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PODCAST

Smartest Year Ever

The Smartest Year Ever began as a 365-day experiment in curiosity. In 2025, I dropped a new fact every single day. History, science, language, word origins, and strange true stories, all the stuff that somehow makes you sound smarter in conversation. The goal hasn’t changed: help you become the world’s greatest conversationalist.

education

All Episodes

00:03:36

Why Does Asparagus Make Your Pee Smell? | Smartest...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/29

Why does asparagus turn your bathroom break into a sulfur-scented science experiment? In today’s episode, Gordy explores the bizarre phenomenon of asparagus pee—why it happens, why some people can’t smell it, and why others can’t stop smelling it. Spoiler: it’s not your imagination. It's sulfur chemistry and genetics at work. From asparagusic acid to a strange condition called asparagus anosmia, this episode dives into a stinky subject with surprising depth—and just the right amount of

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00:02:32

Why Do We Say “Pardon My French”? | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/28

Ever wonder why people say “Pardon my French” after cussing? It has nothing to do with actual French—and everything to do with irony.Originally, British and American elites used it to excuse real French words in conversation—because, you know, being bilingual is a flex. But then, people started using it sarcastically to excuse swearing instead. By the 20th century, it had nothing to do with actual French—it was just a polite way to pretend you didn’t just say something profane.🔍 Sources:Ayto, John

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00:03:38

SOS Doesn’t Stand for What You Think | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/27

Most people think SOS means “Save Our Ship” or “Save Our Souls.” It doesn’t. In fact, it doesn’t stand for anything at all.The famous SOS distress signal was chosen in 1908 simply because it was the easiest Morse code pattern to recognize:“… — — — …” (dot dot dot, dash dash dash, dot dot dot)Over time, people made up meanings for SOS because they couldn’t believe the most famous distress call in history was just a pattern of beeps.🔍 Sources:Howeth, L.S. History of Communications-Electronics in the

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00:03:36

The Queen’s Gambit: A Chess Move That Wins Games |...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/26

What if I told you one of the most famous chess moves in history starts by giving away a pawn? Welcome to the Queen’s Gambit—one of the oldest and most effective openings ever played.This strategy tricks opponents into thinking they have an advantage—but it’s actually a power move that gives White control of the board. It’s been played by grandmasters, world champions, and yes, even Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit.🔍 Sources:Kasparov, Garry. My Great Predecessors, Volume II. Everyman Chess,

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00:03:51

Why Do Bird of Paradise Plants Look Like Birds? |...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/25

Why do Bird of Paradise plants look like actual birds? Is it just a coincidence—or did nature design them that way on purpose?Turns out, these plants evolved to mimic the shape of a bird’s head and beak—all to attract sunbirds, their perfect pollinators. When a sunbird lands on the flower’s beak-like structure to drink nectar, the plant’s hidden pollen sacs pop open, dusting the bird’s head—helping it spread pollen to the next flower.🔍 Sources:Cronk, Q.C.B. "Botanical Mimicry and the

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00:03:01

Why Do We Say “P.U.” for a Bad Smell? | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/24

Why do we say “P.U.” when something stinks? It’s not short for anything—so where did it come from?Turns out, “P.U.” is actually a misheard version of an old exclamation—“pyoo”—which came from the Latin word “putere” (meaning “to stink”). Somewhere along the way, “pyoo” got written down as “P.U.”, and people assumed it stood for something—kind of like how people think “SOS” means “Save Our Souls” (it doesn’t).🔍 Sources:Oxford English Dictionary. “P.U.: Etymology and Historical Usage.”Ayto, John

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00:03:02

Why Do We Get Brain Freeze? | Smartest Year Ever (Mar...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/23

You take a big sip of a milkshake—and suddenly, it feels like your skull is being impaled by an icicle. Why does brain freeze happen?It turns out, sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia (yep, that’s the real name) is just your body overreacting to extreme cold. When something icy touches the roof of your mouth, your blood vessels freak out—constricting and then rapidly dilating. The trigeminal nerve, which senses pain in your face and mouth, gets confused and makes your brain think the pain is coming from

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00:04:10

Why the U.S. Still Uses Fahrenheit | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/22

Why the U.S. Still Uses FahrenheitWhy is the U.S. one of the last countries still using Fahrenheit? It’s not just American stubbornness—there’s an actual reason.📌 Today’s Episode Covers: ✔ Why Fahrenheit was invented and how it works ✔ Why America never switched (even though it tried) ✔ The actual benefits of Fahrenheit over Celsius ✔ Why Celsius is still superior—even if the U.S. won’t admit it🔍 Sources:Middleton, W.E.K. A History of the Thermometer and Its Use in Meteorology. Johns Hopkins

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00:03:00

The Day There Was No News | Smartest Year Ever (Mar...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/21

On April 18, 1930, the BBC’s evening news came on air… and the announcer simply stated, “There is no news today.” Instead of stretching for filler content, they just played 15 minutes of piano music and ended the broadcast.This wasn’t a technical failure or a protest—it was simply a time when news had to be newsworthy. But in today’s 24/7 cycle, could we ever go back?🔍 Sources:Briggs, Asa. The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom: Volume II. Oxford University Press, 1995.BBC Archives. “The

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00:02:59

Why Do We Call It a “Heinie”? Funny Origins of Butt...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/20

Why do we call a butt a “heinie”? Is it just a goofy word, or does it have a hidden connection to war and German soldiers?There are two main theories behind this cheeky slang. The first is simple: it comes from "hind end", just like “tummy” for stomach or “booty” for butt. But then there’s the wartime theory—during World War I, Allied soldiers called German troops "Heinies" (short for Heinrich). Some etymologists believe that sayings like “kick their Heinie” may have helped push

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00:02:53

The Extinct Penguins Bigger Than You | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/19

🐧 Penguins are cute, right? Now imagine one standing 6’8” tall, weighing 250 pounds, and staring down at you—because these prehistoric penguins were the size of LeBron James.Meet Palaeeudyptes klekowskii, the Colossus Penguin—an ancient giant that ruled Antarctica 37 million years ago. It was the tallest penguin species ever, towering over humans and twice the height of today’s emperor penguins.🔎 Why were these penguins so massive? ✔️ Antarctica was warmer back then, with abundant food and no

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00:02:59

The Gas That Makes Your Voice Deep | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/18

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00:03:30

The Surprising Origins of Leprechauns | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/17

🍀 Leprechauns—tiny, mischievous, and obsessed with gold. But where did they actually come from? And why were they originally dressed in red?Long before they were cereal mascots or St. Patrick’s Day icons, leprechauns were part of deep Irish mythology—with origins tied to the Tuatha Dé Danann, a mystical race of supernatural beings. Their name comes from the Old Irish "luchorpán," meaning "small body," and the earliest known leprechaun story comes from an 8th-century Irish king

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00:03:23

What is the World's Steepest Street? | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/16

What’s the steepest street in the world? You might think of San Francisco, but the true king of inclines is Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand—and it has the Guinness World Record to prove it… after a heated battle.Baldwin Street’s brutal 34.8% gradient means a casual walk can feel like a mountaineering expedition. But this record didn’t stay unchallenged—in 2019, a street in Wales briefly stole the title, setting off an international steepest-street showdown.This episode breaks down: ✔️ How

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00:03:23

The Ides of March | Smartest Year Ever (Mar 15, 2025)

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/15

Beware the Ides of March! You’ve heard the phrase, but do you know why it exists? The Ides of March—March 15th—was just a normal Roman date… until Julius Caesar was assassinated by his own senators in 44 BCE. Shakespeare later dramatized the betrayal, but what really happened that day?📌 Today’s episode covers:The real history behind Caesar’s murderWhy March 15th was a Roman payday before it became infamous"Et tu, Brute?" – Did Caesar actually say that?Fun facts about Roman debt

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00:03:16

The Truth About St. Patrick’s Day | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/14

Think St. Patrick’s Day is all about wearing green, drinking Guinness, and pretending you know what a shamrock is? Well… not exactly.Turns out, St. Patrick wasn’t even Irish, Ireland never had snakes, blue was the original color, and pubs in Ireland were actually CLOSED on St. Patrick’s Day until the 1970s. So how did this solemn religious feast turn into an excuse to drink like a medieval monk? Irish-Americans, that’s how.Gordy breaks down the real history of St. Patrick’s Day, the myths that

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00:03:21

Why Do Some People Have Innies vs. Outies? | Smartest...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/13

Why do some people have innies while others have outies? Is it random, genetic, or a sign of a doctor’s mistake? (Spoiler: It’s NOT your doctor’s fault.)Gordy busts the biggest belly button myth and explains why scar tissue is the real reason behind your navel shape. Plus, a surprising look at how Ancient Greeks and other cultures viewed belly buttons.Follow Smartest Year Ever for daily facts that make you smarter!🔍 Sources: Moore, Keith L., et al. Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology and

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00:03:58

Why Is Alcohol Measured in "Proof"? | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/12

Why is alcohol measured in "proof"? And what exactly are we proving? Turns out, the answer is equal parts history, science, and good old-fashioned fire.Back in the days of the British Royal Navy, sailors had a unique way of making sure their daily rum rations weren’t watered down—by lighting them on fire. If the rum-soaked gunpowder still ignited, that was "proof" it hadn’t been diluted. The magic number? 57.15% alcohol by volume—which became the definition of 100 proof. If it

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00:03:34

Do Animals Need Glasses? | Smartest Year Ever (Mar...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/11

Can dogs and cats be nearsighted? Do they ever need glasses? 🧐 Today, Gordy dives into the fascinating world of animal eyesight—from the blurry vision of your golden retriever to the night-vision superpowers of your cat. Learn why humans are the real outliers when it comes to bad vision, which animals actually develop nearsightedness, and why you’ll probably never see a dog struggling to read the fine print on his kibble bag.🔍 Topics Covered:Why animals rarely need glasses 👓How dogs and cats

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00:03:34

How a Deadly Snake Helped Treat High Blood Pressure |...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/10

Snake venom… as medicine? That’s right. Modern blood pressure drugs exist because of a deadly pit viper. Scientists discovered that the venom of the jararaca pit viper caused instant drops in blood pressure, making people collapse on the spot. Instead of running away, they studied the venom—and turned it into ACE inhibitors, one of the most widely prescribed heart medications today. From a snake bite to a life-saving drug, this is the wild story of how medicine turns nature’s most dangerous tricks

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