All About Earthquakes

All About Earthquakes

Podcast Transcript Approximately 55 times a day, or 20,000 times a year, an earthquake occurs somewhere on Earth. Of those, the vast majority go unnoticed and cause no damage whatsoever. Nonetheless, earthquakes are commonly considered among the most feared natural disasters due to their sudden, unpredictable nature and their potential to unleash incredible devastation.  Learn …

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The 1960 Popular Vote

The 1960 Popular Vote

Transcript There have been 5 acknowledged presidential elections in US history where the winner of the popular vote did not win in the electoral college.  However, there is a very good argument to be made that there is a sixth election that should be added to that list.  The conventional wisdom holds that John F. …

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Jesse Owens vs Usain Bolt: Who Would Win

Jesse Owens vs Usain Bolt: Who Would Win

Transcript Jessie Ownes was the world record holder in the men’s 100m dash and won the gold medal at the 1936 Olympics. He is famous for winning 4 gold medals in one Olympics and foiling Hitler’s plans for the Berlin games. His 100m world record stood longer than anyone else’s in the event.  Usain Bolt …

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Zero, My Hero

Zero, My Hero

Transcript This episode is about nothing. Not in the sense that Seinfield was a TV show about nothing, but rather this is literally about nothing.  It is about the number zero.  A number that few people bother to give much thought to, yet without it, modern mathematics wouldn’t exist, and neither would any of the …

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The Army That Never Was

The Army That Never Was

Transcript Bluffing is one of the most important aspects of playing poker. In any strategic game, in fact, deception can be critical to success. Warfare is no different. Deceiving an enemy can often mean the difference between winning and losing. Between life and death. During WWII, the allied forces unleashed the largest and most complicated …

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Time Zone Oddities

Time Zone Oddities

Transcript Before we created time zones, every village, town, and city had their own local time. You’d set the town’s clock according to when the sun was at its highest point each day, and everything was fine. Eventually, life got faster. Trains began moving between towns and small differences in time began to cause problems. …

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Rutherford B. Hayes is a Big Deal in Paraguay

Rutherford B. Hayes is a Big Deal in Paraguay

Transcript Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th president of the United States. He is famous for being the second person to win the presidency without winning the popular vote, and he won in the electoral college by a single vote. The whole election was so shady, he earned the nickname Rutherfraud. Beyond that, there isn’t …

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The Republic of Gabon

The Republic of Gabon

Podcast Transcript When you think of countries in Africa, it is unlikely that Gabon will be one of the first to cross your mind.  It is entirely possible that some of you might never ever heard of Gabon.  Considered “Earth’s last Eden,” Gabon is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, yet very …

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The Dark Origins of Fairy Tales, Part I

The Dark Origins of Fairy Tales

Podcast Transcript Modern fairy tales often conclude with a protagonist achieving their dreams and a simple “happily ever after.”  This popular image, often promoted by studios like Disney for family-friendly consumption, only scratches the surface of these classic narratives.  In reality, many of these beloved stories boast far darker origins, featuring unsettling themes and grim …

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