Things I Learned Last Night

It all started with a phone call. A photographer in Colorado received an offer from a well-known Hollywood producer. She said she needed photos taken in Jakarta, Indonesia, for a Netflix pitch. The contract looked real. The emails were official. He was even reimbursed — or so he thought. The photographer paid for flights, hotels, and drivers, expecting to be paid back later. But the producer kept...

When you look around your city today, you might notice that a lot of buildings look the same. Fast food restaurants, apartments, and office parks often blend together. One man played a significant role in initiating this trend. His name was Le Corbusier. He was an architect with grand ideas about how cities should be designed. Some people love what he did. Others think he made the world a little l...

In 1980, Rosie Ruiz crossed the Boston Marathon finish line with a smile and a medal. She had just posted one of the fastest female marathon times ever. Cameras flashed. Reporters asked questions. But within days, the truth came out—Rosie Ruiz had cheated. This is the strange and unforgettable story of how Rosie Ruiz became a marathon “winner” without running the whole race. Things I Learned Last...

Ron Jones was a fun and popular history teacher at Cubberley High School. One day, a student asked him how people in Germany could follow someone like Hitler. Ron wanted to answer that question through a Social Experiment. He set simple rules. Students had to greet him in a special way, sit quietly, and ask questions using three words or fewer. Jones promised good grades if they followed his rules...

Soap may seem like an everyday item, but Dr. Bronner showed us it can carry powerful messages. Using his soapbox—literally standing on it to speak to crowds—he shared important lessons about life and caring for the planet... Maybe... Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If...

Many people know Vladimir Putin as Russia's leader, but not everyone knows how he became so powerful. We must look at Vladimir Putin's journey to truly understand Russia today. This story shows how one person can change an entire country. No one knows what Putin plans next, but he has said clearly that he has no plans to step down or choose someone new. As long as he remains popular in Russia, he...

Uri Geller was born in 1946 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He said he saw a strange, shiny disc in the sky as a child, and he believed this event gave him psychic powers. Soon, Uri began performing amazing acts like bending metal objects and reading people's minds. He quickly became known as the magician who could bend spoons with his thoughts. Uri Geller’s abilities caught the attention of the CIA. The U.S...

Have you ever heard about the sea monkeys? You might think they're magical pets, but they're tiny shrimp! Harold Von Braunhut was the man behind this clever idea. He sold sea monkeys to children in comic books, making kids think these creatures could dance or play baseball. Sea monkeys are really just brine shrimp—very tiny and simple creatures. But Harold Von Braunhut knew kids would buy anything...

The world is changing, and so are cities. A new project in Saudi Arabia, Neom, is leading the way. This city of the future promises advanced technology, sustainable living, and a fresh way to think about urban life. At the heart of Neom is The Line, a revolutionary city design that challenges everything we know about building communities. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcas...

In 2013, a bizarre crime caught the attention of the entire nation. It involved a local Elvis impersonator, a karate instructor with political ambitions, and an alleged black-market organ trade. This is the story of Paul Kevin Curtis and the Kings of Tupelo—a tale filled with conspiracy, deception, and unexpected twists. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best frien...

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, one woman defied expectations and became one of the wealthiest individuals in the United States. Her name was Hetty Green, but history remembers her by a different title—the Witch of Wall Street. Known for her sharp financial mind, frugality, and ability to turn risky investments into massive gains, she left a lasting impact on Wall Street. Things I Learn...

Bryan Johnson is on a mission to stop aging. He isn't just trying to slow it down—he wants to live forever. His journey includes extreme health routines, strict diets, and even blood transfusions with his own family. Some call him a genius, while others think he's gone too far. But one thing is clear: he is pushing the limits of anti-aging science. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational com...

Imagine stepping onto a plane, believing you're on your way to a top-secret Russian space training camp. You undergo intense astronaut training, compete for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go to space, and then… you launch into orbit. Or at least, that’s what you think is happening. In 2005, the UK reality TV show Space Cadets pulled off one of the greatest hoaxes in television history. A group of...

In 2012, a short film took over the internet. It was called Kony 2012, and its goal was clear: make the world aware of Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The campaign was created by Invisible Children, a nonprofit that wanted to stop Kony and his army from kidnapping children in Uganda. The video quickly became one of the most viral in history, reaching over 100 million v...

Operation Trojan Shield was a joint effort by law enforcement agencies from multiple nations. It targeted organized crime networks using encrypted communication devices like Anon phones. These devices promised secrecy but unknowingly carried a backdoor, allowing authorities to monitor criminal activities in real time. Between 2018 and 2021, law enforcement gathered 27 million messages detailing cr...

Zoos are places where animals are carefully contained, but sometimes, a star breaks all the rules. In the 1980s, the San Diego Zoo was home to an orangutan like no other. His name was Ken Allen, and he wasn't just any orangutan—he was an escape artist, a folk hero, and a lovable mischief-maker. Through his antics, Ken Allen captured hearts and taught zookeepers the true meaning of resourcefulness....

The Berners Street Hoax happened in 1810 in London. It all started as a bet between two friends. One claimed he could make everyone in the city talk about one house on Berners Street. To win, he sent out fake invitations and requests to dozens of people. On the set day, chaos took over Berners Street. Tradespeople arrived with deliveries no one had ordered. Doctors and priests came for emergencies...

Six experienced hikers set out to explore the Khamar Daban mountains. 23-year-old Lyudmila Korovina, a seasoned guide, led them. The group was excited to enjoy the breathtaking views and test their skills. However, their adventure took a deadly turn. While on the trail, something bizarre occurred. Witness accounts suggest the hikers began acting strangely. Some were seen convulsing and collapsing....

What would you do if your dentist wore a necklace made of human teeth? Sounds wild, right? This was the reality for Painless Parker, a dentist unlike any other in history. Parker’s story blends dental work, circus acts, and a love for showmanship that made him famous (and infamous) during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Painless Parker, originally named Edgar R. Parker, was born in 1872 in New Bru...

Ever heard of Rent a Hitman or rentahitman.com? At first glance, it sounds like a shady, illegal website straight out of a crime drama. But what if I told you it's actually a bizarre mix of satire, internet history, and law enforcement brilliance? Rentahitman.com began in 2005 as a legitimate IT services site founded by a man named Bob Ines. The clever name was a play on words: “hit” referred to w...

Bed Bath & Beyond, once a retail giant, found itself struggling to compete in a changing retail landscape. While competitors like Target and Walmart adapted to the e-commerce boom, Bed Bath & Beyond lagged. Over-expansion, debt, and the pandemic only worsened its troubles. By the early 2020s, its stock price had plummeted, and the company was on the brink of collapse. Enter Ryan Cohen, a well-know...

In recent years, few stories have captivated the public's attention like the meteoric rise and catastrophic fall of Theranos and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes. The ambitious young entrepreneur once claimed to revolutionize medical testing, but her dream turned into a cautionary tale of deception and hubris. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers...

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://tilln.com/support Throughout history, tales of advanced technology and celestial connections have captivated us. Among the most intriguing are the legends surrounding the Iraqi stargates. These ancient portals said to connect distant realms or civilizations, have sparked both wonder and controversy. But what is the truth behind thes...

\Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast In the early 2000s, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” was among the most popular quiz shows worldwide. The show was thrilling, with contestants competing to answer questions and win a million pounds. But behind the scenes, one episode captured public attention for a different reason — a cheating scandal....

Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: https://www.patreon.com/tillnpodcast History can sometimes be tricky to unravel. One example is the story of Alan MacMasters, who was often named the inventor of the electric toaster. But did he really invent it, or is it a case of circular reporting? Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myer...