Alex Schmidt

Secretly Incredibly Fascinating

Society EN ↓ 322 episodes

A weekly podcast about the history, science, lore and surprises that make everyday things secretly incredibly fascinating. Hosted by comedy writer, emoji creator, and ‘Jeopardy!‘ champion Alex Schmidt. Join Alex & his co-host Katie Goldin for a joyful deep dive into seeing the world a whole new way! (For research sources, bonus episodes, and how you can support the podcast, visit sifpod.fun.)

Author

Alex Schmidt

Episodes

Zoos! 11.08.2025 1:13:23

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why zoos are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 (Alex’s old podcast hosting service required a minimum of 5 characters per episode title, and he's keeping that going for fun. So that’s why this episode’s title h...

http www 04.08.2025 1:27:12

Alex Schmidt and special guest Jason Pargin explore why "http www" is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Escalators 28.07.2025 1:09:28

Alex Schmidt and special guest Dan Hopper explore why escalators are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Sunscreen 21.07.2025 1:09:46

Alex Schmidt and special guest Lydia Bugg explore why sunscreen is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Rock Paper Scissors 14.07.2025 1:08:58

Alex Schmidt and special guest Dennard Dayle explore why "rock paper scissors" is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Bastille Day 07.07.2025 1:03:06

Alex Schmidt and special guest Tom Lum explore why Bastille Day is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Echidnas 30.06.2025 1:08:06

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why echidnas are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

The Word "Hello" 23.06.2025 1:08:38

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why the word "hello" is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Roller Derby 16.06.2025 1:09:49

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why roller derby is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

VHS Tapes 09.06.2025 1:11:09

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why VHS tapes are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Bubble Tea 02.06.2025 1:11:17

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why bubble tea is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Emergency Phone Numbers 26.05.2025 1:17:56

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why emergency phone numbers are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Cinnamon 19.05.2025 1:10:54

Alex Schmidt, Katie Goldin, and special guest Seth Lind explore why cinnamon is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Heterochromia 12.05.2025 1:00:23

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why heterochromia is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

The Northwest Passage 05.05.2025 1:11:02

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why the Northwest Passage is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Spam! 28.04.2025 1:08:12

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why Spam is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 (Alex’s old podcast hosting service required a minimum of 5 characters per episode title, and he's keeping that going for fun. So that’s why this episode’s title ha...

Copper 21.04.2025 1:06:03

Alex Schmidt, Katie Goldin, and special guest Janet Varney explore why copper is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Easter Eggs 14.04.2025 1:03:21

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why Easter eggs are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Theremins 07.04.2025 1:09:56

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why theremins are secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Indigo 31.03.2025 1:11:21

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why indigo is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Salt! 24.03.2025 1:21:31

Alex Schmidt, Katie Goldin, and special guest Jason Pargin explore why salt is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 (Alex’s old podcast hosting service required a minimum of 5 characters per episode title, and he's keeping that going for fun. So that’...

Alex joins MFD Spring Break 18.03.2025 1:19:17

It’s not MaxFunDrive without a wild kickoff spectacular! Former real-life VJ and host of MTV's Spring Break 1999, Dave Holmes, takes your favorite MaxFun hosts through some wacky ‘90s- and Spring Break-themed mini games!! Featuring: Dave Holmes, Jeremy Bent, Oscar Montoya, Dimitry Pompée, Tom Lum, Ellen Weatherford, Alex Schmidt, Brenda Snell, Drea Clark, Alonso Duralde, Dan McCoy, Jordan Morris,...

The Y2K Bug 17.03.2025 1:10:36

Alex Schmidt, Katie Goldin, and special guests Clint McElroy and Justin McElroy explore why "Y2K" is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon 10.03.2025 1:01:28

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why "six degrees of Kevin Bacon" is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Esperanto 03.03.2025 1:04:36

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why Esperanto is secretly incredibly fascinating. Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode. Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: https://discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5 Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod