It’s the most wonderful tiiiiime of the yeeeeear! We take a break from our hiatus to bring you our annual recap of the Eurovision Song Contest. Julia and Lauren have Some Thoughts about this year’s entrants, and we hope you do too. Later, enjoy some questions from “I Wrote a Quiz (Postcards from the Edge).” . . . [Music: 1) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license ..read more

For our season 2 finale, please join us on a sequel to everyone’s favorite multisensory podcast experience: CHEESEALONG, Part Deux! To eat along with us as you learn, you will want to procure: Gjetost, Roquefort, smoked (or unsmoked) pepper jack, and Parmigiano Reggiano. [We also recommend some fresh or dried fruit, jam, crackers, and nuts to round out your cheese plate.] We’re going on a sweet, salty, spicy, umami journey today. Later, your hosts squeeze in some other trivia topics they intended to cover this season [… but didn’t]. Thank you so much to our lovely listeners and supporters for ..read more

Today, learn all about an accomplished female Mexican surrealist (–no, not that one). In this episode, Lauren paints a portrait of Remedios Varo, and later, gives us a quiz about artist’s biopics! . . . [Music: 1) Meydän, “Surreal Forest,” 2018. Courtesy of Meydän, CC BY 4.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license ..read more

What was your first job at age 16? Was it… A) bagging groceries, B) making pizzas, C) babysitting, or D) driving an automobile (that you would repair yourself when it broke down) across five continents while filming your journey for travelogue movies? This episode, Julia shines a headlight on the incredible Aloha Wanderwell, “the world’s most traveled girl.” Later, take a quiz called “Baby, You Can Drive My Car!” . . . [Music: 1) Springtide, “Driving A Blue Car,” 2021. Courtesy of Springtide, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 ..read more

Haven’t you ever just wanted to shut yourself away with all of your books and collectibles and piles of newspapers and old food…? Well, today’s episode is for you! Lauren walks us through the weird and wild world of a few infamous “urban hermits.” Later, take a quiz on some other famous eccentrics! . . . [Music: 1) HoliznaCC0, “Recluse,” 2022. Courtesy of HoliznaCC0; 02) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license ..read more

Are you smarter than the av-ah-ridge bear? Don’t touch that dial– Julia tells the animated tale of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. and sketches out some original Hanna-Barbera Characters You Should Know. Later, take a quiz called “Spin to Win!” . . . [Music: 1) Chase Alan Willis, “Cartoon Faced,” 2016. Courtesy of Chase Alan Willis, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license ..read more

You may have read some (or all!) of her books, but what’s the deal with the famous teenage sleuth, Nancy Drew? Learn all about her on today’s episode — and later, take a quiz about famous fictional teens! . . . [Music: 1) The Crypts!, “Teenager,” 2016. Courtesy of The Crypts!, CC BY 4.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license ..read more

[We’re] comin’ out … with a brand new episode about the legendary Ms. Diana Ross and her long and storied career. Later, take a quiz about animal babies! . . . [Music: 1) William Ross Chernoff’s Nomads, “Four-Way,” 2017. Courtesy of William Ross Chernoff’s Nomads, CC-BY 4.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license ..read more

Nowadays, the Fox Sisters get a bad rap– but that wasn’t always the case! Lauren tells the tale of Maggie and Kate Fox, two Western New Yorkers who sparked the Spiritualism movement in America by “communicating” with the dead. Later, take a quiz on ghosts! . . . [Music: 1) 8bit Betty, “Spooky Loop,” 2010. Courtesy of 8bit Betty, CC BY-NC 3.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license ..read more

Um, what exactly ARE those super expensive lumps hailed as “the diamond of the kitchen”? Julia hunts down all the information on truffles that you’ll ever need [and maybe make you a little bit hungry in the process]. Later, take a quiz called “Truffle Shuffle”! . . . [Music: 1) Rod Hamilton, “Mushroom,” 2013. Courtesy of Rod Hamilton, CC BY-NC 3.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license ..read more