Wiki Walks

A razor is a principle or rule of thumb, that allows for the elimination (the “shaving off”, hence razor) of unlikely explanations for a phenomenon. Philosophical Razors Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wikiwalks

Episode Notes For hundreds of years, it has been a widespread tradition to share news of important events with your bee colony, lest terrible fortunes befall your family for keeping them in the dark about what's going on. Telling the Bees Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net

Episode Notes The phrase "Keep the ball rolling" actually stems from a bizarre campaign stunt from the 1840 Presidential Election, wherein William Henry Harrison tried to get the word out in the most, uh, spherical way possible. Keep rollin', rollin', rollin' . Harrison's 1840 Presidential Campgain Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to thei...

Episode Notes Two brilliant college students, fueled by delusion of grandeur thinking they were "super men" above man's laws, concoct the perfect plan to kill a local boy and get away it, as referenced by the season finale of Better Call Saul. Meet Leopold and Loeb . Leopold and Loeb Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their tip jar:...

With the might of the Soviet military during WWII, you'd think the most highly decorated regiment within their air force would be a group of highly specialized pilots. Nope, it was 400 women in 1920's era crop-duster biplanes made of plywood who absolutely crushed the Nazis under the cover of darkness. Meet the Night Witches . Night Witches Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalk...

During a steeplechase event at the famed Belmont Park in NY, jockey Frank Hayes set a record that has never been duplicated. And that's probably a really, really good thing. Frank Hayes Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/wikiwalks

A fed up and down on his luck San Francisco businessman, Joshua Norton , declared that he was the new Emperor of the United States, and the people sort of...just went with it. He passed laws and issued his own currency, and literally for the lolz the citizenry just played along. But like, for real though. Emperor Norton Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Wa...

What makes a thing a thing? What makes you...you? How much can you change something before it stops being that thing? Just one tweak? Or all tweaks but one? The Ship of Theseus is a classic Greek thought experiment that lays this complicated question that has been debated for millenia. Ship of Theseus Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing...

World War II was a time of technological marvels and revolutionary new weaponry that changed the world as we know it. However, one military project stands alone as perhaps the nuttiest (and brutally effective) plan ever devised. Gluing bombs to thousands of bats and just letting 'er rip. Bat Bombs Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net Support Wiki Walks by contributing to...

Episode Notes The ubiquitous piece of technology that connects everything from headphones to toothbrushes is named after a Scandinavian king who had some pesky dental issues. Bluetooth Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net

Episode Notes After her family was sold to the Creek Indians and moved to Oklahoma in the early 1900s, Sarah Rector was given land at the age of 4 that turned out to be sitting on liquid gold. Nearly overnight, this young woman became arguably the richest black girl in the world. Sarah Rector Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter WikiWalks.net

Episode Notes The crazy story of Helen Jackson, the 101 year old Missouri woman who died just a few weeks ago in December of 2020. Oh, quick note on Helen, she was the WIDOW OF A CIVIL WAR SOLDIER. Ya know, the Civil War, like, the one from the mid 1800s. Her husband fought in it. How is that even possible?? Also, the utterly random but oddly related story of how cicadas got their sound, according...

Episode Notes America was short on allies after its founding, and its Navy was getting absolutely thrashed overseas by pirate states. However, one surprising nation come to our rescue and was the first country to recognize the legitimacy of the United States, and still serves today as our companion in America's longest unbroken treaty. America's Oldest Ally Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twit...

Episode Notes The Kingdom of Hawaii's Ni'ihau Island was purchased in the 1860s by Elizabeth Sinclair, a Scottish woman by way of New Zealand looking to find land to raise sheep and her family. Since then, "The Forbidden Island" has been off-limits to outsiders, even other Native Hawaiians, to protect the indigenous Ni'hauans' way of life. It has survived storms and even a wild escaped Japanese pi...

Episode Notes In the closing days and hours of the end of the Vietnam War, as Saigon began to crumble, the American military attempted to evacuate as many orphans out of the country as they could. These children were flown out in makeshift airborne nurseries to be delivered to American parents waiting to take them in. But further investigations revealed that many of these children were stolen from...

Episode Notes Well this is a bizarre thing. There exists a bonafide, honest to goodness medical disorder wherein your gut bacteria will ferment with the addition of carbs and turn the contents of your stomach into...alcohol. Which then gets absorbed into your body and you get drunk off it. Auto-Brewery Syndrome. If you thought you were a cheap date before, you ain't heard nothing yet. Auto-Brewery...

Episode Notes In 1979, America was suffering through a hostage crisis, a gas crisis, and a President deemed as weak and ineffectual by his rivals. That image was not helped when a photo was released that showed US President Jimmy Carter being attacked by a swamp rabbit while fishing alone in his native Georgia. The Jimmy Carter Rabbit Incident Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter http:...

Episode Notes You may know that 101 Dalmatians was originally a 1950s children's book. You may not know, however, that it had a sequel (not named 102 Dalmatians, by the way) based on comatose humans and alien dogs with superpowers trying to avoid nuclear war. This is a book...for children. Disney lovers, listen up. The Starlight Barking Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter http://wikiw...

Episode Notes One of the most thrilling and fascinating stories of the Civil War and its aftermath. During the war, Robert Smalls escaped from slavery by stealing a Confederate ship, piloting it through Confederate-controlled waters to freedom, then personally helped convince Abraham Lincoln to accept African-Americans into the Army and Navy. But the story doesn’t end there. After a successful car...

Episode Notes The amazing story of young Samantha Smith, a 10 year old girl from Maine, who, in 1983, wanted to know why the head of the USSR wanted to hurt America. So, she wrote him a letter pleading for peace. He responded, and then invited her to visit Moscow and tour the Soviet Union as his guest. She did, and became an inspiration for both countries to push for peace and end the Cold War. Ta...

Episode Notes Celebrity stalkers these days are old news. But back in Victorian England, a 14 year old named, "The Boy Jones" loved nothing more than stealing Her Majesty's royal undergarments, and wouldn't leave the poor woman alone. Until he was banished to a prison ship and then exiled to Australia. We've all been there, right? The boy Jones Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter http...

Episode Notes We can debate all day who was the most impactful first lady, but it’s unlikely we’ll find a more captivating first daughter than Alice Roosevelt. She was a smokin', drinkin', gamblin' pant-wearing whirling dervish who took Washington by storm and drove her father Teddy absolutely insane. She's a hoot. Alice Roosevelt Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter http://wikiwalks.n...

Episode Notes The desk you see on TV whenever they show the Oval Office has a crazy history. From being encased in Arctic Ice, to helping avoid multiple wars, the Resolute Desk has a long and winding backstory that spans hundreds of years and multiple scandals. From Rutherford B. Hayes to Donald J. Trump, this desk has stood the test of time. Resolute Desk Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube //...

Episode Notes Everyone loves waffles, right? But how did such a distinctive looking food come to be? Why do the Belgians seem to have a stranglehold on naming rights? What about the frozen ones? The story of the waffle begins over 2000 years ago and was filled with drama and innovation every step of the way. Waffles Wiki Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Twitter http://wikiwalks.net

Episode Notes The TRUE, bizarre, and downright charming tale of Princess Caraboo. In 1800s England, a mysterious and beautiful woman randomly appeared in town, dressed strangely and speaking a language never before heard. This exotic enigma enchanted the whole of Britain and soon everyone wanted to know more about Princess Caraboo, but they never could have imagined what they would soon learn... P...