CLASSIC: When the Puritans Canceled Christmas
Nowadays Christmas is a globally-recognized holiday celebrated by millions of people, but in the past this wasn't the case. In fact, some groups of Christians detested the holiday, going so far as to ...
2 Nov 202328min
How Did Trick-Or-Treating Become a Thing?
Every year at the end of October, countless children (and adults) don costumes and head into the night, going door to door with the same ritual cry: Trick or Treat! But where did this odd practice com...
31 Okt 202359min
The Tangled History of Topiary, Part Two: That Shrub Is Looking at Me Funny
Ben, Noel and super producer Casey Pegram dive back into the weeds of the surprisingly ancient (and ridiculous) art of trimming flora into bizarre and elaborate shapes. It’s a practice that had a habi...
26 Okt 202327min
The Tangled History of Topiary, Part One: The Ancient Art of Fancy Plants
If you've ever looked at a bush and thought "this would be way cooler if it was shaped like a rabbit," then you're part of a long line of topiary enthusiasts throughout history. This ancient art of sh...
24 Okt 202331min
Scientists Who Were Horrifically Persecuted, Part One
Today, scientists are treated with respect (for the most part), but this wasn't always the case. In the first part of this recurring series, Ben, Noel and Casey explore the ridiculous, at-times tragic...
20 Okt 202352min
The Crappy, Commodious History of Toilets
Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has been trying to figure out where to put all its poop. While it's easy to take your average flushing commode for granted, it turns out thousands of years of ...
17 Okt 202347min
Aaron Burr, Part Two: The Fall of a Guy Nobody Liked
In the second part of this series, Ben, Noel and Max explore how Burr's struggle to acquire political power seemed to lead him, again and again, into conflict with his frenemey Alexander Hamilton -- a...
12 Okt 202345min
Aaron Burr, Part One: The Rise of a Guy Nobody Liked
Thanks in large part to the musical Hamilton, Aaron Burr has re-entered the public zeitgeist. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the rise of Aaron Burr, from his unfo...
10 Okt 202342min
