The story of how two industries, a bunch of scientists, the leading electronics companies of the 80, and even Billy Joel worked together to change the future of audio recording... and possibly the entire physical makeup of the planet.

Thanks to Lee Rosevere for the music in this episode.

Thanks to the advertisers, CLAMP Podcast (https://www.clampcast.com/)

and to Prusa Woodworks (https://prusawoodworks.com/)

Ever wonder why they call it a 2x4 when it's actually 1 1/2 x 3 1/2? Why the edges are all rounded over? Why it exists in the first place? Delve into the history of the world's most famous block of wood in this episode of FTGU

Thanks to Totalboat for sponsoring this episode. Go check out Totalboat.com for their fantastic product line.

Music by Lee Roosevere

For more info, check out ftgupodcast.com

Every now and then an invention comes along that is made of inventions. A merging of technologies that pushes the worlds of design and manufacturing to their limits, and changes them irreversibly.

Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic represents one of those leaps. Here's the tale of how a few scrappy entrepreneurs were able to bring FRP to the forefront of automotive design.

Thanks to Totalboat for sponsoring this episode. Go check out Totalboat.com for their fantastic product line.

Music by Lee Rosevere

For more info, check out http://ftgupodcast.com

Whether it's sitting in the back of your junk drawer, being used to lift a 14,000 lb car into the air, or holding a wound closed on the battlefield, CA Glue, also known as Superglue, is certainly one of the world's most useful adhesives that was almost never discovered... twice.

Support the show at: http://Patreon.com/Keithdecent

More information and episodes at: http://ftgupodcast.com

Music for this episode by Lee Rosevere

A beer company CEO walking on a beach comes up with a plan that could change the world.

Music provided by:

Lee Rosevere

FTGU is a (severely overworked) one-man operation. Please consider going to Patreon.com/keithdecent to donate to the show. Alternatively, sharing your favorite episodes or leaving a review goes a long way toward helping grow the podcast.

Thanks!

A family, ruined by disease. A widow, haunted by vengeful spirits. A house, built to trick and trap the dead. Secret rooms, trap doors, stairs to nowhere, and deadly pitfalls. The Winchester Mystery House is a weird, weird place, with an interesting history. This special Halloween edition of FTGU explores just why someone would build such a strange home and the events behind the legend.

Musical provided by:

Lee Rosevere

Matt Oakley

FTGU is a (severely overworked) one-man operation. In order to devote more time to the podcast, I need the support of listeners like yourselves. Please consider going to patreon.com/keithdecent to donate to the show. Alternatively, sharing your favorite episodes or leaving a review goes a long way toward helping grow the podcast.

Thanks!

From ancient cave dwellers to modern firefighting, the history of the ladder is the history of humanity striving to rise to new heights, to reach beyond our limitations, and to come back from the journey safer and better than when we began.

Huge thanks to Eric from Hand Tool rescue for helping out on this episode. You can find him at handtoolrescue.com, at Hand Tool Rescue on Youtube, and on his excellent podcast, the Fitzall Podcast.

Music for this episode provided by:

Lee Rosevere

Matt Oakley

FTGU is a (severely overworked) one-man operation. In order to devote more time to the podcast, I need the support of listeners like yourselves. Please consider going to patreon.com/keithdecent to donate to the show. Alternatively, sharing your favorite episodes or leaving a review goes a long way toward helping grow the podcast.

Thanks!

How many Napoleons does it take to accidentally invent the Flea Market?

Music:

Lee Rosevere - Puzzle Pieces

Couperin - Pieces en Concert - Prelude, La Tromba, Air de Diable

Lee Rosevere - Under Suspicion

Ruff and Ready - Matt Oakley

Lee Rosevere - Let’s Start at The Beginning

For more info: Please visit ftgupodcast.com

To support the show, please visit: Patreon.com/Keithdecent

Follow the show on Instagram: instagram.com/ftgupodcast

Invisible wood? Bullet proof wood? 1200 foot-tall, fire-resistant skyscrapers made from timber? This episode explores the various superpowers given to wood by scientists and engineers of the modern age as well as our recent past.

Music:

Puzzle Pieces - Lee Rosevere

It’s a Mystery - Lee Rosevere

The Blues Jumped a Rabbit - Jimmy Noone Orchestra (1936)

Under Suspicion - Lee Rosevere

For more info: Please visit ftgupodcast.com

To support the show, please visit: Patreon.com/Keithdecent

Follow the show on Instagram: instagram.com/ftgupodcast

From a colony of insects on a tree branch in India, to your fingernails, food, medicine, artwork, and furniture, shellac undergoes a 3000 year journey to become a worldwide industry. Myths, inventions, the delta blues, and apples are all touched upon along the way.

Music:

Lee Roosevere - multiple songs

Franz Schubert - String Trio in B Flat Major (1811)

Charley Patton - High Water Everywhere Pt.1 (1929)

For more info: Please visit ftgupodcast.com

To support the show, please visit: Patreon.com/Keithdecent

Follow the show on Instagram: instagram.com/ftgupodcast