The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

Death by Trebuchet, Big Bird's Close Call, Dry Scooping Coffee

Shane Madej and Matt Real join the show from The Quizard's Pit! There's discussion of sending Big Bird to space (thank GOODNESS we didn't), a suspicious skeleton, and one

Hector the Tickle Robot, Eyeball Teeth, a Little Bit of ~Spice~ (and Neuroscience)

Author and food historian Priya Mani joins the show to talk about the neuroscience of spice. Plus, Laura explains why whales have teeth on their eyes (SERIOUSLY), and Rac

Pantone-deaf, Naked Mole Rat Perfume, a Berry of Many Names

Alexis Nikole joins the show to talk about the heinous etymology of the juneberry (if that's even it's real name...). Plus, Liz Clayton Fuller returns to explain how bird

Literal Love Languages, Royal Dog of Madagascar, King Tut’s Undies

Greg Jenner joins the show to unravel all of the secrets hidden in King Tut's undies. (Seriously. There are a lot.) Plus, Sara Kiley tells the story of the crusty white d

Boob Backwash, Nighttime Radio Secrets, 10 Toes Down on Tommy

Sarah Dern and Emma Gommetz join Rachel this week to talk a trio of extra weird things. We've got babies spitting backwash into the boob, radio's biggest op being literal

The Greatest Con in Mushroom History, Secret Weapon: Normal Dogs, a Bee's Benis

Bee scientist Kit Prendergast joins the show to talk about... well... the birds and the bees. Plus, Rachel explains how portobello (portabella?) mushrooms are not exactly

Fallout Shelter Fads, The Library of Cocaine, Mosquito Nepobaby

Ben Bradford, host of the podcast Are We Doomed?, joins the show to talk about when buying fallout shelter goods was all the rage. Plus, Laura tells us how she's related

Creativity is Crumbling, Sarcophagus Juice Sourdough, Mycelium Mutual Aid

Pattie Gonia joins the show to talk about how secret networks of underground fungi are basically like nature's mutual aid. Plus, Moiya McTier returns to discuss creativit

Marie Antoinette Wearing Braces, Secret Immortal Cells, Chasing the Tooth Worm

Hari Kondabolu and Priyanka Wali join the show to talk about cells taken secretly and unethically... but ended up changing human health forever. Then, Rachel divulges a p

We Did it Joe (Pilates), They Did Surgery on a Cocaine Hippo, Steinbeck Digs Deep (Literally)

Ben Lillie joins the show to talk about John Steinbeck doing very in-character things on a scientific expedition out on the open ocean. Plus, Sara Kiley talks about Josep

A Musical Secret Weapon, Low Cortisol Beakmaxxing, Roller Coaster Science

Dropout's Grant O'Brien joins the show to talk about all things weird roller coasters. Plus, Jess hops on to discuss how a Gregorian chant has infiltrated all of our favo

Cannibal Caribou, Charming Worms, Strawberry-Flavored Neutrinos

Rachel's officially back! Chanda Prescod-Weinstein also joins as a guest host. This week, they talk about self-made caribou snacks, how to charm a worm, and why neutrinos

REVISITING Naked Founding Fathers, Jalapeño Thumb, Counting Vampires

In our final rerun episode during Rachel's parental leave, we have the oldest episode yet. It features one of Jess' first appearances on the show in which she details str

Killer Demon Core, Victorian Theater-Kid Ghosts, Louis Pasteur's Secrets

Jess brings adef and jacksonparodi on the show this week to discuss how one sphere killed two men in a matter of days, why folks in Victorian Australia used glowing paint

REVISITING Art Crime Doesn't Pay, Canines Cooking Meat, Eggs Gone Wrong

⁠⁠While Rachel is on parental leave, here's a vintage episode from our vault! Rachel, Sara, and comedian Josh Gondelman discuss dogs cooking in kitchens, chickens laying

Atomic Priesthood, Space Smells Like Beef, the Power of Pee Fuel

Jess brings on science-minded friends Lindsey and Misti to discuss why space smells like a freshly opened beef stew packet, how having to pee makes you better at video ga

REVISITING Olympic Weirdness: Barefoot Marathons, Medals for Artwork, Pistol Dueling

⁠While Rachel is on parental leave, here's a vintage episode from our vault! Rachel, Claire, and Sara discuss all things weird related to the Olympics way back in 2021 (w

Beaver Skull Obsession, Aussie Widowmakers, Koalas Eating $#!%

WELCOME TO SEASON 10! Jess hosts the show solo while Rachel is on maternity leave, but brings on a pair of her creator friends to chat about how beavers keep wildfires at

Bat-Devouring Rodents, Penguin Retirement Home, Chicago "Rat" Hole

Kendra Pierre-Louis joins Weirdest Thing for the season 9 finale! She talks about the rats chowing down on bats, producer Jess Boddy explains the scientific study on Chic

Vintage Antivaxxers, Horror Flick Psychology, Robin-Eating Bats

Coltan Scrivner joins the show to talk about the strange empathy of horror movie enjoyers. Plus, Sara Kiley talks about bats dogfighting and devouring birds, and Rachel d