For decades, China has stood as one of the most powerful nations on earth. At the center of that rise stands one man, Xi Jinping. His story isn’t just about politics; it’s about power, control, and the transformation of an entire country. Understanding how Xi Jinping came to lead modern China gives us a glimpse into how influence and ideology can reshape the world.

Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today!

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When Lydia Fairchild applied for child support in 2002, she thought it was a routine process. She was a young mother of two, pregnant with her third child, and wanted to ensure help from her children’s father. But what began as paperwork turned into one of the strangest legal and scientific mysteries in modern history: the case of Lydia Fairchild and her DNA.

To confirm paternity, officials requested DNA samples from Lydia, her children, and their father. The results were shocking. The tests proved beyond a doubt that the father was biologically related to the children, but Lydia was not. According to the DNA tests, there was a 0 percent chance she was their mother.

Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today!

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Episode link: https://tilln.com/lydia

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In the late 1990s, a man named Jeffrey Allen Manchester earned a strange nickname: the Roofman. His crime spree would go down as one of the most unusual and oddly polite series of robberies in American history. What started with a few break-ins quickly turned into a coast-to-coast pattern of fast-food heists, most often targeting McDonald’s restaurants.

The Roofman’s method was simple but clever. He would climb onto the roof of a McDonald’s near closing time, cut a hole in the ceiling, and wait quietly until the employees locked up. Then, he’d drop in through the roof, gun in hand, and demand the cash. But unlike most robbers, the Roofman had manners.

The Roofman’s tale is one of contradiction: a polite thief, a robber who apologized, and a fugitive who built a home in a toy store. His story reminds us that truth can be stranger and more fascinating than fiction.

Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today!

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Episode link: https://tilln.com/theroofman

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When most people think of baseball legends, they imagine home runs, golden gloves, and towering trophies. But Billy Beane became a legend not because of his swing—but because of his brain. The story behind Moneyball shows how one man’s data-driven strategy forever changed how baseball teams build winning rosters.

Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today!

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Episode link: https://tilln.com/billybeane

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In 1971, the unthinkable happened. Theo Albrecht was kidnapped outside his office in Germany. The crime was led by Heinz Joachim Ollenburg, a dishonest lawyer with a gambling problem, and an accomplice named Paul Kron, a former safe-cracker. Their motivation was simple: money. They knew Theo Albrecht and Aldi were worth billions and believed ransom would make them rich.

The plan, however, was a disaster. The kidnappers even called Theo’s wife the day before, warning her not to call the police because they planned to take him. Amazingly, she didn’t report it. The next day, they grabbed Theo Albrecht, stuffed him into his own car, and hid him inside a closet at Ollenburg’s law office.

Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today!

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In 1976, a student pilot named Rafael Perez took off on what was supposed to be a simple solo flight from Mexico City. The plan was to circle a nearby lake, make a brief landing in an open field, and return to the airport. It was meant to last about an hour.

But something went very wrong. Moments after takeoff, Rafael Perez disappeared from radar. Air traffic controllers couldn’t contact him. Hours later, his small Cessna appeared hundreds of miles away—over Acapulco—without enough fuel to have made the trip. That’s when things became even stranger.

Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today!

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The 1980s and 1990s were filled with slogans warning kids to “just say no.” At the center of this effort was the Dare program, a nationwide campaign that claimed to stop young people from falling into drug abuse. But as history shows, the story of Dare is more complicated than its bold promises.

Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today!

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Some stories in music history are stranger than fiction. The rise of The Shaggs is one of them. What started as a father’s obsession with a palm reading became a band often labeled the worst band ever. Yet, against all odds, their legacy still echoes decades later.

Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today!

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Episode link: https://tilln.com/theshaggs

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Watch Sixto Rodriguez: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRd5x7EzJrc&t=1s

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In 1986, Cleveland made history with a bold and colorful idea. Organizers set out to release more balloons than anyone had ever attempted before. The event, known as Balloonfest 86, promised to unite the city and showcase its spirit on a national stage. What unfolded became one of the most unforgettable spectacles in Cleveland’s history.

Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today!

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Episode link: https://tilln.com/balloonfest

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In the early 1980s, Marty Markowitz turned to psychiatrist Ike Herschkopf for help. Marty struggled with panic attacks and decision-making. At first, the therapy seemed to help. But instead of building Marty’s confidence, Ike worked his way deeper into every part of his life.

Sessions that began as short meetings grew into lunches, dinners, and late-night calls. Soon, Ike wasn’t just Marty’s doctor—he became his business advisor, his “best friend,” and eventually, the person making almost every decision for him.

Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today!

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Episode link: https://tilln.com/ike

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Watch John R. Brinkley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzBPxDMk460&ab_channel=ThingsILearnedLastNight

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