Best Popcorn Effect Podcasts (2025)

1
Selects: What exactly is stoicism? 56:23

Play Pause

3d ago56:23

56:23

The word stoic has taken on its own meaning apart from the philosophical movement which gave it life. In this classic episode, learn all about the early stoics, what the philosophy is all about and where the movement stands today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
How Alchemy Worked 43:25

4d ago43:25

43:25

Alchemy evokes sorcerers working by candlelight combining potions to create magical items, real Dungeons & Dragons stuff. But alchemy gets a bad rap. Alchemists had lofty goals like curing poverty and their work laid the foundation for science to come. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Short Stuff: Bengal Cats 12:34

6d ago12:34

12:34

Bengal cats are gorgeous animals, but they are bought and sold on the designer pet market, so booo. Learn about these hybrid kitties today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
The Great Big Yarn of Mel's Hole 49:04

7d ago49:04

49:04

One of the most bizarre stories to emerge from the cult radio show Coast to Coast AM – and that’s really saying something – isn’t about UFOs or bigfoot, but a mysterious hole in the ground with some very unusual properties. Top that, History Channel! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Selects: Child Labor: Not Funny 52:38

10d ago52:38

52:38

Child labor is no laughing matter. Even though we've taken care of it in the USA (mostly), it's still an issue around the globe. Listen to this classic episode and learn! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
Sixdegrees.com: A Social Media Origin Story 42:43

12d ago42:43

42:43

Before Facebook and MySpace, before even Friendster, there was SixDegrees. Dive in today to learn about the first social media site, that was a few years too early. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
Short Stuff: 8 Track Cartridges 13:47

13d ago13:47

13:47

8 tracks were during vinyl, but preceded cassettes. Why? So people could listen to their music on the go. Check out this antiquated medium today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
Why Is North Sentinel Island Totally Off-Limits? 9:41

14d ago9:41

9:41

This small island in the Bay of Bengal is home to one of the last uncontacted peoples on the planet -- and they seem to want to keep it that way. Learn how North Sentinel Island has remained independent in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://history.howstuffworks.com/world-history/north-sentinel-island.htm See omnystudio.com/…

1
Sherlock Holmes: The Man, The Myth 51:57

14d ago51:57

51:57

Sherlock Holmes is perhaps the most famous fictional character in the world, and for good reason. More than a hundred years on, Arthur Conan Doyle’s 60 Holmes stories are still in print and he is the most portrayed human literary character in history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
How Have Obituaries Changed? 8:20

15d ago8:20

8:20

Public death notices about common people are a fairly recent development, and they've changed a lot since their inception. Learn how obituaries went from dry statements to tributes to truth in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/funerals/obituary-history.htm See omnystudio.com/liste…

1
BrainStuff Classics: What Is the Mandela Effect? 6:35

16d ago6:35

6:35

When many people share a false memory, that's the Mandela Effect in action -- but how does it happen? Learn how our individual brains misremember stuff and how false memories can spread in this classic episode of BrainStuff. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
Selects: How Coelacanths Work 40:24

17d ago40:24

40:24

Coelacanths are incredibly interesting as far as fish go. For one, they were thought to have gone the way of the dinosaur, along with the dinosaur. They also give birth to live fish and tend to dwell more than 800 feet below the ocean's surface. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Learn all about these fascinating creatures in this classic epi…

1
BrainStuff Classics: What's the History (and Future) of Toilets? 6:04

17d ago6:04

6:04

The 'modern' toilet was invented in the 1700s. So what was it like in the past, and how could we improve on it in the future? Learn more about waste technologies in this classic episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/toilets-past-future-flush.htm See omnystudio.com/listener fo…

1
What Does Habeas Corpus Mean? 11:13

18d ago11:13

11:13

Habeas corpus is a centuries-old legal concept that basically means that the government has to have a valid legal reason if it's going to detain you. Learn why habeas corpus is so important -- and when it's been suspended in the U.S. -- in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://people.howstuffworks.com/habeas-corpus-important.ht…

1
What was the purpose of USAID? 39:47

18d ago39:47

39:47

USAID has saved tens of millions of lives across the globe since its inception. But those days are over. Learn all about this soon-to-be-gone program. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
Who Named the Planet Earth? 5:32

19d ago5:32

5:32

In most European languages, the planets are all named after Roman gods -- except for the planet you're hanging out on right now. Learn how Earth and the other planets got their names in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/who-named-planet-earth.htm See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
Does the Bunyip Really Roam Austraila's Wetlands? 6:07

20d ago6:07

6:07

A cryptid with a fearsome bellow, the bunyip is said to stalk the unwary who swim or walk alone at night in parts of Austraila and New Zealand. Learn about the potential real-life inspirations for the bunyip in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/australian-bunyip.ht…

1
Short Stuff: BM Radio 16:02

20d ago16:02

16:02

There was a time – a glorious time – when you could turn the dial in any city in the US and hear popular songs rearranged to be the most pleasant version of themselves. This was the Beautiful Music format and we are spiritually poorer for having lost it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
The Phil Hartman Story 54:00

20d ago54:00

54:00

Sadly, Phil Hartman may be best remembered for being murdered in his sleep by his wife. This episode covers that, but mostly aims to stoke the memories of the legendary talent's life and work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
Selects: What was Tin Pan Alley? 41:49

24d ago41:49

41:49

Tin Pan Alley was an area of New York around the beginning of the 20th Century that served as ground zero for the earliest iterations of the music publishing industry. Learn all about this unique place and time in this classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
SYSK’s Summer Movie Playlist: What's the deal with Bond, James Bond? 39:59

24d ago39:59

39:59

James Bond, the most infamous secret agent ever to grace the silver screen, originated in the pages of British author Ian Fleming's novels. Amateur agents Josh and Chuck uncover all sorts of Bond trivia in this action-packed episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
SYSK’s Summer Movie Playlist: How Steadicams Work 34:49

24d ago34:49

34:49

There have been many inventions that have advanced filmmaking, but maybe none as important as the steadicam. Invented in the mid-70s, it literally changed the way movie making happened, and made the impossible possible. Learn about the fascinating history behind this amazing technology today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

1
SYSK’s Summer Movie Playlist: How the MPAA Works 42:56

24d ago42:56

42:56

You may be surprised to learn those ubiquitous ratings, from G to NC-17, put on movies in America are actually handed down by anonymous employees of a secretive organization that serves as a lobbying firm for Hollywood's six biggest studios. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
SYSK’s Summer Movie Playlist: Josh and Chuck's List of Horror Movies that Changed the Genre 59:28

24d ago59:28

59:28

Once in a while a movie comes along that's so forward-thinking it changes the way that horror is done. A new subgenre is spawned, new tropes are established, and audiences are more terrified than ever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts

1
SYSK’s Summer Movie Playlist: Special Effects: A Short History 55:13

24d ago55:13

55:13

Special effects have been around since the first movies. In fact, the techniques the earliest filmmakers created are still around today, we just use computers to do them faster and cheaper. Put on your beret and get ready for SYSK film class. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By iHeartPodcasts