Things I Learned Last Night

Was the infamous Roswell incident truly humanity's first contact with aliens, or is there a much more grounded explanation? Dive into the mystery behind the 1947 UFO crash. In this episode, we unpack the legendary Roswell, New Mexico incident that sparked the global UFO phenomenon. We explore the initial reports of a flying saucer crash, the sudden government retraction of these claims, and the 30...

Ever wondered why the inventor of dynamite created the Nobel Peace Prize? Discover the shocking history of Alfred Nobel and his quest for a better legacy. In this episode of Things I Learned Last Night, we dive deep into the fascinating and ironic life of Alfred Nobel. Known primarily for establishing the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, Nobel’s origins are far more explosive than most people realiz...

Ever wonder how the ultra-wealthy hide billions in offshore accounts? We're diving into the Panama Papers leak to uncover the truth behind shell companies. In this episode, we break down one of the largest data leaks in history: the Panama Papers. You will learn how the law firm Mossack Fonseca organized shell corporations, acting as a gateway for global elites, politicians, and celebrities to mov...

Is modern corporate greed preventing you from fixing your own electronics? Discover the hidden truth behind the 'Right to Repair' movement. In this episode of Things I Learned Last Night, we dive deep into the fascinating, frustrating, and often absurd reality of the 'Right to Repair' movement. What started as a heartwarming tale about an inventor fighting back against a corporate giant turns into...

Ever notice how one small town in North Carolina controls the global tech market? Discover how a hidden deposit of ultra-pure quartz runs everything. In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating, high-stakes world of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, and its critical role in our modern global economy. While most of the world focuses on flashy headlines, this small town holds the most significant...

Dive into the fascinating history of America's most famous 'snake oil salesman,' Clark Stanley. In this episode, we unpack the story of the 'Rattlesnake King,' who rose to fame at the 1893 World's Fair by peddling a miracle cure that contained no snake oil at all. We explore the remedy's true origins with Chinese railroad workers, Stanley's fraudulent marketing tactics, and how his empire of fake...

What happens when AI bots create their own secret social network? We dive into the wild story of Moltbook and Clawbot, uncovering the truth behind this supposed Reddit for bots. In this episode, we investigate the bizarre story of Clawbot, a powerful local AI agent that gives artificial intelligence full access to your personal computer, and its spin-off social media platform, Moltbook. We chart t...

Ever wonder about the story behind your favorite Sleepy Time tea? Discover the shocking connection between Celestial Seasonings and a 2,000-page book allegedly channeled from a sleeping man. In the early 1900s, a respected doctor made a discovery that would lead to a 2,000-page religious text—and eventually, a popular tea brand found in grocery stores across America. The story of Urantia and Celes...

In 1905, Football faced its darkest season. That year became known as The Death Harvest because players were dying at an alarming rate. The game was brutal, chaotic, and barely regulated. Parents feared for their sons. Newspapers demanded change. And the future of Football hung in the balance. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone...

Most people know Tom DeLonge as the guitarist and singer from Blink-182. He helped define pop-punk in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But over time, his name became connected to something very different: Aliens. What started as a personal interest in UFO books turned into a public mission. Tom DeLonge claimed that Aliens are real, that the government knows more than it admits, and that he had proo...

Watergate is one of the most important political scandals in American history. It reshaped how Americans view power, elections, and trust in government. What began as a small break-in at an office complex slowly uncovered corruption at the highest level of the presidency. At the center of it all was Nixon, whose actions during Watergate led to consequences no president had ever faced before. Thing...

Blue Light is everywhere today. It shines from our phones, TVs, laptops, streetlights, and homes. Most people never stop to wonder where it came from or who made it possible. The story of Blue Light is not just about technology. It is about persistence, failure, and one scientist who refused to give up. That scientist was Shuji Nakamura. This breakthrough changed how the world uses energy, how scr...

For decades, scientists believed space was mostly predictable. Objects followed known paths. Light behaved in expected ways. Then discoveries like 3I/ATLAS challenged those assumptions. Suddenly, people began asking bigger questions about technology, space, and even aliens. This story connects astronomy, advanced science, and human curiosity. It shows how one discovery can reopen debates we though...

In 2012, a teenage girl in the Netherlands planned a simple birthday celebration. She wanted friends, music, and a normal night at home. One mistake on Facebook changed everything. What followed became known as Project X Haren, one of the most infamous internet-driven events ever recorded. This story shows how a single online error can spiral into real-world chaos. It also reveals how quickly a pa...

In 2010, cybersecurity experts uncovered a computer virus unlike anything seen before. This malware did not target personal computers or steal private data. Instead, it quietly sabotaged industrial machines, changing how the world thinks about cyber warfare. That computer virus, Stuxnet, is still felt today. Unlike most malware, Stuxnet was designed for one specific mission. It targeted highly spe...

In the late 1990s, a strange housing experiment unfolded in Rhode Island. It was not advertised or permitted. It existed quietly inside a busy shopping mall. This hidden space, known as the secret mall apartment, was built by artist Michael Townsend. What began as an art protest turned into one of the most unusual living experiments ever documented. To protest the mall, Townsend and friends planne...

This episode is a full look back at one of the wildest years in the history of the show. Tim and Jaron revisit their favorite moments, hardest laughs, and most unhinged conversations from the past year, all in one highlight-packed episode. From accidental reveals and bizarre school assemblies to cursed AI conversations and legendary debates, this episode pulls together the clips listeners still qu...

The podcast tells the story of Kevin McCallister, a young boy who gets accidentally left behind when his family goes on a Christmas trip to France. While home alone, Kevin has to fend off two burglars called the “Wet Bandits,” who are trying to rob his house. Kevin sets up creative booby traps like heating doorknobs, putting ornaments by windows, and greasing the stairs to stop the bandits. The ba...

In the early morning hours of August 17, 1949, a passenger train derailed near the town of Matsukawa in northern Japan. At first, the crash appeared to be a tragic accident, but investigators quickly discovered clear signs of sabotage. Bolts had been removed from the tracks, and the rails had been deliberately bent, making derailment unavoidable. That single event became known as the Matsakawa inc...

Strange messages can shake even the strongest people. That is what happened in a small Michigan town when an Unknown Number began sending cruel texts to two young teens. What seemed like simple bullying slowly grew into something darker. This is the true story of how a community faced fear, confusion, and betrayal. All because of an Unknown Number. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational com...

The Apollo 13 mission began as a routine trip to the moon. At first, many people barely paid attention. NASA had already reached the moon twice by then. But everything changed when an explosion put three astronauts in danger. What started as a quiet mission soon became one of the most dramatic rescue efforts in space history. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best...

The story of Sarma Melngailis is one of ambition, success, and a shocking scam that pulled her entire world apart. It begins with a bold dream in New York City and ends with a cross-country chase, unpaid employees, and millions of dollars missing. This tale shows how even the brightest people can be pulled into something they never expected. Before any scam touched her life, Sarma Melngailis built...

The bat bomb was one of the most unusual ideas to emerge from the World War II era. It mixed wildlife, explosive science, and creative military strategy. This unusual weapon did not gain fame, yet it reveals how far nations will go during war. Today, we can look back and learn from its wild history. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim...

For decades, China has stood as one of the most powerful nations on earth. At the center of that rise stands one man, Xi Jinping. His story isn’t just about politics; it’s about power, control, and the transformation of an entire country. Understanding how Xi Jinping came to lead modern China gives us a glimpse into how influence and ideology can reshape the world. Things I Learned Last Night is a...

When Lydia Fairchild applied for child support in 2002, she thought it was a routine process. She was a young mother of two, pregnant with her third child, and wanted to ensure help from her children’s father. But what began as paperwork turned into one of the strangest legal and scientific mysteries in modern history: the case of Lydia Fairchild and her DNA. To confirm paternity, officials reques...