Every Little Thing

Latest Episodes:

When Astronauts Come Home Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

This week, we’re revisiting an intergalactic favorite: Preparing for a mission to space takes astronauts years, but listener Daniel wants to know — what does the other end of that journey look like? Record-holding NASA astronaut Christina Koch tells us what happens when space travelers come home.

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How Do Streets Get Named? Aug 30, 2021

Show notes

Caller Jessica lives on a street with an unwieldy name, and she wants to know: Who gets to name the streets? Deirdre Mask, author of “The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power,” tells us about a project to name all the streets in rural West Virginia, and why having a street address matters.

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ELT Presents: Not Past It Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

Hey ELT fans! There’s a new Gimlet podcast that we think you’ll love. It’s called Not Past It, and it’s the kind of deep-dive into history that we live for at ELT. This episode, Rated PG-13 for Sex and Violence looks at the birth of the PG-13 rating, and how the movie rating system came to be. It’s a story about Indiana Jones and Gremlins, and hidden Puritan agendas. Enjoy! And don’t forget to follow Not Past It on Spotify.

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Is It Weird to Be Nice to Alexa? Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

This week we’re hitting repeat on one of our favorite episodes: Listener Elizabeth wants to know if it’s weird to say “please” and “thank you” to her Google voice assistant. ELT talks to former Alexa insider Daren Gill (now senior director of product at Spotify), and human-robot interactions expert Leila Takayama to find out whether people are typically polite to machines.

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Do Any Animals Dance? Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

After trying (and failing) to start a dance party with her dogs, listener Heather wants to know: are there beasts that can boogie? Irena Schulz and Ani Patel break it down.

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Cheese: Why Do We Worship Rotten Milk? A NSFW History Aug 02, 2021

Show notes

This week, we’re re-heating one of our ooey-gooey all-time favorite eps: We re-trace the delicious and X-rated history of... cheese, with cheese biochemist and historian Paul Kindstedt. Plus, tips on how to make the most of the dairy aisle from processed cheese expert Lloyd Metzger. And a cicada killer update from cicada killer wasp biologist Chuck Holliday. Thanks to callers Kurt and Judy.

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The Horrible Sound that Haunts Reality TV Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

We’re revisiting one of our favorite eps this week, to find out who put the tension in reality TV. ELT tracks down the man behind the nail-biting sound you can’t unhear. Plus, a listener’s backyard horror story turns into an intervention, with cicada killer wasp expert Chuck Holliday. Thanks to callers Caitlin and Stephanie.

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What It’s Like To Live in the White House Jul 19, 2021

Show notes

What’s life really like in the White House? How does the president get snacks? Who walks the first dogs? What happens when the first family fights? Kate Andersen Brower, reporter and author of The Residence, takes us behind-the-scenes. Thanks to callers Lauren, Rachel, Iris, Zach and everyone who sent in a question.

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Why Is This Goose Out to Get Me? Jul 12, 2021

Show notes

Listener Corey needs to know if a goose named Dave is targeting him. Goose expert Tony Fox tells us why Dave’s feathers may have gotten ruffled, and offers his advice for dealing with unhappy geese. Special thanks to Casey Williamson, Steve Davis, and Dan Potoczak.

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Why Is This Toy Talking? Jul 05, 2021

Show notes

Listener Megan wants to know who writes the bizzaro lyrics for her son’s talking toys. Talking humans Jay Elkinton and Patrick Feaster tell us all about these earworm emitters — from modern plastic jabber-jaws to the nightmare-inducing doll who started it all. Special thanks to Toby Phillips.

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