Topics and Tangents

We know what you’re thinking. “A short episode? What the heck?” Relax. Great things come in small packages (at least, that's what Mort tells everyone). Did you know that Pong was not the first video game? Did you know that televisions were invented in 1922? How about the fact that A&W has a breakfast menu… that isn’t very good? This is but the tip of the iceberg of what you’ll learn in this short (ish) episode in which Mort educates a very reluctant Ricky in one country’s reaction to a genre of music that is by no means spoiled by the title of the episode. At all.

NEW YEAR (kinda), WHO DIS? Kate and Mort are looking at making some changes to Wait, What?, and they want YOU to let them know what you’re wanting to hear. With that in mind, the two try out a new format this week: No guests, two (mini) topics, same sense of humor (or lack thereof). This episode, it’s a double whammy of landmarks in Holland. Next episode, who knows? Actually, Mort knows, but he isn’t telling. We’ll have to get back to you.

Canadians are an interesting people. They're polite, they love hockey, and they refuse to understand the definition of bacon. These differences may seem confusing to the average American, but for those of you for which that is the case, never fear! Mort has done his research, and he is ready to educate everyone on what is referred to in Quebec as "Required Learning". So grab that maple syrup, slap on a furry hat, and get your learnin' on as Mort and Kat build that bridge to bring our nations closer.

Say there's something you want. You make an attempt to obtain it. You soon discover that it's out of your reach. How do you reaction? If you're Mort or any of his friends, your answer is probably "Give up", or perhaps even "Binge watch Hannibal for the 13th time" (we may have an obsession). But for this French student in the 1800s, the answer was "obsess over it for a couple of years until you figure it out." Hell yeah, France.

Join Maggie of Cool Story, Needs More Girls and Kate as they discover the origin story that affects how people communicate to this day.

Are you suffering from cabin fever? Debating venturing into the cold? That's dumb, don't do that to yourself. Instead sit down, pop your prescribed Vitamin D pill, turn on your HappyLight and listen in as Kate, Emily and Taylor discuss winter, pulpsticks and the importance of hats!

We know, things look dire now. But as the saying goes, it's always darkest before the dawn. We had the Great Depression, followed by the New Deal. We had hippies, then we had haircuts. We had Zack Snyder, then we... Okay, still working on that one. This episode, Mort reminds us of the way things were, and what they could be again, if everyone just stopped and worked together. So enjoy this story, and the next time you hear about Mitch McConnell eating a baby, remember: It could be so different. 

Starring Jake and Taylor.

Is the state of things making you feel a little out of the holiday spirit? Maybe forgetting about what's going on in our crazy neck of the woods, and focusing on another countries' traditions will set you back in the right mood.

Join Kate, Jake and Michelle as they discuss good ol' St. Nicholas and how the Dutch celebrate his birthday!

It's that time of the year! Christmas is around the corner and it's the perfect time to hit the slopes. Okay, it's in the upper 40's right now, but still. Let's pretend it's winter for a moment. No? Okay, then learn about someone who thrives in the winter while you wait for that snow day that you're not getting until mid-February. LISTEN as Mort tells the tale of a famous snowboarder. WONDER as it's revealed that he's not that bad a guy. RECOIL as Lizz and Bobbi lavish him with hatred anyways because... reasons. Maybe they never learned to ski? Who knows.

On today's episode, Kate and friends discuss old school medicine. Until pretty recently, the medical field was risky, dirty and, often, frightening.  One man set out to make life less risky for women with pregnancy complications, but in reality he is responsible destroying the lives of dozens of women and children in the name of experimentation. Hey, they can't all be about japanese vocaloids and boner jokes. Join us as we take the road less traveled, and even less discussed. 

Content warning: discussion of medical issues and proceedures related to childbirth, racism, human experimentation, infant death. 

Starring: Taylor and Mort. 

Being a pagan is hard. One minute you're trying to sacrifice an animal to the gods and start a raging bonfire, the next minute you're being told that some strange Jesus guy doesn't approve and that you have to wake up at 6 am on a Sunday to go talk to him about it. Holy holidays can be lame. But why should they be? Mort explains why we should appreciate Halloween as something more than a reason to get drunk and egg your neighbor Greg's house.

Topics included: Ghosts, christian scheming, how to drink a car bomb, shame and the German beaches you should feel it on.

Starring Jake, Steve, and Michelle.