104: The Norwegian Butter Crisis
The 2011 holiday season was almost ruined by a butter shortage in Norway. It was so serious people smuggled the spreadable staple in across the border to avoid tariffs.
May 05, 2020•10 min•Ep. 104
Ungeniused
Ungeniused is a show dedicated to covering the weirdest articles found on Wikipedia and sharing knowledge you'll (probably) never be able to use in real life. Hosted by Stephen Hackett and Myke Hurley.
Episodes
103: Even More Unusual Sports
This week, Stephen and Myke cover three more weird sports — fox tossing, speed typing and rocket racing.
Apr 21, 2020•10 min•Ep. 103
102: Pink Lakes
Not all bodies of water are blue, and not all saltwater is the same. On this episode, Myke and Stephen belly flop into the weird world of pink lakes.
Apr 07, 2020•11 min•Ep. 102
101: $2 Bills
They may seem fake, but they are very real.
Mar 24, 2020•7 min•Ep. 101
100: Beanie Babies
Beanie Babies may be cute, floppy toys, but they became one of the Internet's first fads, creating a mania for collectors and billions in profits for a reclusive business owner.
Mar 10, 2020•11 min•Ep. 100
99: Air Guitar
Air guitar is far more than a cool way to impress a potential date. It's a worldwide phenomenon, complete with championships with complex rules and a wild scoring system.
Feb 25, 2020•11 min•Ep. 99
98: NACA
Before that was NASA, there was NACA. Its engineers did some wild stuff.
Feb 11, 2020•11 min•Ep. 98
97: Body Farms
Body farms are used to help scientists and law enforcement officials understand how external factors affect human decomposition.
Jan 28, 2020•14 min•Ep. 97
96: Expiration Dates
What's the deal with "Best By" and "Sell By" dates? Will taking old medicine hurt you? All of that and more, as Stephen and Myke explore the rather non-specific world of expiration dates.
Jan 14, 2020•15 min•Ep. 96
95: Nominative Determinism
They say a name can define a person. Sometimes, it just defines their job.
Dec 31, 2019•10 min•Ep. 95
94: Two Talented Squirrels
Two (or more) small furry animals — Twiggy and Tommy — live on, in our hearts.
Dec 17, 2019•8 min•Ep. 94
93: The Loch Ness Monster
Deep under the waters of Loch Ness swims a mystery that has haunted humankind for centuries ... or it could be exploding logs and hoaxes. Who knows?
Dec 03, 2019•17 min•Ep. 93
92: Zone of Death
Due to an obscure legal loophole, it's theoretically possible that a criminal could get away with any crime — including murder — in a small corner of Yellowstone National Park.
Nov 19, 2019•7 min•Ep. 92
91: The United States Navy Marine Mammal Program
For six decades, the United States Navy Marine Mammal Program has trained sea lions and dolphins to carry out missions around the world. This work includes detecting underwater mines, defending against attack swimmers and more.
Nov 05, 2019•11 min•Ep. 91
90: SEALAB
In the 1960s, the U.S. Navy studied long-term diving techniques through the SEALAB program, which included a dolphin assistant, sabotage and a fatal accident.
Oct 22, 2019•10 min•Ep. 90
89: Water Slides & Log Flume Rides
This week, the guys talk about water slides and give everyone some fast flume facts and FAQs.
Oct 08, 2019•10 min•Ep. 89
88: Bouncy Castles, Tube Men and Other Inflatable Goods
From bouncy castles to dancing Tube Men, inflatable goods make life more exciting, unless you consider the danger or local laws.
Sep 24, 2019•9 min•Ep. 88
87: The Buttered Toast Phenomenon & Buttered Cat Paradox
If toast always lands butter-side down, and cats always land on their feet, what happens when a cat falls off a table with a piece of toast strapped to its back?
Sep 10, 2019•10 min•Ep. 87
86: The Great Exhibition and Crystal Palace
The first (official) World's Fair — and the building that housed it — were both incredible feats for their day.
Aug 27, 2019•12 min•Ep. 86
85: World's Fairs
World's fairs have been held for over 200 years to highlight advances in technology and progress as the nations continue to march toward the future.
Aug 13, 2019•10 min•Ep. 85
84: Balloonfest '86
It sounds like releasing 1.5 million balloons to raise money would be a good idea, but in 1986, the people of Cleveland, Ohio learned that it is not.
Aug 01, 2019•8 min•Ep. 84
83: Plastic Flamingos and Garden Gnomes
There are a wide range of garden decorations out there, but some are far classier than others.
Jul 16, 2019•9 min•Ep. 83
82: Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow was hugely influential on a generation of kids, but you don't have to take our word for it.
Jul 02, 2019•9 min•Ep. 82
81: High Fives
High fives can be used as a rad greeting or a sick burn, and they can even help you keep from getting sick.
Jun 18, 2019•10 min•Ep. 81
80: The Winchester Mystery House
San Jose, California is home to the Winchester Mystery House, a sprawling mansion built over nearly four decades.
Jun 04, 2019•9 min•Ep. 80
79: The Seventh-inning Stretch
If you think baseball is boring and slow, there is good news: you get to take a break, even as a fan!
May 21, 2019•9 min•Ep. 79
78: Rain of Animals
It isn't cats and dogs, but rains including fish, frogs and spiders have been recorded around the world.
May 07, 2019•9 min•Ep. 78
77: 420
Started as a terrible codename by some high school friends in the early 1970s, 420 is now a worldwide phenomenon.
Apr 20, 2019•11 min•Ep. 77
76: Three More Unusual Sports
This time, Stephen and Myke discuss extreme ironing, lawn mower racing and egg tapping.
Apr 09, 2019•18 min•Ep. 76
75: Chicago Tylenol Murders
In 1982, a series of murders rocked the country and changed consumer packaging forever.
Mar 26, 2019•11 min•Ep. 75