Piqued Podcast

Do you know how gasoline is made? Or what octane rating is and why it's actually pretty important? Are you curious why a small channel over 7000 miles away impacts the prices at our pumps? Join Trini and Monica as they explore the kind of crazy world of gasoline. Sources: Brain, M. (2000, April 1). How gasoline works . HowStuffWorks. https://science.howstuffworks.com/gasoline.htm Casey, S. (20...

Have you ever woken up from a dream and felt an intense emotion afterwards? Or wonder what your dream is trying to tell you? Join Trini and Monica as they explore the world of dreams, some possible explanations as to why they happen, and why research into dreams is actually incredibly hard to study. Editor's note: we tried a new mic (we didn't like it) so the sound quality might be a littl...

Do you know how bees really make honey? Or how they have very specific tasks that they only perform at certain stages of their lives. Join Trini and Monica as they take a deep dive into the world of honey bees. If you like the show, please be sure to leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts - reviews help new listeners find our show! Sources: https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/glossary/terms...

Our first grab bag! We took all the questions we've had over the past 20 episodes and answered them in a silly, all over the place romp! Find out how sharks actually retract their stomachs after they've emptied them, and if you can accidentally speak to hummingbird by hammering on the outside of your house. If you like the show, please be sure to subscribe and leave a review; comments are...

Content warning: adult language and themes of sexuality and romance are discussed in this episode. Have you ever heard of a vinegar valentine? Did you know the stories of the saints the day was named after (and how they were probably adapted to suit the needs of the church to combat a Roman fertility festival?)? Did you know that Cupid started out as a stud before evolving into a chubby baby angel...

Do you know what the first food marketed as a superfood was? Are commonly known superfoods really that much better for you or is it all a product of mass marketing? Join Trini and Monica as they explore the world of superfoods, what makes them so necessary for a balanced diet, and how you can incorporate more to improve your overall health (and what the super foods can, and cannot, do for our bodi...

Content Warning: This episode contains strong language and discussions of sexual abuse. Listener Discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is experiencing or is a survivor of abuse, help is available. Contact the Sexual Abuse Hotline, RAINN, either at 800-656-HOPE or visit their website, https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/ for resources available in your area. We covered the first...

How do octopus's suckers work? How do they change color so quickly? And what is the actual correct way to say octopus in the plural? Join Monica and Trini as they learn more about the most intelligent alien-like mollusks of the sea. Sources: Baker, H. (2022, May 11). How Do Octopuses Change Color . Live Science. Retrieved January 18, 2026, from https://www.livescience.com/how-do-octopuses-chan...

Content warning: Language and discussion of domestic violence. If you or anyone you know is in an unsafe relationship, or suffering from abuse, there is hope. Visit https://www.thehotline.org/ or https://www.findhelp.org/program/6376499712098304 now to find resources near you. You've heard the rhyme (or the musical): Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived. But other than their...

This week, Monica and Trini explore the origin of New Year's resolutions (spoiler: it's the church. Again.), why so many people fail at keeping their resolutions and what you might be able to do instead to make lasting change. Sources: BetterHelp (2025, December 20). New Year's Resolutions: Statistics and Evidence-based Strategies for Success . Better Health Editorial Team. Retrieved J...

Recently, the Louvre was in the headlines when at least 4 audacious thieves stole priceless jewels in broad daylight. But did you know that it wasn't the first time something incredible had been stolen from the Louvre? Join Trini and Monica as they explore the history of the world's most iconic painting, and how an unlikely thief made an otherwise overlooked painting the most famous in the...

We're back in the Himalayas this week, exploring the mysterious Yeti. From ancient assistants to modern yak attacks, join Trini and Monica as they discuss what the yeti could really be as well as the cultural and psychological holes the myth of the yeti might help fill. Be sure to like and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Reviews help new listeners find our show. If you have any...

Ever wonder how builders get around the 13th floor in high rises? Or why thirteen is considered unlucky in the first place? Join Monica and Trini as they dig into the psychological and historical origins of why 13 gets such a bad rap. Sources: 13 (Number). (2025, October 25). In Wikipedia . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_(number) Britannica Editors. "Why Is 13 Unlucky?". Encyclopedia B...

Content Warning: This episode does describe instances of death on the mountain, along with how the bodies are treated on the mountain. Listener discretion is advised. Everyone's heard of Mount Everest, but have you ever learned about the actual makeup of the mountain? Or what the most common route up the mountain looks like? Join Monica and Trini as they explore the world's highest (but no...

Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of naval warfare, including some examples of casualties. It also contains two instances of adult language. When you studied the second World War in school, did you ever learn about the turning point of the Pacific campaign when essentially a single US battleship with a real badass of an admiral forced an entire contingent of Japanese ships to tur...

Content warning: This episode has the occasional swear, a few references to decaying meat, and a discussion regarding the origin of a mass hysteria event that lead to the death of hundreds of people. If any of this is not your jam, please feel free to skip over this week and join us back here next time. Monica takes the helm this week for our 10th episode! Join the ladies as they dart around the z...

Did you ever wonder how the cinnamon you find in the store gets made? Or where it comes from? Join Monica and Trini as they dive into the origins and history of cinnamon usage. They'll learn all about the traditional techniques still used today to harvest this spice, along with having a taste test to differentiate the different varieties. Side note: This episode has a special third host, howev...

Do you want to know the wild (and slimy) origin of purple dye? Or why the Egyptians wore green pigment around their eyes? Or how blue was one of the first synthetic colors to be produced by scientists? Join Trini and Monica as they dive into the cool spectrum and learn about the history and psychology of the second half of the rainbow spectrum. Be sure to follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠...

Have you ever wondered what the first time anyone used red paint was? Or if the color orange is named after the fruit or if the fruit is named after the color? Or why yellow is associated with happiness? Join Trini and Monica this week as they explore exactly how we see colors, what they've represented to different cultures throughout history, and even what's used to make them today. Be su...

Content Warning: Some coarse language used. In 1862, 22 Union spies and soldiers put on a daring raid to prevent the Confederacy from reinforcing Chattanooga. What happens next involves pushcarts, telegraph lines, eggs (eggs???), and an ending that you have to hear to believe. Get ready to follow along on the wildest tale you've never heard. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Bluesky ! Sour...

Content warning for this episode - some language may not be suitable for young children. There are also some descriptions of bird mating rituals (18:00-20:45), along with describing the hyoid bone in humans that detours in a small segment regarding strangulation (11:40-13:10). Listener discretion is advised. Have you ever wondered why woodpeckers hammer on your chimney? Or why they aren't sufferin...

Have you ever seen pictures of the Aurora Borealis and wondered what causes them? Join Monica and Trini as they explore the northern (and southern!) lights, what causes them, and some beautiful traditional folklore surrounding one of the Earth's most magical natural phenomenon. Sources: https://www.space.com/aurora-colors-explained https://www.space.com/15139-northern-lights-auroras-earth-facts-sd...

This week, Monica and Trini do a deep dive into aliens. Where did the common tropes about aliens originate and what are some of the more famous sightings? Come join us as we learn about the history of aliens and what scientists actually expect to find while looking for life on other planets. Sources:  https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/education/alp/what-is-a-biosignature/ https://www.todayifoundout.co...

On the surface, fish seem pretty easy to distinguish - they live in the water, breathe through gills, lay eggs. But, what if all of that is conditional? Join Trini and Monica as they discover all the ways fish defy expectations, and how fish are really classified more by a process of elimination rather than by what they have. Sources: Lungfish - American Lung Association Defining a Fish Labyrinth...

Have you ever wondered about curiosity? In the introductory episode, Monica and Trini explore the history and implications of being curious. We'll also dive into the science behind curiosity and why it can be so beneficial in modern society. If you like the show, please consider subscribing and leaving a review! If you have any questions or a suggestion for a future episode or maybe a question abo...