The Internet Says it’s True

Originally released October 4, 2021. 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! R...

Every fall in Iceland, local residents throw baby puffins off a cliff. It sounds cruel, but it's actually part of a conservation strategy. These "Puffling Patrols" are actually helping to mitigate human-caused disruptions to the Atlantic Puffin's natural migration patterns. In this episode, we talk about "humans being bros," the Atlantic Puffin, the Icelandic practice of puffin chuckin', and then...

The Military Intelligence required to land on the beaches of Normandy France in 1944 was massive. And while Allied Forces were up to the task in gathering terrain maps, soil samples and German defensive positions, a TON of valuable information was gained through a BBC Photography contest and photos submitted by the public. In this episode, we talk about different types of intelligence gathering, h...

Occasionally an item makes its way onto a movie set that has real-world value outside of the "silver screen." In a world where most props are manufactured or procured strictly to serve a purpose in a film, these real-world items have been seen on major feature films. In this episode, we'll talk about a few of these, and a mishap that ended in one of these rare items being destroyed on-screen! Then...

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 . It's an age-old tradition on The Internet Says it's True! The Pickle Episode! 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.c...

Starting on November 18 of 2024, people in New Jersey started reporting mysterious SUV-sized drones flying over. They were seen over Trump's Bedminster Golf Club, NJ's Picatinny Arsenal, Naval Weapons Station Earle, and city streets. In this episode, we update you on the latest about these drones and present a special DOUBLE FEATURE rewind from two past stories that the drone sightings have us thi...

In 1957, an amazing discovery was made - it was a Viking Penny dating back to 11th Century Norway.  The find itself was rare, but not unheard of. The thing that made it so remarkable? It was found on the Eastern shore of Maine in the United States. Is this evidence that the Vikings beat Christopher Columbus to America by 400 years? In this episode, we discuss Norse exploration, L'Anse aux Meadows,...

It's a first for our podcast! The episode we ran on November 11, 2024 about the U.S.S. Constitution and Constitution Grove in Indiana was so popular, it made its way to the ears to the ears of the Historian for the United States Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment Boston, which is the group that is the authority on the topic! Historian, Margherita M. Desy, spent some time with me to he...

George was a psychiatric patient whose Obsessive Compulsive Disorder was so advanced that it drove him to attempt suicide. He survived the attempt, but in doing so, he was miraculously cured of his OCD symptoms. In this episode, we talk about the frontal lobe, the function of the prefrontal cortex, and famous neuroscience stories like Phineas Gage and George. Then we chat with Comedian Dan Wilbur....

There's a popular Hollywood story about Lucille Ball. She told several people, including Dick Cavett, that the temporary fillings in her mouth picked up radio stations - even detecting an underground Japanese Spy Ring during World War II! This episode is a bit of a departure from our normal episodes as we try to get to the truth of the famous tale. And since this is a "Mythbusters" style podcast,...

In Southern Indiana, the United States Government has set aside a 53,000 acre forest for a singular purpose: to support the maintenance of ONE 227-year old warship. In this episode, we talk about purpose-planted forests, Constitution Grove and the history of the U.S.S. Constitution.  Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episode...

Actor Nicholas Cage is well-known as an eccentric guy, and his many bizarre collections are a testament to that reputation. But in 2007, Cage bought a rare dinosaur skull that got him in trouble with the government of Mongolia. In this episode, we talk about his collections, the skull purchase, the A-List actor he outbid, and the unfortunate result of the purchase. Then we chat with Comedian and M...

This week, the baseball world mourned the passing of beloved Dodgers Pitcher, Fernando Valenzuela. In this rewind episode from February of 2022, we tell the sad story about Dodger Stadium, which starts with a piece about Valenzuela. Dodger Stadium seats 56,000. It’s the 3rd oldest, and the largest stadium in Major League Baseball. But the story of how – and where – it was built is a difficult tale...

During World War II, the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the 2nd Polish Corps enlisted a Syrian Brown Bear as one of their own. At first, it was just a mascot, but ended up earning a battlefield commission by doing much more! In this week's episode, we learn about various animal troops during the war and tell the story of Wojtek, the Soldier Bear! Then we play the quiz and chat with Comedian Harr...

In the last 4 years, we've covered some amazing stories about aviation. In this special digest episode of The Internet Says it's True, we take a look back at four of these stories: - An American pilot flying for the French that most people have never heard of - A very humorous and downright ballsy stunt by one of the world's most famous aviators - The time we almost dropped a nuclear bomb on South...

For decades, the story about the woman who sued McDonald's because her coffee was too hot has been used as an example of frivolous lawsuits. But the truth is much different than the legend! In this episode, we explore this case in detail and learn that you may have heard it all wrong! Then we play the quick quiz with Magician, Peter Boie!  Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...

Why are pencils yellow? In this episode, we examine the manufacturing of pencils, their history, and why they ever came to be associated with the color yellow. Then we chat with award-winning Comedian, Jay Black.  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...

Since the early 18th century, a small wooden ladder has rested against a window at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. In this episode, we learn about "The Immovable Ladder" and why no one has bothered to move it after hundreds of years. Then we play the quiz with America's Got Talent star, Jonathan Burns! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it...

Originally released June 27, 2022. Colombia's Cocaine Kingpin smuggled 4 hippos onto his estate in the late 70s and now, almost 30 years after his death, they've multiplied into a bloat of more than 100 animals, roaming the Magdalena River Valley and terrorizing citizens and their crops. In this episode, we talk about Colombia's "Cocaine Hippos," then chat with Comedian and Political Commentator J...

As tourists stepped off the train in Palisade, Nevada, they witnessed brawls, cowboys & Indians, shootouts and all of the other scenes that they had read about in their dime novels back home. It was everything they expected. But history tells us it was all made up. In this episode, we tell the story about the 19th century mining town of Palisade, NV. Then we quiz your knowledge on the Wild Wes...

When the Greeks fought for their independence from the Ottoman Turks in 1821, they began the war with a siege of the Acropolis - one of their most revered and historically significant sites. And when the Turks ran out of bullets, they started dismantling the blocks of the Parthenon to make more bullets. In an attempt to save the structure, the Greeks came up with a very unusual idea. In this episo...

In Memory of my Father-in-Law, this episode was one of his favorites. It was first released in July of 2021. Despite the United States Mint not being established until 1792, the first American coin struck for circulation was actually designed in 1787 by none other than Benjamin Franklin. But why did it feature the words "Mind Your Business?" In this episode explore the coin known as the "Fugio Cen...

Billy Mitchell is often referred to as the Father of the United States Air Force. He was the first one to suggest that airplanes could be used to drop bombs on enemy naval ships. But a recent visit to a museum with my father illuminated a really bizarre fact: Billy Mitchell predicted the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 17 years before it happened. In this episode, we learn all about Billy Mitchell...

To avoid conscription into the Roman Army, some Romans adopted the practice of removing their own thumbs! In this short episode, we talk about this bizarre practice! 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...