Commute | The Podcast

On this episode: You can do many things with Legos - build spaceships, castles, and apparently (listen for more detail) flowers. Heck, there are even video games, movies, and theme parks based on the beloved toy. But now people are stealing them to resell on the black market? Tell me more! Once upon a time, there was a magical retail store named Steve & Barry’s where you could spend $20 and wa...

On this episode: Every March nearly 100 million Americans bond in misery over filling out their losing NCAA Tournament March Madness brackets. So why do we put ourselves through it when the odds of a perfect bracket are like being struck by lightning.... every second for the rest of your life? We all know the song, but none of us know the band. The good and (very) bad sides of being a one-hit wond...

On this episode: Atari. Sega. Nintendo. PlayStation. As video game systems have evolved, the way (some) of us play them has, too. A whole community of gamers now plays with one goal in mind - to beat the game as fast as possible. Ever wanted to be someone else? Or better yet, ever wished someone more attractive could live your life for you? You’re in luck - there’s an app for that! (Spoiler - it d...

On this episode: A well-done documentary can challenge, educate and entertain. But one about professional tickling?! Spoiler alert - it’s no laughing matter. The Loch Ness Monster has been around for decades without actually existing. Or does it? A good monster is worth millions. Ronald McDonald is one of the most recognizable characters in the world - how a clown came to represent the Golden Arch...

On this episode: When Tiger Woods returned to glory in 2019 his longtime partner Nike returned somewhere, as well. To the bank. It wasn’t always a forgone conclusion that we’d “Google” for information. Some used to Ask Jeeves. The rise and fall of the famous search butler. Sadly, you have died of dysentery. Why do entire generations know about the Oregon Trail? Follow Commute: Instagram - https://...

On this episode: Over the last 20 years, you’ve probably owned a computer with the Windows XP operating system. Remember the legendary default wallpaper photo of the green rolling hill? Yea, that’s a real place. Can you buy an unused superhero from Marvel Comics and make it your own? Ya know, one of the weird ones that no one has heard of? The team at NPR’s Planet Money decided to try.  Free The D...

On  this episode of Commute - The Podcast: You check the weather, see sunshine in the forecast, and proceed with your cookout at the park... only to have a downpour ruin the day. Meteorologists are always wrong!! Right? + why meteorologists hate New England Patriot Head Coach Bill Belichick. Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, Monica - this group redefined being a FRIEND for an entire generation...

On this episode of Commute - The Podcast: When the pandemic is finally over will consumers start spending money like it's going out of print? We look back 100 years for a clue. Sitcoms and cartoons have utilized fake laughter for 70 years - but how did they start, and why do some TV executives think laugh tracks will be around forever? Context is king. What does a clever experiment with an an...

On this episode of Commute - The Podcast: Sports cards were big business in the late 1980s; then the industry became nearly non-existent in the late 1990s. But wait... a single card sold for $2.96 million in 2020?! Chess isn't just for nerds (or men) anymore. Champion Sports has seen the highest of highs (NBA jersey/Dream Team sponsor) followed by the lowest of lows (the XFL - the first time)...

On this episode of Commute - The Podcast: Do we really need the penny? Trying to make some sense of the one cent. America's favorite game show has outlasted the competition (over 400 other shows!) for years thanks to a grueling taping schedule, a legendary host, and an occasional eccentric winner. A family made national news when their son disappeared in a hot air balloon - or did he? *** Fol...

Start your week by learning something new! On this episode of Commute - The Podcast: The documentary Three Identical Strangers f ocuses on Identical triplets separated at birth and adopted by three different families. Learn about the totally predictable and wildly unpredictable effects of 1.1 million people working together to try to beat...Pokemon. All TV shows must come to an end, right? Why is...

Commute - The Podcast. You'll be smarter when you get there. New episodes drop every Monday! Spend your commute learning about things that will fuel your conversations and make you the most interesting person in the room. Episode one: Meet Dave & Jay and hear the vision for the podcast. Christmas Trees. Are real Christmas trees destined to go the way of the dinosaur?  As the historic wrec...