Thank You for Toilet Paper: A History of the Little Things

It fills the pages of books, takes us to new worlds, creates peace between countries, shares love and good wishes in letters, and ultimately allows us to tell the stories of our lives. Let's take some time for a little gratitude for ink.

This nifty tool opened the door to new worlds, navigation routes, trade and more. Before it adopted the compass rose we know today, you could find a compass shaped like a turtle, sporting a good protractor, mirror, or more. Let's learn a little bit more about the compass.

From China to around the world, fireworks have been used to celebrate some pretty epic moments. Although they may have gotten their start as a means to ward off ghosts, or a failed attempt to find eternal life, they've certainly created some life-long memories since. Let's take a moment to learn a little bit more about fireworks.

It's the world's favorite sport. From Messi to Pelé to Ronaldo to the kids who play behind the school and in dirt lots around the world, football is a sport that makes memories. Let's talk about a little bit of the history behind the beautiful game.

It's time to pay tribute to the nifty little bandages that allow us to get up and keep going after we trip and fall, crash and burn, or lose a battle to a paper cut. Let's talk about Band-Aids.

Be it a fear of heights, public speaking, or particular discomfort with clowns, we all have things that scare us. But fear doesn't always have to be a bad thing. Let's talk about a few reasons we can be thankful for fear.

If you normally have hair that blows majestically in the wind as you embark on your weekly adventure, then these are your best friends. And if you're not up for adventures this week, at the very least, these may have kept your newspapers together. Let's talk rubber bands and hair ties.

If you've been jamming to a beat that's "smooth like butter", well, you're not alone! It's time to celebrate something that has saved meals for centuries. Let's talk about butter.

From Sherlock Holmes working out mysteries, to camels giving birth, violins and their "ancestor instruments" have some unique stories to tell, beyond the music they share. Time to learn about the violin.

Whether you like them skinny, wide-legged, bootcut or bell bottomed, here's hoping you've made some excellent memories in your blue jeans!

This week's podcast topic was suggested by a friend! Growing up these toys may have helped us through a tough night's sleep, or given us comfort during a difficult time. One way or another, there's nothing that protects us during a scary movie quite like stuffed animals. Let's talk about why we can be grateful for our faithful, plush companions.

Who says being "cookie cutter" is a bad thing? Let's talk about some of our favorite holiday shapes and how we got to cookie cutters.

Who'd have thought that the kite once played an important role in military tactics? From the military, to fishing, to delivering love notes and helping us learn more about wind, rain and lightning, the kite has helped us make many discoveries around the world for centuries. Let's learn a little bit more about what it means to "go fly a kite".

They've helped sailors and travelers navigate for centuries. Let's talk about the constellations that paint our night sky with great stories and myths.

Paper or Plastic? It may be the question you're asked over and over again at the grocery store, or perhaps you've got your own reusable bag at your disposal. Whatever material you use, we all know that the most impressive thing is when we can get all the groceries home in one go, no matter how sore it may make our arms. Let's take some time to talk gratitude, and paper or plastic bags.

Although we won't be able to answer which came first, the chicken or the egg, we'll find that for thousands of years we've had a lot to be grateful for when it comes to eggs.

This 2,000 year old tool for cooking has resulted in some amazingly tasty cuisine. In this episode we'll talk about the Wok and the woman who popularized Northern Chinese cuisine in the United States, the one and only Joyce Chen.

With over 200 uses, let's learn about how we might all be just a little bit bulletproof.

The handshake represented a sacred bond, trust, honor and friendship. Let's learn a little bit more about how we greet one another around the world.

Time to learn about how an actress, a composer, a Viking King, a Swedish Inventor and many others all made it possible for you to ask your phone to turn off the lights in your house, while you listen to music on your wireless headphones. Let's talk about Bluetooth!

Did you know that learning about your family story can help you become more resilient? Time to learn about the United States' second most popular hobby: Family History.

What do ironing boards, sprinklers and steam engine lubricators have in common? The one and only Elijah McCoy--"the real McCoy". 

Considered the top speech of the 20th Century in the United States, given with beautiful oration by the then youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, let's talk about the impact of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech and his principles of non-violence.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for...Alfred L. Cralle, the inventor of the modern ice cream scoop! And the first African American inventor in the United States to obtain a patent. Time to learn about his invention: the ice cream scoop!

In this "nutty" little episode, we'll talk about the peanut, a few of its uses, the genius of George Washington Carver and how his discoveries saved agriculture in the United States south.