Commute | The Podcast

Some corporate programs really do work. One has convinced millions of kids to read millions of books for more than 40 years by promising them the perfect incentive - free pizza.


Have you ever set out to buy one thing but ended up with something else? That’s what happened to Cecil Chubb, though his unintended purchase was a little bigger than typical.


If it seems the McDonald’s McFlurry ice cream machine is broken more often than not, you wouldn’t be wrong. America’s court system decided to do something about it. 

Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/31/books/pizza-hut-book-it.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/man-buys-stonehenge-his-wife-she-not-pleased-180956719/
https://www.mentalfloss.com/mcdonalds-mcflurry-machines-government-ruling

http://www.commutethepodcast.com

Follow Commute:
Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/
Twitter - @PodcastCommute
Facebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

You may hear these days of unfair or too close-to-call elections, but this isn’t a recent development. 


It’s not the national anthem, but God Bless the USA sure feels like it could be … until you hear this segment. 


Everyone hates changing their clocks twice per year. More than 80% of Americans say we should stop. Why don’t we?

Sources:
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/presidential-election-1876
https://www.npr.org/2018/09/11/645270955/god-bless-the-u-s-a-a-country-anthem-with-enduring-political-power
https://www.nytimes.com/article/daylight-saving-time-questions.html

http://www.commutethepodcast.com

Follow Commute:
Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/
Twitter - @PodcastCommute
Facebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

The dark web is a largely unregulated version of the internet where many kinds of questionable things go on. Much like Amazon, the dark web even has its own marketplace. The similarities end there. 


Political campaigns have likely been texting you for months; asking for your money, your time and, of course, your vote. How did they get your number? 


For the last 140 years, Dr. Pepper has been popular, but never been able to crack the top two in soda sales, the domain of Coke and Pepsi, until now. 

Sources:

https://time.com/6994868/political-campaign-texts-what-to-do/
https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/how-dr-pepper-beat-pepsi-no-2-soft-drink/
https://www.marketingdive.com/news/dr-pepper-passed-pepsi-number-two-football-flavor-marketing/718197/#:~:text=from%20your%20inbox.-,How%20Dr%20Pepper%20passed%20Pepsi%20by%20marketing%20around%20football%2C%20flavor,soft%20drink%20in%20the%20U.S.&text=As%20its%20vintage%20advertising%20maintained%2C%20it's%20Dr%20Pepper%20time

http://www.commutethepodcast.com

Follow Commute:
Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/
Twitter - @PodcastCommute
Facebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

We wear wedding rings on the left-hand ring finger. Would another finger work?


Magazines are losing subscribers at an alarming rate. You’ll never guess which one is an exception. 


It’s time to get your Halloween costume!  Many come from a pop-up store named “Spirit of Halloween.”  Where do these stores come from and, maybe more importantly, where do they go? (From the archives)

http://www.commutethepodcast.com

Follow Commute:
Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/
Twitter - @PodcastCommute
Facebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

The first Tuesday in November we head to the polls to vote. Why that day, in that month? Could it ever change?


Pitt bulls are the meanest, nastiest, most dangerous of dogs … aren’t they?


Have you tried to hold in a sneeze? You might want to rethink that.

Sources:
https://www.history.com/news/why-is-election-day-a-tuesday-in-november
https://www.vox.com/videos/367080/how-pit-bulls-got-a-bad-reputation
https://www.health.com/condition/cold/is-it-just-me-holding-in-sneeze-bad#:~:text=It%20might%20be%20bad%20to,brain%20aneurysm%20or%20rib%20fractures

http://www.commutethepodcast.com

Follow Commute:
Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/
Twitter - @PodcastCommute
Facebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

It’s hard to go on a busy highway without seeing a billboard for an accident lawyer. Is it legal to advertise such a service? Well, it hasn’t always been. 


Gift cards are big business. We are good at buying them but not always so good at using them. 


Chicken tenders are one of the most popular foods in America. One city wants all the credit. 

Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lawyer-commercials-a-billion-dollar-industry/
https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesfinancecouncil/2024/02/09/gift-cards-a-strategy-for-retailers-and-consumers/
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/01/dining/chicken-tenders.html

http://www.commutethepodcast.com

Follow Commute:
Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/
Twitter - @PodcastCommute
Facebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

In honor of the calendar turning to October, this week we re-air one of our most popular episodes from the archives. We'll be back next week with an all-new episode!



How did “cheese” become the universal smile word used by photographers? You’ll never guess what word it replaced!


It’s the official slogan of Halloween, but where and when did it begin? And what did cabbage have to do with the whole thing?


The most terrifying mask of all time has one of the most bizarre backstories. 

http://www.commutethepodcast.com

Follow Commute:
Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/
Twitter - @PodcastCommute
Facebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Does the President have a little red button that can fire nuclear weapons and end the world?


Why do dogs love riding with the windows down? Should we let them?


More people are scared of clowns than entertained by them. Science will tell us why.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Codes?wprov=sfti1#
https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/why-dogs-stick-their-heads-out-car-windows#:~:text=Sticking%20his%20or%20her%20head,can%20see%2C%E2%80%9D%20veterinarian%20Dr
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-weird-reason-were-afraid-of-clowns/

http://www.commutethepodcast.com

Follow Commute:
Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/
Twitter - @PodcastCommute
Facebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Famous people get paid millions of dollars to convince you to spend money. Does it work?

Do you shower in the morning or at night? Science has something to say about that.

 More people are choosing to be dog parents instead of human parents. What does this mean for the future of humanity (and for dogs)?

Sources:
https://qz.com/do-celebrity-endorsements-political-or-otherwise-work-1851646337/slides/7
https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/morning-or-night-shower
https://www.newsweek.com/south-korea-news-dog-strollers-babies-1952011
https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/pet-insurance/pets-over-parenthood/

http://www.commutethepodcast.com

Follow Commute:
Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/
Twitter - @PodcastCommute
Facebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Presidents are maxed to two terms of four years. Why is that?


Have you ever been on a radio call-in contest. It seems so random who gets on the air. But is it?


The carton tells you the juice was squeezed from farm-fresh Florida oranges. Reality, of course, is a little more complicated. 

Sources:
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/633015/why-presidents-serve-four-year-terms
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-win-radio-contests/
https://www.wnyc.org/story/last-chance-foods-secret-highly-processed-life-orange-juice/

http://www.commutethepodcast.com

Follow Commute:
Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/
Twitter - @PodcastCommute
Facebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast