PODCAST

Researching the Obvious

emilyfekete

Two long-distance best friends researching all the things interesting about every day life.

society & culture

All Episodes

59:43

Monsters Among Us: Supernatural Beings and Myths

Researching the Obvious ·

2025/10/28

Contrary to pop culture belief, vampires were never meant to be sparkly or live in castles wearing capes! This spooky season episode is all about the frightful and not so delightful monsters and supernatural beings that lurk in the shadows. Join Emily and Katie as they discuss the history of these supernatural creatures, the cultures that shaped them into being, and how the idea of them has changed over time. What is the difference between a Wendigo and a Skinwalker? How did the idea of vampires

90:22

The Spirit of Spiritualism

Researching the Obvious ·

2025/10/14

Knock once for yes and two for no? In the age of Spiritualism, seances, mediums and contacting “the other side” were not only commonplace but an everyday source of entertainment. The Spiritualist movement has roots in upstate New York and arose during a time of religious, social, and philosophical exploration. In this episode, Emily and Katie explore the historical context of spiritualism, what kickstarted its existence, mediums, seances, and … Johnny Appleseed spreading the Swedenborg religion

86:45

Spoiler Alert!: A Millennial Rom Com Review

Researching the Obvious ·

2025/09/23

Love triangles, friends to lovers, climactic chase-afters, grand epiphanies and declarations of love, oh my! In this follow up to Episode 20, join Emily and Katie for a review of classic examples of both old and new romantic comedies and the characters and tropes that make them iconic. From all the “awwws” to the cringiest moments, see which films stood the test of time and epitomize the Rom Com genre and those that missed the mark.Spoiler Alert, in this episode the following rom-coms are

74:51

The World is Our Oyster: Pirates, Cellars, and Bivalves

Researching the Obvious ·

2025/09/09

On the half shell, baked, broiled, grilled, Rockefeller. These small yet versatile bivalves have been an integral part of our American culinary history for hundreds of years. Oysters may be a premium food item now, but once they were so plentiful their shells literally paved the streets of cities! In this episode, join Emily and Katie for a deep dive, or perhaps a dredge or rake, of all things oyster as they discuss the long history of oysters as a food source, their economic impacts, their role in

66:13

Order Up #2: You are Where you Eat

Researching the Obvious ·

2025/08/26

The discussion of chain restaurants continues! Have you ever noticed that some places seem to have more chain restaurants than others? And perhaps you’re wondering how some of the most famous chain restaurants got their start and continue to succeed. In this episode, Emily and Katie discuss some of the geographical research around chainness, place and placelessness, and dive into some interesting histories of specific restaurants.What makes some cities more chain-y than others? What does

58:12

Order Up!: Chain Restaurants in the U.S.

Researching the Obvious ·

2025/08/12

Everyone has a favorite tried and true restaurant when they’re craving a burger, some fried chicken, or that timeless combo of soup, salad, and breadsticks. You know, those restaurants that you come across no matter how far from home you are. Restaurant chains are a ubiquitous presence along highways, in suburbia, and even in small towns. It might be easy to take these food fixtures for granted, but they haven’t always been around. In this episode, Katie and Emily discuss the evolution of

01:10:25

How to Lose a Rom Com in 10 Years

Researching the Obvious ·

2025/07/29

Have you ever been “just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her?” Whether it’s a tale of unrequited love, enemies turned lovers, player turned monogamist, or a classic makeover montage, it’s easy to live, love, and laugh through a good rom-com. The romantic comedy film genre has been around for decades, but its roots go back much further, all the way to Ancient Greece, in fact! In this episode, Emily and Katie discuss the literary and theatrical origins of the romantic comedy,

01:16:33

Talk the talk: A Quick Study of Idiomatic Phrases and...

Researching the Obvious ·

2025/07/15

Have you ever wondered why curiosity killed a cat? Or perhaps someone has suggested to you that you pull yourself up by your bootstraps? Idioms are used in our everyday conversations without a second thought, but many of these phrases have not only a long history but have meanings that have changed drastically over time. In this episode, Emily and Katie give an introductory English lesson on different types of phrases and discuss their usage, origins, and meanings. You may think you know what these

01:11:47

Dipping into the World of Condiments - a Saucy...

Researching the Obvious ·

2025/07/01

Whether you’re choosing your favorite hot dog topping, or dipping French fries into your preferred sauce on the side, condiments are a delicious way to add a little something extra to any dish. The US condiment market offers so many options, and some of them have a much older and international history than you might think! In this episode, join Emily and Katie for a tasty discussion of some of the most popular condiments, where they come from, and how they’ve transformed into the delectable dips and

01:13:25

We’re not Making this Up: A Brief History of Cosmetics

Researching the Obvious ·

2025/06/17

Whether you wear makeup yourself or pass by the large beauty sections in stores, you may have noticed that makeup and beauty products are a big business, but did you know they’re also thousands of years old? Makeup has served different purposes throughout the centuries and is now a constantly evolving trend. From ancient Egypt and notable makeup “influencers” like Nefertiti and Cleopatra to the red lipstick that became an icon during the suffragette movement to today’s “no makeup” makeup looks,

05:19

Season 2 Coming June 17

Researching the Obvious ·

2025/06/03

Katie and Emily can't wait to share season 2 of Researching the Obvious with you! Catch us on all podcast platforms June 17 to start learning even more obvious facts.

51:03

These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things

Researching the Obvious ·

2024/12/31

It’s the end of the year and the end of season one of Researching the Obvious. In this episode, Katie and Emily reminisce about some of their favorite facts from this season and add in a few new ones to share. Thank you to everyone who has listened and supported the show over the past 15 episodes! Season two will start in the spring, but in the meantime, if there are any topics you want to learn more about, share them on Instagram @ResearchingtheObviouspod. Happy New Year!

01:09:41

Why2K? Millennial Perspectives on the New Millennium

Researching the Obvious ·

2024/12/17

What was it like to party like it's 1999? Well, it might be a little anxiety inducing because everyone was anticipating the effects of the Y2K computer bug. On its 25th anniversary, Emily and Katie take a look back to the year 2000, share some New Year’s memories, and explore the facts and misconceptions around the Y2K bug, and how people prepared for January 1st, 2000. What was going on in the world in 1999 as the world approached the new Millenium? What is the Year 2000 problem, also known as

54:59

The Sloppy Joe Incident

Researching the Obvious ·

2024/12/03

This “big gooey messy burger” is an iconic American lunchroom staple beloved by both adults and children. How did the Sloppy Joe become so ingrained in our repertoire of convenient quick meals? Its origin story can be traced all the way back to Prohibition, is set in Cuba and Key West, and one of the main characters is Ernest Hemingway. Who would have thought this deliciously simple sandwich would have such an intriguing past!? In this episode, Emily and Katie explore their favorite friendship story

50:23

H2Ohhhhh, We Tasted All the Bottle Water

Researching the Obvious ·

2024/11/19

What do Katie and Emily do when they are visiting each other for the weekend? Taste test bottled water of course! After receiving feedback on which bottled waters are the best (and worst!), Katie and Emily decide to do their own sleuthing to find their favorites. Listen in as they go through a list of 10 different bottled waters and their flavor profiles, and find out which ones make the grade. If you haven’t listened to Episode 6: H2Ohhhhh: The United States’ Favorite Beverage, be sure to check it

01:03:59

Grocery List: A Guide to Buying Food in the US

Researching the Obvious ·

2024/11/05

There is a wide variety of regional grocery store chains in the US… or are there? Katie and Emily started grocery shopping together when they lived in college and noticed many things about grocery store availability in different states. Walk through the aisles of several grocery chains and learn how they have an influence on the way that you shop for food and some future trends in the grocery store economy. Which grocery stores are part of the same grocery family? How did several large grocery

01:06:17

It’s Your Funeral: Death Traditions Then and Now

Researching the Obvious ·

2024/10/22

From caskets to cremation, funerals and other death traditions have always been an integral part of the way we celebrate, memorialize and remember those who have passed away. Different cultures across the globe and throughout time have come up with unique ways to handle death and dying. This week, dive into spooky season with Katie and Emily as they discuss death… and maybe some ways to make the topic a little less scary. How do different cultures choose to memorialize the dead? What are some

01:01:01

Cryptic Cryptids

Researching the Obvious ·

2024/10/08

It’s that time of year when all things spooky get the spotlight! What’s spookier than an unknown animal lurking just outside of our discovery? Cryptids have long been a part of our curiosity and bring out believers and skeptics alike. Join Emily and Katie for a discussion of fascinating cryptids that remain an unproven mystery and some animals that seemed fantastic but have since been proven to be real. What is a cryptid? What are some unique cryptids that different regions are known for? What is

01:06:04

It’s a Pizza Party in the USA

Researching the Obvious ·

2024/09/24

Who doesn’t like a pizza party!? It may be a classic Italian dish, but there’s no denying that pizza has rooted itself in U.S. food culture and is here to stay! Katie and Emily have been eating pizza together since their college days which means they’ve been talking about the pizzas they grew up with and other regional pizza styles for just as long. In this episode, go back to the beginning-ish of pizza to learn more about the migration of Italian style pizzas and how they have inspired the creation

01:03:55

Something’s Missing Here: The Enduring Legacy of...

Researching the Obvious ·

2024/09/10

Anyone who loves a good mystery is familiar with the intrepid girl detective known as Nancy Drew. Intelligent, curious, and a little scrappy, Nancy Drew has won over the hearts and minds of young girls everywhere for nearly a century! Aside from the famous book series, she’s also permeated pop culture through TV, Movies, and PC Games. Emily & Katie dive into the history of Nancy Drew as a character and an icon throughout the decades while they reminisce about their shared love and memories of

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Researching the Obvious

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