The Internet Says it’s True

In this episode we explore a truly unexpected heritage-risk story: the Poison Book Project, where conservators discovered that beautiful emerald-green book cloths from the 19th century were hiding arsenic-based pigments. We trace how a routine conservation observation at Winterthur led to global cataloguing, how the chemistry works, how libraries are responding—and what this means for the next tim...

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about how wearing headphones for just one hour can increase the bacteria in your ears by 700%. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Patreon.com/Mich...

Originally released March 7, 2022. The Marathon at the 1904 Summer Olympics was SUPER WEIRD. One man was chased off course by wild dogs. One man was intentionally poisoned. Another ate bad fruit and fell asleep. Several were severely dehydrated. The apparent winner was disqualified. And all of this happened because Russia started a war. In this episode, we talk about the 1904 Saint Louis Summer Ol...

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about how you can't burp in space without throwing up. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links...

Originally released July 7, 2024. A little known battle during WWII didn't occur between the Axis and Allies; rather it occurred between Black and White members of the U.S. Army. In this episode, we tell the story of what happened in the small village of Bamber Bridge in England during a time of extreme racial tension.  Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says...

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about how high penguins can jump. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visi...

Long before YouTube, before Twitch, before livestreams were everywhere, the first webcam pointed at something we'd consider boring by today's standards: a coffee pot. In this episode, Michael tells the story of how a small convenience in a Cambridge lab changed the internet forever. Then we chat with Comedian Dan Wilbur! Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://...

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about how the Earth's moon has moonquakes. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our spons...

Originally released November 29, 2021. 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 st...

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about how on Venus, a day is longer than a year. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our...

In this episode we journey through the strange terrain of persistent déjà vu—the case of a 23-year-old British man whose life was overtaken by the feeling that every moment had already happened. From his early anxieties, through the medical investigations that turned up nothing though his suffering was very real, to the theories that may explain why déjà vu generally—and why his became an endless...

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about how the United States Flag was designed by a 17-year-old. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts a...

In this episode we explore the remarkable life of Mehran Karimi Nasseri — born in Iran, studying in England, losing critical documents, and spending 18 years living in Charles de Gaulle Airport. We track how he carved out a life on red plastic benches, declined legal offers, clung to identity, and inspired films like Lost in Transit and The Terminal. What parts of his life became legend, and what...

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about how lobsters taste with their feet. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponso...

During the Civil War, hundreds of people assigned female at birth served in male disguise. Some did it out of patriotism, some for love, and for others, it was about living as the gender they knew themselves to be. In this episode, we uncover the stories of Albert D.J. Cashier, Lyons Wakeman, Frank Thompson, Samuel Blalock, Mollie “Melvin” Bean, and Mary “John” Burns — individuals who challenged 1...

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about the origin bubble wrap.  Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit ...

In 1967, Kathrine Switzer made history as the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon. But it wasn’t without drama — a furious race official tried to drag her off the course in front of photographers. This episode dives into Switzer’s groundbreaking run, the earlier efforts of Bobbi Gibb, and the lasting impact they had on women’s sports worldwide. Then we play the quiz with Comedian and...

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about wombat poop. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit  http://thein...

You’ve probably seen the list of spooky coincidences between Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy — the elections, the assassins, the secretaries. But which of them are true, and which are myths? This week, we trace the origins of one of America’s favorite trivia lists and separate fact from fiction. Then we chat with Las Vegas Headlining Magician, Mat Franco! Did you know The Internet Says It's Tr...

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about the origin of the word "Jiffy" as it pertains to measuring time.  Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at  http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special dis...

In this episode we explore the chilling moment when a heartless comment—“let them eat grass”—became a spark that ignited a war. We trace the starvation, the politics, the desperate plea for help, and the grim vengeance that followed. This isn’t just history—it’s a powerful reminder of consequences, words, and human failure. We talk about Myrick, his involvement and demise, then we chat with Comedi...

In 1948, Idaho faced a strange wildlife problem: too many beavers in the wrong place. Their solution? Strap parachutes to them and drop them from planes. In this episode, we dive into the bizarre-but-true history of the Idaho Beaver Drop, one of the weirdest wildlife relocation stories ever. In this episode, we tell the story about Idaho's "Beaver Drop" program and then chat with Writer and Educat...

When you go to a restaurant and order Chilean Sea Bass, you're not getting what you think. It’s not Chilean, it’s not a bass, and the name was made up to help sell a fish no one wanted to eat. In this episode, we dive into the surprising marketing success of the Patagonian toothfish - from obscurity to fine dining stardom - and what happened when demand pushed the fish to the brink of collapse. Th...

He was the voice of America’s Top 40 – but after Casey Kasem died, a bizarre battle broke out over his body. From courtrooms to Norway to Howard Stern’s radio show, the story gets stranger at every turn. This week on The Internet Says It’s True, we tell the story, then chat with Comedy Writer Jimmy Mak! Pre-Order The Book Here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple....

Originally released October 10, 2022. When Edgar Allan Poe wrote his only novel in 1838, he included a grim story about a young cabin boy who was killed and eaten at sea so that other sailors could survive. 46 years later, an uncanny coincidence took place. This episode is all about the case of Richard Parker. We welcome back Comedian and Writer Jay Black to the show to play the quick quiz! Review...