Every Little Thing

Every year the TSA confiscates millions of pounds of pocketknives, sunscreen and snow globes from airport travelers. Where does it all go? ELT investigates. Plus, tips for sneaking your weed onboard, from a former TSA agent.Guests: Ex-TSO “Taylor”; TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein; surplus agents for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Patrick Knight and Mike Starr; press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of General Services Troy Thompson.Thanks to caller Kimberly.

Pumpkin Spice: The Science Behind the Invasion. Plus, What’s the Next Big Flavor Fad?

Why is pumpkin spice a thing? Flavor scientists explain why this particular combination is so appealing -- or not. Plus, how to make a new flavor, and ELT listeners pitch their ideas for the next flavor fad. Guests: Food scientist Kantha Shelke; flavor chemist Bill Aslanides.Thanks to caller Ally, and to flavor forecasters Hunter, Travis, Amelia, Kassy, Rachel, Brooke, Wyatt, Thomas, and to all the listeners who submitted ice cream ideas. Special thanks and congrats to Just Ani.Additional thanks to Michelle Gillespie of SPINS Research and to Genevieve Aronson of Nielsen Research.If you want to hear more about pumpkin spice, and flavor science, check out this episode of Science Friday. Thanks to our sponsor, Cole Haan. You can hear more of Flora and other Gimlet hosts in conversation at ExtraordinariesOnTheMic.com, produced in partnership with Cole Haan.

Bubblegum: What’s That Flavor? Plus, What’s the Deal With Turkey Eggs?

Where does bubblegum flavor come from? A bubblegum bush? A beaver’s butt? We track down the original bubblegum flavor formula, and find out what’s in there. Plus, why turkey eggs aren’t a thing.Guests: Philadelphia events expert Scott Bruce, confectioners Bob Boutin and Mauricio Bobadilla, turkey biologist James Dickson and birder Laura Erickson. Thanks to callers Arrie and Chiara, and also to Phillip Clauer and Christine Alvarado for their egg-spertise. 

Old Graves: What Would You Find In There? Plus, the Scariest Creature Under the Sea

If you dug up the graves of our founding fathers, what would you find? Tri-corner hats and puffy shirts? A grave expert fills us in on what remains. Plus, a terrifying sea creature that lurks in the waters off northern Australia.  Guests: Nicholas Bellantoni, former Connecticut State Archaeologist and author; jellyfish expert Lisa-ann Gershwin. Thanks to callers Brenda and Keira and all the listeners who shared their final wishes.

Do You Need to Warm Up Your Car? Plus, a Teeny, Glorious Car Hack

Tucked into your car’s dashboard is a tiny arrow that points to the side of the car with the gas tank cap. Who came up with it? ELT tracks down the inventor of this tiny, brilliant car hack. Plus, do you really need to warm up your car?Guests: Automobile aficionado Jason Torchinsky of Jalopnik; gas tank-indicator arrow inventor Jim Moylan. Thanks to caller Jonathan, the listeners who shared their car-spiracies, and the car experts who answered our questions.Have a tiny but important invention you want to know more about? Tell us who belongs on ELT’s Bulletin Board of Glory™. Email us at elt@gimletmedia.com.

Cheese: Why Do We Worship Rotten Milk? A NSFW History

When did someone first see a cheese curd and think, “Yeah, I’m going to eat that"? ELT traces the delicious and X-rated history of cheese. Plus, a professional processed cheese maker on how to make the most of the dairy aisle.Guests: cheese biochemist and historian Paul Kindstedt; processed cheese expert Lloyd Metzger; and cicada killer wasp biologist Chuck Holliday.Thanks to callers Kurt and Judi. Have a question that needs answering? Call the ELT Help Line #(833) RING ELT. To find a list of our sponsors and show-related promo codes, go to gimlet.media/OurAdvertisers. 

The Cha Cha Slide: How One Uncle Changed Weddings Forever

DJ Casper tells us the origin story of the Cha Cha Slide. Plus, The Nod’s Brittany Luse is astonished by the unreleased Cha Cha Slide Pt. 1.Guests: The Nod’s host, Brittany Luse; Willie Perry Jr. (aka DJ Casper aka Mr. C the Slide Man); former gym rat David Wilson; radio personality and actress La Donna “Tittle in The Middle” Tittle; and BBC Radio 1 host Scott Mills.Thanks to caller Rachael and line dance guru Kenny J.Have a question that needs answering? Call the ELT Help Line #(833) RING ELT.To find a list of our sponsors and show-related promo codes, go to gimlet.media/OurAdvertisers.

What Do Dogs Say When They Bark?

Is it possible to interpret what dogs are saying when they bark? We have the tools to help you do some ruff decoding. Plus, listeners share their real-life, unconventional Lassie stories.Guests: Dog bark researchers Péter Pongrácz and Kathryn Lord; behavioral scientist Susan Friedman.Thanks to dog callers Jacob, Alan, Katie R., Katie K., and Oren — and to everyone who sent in their pet stories.Have a question that needs answering? Call the ELT Help Line #(833) RING ELT.To find a list of our sponsors and show-related promo codes, go to gimlet.media/OurAdvertisers

How to Spot a Spy

Does that person sitting next to you on the airplane REALLY work in IT? Plus, a tribute to the bedazzled sausage of the desert southwest, and more fun with pirates.Guests: ex-CIA operative Robert Baer, gila meister Dan Beck, and lady pirate expert Laura Sook Duncombe.Special thanks to callers “anonymous” and Eric — and to all of the listeners who sent us pirate questions. Have a question that needs answering? Call the ELT Help Line: #(833) RING ELT.To find a list of our sponsors and show-related promo codes, go to gimlet.media/OurAdvertisers 

Do Scarecrows Scare Crows?

ELT goes into the mind of a crow to find out if scarecrows work. Plus, a look at how clowns protect their clown IP with fact buddy Prashanth VenkatGuests: Julie "Lovely Buttons" Varholdt; crow expert Kevin McGowan. Thanks to Bruce Johnson (aka "Charlie the Juggling Clown") and Alan Zerobnick (aka “Zerbo the Clown” and “The Shoemaker to the Clowns"). Thanks also to callers Brian and Jordan.Find a link to the clown egg photos on our show page, and on Twitter and Facebook.Have a question that needs answering? Call the ELT Help Line #(833) RING ELT.

Are Babies Born With Tails?

Plus, learn how to lie like a dad.Guests: Fake parenting expert Adam Mansbach; belly whisperer Tamara Duker Freuman; bird-watcher extraordinaire Amar Ayyash. Special thanks to Nicolas, Marisa, and everyone who called in with their Old Dad's Tales.To find a list of our sponsors and show-related promo codes, go to gimlet.media/OurAdvertisers

Are You Living With a Psychopath?

Is your roommate trying to kill you? Learn how to spot the telltale signs of a psychopath.Guests: Jon Ronson, author of The Psychopath Test; cat psychologist Eva Waiblinger. Special thanks to caller Megan. *No animals were harmed in the making of this episode. To find a list of our sponsors and show-related promo codes, go to gimlet.media/OurAdvertisers

The Corn Identity

A kid caller pops the question: How does popcorn pop? Plus, the uncomfortable truth about baby corn.

Why Are Used Car Ads So INSAAANNNE?

One man is to blame. Plus, vanity plates in the wild: IC A GR8 PL8.To find a list of our sponsors and show-related promo codes, go to gimlet.media/OurAdvertisers

Do Dogs Have Belly Buttons?

Plus, dog clothes: where did they come from?To find a list of our sponsors and show-related promo codes, go to gimlet.fm/sponsors

Why Does Music Give Us the Chills?

Why do we get goosebumps from music and other emotional experiences? Plus, the strangest things to give ELT listeners goosebumps.To find a list of our sponsors and show-related promo codes, go to gimlet.fm/sponsors

What Would Happen to Your Body in Space?

Flora finds out what would happen if she stepped into the vacuum of outer space. Then, an (Earth) vacuum paradox to end all paradoxes: which came first, the vacuum or the carpet?To find a list of our sponsors and show-related promo codes, go to gimlet.fm/sponsors

Your Bedtime is Killing You

Flora stages a fact intervention with Prashanth.

The Voices Hiding in Your Favorite Movies

Invisible actors create worlds of sound in everything you watch - from Jaws to The Wire.

Invasion of the Self-checkout Machines

Self-service began in a Piggly Wiggly 100 years ago. How’d it become a way of life?

Bonus: Zombie Flamingo

Flora continues to champion the flamingo.

Who Killed Cargo Shorts?

Flora and fact buddy Prashanth talk about spiders, which leads to a cargo short investigation.Listen to Gimlet's newest show, Uncivil, wherever you get your podcasts:Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Pocketcasts | Stitcher

The ELT Help Line

Flora and Katherine answer questions from listeners. ELT Help Line #: (347) 464-9626.

Introducing The Pitch

We're hard at work on Season 2 of ELT. In the meantime, we thought you'd enjoy this brand new Gimlet podcast called The Pitch. On it, real entrepreneurs pitch to real investors for real money. It's high stakes and nerve-racking and really fun. We're sharing episode 2, iMirror, on which a startup founder pitches his plan to disrupt the hotel industry by changing what happens when we look in the mirror. If you enjoy it, make sure you subscribe wherever you get podcasts.

Dewey Decimal Drama

The trouble with the library cataloging system. Plus, slug-gate. Our Sponsors: Spotify | Synchrony Financial