Australia just enacted a law limiting social media access to children under 16. Is this the start (or end) of something?

Millions of Australian children just lost access to social media. What's happening and will it work? (Hilary Whiteman, CNN, Dec 9, 2025)

Social media use damages children's ability to focus, say researchers (Dan Milmo, The Guardian, Dec 8, 2025)

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*This episode was recorded in a cruise ship cabin.

I can't help loving them -- those predictable, shiny Christmas romances that flood the market every holiday season. Are you on board? (I totally understand if you aren't.)

It's Love Week! How the TV holiday rom-com got so successful (Sylvie Douglas, NPR, Oct 21, 2024)

Hallmark's Formula for a Very Sappy Christmas (Nicholas Gilmore, The Saturday Evening Post, Dec 20, 2019

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*This episode was recorded in a cruise ship cabin.

Are we in for a world of ... white? Pantone thinks so. What this could mean (maybe).

Pantone's 'Cloud Dancer' color party is a recession indicator (Mia Sato, The Verge, Dec 5, 2025)

Backlash Hits Pantone After Color Of The Year Slammed as 'Tone Deaf,' 'Dystopian' (Mary Whitfield Roeloffs, Forbes, Dec 5, 2025)

You read that white: Pantone's 2026 Color the Year is 'Cloud Dancer' (Ivy Buck, Alina Edwards, NPR, Dec 4, 2025)

The World is Literally Getting Less Colorful, New Analysis Finds (Jessica Stillman, Inc., Feb 5, 2025)

Why is the World Losing Color? (Elvis Hsiao, UX Magazine, May 14, 2024)

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*This episode was recorded in a cruise ship cabin.

Did you know 1 out of 12 rams aren't that attracted to ewes? A German farm is saving these gay sheep.

Just not into ewes: 'gay sheep' escape slaughter and take over a New York catwalk (Julia Carrie Wong, The Guardian, Dec 5, 2025)

Flehmen (ScienceDirect, accessed Dec 6, 2025)

Same-Sex Behavior Among Animals Isn't New. Science is Finally Catching Up. (Barry Yeoman, National Wildlife Federation, Jul 4, 2023)

Rainbow Wool (official, accessed Dec 6, 2025)

All For Lunch (official, accessed Dec 6, 2025)

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*This episode was recorded in a cruise ship cabin.

When a New Zealand thief stole a Fabergé pendant, he swallowed it. Police recovered it (naturally).

Police recover a swallowed Fabergé pendant after a 6-day wait for it to reappear (Charlotte Graham-McLay, AP, Dec 4, 2025)

The Imperial Eggs (Faberge, accessed Dec 5, 2025)

Faberge Eggs (Britannica, Nov 27, 2025)

Fabergé egg made for mother of Russia's last tsar sells for £23m (Serena Richards, The Guardian, Dec 2, 2025)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

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*This episode was recorded in a cruise ship cabin.

Got shredded cheese? Check it! There's a huge recall in the U.S. Also, if you thought your air travel was tough, ask a violinist.

1.5 million bags of shredded cheese have been recalled. Check your fridge for these brands (Karen Garcia, LA Times, Dec 3, 2025)

Soloist forced to travel with 'naked' 1782 violin as airline refuses her boarding with case (Hazel Davis, Classic FM, Dec 2, 2025)

Violinist refused boarding by airline after declining to check in 'rare' Stradivarius (Lucy Hicks Beach, Classic FM, Sep 8, 2025)

Violinist accuses airline of 'complete injustice' for refusing to let her board with rare 1761 violin (Hazel Davis, Classic FM, Oct 23, 2025)

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*This episode was recorded in a cruise ship cabin.

U.S. holiday flyers, this episode is for you. If you're flying, make sure you have a Real ID -- otherwise you might be out $45. Plus, if your flight is delayed or your luggage is lost, you could be entitled to money.

How do you get a REAL ID? Not having one could soon cost you $45 (Kate Perez, USA Today, Dec 1, 2025)

Flight delayed this holiday season? You may be entitled to a refund. Here's what to know (Zach Richter, USA Today, Nov 18, 2025)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

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*This episode was recorded in a cruise ship cabin.

The U.S. chose to stop commemorating World AIDS Day this year.

We'll do it here.

The US government is no longer commemorating World AIDS Day (Jennifer Handler, CNN, Dec 1, 2025)

For the first time since 1988, the U.S. is not officially commemorating World AIDS Day (Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, Dec 1, 2025)

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*This episode was recorded in a cruise ship cabin.

It's a few days post-Thanksgiving, so here's an episode of leftovers -- some stories that I couldn't expand into full episodes, but that definitely belong in the Soup. Enjoy!

Florida police seize over 30 illegally used disability parking permits (Allison Petro, WESH-NBC, Dec 1, 2025)

Senior Couple Gets Married in the YMCA Swimming Pool Where They First Met in a Water Aerobics Class (Erin Clack, People, Nov 19, 2025)

Sprite's Newest Flavor is EXACTLY What the People Want (Christopher Luu, Refinery 29, Feb 13, 2017)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

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*This episode was recorded in a cruise ship cabin.

Karl Bushby is nearing the end of his trek around the world, a walk that has spanned almost three decades. It's a testament of commitment.

Round-the-world walker prepares for home stretch (Eleanor Maslin, BBC News, Jun 11, 2025)

Round-the-world walker swims across Caspian Sea (Holly Phillips, BBC News, Oct 19, 2024)

The Long Way Home (Bill Donahue, Backpacker Magazine, Mar 24, 2025)

27. Years on foot: Karl Bushby closes in on becoming the first-ever to walk around the world without transport (Times of India, Nov 30, 2025)

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*This episode was recorded in a cruise ship cabin.