Greenland Shark
Could Greenland sharks be the most ancient predators?
Jun 01, 2020•2 min
Ripley's Weird Minute
Listen daily for weird news from around the globe. Ripley's Believe It or Not! was founded in 1918 by cartoonist and adventurer Robert Ripley, we are the authority on all things weird, odd, amazing, and unbelievable!
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episodes
Baby Raffle
Would you enter a raffle with babies as prizes?
May 30, 2020•1 min
Ripley Caverns
Robert Ripley, a pioneer of on-location radio, once broadcasted from 850 feet deep within Carlsbad Caverns, interviewing its superintendent and discoverer, Jim White. White's remarkable journey began in 1898 when he spotted a plume of bats, leading him to explore the vast, dark caverns alone before they became a national park. The episode also highlights Ripley's favorite feature, a stalagmite and stalactite that grew for millions of years but narrowly failed to meet.
May 29, 2020•1 min
Toilet Paper Rations
How many sheets do you use?
May 28, 2020•1 min
Smelly Socks
Could smelling dirty socks cause a life-threatening illness?
May 27, 2020•44 sec
Atacama Skeletons
This episode delves into the enigmatic Atacama skeletons, specifically a 6-inch human skeleton often referred to as "Atta Boy's sister." Initially baffling scientists due to its unusual features and size, DNA testing confirmed it was human despite speculations of alien origin. Further research uncovered gene mutations that accelerated bone growth, ultimately revealing it was likely a miscarried fetus, aligning with Robert Ripley's early theories about similar specimens.
May 26, 2020•1 min
Night Witches
During World War 2, a squadron of Russian women bombed Germany in the pitch black of night.
May 25, 2020•1 min
Blind As Bat
Are you as blind as a bat?
May 23, 2020•52 sec
Teetor Cruise Control
This episode explores the fascinating history of cruise control, tracing its origins from James Watt's steam engine to its modern iteration. It highlights Ralph Teeter, a blind inventor who created the "Speedostat" in 1948, driven by his acute sense of touch and frustration with inconsistent driving. Beyond automotive innovation, Teeter's engineering genius was crucial to World War II, where he solved complex balance issues in engine components, earning him the title "soldier of production."
May 22, 2020•1 min
Phone Booth Stuffing
How many people can you fit in a phone booth?
May 21, 2020•1 min
520 Days On Mars
Could you spend 520 days on Mars?
May 20, 2020•1 min
First President
Is George Washington really the first President of the United States?
May 19, 2020•1 min
Brinks Mat
How do you make off with three tons of gold?
May 18, 2020•1 min
First Panda
This episode details the pioneering efforts of New York socialite Ruth Harkness, who, after her adventurous husband's death, embarked on an expedition to bring a giant panda out of China. In 1936, she successfully located a cub, named Sue Lynn, and, despite customs challenges, managed to smuggle it into the US. Harkness raised the cub briefly before selling it to the Chicago Zoo, where the world first had the chance to marvel at a living panda.
May 16, 2020•1 min
Pisa Tower
Could the leaning tower of Pisa fall over?
May 15, 2020•1 min
Nightmare Cheese
Will eating cheese late at night give you nightmare?
May 14, 2020•1 min
Ski War
Why was the Finnish infantry trained to ski?
May 13, 2020•1 min
Quintuplets
Would you take a trip to Quintland?
May 12, 2020•1 min
ALVINN First Self-Driving Car
This episode unveils the story of ALVINN, the Autonomous Land Vehicle In a Neural Network, developed by Carnegie Mellon in 1986. Despite having processing power less than an Apple Watch, this innovative van navigated roads at 70 mph, making autonomous decisions using cameras and radar. ALVINN, a project that garnered significant military funding, showcased early AI capabilities and foreshadowed today's self-driving advancements.
May 11, 2020•1 min
London Fire
In 1666 the Great Fire of London burned the city for 3 days…
May 09, 2020•1 min
MK Ultra Secret Project
What are the details of top secret CIA project MK Ultra?
May 08, 2020•1 min
Typhoid Mary
What could have stopped the deadly exploits of Typhoid Mary?
May 07, 2020•1 min
Largest Desert
How should you dress for the world’s largest desert?
May 06, 2020•1 min
Time Skip
Learn about Britain's Calendar New Style Act of 1750, which transitioned the nation from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. This change, enacted 170 years after much of Europe, required skipping 11 days to synchronize with trading partners and correct for accumulated time differences.
May 05, 2020•57 sec
Aunt Sammy
This episode uncovers the lesser-known history of Aunt Sammy, the partner of Uncle Sam, introduced in 1926 by the Department of Agriculture. She served as a domestic advisor on the radio, offering recipes and advice, and even published the first Braille cookbook, making her a unique cultural icon.
May 04, 2020•1 min
Back To The Future Hoverboard
Does the Mattel hoverboard from Back To The Future part 2 really exist?
May 02, 2020•1 min
Hellfire Club
What secrets were kept by the infamous Hellfire club?
May 01, 2020•1 min
Countess Markievicz
This episode delves into the life of Constance Markievicz, an extraordinary London countess who transitioned from high society to a pivotal figure in Irish independence. It details her roles in training soldiers, leading suffragettes, commanding the Irish Citizens Army, and her unwavering political activism, even after facing imprisonment and being the first woman elected to the House of Commons, which she refused in protest.
Apr 30, 2020•1 min
Raccoon Thieves
Discover why raccoons are considered nature's cunning burglars, possessing an ultra-fine sense of touch and sharp hearing. The episode details animal behavior scientist H.B. Davis's study, which found raccoons could pick 11 out of 13 complex locks and retain these solutions for years, demonstrating learning equivalent to macaques.
Apr 29, 2020•1 min
Ayapaneco Speakers
The podcast explores the widely reported story of Ayapaneco, a unique language from southern Mexico believed to have only two surviving speakers who refused to communicate. However, the episode reveals this dramatic narrative was entirely fabricated by an ad agency for a campaign, with around 14 actual speakers existing and some being paid by the government to teach the language. The agency staged the feud and even faked building a school to mislead news outlets globally.
Apr 28, 2020•1 min
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android