How true are movies that claim to be true? And does it even matter? The color red is most often associated with danger - how did that happen? Sources: http://www.commutethepodcast.com Follow Commute: Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/ Twitter - @PodcastCommute Facebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast
Vanilla sounds bland but the flavor is anything but basic. This week we’ll tell you where it comes from. (Hint: you’ll never think about beavers the same way again.) Independence Day fireworks fun can hide a grim reality: it may end up at the ER … or even the morgue. Sources: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/does-vanilla-flavoring-actually-come-from-beaver-butts-180983288/ https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/how-dangerous-are-fireworks-injuries-by-the-numbers http://www.com...
Did basketball begin when Dr. James Naismith nailed up two peach baskets or with a teenage YMCA director lobbing cabbages? The “IKEA effect” says sweat equity adds worth. There’s science behind the lopsided bookshelf that you still consider priceless. Sources: https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/06/12/a-psychologist-explains-the-ikea-effect-how-labor-leads-to-love/ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/nyregion/basketball-herkimer-ny.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=article...
Why do toddlers experience an event but lose the memory? This week we explore why our youngest years vanish - and what we can do to make those earliest moments stick. How a tree nearly started WWlll. Sources: https://www.thehindu.com/children/operation-paul-bunyan-when-a-tree-sparked-a-military-standoff/article68763759.ece/amp/ https://www.popsci.com/health/why-we-forget-our-childhoods/#:~:text=This%20suggests%20the%20issue%20is,that%20prepares%20humans%20for%20adulthood http://www.commutethepod...
How did a 19th-century joke become the world’s most spoken word? This week we scan the baby name blacklist and learn why some will never make it onto a birth certificate. Sources: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/06/03/us-banned-baby-names/84011765007/ https://www.history.com/articles/the-birth-of-ok-175-years-ago http://www.commutethepodcast.com Follow Commute: Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/ Twitter - @PodcastCommute Facebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast...
Was the famous tongue-twister really about a Victorian-era fossil hunter? Ever notice great whites are missing from aquariums? This week, we explore why the ocean’s superstar can’t survive life behind glass. Sources: https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2017/07/she-sells-seashells-and-mary-anning-metafolklore-with-a-twist/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/504168/why-dont-you-see-great-white-sharks-aquariums http://www.commutethepodcast.com Follow Commute: Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast...
It’s our 200th episode! We start with a note of gratitude and a show announcement. If you grew up in an American public school, you likely really loved or really hated your school lunches. Here’s the surprising tale of how schools came to provide lunch for students. Some 1990s era video games for Super Nintendo were notoriously challenging. One of the most difficult was the Lion King - but it was done on purpose and for a unusually specific reason. Sources: https://www.cbr.com/lion-king-brutally...
Karaoke is one of America’s favorite activities. Why are so many people willing to sing (so badly) in public? At the recent running of the Kentucky Derby, the horses had more in common than you’d think. Humans talk slightly differently based on geographic regions. Can the same be said for animals? Sources: https://www.si.com/fannation/rodeo/news/secretariat-lives-on-through-hooves-every-horse-kentucky-derby https://www.statsignificant.com/p/what-are-the-greatest-karaoke-songs https://www.mentalf...
You can choose the wake-up sound for your phone's alarm. It took a lot of effort to create all those options. It makes sense on a gallon of milk, but does bottled water really expire? Many of us say “please” and “thank you” to the artificial intelligence systems we interact with. Maybe we should stop. Sources: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/22098/why-does-bottled-water-have-expiration-date https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/technology/chatgpt-alexa-please-thank-you.html https://www.20k.org/...
Easter season has come and gone and, with it, the slightly stale marshmallow juggernaut known as the peep. But every single peep has something uniquely in common… In a plot straight out of the TV show that made it all happen, an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm literally saved one man’s life. Bad news for Dave. If you’re playing a character with that name in a movie, you might want start looking for your next gig. Sources: https://innocenceproject.org/news/how-curb-your-enthusiasm-saved-an-innoce...
Scientists have resurrected an ancient, extinct wolf. Is there any reason to be concerned? Minecraft has been one the most popular games in the world for a decade and a half. What’s its secret? A Goofy Movie just turned 30. How did it unexpectedly resonate beyond its, well, goofy leading character to become a beloved cult classic? Sources: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/rs-gaming/what-is-minecraft-1235310785/ https://time.com/7274542/colossal-dire-wolf/ https://www.polygon.com/movies/55443...
The NCAA basketball tournament is one of the most significant of all sporting events and, if you consider its impact beyond just the games, that’s an understatement. The children’s horror series Goosebumps has been keeping kids up at night since the 1990s. How does author R.L. Stine, now in his 80s, keep cranking out books? Burger King is a fast-food giant with 20,000 locations worldwide. You won’t find one in a particular town in Illinois, however. At least not the one you’re expecting. http://...
You may remember when buying cereal was as much about the toy inside the box as the cereal. Then it just stopped. There’s a unique island that’s less than 10 miles long, has under 1,000 permanent residents, and speaks its own language. And it’s part of North Carolina. This week, we set sail for Ocrcoke. We all know how to play Marco Polo, but no one knows where it came from - until now. Sources: https://www.sporcle.com/blog/2022/04/why-do-we-yell-marco-polo/amp/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/why-t...
It transformed arcades into performance halls by asking people to dance in public. We’ll explore the cultural impact of Dance Dance Revolution. Just because you’re an astronaut doesn’t mean you still don’t need to shower - so how does one do it outside the Earth’s atmosphere? Little Caesars is the go-to meal for social gatherings everywhere. This week how a small Michigan pizza parlor rose to fame, nearly went bankrupt, and somehow emerged even stronger. http://www.commutethepodcast.com Follow C...
A good movie preview should show just enough to excite us about the upcoming film. What about if the previews show a scene that doesn’t end up in the movie? Professional drivers are very good at what they do - but NASCAR’s origins are as much about spirits as they are about skills. Typos are embarrassing. Sometimes they can be costly. Sources: https://www.rd.com/list/expensive-typos/ https://variety.com/2024/film/news/ana-de-armas-yesterday-trailer-lawsuit-settled-1235972010/ https://www.history...
The basket of bread often appears before you even place your order and is never listed on the final bill. How did restaurants get started giving away free food? The Surgeon General’s recent New York Times op-ed, warning of the potential harm social media can have on young people, provocatively equated internet risks to smoking cigarettes. This isn’t the first time the Surgeon General has had a problem with online content … and their names are Inky, Pinky, Blinky, and Clyde. It’s an endless quest...
Kate Winslet owns the record for the longest breathhold in cinematic history. No matter how long you think it is, it’s longer than that. Every parent must face the dreaded question - “Where do babies come from?” How did the poor stork get involved? Weight Watchers has been synonymous with weight loss for decades. That all may be coming to an end. Sources: https://variety.com/2022/film/news/kate-winslets-filmed-avatar-2-underwater-breath-hold-record-die-1235459216/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/you...
Fast-food chain Rax filed bankruptcy in the early 1990s. Could a short-lived, ill-timed mascot be partly to blame? Your favorite author may have some help, thanks to the world’s best-kept open secret: a ghostwriter. Advances in DNA testing finally tell us who Jack the Ripper really was. Maybe. Sources: https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/jack-the-ripper-real-identity-discovered-historian-claims/amp/ https://www.mentalfloss.com/mr-delicious-most-bizarre-fast-food-mascot https://www.publishersweek...
For decades the Super Bowl MVP has been telling the world they’re going to Disney World. How did it get started? In Super Bowl commercials you rarely hear the words "Super" or "Bowl." Why? Scratch-off lottery tickets are cheap but promise life-changing wealth. They have brought changes, both good and bad. Sources: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/91272/how-did-super-bowls-im-going-disney-world-slogan-originate http://www.commutethepodcast.com Follow Commute: Instagram - instagram.com/commutet...
The first night in an unfamiliar place is usually not great for sleep. We look to the research to tell us why. Many dog owners leave the TV on to entertain their pet when they go out. Does the dog actually care? It wasn’t that long ago that Pluto was our 9th planet. How did it lose that status? Could it ever regain its place in our solar system? Sources: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/04/21/474691141/half-your-brain-stands-guard-when-sleeping-in-a-new-place https://www.theguardia...
We’re very close to something that hasn’t occurred in a decade and a half. Just don’t blink or you might miss it. Celebrities ask for some strange things in contracts. We’ll tell you about some of the best requests. Instead of cryogenic chambers or infrared lights, here are seven affordable and attainable ways to increase your life span. Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgpnqe91j1o https://toofab.com/2023/05/26/unexpected-clauses-that-ended-up-in-actors-contracts/ http://www.commuteth...
The Wizard of Oz is a beloved cinematic classic. What happened behind the scenes was far from lovely. The board game Guess Who has been a best seller for nearly 45 years. It’s the way that happened you’ll want to tell your friends about at your next social gathering. Today, Donald Trump will be sworn in (for the 2nd time) as President of the United States of America. Like those before him, he’ll do it with his hand on a Bible. Is this a requirement? http://www.commutethepodcast.com Follow Commut...
Did it take a cartoon mascot to convince the public to include five-digit codes on mailing addresses? When natural disasters strike, most people look to established news outlets for the latest updates. Others look to … Waffle House. First Winnie the Pooh, then Mickey Mouse, and now our favorite sailor man enters the public domain. Why does this keep happening? Sources: https://zipcodes.org/blog/funny-facts-about-zip-codes https://www.wafflehouse.com/how-to-measure-a-storms-fury-one-breakfast-at-...
Some reviewers have called the recent remake of the horror classic Nosferatu “the perfect horror film.” However, its source material, a silent film from the 1920s, almost didn’t exist. This week, that complicated history and the story it tells us about the challenges of preserving films from the silent era. We know a product or service can be trademarked, but can a smell? A toy from your past decided to try. Why is New Year’s Day observed on January 1st? “Why not?” is not a sufficient answer. So...
It’s that time of year—Christmas trees, twinkling lights, too many sweets… and endless holiday movies! An update on one of our most popular segments tells how (and why) original holiday films are made. Why are we supposed to kiss if we meet under mistletoe? Here’s everything you could want to know about the festive berries. Which U.S. state has the most holiday spirit? How about the least? You know someone has figured it out for us. Sources: https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1211596888 https://www...
Judges surely get hangry in the afternoons, like the rest of us. Does that impact their job? Banana candy, you’ve probably noticed, tastes nothing like banana. That’s intentional. A collection of never-before-heard Michael Jackson songs were found in a storage unit. That doesn’t mean you’ll ever hear them. Sources: https://www.randomactsofmedicine.com/p/are-hungry-judges-and-tardy-doctors https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140829-the-secrets-of-fake-flavours https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment...
Helium, that we use to blow up parade floats and birthday balloons, is a uniquely one-of-a-kind element. That’s not necessarily a good thing. What if we lived in a world where we wanted for nothing, where our every wish and need was cared for? Scientists ran an experiment and, as always, things did not go as expected. Ever tried to sneak a drink into the movies or some candy to a ballgame? There’s always that one guy who takes things too far. Sources: https://www.npr.org/2019/11/01/775554343/the...
More than three decades ago, the New Yorker Magazine printed a cartoon about the internet that is just as accurate today as it was then, setting records for reprints. It’s still setting records. It’s after Halloween. What happens to all the pumpkins? Porta potties - everyone uses them; no one wants to. We’ll tell you more than you ever expected to know, including how often, if ever, they’re cleaned. http://www.commutethepodcast.com Follow Commute: Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/ Twi...
The film Sideways, about male bonding in wine country, was released in 2004. Twenty years later, it’s still has an impact on one industry. A scientific experiment taught rats to drive. That’s not even the most amazing part. In the 1950s, Roger Bannister did what was previously thought impossible - run a mile in under 4 minutes. Why did multiple runners suddenly do the same just days later? Sources: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/07/05/535038513/the-sideways-effect-how-a-wine-obsessed-...
Some corporate programs really do work. One has convinced millions of kids to read millions of books for more than 40 years by promising them the perfect incentive - free pizza. Have you ever set out to buy one thing but ended up with something else? That’s what happened to Cecil Chubb, though his unintended purchase was a little bigger than typical. If it seems the McDonald’s McFlurry ice cream machine is broken more often than not, you wouldn’t be wrong. America’s court system decided to do so...
