Best Bottle Rocket Podcasts (2025)

1
🍅 Heinz Ketchup: The King of Condiments | 33 42:16

5d ago42:16

42:16

When entrepreneur Henry J. Heinz went bankrupt after his first venture, he nearly lost it all—his farmland, his parents' home, and his own reputation. But then, he launched a stunning comeback that changed everything about the meaning of the name “Heinz.” This Master of Tomatoes built a condiment empire on super fresh produce and, by pioneering foo…

1
💧 LaCroix: The Cinderella of Seltzers | 32 42:25

12d ago42:25

42:25

This sexy seltzer started out more than 40 years ago as a Wisconsin brewery’s quiet, nonalcoholic spinoff. Throughout the 80s and early 90s, LaCroix remained the low-key, low-cal fave of Midwestern Little League coaches and soccer moms. But then, LaCroix hit its stride—and its second act, reborn as the trendy choice of Hollywood writers, Instagram …

1
🌎 Google Maps: The Actual ‘Everything App’ | 31 42:32

19d ago42:32

42:32

When out-of-work coder Jens Rasmussen couldn’t find directions to a cafe in Copenhagen, he wound up changing navigation forever. Alongside his brother Lars (also an out-of-work coder), Jens developed a radical vision—not just for a faster map, but a vibrant, multi-dimensional platform to help plan your entire life. With maxed-out credit cards, thes…

1
🍑 Juicy Couture Tracksuit: How Cozy-Core Went Viral | 30 43:55

26d ago43:55

43:55

In a high-end boutique between Hollywood and Beverly Hills, Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor met as fashion-obsessed shopgirls with dreams of entrepreneurship. But they had no obvious path to get there… until Gela became pregnant – with nothing to wear. What came next was a history-making business venture started with only $200 and a pile of…

1
🥤Frappuccino: The Billion-Dollar Brainfreeze Starbucks Nearly Killed | 29 41:15

1M ago41:15

41:15

The cream-topped, dome-lidded Frappuccino is the caffeinated crown jewel of the Starbucks empire. It helped the company break out from regional coffee chain to global lifestyle brand, made cold drinks into 75% of Starbucks’ beverage sales, and created a whole new language of filibuster-length orders (“Can I get a grande vanilla bean frappe, in a ve…

1
🐢Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The “Dumbest” Best Idea Yet | 28 41:49

1M ago41:49

41:49

Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird were just trying to get work. These two broke illustrators were scraping by on side hustles and instant ramen… until, one fateful night, Kevin drew a doodle to get Peter to laugh: a nunchuck-wielding turtle in a ninja mask. But this one “dumb” drawing would launch the most successful self-published, creator-owned comic…

1
🔫Super Soaker: Invented by a Rocket Scientist (Literally) | 27 40:59

2M ago40:59

40:59

Lonnie Johnson was already a brilliant Air Force engineer working on cutting edge, planet-saving inventions…when a surprise bathroom discovery (we’ve all been there) sparked an idea that changed water fights forever. This nuclear scientist's side hustle—a game-changing water gun prototype—would go on to reshape backyard battles and launch a billion…

1
🐣 Peeps: A Backroom Marshmallow Mystery | 26 40:44

2M ago40:44

40:44

Roscoe Rodda was in the fight of his life. His candy factory was right down the road from Milton Hershey’s—yes, THAT Hershey’s—and he needed to set himself apart. So Roscoe embraced a single holiday to get the competitive confectionery edge: Easter. Chocolate eggs, jellybeans… and a secret treat painstakingly sculpted behind closed doors: a marshma…

1
📱iPhone: The Device Steve Jobs Didn’t Want to Build | 25 42:08

2M ago42:08

42:08

Before 2007, mobile phones had tiny keyboards, crappy screens with internet so slow - you could finish a super burrito while waiting for your MySpace profile to load. Then Apple wowed the world with the iPhone: a digital Swiss Army knife that replaced cameras, maps, music players, AND created an entire new app economy. But the wildest part? Steve J…

1
The Final Episode 2:15:34

2M ago2:15:34

2:15:34

Goodbye, goodbye. For our final episode of this run, Austin, Raymond & Henry talk about how they watch movies, some mailbag questions, some musings on the craft, and more. Thanks again for tuning in each week, everybody. Stay safe, and we'll see you at the movies! Follow us on Twitter! @austin_hayden (Austin) @creamatoria (Raymond) and on Letterbox…

1
🧀 Goldfish Crackers: The Most Romantic Snack | 24 41:21

2M ago41:21

41:21

Margaret Rudkin’s family was in crisis. The Great Depression cleaned out their finances, her husband was bedridden after an accident, and her son was suffering from crippling allergies. Things were looking grim… until Margaret invented a revolutionary wheat bread, and built a baked-goods empire named for the tree in her front yard: Pepperidge Farm.…

1
Mulholland Drive: It Was All A Dream 1:32:25

2M ago1:32:25

1:32:25

Our penultimate episode! The guys get into Mulholland Drive (directed by David Lynch) on this one. This film is a great segue for conversation as it weaves through film studies, what it means for something to be Lynchian, what it means to make movies - and more. Enjoy! Join the LAST Livestream of SHOW ME THE MEANING! next Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the…

1
📺 MTV: How Video Killed the Radio Star | 23 42:32

2M ago42:32

42:32

In 1981, a scrappy ex-radio executive named John Lack had a wild vision: “What if there was a 24-hour television channel devoted entirely to music videos?” Back then, music videos weren’t really a thing, just a goofy way for record labels to promote new albums (Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody? Basically a hype video). But Lack saw them as the perfect opp…

1
The Boy and The Heron: A Filmmaker's Legacy 1:40:23

3M ago1:40:23

1:40:23

Raymond is back from filming his movie! The guys get into The Boy and The Heron - Hayao Miyazaki's swan (heron?) song. Who will take over Studio Ghibli? Does more money make a better movie? Is this film a bigger metaphor for Miyazaki's retirement? They get into these questions and more - and more! Enjoy! We only have TWO episodes left! So be sure t…

1
🌭 Costco’s Kirkland: How a $1.50 Hot Dog Changed Store Brands Forever | 22 43:17

3M ago43:17

43:17

If you currently own a 12-pack of bath tissue, a 150-count bag of laundry pods, and/or a 48-oz jar of cashews, chances are they all have the same label: Kirkland Signature. Costco debuted this private-label brand—aka ‘store brand’—in 1995 and since then, it’s become a sales-driving juggernaut. Kirkland products now account for a quarter of Costco’s…

1
Conclave: Catholic Camp 1:24:15

3M ago1:24:15

1:24:15

Get your cigarettes out for this one - we're talking Conclave! Austin, Henry, and Michael talk the intersection of humanity and religion, the campiness of this film, pope names - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! https://youtube.com/@wisecrack_2 Follow us on Twitter! @aus…

1
🌮 Doritos Locos Tacos: The Cheesy Mashup That Saved Taco Bell | 21 41:33

3M ago41:33

41:33

Taco Bell was struggling and needed an idea so bold… so over-the-top… so WEIRD… that it would capture America’s taste buds and Instagram feeds. So when it unveiled the Doritos Locos Tacos (or ""DLT"") in 2012, jaws dropped…then immediately started chomping. The hard-shell taco coated with cheesy Dorito dusting became the biggest fast food hit of th…

1
Babygirl vs. May December: Giving and Taking 1:10:53

3M ago1:10:53

1:10:53

We got another cage match: Babygirl vs May/December! Austin is joined by Wisecrack's Amanda! They get into age gap films, the philosophy of the male gaze, the role of eroticisim in this era of films, and more! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! https://youtube.com/@wisecrack_2 Follow us on…

1
🌇 Sesame Street: The Trojan Horse Of TV | 20 44:06

3M ago44:06

44:06

Once upon a time, American kids had a problem—OK, two. They were watching way, WAY too much TV and they were falling way, way behind in school. But then a trailblazing producer and her psychologist friend asked a bold question: What if we used the first problem to solve the second? The result: Sesame Street, home of Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Bert &…

1
Aftersun: We Got Daddy Issues 1:26:23

3M ago1:26:23

1:26:23

The best movie for a cry (if you got daddy issues). Austin is joined by Producer Henry for a chat on Aftersun! They get into realizing the frailty of our parents, the nature of memory and music, some narrative structure of the film - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! http…

1
🏔️ Patagonia Fleece: The Billion Dollar Toilet Seat Cover | 19 42:13

3M ago42:13

42:13

Designed to keep climbers snug on El Capitan, the Patagonia fleece became the unofficial uniform of venture capitalists and finance bros (earning the nickname Patagucci). But thrill-seeking Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard never aimed for a high-end market. In fact, he built a $3 billion brand while trying not to be a businessman. Yvon's a self-des…

1
🍦Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food: A Collab Born in an Old Gas Station | 18 41:50

4M ago41:50

41:50

Phish Food: it’s more Vermont than Bernie Sanders snowboarding down a mountain of maple sugar. This philanthropic ice cream came out of an epic ‘90s partnership between two Burlington legends: the jam band Phish, and Ben & Jerry’s. (You can thank the band for the caramel ribbon) But the Phish Food story really begins with Ben & Jerry themselves: tw…

1
Hypernormalisation Explains EVERYTHING Going On Right Now 1:04:09

4M ago1:04:09

1:04:09

Austin is again joined by Wisecrack's very own: Michael Burns! Join the convo on the movie that explains EVERYTHING that is happening politically right now. We get into where Hypernormlisation originated from, our changing views on the Occupy movement, a Patti Smith-Sam Shepard play - and more! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday…

1
🎩 Monopoly: The Shocking Scandal Behind the World’s Favorite Game | 17 42:45

4M ago42:45

42:45

Monopoly: the game that taught you to ruthlessly bankrupt your friends and family, one hotel at a time. With 250 million copies sold worldwide, ⅔ of American homes have a copy. But you probably don't know its shocking origin story: Monopoly rewards runaway greed — but was originally created by a feminist to teach about the evils of economic inequal…

1
Will The Brutalist Be Remembered? 1:20:43

4M ago1:20:43

1:20:43

Today Austin is joined by Wisecrack's very own: Michael Burns! Raymond is out shooting his movie. Join the convo as they get into the commodification of art (both in the film and by the director himself), the concepts of home explored in the epilogue, some "PTA-ish" notes that the film could have used - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING…

1
⚡ Red Bull: How The World Got Its Wiiings | 16 45:17

4M ago45:17

45:17

What’s keeping us up at night (besides our own thoughts)? An 8.4-oz blue-and-silver can of caffeine, taurine, sugar, and flavoring that’s part LaCroix, part Robitussin. Red Bull is not only America’s best-selling energy drink, it was its first: before the Bull, ‘energy drink’ in Illinois meant two Diet Cokes and a coffee chaser. But Red Bull’s reac…

1
Nosferatu: The Consequence of Repression 1:44:31

4M ago1:44:31

1:44:31

Nosferatu. Raymond returns. Henry takes the mic. Join the crew as they talk the merits of this adaptation, the messages around desire and sexuality, viewing this film as a western, and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! https://youtube.com/@wisecrack_2 Follow us on Twitter! @a…

1
🎸 Fender Stratocaster: The Guitar That Invented Rock & Roll | 15 43:40

4M ago43:40

43:40

This one guitar didn’t just change music — it permanently cranked it up to 11. From Buddy Holly’s crisp riffs to Jimi Hendrix’s flaming solos (literally, he lit one on fire), the Fender Stratocaster is the most iconic electric guitar of all time. It inspired the Beatles AND Eric Clapton, became the axe of choice for everything from punk rock to reg…

1
Dune: Part Two - Is Revolution In Art Possible? 1:47:39

5M ago1:47:39

1:47:39

Lisan al-Gaib! Austin and Raymond get into Dune: Part Two this week! How much of this film is aesthetic versus substance? What does it say about power structures in our mythos? Does this film oversimplify revolution? Join us as we ask those questions! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! htt…

1
🥜 Reese’s PB Cups: From Frog Salesman to Candy Mogul | 14 43:27

5M ago43:27

43:27

French fries and pesto? Mango and sticky rice? Ice cream and olive oil?! Real ones know when it comes to surprisingly perfect food combos, nothing tops chocolate and peanut butter (or is it peanut butter and chocolate?) - best showcased by America’s top selling candy… Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. That distinct blend of milk chocolate and salty peanu…

1
Covering Our Best Films of 2024 1:47:11

5M ago1:47:11

1:47:11

Happy New Year! Austin and Raymond get into their best films of 2024. What makes a film a "best" film? Was it your experience of watching the film? The performances? The craft? Because it was made by Sean Baker? And stick around until the end for our best performances of the year! Here are the films we get into! Raymond's Top 5: I Saw the TV Glow F…

1
🐂 Oregon Trail: Tricking Kids into Liking School Since 1971 | 13 45:49

5M ago45:49

45:49

Pop quiz: What’s the longest-running video game in history? It’s not Pac-Man or Donkey Kong or even Pong… it’s The Oregon Trail. A true pioneer (and we don’t just mean the ones in the covered wagons), the Oregon Trail has sold more than 65 million copies (that’s more than the Beatles’ White Album) and it spawned an “edu-tainment” industry now worth…

1
⌚ Swatch: The $40 Watch that Saved Switerzland | 12 45:45

5M ago45:45

45:45

When you hear the name Swatch, you may picture an affordable wristwatch with neon bands, a pop-art face, and an invite to the Middle School dance. But this humble plastic timepiece played a huge role in geopolitics: the Swatch saved the entire Swiss watch industry from something called the “Quartz Crisis.” Rolex is only thriving today as a luxury p…

1
🧱LEGO: Earth’s Biggest Toy Biz | 11 44:49

5M ago44:49

44:49

Click… That satisfying sound of Lego bricks has brought joy to millions of kids - and adults (kidults?) for more than 70 years. But did you know it all started in a Danish carpenter's workshop during WWII? And that boxes of Lego were used to smuggle grenades to resistance fighters? Today, family-owned Lego is the biggest toy company on earth, but t…

1
The Wild Robot: Technology Will Not Save Us 1:38:42

5M ago1:38:42

1:38:42

Roz! Today we cover The Wild Robot (dir Chris Sanders)! We get into narrative issues that both give this movie colonial undertones and undermine the themes it's trying to explore, the robotic emotional journey it takes the audience on, some philosophy on technology and the hierarchy of life - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREA…

1
🍬 PEZ: The Cigarette-Inspired Candy | 10 46:35

6M ago46:35

46:35

PEZ - the fruity, sugary tablets dispensed from your favorite cartoon character’s neck conjure up sweet childhood memories of swapping and collecting dispensers. (I’ll trade you my red Power Ranger for your Pikachu) But when these Austrian-born sweets hit the candy aisle almost 100 years ago, they had a seriously adult mission: Help people quit smo…

1
Anora: A Mature Fairytale 1:31:46

6M ago1:31:46

1:31:46

Well, well, well, we finally saw it! This week, we cover Anora (dir Sean Baker)! Join us as we get into Sean bakers process, the performances he got out of his actors, Mikey Madison’s incredible show of force, a little detour into the institution of marriage, that last scene - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday …

1
🏀 Air Jordans: How MJ's Mom Made the Deal of the Century | 9 46:42

6M ago46:42

46:42

It’s simply the most popular sneaker in history. With $7B in annual sales today, Nike and Michael Jordan’s shoe deal changed sports, fashion and marketing forever - But it never would’ve happened without skilled negotiating by MJ’s Mom. Originally banned by the NBA, Air Jordans have sold hundreds of millions of pairs, made Michael Jordan worth almo…

1
Heretic: You Can't Hide Horny 1:30:43

6M ago1:30:43

1:30:43

We're covering HERETIC (dir Scott Beck, Bryan Woods) today! We're walking right past the shallow religious interpretation of this film, and taking a swing at a more provocative take: this movie is about sex. And does it even do a good job of being about it? Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channe…

1
📷 Polaroid: Invented (sort of) by a 3-Year-Old | 8 46:13

6M ago46:13

46:13

It’s the OG of instant photography — It paved the way for the iPhone, inspired Instagram, and fills every photo album on your parents’ bookshelf. Polaroid became a fave of world-class artists like Ansel Adams and Andy Warhol, but did you know its inventor, Edwin Land, actually got the original idea from his 3-year-old daughter? Find out how Polaroi…

1
Gladiator II: Sans Gravitas 1:25:17

6M ago1:25:17

1:25:17

On my signal!! Join us for our chat on GLADIATOR II (dir. Ridley Scott). Was this movie worth the wait? And for that matter, who was waiting for it...? We get into why these lega-sequels feel empty, the relevance of Gladiator II within today's sociopolitical situation, how this film served its star-studded cast - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME T…

1
🛁 Jacuzzi: Legend of the Life-Saving Tub | 7 45:33

6M ago45:33

45:33

Break out the bubbly, turn on the jets, and hop into our Hot Tub Time Machine: we’re going back to the origins of the Jacuzzi. The world’s most iconic whirlpool has become a symbol of status and luxury—think Scarface’s bathtub. But its roots are humble, starting with a family of seven Italian immigrant brothers. Over three generations, they pivoted…

1
John Hughes Comfort Views 1:52:17

6M ago1:52:17

1:52:17

Autumn: the time of cozy movies and (un)comfortable nostalgia! In this CAGE MATCH episode, we pit The Breakfast Club against Planes, Trains & Automobiles to explore the autumnal film. What makes a film cozy? What is the philosophy behind Thanksgiving (hint: capitalism)? How can we associate John Hughes with Reagan era films? We get into these quest…

1
👖 Levi's 501s: The World’s 1st Jeans | 6 45:45

6M ago45:45

45:45

What do Old West gold miners, biker gangs and Marilyn Monroe all have in common? The same pair of jeans…Invented by a down-on-his-luck immigrant tailor in the 1870s, this classic riveted pant launched a global denim market worth over $70B. How? By teaming up with Levi Strauss & Co., a Gold Rush-era startup that became the most popular clothing bran…

1
The Zone of Interest: The Evil of Banality 1:54:12

7M ago1:54:12

1:54:12

The crew is joined by recurring guest Mallory Blair to talk Jonathan Glazer's THE ZONE OF INTEREST! Starting off with the worst take of all time on this film, this conversation ranges from the filmmaking techniques within, similar Holocaust films, materialism and other philosophy lessons, the very obvious comparisons to the events unfolding in Gaza…

1
🌶️ Sriracha: From Smuggled Gold to Hot Sauce Billions | 5 45:51

7M ago45:51

45:51

Chances are you’ve got a bottle of Sriracha chilling in your fridge right now, but have no idea who invented it — or the spicy story of how he made it happen. Entrepreneur David Tran fled Vietnam in the late 70s, smuggling gold bars into the US to start his venture - selling hot sauce out of a van. Little did he know his thick, spicy red jalapeño c…

1
Alex Garland's Civil War: Vagueness, Violence, Boring 1:29:32

7M ago1:29:32

1:29:32

The guys cover CIVIL WAR (dir. Alex Garland) on this one, and it gets heated! But does it get heated because the film is hot garbage? Join the guys as they attempt to find out what this movie is trying to say through its vagueness, violence, philosophy, and potential to be a good film. Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday a…

1
🚙 Jeep: The Car That Saved The World | 4 41:42

7M ago41:42

41:42

The Jeep isn’t just a car, it’s a cult: inspiring clubs, meetups, even its own “Jeep Wave.” From cameos in M*A*S*H to Mean Girls, the Jeep’s been ranked the most patriotic brand in America for 20-straight years (sorry, Coke). But did you know that Jeep actually started as a group project? Learn how three fiercely competitive rivals came together fo…

1
Movie Slasher Showdown 1:47:50

7M ago1:47:50

1:47:50

Happy Halloween! Raymond and Austin - and the stream audience - pit 8 Hollywood Slasher Villains against each other to decide who is the ultimate Slasher Champion. We got Michael Myers v Art the Clown, Jason v Norman Bates, Freddy v Leatherface, and Ghostface v Chucky. Who will win? Take a listen! Along the way, we break down archetypes of the horr…

1
👣 The Birkenstock Arizona: From Flower Power to Fashion Week | 3 44:57

7M ago44:57

44:57

The Birkenstock Arizona has adorned famous feet from John Lennon’s to Steve Jobs’ to Barbie’s—but the brand itself is older than America, and has gone through more eras than Taylor Swift (plus, won over just as many haters). From a cobbler’s shop in 18th-century Germany to KendaIl Jenner’s Insta feed, this 250-year old shoe brand has found staying …

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