The Internet Says it’s True

Prior to the Civil War, the United States Army experimented with using Camels to transport cargo through the American West. The program would have been considered largely successful if it weren't for the war. In this episode, we tell the story about how the camels were acquired, tested and the unlikely person who spearheaded the endeavor. Then we chat and play the quiz game with Las Vegas magician...

Before he was Donald Trump's Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows was involved in a Young-Earth-Creationist Dinosaur Dig with homeschooled children. The expedition turned up several incredibly rare fossils - a newsworthy story that led to a documentary, "Raising the Allosaur: The True Story of a Rare Dinosaur and the Home Schoolers Who Found It." But did the politician and the people who led the expeditio...

We've all heard of "Flat Earth Theory." But in the early 1800s, a man named John Cleves Symmes, Jr. spread his ideas far and wide, to anyone that would listen: That the Earth was hollow inside and habitable within. Did this theory actually get the support of U.S. President John Quincy Adams? In this episode, we'll find out and then we'll chat with podcast regular, mindreader Eric Dittelman! Review...

In 1975, The CIA revealed that it had developed a top-secret weapon for the purpose of giving its target a heart-attack - in some cases without even knowing they'd been hit with anything. In this episode, we talk about the Church Commission hearings that led to this discovery and others, then play the quick quiz with "Evolution of Dance" sensation, Judson Laipply!     Review this podcast at https:...

On February 25, 1942, the sky erupted with gunfire and anti-aircraft rounds. The ground-to-air assault went on for an hour, and the intended target was an invading Japanese air attack. But there was no enemy. The entire thing was a huge false alarm. It became known as the Battle of Los Angeles. In this episode, we tell the story about the air raid and then talk with Magicians Meadow Perry And Dani...

At the time of its largest population, Centralia, PA was an Eastern Pennsylvania borough with 2,700 residents. Now there are 5. This is due to a coal fire that's been burning under the town for almost 60 years, and continues to burn to this day. In this episode, we tell the sad story of Centralia and chat with entertainer Scot Nery for the quick quiz! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple....

NEW EPISODE! In 1808, a lover's quarrel in Paris led to one of the most interesting duels ever fought. Monsieur LePique and Monsieur de Grandpré both fell in love with the same ballerina. So they did what anyone caught in a 19th century Parisian love triangle would do: they fought a duel via hot air balloon. In this episode, we tell the extremely French tale and then issue a quick quiz about duels...

Originally released January 4th, 2021. The dropping of the ball in NYC's Times Square on New Years Eve is a tradition seen by billions of people around the world. But did the tradition of dropping a ball start in New York? In this episode, we explore the real history of the dropping ball and quiz my friend, magician Peter Boie! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-inter...

Originally released December 28, 2020 . Many Americans have heard of the age-honored German tradition of hanging Pickle-shaped ornament on the Christmas Tree. But is it really a tradition in Germany? This episode explores the truth and myths behind this German "tradition." Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and conte...

Originally released October 5, 2020. Using the bathroom in space has never been easy. And since the early NASA space missions of the 1960s, engineers have been solving this problem in ingenious ways. In this episode, we explore some of the many ways Astronauts have been able to go number 1 and 2. And we call Comedy Magician Erik Tait to see if he knows what we've just learned! Review this podcast...

A Japanese man named Daisuke Inoue is credited with being the "Father of Karaoke." What is now a $10 billion industry started with him creating tiny machines out of car stereos for bars around Osaka. This episode is all about his invention and why Inoue never made any royalties on it - missing out on what would now pay him $100 million a year had he patented the invention. Then we play the quick q...

In 1976, a skirmish at the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea led to the brutal murders of two Americans. The skirmish began over the trimming of a tree. The result was the most expensive tree-trimming in history. America and South Korea returned to the tree with all of their military might in a show of force. In this episode, I'll tell you a story about the DMZ that you may have nev...

Abraham Lincoln is known as "The Great Emancipator." But not many people know that during the Civil War, he jailed as many as 2,000 political opponents without charges or trial. The story in this episode revolves around what happened in Baltimore, Maryland in 1861 and why it led to the Mayor, the Police Chief, the entire City Council and many more being jailed indefinitely in a suspension of the w...

There's an ancient legend that Mongolian Ruler Genghis Khan desired that no one ever know the location of his grave, so he sent an army of men to murder anyone who came in contact with the funeral procession. And it gets even more interesting than that! This episode explores the First Khan's funeral legend, other famous unknown grave sites and then we play with quick quiz with Comedian & Performer...

Since 2010, the popular social media platform Facebook has been compiling facial recognition data on its users in one of the most-advanced and largest data set of the technology in history. In November of 2021, the company made the shocking announcement that they'd stop using facial recognition and would begin deleting users' facial recognition data from their servers. In this episode, we explore...

In 1982, Atari released a video game to cash in on the popularity of the movie E.T. The game for Atari 2600 was rushed to production and has been panned as the worst video game of all time. But did Atari try to cover up their mistake by burying millions of game cartridges in a landfill? In this episode, we talk about the development of the game and find out if the Internet says it's true. Then we...

This week's episode is a true crime tale - a shark spits up a human arm in a Sidney aquarium and it leads to one of Australia's most notorious - and strangest - murder cases. This shocking story from 1935 is a crazy one! Then we chat with Amma Marfo for the quick quiz! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589   Get half off when you sign...

Charles Lightoller was the Second Officer on board the ill-fated maiden voyage of the H.M.S. Titanic. Only saved by an exploding boiler, he went on to a notable life and may have been responsible for saving hundreds of lives during the World War II evacuation of Dunkirk. In this episode, we talk about the Titanic, Charles Lightoller and the heroic actions in Dunkirk, France. Then we invite Comedia...

"Anti-Mask" rants have taken over school board meetings, city council meetings, airplanes and stores throughout America. But did people act like this during the Flu Pandemic of 1918? In this episode, we examine what happened during the "Spanish Flu" when mask mandates were put into effect. Then we chat with Comedian Kelly Collette for the quick quiz! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.c...

The Cobra Effect is a story of unintended consequences. In British-controlled India, the government tried to offer an incentive to help curb the rampant deadly cobra problem. Their solution backfired. This is the story of the model that economist & sociologists call the "Cobra Effect." Then comedy writer Jimmy Mak comes on the show to play the quick quiz! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.ap...

After the U.S. Civil War, somewhere between 8,000-20,000 Confederates fled to Brazil where they established their own colony. Even today, you'll see the Confederate Flag flying there as they celebrate the "Festa Confederada" every Spring. In this episode, we examine this strange immigration story and chat with Actress and Comedian Jackie Tohn. Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Patreo...

When the Laerdal Toy Company was tasked with creating the very first mannequin for practicing CPR, they used a familiar face - it was that of "L'Inconnue de la Seine" - a famous mask supposedly cast from an unknown drowning victim discovered in the River Seine in the late 1880s. In this episode, we explore the strange case and then talk to Comedian and Author Dan Wilbur for the Quick Quiz! Bonus e...

In 2008, a man named Terry Kneiss won a double showcase on The Price is Right by making a perfect bid of $23,743 dollars. But there was more to it than luck. This is the crazy story of a gameshow going through changes and the man who helped Terry win: Ted Slauson. Then we chat with and play the quick quiz with game show fanatic Christian Carrion.  Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Pa...

When Barbra Streisand's 14-year old Coton du Tulear dog was nearing the end of its life, she sent some of its skin cells to ViaGen Pets. Now two of her dogs are perfect clones of that pet! In this episode, we tell the story of Babs' cloned dogs and chat with Comedian and Actor Maria DeCotis !  Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For 20% Virtual Presenter Course,...

For a very short time period, the Pepsi Cola Company had the sixth largest navy in the world. It was the result of a crazy trade deal with the Soviet Union and the Soviets' love for the soft drink. In this episode, we explore how this came to be and then play the Quick Quiz game with Comedian & Magician Erik Tait! Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For 20% Virtu...