Condensed Soup

I can't help loving them -- those predictable, shiny Christmas romances that flood the market every holiday season. Are you on board? (I totally understand if you aren't.) It's Love Week! How the TV holiday rom-com got so successful (Sylvie Douglas, NPR, Oct 21, 2024) Hallmark's Formula for a Very Sappy Christmas (Nicholas Gilmore, The Saturday Evening Post, Dec 20, 2019 Instagram: @condensedsoupp...

Are we in for a world of ... white? Pantone thinks so. What this could mean (maybe).  Pantone's 'Cloud Dancer' color party is a recession indicator (Mia Sato, The Verge, Dec 5, 2025) Backlash Hits Pantone After Color Of The Year Slammed as 'Tone Deaf,' 'Dystopian' (Mary Whitfield Roeloffs, Forbes, Dec 5, 2025) You read that white: Pantone's 2026 Color the Year is 'Cloud Dancer' (Ivy Buck, Alina Ed...

Did you know 1 out of 12 rams aren't that attracted to ewes? A German farm is saving these gay sheep.  Just not into ewes: 'gay sheep' escape slaughter and take over a New York catwalk (Julia Carrie Wong, The Guardian, Dec 5, 2025) Flehmen (ScienceDirect, accessed Dec 6, 2025) Same-Sex Behavior Among Animals Isn't New. Science is Finally Catching Up. (Barry Yeoman, National Wildlife Federation, Ju...

When a New Zealand thief stole a Fabergé pendant, he swallowed it. Police recovered it (naturally).  Police recover a swallowed Fabergé pendant after a 6-day wait for it to reappear (Charlotte Graham-McLay, AP, Dec 4, 2025) The Imperial Eggs (Faberge, accessed Dec 5, 2025) Faberge Eggs (Britannica, Nov 27, 2025) Fabergé egg made for mother of Russia's last tsar sells for £23m (Serena Richards, The...

Got shredded cheese? Check it! There's a huge recall in the U.S. Also, if you thought your air travel was tough, ask a violinist. 1.5 million bags of shredded cheese have been recalled. Check your fridge for these brands (Karen Garcia, LA Times, Dec 3, 2025) Soloist forced to travel with 'naked' 1782 violin as airline refuses her boarding with case (Hazel Davis, Classic FM, Dec 2, 2025) Violinist...

U.S. holiday flyers, this episode is for you. If you're flying, make sure you have a Real ID -- otherwise you might be out $45. Plus, if your flight is delayed or your luggage is lost, you could be entitled to money. How do you get a REAL ID? Not having one could soon cost you $45 (Kate Perez, USA Today, Dec 1, 2025) Flight delayed this holiday season? You may be entitled to a refund. Here's what...

The U.S. chose to stop commemorating World AIDS Day this year.  We'll do it here. The US government is no longer commemorating World AIDS Day (Jennifer Handler, CNN, Dec 1, 2025) For the first time since 1988, the U.S. is not officially commemorating World AIDS Day (Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, Dec 1, 2025) Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast condensedsoup@proton.me *This episode was recorded in a cruise...

It's a few days post-Thanksgiving, so here's an episode of leftovers -- some stories that I couldn't expand into full episodes, but that definitely belong in the Soup. Enjoy!  Florida police seize over 30 illegally used disability parking permits (Allison Petro, WESH-NBC, Dec 1, 2025) Senior Couple Gets Married in the YMCA Swimming Pool Where They First Met in a Water Aerobics Class (Erin Clack, P...

Karl Bushby is nearing the end of his trek around the world, a walk that has spanned almost three decades. It's a testament of commitment. Round-the-world walker prepares for home stretch (Eleanor Maslin, BBC News, Jun 11, 2025) Round-the-world walker swims across Caspian Sea (Holly Phillips, BBC News, Oct 19, 2024) The Long Way Home (Bill Donahue, Backpacker Magazine, Mar 24, 2025) 27. Years on f...

A heist! But this time, it's an entire harvest of escargot. Someone got shellfish...  Thieves take €90,000 of snails meant for Michelin-starred restaurants (Adam Sage, The Times, Nov 27, 2025) Escargot Plates & Serving Dishes: What You Need to Know (Hubert, accessed Nov 29, 2025) Escargot (Britannica, accessed Nov 29, 2025) From Peasant Fodder to Fine Dining, Feast on the Tasty History of How Snai...

Are pet raccoons in our future? A new study says -- maybe.  City life is reshaping raccoons — and may be nudging them toward domestication (Anna Betts, The Guardian, Nov 28, 2025) New research reveals urban raccoons across the US show early signs of domestication (Amanda Schupak, CNN Science, Nov 24, 2025) Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast condensedsoup@proton.me *This episode was recorded in a cru...

An AI-generated musician just topped the Christian and gospel charts. Should we be worried?  The Current No. 1 Christian Artist Has No Soul (Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, Christianity Today, Nov 21, 2025) An AI-generated band got 1m plays on Spotify. Now music insiders say listeners should be warned (Lanre Bakare, The Guardian, Jul 14, 2025) Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast condensedsoup@proton.me *This...

Gramma, the 140-year-old Galapagos tortoise, has died. She was a splendid animal.  Fire engulfs high-rise housing estate in Hong Kong, killing at least 44 (Jennifer Jett and Peter Guy, NBC News, Nov 26, 2025) Tortoise who experienced more than 20 US presidents, 2 World Wars dies at age 141 (Megan Forrester, ABC News, Nov 25, 2025) Galapagos giant tortoise (Galapagos Conservation Trust, accessed No...

Are you a Macy's Thanksgiving Parade person? Come learn about this American tradition.  Americans eye Thanksgiving travel weather after Texas tornadoes, snow and rain elsewhere (Juan A. Lozano, AP, Nov 25, 2025) Everything to Know About the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (Gina Salamone, NBC (dot) com, Nov 25, 2025) Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade UWS Inflation Event 2025: What To Know (West Si...

One of the hardest parts of traveling is the actual travel -- walking through airports with bags and kids can be tough. And now, some moving walkways are disappearing. I have thoughts.  Why airline passenger walks to the terminal gate may get a little longer (Kevin Williams, CNBC, Nov 22, 2025) This U.S. Airport Will Take You the Longest to Walk Through, According to a New Study (Stacey Leasca, Tr...

Still waiting to upgrade your phone? Trying to eke out as much time as possible before you have to spend money on a new one? You're not alone. Here's why it matters.  Americans are holding onto devices longer than ever and it's costing the economy (Kevin Williams, CNBC, Nov 23, 2025) Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast condensedsoup@proton.me *This episode was recorded in a cruise ship cabin.

Sumo wrestling is a segregated space. Will Japan's first female prime minister change that? Japan's first female leader faces a taboo over entering the male-only sumo ring (Mari Yamaguchi, AP, Nov 21, 2025) The female sumo wrestlers fighting for recognition — a photo essay (Yulia Skogoreva, The Guardian, Jun 30, 2023) What is Sumo Wrestling & Where to See a Match (Dayna Hannah, All Japan Tours, ac...

New crash test dummies designed to more closely resemble women's bodies will be used for American crash tests soon. Plus, more smart crows! Swedish firm deploys crows to pick up cigarette butts (Daniel Coffey, The Guardian, Feb 1, 2022) The Crows Who Clean Our Cities (Michele Gargiulo (dot) com, Nov 20, 2025) A new crash test dummy that better resembles women gets key government endorsement (Jeff...

Going to the movies can be a really indulgent experience -- and sometimes, we need a little escape.  'A different vibe': New York welcomes the luxury private cinema experience (Adrian Horton, The Guardian, Nov 20, 2025) The Ultimate Guide to Movie Ticket Prices (Cinemark, Aug 11, 2025) 10 Unique Movie Theatres Around the World (Hester Underhill, Something Curated, Sep 25, 2024) The History of Driv...

You've probably heard the rumors of crows being intelligent -- but how smart are they? The answer will surprise you. Unless you're a crow. 10 Fun Facts About the American Crow (Rachel Fritts, Audubon Magazine, Aug 25, 2021) Crows: Facts about the clever birds that live all over the world (Alina Bradford, Marilyn Perkins, Live Science, Jun 18, 2025) Crows could be the smartest animal other than pri...

Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is set to receive the new twice-yearly HIV prevention shot; plus, more about the African country, an absolute monarchy. Eswatini is the first African country to get twice-yearly HIV prevention shot (Farai Mutsaka, AP, Nov 18, 2025) Eswatini confirms receiving $5.1m from the US for accepting deportees (Farouk Chothia, BBC, Nov 18, 2025) Swaziland king renamed country '...

A few hoaxes from history -- would you fall for them?  7 of the Biggest Literary Hoaxes in History (Colin Scanlon, Mental Floss, Nov 13, 2025) 12 Famous Hoaxes That (Almost) Fooled Everyone (Carrie Bell, Readers Digest, Jun 10, 2025) Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast condensedsoup@proton.me *This episode was recorded in a cruise ship cabin.

Craving a crispy Coke? You're not alone. Here's why our bodies and brains love sodas.  There's a reason you're so hooked on soda. It's not entirely your fault (Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, Nov 12, 2025) Why soda is so addictive — and some good alternative beverages (Lisa Drayer, CNN, Oct 28, 2019) Move over Pepsi. Dr. Pepper is coming for you. Sodas are tied for America's 2nd favorites (Sara Che...

Don't throw away those banana peels! They're treasure, not trash. 8 things you didn't know about bananas (Andrew Mach and Carey Reed, PBS, Jan 24, 2016) Benefits of bananas also include those peels! (Chiquita (dot) com, Nov 22, 2020) 20 Clever Uses for Bananas (Besides Eating Them) (Reader's Digest Editors, Sep 21, 2024) Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast condensedsoup@proton.me *This episode was re...

You think you're a high-maintenance guest? Wait until you hear about these riders.  Cynthia Erivo had a 'witchy' way to get in character for 'Wicked: For Good' (Patrick Ryan, USA Today, Nov 14, 2025) From Bey to Biebs: here's what 7 stars have in their backstage riders (BBC Radio 1, accessed Nov 14, 2025) The 30 Most Absurd Celebrity Riders of All Time (Alex Warner, Esquire, Dec 5, 2022) Instagram...