What?! Explain.

EXPLAINER NATION! (Which is what you are all called now, thank you Haley for this idea!)

Our spin-off of the main show continues, and this episode, I have on my dear friend and co-host of BLEEPIN' SPACE, JIM! ( a Twitch show where I find out the joys and horrors of Star Trek: The Original Series), Haley!

Haley is also the host of Nominated, a biweekly movie club podcast about every movie nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award. Every episode covers one year's nominated movies and at the end of each episode, Haley and her guest select their Best Picture. Do they agree with the Academy? Eh, about 50-50. 

That being said, Haley will absolutely dive into an analysis and research the heck out of whichever movies were nominated for that year, and for the years in which the Academy nominated TEN movies... good lord. Nominated is absolutely worth a listen, and highly recommend it for any cinephile or anyone that just enjoys good analysis!

However, we also tend to feed off each other, so over the course of this episode, we cover the story of Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American Civil Rights activist whose LEAST exciting part of life was declining an Academy Award on Marlon Brando's behalf, drawing attention to the Wounded Knee occupation. Rapidly followed, of course, by my sharing the story of John Mytton, the one-man argument AGAINST the superiority of the British class system. 

Finally, we go into two truths and a lie, where Haley tries to see if she can tell my very strange tidbits of facts from my artisanal crafted lies. You know how the game works. Does she succeed? Is there cursing? HOW IS THIS EPISODE THREE TIMES LONGER THAN SOME OF THE OTHER ONES?! Listen and find out!


Nominated can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nominated/id1517490039

Bleepin' Space, Jim! is live every second Wednesday at: https://www.twitch.tv/ehhbop

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TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNING: Suicide

This is a story about two enterprises: one, a trusted name in automotive tires that has been around for over a century, and the other, a deeply secretive organization that publishes fine dining guides that can make or break a chef's career. Both of these enterprises have existed for well over a century, and even share the same name: Michelin!

That has to be a coincidence, right?

...right?

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This is a story about four genuinely insane offshoots of what could be argued as one of the most significant inventions in the history of humanity: the gun. 

I'm not saying good, I'm not saying bad. I'm saying significant. 

That being said, this episode is about the world's largest double-barreled cannon, the first rapid-fire artillery with one glaring error, a questionably disguised triple pistol, and of course, a gun exclusively made for telling the time. 

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And now, for something... well, pretty similar. The start of our lovely spin-off show, What?! No, YOU Explain., where I have friends, podcasters, and all sorts of interesting people on to share their interesting stories. 

This episode, my guest is my dear friend and fellow podcaster, Dawar. 

Dawar is the host of a podcast/show called "A Conversation with a Friend", where he has various friends on to talk about their lives. He is a very insightful interviewer, and I have had the honor of being on his show in the past, so I was very happy to have him on the inaugural episode of What?! No, YOU Explain. 

In this episode, we talk about the unlikely origin of Febreze, how the CIA managed to get an ungodly amount of titanium during the Cold War, and we play a VERY involved game of Two Truths and a Lie. Want to know more? LISTEN TO THE SHOW!

Also let me know what you think of the new spin-off format! 

NOTE: For those worried that I have done something completely different and am ignoring my old format, fret not! The What?! No, YOU Explain. episodes were all created in addition to the full thirteen episode third season, not in replacement of. 

A Conversation with a Friend Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxuS5Ykc5_RJMtrJJN9zpqQ

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This is one of many stories taking place over the period of time known as the Great Depression: A time of droughts, unemployment, and economic ruin. 

However, this story also involves a group of people coming together to help save one of their townspeople’s livelihood, and started a movement to help others do the exact same. 

It’s a happy story. I promise.

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When tragedy strikes, it can often define the life of those who were left behind. Some people will fall to pieces, while others carry on as best as they can. However, for one woman known as Olga of Kiev, what she did afterwards would define the history of eastern Europe for hundreds of years afterwards. 

Thanks for the patience, and I hope you enjoy the third season premiere!
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As with all good holiday specials, this one comes with a content warning, which will be after the description. 

That being said, this is a Valentine's Day special, and what could be more romantic than the story of one of the world's most famous Frenchmen, Napoleon Bonaparte, his travels throughout his military history... and... well, after his death. Well, part of him travelled after his death anyways. 

Listen to the episode, it'll all make sense. 

Content warning: death, post-death dismemberment

I cannot emphasize enough, if you're a bit squeamish, you may want to give this one a miss. 

Season 3 is in production, but enjoy these specials while we work! 

If you're wanting all the latest information on when Season 3 is coming, as well as anything else I'll be working on, Follow us on social media!
 
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Our second season finale dives into the origin of one of the most iconic symbols of many during this time of year: The Christmas Tree.

We go into how exactly people started bringing trees into their house in the middle of winter, how they started lighting them,  why Thomas Edison and Martin Luther are involved, and why exactly Christmas trees were the reason that house insurance had to get changed all the way in the 19th century. 

This is the second season finale, so there will be a break while I work on season 3. 

If you are wanting more Christmas "cheer" in that particular What?! Explain. way, may I suggest our episode entitled "The Special Relationship", which tells of that rock-steady relationship between Canada and the United States, and absolutely how they didn't each have invasion plans to take the other out. Nope. Not at all. 

All seaso
If you're wanting all the latest information on when Season 3 is coming, as well as anything else I'll be working on, Follow us on social media!
 
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This episode takes us to the coal mines of West Virginia in the early 20th century, where one the largest labor uprisings in American history occurred, resulting in hundreds of deaths, thousands of people losing their homes, a march of armed miners to the state capital, and a pitched battle which took place over five days in which over one million bullets were fired. 

Curious? Want to know exactly what started this chain of events? Well, this one is a longer one, but if you have about half an hour, give the episode and listen and let me know what you think! 

Audio mixing done by Craig Murdock, as always! At least, since season 2. 

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This episode takes us to the desert north of Las Vegas, to a small town named Rachel, Nevada, and the history of the area that brings thousands of sightseers to the town of 54 people. 

So what exactly is the history of the area surrounding Rachel, Nevada? Well, it's a lot less ranching and gambling, and a lot more... extraterrestrial. In fact, Rachel is the nearest town to the place known as Area 51, and we take a deep dive into the history of this top-secret facility, the potential origin of the "Men in Black" and why exactly a man originally known only as "Dennis" is the reason you probably know what Area 51 is. 

Curious? Wanna know where the aliens might be? Do you have eighteen minutes, give or take?

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE!