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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

00:04:41

Did a Melted Candy Bar Accidentally Invent Your...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/04/08

How did a melted candy bar lead to a kitchen revolution?In this episode, Gordy dives into the accidental invention of the microwave oven—a story that starts not with culinary ambition, but with a confused radar engineer and a pocket full of chocolate. Learn how microwaves work, why they don’t cook from the inside out, and what really happens when you put metal inside one. From dancing water molecules to the explosive first test with an egg, this episode breaks down the science and the strange origin

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00:04:54

Why Do We Even Have Middle Names? | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/04/07

Ever wondered why your name comes with a bonus round in the middle? Gordy dives into the unexpected history of middle names—from ancient Roman status symbols to modern-day family dramas.Discover how "Julius Hairy Caesar" wasn’t just a bold branding choice, why John Quincy Adams helped make middle names mainstream, and how adding a middle initial makes you seem smarter (seriously, science says so).Gordy also explores cultures that skip the middle name entirely, like Japan and Iceland, and drops a

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00:04:47

Were Neanderthals Actually Better Than Us? | Smartest...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/04/06

Neanderthals had bigger brains, stronger bodies, and possibly even faster sprinting speed than modern humans. So… why are we the ones still around?In this episode, Gordy dives into what made Neanderthals such a powerhouse species—from their barrel-chested strength and visual-spatial superbrains to their survival skills in the Ice Age wilderness. We now know they weren’t just primitive brutes—they buried their dead, used medicine, maybe even made early art.So what happened? Why did we make it, and

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00:03:00

Which City Was First to Reach 1 Million People? |...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/04/05

Rome had traffic jams before cars were even invented. In this episode, Gordy reveals which city in history was the first to reach a population of one million—and why the answer might surprise you.Spoiler: It wasn’t New York. Or London. It happened over 2,000 years ago in a marble-and-mud metropolis powered by aqueducts and political drama. After that ancient milestone, it took more than a thousand years for another city to hit the same mark.Gordy breaks down the next big leaps: • Chang’an in the

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00:03:41

Why Do We Save Money in Piggy Banks? | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/04/04

Why do we stash our savings inside a ceramic pig? Why not an owl? Or a vault? Or literally anything else?In this episode, Gordy digs into the surprisingly strange history of the piggy bank—a financial icon born not from porcine symbolism, but from a Middle Ages typo. It turns out that “piggy” used to mean something very different… and one potter’s confusion changed the shape of savings forever.You’ll learn:What the word “pygg” originally meantWhy breaking the bank was literally how you got your

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00:04:27

The Neck Ligament That Helped Humans Outrun Antelope...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/04/03

The nuchal ligament is a weird little strap in the back of your neck—but it might be one of the reasons humans became the sweatiest, slowest apex predators on Earth.In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy explores why humans are built to run, and how a hidden ligament connecting your skull to your spine helps keep your head from bouncing like a bobblehead. This simple structure shows up in horses, dogs… and us. And it may have been crucial in the rise of persistence hunting—the strategy our

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00:04:16

Why Rain Smells So Good | Smartest Year Ever (Apr 2,...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/04/02

After a rainstorm, you know exactly the smell—that earthy, oddly comforting scent that makes you want to bottle the sidewalk. It’s called petrichor, and today, Gordy breaks down what’s actually causing it, why our noses are absurdly sensitive to it, and how it might’ve helped early humans survive.From geosmin (a compound made by soil-dwelling bacteria) to the way raindrops launch micro-particles into the air, this episode dives into the biochemistry of nostalgia, plant oils, and even the camel's

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00:03:39

Is April Really the Rainiest Month? | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/04/01

April is known for showers, fertility goddesses, and Easter eggs—but how much of that reputation holds up? In today’s episode, Gordy cracks open the surprisingly weird truth behind April’s soggy rep, name origins, and ancient roots.You’ll learn: • Why April isn’t actually the rainiest month in most places • Where the phrase “April showers bring May flowers” comes from • What Aphrodite, Venus, and Ēostre have to do with April • How Easter got its name—and why most languages call it something elseFrom

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00:03:09

Why Did Young Ben Franklin Pretend to Be a Woman? |...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/31

At 16 years old, Benjamin Franklin pulled off one of the greatest literary pranks in colonial America—he catfished Boston as a snarky, opinionated widow named Mrs. Silence Dogood.In today’s episode, Gordy uncovers the wild true story behind the Silence Dogood letters, the essays that tricked Franklin’s brother, captivated readers, and launched Ben’s obsession with fake names. From mocking the elite to receiving marriage proposals, Franklin’s teenage troll campaign helped launch his career.Learn why

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00:04:20

Why Do We Prank People on April 1st? | Smartest Year...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/03/30

Why do we prank people on April Fools’ Day? And how did it get so weirdly universal? In this episode, Gordy untangles the strange, murky origins of one of the world’s most chaotic non-holidays. From French calendar reforms to fake spaghetti trees and medieval mistranslations, this lighthearted deep dive is part history lesson, part conspiracy theory, and part cultural facepalm.Find out:Why some people think April Fools’ Day began in 1582 FranceHow a bad translation of Chaucer may have fueled the

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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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