Why Would You Ask That?

Alcohol has a history far longer than humans— and we carry beliefs about it that stretch to as long as the history of language. What is it about alcohol that has us both fear and love it as a cultural intoxicant? Why has it persisted for thousands of years as a tool for sociability and more? And how many animals do you think will follow in our footsteps?

CW: Alcohol Use/Being Drunk, Some Slight Bullying, Animal Testing/Experimentation

Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-would-you-ask-that--5784165/support.

Bugs lead complicated little bug lives. Bug work. Bug taxes. Bug... dreams? In this episode, we answer listener Cody's question about what goes on in the minds of bugs and arachnids. We sift through the tiny minds to try to figure out what haunts them in the night, or day, or during bug nap time. Do we know if bugs can actually sleep? Can they think? Can they dream? Do bugs have... feelings? Enjoy this super size episode. Just because our subjects are small doesn't mean the discussion has to be.

CW: Bugs (general), Flies, Bees, Spiders (house, jumping), Animal Experiments, Covid

Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-would-you-ask-that--5784165/support.

What's the strangest promotion you could think of? There's a long list of them— and today we discuss the strangely popular trend that railroad companies engaged in to attract more customers. We point at one event in particular, where catastrophe was served alongside circus peanuts for the enjoyment of thousands. Come one, come all— to Crush, TX for the ultimate rubbernecking experience.

CW: Train Wreck, Death, Bodily Harm, Eye Trauma

Special Credit to Scott Joplin's "the Great Crush Collision March" from 1896 for the extra music this episode.

Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-would-you-ask-that--5784165/support.

Barbie is a cultural icon that has been spoofed, marketed, and copied into the mainstream! But what dirty little secrets has she been hiding in her closet? Last week we learned about Barbie's mom, Ruth, and her sexy inspiration plus some extra about Ken! This week, we'll learn some more personal controversies behind Barbie herself and the organization that said "I crave vengeance!" Me too, Barbie, me too.

CW: Mental Health, Body Issues, Microaggressions, Sex Work

Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-would-you-ask-that--5784165/support.

Barbie is a cultural icon that has been spoofed, marketed, and copied into the mainstream! But what dirty little secrets has she been hiding in her closet? With a new movie coming out and dozens of shows, games, and doll lines, we thought we would take a peek at what Barbara has to hide. "I crave vengeance!" Me too, Barbie, me too.

CW: Death, Microaggressions, Sex Work, Financial Issues

Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-would-you-ask-that--5784165/support.

In 1969, there was the infamous riot that kicked off the fight for gay rights. In 2016, the Stonewall Inn was declared a National Monument. But Stonewall was not the first, nor the only, riot for gay rights. Nearly lost to history, overshadowed or under reported, the fight raged just under the surface, boiling up at these key moments that led to the Stonewall Riot. Pride originated not from one brick, not from one riot, not from one person. Pride comes from a long history of struggle— and here we talk about just a few instances of what has slipped under the radar.

CW: Homophobia, Transphobia, Violence, Police Brutality, Anti-Sex Work Attitudes / Discussions of Survival Sex Work, Death

Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-would-you-ask-that--5784165/support.

Coney island, home of the Couney incubator. Pop your baby in and watch it grow! Who would have thought the land of hot dogs and sideshows would also be the lifeline for hundreds of premature babies? We touched briefly on the baby show in a previous episode, but our curiosity could not be resisted. The technology we use today in the NICU was once a sideshow showing people the strangest thing of all: babies!

CW: Premature Birth and the Struggles of it, The Potential of Baby Death (but none actually happens), A Brief bit of Anti-Semitism

Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-would-you-ask-that--5784165/support.

Juneteenth. What is it about? Why is it important? Why is it just now becoming a holiday? The three of us explore the history, both recent and less so, that has led to the claiming of Juneteenth. The hard work of many has gone into bringing the holiday to mainstream consciousness, especially someone who would walk 1500 miles to see it signed into law.

CW: Slavery, Racism, Bigotry, Unpleasant Historic Quotes (no slurs)

Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-would-you-ask-that--5784165/support.

This week, we've got an excellent question from Hot dog Slim. What do Nathan's Hot Dogs and dead whales have in common? We address the history of the celebrated Nathan's Hot Dogs chain, peeling back the years to see where things could have gone terribly wrong. With hard work and dedication, hot dogs became a cultural favorite... even with mistakes along the way. And we're definitely planning on talking about a few of those.

This week, we reached 50 episodes, and it's been a journey! We've grown our listeners by leaps and bounds and gotten them from countries all over the world. We've finally started getting listener questions, and they've been amazing. For episode 50, enjoy this supersized whale of a listen!

CW: Animal Death, WW1 / WW2, Wounds


Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-would-you-ask-that--5784165/support.

Castles in the sky. The flying dutchman. UFOs. We need an explanation for this nonsense— you say there IS an explanation? In this episode, M talks shipwrecks and fairy tales caused by the famed enchantress herself... the Fata Morgana.

CW: Shipwreck

Music provided by Dark Fantasy Studios. [License]

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-would-you-ask-that--5784165/support.