Secretly Incredibly Fascinating

Latest Episodes:

special re-release: Toasters Dec 02, 2022

Show notes

Breaking news: the entire Internet fell for a decade-long Wikipedia hoax about the invention of toasters. Here's the BBC's story about that: https://www.bbc.com/news/the-reporters-63622746

Great news: this podcast is one of the only forms of Internet media that didn't fall for that hoax. (Alex researched the real story!) So please enjoy this re-release of our already-accurate "Toasters" episode, featuring special guests Moujan Zolfaghari and Kimberly Clark. Original air date: June 27th, 2022.

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The Letter Y Nov 28, 2022

Show notes

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy podcasters/writers David Christopher Bell and Tom Reimann (Gamefully Unemployed, 'Fox Mulder Is A Maniac' podcast) for a look at why the letter Y is secretly incredibly fascinating.

Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

See NordPass Business in action now with a 3-month free trial here nordpass.com/sifpod with code SIFPOD.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Asbestos Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedian/podcaster Matt Kirshen (Probably Science, The Jim Jefferies Show) and comedian/podcaster Andy Wood (Probably Science, 4-Time 'Jeopardy!' Champion) for a look at why asbestos is secretly incredibly fascinating.

Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

See NordPass Business in action now with a 3-month free trial here nordpass.com/sifpod with code SIFPOD.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Truffles Nov 14, 2022

Show notes

Alex Schmidt is joined by podcaster and bestselling author Dana Schwartz ('Noble Blood' podcast, new book 'Immortality: A Love Story') for a look at why truffles are secretly incredibly fascinating.

Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

The Starry Night (1889) Nov 07, 2022

Show notes

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writers Lydia Bugg (1900HOTDOG, the ‘Trailer Park Boys’ comic anthology) and Dan Hopper (Ranker, The New Yorker) for a look at why the painting "The Starry Night" is secretly incredibly fascinating.

Direct link to see the painting: https://www.moma.org/collection/works/79802

Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

The Great Lakes Oct 31, 2022

Show notes

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedians/podcasters Rebecca Reeds ('The Villain Was Right' podcast) and Eli Yudin ('What A Time To Be Alive' podcast) for a look at why the North American Great Lakes are secretly incredibly fascinating.

Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Raccoons Oct 24, 2022

Show notes

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedian/podcaster Kath Barbadoro ('What A Time To Be Alive' podcast), writer/podcaster David Roth (Defector, ‘The Distraction’ podcast), and comedian Martin Urbano (The Tonight Show), live at Caveat NYC, for a look at why raccoons are secretly incredibly fascinating.

Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and the video version of this live episode.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Barbed Wire Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

Alex Schmidt is joined by bestselling author Jason Pargin (new novel "If This Book Exists, You’re In The Wrong Universe") for a look at why barbed wire is secretly incredibly fascinating.

Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

BONUS SHOW #62: The Strange Origins (And Stranger Persistence) Of The ”Razor Blades In Candy” Myth Oct 10, 2022

Show notes

This is the bonus show for Episode 62! (Halloween Stores)

Alex Schmidt and Jason Pargin explore the obviously incredibly fascinating topic of the U.S. and Canada's favorite Halloween urban legend: what it is, why it's a myth, and how it became one of the most persistent beliefs in North America.

Originally released Sept 27th, 2021, exclusively for patrons at http://sifpod.fun/.

Research sources for Alex's new intro: the journal Science: "Fainting From Fentanyl Exposure? Nope." https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/fainting-fentanyl-exposure-nope CBS News: "Sen. Chuck Schumer warns drug dealers are pushing rainbow fentanyl to children" https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/sen-chuck-schumer-warns-drug-dealers-pushing-rainbow-fentanyl-to-children/ clip of scaremongering on Fox News: https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1574878436211957783 example of a scaremongering article, from Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/rainbow-fentanyl-targeted-children-lego-box-halloween-1749492 Here's a piece from The Guardian, published April 2022, covering one form the actual fentanyl crisis is taking: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/23/san-francisco-homelessness-street-team-fentanyl

Source links for the original bonus episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-show-62-of-56574011

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

Cardboard Oct 10, 2022

Show notes

Alex Schmidt is joined by comedians Caitlin Gill (stand-up album 'Major.', shirt store GuaranteeShirts.com) and Blake Wexler (stand-up album 'A Lifetime Of Laughter', podcast 'Blake's Takes For God's Sakes') for a look at why cardboard is secretly incredibly fascinating.

Visit http://sifpod.fun/ for research sources, handy links, and this week's bonus episode.

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinsifpod

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