Content Warning: This episode does describe instances of death on the mountain, along with how the bodies are treated on the mountain. Listener discretion is advised.

Everyone's heard of Mount Everest, but have you ever learned about the actual makeup of the mountain? Or what the most common route up the mountain looks like? Join Monica and Trini as they explore the world's highest (but not largest) mountain.

Episode note: Trini misspoke during this episode. While 2024 was one of the most deadly years on the mountain, the current deadliest year on record was actually 2023 when a series of avalanches saw the death of 18 climbers, including Sherpas.

If you liked the show, please be sure to like and subscribe! Also, find us on Instagram and Bluesky (PiquedPodcast on both platforms) to stay up to date on our latest episodes and see photos of the mountain.

Sources:

Britannica Editors (2025, May 28). Sherpa. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sherpa-people

Future Us Inc. (2023, November 3). Mt. Everest - Why Do People Keep Climbing it? LiveScience. Retrieved November 7, 2025, from https://www.livescience.com/45041-mt-everest-why-do-people-keep-climbing-it.html

Gurung, P. (2025, July 24). Mount Everest, the Highest Peak in the World. Retrieved November 9, 2025, from https://www.discoveryworldtrekking.com/blog/mount-everest

Hillary Step. (2025, October 24). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Step

Himalayatra (2025, July 25). Everest - A Jewel of the Himalaya. Retrieved November 7, 2025, from https://himalayatra.com/everest-a-jewel-of-the-himalaya/

Impacts of Tourism. (2025, November 5). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impacts_of_tourism#Mount_Everest

Limbu, S. (2024, April 24). Amongst Growing Mountain Tourism in Nepal, Mount Everest Confronts the Perils of Pollution. Earth.org. Retrieved November 4, 2025, from https://earth.org/amidst-growing-mountain-tourism-in-nepal-mount-everest-confronts-the-perils-of-pollution/

National Geographic Society (2025, April 10). Mount Everest. National Geographic. Retrieved November 7, 2025, from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/mount-everest/

Saunders, T. (2023, July 1). What is the tallest mountain in the world? No, it's not Mount Everest. BBC Science Focus Magazine. Retrieved November 4, 2025, from https://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/what-is-the-tallest-mountain-in-the-world

Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of naval warfare, including some examples of casualties. It also contains two instances of adult language.

When you studied the second World War in school, did you ever learn about the turning point of the Pacific campaign when essentially a single US battleship with a real badass of an admiral forced an entire contingent of Japanese ships to turn tail and run? Or about the smaller destroyers that fought alongside the battleship, before two of them sunk, leaving hundreds of men floating in shark infested waters overnight? Join Trini and Monica this week as they explore this story that when Trini first heard of it from her in-laws, she was convinced it had to be a slight exaggeration. Spoilers: it was not.

If you like the show, please be sure to leave us a review and subscribe. Your reviews help other people find our show!

If you have an idea for a future podcast, feel free to email us at [email protected]

Sources

Content warning: This episode has the occasional swear, a few references to decaying meat, and a discussion regarding the origin of a mass hysteria event that lead to the death of hundreds of people. If any of this is not your jam, please feel free to skip over this week and join us back here next time.

Monica takes the helm this week for our 10th episode! Join the ladies as they dart around the zany, wonderful pathways that connect everything from beets to beef showers to moving rocks and the dance party to end all dance parties (for one small town in England, anyways).

If you like the show, please be sure to leave us a review and tell your friends.

And as always, if you have anything you're curious to learn more about, be sure to email us at [email protected]!

Did you ever wonder how the cinnamon you find in the store gets made? Or where it comes from? Join Monica and Trini as they dive into the origins and history of cinnamon usage. They'll learn all about the traditional techniques still used today to harvest this spice, along with having a taste test to differentiate the different varieties.

Side note: This episode has a special third host, however she doesn't talk much yet. If you're easily distracted or don't enjoy listening to a baby babble in the background, you might want to skip this episode. While we try as hard as possible to record without interruption, our families will always come first. Thanks in advance for your understanding!

Also there is a small content warning for one use of strong language.

Sources:

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/plant/cinnamon

https://www.premiumspices.co.nz/blogs/news/history-of-cinnamon-tracing-ancient-origins-and-early-uses

https://spice.alibaba.com/spice-basics/cinnamon-showdown-vietnamese-cinnamon-vs-the-rest-of-the-world#flavor-differences

https://www.srilankabusiness.com/blog/difference-between-cassia-and-ceylon-cinnamon.html

https://cookedbytaste.com/how-do-they-harvest-cinnamon-sticks/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0882401018305667

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9269353/

https://www.jcehrlich.com/blog/ants/mythbusters-ants-and-cinnamon

https://www.childrensmn.org/educationmaterials/parents/article/14035/is-the-cinnamon-challenge-dangerous/

Do you want to know the wild (and slimy) origin of purple dye? Or why the Egyptians wore green pigment around their eyes? Or how blue was one of the first synthetic colors to be produced by scientists? Join Trini and Monica as they dive into the cool spectrum and learn about the history and psychology of the second half of the rainbow spectrum.

Be sure to follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠! And don't forget to leave a rating and review!

Sources:

Black. (2025, October 5). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black

"Blue." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 Oct. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Cherry, K., MSEd (2025, April 17). The Psychology of Black. Verywell Mind. Retrieved October 10, 2025, from https://www.verywellmind.com/the-color-psychology-of-black-2795814

Cherry, Kendra MSEd. "The Color Blue - Meaning, Color Psychology and Effects." Verywell Health, 20 Feb. 2024, www.verywellmind.com/the-color-psychology-of-blue-2795815. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Cherry, K., MSed (2024, December 10). The Color Psychology of Green. Very Well Mind. Retrieved October 9, 2025, from https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-green-2795817#toc-green-color-meaning-and-psychology

Cherry, Kendra MSEd. "The Color Psychology of Purple." Verywell Health, 16 Sept. 2024, www.verywellmind.com/the-color-psychology-of-purple-2795820. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

(n.d.). The History of the Color Purple - A Discovery Worth More Than Gold. Color Meanings. Retrieved October 10, 2025, from https://www.color-meanings.com/history-color-purple/

"Egyptian Blue." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Aug. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_blue. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Green. (2025, October 9). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green

"History of the Color Blue." Art in Context, 21 Feb. 2025, artincontext.org/history-of-the-color-blue/. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Oleson, J., MSEd (n.d.). The History of the Color Black: Mystery, Death and Beauty. Color Meanings. Retrieved October 10, 2025, from https://www.color-meanings.com/history-color-black/

"Purple." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Oct. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purple. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

Shay, M. (2024, June 21). The Meaning and Symbolism of Green. Color Cypher. Retrieved October 9, 2025, from https://www.colorcypher.com/green/

Have you ever wondered what the first time anyone used red paint was? Or if the color orange is named after the fruit or if the fruit is named after the color? Or why yellow is associated with happiness? Join Trini and Monica this week as they explore exactly how we see colors, what they've represented to different cultures throughout history, and even what's used to make them today.

Be sure to follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Bluesky⁠! And don't forget to leave a rating and review!

Sources:

(n.d.). How Do We See Color. Pantone, LLC. Retrieved September 23, 2025, from https://www.pantone.com/articles/color-fundamentals/how-do-we-see-color?srsltid=AfmBOopmOnpVC6mVaHTuCMfx95v230qkcKqjlfbv2x5z9cj1j3QnjCU1 

Cherry, K., MSed (2024, December 10). The Color Psychology of Orange. Very Well Mind. Retrieved September 23, 2025, from https://www.verywellmind.com/the-color-psychology-of-orange-2795818

Cherry, K., MSed (2023, June 28). The Color Psychology of Red. Very Well Mind. Retrieved September 23, 2025, from https://www.verywellmind.com/the-color-psychology-of-red-2795821

Cherry, K., MSed (2024, September 14). The Color Psychology of White Very Well Mind. Retrieved September 23, 2025, from https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-white-2795822

The Hunter Lab (2023, November 28). The Color Red. Retrieved September 23, 2025, from https://www.hunterlab.com/blog/the-color-red/

Lewis, D. (2015, August 14). The Color White Has a Dark Past. Retrieved September 23, 2025, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/color-white-dark-past-180956274/

Mellor, M. (n.d.). A History of the Colour Orange. Art & Collections. Retrieved September 23, 2025, from https://www.artsandcollections.com/article/a-history-of-the-colour-orange/

Olensen, J. (n.d.). The History of the Color White: Pure, Bright, and Held in High Regard. Color Meanings. Retrieved September 23, 2025, from www.color-meanings.com/history-color-white/ 

Orange. (2025, September 14). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_(colour) 

Red. (2025, September 16). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red 
Yellow (2025, September 14). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow

Content Warning: Some coarse language used.

In 1862, 22 Union spies and soldiers put on a daring raid to prevent the Confederacy from reinforcing Chattanooga. What happens next involves pushcarts, telegraph lines, eggs (eggs???), and an ending that you have to hear to believe. Get ready to follow along on the wildest tale you've never heard.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Bluesky!

Sources:

Bonds, R. S. (2006). Stealing the General. Westholme Publishing.

Pittenger, W. (1889). The Great Locomotive Chase: A History of the Andrews Railroad Raid Into Georgia in 1862 (3rd ed.). John B. Alden.Rowland, T. (2017, September 5). The Great Train Chase of 1862. History Net. Retrieved August 20, 2025, from https://www.historynet.com/great-train-chase-1862/

Southeast Express Team (2025, July 2). How 21 Union Spies Pulled off the Most Audacious Train Heist of the Civil War. Southeast Express. Retrieved August 20, 2025, from https://southeastexpress.org/how-21-union-spies-pulled-off-the-most-audacious-train-heist-of-the-civil-war/

Content warning for this episode - some language may not be suitable for young children. There are also some descriptions of bird mating rituals (18:00-20:45), along with describing the hyoid bone in humans that detours in a small segment regarding strangulation (11:40-13:10). Listener discretion is advised.

Have you ever wondered why woodpeckers hammer on your chimney? Or why they aren't suffering from permanent brain damage from all the banging? Join Trini and Monica as they explore these fascinating birds and maybe go on a tangent or three.

Sources:

https://ornithology.com/why-do-woodpeckers-peck/

https://lyricbirdfood.com/birding-hub/behavior/what-do-woodpeckers-eat/

https://avianreport.com/woodpecker-bill/#:~:text=Multi%2Dlayered%20Design%3A%20Woodpecker%20beaks,and%20dissipate%20impact%20forces%20effectively.

https://earthlife.net/woodpecker-breeding/

Merlin App

https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

Have you ever seen pictures of the Aurora Borealis and wondered what causes them? Join Monica and Trini as they explore the northern (and southern!) lights, what causes them, and some beautiful traditional folklore surrounding one of the Earth's most magical natural phenomenon.

Sources:

https://www.space.com/aurora-colors-explained

https://www.space.com/15139-northern-lights-auroras-earth-facts-sdcmp.html

https://www.space.com/aurora-northern-lights-myths-legends-misconceptions

https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/legends-of-the-northern-lights/

https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/sun-space-weather/aurora

https://earthsky.org/sun/aurora-season-auroras-equinox-connection/

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-the-northern-lights-are-being-seen-further-south

https://aurorasaurus.org/

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast⁠

This week, Monica and Trini do a deep dive into aliens. Where did the common tropes about aliens originate and what are some of the more famous sightings? Come join us as we learn about the history of aliens and what scientists actually expect to find while looking for life on other planets.

Sources: 

https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/education/alp/what-is-a-biosignature/

https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2019/09/why-is-the-stereotypical-image-of-aliens-green-grey-bald-humanoids/

https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/microbiome/intro/

https://www.livescience.com/55370-why-are-aliens-little-green-men.html

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/long-fuse-big-bang/202311/the-surprising-psychology-of-ufo-reporting

https://science.howstuffworks.com/space/aliens-ufos/the-10-most-legitimate-cases-of-u-f-o-sightings.htm

https://www.journalofscientificexploration.org/index.php/jse/article/view/3153

https://www.britannica.com/science/extraterrestrial-life/Searching-for-technical-civilizations

https://www.planetary.org/articles/are-aliens-real

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/what-does-extraterrestrial-mean-and-why-are-experts-looking-for-it

https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/extraterrestrials-aliens

https://gizmodo.com/why-would-aliens-come-all-this-way-just-to-invade-earth-487437089

https://slate.com/technology/2020/02/response-it-came-from-cruden-farm.html

https://www.sciencefocus.com/space/the-ufos-that-scientists-think-are-real-but-cant-explain

https://www.uapcaucus.com/guides/theories

Science Fiction You May Enjoy Based on this Topic: 

Quarantine by Greg Egan

The Embedding by Ian Watson

Evergence Trilogy by Shane Dix and Sean Williams

It Came from Cruden Farm by Max Berry