Things I Learned Last Night

In World War 2, the United States government concocted a genius plan to rescue prisoners of war using maps disguised as playing cards. The military partnered with Bicycle and the red cross to deliver Christmas gifts to the POWs, thus beginning their escape. It was an ingenious plan that saved hundreds. This is episode 9 of the 12 days of TILLN Christmas. Every day until Christmas, we're releasing...

Home Alone did so well at the box office that it ruined every other movie's chances in theaters. Also, Joe Pesci was a little scary and would've died in real life. This is episode 8 of the 12 days of TILLN Christmas. Every day until Christmas, we're releasing a new mini-podcast episode about all kinds of holiday topics. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Things I Learned Last Night is an ed...

In the middle ages, a Christmas tradition like none other was born in Catalonia, Spain. Celebrated to this day, the Caganer is a figurine that looks like the brainchild of any middle school boy. You're not prepared to find out what this is, we promise. This is episode 7 of the 12 days of TILLN Christmas. Every day until Christmas, we're releasing a new mini-podcast episode about all kinds of holid...

The makeup for the Grinch Costume that Jim Carrey wore was so torturous to endure that he needed CIA training. This is episode 6 of the 12 days of TILLN Christmas. Every day until Christmas, we're releasing a new mini-podcast episode about all kinds of holiday topics. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Mye...

In 2017, Sprite ran an ad for their hot new flavor Sprite Cranberry. The ad featured Lebron James and became a legend in the meme-verse. But it didn't end with memes and gifs. You have no idea the twists and turns this story is going to take. This is episode 5 of the 12 days of TILLN Christmas. Every day until Christmas, we're releasing a new mini-podcast episode about all kinds of holiday topics....

Ever wonder why It's A Wonderful Life is on TV for about 24 hours a day every Christmas? Neither did we, but luckily now we don't have to. Here's the story of how It's A Wonderful Life stole Christmas. This is episode 4 of the 12 days of TILLN Christmas. Every day until Christmas, we're releasing a new mini-podcast episode about all kinds of holiday topics. Available wherever you get your podcasts...

One time the earth froze and made everyone enjoy cold snowy Christmases. Until one day, it wasn't cold anymore. Then all the people who grew up during the little ice age were "dreaming of a white Christmas... Just like the ones they used to know." This is episode 3 of the 12 days of TILLN Christmas. Every day until Christmas, we're releasing a new mini-podcast episode about all kinds of holiday to...

Bing Crosby, who didn't even write White Christmas by the way, holds the title of the king of Christmas. His song White Christmas has some of the most prestigious records in Christmas music history. This is episode 2 of the 12 days of TILLN Christmas. Every day until Christmas, we're releasing a new mini-podcast episode about all kinds of holiday topics. Available wherever you get your podcasts. T...

The ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia during the same time that we celebrate Christmas. The festivities were shockingly similar. But the thing we need more of this Christmas is the Mock King. This is episode 1 of the 12 days of TILLN Christmas. Every day until Christmas, we're releasing a new mini-podcast episode about all kinds of holiday topics. Available wherever you get your podcasts. Thing...

In 1989, retired millionaire Gene Flemming met Andy, the goose. Gene immediately took compassion upon Andy because the poor bird was born without feet. Flemming sought to remedy the goose's situation by inventing a mode of transit for the goose while on the ground. He settled for a modified pair of shoes. The gimmick worked like a charm. From that point forward, Gene and Andy formed an inseparable...

On the eastern tip of Long Island lies Camp Hero. The now-defunct military base has been reclaimed as a state park. However, the reuse of the space does not come with any less conspiracy. For years residents of the neighboring town of Montauk wondered what happened behind the security lines of camp hero. The expectation was nefarious, of course. Today we have full-blown conspiracy theories involvi...

Fredrick Russell Burnham might have been the first model of American masculinity. His lifestyle would one day permeate into the 20th century as men across the country sought to adopt the mindset of Burnham. The long line of Fredrick's imitators is unsurprising since he was the inspiration for the founder of the boy scouts. Furthermore, one esteemed colleague of his had based much of his beliefs an...

In the modern era, few famous eaters are household names. Perhaps the only one who has risen to that level is Joey Chestnut. However, that hasn't always been the case. In the years of the sideshow, people would line up to watch people eat stuff—a strange hobby. One of the more famous cases of people who live off of eating was the man known as Tarrare. His astounding ability to swallow just about a...

In the shadow of the 2008 housing crisis, one Malaysian businessman was building staggering wealth. It was an era wrought with financial fraud, and he was no different. Jho Low has become infamous for his lavish lifestyle and multi-million dollar benders. One of his most significant claims to fame was a new years eve event that he celebrated in Sydney, then boarded a private 747, flew to Las Vegas...

Eve Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG for short [MMO for shorter {M for shortest}]). This game has repeatedly found itself in the headlines of more than just gaming magazines. Due to the ultra-realistic in-game economy, the game has often landed articles discussing the complexities of the in-game economic system in finance magazines. More than that, the game has ma...

In July 2014, a handful of Tumblr users opened the doors to the long-awaited DashCon. The eclectic Tumblr community had been dreaming of a scenario where they could gather and celebrate their various fandoms for years. Unfortunately, when a group of friends got together a few months before, they had no clue what they were getting into. Needless to say, the event was a disaster. Before the conferen...

Imagine going out for a night on the town with your friends and returning home to a message on your computer. The scenario sounds pretty standard in the internet age. Now, imagine that same scenario in 1984, long before the internet had entered the public psyche. That is exactly what happened to Ken Webster when his BBC micro became a communication device between him and a mysterious other. Whatsm...

Year after year organizations like Forbes and Bloomberg put together lists of the world’s richest people. Today names like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos top the list. But in the late ‘90s, one man rose to prominence at lightning speed. What’s more, he broke records that have yet to be broken to this day. Masayoshi Son grew his wealth after found his successful business Softbank. The company is a leader...

A few years ago, escape rooms took the world by storm. The best of these experiences challenged players mentally and physically. The games sometimes even stressed the relationships of those who endeavor to compete together. Anyone who has completed one of these escape rooms has dreamed of a more significant challenge. San Francisco artist Jeff Hull realized that dream in 2014. The experience was c...

In 1910, a train car thief popped out of nowhere and became a noteworthy robber in the history of the wild west. Using his training in explosives from the US military Elmer McCurdy robbed a series of trains and a bank in the central and southwest United States. However, his career as a thief is the least exciting thing about him. It is the life he found after death that has people talking. Let's s...

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is home to a precious art collection once owned by the infamous art collector after whom the museum was named. That collection has likely sparked nefarious thoughts in many visitors dreaming of the potential wealth hanging on those walls. Two robbers, dressed as policemen, realized those dreams on March 18th, 1990. Today the FBI estimates their haul to be valued...

There's an interesting stretch of land in southern Panama known as the Isthmus of Panama. This unique land mass separates the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by just 51 miles of rocky terrain. Throughout history, people dreamed of a way to traverse this stretch of land by sea. Proposals for a canal through Panama date back to 1534, when it was proposed by Charles V. However, the project wasn't realize...

Every year some people argue that this is the worst year ever. Over the past couple of years, we have certainly had some genuine contenders. However, most historians agree that the absolute worst year in recorded human history was 536 AD. The year set in motion a turn of events that included wars, famines, volcanic eruptions, and even a dip in global average temperatures. Some researchers have eve...

There are people across the entire world who are dropping little pucks of metal and organic material around cities and wilderness. What exactly are these pucks? They call them Orgone, and their history is quite strange. It began in the 1930s with psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich who admired Sigmund Freud. We know exactly where this is going, to a weird place. It grew into building boxes called Energy A...

On December 1, 1948, a body turned up on the beach in Adelaide, Australia. After nearly 72 years, no one has even come close to solving this case. Yet, when it comes to who the man was, mysteries abound. Despite investigation after investigation, no confirmation was ever found. What was found, however, was numerous strange details. Yet, somehow, the story continues to unfold. Today one thorough in...