The Internet Says it’s True

When a 16th century mass grave was excavated near Venice, Italy, a skull was found with a brick wedged in its mouth. Researchers have found the strange reasoning for the find. It was an anti-vampire measure! In this episode, we talk about early Italian beliefs about vampires and this strange discovery, then we chat with educator and musician, Josh Quillen! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.a...

Artificial intelligence has become so advanced that it can be nearly indistinguishable from human work products. One example is OpenAI's ChatGPT - a program capable of writing everything from creative works to computer coding. But what are the harms and potential pitfalls of this technology? In this episode, we talk about ChatGPT and then play the quick quiz with Comedian, Writer and Magician, Mat...

Researchers have found that almost 90% of the time, subjects will associate nonsense words "bouba" and "kiki" with nonsense drawings. But why? In this episode, we discuss the strange linguistic phenomenon of sound symbolism and discuss how sometimes, the sounds of words themselves can carry meaning. Then we chat with Social Psychologist, Dr. Andy Luttrell of the Opinion Science podcast.  Review th...

The use of Pervitin - basically pure crystal meth - was pervasive throughout the Nazi regime, from high commanders all the way down to German soldiers fighting in the field. In this episode, we explore the use of meth by the Nazis and how it helped - and hurt them in World War II. Then we catch up with Comedian and Screen Writer, Jay Black! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podc...

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...

We've heard the expression "raining cats and dogs." We've even heard of small fish or frogs occasionally coming down with the rain. But in a tiny town in Kentucky, it once rained MEAT for several minutes. In this episode, we dig into this strange story and try to find out how it all happened. Then we play the quick quiz with Speaker and Comedian, Amma Marfo! Review this podcast at https://podcasts...

Millions of women in China - for over 1,000 years - practiced a brutal fashion trend in which they mutilated their feet through the act of "foot-binding." It's dangerous, painful and an example of how persistent and pervasive social pressures can be when it comes to fashion. In this episode, we learn about the ancient practice of foot binding and then play the quick quiz with Musician, Speaker, Ja...

Originally released May of 2021. One of America's favorite children's characters and Sesame Street resident, Big Bird, was almost on board the ill-fated Challenger Space Shuttle during its disastrous mission in 1986. In this episode, we tell three stories: one about Big Bird, one about the Challenger, and one about how the two almost came together. Then Jim Henson fan Eric Dittelman joins us for t...

Originally released September 13, 2021. 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.  Review thi...

Originally released April, 2021. Upper-class ladies in Victorian Era England put on a fake limp as a fashion statement. It was just one of many ways they emulated the beautiful Alexandra of Denmark, Princess of Wales who went on to become Queen of England, wife of King Edward VII. In this episode, we talk about the “Alexandra Limp,” some other stupid fashion contagions and then we quiz Dan R Morri...

A recent government auction listed a "1989 Airstream Executive Air Coach" with little to no details about its history. Internet sleuths soon discovered that the RV was an important part of space exploration history!  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 speci...

Originally released October 11, 2021. "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 th...

We've been fortunate to have some amazing guests over the last couple years! In this episode, we feature some highlights from some of our interviews with those guests! In this episode: John Fugelsang, Eric Dittelman (and his mother), Shannon and Scott from the Song Salad Podcast, Alison Kent, Nan Rothschild and Hal Sparks!   Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet...

Originally released on January 25th, 2021. I recently learned that historians credit a 1968 James Brown concert with saving the city of Boston from riots after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In this special episode, I tell the story of the Boston Garden Concert and how it almost never happened. Then we quiz my friend Josh Quillen. Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/...

When construction workers were on top of the giant pyramid in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, they discovered a small metal box welded to the structure. Inside, they were shocked to find a small crystal skull. The story of how the skull got there has become Memphis Legend. In this episode, we talk about the Crystal Skull of Memphis and then chat with Musician "Danny Moon" Dan Malone. Review this podc...

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 this podcast at https://podcasts.appl...

This episode was first released May 23, 2022. In 1945, a wooden plaque of the "Great Seal" was given to the United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union. It hung on the wall by his desk for years until it was discovered in 1951 to be a secret Soviet listening device. In this episode, we tell the story of "The Thing" or "The Great Seal Bug" and how it came to be. Then we chat with musician Daniel M...

For more than 100 years, there were plans to cut a canal through the middle of the Florida Peninsula. It would have allowed a huge shipping lane from the Gulf to the Atlantic Ocean. But despite a dozen starts and stops, it was never completed. In this episode, we talk about the canal, its demise, its remnants and the important conservation effort that ended it. Then we chat with Lance Thompson for...

With the death and funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, we revisit our 22nd episode all about the Royal Family. In 1969, Queen Elizabeth II and her family were followed around by a film crew for a special documentary to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the Royal Family. While the public loved it, the Queen did not and it was banned forever. Until last year, when it was leaked to the internet. In this...

Was it a social experiment gone wrong? Or did it produce results exactly as intended? In 2014, robotics and communications scholars developed hitchBOT, a hitchhiking robot. It made its way across Canada, Germany and The Netherlands, but couldn't make it 2 weeks in the USA without being destroyed. In this episode, we  tell the story about the life and death of the hitchhiking robot, then play the q...

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 know what we've just learned! Review this podcast a...

In Ancient Greece, the incredible athlete known as Theagenes of Thasos was so successful, his legend of being unbeaten followed him into the afterlife. But is it true that even his depiction in a bronze statue fought his battles? In this episode, we talk about the Ancient Greek legend of Theagenes and then play the Quick Quiz with Mindreader, Eric Dittelman!  Review this podcast at https://podcast...

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...

In 1939, as many as 22,000 Americans met for a Nazi rally in New York's Madison Square Garden. It was an event of the German-American Bund and attendees cheered while listening to anti-semitic, Nazi-sympathizing speeches. It's hard to believe that this type of thing could happen in America, but it's true. In this episode, we examine the event and then play the quick quiz with International Award-W...