Fascinating Nouns

In this bonus episode, Catherine and I finish our conversation about the worst fashion in trends in history, including wearing overalls without a shirt, PVC clothing, and 80’s shoulder pads. Fascinating Nouns on Social Media Facebook Twitter YouTube

We humans have been trying to tame the outdoors since we were first started living in caves.  For thousands of years we only used plants for cooking or medicine, but all of that changed as soon as Europeans started colonizing the world.  Among other things, the first explorers brought back exotic plants that no one back home had ever seen before!  This led to huge booms in both the raping and pill...

Rocket science and brain surgery have become almost cliche’ when describing someone as being tremendously smart, but what about someone who has done both?  Ben Siepser has helped put rockets into space, and is now working on devices that can read your brain.  If that wasn’t impressive enough, you can find him co-hosting the science/tech podcast FGGGbT with me every week!  Ben and I sit...

Trader Joe’s may be one of the most forward thinking grocery chains that ever existed.  They sell more per square inch than every store in existence with the exception of Apple and Tiffany’s.  They reinvented the wine market in California, perfected cheese, and invented Almond Butter.  Listen as Benjamin tells me about his personal interview with Trader Joe himself, Joe Coulombe. Fasci...

I am sure that everyone reading this has spent a significant amount of their life inside a grocery store.  So much so, that I bet you already take it for granted.  Take a second and consider the sheer abundance that exists within the four walls of your local supermarket.  How do they get a seemingly endless supply of shrimp, mayonnaise, cabbage, or ANY other random item that you can think of?  It...

Archbishop Ron Feyl-Enright has been an exorcist for 40+ years.  In that time, he has seen and heard some crazy stuff.  Levitation, skin changing color, unearthly screams, diabolical voices are just a few of the phenomena he has encountered.  Due to an increasing amount of requests for exorcisms in 1981, Archbishop Enright decided to form The Order of Exorcists, which is a group of clergymen who a...

If it turns out that robots do become both independently intelligent and ubiquitous, they may want the same rights as humans.  This is not without precedent, as certain rivers and even corporations have legal standings as people.  What would this mean for robot kind?  Could they be held responsible for harm dealt to a human?  Listen as David Gunkel and I discuss this intriguing topic. Fascinating...

If science fiction has taught us anything, it’s that robots are coming for us.  They will invade every part of our society, become self-aware, then enslave the human race.  I call this The Robacalypse.  How accurate is this bleak vision of the future?  According to AI and Robotics expert David Gunkel, this is not very likely at all.  His belief is that robots will slowly replace tasks that w...

In this day and age, a president’s sex life is an open book.  The press loves exposing mistresses, love children, and wild sexual escapades.  Believe it or not, this was not always the case.  From about 1900 until the mid 1980’s, a president’s personal life was kept private.  This is what allowed JFK, Lyndon Johnson, and Warren G. Harding to philander without public knowledge.  J...

Of all the pop culture influences in my life, Back to the Future has had the most profound impact on me.  When I heard about Brad Gilmore’s book ‘Back from the Future’, I leapt at the opportunity to discuss my favorite movie of all time.  We talked about the long road to get this movie made, how Family Ties almost destroyed the franchise, and the interesting casting decisions inc...

For all the despicable acts the Nazis perpetrated while in power, I have always been fascinated by how they are portrayed in pop culture.  From the Indiana Jones movies where they are chasing powerful religious artifacts, to Marvel’s Captain America where they create super-humans and strange technology, the Nazi’s always seem to be obsessed with fringe science and supernatural beliefs....

I am guessing that when you her the term ‘Survival of the Fittest’ you immediately think of sharks, an alpha male gorilla, or a lion on the Savannah.  But what about dogs?  I bet you think they are too friendly to be considered ‘The Fittest’.  You may be wrong.  According to Dr. Brian Hare, friendliness may not only key to dogs survival, but ours as well.  We truly became t...

*BONUS* – The Epilogue Walter’s survival story wasn’t the end of the tale.  Struggling with PTSD, Walter had a rough road ahead of him.  Things got dark, but eventually he got back to scuba diving, and flying.  Plus his plane is discovered 25 years after it went down! Fascinating Nouns on Social Media Facebook Twitter YouTube

Surviving the Shark Filled Sea As an adult, I realized I had an irrational fear of sharks.  Given that I grew up in rural Illinois with the nearest shark about 3000 miles away, this fear didn’t make sense to me.  I went through my childhood memories, and found the source of this fear:  A Reader’s Digest article recounting the survival story on one Walter Wyatt, Jr.  In this story, Walt...

The Not So Sinister Spider Most people have pretty strong opinions when it comes to spiders, most of them negative.  One man wants to change that reputation.  His name is Rod Crawford, and he is the curator of the second largest spider collection on the West Coast, which is housed at the Burke Museum in Seattle.  He believes that most people’s spider aversion is caused inaccurate information...

The Joy of Retro Cooking Emily Brungo (AKA Yinzerella), is a vintage recipe collector, and the creator of the website “Dinner is Served 1972”.  She started this website after inheriting her grandmother’s recipe cards, but it has ballooned into a place where you can read about all the food choices of yesteryear.  We discussed this, as well as her love of Nicholas Cage, the rotary...

Chasing The Murder Hornet If you are alive in 2020, then it should come as no surprise that this was the year that the Asian Giant Hornet, AKA “The Murder Hornet”, arrived in North America.  While only partially deadly to humans, these insects are downright genocidal when it comes to Italian honeybee.  The hornet will mark a hive for death, then systematically cut off the heads of all...

The Hidden Secrets of Disney Walt Disney World is a magical wonderland, filled with princesses, talking animals, and incredible innovations.  Everything about it is perfect, or so we are lead to believe.  Leonard Kinsey, author of The Dark Side of Disney, got sick of the fantasy and wanted to see how the magic was made.  He soon discovered secret maps to underground tunnels, abandoned parks still...

The Craziness Caused By COVID-19 Between the time I we first recorded How Madness Shaped History and when the episode came out, something unpredictable happened: a killer pandemic swept across the world.  What came after was a wave of craziness that affected basically everyone, from world leaders to your next door neighbor.  I brought Chris The Conqueror back on to weigh-in on several topics, incl...

Madness of the Masses Christopher sticks around to discuss how societies go mad and therefore can elect madness to positions of power.  We discuss the Salem Witch Trials, and how strong emotions cause people to make terrible decisions. Christopher J. Ferguson on Social Media Twitter Website Christopher’s Book How Madness Shaped History Fascinating Nouns on Social Media Facebook Twitter YouTu...

How Madness Shaped History Christopher J. Ferguson is a noted psychologist, most famous for his books and media appearances discussing video games and violent behavior.  His most recent book takes a look at leaders throughout ages and explores how their psychological disorders have altered the course of human history.  We discuss how the 1930’s were a boon for mass murdering political leader...

The Celebrities and Artifacts of Weeki Wachee Springs If mermaids weren’t fantastic enough, Rita sticks around to tell me about Elvis, Miss Universe, Carmela Soprano, and a Mastodon Rib! Weeki Wachee Springs on Social Media Facebook Twitter Instagram Links We Talked About Rita’s Environmental Documentary Fascinating Nouns on Social Media Facebook Twitter YouTube

The Weeki Wachee Mermaids I don’t know what it is, but the siren’s call to become a mermaid seems to reach every girl aged 5-8.  A lucky few answer the call and become the mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs.  The Weeki Wachee mermaids are a very talented bunch.  They breathe underwater using only a small oxygen tube, perform intricate plays, and can even eat and drink while submerged. I...

Weaponized Flatulence Everyone knows farts are hilarious, but what about useful?  Listen as Dr. Rabaiotti and I talk about subduing a bee hive by passing gas, how termites produce 19% of the planet’s methane, and how the octopus is absolutely fart free. Dr. Rabaiotti on Social Media Dr. Dani Rabaiotti’s Website Twitter Instagram Dr. Dani Rabaiotti’s Books Believe It Or Snot Does...

Slimy Creatures of the Animal Kingdom When most people think of slime, a few words typically come to mind:  gross, disgusting, and nauseating.  What about versatile?  Dr. Dani Rabaiotti, co-author of ‘Believe It Or Snot” has some pretty amazing examples of slime being used effectively, be it as a weapon, a defense mechanism, or even as a house!  Listen as we discuss nests made out of s...