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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

00:03:26

The Truth About Presidents' Day | Smartest Year Ever...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/17

Is today Presidents' Day or Washington’s Birthday? Thefederal government still calls itWashington’s Birthday, but thanks toconfusion, marketing, and retail sales, the name “Presidents’ Day” took over. It all started with theUniform Monday Holiday Act (1968)—a law meant to give Americans morethree-day weekends by shifting certain holidays to Mondays. But this change had an unintended effect.Find out how alaw meant to standardize holidays accidentally created a new one, why Washington’s actual

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00:04:28

2/16/25 - The Rise and Fall of Holidomes

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/16

2/16/25 - The Rise and Fall of HolidomesOnce upon a time, you didn’t need to book a flight to escape the cold—you just needed a Holiday Inn Holidome. These indoor vacation hubs promised a year-round paradise, complete with pools, putt-putt courses, and an arcade—all under one giant dome. For kids in the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, Holidomes were the ultimate getaway. So why did they disappear? And why do so many people still feel nostalgic for these surreal hotel playgrounds? Gordy dives into the golden

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00:04:42

2/15/25 - The Dirty Origins of Pink Lemonade

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/15

Pink lemonade—just a fancy version of regular lemonade, right? Not exactly. Its origins are as messy as a circus act gone wrong. In today’s episode, Gordy uncovers two competing (and equally absurd) stories about how pink lemonade was born. Was it a circus worker’s desperate attempt to make lemonade with sock water? Or was it a lucky mistake involving cinnamon candy? Either way, the drink quickly evolved from questionable origins into an American staple. And today? Some brands still use real fruit,

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00:04:19

2/14/25 - The Brutal Truth Behind Valentine’s Day

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/14

Valentine’s Day—a holiday of love, romance, and… brutal execution records? 💀 If you think modern Valentine's is a mystery wrapped in chocolate, try figuring out why it’s named after a beheaded saint who also happens to be the patron of epilepsy and beekeepers.Gordy breaks down the tangled history of St. Valentine—or possibly multiple St. Valentines—and how a third-century execution date turned into a global celebration of overpriced greeting cards. The story involves secret marriages, medieval

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00:04:19

2/13/25 - The Surprising History of Valentine’s Day...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/13

Valentine’s Day cards weren’t always about love and romance. The earliest known Valentine came from a prisoner in the Tower of London—because nothing says "Be mine" like medieval incarceration.Today, Gordy uncovers the surprising history of Valentine’s Day cards—from the poetic musings of a lovesick French duke in 1415 to the rise of Esther Howland, the “Mother of the American Valentine”, and how Hallmark turned February 14th into big business. Whether you’re a romantic at heart or

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00:04:16

2/12/25 - Abraham Lincoln: Wrestling Champion?

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/12

2/12/25 - Abraham Lincoln: Wrestling Champion?Everyone knows Abraham Lincoln as a towering historical figure, but did you know he was also a literal giant in the wrestling ring? With a 300-1 record, an honorary induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and a famous brawl that solidified his street cred, Lincoln might just be the most dominant fighter in presidential history. Gordy breaks down Lincoln’s wrestling career, his legendary fight with a gang leader, and the one man who actually

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00:04:08

2/11/25 - The Truth Behind “A Grain of Salt”

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/11

Ever wondered why we say “take it with a grain of salt”? This phrase traces back to Pliny the Elder, an ancient Roman historian who recorded a poison antidote recipe that included—you guessed it—a single grain of salt. Over centuries, this idea evolved into its modern meaning: a skeptical approach to questionable claims.Join Gordy as he digs into the surprising history of this saying, from Roman medicine to the English language. 🎧 Follow @SmartestYearEver on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram for

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00:04:02

2/10/25 - The Immortal Jellyfish: Nature’s Biggest...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/10

What if you could hit the reset button on life—same body, same memories, just… younger? Well, one tiny jellyfish has already cracked the code. Meet Turritopsis dohrnii, better known as the immortal jellyfish—because it refuses to die like a normal organism. Instead of aging, it de-ages, turning back into a baby version of itself and starting life all over again. Scientists are still trying to figure out how, and the answers could hold the key to aging research, regenerative medicine, and maybe even

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00:03:21

2/9/25 - Why It’s Never Red Gatorade at the Super Bowl

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/09

Every year, millions of dollars are wagered on one of the weirdest bets in sports: What color Gatorade will be dumped on the winning Super Bowl coach? Orange, blue, yellow, purple—but never red. In over 40 years of Super Bowl Gatorade showers, red Gatorade has never won. And it’s not random—there’s a reason. From the staining problem, to players avoiding it, to superstition, to terrible sportsbook odds—red is the one color that never makes it into the cooler. Find out why no team wants to be the

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00:04:45

2/8/25 - The Kola Nut: The Forgotten Ingredient in Cola

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/08

Ever wondered why cola is a household favorite, yet you never hear about the kola nut anymore?🔹 What is the kola nut, and why was it historically used?🔹 How did Coca-Cola and other brands replace real kola nut extract?🔹 Why do we call it cola instead of kola today? Find out how marketing, chemistry, and cultural shifts shaped one of the world’s most famous drinks! 👍 Like, Subscribe & Hit the Bell for daily mind-blowing facts!📲 Follow Smartest Year Ever for daily clips on TikTok, Instagram,

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00:04:14

2/7/25 - The Torino Scale: How Astronomers Rank...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/07

Not all space rocks are created equal. Some burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere, while others could spell doom for civilization. But how do astronomers rank the danger of an incoming asteroid? Enter The Torino Scale—a color-coded system that rates impact threats from 0 (harmless) to 10 (extinction-level).Back in 2004, an asteroid named Apophis briefly hit a Level 4, sparking fears of a 2029 collision. More recently, in December 2024, a newly discovered asteroid—2024 YR4—was assigned a Torino Scale

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00:05:14

2/6/25 - The Tunguska Event: The Biggest Explosion No...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/06

In 1908, an explosion larger than 1,000 atomic bombs flattened an area bigger than Los Angeles—but no crater was ever found. The Tunguska Event remains one of Earth’s biggest mysteries, and today, Gordy breaks down what happened, why it matters, and whether we should be worried about the next one.🔥 Topics Covered: What was the Tunguska Event? Why was there no crater? The wildest theories (aliens? Tesla?!) The real scientific explanation Could it happen again? (Spoiler: Yes.) 💡

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00:04:59

2/5/25 - Do Rivers Always Flow South?

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/05

There’s a myth that rivers always flow south, but here’s the truth: rivers flow in whatever direction gravity pulls them. The Nile River flows north—not because it’s defying the rules, but because it’s following the land’s natural slope. And it’s not alone. At least 48 rivers in the U.S. flow north, and plenty more around the world.Today, Gordy clears up this geographical misconception and breaks down why we think of rivers as only moving south. 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube & Spotify🎥

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00:06:08

2/4/25 - The Bloop: The Sound That Shook the Ocean

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/04

In 1997, scientists recorded a mysterious deep-sea sound so loud it could be heard across the ocean. The Bloop baffled experts—it was louder than a blue whale, seemingly organic, and no one could explain it. Some believed it was a giant sea monster, an alien spacecraft, or even the awakening of Cthulhu himself.But the real answer? It’s still weird. This episode of Smartest Year Ever dives deep into the legend of The Bloop, from wild conspiracy theories to the actual science behind its eerie,

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00:08:00

2/3/25 - The Great Molasses Flood of 1919

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/03

A 25-foot tsunami of molasses barreling through Boston at 35 mph? Sounds like something out of a fever dream—but in 1919, it actually happened. The Great Molasses Flood was one of the most bizarre and tragic industrial disasters in U.S. history, leaving 21 dead, 150 injured, and a city covered in sticky chaos. Gordy takes you through the explosive failure of a poorly built molasses tank, how it wiped out buildings and trapped people like flies in syrup, and why locals swore you could still smell the

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00:03:05

2/2/25 - Pepsi’s Weird Original Name

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/02

Before Pepsi was Pepsi… it was Brad’s Drink. Yes, that’s what North Carolina pharmacist Caleb Bradham originally called his soda fountain creation in 1893. A mix of sugar, lemon oil, nutmeg, and other ingredients, it was meant to aid digestion and boost energy. But in 1898, a name change to Pepsi-Cola gave it a modern edge—though ironically, it never contained pepsin.From near-bankruptcy in the 1920s to a marketing genius move during the Great Depression, this is the surprising story of how one of

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00:03:32

2/1/25 - Why Is February So Short?

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/02/01

Why does February have only 28 days? And why is it named after an ancient Roman cleansing ritual? This month used to sit at the end of the calendar, acting as a reset button before the Romans moved the new year to January. Then, in a bizarre turn of numerical superstition, February got stuck as the runt of the litter—and even Julius Caesar’s reforms didn’t help. 🔹 The 10-month calendar that came before🔹 The festival of Februa and its purifying origins🔹 Why February was doomed to be short

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00:04:02

1/31/25 - The Statue of Liberty’s Ancient Twin

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/31

Before Lady Liberty, there was the Colossus of Rhodes, a towering 108-foot statue that once stood as a symbol of strength and victory. Though it fell centuries ago, its influence lived on in Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi’s design of the Statue of Liberty—from her torch to her crown of rays. But their meanings couldn’t be more different. Today, Gordy explores how an ancient Greek wonder helped inspire America’s greatest icon of freedom. 📌 Follow Smartest Year Ever for more daily facts! Sources:

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00:03:28

1/30/25 - LED Lights vs. Sharks: A Bright Idea

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/30

Can LED lights prevent shark attacks? Gordy explores a cutting-edge solution using LED-lit surfboards to confuse sharks and protect humans. Learn how this tech benefits both people and marine wildlife by offering a humane alternative to traditional shark deterrents. Follow Smartest Year Ever on YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram for daily insights! Sources: Current Biology - LED Lights and Shark Deterrence BBC News - Australian Scientists Test LED Surfboards Macquarie University - Shark Deterrent

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00:03:15

1/29/25 - Dancing Cat Fever: Mercury’s Deadly Dance

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/29

Gordy uncovers the bizarre history of Dancing Cat Fever, where convulsing cats warned humans of deadly mercury poisoning. How did superstition meet science to solve this mystery? Learn about these feline sentinels, the dangers of mercury exposure, and its lasting impact on environmental health. Follow Smartest Year Ever on YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram for more daily insights! Sources: Toxicological Reviews - Mercury Poisoning in History Smithsonian Magazine - The Strange History of Dancing

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