are amazing and you’ll want to give them the respect and time they deserve. Soak it in. Take pictures. Be blessed by those offering blessings. It’s a beautiful experience.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open M: Holy monkeys, Batman! Today’s episode is near and dear to the hearts of Holly and myself. On the western edge of Kathmandu, Nepal, at the highest point of this vast city, is the Swayambhunath Temple, also known as the Monkey Temple. Today, we will discuss this amazing place and, more specifically, the hundreds of holy monkeys that call this Buddhist destination home. H: Yeah, I’m super excited about this. But first, a quick disclaimer. Mark and I will be providing you with what we consider to be the best available research, but that doesn’t mean that we might not make a mistake. If you think we’re getting something wrong, please shoot us an email and let us know, and we may do a follow up. M: Alright, so let’s talk about Swayambhunath. We often begin our podcasts by providing some historical context about whatever we’re talking about, and today will be no different. But this temple has so much history, it would be impossible to cover it all. H: Yeah,

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EPISODE 17: THE SCIENCE BEHIND BRAIN FREEZES & FUNNY BONESTHE QUESTION: How in the world do brain freezes and funny bones work? SYNOPSIS: In this episode, we cover two strange things that affect our body – brain freezes and that weird feeling of hitting your funny bone. What's going on here?? Specifically, this week we’ll answer the following questions:

What actually is happening when you experience a brain freeze? Who suffers from brain freezes? How you can cure them (or stop them quickly)? Is there a connection between brain freezes and migraines? What causes that weird pain you get when you hit your “funny bone”? Can either of these cause permanent damage?

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FEATURED VIDEO

Here's a video of kids getting their very first brain freezes. Pretty funny. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

Like we mentioned in this episode, even animals can get brain freeze. While we don’t condone feeding your pet popsicles or ice cream so that you can make videos of them making funny faces or noises, if you do happen to do that, send us the video so we can giggle, too. In the meantime, here’s a short compilation of cats experiencing the dreaded. Note that these are not our cats. We haven’t given our cats brain freeze. Yet.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open H: So let’s talk about strange things that happen in our bodies. We’ll limit it to just these two topics today, though, don’t worry. M: Good, because I get a little squeamish about things.. And also, quick disclaimer. We’re not experts and we don’t claim to be. We’ve done what we think is the best research available, but if we get something wrong, let us know and we may just do a follow-up on it. H: Thanks honey. Okay, let’s start with ice cream headache - also called cold-stimulus headache, cold neuralgia, trigeminal headache, HICS (headache attributed to ingestion or inhalation of cold stimulus), it’s fancy name: spheno-pala-tine gang-lio-neur-algia, or the name I grew up with up, brain freeze. M: You grew up with the name Brain Freeze? I thought people just called you “Holly.” H: Hush. Of all of those names for the same phenomenon I just listed - we used the term brain freeze for that phenomenon when I was growing up. I think I know why, too. We lived in an area that had the 7-Eleven chain of convenience stores. In fact, there was one less than a mile from my house that we frequented. That chain actually trademarked the term “brain freeze” in advertising for their Slurpees, which is probably how I experienced my first brain freeze - not on ice cream. So if you grew up near 7-Eleven stores, you probably say brain freeze. Anyway, you know the deal. . .you drink or eat something cold too fast and you get a sharp, stabbing, intense headache in the front of your head or in your temples or somewhere around there - sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where it is. M: Yes, and you have to immediately squeeze your eyes closed and scrunch up your face and put your hands all over your head and loudly proclaim that you have a brain freeze. “Brain freeze, brain freeze!” If you don’t do all of that, you don’t really have one. It’s the same thing when you get a leg cramp. You have to say, “Cramp, cramp, cramp…” while you lurch around the room so people don’t think you’re just crazy. H: Haha, true! Every time. That’s standard procedure. And although it probably only lasts a few seconds, a brain freeze FEELS much longer than that. In fact, ice cream headaches (clearly I am going to switch up the terms for the entire podcast today, just to keep y’all on your toes) can last for several MINUTES. Like even up to 5 MINUTES! Oh my gosh, can you imagine? M: That would be TORTURE. But the good news is that even though you’d THINK you were dying, you can’t actually die from a brain freeze. That’s a relief.

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EPISODE 16: A G-RATED PEEK AT SNAKE REPRODUCTIONTHE QUESTION: How in the world do snakes reproduce?

SYNOPSIS: This week we’re answering a question from Sunni in London, England. She wants to know how snakes reproduce. Great question, Sunni, and one that we’ve wondered ourselves! Tune in to learn about this and:

Four different ways that snakes move and how they do it What male snakes have in common with all other male species The impressive mating ritual of snakes How a snake tries to eat itself!

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RESOURCES

Here’s what Slinky looks like. (Note: This is not actually Slinky, but looks just like him.) Check out this short video of a two-headed copperhead found in northern Virginia. Holly’s freaked out because that’s where she’s from and maybe they were all around her while she was growing up.

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BONUS STUFF

Really cool video of a Sidewinder snake.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open M: Finally, after 15 episodes, someone has suggested a topic using our online voicemail! H: Yes!! It’s so cool! M: And even cooler that our request comes from the U.K., London to be exact, a place we’ve never been but desperately want to visit. Sunni from London, thank you so much! H: Yes, and even though Sunni’s topic makes me…well…squirm a little, I’m excited to cover a user-submitted topic all the way from England! M: So cool. But before we get into it, we need to mention two quick things: First, Holly and I are not scientists, like we say in our opening sequence. Many of our topics contain a fair amount of science and/or history, and what we say could, very possibly, be either wrong or at the very least, debatable. H: Yes, what we’re doing is presenting what we consider to be the best research available, but YOU might know tons more about one of these topics than us. If there is something you think we’re getting wrong, shoot us an email or voicemail from our website. If you can convince us that we’re wrong, we might do some kind of follow up on it. M: We also want to give a shout out to our sponsor, Hobnail Trekking Company, America’s best resource for epic, life-altering, once-in-a-lifetime adventure treks into the mystical Himalayas. If you’ve ever considered embarking on a trek into the Himalayas and, for example, visiting Everest Base Camp, go check out Hobnail at www.hobnailtrekkingco.com. Now I’d love to report that the Himalayas are snake-free, but unfortunately, for those of you who aren’t fans of snakes, the Himalayan pit viper lives on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, in Nepal and India, and can survive at altitudes of more than 16,000 feet! H: Well, I’m glad I didn’t know about that when we were there in 2018! M: Maybe so, but we didn’t encounter any snakes. Just a lot of yaks, dzos, which are yak-cow hybrids, horses, mules, mountain goats, birds, lots of friendly dogs, and a ton of monkeys at the Swayambunath temple in Kathmandu – commonly referred to as the Monkey Temple. H: The monkeys are awesome. And I loved all the trail dogs. M: And we will cover the Kathmandu Monkey Temple in a future episode. But today, we are answering Sunni’s question, how in the world do snakes reproduce? H: Yeah, and for those of you who get a bit squeamish about topics that have to do with reproduction, don’t worry — we will keep everything very G-. But be aware that there may be some parts that are a little bit…icky. We can’t really avoid that. M: Alright, since it’s clear that snakes have been reproducing since there have been snakes, there really isn’t any history of snake reproduction to cover. Snakes have been gettin’ busy since the beginning of snakes. There you go. H: Right. That makes it pretty easy. M: But even before we received Sunni’s request, we had been thinking about covering the mechanics of how snakes move or, more specifically,

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EPISODE 15: INSIDE THE MAGIC OF WALT DISNEY WORLD AND DISNEYLANDTHE QUESTION: How in the world did Walt Disney create Disney World with so many hidden secrets, cool tricks, and brilliant engineering? SYNOPSIS: Mark and Holly reveal some of the coolest secrets and innovations of The Happiest Place on Earth. How did Walt Disney conceive of these amazing destinations? What's different between the two parks? What lies underneath the streets of Disney World? This is a longer-than-usual episode, so buckle up!

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GALLERY

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RESOURCES

A quick story about this video: Mark created it mainly for the kids' grandparents, and to have a family record of the trip on video, especially the "reveal." However, after only one day of its posting on YouTube, we were contacted by several national media outlets including "Right This Minute" and "Inside Edition." Both featured the video on their shows, and for a couple weeks, things were crazy. Pete's comment about our old hometown, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, went viral! Who knew?? If you're considering a trip to Disney World, be sure to read Mark's blog post, "The Top 9 Tips/Observations of a Disney First-Timer." CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

If you’re like us, you’ll be surprised to learn that one of everyone’s favorite chips was created quite by accident at Disneyland. Doritos (Spanish for “little golden things”) were created as a way to use old tortillas that otherwise would have been thrown away. The Frito-Lay Company noticed how popular these things were and expanded the sales to the entire region – and nationwide just two years later. Pretty neat little piece of trivia! As Disney newbies for the trip with our kids several years ago, we had no idea what to do or where to go or what not to miss or where to stay or what to eat. Thankfully, one of Holly’s college besties is one of those people who plan epic Disney vacations. We spoke with her, told her we knew nothing, and she took care of the rest. Our trip COULD NOT HAVE BEEN any more perfect or any easier. She planned a dream vacation for us with very little guidance and it was wonderful. Magical. If you need help planning a dream trip, we highly recommend her: Julie Bresson, Jbresson@themouseexperts.com, 443-623-3710. Tell her we sent you! (And no, this is not a paid advertisement and we get nothing from this – just want others to have as much fun and as little worry as we did.)

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open H: This week’s episode answers the question: How in the world did Walt Disney create Disney World with so many hidden secrets, cool tricks, and brilliant engineering? (Intro) H: Who doesn’t love Disney? I mean, truly. Either you love it or you’re OBSESSED with it – those are really the only two options. And you may be one of those people who goes to Disney every year. If so, I’m jealous. And also, you may already know all of what we cover today – but if you’re like most of us, it’s still a magical place full of secrets. Secrets that we’ll uncover today. Fun! M: Not as fun as actually going there, though. H: No, I mean NOTHING is as fun as actually going there. Disclaimers aren’t near as fun, but we’ve got one anyway: if you’re a Disney expert – or a member of the Disney family – you're gonna know a LOT more about this topic than we do. But we’ve done our research, and hopefully got it right. If not, send us an email or voicemail and let us know! If you can convince us we’re wrong, we might just do some kind of follow-up on the topic. So there you go. Back to the fun! M: Good. I feel like we need to start with some history of Disneyworld. H: We definitely do, and actually, the history is important for the context of today’s episode. I should add that while we’re focusing on DisneyWORLD, many of what we discuss is relevant to DisneyLAND, too.

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EPISODE 14: THE WEIRD AND EVIL POISON IVY PLANTTHE QUESTION: How in the world does the poison ivy plant make us so miserable and which of the associated myths are actually true? SYNOPSIS: What IS poison ivy and how does it have such a nasty effect on us? Does everyone have the same reaction? What about all the myths and misinformation? Listen to this week’s episode to learn more about:

The history of poison ivy (yes, it has a history!) The science of how it works How you can beat it Truth versus myth

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GALLERY

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FEATURED VIDEO

This video is fantastic. I first saw it a few years ago and have tried my best to follow this guy's advice. By the way, he mentions 2 to 8 hours as the target time to wash up. According to other sources, that's pushing it. If you know you've been exposed to urushiol oil, try to wash up within 30 minutes, just to be safe. Also, check out this quirky little video about how to identify poison ivy (complete with a gross picture and bad acting!). So bad it’s good! CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

We really wanted to include more information about poison ivy tea or the alleged medicinal benefits of the plant, but feel that this is a bit too risky and we definitely do not want to promote any kind of experimentation with this dangerous plant. So instead, enjoy some home remedies that MAY help ease your pain and itching, and recover quickly if/when you get the poison ivy rash. The Famers’ Almanac has some homemade remedies for poison ivy remediation: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/getting-rid-of-poison-ivy-12278 Another great use for apple cider vinegar: https://www.healthline.com/health/apple-cider-vinegar-for-poison-ivy

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open M: This week’s episode answers the question: How in the world does the poison ivy plant make us so miserable-- and which of the associated myths are actually true? (Podcast intro) M: Ah, yes. We’re finally getting around to my old nemesis, the Lex Luthor to my Superman, the evil villain that has been gleefully torturing me for more than 50 years: poison ivy! H: I have been married to this man for 23 years, and for 23 years, I’ve watched him battle poison ivy each and every single summer. But before we get into it, we need to mention two quick things: First, Mark and I are not scientists, like we say in our opening sequence. Many of our topics contain a fair amount of science and/or history, and what we could say could, very possibly, be either wrong or debatable. M: Right. What we’re doing is presenting what we consider to be the best research available, but you might know tons more about one of these topics than us. If there is something you think we’re getting wrong, shoot us an email or voicemail from our website, and If you can convince us that we’re wrong, we might do some kind of a follow up on it. OK? Good. H: We also want to give some quick love and shoutout to our sponsor, Hobnail Trekking Company, America’s best resource for epic, life-altering, once-in-a-lifetime adventure treks into the mystical Himalayas where, miraculously, there is no poison ivy! If you’ve ever considered embarking on a trek into the Himalayas and, for example, visiting Everest Base Camp, (and I mean why wouldn’t you have ever considered that?) go check out Hobnail at www.hobnailtrekkingco.com. There are lots of really cool photos and videos there, too. M: Alright, let’s get into it. No, that’s a bad way of introducing the topic of poison ivy. Let’s proceed with our discussion. H: Yeah, that’s not good, poison ivy is the LAST thing that you especially need to get into, honey! M: For real! So, poison ivy is something that a great many Americans have dealt with at one point or another. Although poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, collectively, are present throughout the United States,

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EPISODE 13: THE ODDITY OF DRY CLEANINGTHE QUESTION: How in the world is dry cleaning accomplished without something getting wet, or is the whole process just terribly mis-named and nobody really knows what’s going on? SYNOPSIS: If you’re anything like us, you’ve long wondered what actually happens to your clothes when you take them in to be dry cleaned. The phrase itself is an oxymoron, right? Listen to this week’s podcast to find out what REALLY happens when your clothes are dry cleaned, and if they are REALLY “dry” cleaned. You’ll also learn:

How dry cleaning is actually an interesting topic The first African-American patent holder and what he was able to do with his earnings How far back the process of dry cleaning clothes goes (you’ll be surprised!) What materials have been used for dry cleaning since its inception

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GALLERY

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FEATURED VIDEO

This short but sweet video gives a quick overview of dry cleaning. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

We love this video that shows how to easily remove all kinds of stains with products you have in your home. Maybe you don’t need to dry clean the lipstick out of your blouse, after all. Another cool video (thanks Rachael Ray!) on removing stains from clothing – you may just save on dry cleaning expenses, too.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open M: So, we’ve never claimed that every topic we cover will be super exciting and not mundane, and at first blush, you may think that the topic of dry cleaning is rather…pedestrian. H: Pedestrian… yeah, I would maybe say that but I might also call it “boring.” M: Yeah, well, many people might call it that. But even boring things can have fascinating stories, and I’ll bet there’s not a single person listening to this right now who hasn’t asked the question, either out loud or to themselves: How the heck can you clean clothes without getting them wet?? H: I know I certainly have! And until last week, I never bothered to find out. But now that we have found out, I have to admit it’s pretty cool. M: It’s cooler than I thought and, teaser alert: the process of dry cleaning is most definitely misnamed. H: Oh, yeah. But before we get into it, we need to mention two quick things: First, Mark and I are not scientists, like we say in our opening sequence. Many of our topics contain a fair amount of science and/or history, and what we say could, very possibly, be either wrong or debatable. M: Yes, we obviously don’t think it’s incorrect or we wouldn’t be saying it! What we’re doing is presenting what we consider to be the best research available, but YOU might know tons more about one of these topics than us. If there is something you think we’re getting wrong, shoot us an email or voicemail from our website. OK? If you can convince us that we’re wrong, we might do some kind of follow up on it. OK? Good. H: We also want to give some quick love to our sponsor, Hobnail Trekking Company, America’s best resource for epic, life-altering, once-in-a-lifetime adventure treks into the mystical Himalayas. If you’ve ever considered embarking on a trek into the Himalayas and, for example, visiting Everest Base Camp, go check out Hobnail at www.hobnailtrekkingco.com. There are lots of amazing photos and videos there, too. M: OK, so we’re going from amazing, epic adventures to dry cleaning, which is quite a jarring contrast, I’ll admit. H: Yes. Very jarring. M: But life needs a good combination of the epic and the mundane, right? I actually find dry cleaning to be quite interesting, now that I’ve looked into it. H: Yeah, me too! Isn’t that weird? M: It’s nuts. Let’s start with a little context. Honey, can you give us a quick history lesson on the process of dry cleaning? H: Yes, I’d be glad to, but for my history lesson to make sense, I’m going to have to kind of give away the dirty little secret about dry cleaning...

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EPISODE 12: BRAVING THE BROOMWAY TRAILTHE QUESTION: How in the world are people in England able to walk to an island without the benefit of Divine powers or flotation devices? SYNOPSIS: The Broomway Trail in Essex, England, is a 6-mile path that connects Great Wakering to Foulness Island, twice each day, during low tide. The rest of the time, the path is covered by where River Crouch and River Roach meet the North Sea. Tune in to learn more about this route, including:

Early known uses of the path How the Broomway got its name Why it’s a dangerous trail How to do it as safely as possible How to engage all of your senses on the trail

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GALLERY

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FEATURED VIDEO

This brief video is just long enough to give you a sense of what it's like to tackle the Broomway. CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

While we hear constantly about how land is receding from the edge of the water, Foulness is quite the opposite. In fact, the island is actually GROWING as silt from the river is carried to the sea and builds up along the shore. This fertile soil is perfect for plants taking root – and they do – which stabilizes the ground and expands the size of the island. And we’re not talking about a couple inches over centuries, either. Foulness Island has grown by 1,632 acres over time. That’s no small feat, and pretty dang cool. And I don’t know if this is really smart or stupid or cheating but whatever it is, it looks really fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10FYA2qwmiI

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open H: I actually stumbled upon this topic when I was doing some research for our episode on quicksand a few weeks back, and bookmarked it so I’d remember to come back to it. It’s really cool, and now I want to go to Essex, England, where the Broomway Trail is. I have friends in England, maybe they’re nearby. M: Probably not – England is much larger than Nashville, honey. But before we get to that, there are two quick things we need to mention. First, like we say in our opening sequence, Holly and I are not scientists. Many of our topics contain a fair amount of science and/or history, and what we say could, very possibly, be either wrong or debatable. H: Yes, we obviously don’t think it’s incorrect or we wouldn’t be saying it! What we’re doing is presenting what we consider to be the best research available, but YOU might know tons more about one of these topics than us. If there is something you think we’re getting wrong, shoot us an email or voicemail from our website. OK? If you can convince us that we’re wrong, we might do some kind of follow up on it. OK? Good. M: We also want to give some quick love to our sponsor, Hobnail Trekking Company, America’s best resource for epic, life-altering, once-in-a-lifetime adventure treks into the mystical Himalayas. If you’ve ever considered embarking on a trek into the Himalayas and, for example, visiting Everest Base Camp, go check out Hobnail at www.hobnailtrekkingco.com. There are lots of amazing photos and videos there, too. So, back to today’s topic. Although we don’t currently have plans to visit the UK anytime soon, I definitely see the attraction of the Broomway Trail. In a nutshell, this is a 6-mile trek across land off the coast of Essex, England, that is only exposed during the low tides of the River Crouch and the River Roach. It gets high marks for both excitement and potential life-threatening danger. And it’s no short trek, either. H: Nope, it’s at least a 3-hour walk one-way. The Trail became popular on a much broader scale after Robert McFarlane talked about it in his book, The Old Ways, in 2012. Honey, why don’t you explain a little bit about where the Broomway Trail is, exactly. M: Sure. Well like we mentioned, this trail is in Essex County, England, which is only about a 45-minute drive from London.

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EPISODE 11: CAN WE SMELL AND FEEL APPROACHING WEATHER?THE QUESTION: How in the world do people smell rain and feel approaching bad weather in their bones? SYNOPSIS: It’s been pretty rainy here in Tennessee the last few weeks of April, 2020. The weather people told us it was going to happen, but even if they didn’t, we would know. Why? Listen to this week’s episode and find out how we smell rain a’comin’. Listen closely and you’ll discover:

The scientific explanation for how we can smell rain, both before it arrives and after it gets here The surprising reason why we can smell snow Why our joints ache when during a storm

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VIDEO

This video is a quick and effective video covering some of the same things we did. Good stuff! Thanks, "It's OK to Be Smart" people! CLICK-TO-TWEET QUOTABLESClick a quote to send it to your Twitter.

BONUS STUFF

Evidently, many (most?) people love the smell of rain. (Holly isn’t one of them.) But people love it so much that they want to bottle the smell and spray it on them? This doctor is trying to do just that ( and we’re not buying any stock in this). Also, there are lots of songs about the smell of rain, which kinda makes sense because it does sound very poetic and dramatic. Here’s a few good ones we found:

Smell the Rain by Genevieve Chadwick Petrichor (The Smell of Rain) by Chrome Street The Scent of Rain by BigRicePiano

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open Today’s episode answers the question: How in the world do people smell rain and feel bad weather in their bones? M: Honey, it’s fixin’ to rain. I can smell it. H: You can’t smell it. M: I can! Seriously! H: OK, but before you tell me about your superpower of smelling rain, let’s cover a quick disclaimer for the podcast. M: OK, go ahead, but I CAN smell the rain. H: No you can’t. So, Mark and I are not scientists, like we say in our opening sequence. Many of our topics contain a fair amount of science and/or history, and what we say could, very possibly, be either wrong or debatable. M: We don’t think it is, but it’s possible. What we’re doing is presenting what we consider to be the best research available, but you might know tons more about one of these topics than us. If there’s something you think we’re getting wrong, shoot us an email or voicemail from our website. OK? If you can convince us that we’re wrong, we may do some kind of follow-up on it. Deal? Deal! H: OK, so you think you can smell an incoming storm, huh? M: I know I can, and I have scientific evidence to prove it, AND, I can detect the change in weather in my joints, and I’m not talking about the kind you smoke. But before I go any further, I want to give a shout out to John Jackson, an old friend of mine from Nashville, Tennessee, who suggested this topic. Thanks, John! H: Yes, thanks, John, and for all our listeners, don’t be shy about giving us topic suggestions. You can even leave us voicemails directly from our website and we’ll put your voice in the podcast! But we’ll cover that later. M: So. We’ve all heard our grandparents say stuff like this at one time or another: “Storm’s a’comin’. I can smell it.” Or, “Cold snap’s a’comin’. I can feel it in my knees.” H: Do they sound like that, honey? M: Yeah! They probably do kinda sound like that. H: Your grandparents might. M: Yeah, they probably would. For years, these kinds of things were likely dismissed by city folk (like Holly) as as “country-isms” or “Farmers’ Almanac” things. There’s probably an actual word for these sayings, although I can’t think of what it is— if you do, let us know. Anyway, I know that you were acting skeptical about my superpower of smell, but you have actually done some background research on this, right? H: Right! M: OK, fire away with what you found out. H: OK, thanks. So, in the days before we had the ability to look up a weather forecast on an iPhone in 15 seconds, or ask Alexa,

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EPISODE 10: THE SECRETS OF CHINA’S GREAT WALLTHE QUESTION: How in the world did people built the Great Wall of China without modern machinery or technology? SYNOPSIS: This week, grab a cup of hot tea and settle in for a longer-than-usual episode of How in the World, focused on a longer-then-usual structure – the Great Wall of China. You’ll discover how it was made LONG before common machinery and building materials. But you’ll also learn:

A few myths about the wall (debunked) The actual shape of the wall Why it was built, and if it was effective About its crazy popularity as a tourist attraction

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GALLERY

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RESOURCES

The above video is a GREAT mini-doc on the Wall. Very cool graphics. For a deeper dive, check out this page dedicated to the Wall. We actually used this site for a lot of our research.

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BONUS STUFF

Airbnb sponsored a contest a few years ago where the prize was a pretty amazing night in one of the highest watchtowers on the Great Wall of China. In addition to an open-air ceiling (some articles say a glass ceiling) on this incredible structure, you’d enjoy a chef-prepared meal, be serenaded by local musicians, participate in a traditional stamp-making process to commemorate the experience, and hike to the best place to see the sunrise over the mountains of China. On top of that, you’d be a part of history by being the first person to ever do this. Why would they do this? To bring attention to this incredible masterpiece and to promote cross-cultural understanding and friendship. What an amazing experience this would be! Until, fortunately/unfortunately, it wasn’t. The contest was cancelled after significant backlash and worrying about what additional damage this might cause to the structure. And the mosquitos. Evidently, the mosquitos in that area at that time of year would practically eat you alive. Worth it? Maybe. If you’re a favorite feast of mosquitos like I (Holly) am, you'll want to pack plenty of Deep Woods Off. But as awesome as this opportunity would have been, I also am kind of mortified at the thought of this historic structure being commercialized in that way, too. I don’t know which side of the fence I’m on. We’d love to hear what you think – let us know by sending us a voicemail (here on this page!) or an email. Thanks! ~ Holly

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open H: Everyone’s heard all about the Great Wall of China. It’s big, extends for many miles, and supposedly can be seen from space. But today we answer the very specific question: How in the world did people manage to build the Great Wall of China without modern machinery and technology? M: You’re listening to the How in the World Podcast, where we unravel some of the planet’s most perplexing questions in just about 10 minutes. H: Nope, we’re not scientists or scholars, we’re just normal people who like to figure things out. M: Sometimes inspiring, sometimes informative. Our topics are always fascinating. Hosted by me, Mark Johnson, and my lovely wife. . . H: Me, Holly Johnson. We do the research, so you don’t have to. H: The Great Wall of China is one of those things that just is there and we all know about it (kinda) and it’s big. It’s really big. But any details? I, for one, am ignorant about anything other than the obvious stuff. Can you enlighten us, honey, in case there are others out there like me? M: I’d be glad to! First, the obvious. It’s really long. H: It’s more than 13,000 miles long. M: And very, very old. H: More than 2,300 years old. M: OK, I thought I was the enlightening person here. H: OK, sorry, I’m just really excited about this topic, even though I didn’t really expect to be. It’s fascinating. But, I mean I guess everything is fascinating when you dig deep enough. Most everything, anyway. OK, take over, sorry. M: OK, thanks,

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EPISODE 9: HOW LOCUSTS ARE LITERALLY TRYING TO EAT THE WORLDTHE QUESTION: How in the world does a simple grasshopper transform into a crazed locust, gang together with billions of other crazed locusts, and try their best to literally eat the world? SYNOPSIS: This week, we take you back to both Sunday School and science class to discuss one of the most bizarre natural phenomenon in both the ancient and modern world – locust swarms. Scared yet? Listen in this week to be freaked out by something other than Coronavirus. In this episode, we discuss:

What locusts are, and how they differ from normal grasshoppers How locusts are not only terrifying, but actually really harmful The humanitarian crisis occurring in east Africa right now The crazy way that locusts communicate with each other The history of locusts in the US

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GALLERY

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RESOURCES

Here's a video showing the infestation. These are Holly’s nightmare – flying things that buzz in her ears. Take a deep dive into the Great Locust Infestation of 1874. The article is long but fascination. There's actual an OPERA about locusts! Check out this story. In the Bible, Revelation 9:3-10, gives you an idea of what our ancestors thought about locusts. And, just for fun, we thought you might want to watch the opening sequence for TV's "The Incredible Hulk." (Note: In the podcast, Mark incorrectly called Bill Bixby's character "Bruce Banner" instead of "David Banner." Don't get mad, David...)

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BONUS STUFF

The massive swarm of the late 19th century in the US is fascinating. Just as fast as it came on, it was gone – and the species that created years of devastation and loss became extinct within a couple generations after that. The timing of that swarm was crazy, too. Just as pioneers were getting established across the western US, the locusts (“Rocky Mountain Locusts” as they were called) came through and eliminated crops, basically forcing thousands of these families to head back east. The swarms not only ate crops, though. They also ate through wood fences and ax handles, ate the paint off of machinery, and – get this – the wool off of sheep (not to mention any other clothing or materials left in their path). And get this – there were locusts piled up on railroad tracks so thick that trains either were unable to move through them or actually derailed because of them. These bugs are no joke. What caused the demise of these horrid creatures? Nobody knows for sure, but the frontrunning theory is that farmers themselves managed to kill off the locusts. Not individually or during a swarm, but simply by unknowingly planting crops in the fields where the locusts liked to live and breed. Eventually the work that was done to those fields to prep them for planting led to the end of the Rocky Mountain Locust. Sweet, sweet karma.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open Mark: Welcome to the How in the World Podcast and Episode Number 9. Before we begin, I feel like we need to insert a disclaimer, which we probably should’ve been doing in our previous episodes. So, Holly and I are not scientists, like we say in our opening sequence. Many of our topics contain a fair amount of science and/or history and what we say could very possibly be either wrong or debatable. Holly: Yes, we obviously don’t think it’s incorrect or we wouldn’t be saying it; What we're doing is presenting what we consider to be the best research available, but you might know tons more about one of these topics. Maybe you’re an entomologist – that’s the bug person, right? – or you are somehow an expert in locusts. So, if there’s something you think we’re getting wrong, shoot us an email or a voicemail directly from our website. Okay? If you can convince us we’re wrong, maybe we’ll do some kind of follow-up on it. Okay? Deal? Deal. Mark: Okay,

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EPISODE 8: KANGAROO BABIES ARE STRANGER THAN YOU THINKTHE QUESTION: How in the world do kangaroo babies grow? SYNOPSIS: This week, we blow up everything you thought you knew about kangaroo babies. You think you know what they’re like when they’re born and what the momma’s pouch is like? Listen in this week – you'll be surprised! (Unless you actually DO know, and then you won't be surprised.) In this episode, we discuss:

What a marsupial is The odd anatomy many of them share Why kangaroo mommas are considered baby-making machines A really cool feature of the Nashville Zoo

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GALLERY

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RESOURCES

The video above gives you a nice little 3-minute nutshell of the baby kangaroo process. It's slightly icky, so consider this your warning. Couldn’t help ourselves but to include THIS VIDEO of a joey trying out his young hopping skills before diving back into his mom's pouch. Here's a LINK to the scarf baby holder things that Holly isn’t skilled enough to use, although it looks really easy!

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BONUS STUFF

As you probably know, many millions (yep, millions) of kangaroos and other types of wildlife perished in the 2019 Australian brush fires. If you'd like to get involved in some of the recovery efforts, HERE'S A GREAT LIST of organizations who are accepting donations to help with the devastation.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open Holly: Hey, let’s talk about baby kangaroos. Mark: Okay, that sounds nice. But first, a disclaimer. Holly and I are not scientists, like we say in our opening sequence. Many of our topics contain a fair amount of science and/or history and what we say could very possibly be either wrong or debatable. Holly: I mean, we obviously don’t think it’s incorrect or we wouldn’t be saying it; What we do is present what we consider to be the best research available, but you might know tons more about one of these topics than us, so if there’s something you think we’re getting wrong, shoot us an email, or go to our website and send us a voicemail. Okay? If you can convince us that we’re wrong, we might do some sort of follow-up on it. Deal? Deal. Mark: And now. . . kangaroo babies. What about kangaroo babies, honey? Holly: Well, I mean they’re born, and then they get in their momma’s pouch until they’re old enough to walk, or hop, on their own, right? Mark: Right. . . wait, is that right? Holly: Well, not exactly. I mean, I think of the kangaroo’s pouch the way I think of a momma’s arms, or maybe one of those backpack carriers we used to carry the kids in. Mark: Mm-hmm. Holly: . . .or one of those scarf things that people with a lot more skill than me can use to tie their kids to their backs, that’s how I’ve always thought of the pouch. Mark: Exactly. Holly: Well imagine my shock when I discovered -- that’s not the case at all. At least not how we imagine it. But before we go there, let’s get some basics out of the way, like what a kangaroo is. Mark: Right. We all know that a kangaroo is a marsupial. But, do we know what a marsupial is? Holly: Well really, I’ve just always thought that a marsupial and a kangaroo are kind of the same thing, I mean, I know one is the genus or class or whatever -- biology class was a long time ago. But they’ve always been one in the same in my mind. Mark: I think that’s probably how most people think about them. A marsupial is a type of mammal that is born before it is fully developed, and then carried around in its momma’s pouch. Koalas, wombats, and Tasmanian devils are also marsupials. And strangely, about 70% of all marsupials are native to Australia -- and that sounds like another topic for this podcast. And we wanna mention too, that our thoughts and prayers go out to all of our friends in Australia, who have been affected by the wildfires over there, the brush fires, and, uh,

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EPISODE 5: THE CURIOUS CASE OF QUICKSANDTHE QUESTION: How in the world did quicksand become such a big deal when we were kids and why isn't it now? SYNOPSIS: This week, we take a look at quicksand – something that terrified us as children – and discuss why we don’t see it in movies and TV shows anymore. Is it as deadly and common as we believed from the popular media of the '60s, '70s, and '80s? Check out this week’s episode and find out! In this episode, we discuss:

Where you’re most likely to find quicksand (and where you’re NOT likely to find it) What it actually looks like How to survive if you find yourself in it How quicksand could kill you Why it's no longer a big deal in movies

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RESOURCES

This 👆🏻might be the best quicksand video ever. MORE

How to get out of quicksand if you find yourself stuck in it. McGyver vs quicksand. (The lesson here is to always have a truck equipped with a winch nearby when somebody falls into quicksand.) Tarzan vs quicksand. We would've thought Tarzan would know better.

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NOTABLE QUICKSAND APPEARANCES

In "Batman", an animated TV show from 1969, Batman and Robin escape from a vat of quicksand which Catwoman has lured them into courtesy of rockets in their boots. The takeaway? If you're hiking in quicksand-y areas, wear boots equipped with rockets. At least 3 episodes of the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" utilize quicksand as a plot gimmick. Yes, you read that right — quicksand was in a soap opera 3 times! Mark was pleased to discover that one of his favorite childhood comedians, Benny Hill, used quicksand jokes in three episodes of "The Benny Hill Show." In one, there is quicksand in a sketch with Benny as a newsman in the field, reporting on the dangers of the Blackmoor bogs, when he suddenly drops out of the camera's view. Then the shot pans down to show a muddy patch of ground with his glasses, microphone, and note pad resting on top. Poor Benny!

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open Mark: Today's episode answers the question: How in the world did quicksand become such a big deal when we were kids? You're listening to the How in the World Podcast where we unravel some of the planet's most perplexing questions in just about 10 minutes. Mark: So if you're fortunate enough to be roughly our age, let's say in your mid-40s. Holly: 20s. Mark: That would be nice. Let's say in your mid-40s to late 50s – you know, still a spring chicken, and grew up watching '60s and '70s television, there are a few things that the kid you thought were going to be a big deal later in life for the adult you. Are you following my line of thinking so far? Holly: I mean, kind of. I think I know where you're going, but keep going. Mark: Okay, thanks. So hang with me here. So if you watch TV shows like Batman, The Six Million Dollar Man, Land of the Lost, Shazam!, Scooby-Doo, or maybe movies like Sinbad and the Seven Seas, and any of the old Tarzan flicks, there were certain things you became terrified of. For example, disappearing in the Bermuda Triangle. Holly: Yes. Mark: Being randomly attacked by Bigfoot in your backyard, slipping on banana peels, accidentally stepping into an alternate universe or time machine, and finding yourself in the middle of dinosaurs or cannibals, having a person you thought you could trust suddenly rip off a very convincing mask to reveal that they are in fact a dastardly villain, and so on and so forth. Holly: Yeah, those are really good. I definitely thought that the banana peel would be a big deal and that I would be constantly slipping on banana peels. Mark: Yes, they appeared very dangerous and numerous. Holly: Yes. Mark: But the mother of all of these was, of course, drum roll please, quicksand. It felt like nearly every movie or TV show of my childhood included a quicksand scene,

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EPISODE 6: WHERE THE HECK DO FRUIT FLIES COME FROM?THE QUESTION: How in the world do fruit flies magically appear in my house and locate that one overripe banana in my kitchen? SYNOPSIS: At some point in your life, you've been annoyed by fruit flies. They are insidious and seem to have some magical ability to appear out of nowhere. In short, fruit flies suck. In this episode, we discuss

What attracts fruit flies What time of year you’ll see them most How they get in your house How to prevent them How to get rid of them once you have them The difference between fruit flies and some other strange bugs you may see in your house

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RESOURCES

More fruit fly stuff

General info on fruit flies. Slightly more complicated fruit fly trap, but very cool.

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BONUS STUFF

Umm, we don’t love this idea – but to each his/her own. (Warning: If you're easily grossed out, don't open this link.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC3OyrK8ITs

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open Holly: Me, Holly Johnson. We do the research, so you don't have to. Okay. To be fair, there is never just one overripe banana in our kitchen. Mark: No. Holly: And it's not just bananas either. Mark: Nope. Holly: Any overripe fruit will do. You know the story, you bought a cantaloupe, you cut it in half, cut one half up into cubes, had it for dinner, covered the remaining half in plastic wrap and carefully placed it on your countertop, intending to finish eating it the next day. But the next day you get stuck late at work, and the day after that is your son's basketball practice, that basically consumes your entire dinner schedule. Mark: I see what you did there. Consumes, dinner time. Well done. Holly: Thank you. I aim to please, and by the way, those scenarios are completely hypothetical. Mark: Of course they are. Holly: So by that third day, after you first slice the melon, it's getting pretty soft – overripe – and then you see it. You see them. Mark: Fruit flies. There they are, they found the cantaloupe. But how? How did they find it? How do they know it's there? And how the crap did they get into our house? Holly: I'm a little scared to know the answer, because I'm worried it's going to involve them coming in with the fruit, or in eggs with the fruit, or something really freaky like that, but let's get into it. Mark: Sounds good. First of all, How in the World podcast listener, here's your disclaimer: If you really get icked out by this stuff, just prepare yourself. We will try to de-ick the topic as much as possible, but just know that there is a certain inherent amount of yuck involved, okay? So here we go. Mark: Fruit flies, not to be confused with fungus gnats or drain flies, are about as gross as you think they are. They have bright red eyes, and hairy bodies, and sticky feet that help spread harmful bacteria. They're typically about an eighth of an inch long and although they look black, they're actually tan-colored and have black bands on their midsections. Holly: Okay, yeah. I'm already grossed out. Mark: Yeah. Holly: For starters, let's talk about what fruit flies like to eat. Mark: Okay. Holly: In addition to overripe fruit and vegetables, they like sponges, which are gross anyway, garbage disposals, garbage cans and recycling bins, and open cans or bottles of soda, beer, and wine. Think about all of the places where food or sugars are fermenting. That's what they like. Mark: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Holly: Combine that with moisture, like a damp mop head that was used to mop up an apple juice spill, and you've got fruit fly heaven. Mark: Heaven, I'm in heaven. Yes, they can smell food from about half a mile away, and since they're so small, they can get in through your window screens, plumbing, even little tiny spaces in the structure of your house.

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EPISODE 5: FOLLOWING THE HONEYGUIDE BIRDTHE QUESTION: How in the world does an African bird lead humans to honey? SYNOPSIS: This week we talk about the amazing and aptly-named honeyguide bird. This bird’s symbiotic relationship with the people of Tanzania means that they ALL get fresh local honey! Listen and learn more about this bird and some other incredible animal-human connections. In this episode, we discuss

How the honeyguide bird and Tanzanians mutually benefit each other A couple other examples of these unbelievable relationships between humans and wild animals Why you should spend time in the great outdoors

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GALLERY

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RESOURCES

The original Doctor Dolittle (original is always best!) is currently available on Hulu, but available elsewhere for about $4. Listen to the actual accent of people from Tanzania, as opposed to what Mark does: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw24IdtARcY The sound of calling the honeyguide bird: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCoRLkKX6l8 More on the honey badger: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/h/honey-badger/ Laguna, Brazil dolphins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kMGJ8T3-Pg AND https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRwWfYLKFw0

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BONUS STUFF

Local honey not only tastes great, but actually can help with allergies! Kinda like getting an allergy shot, local honey contains pollen from the flowers and plant that cause you to suffer from allergies – but in small doses. So eating local honey helps you build an immunity to those local flowers and plants and eventually you won’t suffer from allergies anymore! Woot! Plus, it’s sooooo good. We can only imagine how tasty that Tanzanian honey would be.. Also, we were going to post video about the Twofold Bay orcas, but it made Holly too sad.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open Mark: Okay. So, some of our episodes derive from things people suggest. Some from things we think of from scratch, and some are based on things we already knew. Today's episode is one of those. Several years ago, I worked for a large wildlife conservation nonprofit as a communications director and a magazine editor. The story of the honeyguide bird came to me from a board member who had personally encountered it while on safari in Tanzania. It was one of the most fascinating things I ever heard of, and ended up writing an article about it in our magazine. I thought it would be perfect for our podcast. Holly: Oh, I definitely think it is. Mark: Me too. Imagine a scenario that is surprisingly similar to something out of Doctor Doolittle, which is a movie that's just getting ready to come out. I don't know when you're listening to this, but this is early January 2020, and there's a Doctor Doolittle movie about to come out. Holly: Hasn't there been one out for awhile? Mark: A long time ago. Holly: Oh, okay. Mark: This is a remake. Yep. Imagine a situation like out of Doctor Doolittle where a human is talking to animals, and vice versa to the benefit of both parties. The honeyguide bird is very much like this, but in real life. Honey, can you give us a little background. Holly: Honey. Sure. It's no big secret that certain animals communicate with humans. Chances are good that you've got cats or dogs in your house, and any pet owner will tell you that their animals communicate with them every day. That's not exactly what I'm talking about though. Mark: No. Holly: There are only limited instances of wild species that consistently use communication with humans to their own selfish objectives while also providing a benefit for the humans. We call this a symbiotic relationship. For example, fishermen in Laguna, Brazil work in cooperation with bottlenose dolphins to catch fish near the shoreline of the ocean. The dolphins drive schools of fish towards the shore,

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EPISODE 4: CRANBERRIES ARE COOLTHE QUESTION: How in the world do cranberries grow? SYNOPSIS: If you’re like us, the cranberry juice commercials with the guys standing in a pool of floating cranberries have you intrigued. What are they doing? Where did the berries come from and how did they get in the water? How do cranberries grow, anyway? In this episode, we discuss

Where cranberries grow and how they end up in the water Whether cranberries are considered a fruit or a vegetable The medicinal properties of cranberries The difference between white berries and red berries Where cranberries got their name

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RESOURCES

Ocean Spray is not a sponsor nor are we affiliated in any way, but this commercial (above) is hilarious.
If you want to do a deep dive, CLICK HERE for the Supreme Court decision on whether a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable.
Holly’s Cranberry-Apple Casserole

Cut up 3-4 apples (I use Gala) into bite-sized chunks and mix them with a can of whole berry cranberry sauce (I use my hands to mix it up because it’s just easier). Put this in a smallish casserole dish (not 12x9, half that size, or a round one, will suffice). In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup quick oats, ¾ cup packed brown sugar, ½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup melted butter, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1 cup pecans. Pour this mixture on top of your apple/cranberry sauce mixture and bake it at 350 degrees for about 40-45 minutes. You can eat this as a side (like we do at Thanksgiving) or as a cobbler (add ice cream and/or whipped cream). Enjoy!

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LAST/NEXT WEEK… Episode 3: How in the world did the Wright Brothers solve the mystery of powered flight? Episode 5: Episode 5. Honeyguide Bird: Can a bird lead a human to honey? How does it know what to do? Are there other animals like this? Listen in to learn more! CLARIFICATION After the production of this episode, Holly discovered that cranberry production does take place outside of the northeast. Wisconsin, Minnesota, and even Washington have large cranberry crops. The method of production is the same. Apologies to our farmer friends in these (and any other) states!

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open Holly: Today, we're going to focus on that gorgeous, winter red berry plant. Nope. Not talking about holly berries, but cranberries, as we answer the question, how in the world do cranberries grow? Mark: You're listening to the How in the World podcast, where we unravel some of the planet's most perplexing questions, in just about 10 minutes. Holly: Nope, we're not scientists or scholars, we're just normal people who like to figure things out. Mark: Sometimes inspiring, sometimes informative, our topics are always fascinating. Hosted by me, Mark Johnson and my lovely wife- Holly: Me, Holly Johnson. We do the research so you don't have to. Hey honey, it's winter, and what does winter make you think of? Mark: Snowmen? Holly: Nope. Cranberries. You have cranberries for Thanksgiving, and they're kind of Christmas-y, and therefore, just overall wintery. Mark: Thanksgiving isn't in the winter. Holly: Okay. Anyway, they're red and festive, and look pretty against snow, so they're wintery. But how do they grow? I've been intrigued by this topic, ever since... Mark: You saw the commercial for cranberry juice that shows the guys standing in the lake-like body of water, with tons of cranberries floating around them? Holly: Yes! It's so odd. Why are these grown men wearing waders and standing in a lake full of floating cranberries? So I decided to do some research, in case there were others out there wondering the same thing. Spoiler alert: they don't grow on water, and they don't grow on trees like crabapples do either. Mark: Correct. Cranberries grow in bogs and marshes near a freshwater source. They like sandy soil, and grow as long,

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EPISODE 3: THE AMAZING WRIGHT BROTHERS

THE QUESTION How in the world did the Wright Brothers solve powered flight when so many others couldn't? SYNOPSIS Orville and Wilbur Wright were very unlikely competitors in the race to be the first humans first to fly. A simple childhood, devastating illnesses and loss, and rivals that were well-funded, well-established, and well-known didn’t derail their goal of flying. Listen this week as we provide some insight on how they were able to do make this happen, and in the process, learn some tips for making your dreams really happen, too. In this episode, we discuss

A brief history of flight The unique talents each of the brothers brought to their partnership Struggles they faced in making their dream a reality How they were able to finance the building of an aircraft

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INCIDENTALLY… From Holly: I was excited during the taping of this episode because I graduated (a long time ago) from Langley High School in McLean, Virginia, and was thrilled to finally know where the name of my school originated. Yes, I could have looked it up at any time, but I had other things to do like raising three kids and jobs and stuff like that. However, when digging a little deeper and creating the show notes for this episode, I discovered that while Langley High School was, in fact, named after Samuel Langley – it was the Langley High School in Pennsylvania, not Virginia, that bore his name. Holly’s alma mater was named after an estate in England – Langley Manor. RESOURCES

David McCullough’s book, The Wright Brothers (affiliate link to Amazon) NASA talks about the aileron: https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/alr.html Tuberculosis information: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm More on Oliver Crook Haugh, the kid who hit Wilbur Wright with a hockey stick: https://aviationoiloutlet.com/blog/oliver-crook-haugh/ More on Otto Lillienthal: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Otto-Lilienthal More on Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute, Samuel Langley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Pierpont_Langley Dayton, Ohio – where the Wrights were born: https://www.daytonohio.gov/ Kitty Hawk, North Carolina: https://www.kittyhawknc.gov/ Visiting LeMans, France: https://www.france-voyage.com/tourism/mans-1873.htm

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TRANSCRIPT

Click to open Mark: Today's episode answers the question, how in the world did the Wright Brothers manage to solve the mystery of powered flight when so many other more qualified people couldn't? Mark: You're listening to The How In The World Podcast, where we unravel some of the planet's most perplexing questions in just about 10 minutes. Holly: Nope, we're not scientists or scholars. We're just normal people who like to figure things out. Mark: Sometimes inspiring, sometimes informative, our topics are always fascinating. Hosted by me, Mark Johnson and my lovely wife... Holly: Me, Holly Johnson. We do the research so you don't have to. Mark: Welcome to episode three of The How In The World Podcast. Well, the history nerd in me is super excited about this one. Holly: Oh yeah. I can tell you from first-hand knowledge, he's been obsessed with this for a while. Mark: It's true, I have. It’s because I recently read David McCullough's masterful 2015 book called simply, The Wright Brothers. There are a ton of fascinating things in their story that I wasn't aware of and perhaps most amazing of all is the fact that they even attempted to tackle this problem in the first place. Holly: It is a mind-boggling story of American ingenuity. No doubt about that. Mark: Well, it's impossible to do justice to the entire story of the Wright Brothers in a single 10-minute podcast. So today we'll provide you with enough information to get you started and hopefully wanting to learn more abou...

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EPISODE 2: HOW DO CATS PURR?THE QUESTION: How in the world do cats purr? SYNOPSIS: If you own a cat, have a friend who owns a cat, have ever seen cat on TV, or have ever heard anything about cats, you know that they purr. But do you know HOW cats purr? Do you know WHY they purr? The answers may surprise you. Tune in to this week’s episode and impress your friends with your interesting cat facts.

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CLARIFICATION

I (Holly) made a major error here that we didn’t catch until it was too late. There are not 61 million households in the US who own cats. There are about 61 million CATS in households in the US. Since the average per household is approximately 1.8 (although the Johnson have two complete cats), there are actually closer to 31.9 million HOUSEHOLDS with cats. Dog households still win at approximately 48.3 million. Our apologies for overstating the love of cats. And other note: none of the numerous data on cat and dog ownership online matches, so who really knows, other than they are all consistent in that there are more dog owners than cat owners. We feel pretty confident about that.

TRANSCRIPT

Click to open Holly: Today, we answer the question that over 61 million households in the U.S. have asked, how in the world do cats purr? Mark: Welcome to episode two. So, there are cat people and there are dog people and there are cat-dog people. Holly and I both grew up with cats and dogs and in my case, horses and chickens as well, but in our 22 years of marriage, circumstances have only allowed us to have cats. Holly: Yes, we are surrogate parents to our neighbor's dogs, of course, several of them, but for now, we are a cat family, like a whole heck of a lot of other people. Cats have been domesticated for between five and 10,000 years as compared to dogs who have served as our pets for closer to 40,000 years. Mark: Wow. Holly: This explains why cats seem like they only tolerate us in exchange for food and warm bodies to sleep on. Notice I didn't say next to, just on. They are still wild at heart and yet they purr like they know and love us. Do they love us? Are they manipulating us for extra fish flavored treats? Do all cats purr? Is the purring sincere? Mark: That's a lot of questions and I'm not sure whether we'll be able to address the issue of extra fish flavored treats, but we'll see. And know, all cats do not purr. If you're looking at the broader cat family, some roar and some purr. And just in case you were wondering, raccoons purr, although I've never heard one do it. Holly: Oh, that sounds really cute and actually kind of scary because if everything I believed in my childhood came true, all raccoons have rabies and they want to bite me and then I'd have to get roughly 16,000 shots in my stomach, so. Mark: Anyway. The average number of cats per household is 1.8. The Johnson household has beat the average with two full cats. There are a whole, whole cats. Holly: Yes, both of our cats are 100% of a cat. One purrs constantly and one won't give you that satisfaction as easily, but the one who does, you can practically just look at her nicely and she'll start up. It's just crazy. Mark: That's true. I've actually tried to locate mission control of the purring mechanism before and I found it on her neck. Because I wasn't sure if it was coming from her chest or her neck. It's definitely on her neck. Holly: Poor Greta. Mark: Anyway, before we get into the physiology of it, let's talk about the reasons why cats purr. Easy question. They purr because they're happy, right? Holly: Right. Mark: Like a dog wagging his tail? Holly: Yeah. Mark: Yes, they do, but that's not the only reason they'll purr. Sometimes, they'll do it when they want you to do something, like Gretta does when it's past normal feeding time.

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EPISODE 1: HIMALAYAN TREKKING COMPANYTHE QUESTION: How in the world did a normal, everyday, middle-aged mom and dad from Tennessee launch a Himalayan trekking company, having never set foot in Nepal or traveled overseas at all and were novice hikers at best? SYNOPSIS: For Episode 1, we decided to start by giving you some of the context behind the podcast by explaining a little about us and how we launched a Himalayan trekking company. Remember, we were novice hikers and had never really been out of the country, let alone on the other side of the globe, and in possibly Planet Earth's most imposing landscape. The experience of launching Hobnail Trekking Company resulted in others achieving their bucket list, the publication of a book, and the genesis of this podcast. So, in this episode, we discuss:

Why we created Hobnail Trekking Company How we were uniquely qualified to create this company How you can trek in Nepal Important takeaways from our experience

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GALLERY

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RESOURCES

Hobnail Trekking Company "Doofus Dad Does Everest Base Camp" by Mark E. Johnson "Into Thin Air" by Jon Kraukauer Doofus Dad website Visit Nepal Lyft

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TRANSCRIPT

Click to open Mark: Okay honey, I'm really excited about this. It's episode one. Holly: Woohoo. Mark: After months of planning, we are finally up and running and so incredibly pumped to be here. So welcome, listener, to our very first episode and thank you for taking this first step with us. Holly: Thank you. Mark: For episode one, we decided to start at the beginning and answer this question: how in the world did a normal, everyday, middle-age, soccer mom and dad from Tennessee launch a Himalayan trekking company, having never set foot in Nepal or traveled overseas at all and we're novice hikers at best. How? Holly: Okay, would you like me to begin? Mark: I would love that. Holly: Okay. So it all began when, in around 2004 I picked up the book, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. Of course, this book tells the story of the 1996 climbing disaster that left eight mountain climbers dead on the freezing slopes of the world's tallest peak, everyone's fascinated by this book. Well, I was one of them, just completely enthralled. The story was of course tragic, but his description of the Nepali countryside and the Sherpa people was amazing. Every night I dreamt of being there and, in fact, I actually dreamt that I was on the mountain, that was the bad part, but also just daydreamed about being in the beautiful Himalayas. So fast forward about four years when I noticed some photos on, of all things, Facebook, that were posted by a friend of mine from high school. There were prayer flags, mountains behind her, she had on a nice down coat and I realized she must've been in Nepal. So I contacted her. It turns out she was on a Trek to Everest Base camp. I didn't even know there was such a thing as going to Everest Base camp. So I put it on my bucket list right away... Mark: And my bucket list. Holly: Well, I wasn't going to go alone. So another decade passed and by then we had three kids. We both had full time careers. My bucket list sat in our closet gathering dust, but then in 2016 something happened and that's where you come in, honey. Mark: Right? So I was working as a communications director for a large nonprofit here in Tennessee, but honestly, was very dissatisfied with the direction of my career. By this time, I'd been working in the corporate world for almost 20 years, but felt as though I really wasn't doing what I was intended to do, I just didn't know what that thing was. So on August 16th, 2016 I needed a ride from my office to my mechanic shop where m...

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THE HOW IN THE WORLD PODCAST TRAILERSYNOPSIS: This is a short introduction of us, Mark and Holly Johnson, and our upcoming podcast, which we will launch Tuesday, February 25. Listen to the trailer and then leave us an episode recommendation using our SpeakPipe voicemail. See you soon!

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The How in the World Podcast: Recent Episodes

Mark Johnson Holly Johnson