Something Offbeat

Back in October, astronomers were dazzled when a flash of light from the depths of space was detected by NASA’s Fermi telescope, a trace of what scientists call a gamma ray burst. Is it something we should be worried about? Dr. Brian Thomas, leader of the research team studying astro-biophysics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Washburn University, joined “Something Offbeat” to explain this phenomenon and more.   

NASA audio included.

Eva Velasquez of the Identity Theft Resource Center joined “Something Offbeat” to discuss the disturbing case of Northern California man who was charged with stealing by writing checks to himself from his dead roommate’s bank account. She also provided tips to help people avoid more common identity theft horrors.

More than 300 years ago, a woman in what is now Poland was buried with a sickle across her neck and a padlock on her foot. This summer, she made her way above ground and into the headlines. For this special Halloween weekend episode of “Something Offbeat,” we are joined by Dacre Stoker, the great-great nephew of “Dracula” author Bram Stoker – and an expert in all things vampire – to learn more about these creatures of the night.

When a religious group posted a message on social media saying a new pair of Reeboks were inspired by a Satanic symbol, it got the Something Offbeat team thinking about moral panics and conspiracy theories.

On the second week of our spooky season-inspired episodes, we talk to Dr. Joseph Uscinksi, a political science professor at the University of Miami and one of the nation's foremost experts on conspiracy theories, about what draws people to them, the real-world consequences they have, and if it's possible to bring someone back to reality.

“Something Offbeat” kicks off three weeks of spooky October episodes with nightmarish…ukuleles. Dr. Kim Meidenbauer of the University of Chicago’s Neuroscience Research Lab joined the pod to explain various ways that we are impacted by our environments, including a plane filled with 180 people learning to play ukulele. 

Do you ever feel like the mascot for every high school or college team is a Wildcat or a Bulldog? That's because they're two of the top four mascot choices in sports.

But there's value to picking a mascot that sparks conversation, Jason Klein, co-founder of the sports branding company Brandiose, tells host Mike Rogers. And as the NFL's Washington Commanders prepare to select a new mascot, Jason and Mike discuss the factors that go into such a decision, while reminiscing about the Famous San Diego Chicken, the Philadelphia Flyers' Gritty, and the University of Alabama's Big Al.

Audio courtesy of KYW Newsradio in Philadelphia, 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C., and 670 The Score in Chicago.

While exotic animals, and those more on the domestic side, may provide support for their owners, Dr. Lynette Hart, vice chair of the department of population health and reproduction at the University of California at Davis, and co-author of the recently released book “The Perfect Puppy,” revealed that there is also a darker side to the “support animal” industry.

"There's really no enforcement of these regulations. It's, it's very sort of sloppy, no one comes in and tries to enforce it. So. So it became a wild west free for all."

Imagine unlocking and starting your car with the wave of a hand. That's what a Michigan man has the ability to do with an RFID chip that's implanted in his hand. The chip is equipped to download apps -- including one for Teslas.

Host Mike Rogers talks to Texas Christian University religion professor Dr. Sage Elwell, who specializes in the intersection of the digital and theological, about the future of technology in our bodies. And we hear from Brandon Dalaly, the man with the implanted chip, courtesy of Audacy's KNX in Los Angeles.

When a man bit down on something hard while eating clams at a Delaware restaurant this summer, his first thought was that something was in his food. It turned out to be a rare purple clam pearl, and got the Something Offbeat team thinking about other exotic foods.

In this episode, host Mike Rogers talks to Scott Overland, the man who found the pearl, and explores the culinary art behind preparing wild game with Chef Brian Jupiter of Chicago's Frontier restaurant. 

Fantasy leagues are growing to include far more than just sports. In 2016, a group of friends decided to start betting on the reality TV show "The Bachelor". What started as a game has since grown into a mini-fantasy reality TV empire. Bracketology.tv co-founder Kaitlyn Hurley says the games have expanded to include "Survivor" and "Big Brother", with more shows on the way.

In this episode, host Mike Rogers explores why we feel the need to add an element of intrigue to more shows and how fantasy reality TV and fantasy football have more similarities than it appears at first glance.