Stumbled Upon

Happy Friday! This week we're taking a deep into what slang is and where it comes from. Sources: “Don’t Get Mixed Up By These Differences In US, UK, And Australian English.” Dictionary. com , 28 Jan. 2019, https://www.dictionary.com/e/s/differences-us-uk-aussie-english/#australia-confrontation . Accessed 16 July 2025. Green, Rylin. “IYKYK: Unraveling the Secrets of Slang.” BYU , 25 Oct. 2023, http...

Happy Friday! This week we're taking a deep dive into where aspects of American fire safety originated inspired by the Netflix documentary about the Grenfell Tower fire in London. Sources: CertaSite Editor. “Fire History 101: History of Fire Safety Regulation.” CertaSite , 25 April 2024, https://www.certasitepro.com/news/fire-safety-history#:~:text=Fire%20Safety%20from%201600%2D1899,costliest%20fi...

Happy Friday! This week we're taking a deep dive into the flu pandemic of 1918. Some of you may know it as the Spanish Flu, but scientists believe it actually originated in America and it ultimately killed roughly 20% of the world's population. Sources: History.com Editors. “Spanish Flu.” History , updated 28 May 2025, https://www.history.com/articles/1918-flu-pandemic . Accessed 2 July 2025. Hump...

Happy Friday! Today we're doing a deep dive into the first day of summer also known as the summer solstice and how it's celebrated throughout the world. Sources: “Celebrate Noche de San Juan in Puerto Rico.” Discover Puerto Rico , https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/info/noche-de-san-juan#!grid~~~date~1~~ . Accessed 21 June 2025. Dobrijevic, Daisy. “The summer solstice: What is it and when does it...

Happy Friday! Today we're taking a deep dive into the placebo effect as well as what it means to try to positively impact your health with how you think. Sources: “All The World’s A Stage—Including The Doctor’s Office.” Hidden Brain from NPR, 11 May 2020, https://www.npr.org/2020/05/11/853753307/all-the-worlds-a-stage-including-the-doctor-s-office . Accessed 15 June 2025. Patterson, Elissa H. and...

Happy Friday! Today we're taking a deep dive into how lightning is formed, where it strikes, and common myths surrounding it. Sources: Biswas, Joyeeta. “Experts debunk 5 common myths about getting struck by lightning.” ABC News, 5 Sept. 2018, https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/experts-debunk-common-myths-struck-lightning/story?id=57475177 . Accessed 10 June 2025. CDC. “Lightning Strike Victim Data....

Happy Friday and Happy Pride Month! This week we are taking a deep dive into the uprising that sparked the rise of the mainstream Pride movement and the creation of Pride Month. Sources: Cabrera-Lomeli, Carlos. “San Francisco Pride Parade loses several corporate sponsors, organizers say.” NPR Morning Edition , 24 Mar. 2025, https://www.npr.org/2025/03/24/nx-s1-5334685/san-francisco-pride-parade-lo...

Happy Friday! This week we're taking a deep dive into some of the scarier bridges, both in America and abroad. Sources: Adams, Lee. “People Are So Terrified Of This US Bridge That There Are Services To Drive Your Car Across It.” Explore , 1 May 2024, https://www.explore.com/1571835/chesapeake-bay-bridge-maryland-dangerous-services-offered-drive-car-across/ . Accessed 25 May 2025. History.com Edito...

Happy Friday! This week we're taking a deep dive into the origins of western astrology. From Babylonian priests in Mesopotamia all the way to modern personal astrology readings. Sources: “Astrology Summary.” Britannica , https://www.britannica.com/summary/astrology . Accessed 17 May 2025. Caruso, Catherine. “What are the ancient origins of your zodiac sign?” National Geographic , 3 July 2024, http...

Happy Friday! I know that we're a few days late, but here is the surprising history of May 1st and all of the holidays that fall on it today. This holiday weaves together ancient agricultural festivals, spring customs, and labor rights protests...there's a lot to unpack here. Sources: Bowman, Emma. “What is May Day? For the most part, the opposite of capitalism.” NPR , 1 May 2024, https://www.npr....

Happy Friday! This week we chat about random topics that have caught my attention recently, from space and aliens to time loops and the ocean. Let me know if there are topics that you'd like me to deep dive by emailing me at stumbledpod@gmail.com! Sources: StarTalk podcast with Neil DeGrasse Tyson Pagan Coffee Talk with Life Temple and Seminary Music: https://pixabay.com/users/lsmusic-46357977/

Happy Friday! This week we're diving into where hamburgers came from and why fast food creates such strong cravings. Sources: Barksdale, Nate. “Where Hamburgers Began—and How They Became and Iconic American Food.” History , 29 Aug. 2014, https://www.history.com/articles/hamburger-helpers-the-history-of-americas-favorite-sandwich . Accessed 20 April 2025. “Fast Food Consumption in the United States...

Happy Friday! This week we're taking a deep dive (no pun intended) into Lake Michigan and some of it's spookiest stories. Sources: “About Great Lakes Waves and Currents” National Weather Service , https://www.weather.gov/iwx/beachhazards_waves_currents . Accessed 12 April 2025. “Dangerous Currents.” Sea Grant Michigan , https://www.michiganseagrant.org/topics/coastal-hazards-and-safety/dangerous-c...

Happy Friday! This week we're taking a deep dive into the notorious bank robber AND prison escape artist, Willie Sutton...his story is wild! Sources: Canavan, Kathryn. “75 years later: A look back at Willie Sutton’s infamous prison escape.” Metro Philadelphia , 9 Feb. 2022, metrophiladelphia.com/75-years-later-a-look-back-at-willie-suttons-infamous-prison-escape/ . Accessed 6 April 2025. Kiernan,...

Happy Friday! This week we're taking a deep dive into the controversial Milgram Shock Experiments from the early 1960s. Would you obey? How far do YOU think is too far in the pursuit of knowledge? Sources: Cherry, Kendra. “Understanding the Milgram Experiment in Psychology.” Very Well Mind , 13 Aug 2024, www.verywellmind.com/the-milgram-obedience-experiment-2795243 . Accessed 30 Mar 2025. McLeod,...

Happy Friday! Ever wonder where language comes from? Well, this week we're diving into where scientists believe human language began as well as how babies learn to speak. Sources: “Birth of a Language.” PBS , www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/07/2/l_072_04.html . Accessed 25 Mar 2025. Futrell, Richard. “When was talking invented? A language scientist explains how this unique feature of human bein...

This week we take a deep dive into where hair dye originated and how the beauty standards around hair dye have changed through history. Sit back, relax, and you might learn something new! Sources: Campus Staff. “History of Hair Coloring.” Campus , 31 Dec 2024, campus.edu/blog/cosmetology/history-of-hair-coloring . Accessed 18 Mar 2025. Cerini, Marianna. “From rainbow to gray: The evolution of hair...

Happy Friday! This week we take a deep dive that starts with the Mandela Effect and ends with a discussion about aphantasia, a condition where people cannot form pictures in their minds. We'll talk about conspiracies and I'll share a thought experiment so you can figure out how you see things (or don't) in your mind. Sources: Aphantasia Network. “The Ball on a Table: How to Tell the Difference Bet...

On today's episode we dive into the topic of butterflies and why they are so important to our current ecosystems. Plus I go over tips to keep their populations strong...with some side track stories along the way. Sources: Helliwell, Leslie, “Top Ten Ways to Help Butterflies.” ENC , 22 Feb 2015, encenter.org/top-ten-ways-to-help-butterflies/ . Accessed 28 Nov 2024. Kawahara, A.Y., Storer, C., Carva...

It's almost Mardi Gras! Explore the history of this tradition with me as we take a deep dive into what the festival is all about! Sources: Barclay, Eliza. “Is That A Plastic Baby Jesus In My Cake?” NPR, 17 Feb 2012, www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/02/17/147039138/is-that-a-plastic-baby-jesus-in-my-cake . Accessed 22 Feb 2025. Betit, Jessica. “What is Mardi Gras?” Gardiner Public Library, 1 March...

Ever wondered how memories work? Take a deep dive with me into how researchers think we store memories and what you can do to keep your memories alive as you age. Sources: Mayo Clinic Staff. "Memory Loss: 7 tips to improve your memory." Mayo Clinic , www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/memory-loss/art-20046518. Accessed 2 Feb 2025. Miller, Greg. "How Our Brains Make Memorie...

Today we're doing a deep dive into the history of Valentine's Day and it is weird...so sit back, relax, and enjoy! xoxo Kate Sources: History.com Editors. "History of Valentine's Day." History , 22 Dec 2009, www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2. Accessed 10 Feb 2025. Seipel, Arnie. "The dark origins of Valentine's Day." NPR , 14 Feb 2022, www.npr.org/2011/02/14/1336931...

Take a deep dive with me into a brief history of the US Airline industry and our modern fear of flying...and we'll troll my friends in the process! Sources: Dobkin, Rachel. "How Common Are Plane Crashes? What Statistics Show." Newsweek , 30 Jan 2025, www.newsweek.com/plane-crash-statistics-american-airlines-2023691. Accessed 2 Feb 2025. Ducharme, Jamie. "Why Some People Have a Crippling Fear of Fl...

In this episode we go down the rabbit hole of the tradition of blowing out birthday candles. There might also be a few side note topics, so sit back, relax, and enjoy! Sources: Gage, Mary, and James Gage. "Birthday Cakes: History and Recipes." New England Recipes (2012). Jou, Jwo-Huei, et al. "Unveiling the Mythical Candles." Building and Environment 169(2020): 106565. Music from: https://pixabay....