Condensed Soup

Reading Rainbow is back, baby — and this time it's got big hair and an even bigger smile. Beloved internet librarian Mychal Threets will host the new digital version of the iconic PBS show, launching October 4. The reboot honors the original format that made us want to read all summer long, while giving it a fresh lift for the next generation. We'll revisit the legacy of LeVar Burton, the theme so...

You might think roundabouts are just confusing circles of doom, but it turns out they're saving lives and city budgets all over the world. We're talking about why they're safer, cheaper, and surprisingly elegant once you know the rules. We'll swing by Carmel, Indiana—the roundabout capital of America—and detour to France and the legendary Magic Roundabout in Swindon. And if you're nervous about yo...

There's a growing trend of post-workout, post-hike, and post-marathon ice cream treats -- a trend I can get behind. A mystery man rewards hikers with surprise ice cream, and we discover a way to make ice cream yourself -- while you're on a run. (Note: you don't HAVE to go on a run.) 'Legend dairy' man carries ice cream and dry ice up Colorado peak as treat for other hikers (Colleen Slevin, AP, Sep...

South Korea has built a market based on hangover cures, and we chat some of the best ones I've found. No hair of the dog here!  K-cure: South Korea's booming market for traditional (and novel) hangover remedies (Raphael Rashid, The Guardian, Sep 27, 2025) 7 ways to cure your hangover (Howard E. LeWine, Harvard Health Publishing, May 22, 2023) The Eater Staff Names Our Absolute Most Effective Hango...

Scientists just confirmed that new bite-resistant wetsuits can lessen shark bite injuries -- and our fascination with these incredible sea creatures continues.  Scientists find new bite-resistant wetsuits can reduce shark bite injuries (Patrick Whittle, Yahoo / AP, Sep 26, 2025) From Hawaii to Florida, a look at US shark attacks so far in 2025 (Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, Aug 8, 2025) Shark We...

I visited the "Big E" -- a joint exposition of the New England states. It's a lot of maple and a lot of horses! If you're heading to a fair or festival, I also have some tips for making it through your day.  Flamin Hot Cheetos Corn (Elote) (Maxine Dubois, Cilantro Parsley, Jun 6, 2023) Eden Honeycrisp Ice Cider (official, accessed September 25, 2025) History (Eastern States Exposition, accessed Se...

Bill Nye, beloved scientist and television personality, just received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame -- and that's not even his most impressive achievement. Bill Nye reflects on receiving Hollywood Walk of Fame star in moving post (Angeline Jane Bernabe, Good Morning America, Sep 23, 2025) 14 Deductive Facts About Bill Nye, the Science Guy (Janet Burns, Mental Floss, Mar 16, 2016) Bill Nye (...

A woman was recently sentenced for attempting to defraud the family of Elvis Presley by falsely putting Graceland up for option. Are you up on your Elvis history?  Woman convicted in Graceland fraud scheme sentenced to nearly 5 years in federal prison (Jared Kofsky, Ed Griffith, and Meredith Deliso, ABC News, Sep 23, 2025) Woman Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Defraud Elvis Presley's Family (Office of...

Some public restrooms in China are requiring you to watch an ad before they dispense toilet paper, but they're not the only country to ask for payment. In some places, it's definitely a privilege to pee! Outrage as new 'Black Mirror' public restrooms won't let you have toilet paper unless you watch 30-second ad first (Dan Seddon, Unilad, Sep 20, 2025) 10 International Toilets (Susan Batten, How St...

I have a wacky approach to Halloween costumes, but here's hoping my out-of-the-box thinking can save you some stress! Enjoy my take on the costumes to beat for 2025, including some 90s nostalgia.  Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast condensedsoup@proton.me *This episode was recorded on a cruise ship

Anna Hall just became the second American in history to win the women's heptathlon at the World Track and Field Championships, after the legendary Jackie Joyner-Kersee (who STILL holds several hold records!). It's all about heptathlons, decathlons, and the people that love them. Anna Hall wins heptathlon world title, creates club with Jackie Joyner-Kersee (Nick Zaccardi, NBC Sports, Sep 20, 2025)...

Rupert Everett is pulling pints at a village pub in Wiltshire, and it's not even for character research. It's part of a community effort to keep the place alive. British pubs are special places! Star at the bar: Hollywood actor pulls pints at pub to help save it from closure (Phil Norris and Laura Harding, Gloucestershire Live, Sep 2, 2025) A Guide to British Pub Etiquette (Active England Tours, a...

Somewhere off the coast of Scotland, thousands gather on a tiny island every year for the most serious stone skipping you've ever seen. We're talking measuring tools, aerodynamic rocks, and a grand finale called the Toss Off. But that's just the start—because once you learn there's a global debate over what makes a skip count, things get surprisingly intense. Cheating scandal rocks world stone ski...

A heist! At Walt Disney World, a man robs a Disney Springs restaurant in full scuba gear, then dives into the lake to escape. From there, we plunge into a world of underwater crime, where the thieves truly work under pressure Suspect in swim mask robbed restaurant at Disney Springs, leaving locals astounded (Michelle Meredith, WESH NBC News, Sep 16, 2025) Disney Springs restaurant robbed by man we...

Two tourists took a forbidden dip in Venice's Grand Canal—and let's just say, the city was not having it. We chat about the engineering marvel that birthed Venice and why, besides it being illegal, you absolutely should NOT swim in those canals.  Trust me.  Tourists banned from Venice after illegally diving into canal (Kathleen Wong, USA Today, Sep 15, 2025) Is Venice Sinking? Here's What You Need...

What happens when your fine is based on your fortune? In Switzerland, a wealthy driver got slapped with a $110,000 speeding ticket — for going just 17mph over the limit. We're heading into the world of income-based traffic fines, where a fast car plus a fat bank account equals a whole lot of francs. From Finland's "day fines" to the biggest ticket ever issued, this episode asks: should justice sca...

Here's something to look forward to: there's a new Girl Scout cookie flavor on the horizon! If you were an enterprising Girl Scout, where would you set up your shop? (Hint: aim hiiiiiiigh.) The Girl Scouts unveil new cookie inspired by a popular ice cream flavor (Chrissy Callahan, NBC News, Sep 10, 2025) Cookie Flavors (Girl Scouts, accessed Sep 14, 2025) Girl Scout sells 300 boxes of cookies outs...

Nuns on the run! First up: three Austrian nuns in their 80s who straight-up  ran away from their Catholic care home and broke back into their beloved convent. Then we head to Spain, where another group of excommunicated sisters started a restaurant to fund their standup with authority.  Defiant nuns flee care home for their abandoned convent in the Alps (Bethany Bell, BBC, Sep 13, 2025) How to Bec...

Albania just appointed an AI-generated minister -- is this a harbinger of things to come? With AI radio and podcast hosts, maybe a government official was inevitable... Albania's prime minister appoints an AI-generated 'minister' to tackle corruption (Llazar Semini, AP, Sep 12, 2025) Albania appoints world's first AI-made minister (Politico, Alice Taylor, Sep 11, 2025) Albania appoints AI bot 'min...

Come stroll through Minneapolis's Mall of America, a shrine to air-conditioned capitalism. We're talking 12,000 parking spaces, a log ride, and a Ferris wheel you can ride in your wedding dress. This episode digs into the history and quirks of the Mall, from a Twins home plate to their very unique way of heating during the winter.  10 Facts About the Mall of America (Stacy Conradt, Mental Floss, M...

This episode starts in grief — the world is dark these days, but I believe community will save us. I'm feeling my feelings in this episode, but I want you, listener, to know how grateful I am to have you here.  Then we go to Germany, where a story that begins with nighttime doorbell pranks ends with a lesson that the world isn't always out to get you.  Sending you love out there, y'all.  Doorbell...

If you're tossing and turning after dessert, you're not alone. New research reveals that late-night dairy, sweets, and spicy foods may be linked to poor sleep and even nightmares. In this episode, we dive into foods that help you sleep (hello kiwi and chamomile) and ones that might keep your brain buzzing. Plus: the truth about melatonin, resistant starch, and whether your midnight hot chocolate i...

What do you do after retiring from accounting? If you're Kent Broussard, you learn the tuba from scratch and march into LSU's student band… at 65 years old. It's not just a story about brass and boldness—it's about why the only real failure is not trying. We get into marching band memories (including one fainting incident), the drilldown, and why marching and musical theatre are NOT in step. LSU's...

A shocking new sunscreen study has exposed major brands—including one $50 cult favorite—as dramatically overstating their SPF protection. With 2 in 3 Australians facing skin cancer, the fallout could be global. If you use sunscreen (and you should), press play before your next sunblock slather. The sunscreen scandal shocking Australia — the world's skin cancer hotspot (Tabby Wilson and Tiffanie Tu...

A snail named Ned has a rare trait: his shell coils to the left, making him part of a 1-in-40,000 group with mirrored anatomy—and a very limited dating pool. Discovered in a New Zealand veggie patch, Ned inspired a nationwide search for a match, echoing a 2017 quest for Jeremy, a similarly sinistral snail whose romantic journey included love triangles and 56 offspring. Turns out, snail mating is w...