Researching the Obvious

Katie and Emily can't wait to share season 2 of Researching the Obvious with you! Catch us on all podcast platforms June 17 to start learning even more obvious facts. 

It’s the end of the year and the end of season one of Researching the Obvious. In this episode, Katie and Emily reminisce about some of their favorite facts from this season and add in a few new ones to share. Thank you to everyone who has listened and supported the show over the past 15 episodes! Season two will start in the spring, but in the meantime, if there are any topics you want to learn more about, share them on Instagram @ResearchingtheObviouspod. Happy New Year!

What was it like to party like it's 1999? Well, it might be a little anxiety inducing because everyone was anticipating the effects of the Y2K computer bug. On its 25th anniversary, Emily and Katie take a look back to the year 2000, share some New Year’s memories, and explore the facts and misconceptions around the Y2K bug, and how people prepared for January 1st, 2000. 

What was going on in the world in 1999 as the world approached the new Millenium?

What is the Year 2000 problem, also known as “Y2K”?

What was done to prepare for and fix the Y2K bug?

How was Y2K portrayed in the media and received by the public?

Where is Y2K showing up in today’s pop culture?

https://time.com/5752129/y2k-bug-history/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-y2k-20th-anniversary-how-canada-prepared/

https://mousemuseum.wordpress.com/2017/06/02/y2k-disneyland-cast-member-reference-guide-1999/

https://www.greatpopculturedebate.com/blog/top-10-best-trends-of-1999

https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/3070061/embed 

https://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1999 

https://www.avclub.com/star-wars-v-matrix-santana-v-smash-mouth-and-y2k-pa-1836970492

This “big gooey messy burger” is an iconic American lunchroom staple beloved by both adults and children. How did the Sloppy Joe become so ingrained in our repertoire of convenient quick meals? Its origin story can be traced all the way back to Prohibition, is set in Cuba and Key West, and one of the main characters is Ernest Hemingway. Who would have thought this deliciously simple sandwich would have such an intriguing past!? In this episode, Emily and Katie explore their favorite friendship story centered around the Sloppy Joe and investigate the story behind its creation, other versions of the sandwich, and how Manwich and Sloppy Joes have found their way into the pop culture landscape.

What is the Sloppy Joe Incident and why is it so important to Katie & Emily’s friendship?

Where and when was the Sloppy Joe invented?

Why is Ernest Hemingway part of this story!?

What is a New Jersey Sloppy Joe?

What are some classic pop culture references to this iconic sandwich?

https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/sloppy-joe-history#google_vignette

https://the80sand90s.com/articles/sloppy-joes-in-fim-and-tv#google_vignette=

https://quaintcooking.com/2019/10/09/history-of-sloppy-joes/ 

https://www.manwich.com/about-us

https://sloppyjoes.com/history/

What do Katie and Emily do when they are visiting each other for the weekend? Taste test bottled water of course! After receiving feedback on which bottled waters are the best (and worst!), Katie and Emily decide to do their own sleuthing to find their favorites. Listen in as they go through a list of 10 different bottled waters and their flavor profiles, and find out which ones make the grade. If you haven’t listened to Episode 6: H2Ohhhhh: The United States’ Favorite Beverage, be sure to check it out first. 

What is the difference in marketing between spring water and purified water? 

Do different bottled waters actually have unique flavors? 

Which bottled waters taste like dirt? 

What bottled water reigns supreme?

There is a wide variety of regional grocery store chains in the US… or are there? Katie and Emily started grocery shopping together when they lived in college and noticed many things about grocery store availability in different states. Walk through the aisles of several grocery chains and learn how they have an influence on the way that you shop for food and some future trends in the grocery store economy. 

Which grocery stores are part of the same grocery family? 

How did several large grocery store chains get their start?

What is market share and which grocery chains control the most of it? 

Who’s crazy idea was it to have shopping carts???

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2024/grocery-store-owners-map-kroger-albertsons-merger/ 

https://www.meijer.com/shopping/c/collections/our-brands.html

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2023/03/28/when-did-kroger-first-open-who-is-kroger-named-for/69986036007/

https://www.mashed.com/90061/untold-truth-kroger/

https://dirtamericana.com/2023/08/giant-supermarkets-carlisle-landover-neon/

Economic data from Statistica

From caskets to cremation, funerals and other death traditions have always been an integral part of the way we celebrate, memorialize and remember those who have passed away. Different cultures across the globe and throughout time have come up with unique ways to handle death and dying. This week, dive into spooky season with Katie and Emily as they discuss death… and maybe some ways to make the topic a little less scary. 

How do different cultures choose to memorialize the dead?

What are some holidays and other rituals that have developed to honor those who have passed on?

What kinds of methods have different cultures developed to preserve or dispose of the physical body of the deceased?

Were people granted time off from building pyramids in Ancient Egypt? 

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_death_rituals#cite_note-5

https://www.worldhistory.org/Egyptian_Burial/

https://talkdeath.com/the-most-fascinating-ancient-burial-rituals/

https://blog.hocking.edu/9-creepy-victorian-death-traditions

https://www.tibettravel.org/tibetan-local-customs/tibetan-funeral.html 

https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-crazy-coffins-of-ghana/

It’s that time of year when all things spooky get the spotlight! What’s spookier than an unknown animal lurking just outside of our discovery? Cryptids have long been a part of our curiosity and bring out believers and skeptics alike. Join Emily and Katie for a discussion of fascinating cryptids that remain an unproven mystery and some animals that seemed fantastic but have since been proven to be real.

What is a cryptid?

What are some unique cryptids that different regions are known for?

What is the lore around these animals and how did they come about?

What are some animals that were once considered cryptids but are now biological fact?

https://www.einpresswire.com/article/735415658/watch-lake-champlain-monster-filmed-by-drone-filmmakers-discover-america-s-loch-ness

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champ_(folklore)#History_of_the_legend

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Busco#cite_note-google53-2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plesiosaur

https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Champ

https://www.ancient-origins.net/unexplained-phenomena/cryptids-0017386

https://www.snallygastermuseum.com/

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/legend-of-chessie-alive-well-in-maryland/1312635

https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2017/10/story-of-wampus-cat.html

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/wampus-cat

Who doesn’t like a pizza party!? It may be a classic Italian dish, but there’s no denying that pizza has rooted itself in U.S. food culture and is here to stay! Katie and Emily have been eating pizza together since their college days which means they’ve been talking about the pizzas they grew up with and other regional pizza styles for just as long. In this episode, go back to the beginning-ish of pizza to learn more about the migration of Italian style pizzas and how they have inspired the creation of the many other varieties eaten across the United States today. Round, square, thin, deep dish, hand-tossed, pan, baked, grilled, wood fired, grandma, sheet, jumbo - every type of pizza is a good type of pizza!

What are the characteristics of a Neopolitan or Sicilian style pizza?

How did Italian styles of pizza show up in the U.S. and when did they become popular?

What are some iconic U.S. regional pizza styles and what’s their origin story?

What’s your favorite type of pizza?

https://www.seriouseats.com/a-slice-of-heaven-a-history-of-pizza-in-america

https://www.foodandwine.com/travel/restaurants/regional-american-pizza-styles

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/article/101/types-of-pizza.html

https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-neapolitan-pizza-2708762

https://dc.eater.com/2016/12/14/13883596/jumbo-slice-crawl-dc-pizza-mart-bolis-rankings

https://www.foodandwine.com/tavern-style-sausage-giardiniera-pizza-7964738

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/columnist/greatamericanbites/2019/04/03/rhode-island-bakery-pizza-red-strips/3345050002/

https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/tomato-pie/ 

https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/grandma-pizza-recipe

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/grandma-pie_n_6342942

https://radio.wpsu.org/2024-01-09/altoona-style-pizza-state-college

https://www.eater.com/2019/4/9/18300994/square-pizza-detroit-style-trend-buddys-emmy-squared-expansion

https://www.widmerscheese.com/product/vac-pack-mild-specialty-brick-14-ounces/

Anyone who loves a good mystery is familiar with the intrepid girl detective known as Nancy Drew. Intelligent, curious, and a little scrappy, Nancy Drew has won over the hearts and minds of young girls everywhere for nearly a century! Aside from the famous book series, she’s also permeated pop culture through TV, Movies, and PC Games. Emily & Katie dive into the history of Nancy Drew as a character and an icon throughout the decades while they reminisce about their shared love and memories of playing Nancy Drew PC games together in college.

What’s the creation story behind the beloved Nancy Drew?  

Who imagined up the famous detective and what writers brought her to life?

How has the character continued to endure in pop culture and through multiple mediums?

How have the Nancy Drew books changed over the years?

Who created the Nancy Drew PC games and what has made them so popular?

Sources:

https://sassydetective.com/blog/2018/7/7/case-004-a-study-in-nancy-drew?rq=Case%20004

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/07/10592122/nancy-drew-computer-games-nostalgia 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nancy_Drew_video_games 

https://kotaku.com/the-case-of-the-disappearing-nancy-drew-video-games-1830256040 

Book: Nancy Drew and the Women who Created Her by Melanie Rehak