Secretly Incredibly Fascinating - podcast cover

Secretly Incredibly Fascinating

Alex Schmidtmaximumfun.org
A weekly podcast about the history, science, lore and surprises that make everyday things secretly incredibly fascinating. Hosted by comedy writer, emoji creator, and ‘Jeopardy!‘ champion Alex Schmidt. Join Alex & his co-host Katie Goldin for a joyful deep dive into seeing the world a whole new way! (For research sources, bonus episodes, and how you can support the podcast, visit sifpod.fun.)

Episodes

Maps!

Alex Schmidt is joined by author & comedy writer Dennard Dayle (1900HotDog.com, book 'Everything Abridged') and comics & comedy writer Brendan McGinley (1900HotDog.com, comic series 'Citizen X') for a look at why maps are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode. (Alex's podcast hosting service requires a minimum of 5 characters per episode title, so that's why this episode's title has an exclamation point)...

Jan 16, 202351 minEp. 128

Undersea Cables

Alex Schmidt is joined by bestselling author Jason Pargin (new novel "If This Book Exists, You’re In The Wrong Universe") for a look at why undersea cables are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Jan 09, 20231 hr 8 minEp. 127

Rubber Ducks

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedian Billy Wayne Davis (new special 'Testify') and comedy writer/performer Zac Oyama ('Dimension 20' on Dropout.tv ) for a look at why rubber ducks are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Jan 02, 202356 minEp. 126

a holiday hello, and bison emoji audio you may enjoy

Hey folks -- happy holidays! Please enjoy this holiday hello, plus the first episode of a podcast miniseries Alex made in 2020. (and "Alex" = me, I'm the one writing this) Here's the website for the full 4-episode miniseries: https://www.bisonemojipodcast.com/ You can also find the episodes by searching "1 Way To Make An Emoji" in your podcast player. Have a safe and fantastic rest of 2022, and see you in 2023!

Dec 26, 202238 min

Ball Bearings

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writers/performers Sam Reich and Mike Trapp ( Dropout.tv ) for a look at why ball bearings are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Dec 19, 20221 hr 2 minEp. 125

Snoopy

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writer/podcaster Katie Goldin (‘Creature Feature’ podcast, @ProBirdRights) for a look at why Snoopy is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode. See NordPass Business in action now with a 3-month free trial here nordpass.com/sifpod with code SIFPOD.

Dec 12, 20221 hr 6 minEp. 124

Eggnog

Alex Schmidt is joined by author/podcaster Joel Stein ('Story Of The Week' podcast) for a look at why eggnog is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode. See NordPass Business in action now with a 3-month free trial here nordpass.com/sifpod with code SIFPOD.

Dec 05, 202258 minEp. 123

special re-release: Toasters

Breaking news: the entire Internet fell for a decade-long Wikipedia hoax about the invention of toasters. Here's the BBC's story about that: https://www.bbc.com/news/the-reporters-63622746 Great news: this podcast is one of the only forms of Internet media that didn't fall for that hoax. (Alex researched the real story!) So please enjoy this re-release of our already-accurate "Toasters" episode, featuring special guests Moujan Zolfaghari and Kimberly Clark. Original air date: June 27th, 2022....

Dec 02, 202254 min

The Letter Y

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy podcasters/writers David Christopher Bell and Tom Reimann (Gamefully Unemployed, 'Fox Mulder Is A Maniac' podcast) for a look at why the letter Y is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode. See NordPass Business in action now with a 3-month free trial here nordpass.com/sifpod with code SIFPOD....

Nov 28, 20221 hr 1 minEp. 122

Asbestos

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedian/podcaster Matt Kirshen (Probably Science, The Jim Jefferies Show) and comedian/podcaster Andy Wood (Probably Science, 4-Time 'Jeopardy!' Champion) for a look at why asbestos is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode. See NordPass Business in action now with a 3-month free trial here nordpass.com/sifpod with code SIFPOD....

Nov 21, 202252 minEp. 121

Truffles

Alex Schmidt is joined by podcaster and bestselling author Dana Schwartz ('Noble Blood' podcast, new book 'Immortality: A Love Story') for a look at why truffles are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Nov 14, 202251 minEp. 120

The Starry Night (1889)

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writers Lydia Bugg (1900HOTDOG, the ‘Trailer Park Boys’ comic anthology) and Dan Hopper (Ranker, The New Yorker) for a look at why the painting "The Starry Night" is secretly incredibly fascinating. Direct link to see the painting: https://www.moma.org/collection/works/79802 Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode...

Nov 07, 20221 hr 3 minEp. 119

The Great Lakes

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedians/podcasters Rebecca Reeds ('The Villain Was Right' podcast) and Eli Yudin ('What A Time To Be Alive' podcast) for a look at why the North American Great Lakes are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Oct 31, 20221 hr 3 minEp. 118

Raccoons

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedian/podcaster Kath Barbadoro ('What A Time To Be Alive' podcast), writer/podcaster David Roth (Defector, ‘The Distraction’ podcast), and comedian Martin Urbano (The Tonight Show), live at Caveat NYC, for a look at why raccoons are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and the video version of this live episode.

Oct 24, 20221 hr 12 minEp. 117

Barbed Wire

Alex Schmidt is joined by bestselling author Jason Pargin (new novel "If This Book Exists, You’re In The Wrong Universe") for a look at why barbed wire is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Oct 17, 20221 hrEp. 116

BONUS SHOW #62: The Strange Origins (And Stranger Persistence) Of The ”Razor Blades In Candy” Myth

This is the bonus show for Episode 62! (Halloween Stores) Alex Schmidt and Jason Pargin explore the obviously incredibly fascinating topic of the U.S. and Canada's favorite Halloween urban legend: what it is, why it's a myth, and how it became one of the most persistent beliefs in North America. Originally released Sept 27th, 2021, exclusively for patrons at http://sifpod.fun/ . Research sources for Alex's new intro: the journal Science: "Fainting From Fentanyl Exposure? Nope." https://www.scien...

Oct 10, 202247 min

Cardboard

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedians Caitlin Gill (stand-up album 'Major.', shirt store GuaranteeShirts.com) and Blake Wexler (stand-up album 'A Lifetime Of Laughter', podcast 'Blake's Takes For God's Sakes') for a look at why cardboard is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Oct 10, 202255 minEp. 115

Eels!

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writer/podcaster Katie Goldin (‘Creature Feature’ podcast, @ProBirdRights) for a look at why eels are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode. (Alex's podcast hosting service requires a minimum of 5 characters per episode title, so that's why this episode's title has 1 exclamation point)

Oct 03, 20221 hr 6 minEp. 114

Silica Gel Packets

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedian Siena East ('NDND' Youtube channel, UCB) and comedian/podcaster Rivers Langley ('The Goods From The Woods' podcast) for a look at why silica gel packets are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Sep 26, 202255 minEp. 113

Drive-Thrus

Alex Schmidt is joined by writer/musician Sadie Dupuis (new poetry collection 'Cry Perfume', bands Speedy Ortiz and Sad13) and comedian/podcaster Caitlin Durante ('The Bechdel Cast' podcast) for a look at why drive-thrus are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode

Sep 19, 202259 minEp. 112

Lorem Ipsum

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedians/podcasters Cody Johnston and Katy Stoll ('Some More News' YouTube channel, 'Even More News' podcast) for a look at why Lorem Ipsum is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode..

Sep 12, 202252 minEp. 111

Surnames

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writer/podcaster Andrew Ti (‘Yo, Is This Racist?’, Sub-Optimal Pods) for a look at why surnames are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode

Sep 05, 20221 hr 4 minEp. 110

Barcodes

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writers/podcasters Robert Brockway and Seanbaby (1-900-HOT-DOG) for a look at why barcodes are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Aug 29, 202257 minEp. 109

American Cheese

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writer Bill Oakley (The Simpsons, 'Steamed Hams Society') for a look at why American cheese is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Aug 22, 202253 minEp. 108

Imperial Units Of Measurement

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writer/podcaster Katie Goldin ('Creature Feature' podcast, @ProBirdRights) for a look at why Imperial units of measurement are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Aug 15, 20221 hr 3 minEp. 107

Rats!

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedian/writer Josh Gondelman (new stand-up special 'People Pleaser') for a look at why rats are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode. (Alex's podcast hosting service requires a minimum of 5 characters per episode title, so that's why this episode's title has 1 exclamation point)

Aug 08, 20221 hrEp. 106

Zippers

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writer Dan Hopper (Ranker, The New Yorker) and actor/comedian Benny Wayne Sully ('NDND' on YouTube, 'My First Native American Boyfriend' short) for a look at why zippers are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Aug 01, 202256 minEp. 105

The Interstate Highway System

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedians/podcasters Katie Hannigan (‘Lady Journey’ podcast, new special 'Feeling of Emptiness') and Conor Lastowka (‘372 Pages We'll Never Get Back' podcast, writer/producer for Rifftrax) for a look at why the Interstate Highway System is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Jul 25, 20221 hrEp. 104

The Color Green

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedians/podcasters Adam Tod Brown (‘Unpopular Opinion’ podcast network) and Jeff May (‘Jeff Has Cool Friends’ podcast, 'Bullsh*t' on Netflix) for a look at why the color green is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Jul 18, 202258 minEp. 103

Manatees

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedian Billy Wayne Davis ('Grown Local' podcast) and podcaster Ellen Weatherford ('Just The Zoo Of Us' podcast) for a look at why manatees are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Jul 11, 202258 minEp. 102