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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

00:03:38

1/28/25 - Canaries in Coal Mines: Life-Saving Birds

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/28

Canaries in coal mines were no metaphor—they were lifesavers. Gordy explains how miners relied on these birds to detect toxic gases and the extraordinary biology that made it possible. But it doesn’t end there: from bees monitoring pollution to dogs sniffing out cancer, we’re still relying on animals to warn us of unseen dangers. Explore the science and history behind sentinel species in today’s episode. Sources: Smithsonian Magazine - The History of Canaries in Coal Mines BBC News - Why

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00:03:17

1/27/25 - Why Dogs Tilt Their Heads

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/27

Is your dog’s adorable head tilt a sign of intelligence? Gordy breaks down the science of this charming canine quirk. Learn how dogs might be adjusting their ears for better hearing, tilting their heads to see us more clearly, or even cleverly manipulating us for extra love. Plus, discover how “gifted” dogs tilt their heads more often while learning new words. Sources: Animal Cognition Journal - Dogs’ Head Tilting and Word Learning American Kennel Club - Why Do Dogs Tilt Their Heads?

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00:02:39

1/26/25 - Why Do Pee Shivers Happen?

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/26

Ever had a full-body shiver after a bathroom break? This episode dives into the fascinating science behind Post-Micturition Convulsion Syndrome (PMCS), better known as pee shivers. Gordy explains how your autonomic nervous system, temperature regulation, and blood pressure drops might all play a role in this mysterious but universal phenomenon.Sources: American Urological Association - Post-Micturition Phenomena Healthline - Why Do Pee Shivers Happen? Journal of Neurophysiology - Autonomic

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00:03:50

1/25/25 - Why Do We Knock on Wood?

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/25

Why do we still knock on wood when we’re trying not to jinx something? Gordy explores how ancient tree-worshipping traditions, Christian symbolism, and even kids’ games contributed to this enduring ritual. Learn how other cultures put their own twist on luck—like tugging earlobes or saying “touch iron”—in this fascinating exploration of history and superstition. Sources: Frazer, J. G. (1922). The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion. BBC Culture: "The Superstition of Knocking on

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00:04:04

1/24/25 - Tetris as Trauma Therapy

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/24

Could a beloved video game stop PTSD in its tracks? 🎮 Smartest Year Ever explores the groundbreaking science behind Tetris as Trauma Therapy. Learn how this nostalgic block-stacking game is helping disrupt intrusive memories, reduce trauma, and even curb cravings. Featuring research from Oxford University and beyond, this episode shows how science meets fun in the most unexpected way. Sources: Holmes, E. A., et al., "Can Playing the Computer Game 'Tetris' Reduce the Build-Up of Flashbacks for

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00:04:06

1/23/25 - Why Swiss Cheese Has Holes

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/23

Ever wondered why Swiss cheese has holes? Gordy explores the quirky science behind these “eyes,” from bacteria and gas bubbles to the surprising role of hay dust. Discover how modern hygiene standards shrank the holes—and how cheesemakers brought them back. Sources: SwissInfo.ch: How Hay Particles Help Make Cheese Holes National Dairy Council: Cheesemaking and Fermentation Cheese.com: Types of Swiss Cheese Follow Smartest Year Ever for more daily facts and engaging stories.

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00:05:04

1/22/25 - When Pirates Were Legal

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/22

Did you know pirates were sometimes perfectly legal? Dive into the fascinating history of letters of marque and reprisal, the government-issued permission slips that turned private citizens into privateers—essentially lawful pirates. Gordy uncovers how nations like England, France, and the U.S. used privateers to disrupt enemy trade, boost war efforts, and rake in profits during wartime. Learn about the fine line between hero and pirate, why privateering ended, and whether the U.S. could bring it

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00:04:19

1/21/25 - DEFCON Levels Explained

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/21

What exactly are DEFCON levels, and why do they feel straight out of a doomsday movie? In today’s episode, Gordy breaks down the Defense Readiness Condition system used by the U.S. military to gauge national security threats. Learn the difference between DEFCON 5 (peacetime calm) and DEFCON 1 (nuclear war imminent), the real history behind DEFCON 2 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and why DEFCON 3 isn’t always as ominous as it sounds.Discover how DEFCON compares to Threat Levels, dive into

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00:03:26

1/20/25 - The Earliest Alarm Clocks

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/20

How did people wake up on time before smartphones or alarm clocks? Gordy explores the ingenious—and sometimes bizarre—solutions humans used to get out of bed. From ancient water clocks that dripped their way to morning gongs, to the medieval church bells that served as the neighborhood alarm, and even Industrial Revolution knocker-uppers who literally knocked on windows with sticks, history proves we’ve always struggled with mornings. Don’t miss the story of the candle alarm, where a nail dropped

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00:03:28

1/19/25 - The History of Last Names as Professions

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/19

Did your last name reveal your ancestors' profession? Turns out, it probably does! In this episode, Gordy dives into the fascinating history of surnames like Smith, Baker, and Cooper to uncover how jobs shaped identities. From blacksmiths forging tools to chandlers crafting candles, these names tell stories of a world where your trade defined who you were. But what about names like Fletcher, Webster, or Wainwright? Join Gordy to uncover the surprising origins of these everyday last

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00:03:12

1/18/25 - Half-Staff vs. Half-Mast: Flag Facts...

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/18

When is it half-staff and when is it half-mast? Gordy dives into the origins and proper usage of flag terminology, revealing why it depends on where you are—and even the pole you’re talking about! Learn how centuries-old traditions, like lowering flags to honor the fallen, connect us across time. Plus, discover the hidden meanings behind upside-down flags and how they signal distress.In this episode: The difference between half-staff and half-mast The symbolism of lowered flags in mourning A

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00:03:40

1/17/25 - The Great Emu War

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/17

In 1932, Australia declared war—on emus. Yes, you read that right. When 20,000 of these giant, flightless birds invaded Western Australia's farmland, the government sent machine guns to solve the problem. What followed was a hilariously chaotic and ultimately unsuccessful military campaign. From emus dodging bullets like feathered tanks to soldiers literally losing a war to wildlife, the Great Emu War is one of the most bizarre stories in history.Why did this happen? How did the emus outsmart

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00:03:36

1/16/25 - Carotenoids and Your Attractiveness

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/16

What if eating colorful fruits and veggies could make you more attractive? Science says it can! In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into the fascinating link between carotenoids—the pigments found in carrots, sweet potatoes, and watermelons—and your skin's natural glow. Discover how these pigments give you a subtle golden tone that studies show is universally perceived as healthier and more attractive. But don’t worry, Gordy also explains how to avoid going too far and turning orange

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00:03:51

1/15/25 - Why Do Fingers Wrinkle in Water?

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/15

Why do fingers wrinkle in water? It’s not just a bath-time oddity—it’s evolutionary genius. Gordy dives into how wrinkly fingertips act as natural rain treads to improve grip in wet conditions. Learn how this process is controlled by your autonomic nervous system and why evolution gave us this clever survival trick.Order of Contents: Introduction: Why wrinkling happens. The evolutionary edge: Grip advantage on wet surfaces. The science: Nerves, blood vessels, and drainage systems. Why we

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00:04:12

1/14/25 - The Idea Behind Pokemon

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/14

1/14/25 - A Boy, Bugs, and Pokémon Before Pikachu or Charmander, Pokémon’s creator Satoshi Tajiri was just a boy obsessed with catching bugs. 🐞 In today’s episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy shares the story of how Tajiri’s childhood curiosity and love for discovery inspired one of the world’s most beloved franchises. Learn about his early days as “Dr. Bug,” the challenges of creating Pokémon, and the brilliant idea sparked by a Game Boy link cable. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just curious

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00:04:38

1/13/25 - How Low Can You Orbit?

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/13

What’s the lowest distance an object can orbit Earth without falling back to the surface? Gordy explores the fascinating physics of Low Earth Orbits (LEO) and the razor-thin balance between gravity, drag, and propulsion. From the record-breaking ESA GOCE satellite to Japan’s TSUBAME, this episode dives into the engineering marvels pushing the boundaries of space exploration. Order of Contents: Intro: What is the lowest orbit? How orbits work and what makes them stable. Record-breaking

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00:04:18

1/12/25 - "The Real McCoy"?

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/12

In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy dives into the fascinating origins of the phrase “The Real McCoy”—a saying synonymous with authenticity and originality. Was it inspired by Elijah McCoy, the ingenious Black inventor whose patents revolutionized industry? Or was it Prohibition-era rum-runner Bill McCoy, famous for smuggling pure liquor? Maybe it even traces back to 19th-century Scotland with “The Real MacKay,” a nod to high-quality whiskey. Discover how this phrase blends fact, folklore,

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00:03:26

1/11/25 - Grapes Under the Table: A New Year’s Ritual

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/11

Of all the New Year’s traditions around the world, few are as curious as eating grapes under a table for good luck. Gordy dives into the history of las doce uvas de la suerte, the Spanish tradition of eating twelve grapes at midnight, and how a 1909 grape surplus sparked this quirky custom. Discover how the practice spread to Latin America, and why hiding under a table adds a deeper meaning to this symbolic snack.Sources: Counihan, C., & Van Esterik, P. (2012). Food and Culture: A Reader

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00:04:35

1/10/25 - Why Wine Bottles Have Punts

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/10

Why do wine bottles have that mysterious dimple at the bottom? Gordy dives into the fascinating history of the punt, tracing its origins to glassblowing days, its practical uses for stability and carbonation pressure, and its evolution into a symbol of craftsmanship and tradition.Here’s what’s inside today’s episode: The practical and historical origins of the punt. How punts work for sparkling wines and their role in tradition. Fun myths about sediment and marketing. The surprising story

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00:03:39

1/9/25 - The Smell of Cut Grass: A Plant’s SOS

Smartest Year Ever ·

2025/01/09

Fresh-cut grass isn’t just a smell—it’s a cry for help. Gordy uncovers the science behind this iconic scent, showing how plants release green leaf volatiles (GLVs) to warn their neighbors, call in insect reinforcements, and even heal themselves. Plus, learn why humans associate this distress signal with happiness.Contents: The surprising truth behind the smell of freshly cut grass How GLVs help plants defend themselves Why humans feel good when plants are panicking Sources: Karban, R.,

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368 results

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