Learn something new every day!
Everything Everywhere Daily is a daily podcast for Intellectually Curious People. Host Gary Arndt tells the stories of interesting people, places, and things from around the world and throughout history. Gary is an accomplished world traveler, travel photographer, and polymath.
Topics covered include history, science, mathematics, anthropology, archeology, geography, and culture.
Past history episodes have dealt with ancient Rome, Phoenicia, Persia, Greece, China, Egypt, and India. as well as historical leaders such as Julius Caesar, Emperor Augustus, Sparticus, and the Carthaginian general Hannibal.
Geography episodes have covered Malta, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Monaco, Luxembourg, Vatican City, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, the Isle of Man, san marino, Namibia, the Golden Gate Bridge, Montenegro, and Greenland.
Technology episodes have covered nanotechnology, aluminum, fingerprints, longitude, qwerty keyboards, morse code, the telegraph, radio, television, computer gaming,
Episodes explaining the origin of holidays include Memorial Day, April Fool’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, May Day, Christmas, Ramadan, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Canada Day, the Fourth of July,
Famous people in history covered in the podcast include Salvador Dali, Jim Thorpe, Ada Lovelace, Jessie Owens, Robert Oppenheimer, Picasso, Isaac Newton, Attila the Hun, Lady Jane Grey, Cleopatra, Sun Yat Sen, Houdini, Tokyo Rose, William Shakespeare, Queen Boudica, Empress Livia, Marie Antoinette, the Queen of Sheba, Ramanujan, and Zheng He.
Este episodio relata la historia de París durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, desde la ocupación nazi hasta su liberación. Cubre la vida bajo la ocupación, la resistencia, la persecución de los judíos, y la decisión de un general alemán de no destruir la ciudad. También explora las represalias tras la liberación y los memoriales que conmemoran este período.
This episode explores platinum, palladium, and rhodium, delving into their histories, properties, and primary uses. It details their discovery, historical applications in jewelry and coinage, and their crucial role as catalysts in automotive catalytic converters for reducing harmful emissions. The episode also touches on the growing issue of catalytic converter theft due to the high value of these metals.
This episode of Everything Everywhere Daily explores Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. It delves into Hitler's ideological motives rooted in Lebensraum, the strategic preparations leading up to the invasion, and the reasons for Germany's ultimate failure, including hubris, logistical miscalculations, and underestimation of Soviet capabilities.
Located in the South Pacific is the nation of Fiji. Fiji is an archipelago of 330 islands located about 1,100 nautical miles north of New Zealand. It is a unique mix of Pacific cultures with both Melanesian and Polynesian influences, with a dash of Indian influence as well. Given its size and population, it is also one of the most important countries in the region. Learn more about Fiji, its history, and its culture on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wi...
Gary Arndt discusses the profound influence of the ancient world on our modern daily lives. He explains the origins of our calendar system, the days of the week, our number system, and how we measure time, revealing how ancient civilizations continue to shape our everyday experiences. The episode emphasizes the interconnectedness of past and present.
This episode discusses notable individuals who were deserving of a Nobel Prize but never received one, exploring the subjective and flawed nature of the selection process. It covers snubs in literature like Leo Tolstoy and Mark Twain, the omission of Mahatma Gandhi for the Peace Prize, and oversights in science, including Rosalind Franklin, Lisa Meitner, and Jocelyn Bell Burnell.
Sometime around eight to nine thousand years ago, ancient people in Asia Minor found a very dull grey metal that turned out to be easy to manipulate when it was heated. For thousands of years, it was used for a variety of purposes, including as a food additive. 4 With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, even more uses were found for this unique metal. However, by the 20th century, scientists realized that maybe this stuff wasn’t really so good for us. Learn more about lead, how it has been ...
This episode explores the vast outer regions of our solar system, beyond the familiar planets. It delves into the formation of the solar system according to the nebular hypothesis and discusses the Kuiper Belt, Scattered Disk, and the theoretical Oort Cloud. The episode highlights the immense scale of the solar system and the challenges of observing these distant icy objects.
This episode explores the rich history of the guitar, tracing its lineage from ancient stringed instruments to the modern electric and classical versions. It details the key innovations and cultural influences that shaped the instrument, from the oud and lute to the contributions of luthiers like Antonio de Torres Jurado and the impact of electric guitar pioneers such as Les Paul and Leo Fender.
This episode explores the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, detailing the radical changes implemented, the rise of Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety, and the events that led to Robespierre's downfall and the end of this violent period. It examines the political and social factors contributing to the terror and its lasting impact on the revolution.
This episode explores the history and evolution of open-source software. It covers the early days of shared software, the rise of the GNU project, and the open-source movement. It also highlights the prevalence and importance of open-source software in today's digital world.
This episode explores the rich and complex history of pasta, questioning its true origins beyond Italy. It traces pasta's journey from ancient possible references to its mass production and global spread. The episode also details how pasta transformed from a delicacy for the wealthy to an affordable staple, highlighting its current status as a globally beloved dish.
This episode explores Earth's five major mass extinction events, detailing the causes and consequences of each. It covers the Ordovician-Silurian extinction linked to global cooling, the late Devonian extinction caused by plant expansion, the Permian-Triassic extinction from volcanic activity, the Triassic-Jurassic extinction due to Pangaea rifting, and the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction triggered by an asteroid impact.
In this Q&A episode, Gary Arndt answers listener questions on a variety of topics. He discusses his podcasting process, regrets about past episodes, the definition of temperature, and his travel tattoo. Other topics include hidden gems in Germany, favorite airports, photography publishing, and geopolitical concepts like East vs. West.
This episode of Everything Everywhere Daily delves into the Crimean War, exploring its causes rooted in the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the clashing interests of European powers like Russia, Britain, and France. It covers the key events, including the siege of Sevastopol, and highlights the war's significant impact on military technology and medicine, marking it as a transitional conflict between old and modern warfare.
This episode explores the life and conquests of Attila the Hun, a fearsome leader who terrorized 5th-century Europe. It details his rise to power, his military campaigns against the Roman Empire, and his sudden, mysterious death. The episode also examines Attila's lasting legacy and his impact on European history and culture.
This episode explores the unique knuckleball pitch in baseball, detailing its physics, history, and the challenges of mastering it. It highlights famous knuckleball pitchers and discusses why this unconventional pitch is becoming increasingly rare despite its potential benefits for longevity and effectiveness. Ultimately, the episode expresses hope for its revival.
This episode explores the scientific method, its steps, and historical evolution from ancient civilizations to modern philosophy. It highlights key figures and paradigm shifts, while also addressing the method's limitations in fields like astronomy and the challenges of replicability in scientific studies. The discussion emphasizes the scientific method as a framework for approaching inquiry.
This episode explores Sicily's rich history, marked by numerous invasions and conquests due to its strategic location in the Mediterranean. From the Phoenicians and Greeks to the Romans, Arabs, Normans, and involvement in World War II, Sicily has been a battleground and a cultural crossroads. The podcast highlights the island's unique identity shaped by a diverse range of rulers and influences throughout its 3,000-year history.
Every military in the world is a hierarchical organization. There are people at the top who make decisions, people down below who follow those orders, and people in between who make it happen. Today, most militaries have an elaborate rank structure with multiple ranks in the chain of command. However, it wasn’t always like that. The modern system of ranks evolved over time, and the ranks that exist today have origins that go back centuries. Learn more about military ranks, where they came from, ...
On July 31, 1944, one of the greatest naval exploits in history took place in the Western Pacific Ocean. Two American submarines led by Commander Lawson "Red" Ramage found themselves in the middle of a Japanese merchant fleet. Over the course of 46 minutes, they managed to achieve something that had never been done by so few submarines in so short of time. Learn more about Ramage’s Rampage and one of the most incredible exploits of the Second World War on this episode of Everything Everywhere Da...
Over a thousand years ago, a wealthy family in Germany gave birth to their tenth child, a daughter. They gave their child to the church, as was the custom in those days. She grew to become the leader of her monastic community. More than that, she became one of the leading thinkers of her era. She composed music, wrote about medicine and theology, revolutionized brewing, and corresponded with kings and emperors. Learn more about Hildegard of Bingen, the most influential woman of the Middle Ages, ...
This episode discusses the Columbian Exchange, the transformative exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and people between the Old and New Worlds following Columbus's voyage. It covers the spread of crops like corn and potatoes, the devastating impact of diseases on indigenous populations, and the mass migrations that reshaped global demographics, ultimately creating the foundation for our modern globalized world.
This episode explores the origins and evolution of cruciferous vegetables, detailing how they were selectively bred from wild Brassica oleracea. It covers the history of vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, highlighting the impact of human cultivation and the genetic relationships between different varieties, explaining the "Triangle of Yu." The episode also touches on the nutritional benefits of these common vegetables.
This episode explores the life and legacy of Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher. It details his path to power, his co-emperorship, and the challenges he faced, including wars and plagues. The episode highlights his personal diary, Meditations, and its enduring influence on philosophy and modern thought, emphasizing his example of virtuous leadership.
This episode explores the history of whaling, from its origins as a subsistence activity for indigenous groups to its rise as a major global industry. It details the dangerous hunting methods, the economic importance of whale products, and the factors that led to its decline, including the rise of petroleum and over-hunting. The episode also covers modern whaling practices, conservation efforts, and the recovery of some whale populations.
Once every 450,000 years or so, the Earth undergoes a radical transformation. The planet’s magnetic field will literally flip. The North Pole becomes the South Pole and vice versa. Despite the fact that we know this has happened many times in the Earth’s history, we really don’t know what would happen if the poles were to reverse today. Learn more about when the Earth’s magnetic poles reverse on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Sponsors Mint Mobile Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks ...
Every March, the United States experiences a period known as March Madness. It is the time when college basketball teams compete for a national championship. The process of crowning a national champion is a months-long process where teams vie for a chance to make the national tournament. From there, in theory, every team that makes the big dance has a shot at becoming a champion. All you have to do is win five, or maybe six, consecutive games. Learn more about March Madness and how the NCAA Bask...
This episode explores the history and evolution of the alphabet to understand why it is in its current order. The discussion traces the alphabet's roots from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics through Phoenician, Greek, and Roman adaptations, and considers the influences that shaped its sequence over thousands of years. The episode also delves into the origins of the ABC song and potential mnemonic devices that may have contributed to the alphabet's arrangement.
This episode of Everything Everywhere Daily delves into the Battle of Gettysburg, a pivotal moment in the American Civil War. It explores Confederate General Robert E. Lee's strategic reasons for invading the North, the key events and battles over the three days, and the battle's ultimate impact as a turning point in the war, leading to eventual Confederate defeat.