Things I Learned Last Night

Ever wonder how a simple Lego consignment spiraled into a viral legal nightmare? Dive into the wild saga of Bricks & Minifigs and the fight for a fortune. In this deep dive, we break down one of the most convoluted store takeover stories in recent history involving a $200,000 Lego Star Wars collection. What began as a consignment deal in a local Bricks & Minifigs franchise quickly devolved into a...

Ever wondered how Morse code was really invented? Explore the complicated history and surprising legacy of Samuel Morse beyond just the telegraph. In this deep dive into history, we uncover the fascinating, often uncredited life of Samuel Morse—a man who struggled as an artist before finding fame with Morse code. While history remembers him as the primary inventor, the reality is a story of collab...

What would you do with unlimited money, your own private air force, and absolutely nobody to tell you "no"? If you're Howard Hughes, you crash planes through Los Angeles neighborhoods, corporatize the Vegas mob, and eventually lock yourself in a hotel room wearing tissue boxes on your feet. This week, Jaron and Tim dive into one of history's most fascinating eccentric billionaires. From inheriting...

What would you do if Wall Street's richest men showed up at your door with a briefcase full of cash and a plan to overthrow the United States government? For one of the most decorated Marines in American history, the answer was: snitch immediately. This week, Jaron and Tim dig into the wild life of Smedley Butler — the two-time Medal of Honor recipient who crawled through drainage pipes, took a bu...

Two teenagers managed to pull off the ultimate cybercrime: hacking the CIA, FBI, and NSA using nothing but clever social engineering. Discover the wild true story of the infamous 'Crackers with Attitude' and how they played the system. In this episode of Things I Learned Last Night, we dive into the unbelievable true story of how two hackers, known as 'Justin' and 'Kane' (aka 'Crackers with Attitu...

Meet Gunther, the world's wealthiest dog, worth $400 million. But is this German Shepherd a financial genius, or is the entire story a massive tax-evasion scam? In this deep dive, we uncover the bizarre and true story of Gunther the Sixth, the dog famously reported to be the wealthiest animal on the planet. From his multi-million dollar real estate purchases, including Madonna's former estate, to...

Discover the shocking true story behind the American Heartland theme park scam that bilked millions from an unsuspecting billionaire. This tale of greed, fake emails from 'God,' and massive construction fraud will leave you stunned. In this deep dive, we investigate the rise and fall of the American Heartland theme park, a project that promised to bring a massive, world-class attraction to Vinita,...

Is there a moral limit to how much wealth one person should accumulate? We dive into the controversial concept of limitarianism. In this episode, we break down the provocative ideas found in Ingrid Robeyns' book 'Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth.' We explore the ethical, economic, and social arguments regarding why some believe that infinite wealth concentration undermines democracy...

Ever wondered if an 'anti-world' really exists? Discover the mind-bending reality of antimatter and how it could hold the key to our planet's future. In this episode, we tackle the complex and fascinating world of antimatter. Ever feel like the universe has an 'upside down'? We break down the revolutionary physics of Paul Dirac, whose work unified Einstein’s theory of relativity with Schrodinger’s...

Are you accidentally hindering your brain health? Discover why iodine deficiency is a silent epidemic and how your simple salt choice affects IQ. In this episode, we dive into the surprising history and biological necessity of iodine, an essential chemical element that plays a critical role in human cognitive development. From its fascinating origins as a 'heavy metal' mineral to its vital functio...

Ever wondered how a group of pensioners pulled off one of history's most audacious crimes? Discover the insane true story of the Hatton Garden heist. In this episode, we dive deep into the infamous 2015 Hatton Garden safe deposit burglary, a crime so bold it feels like a movie script. Join us as we break down how a crew of career criminals, all in their 60s and 70s, used expert planning, heavy mac...

Was the infamous Roswell incident truly humanity's first contact with aliens, or is there a much more grounded explanation? Dive into the mystery behind the 1947 UFO crash. In this episode, we unpack the legendary Roswell, New Mexico incident that sparked the global UFO phenomenon. We explore the initial reports of a flying saucer crash, the sudden government retraction of these claims, and the 30...

Ever wondered why the inventor of dynamite created the Nobel Peace Prize? Discover the shocking history of Alfred Nobel and his quest for a better legacy. In this episode of Things I Learned Last Night, we dive deep into the fascinating and ironic life of Alfred Nobel. Known primarily for establishing the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, Nobel’s origins are far more explosive than most people realiz...

Ever wonder how the ultra-wealthy hide billions in offshore accounts? We're diving into the Panama Papers leak to uncover the truth behind shell companies. In this episode, we break down one of the largest data leaks in history: the Panama Papers. You will learn how the law firm Mossack Fonseca organized shell corporations, acting as a gateway for global elites, politicians, and celebrities to mov...

Is modern corporate greed preventing you from fixing your own electronics? Discover the hidden truth behind the 'Right to Repair' movement. In this episode of Things I Learned Last Night, we dive deep into the fascinating, frustrating, and often absurd reality of the 'Right to Repair' movement. What started as a heartwarming tale about an inventor fighting back against a corporate giant turns into...

Ever notice how one small town in North Carolina controls the global tech market? Discover how a hidden deposit of ultra-pure quartz runs everything. In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating, high-stakes world of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, and its critical role in our modern global economy. While most of the world focuses on flashy headlines, this small town holds the most significant...

Dive into the fascinating history of America's most famous 'snake oil salesman,' Clark Stanley. In this episode, we unpack the story of the 'Rattlesnake King,' who rose to fame at the 1893 World's Fair by peddling a miracle cure that contained no snake oil at all. We explore the remedy's true origins with Chinese railroad workers, Stanley's fraudulent marketing tactics, and how his empire of fake...

What happens when AI bots create their own secret social network? We dive into the wild story of Moltbook and Clawbot, uncovering the truth behind this supposed Reddit for bots. In this episode, we investigate the bizarre story of Clawbot, a powerful local AI agent that gives artificial intelligence full access to your personal computer, and its spin-off social media platform, Moltbook. We chart t...

Ever wonder about the story behind your favorite Sleepy Time tea? Discover the shocking connection between Celestial Seasonings and a 2,000-page book allegedly channeled from a sleeping man. In the early 1900s, a respected doctor made a discovery that would lead to a 2,000-page religious text—and eventually, a popular tea brand found in grocery stores across America. The story of Urantia and Celes...

In 1905, Football faced its darkest season. That year became known as The Death Harvest because players were dying at an alarming rate. The game was brutal, chaotic, and barely regulated. Parents feared for their sons. Newspapers demanded change. And the future of Football hung in the balance. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone...

Most people know Tom DeLonge as the guitarist and singer from Blink-182. He helped define pop-punk in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But over time, his name became connected to something very different: Aliens. What started as a personal interest in UFO books turned into a public mission. Tom DeLonge claimed that Aliens are real, that the government knows more than it admits, and that he had proo...

Watergate is one of the most important political scandals in American history. It reshaped how Americans view power, elections, and trust in government. What began as a small break-in at an office complex slowly uncovered corruption at the highest level of the presidency. At the center of it all was Nixon, whose actions during Watergate led to consequences no president had ever faced before. Thing...

Blue Light is everywhere today. It shines from our phones, TVs, laptops, streetlights, and homes. Most people never stop to wonder where it came from or who made it possible. The story of Blue Light is not just about technology. It is about persistence, failure, and one scientist who refused to give up. That scientist was Shuji Nakamura. This breakthrough changed how the world uses energy, how scr...

For decades, scientists believed space was mostly predictable. Objects followed known paths. Light behaved in expected ways. Then discoveries like 3I/ATLAS challenged those assumptions. Suddenly, people began asking bigger questions about technology, space, and even aliens. This story connects astronomy, advanced science, and human curiosity. It shows how one discovery can reopen debates we though...

In 2012, a teenage girl in the Netherlands planned a simple birthday celebration. She wanted friends, music, and a normal night at home. One mistake on Facebook changed everything. What followed became known as Project X Haren, one of the most infamous internet-driven events ever recorded. This story shows how a single online error can spiral into real-world chaos. It also reveals how quickly a pa...