And Now You Know

For a franchise built around cute creatures, friendly rivalries, and collecting gym badges, Pokémon has a surprisingly dark side. This week, Teresa asks can Pokémon actually die? If Pokémon only "faint," then why is there a graveyard in Lavender Town? Why do some Pokédex entries talk about stolen souls, missing children, and Pokémon that used to be human? And what happens when you look beyond the...

Why do so many lovable TV idiots eventually become complete morons? This week, Teresa dives into the phenomenon known as Flanderization—the tendency for characters to become exaggerated versions of themselves over time. From Homer Simpson and Ralph Wiggum to Andy Dwyer and Charlie Kelly, we explore why writers lean so heavily into a character's most popular traits and what happens when it goes too...

Ever notice that when a tornado hits, it always seems to make a beeline for the nearest trailer park? While tornadoes don't actually target mobile homes, there are some very real reasons why trailer parks often suffer the worst damage and highest casualty rates during severe storms. In this episode, Teresa takes a look at the construction of mobile homes, why they are so vulnerable to tornadoes, t...

“You know what they say about men with big feet…” But is there actually any truth to it? This week, Teresa takes a closer look at one of the most well-known—and most whispered—myths out there. From a real clinical study that measured over 100 men (yes, really) to the surprisingly specific way scientists even measure this kind of thing, we break down what the data actually says. But the story doesn...

Ever wondered why eating ass is… a thing? In this episode, Teresa dives headfirst (unfortunately) into the surprisingly long and weird history of analingus—from ancient Greek power plays and Roman insults to the Kama Sutra and Japanese erotic art. Along the way, she breaks down how something once tied to dominance and humiliation became a modern-day taboo pleasure—and why people are so into it tod...

What are the odds of getting back-to-back Friday the 13ths? This year gave us a rare calendar quirk with consecutive Friday the 13ths in February and March—but how unusual is that really? In this episode, Teresa breaks down the math behind the Gregorian calendar, explains the strange patterns that control when Friday the 13th appears, and uncovers why some years get one, two… or even three of them...

A trumpet only has three valves—so how does it manage to play so many different notes? It seems like it shouldn’t be possible, and yet somehow, it works. In this episode, Teresa breaks down the science behind one of music’s most confusing instruments. From buzzing your lips to the way air moves through a long, coiled brass tube, it turns out there’s a lot more going on than just pressing a few val...

Tomato sauce: delicious on pasta, devastating on literally everything else. Why does one little splash turn into a permanent reminder of dinner? In this episode, Teresa dives into the science of stubborn stains—unpacking lycopene, oils, heat, and why your Tupperware will never emotionally (or physically) recover. Also: actual ways to fix it… maybe. Thanks to Ness for the episode idea. Follow the s...

Ever find yourself watching something you know you hate… and still not turning it off? This week, Teresa dives into the weirdly satisfying world of hate-watching and hate-listening. From roasting terrible music to rage-consuming political content, why do we willingly subject ourselves to stuff that annoys us? It turns out there’s more going on than just “it’s fun to complain.” From schadenfreude a...

Is the Midwest accent disappearing, or is it just… mellowing out over time? Teresa takes a closer look at how accents are actually learned, why younger generations are starting to sound more “neutral,” and how things like media, school, and even the way we talk to kids can shape the way they speak. From code-switching to the Northern Cities Vowel Shift (don’t worry, it’s explained in plain English...

Why is it that men seem to pee every time they poop, while women… don’t? Is it anatomy, habit, or just one of those weird body quirks we never question? In this episode, Teresa dives into the surprisingly fascinating (and slightly awkward) science behind bathroom habits, breaking down what’s actually going on with the bladder, bowels, and pelvic floor. Along the way, she also explores other everyd...

What won’t he do for love… really? For decades, Meat Loaf’s iconic hit has sparked debate, jokes, and a whole lot of questionable assumptions. Is it secretly dirty? Is it vague on purpose? Or have we all just been completely missing the obvious? In this episode, Teresa breaks down the actual answer hidden in plain sight, why so many people got it wrong, and how your brain can trick you into misund...

Ever been told to smile more—or asked if you’re okay when you’re completely fine? In this episode, Teresa takes a deep dive into the science behind resting bitch face (RBF) and why your neutral expression might be sending the wrong message. From facial anatomy and muscle habits to surprising research on micro-expressions, we break down what’s really going on behind that “look.” Plus, Teresa shares...

Ever wonder who Simon actually is—and why we’ve all blindly followed his oddly specific commands since childhood? This episode dives into the mysterious (and mostly unverified) origins of “Simon Says,” including a couple of historical figures who may—or may not—have inspired the name. But that question opens the door to something bigger: where do kids’ games come from? From ancient bone-tossing ga...

Are performance-enhancing drugs banned in the Special Olympics? Short answer: yes—but the long answer is way more interesting. In this episode of And Now You Know, Teresa breaks down how the Special Olympics approaches PEDs differently from the traditional Olympics. Instead of constant testing and harsh punishments, the focus is on fairness, athlete safety, and education—because the mission is abo...

Ever wondered how many jalapeños it would take to actually kill you? Teresa did—so you don’t have to. In this episode, she breaks down the spicy science behind capsaicin, why your body throws up every red flag imaginable before things get truly dangerous, and the very real difference between feeling like you’re dying and actually being in danger. From gut-wrenching regret and poor life choices to...

Ever popped something out of your tonsil and immediately regretted every life choice that led to that moment? Yeah… same. This week, Teresa dives into the nasty little mystery of tonsil stones—what they are, why they form, and most importantly… why they smell like something crawled in your mouth and died. From bacteria and biofilm to literal “rotting corpse” compounds, we break down the science be...

Why does a word start to look completely ridiculous the longer you stare at it? This week, Teresa dives into the strange brain glitch known as semantic satiation—when repetition temporarily breaks the connection between a word and its meaning. Along the way, she explores other weird mental hiccups, from tip-of-the-tongue moments and middle-of-the-night memory breakthroughs to déjà vu and misheard...

Ever been told to “sleep like a baby” and thought… have you met a baby? Teresa takes on one of the most misleading phrases in the English language, unpacking what it actually means (spoiler: it’s about quality, not quantity of sleep). Along the way, she spirals—productively—into the strange and surprising origins of other sleep-related sayings like “sleep tight,” “don’t let the bed bugs bite,” “le...

Some people wear oversized shoes on purpose—and no, it’s not just kids clomping around in their parents’ sneakers. This week, Teresa digs into why this is actually a thing, from wide feet struggles to questionable fashion choices. Turns out, there are valid reasons… but that doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Wearing shoes that are too big can lead to everything from blisters to long-term foot problems....

In this episode of And Now You Know, Teresa tackles one of the most anxiety-inducing questions out there: Is 5 inches a good size? With a mix of science, history, and humor, we break down the actual anatomy, what research says about pleasure, and why size might not matter as much as you’ve been led to believe. From the surprisingly named “tenting effect” to what really increases satisfaction, this...

Winter might be cold, miserable, and basically six months of living on Hoth—but every now and then, it throws us a bone. Like those weirdly beautiful pink skies at night. In this episode of And Now You Know, Teresa dives into the surprisingly complex science behind those cotton-candy-colored winter sunsets. From low sun angles to something called Rayleigh scattering (don’t worry, it’s explained li...

Can horses get songs stuck in their heads—or are they blissfully free from the curse of the earworm? In the very first episode of And Now You Know, Teresa investigates a ridiculous question inspired by Bob’s Burgers and somehow ends up deep in horse psychology, music studies, and actual horses playing instruments. From classical music calming them down to rock stressing them out, plus real-life “h...