What?! Explain.

When tragedy strikes, it can often define the life of those who were left behind. Some people will fall to pieces, while others carry on as best as they can. However, for one woman known as Olga of Kiev, what she did afterwards would define the history of eastern Europe for hundreds of years afterwards.  Thanks for the patience, and I hope you enjoy the third season premiere! Follow us on social m...

As with all good holiday specials, this one comes with a content warning, which will be after the description.  That being said, this is a Valentine's Day special, and what could be more romantic than the story of one of the world's most famous Frenchmen, Napoleon Bonaparte, his travels throughout his military history... and... well, after his death. Well, part of him travelled after his...

Our second season finale dives into the origin of one of the most iconic symbols of many during this time of year: The Christmas Tree. We go into how exactly people started bringing trees into their house in the middle of winter, how they started lighting them,  why Thomas Edison and Martin Luther are involved, and why exactly Christmas trees were the reason that house insurance had to get changed...

This episode takes us to the coal mines of West Virginia in the early 20th century, where one the largest labor uprisings in American history occurred, resulting in hundreds of deaths, thousands of people losing their homes, a march of armed miners to the state capital, and a pitched battle which took place over five days in which over one million bullets were fired.  Curious? Want to know exactly...

This episode takes us to the desert north of Las Vegas, to a small town named Rachel, Nevada, and the history of the area that brings thousands of sightseers to the town of 54 people.  So what exactly is the history of the area surrounding Rachel, Nevada? Well, it's a lot less ranching and gambling, and a lot more... extraterrestrial. In fact, Rachel is the nearest town to the place known as...

This episode takes a deep dive into the life of Agatha Christie, the most widely read author of fiction in history. By listening, you'll find out which of her most famous characters she hated with a passion, how she started on her path of detective novel-writing, and the mystery that surrounds a two week period in her life in December 1926.  Curious? Have about thirteen minutes? LISTEN TO THE...

This is the second of our two Halloween episodes, and this one takes us to a surprising destination... Disneyland. What is the unexpected secret behind The Haunted Mansion? What are some people smuggling into Disneyland on a monthly basis? And most importantly, what is the signature grisly experience that many Disney janitorial staff end up having to go through? Find out... on WHAT?! EXPLAIN. *Lig...

How do you remember those who have passed on? How can one make sure their loved ones are remembered long after they are gone, in a way safe from the shifting states of memory? In the first of our two Halloween episodes, we delve into one of the more... unusual methods of remembrance.  This episode does start with a story that may be upsetting to some listeners.  Content warnings for: blood, insect...

This episode is a story. A true story, but a story nonetheless. A story about a town in Georgia, and the most unusual landowner the town has ever had. A landowner that watched over the land it occupied for over a century. A landowner so unusual, that the land it owns and occupies has become an international tourist attraction.  Follow us on social media!    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatE...

This episode takes us back to a revelation given by some declassified CIA documents released in 2007. These documents stated that the CIA had in fact attempted to assassinate multiple world leaders in the 1960s, including Fidel Castro. But is that the whole story? Or was this just the tip of a decades-long international vendetta against the leader of a country less than 100 miles off the coast of...

This episode focuses on a topic that anyone who has gone through high school literature class is very familiar with, but with a twist. It's also about one of the more pervasive conspiracy theories of the last two centuries, one that has not only not faded with time, but gotten more intense in some circles. This episode is about... who ACTUALLY wrote the works of William Shakespeare?! Follow u...

This episode goes all the way back to the instigating event that created Canada, and how Irish separatists are responsible for that final push towards confederation that Canada needed!  Need more information? LISTEN TO THE SHOW! Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Twitter: @whatexplaincast Instagram: @whatexplaincast

The conclusion of "King of the Bootleggers" is here! Find out what happens to Rocco Perri! Does he get out of prison? Does he still run liquor? Or has his brush with prison finally changed him enough for him to start work as a temperance worker? FIND OUT BY LISTENING! Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Twitter: @whatexplaincast Instagram: @whate...

This is our first two-part story for What?! Explain. , and boy, is it a doozy! Rocco Perri loomed large over Hamilton, Ontario for almost a quarter of the 20th century with bootlegging, gambling, and smuggling. He was a figure of public fascination and police frustration, only to vanish without a trace, with no evidence of what really happened to him. It is a story that could not be contained in o...

Welcome back to What?! Explain. ! Thank you for being patient, and I assure you, this episode is worth the wait!  In this season premiere, we dive into the career of one of the most influential comic book writers in the 20th and 21st centuries, Alan Moore. He wrote V for Vendetta, Watchmen, and hundreds of other stories throughout his career, and yet he retired from writing comics in 2019, disgust...

Season 2 of What?! Explain. premieres July 8th! Mark your calendars! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Twitter: @whatexplaincast Instagram: @whatexplaincast

Why settle for one fact when you can have TWO?! In this very special episode, Braden tells two of his favorite facts that were never quite long enough for a full episode. Listen and find out about the dog who was the subject of a American presidential memo, and the piece of art that nearly caused Braden to fall off a double-decker bus.  Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com...

Sure, you may know Leif Eriksson, the first European explorer to set foot on North American soil, but how much do you know of his family? What events took place that put Eriksson in the exact place to be able to go on this voyage? What do ceremonial seat posts, and a fall off a horse have to do with it? LISTEN AND FIND OUT! Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainC...

Given the sheer amount of scrutiny placed upon them nowadays, politicians in the modern world have to acknowledge that their life will not be truly private as long as they hold office.  This episode dives into a different time, where the single most well-kept secret in Canadian political history lasted well over twenty years without the public having any indication of anything awry .  Follow us on...

Ah, fame. Money, status, and best of all, an adoring audience waiting on the next thing you do. Absolutely nothing can be wrong with that... right? Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Twitter: @whatexplaincast Instagram: @whatexplaincast

Sometimes the devil is in the details, as we dive into this episode about Canada's secret Cold War Bunker system, and the tiny little detail that made it not-so-secret after all.  Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Twitter: @whatexplaincast Instagram: @whatexplaincast

Hi All! Some listeners have requested I provide them a music-less option for their listening, and I am more than willing to provide! This is the narration-only episode 6, so if you want some background music with your stories, check the other episode that went live today! Happy Holidays, everyone! In the spirit of the reason, the episode focuses on the relationship between Canada and the United St...

CONTENT WARNING LISTED BELOW DESCRIPTION Hi All! Some listeners have requested I provide them a music-less option for their listening, and I am more than willing to provide! This is the version of episode 5 with background music, so if you want just the sound of my soothing, soothing voice to tell you stories, check the other episode that went live today!  Mummies have held a place of fascination...

CONTENT WARNING AT END OF DESCRIPTION Hi All! Some listeners have requested I provide them a music-less option for their listening, and I am more than willing to provide! This is the narration-only episode 5, so if you want some background music with your stories, check the other episode that went live today! Mummies have held a place of fascination for many people around the world for as long as...

Hi All! Some listeners have requested I provide them a music-less option for their listening, and I am more than willing to provide! This is the version of episode 4 with background music, so if you want just the sound of my soothing, soothing voice to tell you stories, check the other episode that went live today!  This episode dives into the birth of the only member of European royalty to be bor...