20 Minutes You'll Never Get Back

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. You may not know Charles Fey or why I'm thanking him.  However, if you have ever been in any casino, anywhere in the world and dropped some money in a slot machine, you now know why he's famous.   Gool ol' Chuck gave us the slot machine.  And they've come a long way since his Liberty Bell machine.  In twenty mi...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. There's a famous book about it.  It talks about everyone needs to ... let's just say go to the bathroom.  But there is one very important accessory in every bathroom that you may not have thought too much about.  Toilet paper.  In just twenty minutes you can learn more than you probably wanted to.  You're welcome. T...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. John Pemberton started it all with his "Dr. Tuggle's Compound Syrup of Globe Flower."  Now it's an international company worth over $84 billion dollars today.  A brief history of the jaugernaut company known as Coca Cola, all in twenty minutes.  And no, there is no cocaine in Coke. Thanks for listening and if y...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. The ancient peoples used to pick up a stone ball and throw it at objects a few feet away.  Today people do the same thing but now the balls are rubber and instead of throwing they roll.   A brief history of bowling but more importantly, they question of why the red stripes is answered... all in twenty minutes. Thanks for listening...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. There are a lot of things that are just meant to go together.  Peanut butter and jelly.  R2-D2 and C-3P0.  Ross and Rachel.  And of course movies and popcorn.   So just how did popcorn end up in movie theaters?  It's been around for a billion years and in twenty minutes you'll find out.  And who is The Toasty Roasty Man....

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. What did the ocean say to the beach?  Nothing, it just waved.  Or perhaps... My wife said I was immature.  So I told her to get out of my fort. Everyone hates but really loves a good or bad Dad joke.  Just what is a dad joke and why did Dad's get the bad rap.  There's a chuckle or two in these twenty minutes. Thanks for...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. It goes by mountain dew, choop, hooch, homebrew, white lightning, white/corn whiskey, pass around,  and firewater.  But you may just call it Moonshine.  How ever you want to call it, Moonshine ... or illegal liquor... has been around since the U.S. was formed.  But why is it illegal and what does the Civil War have to do with it?...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. It started off as a quick and inexpensive meal for the hard laborers in Naples.  Now it's the number one fast food in the world.  It's pizza.  From it's humble beginnings to the worldwide chains, pizza is everywhere.   What type of pizza does your state order the most?  Spend twenty minutes and get a slice of what p...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. What I know about the game of chess could be written on a Cheerio.  But I do know that one of the conclusions to a game is a checkmate.  But you know me, I needed to find out just how that term came to be.  And in a short 20 minutes you'll find out, and even more about Chess.  If you didn't already know. Thanks for liste...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. An Easter basket just wouldn't be the same without a big ol' chocolate bunny as its centerpiece.  But why rabbits?  Why hollow?  And IKEA?   Everything you wanted to know... okay maybe not everything... but some things you want to know about the bunny of cacao.  In 20 minutes. Thanks for listening and if you have any com...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. Grape Nuts cereal doesn't have either grapes or nuts.  I grew up being told or hearing things that in reality just aren't true.  Now you can too.  Popping myths everywhere in just 20 minutes.   Thanks for listening and if you have any comments, please feel free to email me at doug@20minutespodcast.com .  If you want...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. How about Adam and Eve on a raft... wreck 'em.  No?  Walter Scott started it all with his repurposed here-drawn cart.  Diners and an American institution, perhaps even global.  Find out how they came to be, and learn the lingo so you don't embarrass yourself.  All in 20 minutes. Thanks for listening and if you have any c...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. It's been a crazy year of ups and downs for everyone.  You know what else goes up and down?  Roller Coasters.  All kinds of them.  But why rollers?  And why coasting?  If you have 20 minutes you'll get your answers.  And it's all tax free. Thanks for listening and if you have any comments, please feel free to email...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. Think you've seen a ghost?  Were doors slamming shut?  Stuff get knocked on the floor?  Poltergeists.  But they're not the only kind of ghosts.  If you have 20 minutes you want to waste, then listen and decide if you're on Team Ghost or Team Skeptic.  Even Albert Einstein weighed in on the topic.   Thanks for listen...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. February 14... roses, chocolates, romantic dinners, fun dates, little candy hearts, you know what I'm talking about.  But how did this date happen?  And if you haven't made plans yet, well I have some ideas for you, all in 20 minutes. Thanks for listening and if you have any comments, please feel free to email me at doug...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. Social influencers are everywhere.  I decided I need to be one.  But how exactly does one go about it?  Well, thanks to some info I researched (so you don't have to), I know the answer.  And in 20 minutes, you will too.  You're welcome. Thanks for listening and if you have any comments, please feel free to email me at do...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. Are you tired of jigsaw puzzles?  Still can't go anywhere?  Take a look in your closet and pull out a game.  After tons of research, 20 Minutes You'll Never Get Back has come up with the Top 17 Games of All Time.  At least we think it's the top 17.  Your list may be different.  That's okay. Thanks for listening...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. No, not the Kansas City Chiefs... the Commanders in Chief.  All 46 of them.  Since we've just concluded the Presidential Season here in the U.S., it seems only fitting we give a little extra shout out to the Presidential Company with a little bit of information you may not know.  It's the shortest history class you have...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. The great bakers debate... pie vs cake.  Everyone has an opinion which means you do too.  We break down the backstories on both pies and cakes and then head off to a debate.  Which side are you on?  Just another 20 minutes you'll never get back. Thanks for listening and if you have any comments, please feel free to email me a...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. Every year at this time, people make resolutions for the New Year to do something or to stop doing something.  Every wonder why?   Well it goes back back about 4000 years.  If you want to know more and have 20 minutes to spare, well, you know what to do. Thanks for listening and if you have any comments, please feel free to email...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. Sinterklaas... Saint Nicolas... Father Christmas... or good ol' Santa Claus.  How did we get from a monk in the year 280AD to the guy who can nod his head and shoot up a chimney?  And what about Rudolph?  Your Christmas questions answered in the final episode of Season One. (Don't worry, I'll be back in January) Tha...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. The tree is up and the decorations hung.  The next step in the Christmas Season fun are the presents.  And for kids of all ages that means toys.  A brief history of toys and the top toys for 2020... it's all here in just 20 minutes. Thanks for listening and if you have any comments, please feel free to email me at doug@20minu...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. Thanksgiving is over and it's time to dust off those storage bins holding all of your Christmas decorations.  Always so much fun decorating for the holidays.  But the question is are you a "real-tree'r" or are you an artif-tree'r?"  Yes, it's 20 minutes about Christmas trees. Thanks for listening...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. Turkey, stuffing, cranberries parades, football, Squanto, Wampanoag people, Mayflower... you get the idea.  How did the fourth Thursday in November come to be Thanksgiving?  And why did FDR try and change it?  Find out in just 20 minutes... okay, this episode is a little over 21 minutes.  My bad. Thanks for listening and if you ha...

Let me know your thoughts. Good or bad. I can take it. Most likely. It's been a tough week for everyone waiting for the election returns to come to an end, and then I got distracted.  Clearly this episode is 20 minutes your never get back, but you might just learn something.  Maybe.  What have you got to lose? Thanks for listening and if you have any comments, please feel free to email me at...