Our birthday is a special day - a good reminder to pause and celebrate another year of life. It’s also the day we’ll most likely die. If you saw the movie Oppenheimer you know how destructively deadly nuclear weapons can be. Obviously it’s not a big deal that we’re missing a few of them, right? Virtual wallet apps like Venmo are incredibly convenient. They’re also incredibly generous in giving away your personal information. Sources: https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/the-birthday-effect-explaine...
Aug 21, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 123
At any wedding you’ve likely heard and danced badly to the Cha Cha Slide, but its success was accidental. This week we discuss how a well-meaning uncle tried to help but inadvertently changed weddings forever. In the 1940s, one out of every 18 newborn girls was given the name Linda - a success rate no name has attained since. Today? Its popularity ranks in the 800s. Enter the Linda Club. Think your kids are a little more rowdy tonight because of the chocolate bar they just snuck? You wouldn’t be...
Aug 14, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 122
From U.S. presidents to athletic coaches, some folks need a little less privacy than others. You know the heart symbol ❤️ looks nothing like the real thing, right? How did it come to represent an actual heart? You’d think we discovered all of the dinosaurs by now, wouldn’t you? Not so. How many remain undiscovered? Sources: https://www.insidehook.com/article/news-opinion/the-weird-disgusting-art-of-the-toilet-power-meeting-lbj https://www.history.com/news/what-is-the-origin-of-the-heart-symbol# ...
Aug 07, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 121
Money men. Elon Musk. Warren Buffet. Jeff Bezos. Chris Reynolds? “From nearly $3 million to barely $3.” Almost overnight, Non-Fungible Tokens went from invaluable to worth, well, almost nothing. Since the early 1980’s Mario has been the face of the video game industry This week, where that face and name came from. - Sources: https://www.the-sun.com/money/6369937/quadrillionaire-accidentally-deposited-account/amp/ https://cryptoslate.com/the-nft-of-jack-dorseys-first-tweet-originally-purchased-fo...
Jul 31, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 120
It’s not uncommon to have something lost in the mail, but typically it’s not something irreplaceable … like human remains. Is it hard to make new friends as an adult, or is it just you? Traveling internationally soon? We have your back with our guide to proper etiquette across borders and cultures. - Sources: https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxjxkm/the-usps-has-452-wayward-cremated-bodies https://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/the-state-of-american-friendship-change-challenges-and-loss/ ht...
Jul 17, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 119
The iconic Apple logo features an apple with a bite missing. How did they decide on that image? It depends on who you ask. Some are heroes in a traditional way and save a puppy from a burning building or rescue someone from drowning. Then some are like Roger Anderson and go after telemarketers. Would you trade your friends in for a free cheeseburger? Well, a few days, Burger King asked that very question. Of course, they got a response. - Sources: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/64049/did-al...
Jul 10, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 118
Most of us hate small talk, but are we to blame? Would people really prefer to discuss their hopes and dreams instead of the weather? Imagine if the government offered you the chance to take a year or two off your official age. It just happened in one country. This week represents the Fourth of July holiday season - and as soon as it passes, the countless fireworks tents you see each day will retreat back into hibernation until next year. Where do they come from? Where do they go? We called an e...
Jul 03, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 117
A grandparent can give you a firsthand account of a very different era of history. What if your grandpa was one of the first U.S Presidents? Scaling Mt. Everest is among the most remarkable of human achievements, but why do people get within eyesight of the summit then decide to turn around? One of the best-selling and most annoying toys of all time is back. How did this come to be?? Sources: https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/11/29/president-john-tyler-grandson-harrison/ https://www.th...
Jun 26, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 116
Were lifesaver mints really created as a safe, non-choking hard candy option for consumers? Dave’s marriage may depend on it. What’s the first thing you do when you get on an elevator? Select your floor? Or are you one of the people who immediately start bashing the “door close” button? This week we uncover - does that button even work? Since the 1970s, San Diego Chicken has been reinventing and innovating the sports mascot industry. Where did he come from? And where might he be going? - Sources...
Jun 19, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 115
Whether it’s a significant other, friend, or grandma, we’ve all had a meal where the chef added a “secret ingredient” to the recipe and, whatever it was, the meal tasted better - why? Every spring for 600 years, people from around the world have gathered in England to race downhill while chasing a wheel of cheese. Have you ever wondered why we don’t have a universal language? Well, we almost did. - Sources: https://www.livescience.com/5517-truth-secret-recipes-coke-kfc.html https://www.foodandwi...
Jun 12, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 114
If you’ve ever had damage to a powerline leave you without electricity you’ve probably wondered - isn’t there a better way to do this? Burying them works for some places, would it work for everyone? New Jersey is known for beautiful beaches, amazing casinos and exciting nightlife. Just don’t try to pump your own gas there. A sweet 16 birthday party usually consists of cake, ice cream and time with friends. For the select few maybe keys to that first car. And then there are the people who had a c...
Jun 05, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 113
1) In 1998 a construction worker found something extraordinary under Benjamin Franklin’s London-based home - human remains. What was the founding father up to?? 2) Dwight D. Eisenhower. Susan B. Anthony. Sacagawea. We keep trying dollar-coins, and they keep failing. Why? 3) Even if they know you well, people that suffer from prosopagnosia can’t recognize you - in fact, they often can’t even identify themselves. http://www.commutethepodcast.com Follow Commute: Instagram - instagram.com/commutethe...
May 29, 2023•24 min
For a video game that never actually existed, it sure has caused some controversy. This week we explore the urban legend of the Polybius game. There’s a war going on in the music industry right now – but it’s not over money, and there aren’t even really clearly defined sides. It’s a war over the volume. She was present at one of the most significant events in history - and may have accidentally filmed something that could help us to better understand what actually happened. There’s just one prob...
May 15, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 112
The Bermuda Triangle. Need we say more? If you do the crime, you do the time. What about if you didn’t know you did the crime? Can you be held accountable for what you do while you’re asleep? Some of the most extraordinary things in life happen purely by accident. A few world-changing inventions actually came about while trying to do something else. Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/bermuda-triangle https://www.allaboutlaw.co.uk/commercial-awareness/legal-spotlight/ask-an-expert-c...
May 08, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 111
A Boy and his Atom isn’t just the world's shortest movie - it’s the world's smallest movie. Microsoft Office is utilized daily by companies of all sizes. Everyone uses Microsoft Word, but most of us can’t get much done with Microsoft Excel. Those who can? Now they get to prove it on the global stage. Polling indicates that 67% of us can’t whistle or think we aren’t very good. What if we had to depend on it to communicate with each other? Something to keep in mind if you ever plan to visit La Gom...
May 01, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 110
A Japanese hotel offered a room at just $1. Of course, there was a catch. If a TV judge, like Judge Judy, says you’re guilty of a crime - are you guilty? This week the legal authority (or lack thereof) in television courtrooms. Not long ago, pay phones could be found on every street corner and outside every business. People being who they are, phone scams were around back then, too. - Sources: https://nowiknow.com/the-1-hotel-where-privacy-isnt-included/ https://www.businessinsider.com/truth-beh...
Apr 24, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 109
Each summer, some of society’s richest and most elite members get together at a secretive resort in California. Depending on who you ask a lot goes on there - everything from conversations about political policy to a fake sacrifice before an owl statue. There are a lot of choices for where we get our local weather reports - but there aren’t many options for how stations get that information. Every day, passionate love letters get delivered to jails all over America…addressed to convicted serial ...
Apr 17, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 108
Fifty years ago, a call was placed that changed the world: the first-ever from a cell phone. We look back at where this has led us and yes, we somehow still have land lines. How did a string of seemingly unconnected murders in the 1980s affect the packaging of almost everything we buy at the pharmacy today? If you’re like the majority of people, you use the same password or a variation for EVERYTHING. This week we explore password dos and donts - and learn the most used passwords. - Sources: htt...
Apr 10, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 107
In the late 1980s, waterbeds were a $2 billion-a-year industry. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who owns one today. “I’ve got shotgun!” is one of those social norms we all know. Why? Ludwig van Beethoven is among the most famous names in music history. So famous, in fact, that almost 200 years after his death even his hair is still making news. - Sources: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/71404/what-ever-happened-waterbeds https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/89017/why-passenger-seat-call...
Apr 03, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 106
In the late 1980s, the Walt Disney Corporation decided to start work on what it hoped would be the next signature ride at Disney World. The ride would be like nothing park guests had ever seen - a horror ride. Heinz is one of the most reliable giants in the condiment industry. But what about that time it changed the color of ketchup? The movie ends, but people still sit there. Where did post-credit scenes come from why is Marvel so good at it? _ Sources: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/57729...
Mar 27, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 105
1) When Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark on their famous western expedition, it wasn’t just to find more opportunities for commerce. Instead, Jefferson had a bizarrely personal request for the adventurers. 2) Unlike much of the world, public restrooms are free to use in America. But why, and are we better off because of it? 3) There have been 275 million copies of Monopoly sold worldwide since its creation in 1935, so many people have had to make tough choices on what game piece they’ll use...
Mar 20, 2023•24 min
It’s a hot summer day, and you pull into a McDonald’s drive-thru only to learn that the ice cream machine isn’t working. Again. Why does that happen so often? Every Easter, they return like weeds - Peeps, the marshmallowy, chick-shaped candy, and every year there seem to be even more. Is there any way to stop them?? Companies often go beyond traditional advertising campaigns to pay for their product to be placed in movies, television episodes, and awards programs. Of course, things don’t always ...
Mar 13, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 104
It’s every sports fan's daydream - to suit up and play for a real professional team. In one major sports league, it really happens. The Democratic and Republican parties are defined by many things - including colorful animal mascots. We’ll tell you why. Online shopping is used by everyone. Resell options like Craig’s List or Facebook Marketplace are used by many of us. Bad experiences and civic duty have led to a new option - Buy Nothing groups. But free often comes with a cost. Sources: https:/...
Mar 06, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 103
Emojis are an essential part of how we communicate with each other. But where did they come from? And what do we do if we want to create a new one? More than 30 years ago, Nirvana released an album with a naked baby in a swimming pool on the cover. That baby is now a man, and he isn’t too happy about it. When an actor dies, is it unethical to create a virtual reality version of them for future movie appearances? It depends on who you ask. Sources: https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/05/11/1024...
Feb 27, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 102
Since its release in the 1960s, the Easy Bake Oven has regularly appeared on many “most successful toy of all time” lists, but it occasionally is found on a few less-than-desirable lists as well. Are we headed for a future where we gaze into the night sky and see the moon featuring a car dealership ad? Advances in artificial intelligence dominate the headlines, but this week we aren’t exploring the new - we’re revisiting the old. Meet ELIZA - the first-ever chatbot. - Sources/Go Deeper: https://...
Feb 20, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 101
If you’re a millennial or older, there’s a decent chance that you had to learn to square dance in elementary school gym class. The reason why may be darker than you think. Last night was the Super Bowl. Many of us only tune in for the commercials, but did you notice a glaring difference from those we saw a year ago? The Savannah Bananas are making baseball more fun than ever. What is this team doing that others aren’t? http://www.commutethepodcast.com Follow Commute: Instagram - instagram.com/co...
Feb 13, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 100
Over 100 years ago, Charles Ponzi launched a scheme so wildly but only temporarily successful that his name would come to represent all similar schemes that followed. And, boy, would they follow. The economy is currently in flux, leading to price instability on just about everything, except for AriZona Tea. It costs the same .99 cents today that it did 30 years ago. Chuck E. Cheese has continued to be the place “where a kid can be a kid” while its competitors have died out. Due in part, surprisi...
Feb 06, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 99
If you’re one of millions who recently failed to get Taylor Swift concert tickets, this one’s for you. Why so few options when it comes to purchasing event tickets? The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic reckoning of the world’s proximity to man-made Armageddon. Sometimes it even goes the other way. Does the state of the clock matter? Depends on who you ask. He was your first social media connection, but he hasn’t been great at keeping in touch. What happened to Tom from MySpace? - Sources/Go Deeper: ...
Jan 30, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 98
Suddenly, eggs are expensive. Maybe inflation. Maybe … something else? Artificial intelligence has become an engine of content creation. But who owns the content it creates? Nike & Michael Jordan built and dominated the high-end shoe industry. It almost fell apart, though, before a young, inexperienced shoe designer got the call. - Don's miss Jay as a guest cohost on the PandaVision Podcast for the next several weeks discussing the HBO show, The Last of Us: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podc...
Jan 23, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 97
The D.A.R.E. Program had an admirable goal - to educate elementary age kids about the dangers of drug use, hoping the lessons would carry into adulthood. Did it work? Or did it somehow do the opposite? Pepsi is always looking for the next great promotion - something to build the brand, sell the product and challenge Coke for soft drink supremacy. They usually give away a free hat or beach towel, but there was that time they promised a military-grade jet…. Football is king - the most popular spor...
Jan 16, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 96
