Condensed Soup

Two tourists took a forbidden dip in Venice's Grand Canal—and let's just say, the city was not having it. We chat about the engineering marvel that birthed Venice and why, besides it being illegal, you absolutely should NOT swim in those canals.

Trust me.

Tourists banned from Venice after illegally diving into canal (Kathleen Wong, USA Today, Sep 15, 2025)

Is Venice Sinking? Here's What You Need to Know About the Floating City (Shayla Martin, Jun 16, 2025)

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What happens when your fine is based on your fortune?

In Switzerland, a wealthy driver got slapped with a $110,000 speeding ticket — for going just 17mph over the limit. We're heading into the world of income-based traffic fines, where a fast car plus a fat bank account equals a whole lot of francs. From Finland's "day fines" to the biggest ticket ever issued, this episode asks: should justice scale with your salary?

A driver faces up to $110,000 in fines for speeding on a Swiss street. But he can afford it (CNN / AP, Aug 13, 2025)

Finnish businessman hit with €121,000 speeding fine (Jon Henley, The Guardian, Jun 6, 2023)

Here's something to look forward to: there's a new Girl Scout cookie flavor on the horizon! If you were an enterprising Girl Scout, where would you set up your shop? (Hint: aim hiiiiiiigh.)

The Girl Scouts unveil new cookie inspired by a popular ice cream flavor (Chrissy Callahan, NBC News, Sep 10, 2025)

Cookie Flavors (Girl Scouts, accessed Sep 14, 2025)

Girl Scout sells 300 boxes of cookies outside marijuana dispensary in 6 hours (Scott Stump, Today, Feb 7, 2018)

Chrissy Teigen and Daughter Luna Take Dog Petey to 'Sell Cookies' — and Give Him an Adorable Hat to Wear! (Esme Mazzeo, People, Feb 18, 2024)

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Nuns on the run! First up: three Austrian nuns in their 80s who straight-up ran away from their Catholic care home and broke back into their beloved convent. Then we head to Spain, where another group of excommunicated sisters started a restaurant to fund their standup with authority.

Defiant nuns flee care home for their abandoned convent in the Alps (Bethany Bell, BBC, Sep 13, 2025)

How to Become a Catholic Nun (A Nun's Life Ministry, accessed Sep 13, 2025)

Mutiny on the menu at the restaurant run by heretical nuns (Isambard Wilkinson, The Times, Aug 1, 2025)

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Albania just appointed an AI-generated minister -- is this a harbinger of things to come? With AI radio and podcast hosts, maybe a government official was inevitable...

Albania's prime minister appoints an AI-generated 'minister' to tackle corruption (Llazar Semini, AP, Sep 12, 2025)

Albania appoints world's first AI-made minister (Politico, Alice Taylor, Sep 11, 2025)

Albania appoints AI bot 'minister' to fight corruption in world first (Al Jazeera, Sep 12, 2025)

An AI-generated radio host in Australia went unnoticed for months (Emma Roth, The Verge, Apr 25, 2025)

5,000 Podcasts, 3,000 Episodes a Week. $1 Cost Per Episode — Behind an AI Start Up's Plan (Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, Sep 9, 2025)

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Come stroll through Minneapolis's Mall of America, a shrine to air-conditioned capitalism. We're talking 12,000 parking spaces, a log ride, and a Ferris wheel you can ride in your wedding dress. This episode digs into the history and quirks of the Mall, from a Twins home plate to their very unique way of heating during the winter.

10 Facts About the Mall of America (Stacy Conradt, Mental Floss, May 15, 2024)

Mall of America (Minnesota Fun Facts, accessed Sep 11, 2025)

This episode starts in grief — the world is dark these days, but I believe community will save us. I'm feeling my feelings in this episode, but I want you, listener, to know how grateful I am to have you here.

Then we go to Germany, where a story that begins with nighttime doorbell pranks ends with a lesson that the world isn't always out to get you.

Sending you love out there, y'all.

Doorbell prankster that tormented residents of German apartments turn out to be a slug (Kate Connolly, The Guardian, Sep 8, 2025)

Knock, Knock, Ginger: The History of the Ding-Dong-Ditch Prank (Professional Moron, Apr 18, 2022)

Origin of: Knock down ginger (Idiom Origins, accessed Sep 10, 2025)

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If you're tossing and turning after dessert, you're not alone. New research reveals that late-night dairy, sweets, and spicy foods may be linked to poor sleep and even nightmares. In this episode, we dive into foods that help you sleep (hello kiwi and chamomile) and ones that might keep your brain buzzing. Plus: the truth about melatonin, resistant starch, and whether your midnight hot chocolate is messing with your REM.

Is dairy disturbing your dreams? Here's what a study on food and sleep found out (Sara Moniuszko, Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, Jul 1, 2025)

The 9 Best Foods and Drinks to Have Before Bed (Brianna Elliot, Kathy W. Warwick, Healthline, Jan 17, 2024)

Cooling Some Foods After Cooking Increases Their Resistant Starch (Grant Tinsley, Jerlyn Jones, Jan 22, 2024)

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What do you do after retiring from accounting? If you're Kent Broussard, you learn the tuba from scratch and march into LSU's student band… at 65 years old. It's not just a story about brass and boldness—it's about why the only real failure is not trying. We get into marching band memories (including one fainting incident), the drilldown, and why marching and musical theatre are NOT in step.

LSU's 66-year-old band member inspires with dream comeback (Al Formicola, The Sporting News / Yahoo! Sports, Sep 7, 2025)

Retired accountant, 66, achieves lifelong dream of joining LSU Tiger Marching Band (Steve Hartman, CBS News, Sep 5, 2025)

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A shocking new sunscreen study has exposed major brands—including one $50 cult favorite—as dramatically overstating their SPF protection. With 2 in 3 Australians facing skin cancer, the fallout could be global. If you use sunscreen (and you should), press play before your next sunblock slather.

The sunscreen scandal shocking Australia — the world's skin cancer hotspot (Tabby Wilson and Tiffanie Turnbull, BBC News, Sep 6, 2025)

How to Apply Sunscreen Properly: When & How Much to Use (Coppertone, accessed Sep 7, 2025)

How to Apply Sunscreen (American Academy of Dermatology Association, accessed Sep 7, 2025)

Sunscreen FAQs (American Academy of Dermatology Association, accessed Sep 7, 2025)

Reef Safe Sunscreen Guide (Save the Reef, accessed Sep 7, 2025)

Tips to Stay Safe in the Sun: From Sunscreen to Sunglasses (FDA, accessed Sep 7, 2025)

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