Once Upon a Podcast

Episode 21: Straw, Coal, and Bean


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This week, Joe and Matthew dig into one of the Grimms’ smallest, but strangest, tales: The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean. From the chaos of a kitchen fire to an exploding bean and a tailor with great aim, it’s a story that’s equal parts absurd and oddly insightful. We explore its fable roots, the lost 1548 source text, and even how the Grimms’ students kept its spark alive centuries later. Also: bean breath, Cartoon Network songs, and survivorship bias.

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Once Upon a PodcastBy Joe Nay, Matthew Christensen, and Emma Porter