Info On The Go

Send us Fan Mail Did people in the Middle Ages really start the tradition of wakes because they drank too much from tin cups and accidentally attended their own funerals? On this episode of Info On The Go , we separate folklore from fact as we explore the strange history of wakes, the fear of being buried alive, and the bizarre safety coffins designed to let the supposedly dead ring for help. The...

Send us Fan Mail   Imagine standing on a frozen Arctic shoreline when a shape emerges through the fog. It’s a ship. No lights. No engine. No crew on deck. Just an abandoned vessel drifting silently through some of the coldest waters on Earth. You watch it disappear into the mist, never expecting to see it again. But years later, someone spots the same ship. Then someone else. And decades after its...

Send us Fan Mail Is the Busby Stoop Chair really cursed, or is it simply one of history's strangest legends? In this episode, William and Kat explore the story of Thomas Busby, the murder that started the legend, the mysterious deaths supposedly connected to the chair, and how an ordinary wooden seat became one of England's most infamous objects.  Pinche Gringo For fishing days, hunting...

Send us Fan Mail  On November 18, 1987, a small fire beneath an escalator at London's King's Cross Underground station turned into a devastating fireball that killed 31 people. How could something so ordinary become such a deadly disaster? Discover the shocking chain of events, the science behind the fire, and the safety failures that changed London's Underground forever. It's...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Jimothy, the raccoon who became an unexpected internet sensation. In this episode of A Dash of Info , William and Kat explore the unusual story behind Jimothy, what makes him stand out, and why this little raccoon captured so much attention online. Sometimes, the internet really does know how to find the weirdest stars. The Cumin Club - 5-Minute Indian Meals The Cumin Club -...

Send us Fan Mail  Nail polish may look like a simple bottle of color, but inside is a fascinating world of chemistry, physics, and clever engineering. In this episode of Info On The Go , we go inside the bottle to discover what makes polish dry, why it chips, how glitter and magnetic formulas work, why old polish gets thick, and some of the strangest things nail polish can do. It’s a colorful look...

Send us Fan Mail  AI doesn't have to lie to influence us—it may only have to agree with us a little too much. In this episode, William and Kat explore how conversations with AI can reinforce assumptions, turn uncertainty into convincing stories, and create an unexpected echo chamber. We’ll look at why validation is so powerful, how “hallucinating with AI” differs from an AI simply getting fac...

Send us Fan Mail From ancient nail decoration to modern salons, manicures have a surprisingly fascinating history. In this episode of Info On The Go , we explore the science of your fingernails, the chemistry behind polish and gel, wild nail trends, common nail myths, and the remarkable story of how Vietnamese refugees helped transform the American nail industry. Patreon Support the show by becomi...

Send us Fan Mail Sugar makes coffee sweeter and cookies better—but that’s just the beginning. In this episode, we uncover the surprisingly strange things sugar can do. From preserving food and helping yeast make bread rise to trapping insects, scrubbing greasy hands, creating sugar glass, slowing concrete, and even powering biofuel, this everyday pantry staple has a lot more tricks than you might...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a medical term becomes part of a death investigation? In this episode, we trace the controversial history of “excited delirium”—from early descriptions of stimulant-related crises to its use in forensic medicine, police training, and courtroom debates. We’ll explore the science behind severe agitation, the troubling Miami cases that exposed the dangers of prematu...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when the Earth erupts without lava? In this episode of Info On The Go , we explore the bizarre world of mud volcanoes—where underground pressure, gas, and sediment can bubble, burn, reshape landscapes, and even create temporary islands. We’ll travel from Azerbaijan to Indonesia and uncover the incredible story of Lusi, one of the world’s most devastating mud eruptions...

Send us Fan Mail What’s really behind the unique flavor of root beer?   From early herbal drinks made with roots and spices to Charles Hires and the rise of commercial root beer, discover how this American favorite evolved. We’ll explore sassafras, the changing recipe, the science behind its distinctive taste, and the classic root beer float. So grab a cold bottle and join us for a flavorful trip...

Send us Fan Mail Wreckers: The Dark Trade of Stealing From Shipwrecks For centuries, shipwrecks brought more than tragedy to the world’s coastlines—they brought opportunity. In this episode, we explore the mysterious world of wreckers, from dangerous shores and legendary false lighthouses to the desperate communities that survived on what the sea delivered. Were wreckers ruthless criminals, opport...

Send us Fan Mail Nutmeg may seem like an ordinary kitchen spice, but its history is anything but ordinary. From the tiny Banda Islands of Indonesia to European empires, the Dutch East India Company, brutal conquest, and the famous connection to Manhattan, nutmeg became valuable enough to inspire wars and shape global history. Discover the strange, dark, and fascinating story behind one of the worl...

Send us Fan Mail  Head lice may be tiny, but they’ve caused panic for centuries! In this episode, we uncover the surprising history of lice, how they spread, what causes that maddening itch, and the myths that refuse to die. We’ll also look at effective treatments and why there’s no need for shame or panic when these unwanted little visitors show up.  Patreon Support the show by becoming Patreon ....

Send us Fan Mail The Ides of March — Part 2: The Assassination The plot is ready. The conspirators are waiting. And Julius Caesar is walking into the Senate on March 15, 44 BC. Part 2 takes us through the assassination that shocked Rome—and the unexpected aftermath. Caesar’s death doesn't restore the Republic. Instead, his funeral, his heir Octavian, Mark Antony, and a new struggle for power...

Send us Fan Mail The Ides of March — Part 1: The Rise of Caesar How did Julius Caesar go from ambitious Roman politician to the most powerful man in the Republic? In Part 1, we follow Caesar’s remarkable rise—from his early political career and alliance with Pompey and Crassus to his conquest of Gaul, the crossing of the Rubicon, and his eventual rise to dictator for life. But as Caesar’s power gr...

Send us Fan Mail  We depend on electricity for almost everything—but how vulnerable is the system keeping the lights on? From the 2013 Metcalf substation attack and the threat of electromagnetic pulses to hurricanes, cyberattacks, equipment failures, and solar storms, this episode explores the hidden weaknesses and resilience of America’s power grid. What happens when the lights go out—and how pre...

Send us Fan Mail How can an apple harvested in the fall still be sitting fresh on a grocery store shelf months later? In this episode, we explore the fascinating science and history behind year-round food—from root cellars and early preservation methods to refrigeration, controlled-atmosphere storage, and the global food system. Discover how we learned to slow the natural aging of food, stretch th...

Send us Fan Mail  From ancient civilizations to the modern fashion industry, cotton has been woven into human history for thousands of years. But behind this familiar fabric is a remarkable story of innovation, global trade, empire, slavery, industrialization, and environmental change. Discover how one humble plant helped fuel the Industrial Revolution, build fortunes, shape nations, and connect e...

Send us Fan Mail  From a bitter spring in 17th-century England to modern-day bath tubs and gardens, Epsom salt has a fascinating history. But despite its name, it isn’t actually table salt. Discover where Epsom salt came from, how it became a popular remedy, its surprising everyday uses, and what modern science says about its famous health claims.  Patreon Support the show by becoming Patreon . Li...

Send us Fan Mail  What if a dream or strange feeling could warn you about something before it happened? In 1960s Britain, psychiatrist John Barker created the Premonitions Bureau to investigate exactly that question, collecting reports of dreams and visions before disasters occurred. Some predictions seemed eerily accurate—but were they glimpses of the future, remarkable coincidences, or simply th...

Send us Fan Mail  What invention changed humanity forever by simply rolling forward? The wheel may seem simple, but its impact is anything but. From ancient pottery wheels and wooden carts to chariots, wheelbarrows, gears, bicycles, and automobiles, the wheel has transformed transportation, warfare, trade, and everyday life. Join us as we roll through the fascinating history of one of humanity’s g...

Send us Fan Mail Leeches may look like creepy bloodsuckers, but their story is far more fascinating. In this episode, we explore what leeches are, how they feed, their surprising role in ancient medicine, and why modern surgeons still use them today. From muddy ponds to advanced operating rooms, discover how one of nature’s strangest creatures became an unlikely medical tool.  Patreon Support the...

Send us Fan Mail The Dead Sea Scrolls are among the most fascinating archaeological discoveries ever made. In this episode, we explore their accidental discovery, what the ancient manuscripts contain, who may have written them, and why they sparked decades of controversy. We’ll also separate the historical evidence from the myths surrounding lost books, hidden prophecies, and supposed suppressed s...