Researching the Obvious

It's annual girls trip weekend, which means time for Emily and Katie to bring out all the snacks! But which potato chip is the best one to binge? Only a taste test of classic chips from national, regional, and store brands can provide the answers. Get comfy and settle in for some snacking while Katie and Emily try six chip brands in a blind tasting to crown their favorites. If you haven’t listened...

What, or who, makes a monster? Mummies, robots, Frankenstein’s monster, and Mr. Hyde all have very different stories, but also some important things in common. In this spooky season episode, Emily and Katie explore some less traditional monsters that are hard to categorize but leave an uncanny impression. Covering their Hollywood and literary origins to their place in Halloween (and society) today...

It’s spooooky season yet again and that means it’s time to dig into something unusual and mysterious. You might think of fortune telling as a sideshow act at a carnival, but some practices of scrying, cleromancy, astrology, and palmistry have been around for thousands of years! Whether it’s gazing into a crystal ball or predictions based on celestial events, humans have developed many ways to divi...

If you’re a woman and a millennial, in particular, you likely are obsessed, or are aware of the obsession with, not only Jane Austen but also the shows, films, and adaptations that continue to be released. Whether it’s Bridgerton or The Other Bennett Sister or yet another retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Austen’s stories have remained popular content for over 200 years. In this episode Emily and...

If you’re craving a crunchy, salty treat, there’s nothing better than a crispy fried potato chip or a crunchy baked pretzel. Potato chips and pretzels are among the most beloved American snacks and are always easy to find on a shelf near you. How exactly did they become the ubiquitous grab and go snack that they are today? In this episode, Emily and Katie explore the history of these two snack foo...

How many times per day do you check the time? Your watch? Or maybe your phone or computer? Time rules our schedules and our lives but how often do you think about where these time measurements and devices come from? In this episode Emily and Katie try not to get too existential as they discuss time zones, time keeping devices, and the ancient roots of why we measure time the way that we do. What a...

Summertime means baseball season and Katie and Emily are ready to say take me out to the ballgame. But what is a day at the ballpark without something to snack on? In this episode, learn about iconic baseball treats, stadium facts, and what it was like going to college in New England during the Red Sox’s run to the 2004 World Series. Plus, some regional delicacies you’ll only find if you make it t...

If you’ve never visited Indiana, odds are you’ve driven through it or at least flown over it - and maybe never given it a second thought? From ancient civilizations to the automobile industry and the Indianapolis 500, the state that is deemed the “crossroads of America” has plenty of history to share. In this episode Emily and Katie do a little exploration of Katie’s home city and state that prove...

There’s no shortage of “Housewives”, “Fiancés”, “Voices”, and “Love” reality TV shows to choose from these days, but not too long ago the reality tv industry was just starting to take off. The early 2000s saw a boom in unscripted and “real” competitive and observational tv shows sprouting from a few key programs that set the stage for their success. In this episode, Emily and Katie reminisce about...

What will you be using to eat your dinner tonight? You’re probably reaching for a fork, but in the history of utensils and cutlery using a fork to eat is practically brand new! When exactly did we start using forks, knives, and spoons to eat our meals?  And what about chopsticks, how long have they been around?  In this episode, Emily and Katie explore a brief history of what we use to eat and dri...

Most people have a deck of cards in their home and a go-to game for gatherings. Where you live or your cultural background might influence that game more than you think! Maybe you enter Euchre tournaments, or Spades makes an appearance at your family get together. What about the playing cards themselves? Have you ever wondered where all of those symbols came from? Or why certain cards are used in...

What is your go to soda order at a restaurant?  Do you hope they carry Coke products? Or maybe you’re a Pepsi person?  Most of our beloved and well known soda brands today actually started out in … pharmacies!?  In this episode Emily and Katie dive into the big soda names and their origin stories in the Soda Fountains of the late 19th century as well as some lesser known regional sodas that have s...

Did you miss us? Katie and Emily have been spending the winter months diligently researching all the obvious topics you never thought to look up for yourself. Catch the two of them in Season 3 of Researching the Obvious coming out on June 2, 2026.

BONUS EPISODE!  It’s that time of the year when you’re waiting for the snow to melt and the sun to come back …or maybe you’re enjoying being cozy inside and watching the Winter Olympics! In the midst of the iconic winter sporting event, join Emily and Katie for a little bonus discussion about when the Winter Olympics got started and what kind of sporting events you can expect to see! When were the...

Season 2 of Researching the Obvious is coming to an end. In this episode Emily and Katie review some of their favorite topics and facts of Season 2 and reflect on both surprising revelations and the unexpected paths their research took in various episodes. Thank you to everyone who has listened and supported the show for another season! Season Three will start in the spring, but in the meantime, i...

As the holiday season approaches what traditions are you using to get into the spirit? Would you be waiting for a visit from the Christmas Cat? Or perhaps you would carve a radish, eat a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, or maybe you gather around a giant Christmas Tree made of tumbleweeds? In this episode Emily and Katie explore a variety of unique holiday practices and lore that are part of the...

What do ducks, candles, and turkeys all have in common? It’s not Thanksgiving…it’s bowling, of course! Bowling is a form of entertainment that has firmly rooted itself as an all-American pastime, and there are more variations than you might think! From candlepin to duckpin to the more traditional tenpin, bowling and bowling alleys have international origins but a rich history of popularity in the...

Odds are you live somewhere near a brewery that produces craft beer. That’s because the number of craft breweries in the United States has increased exponentially over the last 30 years. What’s behind this small beer brewing explosion? In this episode Katie and Emily discuss the evolution of the craft beer industry, different types of breweries that have come on the scene, and where craft beer is...

Contrary to pop culture belief, vampires were never meant to be sparkly or live in castles wearing capes! This spooky season episode is all about the frightful and not so delightful monsters and supernatural beings that lurk in the shadows. Join Emily and Katie as they discuss the history of these supernatural creatures, the cultures that shaped them into being, and how the idea of them has change...

Knock once for yes and two for no? In the age of Spiritualism, seances, mediums and contacting “the other side” were not only commonplace but an everyday source of entertainment. The Spiritualist movement has roots in upstate New York and arose during a time of religious, social, and philosophical exploration. In this episode, Emily and Katie explore the historical context of spiritualism, what ki...

Love triangles, friends to lovers, climactic chase-afters, grand epiphanies and declarations of love, oh my! In this follow up to Episode 20, join Emily and Katie for a review of classic examples of both old and new romantic comedies and the characters and tropes that make them iconic. From all the “awwws” to the cringiest moments, see which films stood the test of time and epitomize the Rom Com g...

On the half shell, baked, broiled, grilled, Rockefeller. These small yet versatile bivalves have been an integral part of our American culinary history for hundreds of years. Oysters may be a premium food item now, but once they were so plentiful their shells literally paved the streets of cities! In this episode, join Emily and Katie for a deep dive, or perhaps a dredge or rake, of all things oys...

The discussion of chain restaurants continues! Have you ever noticed that some places seem to have more chain restaurants than others?  And perhaps you’re wondering how some of the most famous chain restaurants got their start and continue to succeed. In this episode, Emily and Katie discuss some of the geographical research around chainness, place and placelessness, and dive into some interesting...

Everyone has a favorite tried and true restaurant when they’re craving a burger, some fried chicken, or that timeless combo of soup, salad, and breadsticks. You know, those restaurants that you come across no matter how far from home you are. Restaurant chains are a ubiquitous presence along highways, in suburbia, and even in small towns. It might be easy to take these food fixtures for granted, b...

Have you ever been “just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her?” Whether it’s a tale of unrequited love, enemies turned lovers, player turned monogamist, or a classic makeover montage, it’s easy to live, love, and laugh through a good rom-com. The romantic comedy film genre has been around for decades, but its roots go back much further, all the way to Ancient Greece, in fact!...