Best Tedster Podcasts (2026)

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William McGonagall - Britain's Worst Poet 6:06

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3d ago6:06

6:06

William McGonagall has been called many things — visionary, eccentric, and, with remarkable consistency, the worst poet in the English language. In this episode, we dive into the strange brilliance of his badness: the clunky rhymes, the runaway meter, the moralising non sequiturs, and the unwavering confidence that turned disaster into… well, even …

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The Ancient Computer 6:11

18d ago6:11

6:11

Long before silicon chips, the Greeks built gears that could predict eclipses. Dive into the Antikythera mechanism — the ancient computer that rewrote our timeline of innovation. Support the showBy Tedster

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Christmas Special: The Nativity Pooper 6:31

24d ago6:31

6:31

Why does Catalonia’s Christmas nativity include a squatting figure with his trousers down? Meet the Caganer—a centuries‑old tradition that blends fertility folklore, luck, humility, and a dash of irreverent humor. From its 17th‑century origins to today’s cheeky celebrity parodies, we unpack how this earthy little character went from rural symbol to…

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Christmas Special: The Tom Cruise Cake 6:25

24d ago6:25

6:25

Every December, Hollywood braces for the sweetest stunt Tom Cruise ever pulled: the legendary white chocolate coconut bundt cake. In this festive episode, we unwrap the origin of the tradition, peek inside the frosting, and share hilarious tales from celebrities lucky enough to make the ‘cake list.’ Equal parts absurd and delicious, it’s the holida…

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The Bizarre 1904 Olympic Marathon 6:15

2M ago6:15

6:15

The Bizarre 1904 Olympic Marathon What do you get when you mix scorching heat, zero hydration, a Cuban mailman in street shoes, and a runner chased by wild dogs? The 1904 Olympic marathon — a race so catastrophically absurd it makes modern marathons look like spa days. From strychnine cocktails to impromptu naps, this episode dives into the most gl…

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The Crosshair 4:33

2M ago4:33

4:33

A spider. Dangling. Watching. Waiting. Somehow this leads to telescopes, history, and a symbol you already know too well. We promise it makes sense in the end. Or at least, it makes a kind of sense. Expect: lines that cross, stars that don’t cooperate, and a spider who may or may not be unionized. Support the show…

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The Beer Gods 5:45

2M ago5:45

5:45

The Beer Gods Ancient deities. Divine hangovers. 400 drunk rabbits. We dive headfirst into history’s weirdest drinking myths—from Sumerian godess who was beer to Norse giants with mile-wide kettles. It’s mythology on tap. No logic, all lager. Support the showBy Tedster

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The Flag Weapon 5:52

3M ago5:52

5:52

Some flags wave. Others wield. In this episode, we dive into the only national banner that features an actual assault rifle—Mozambique’s infamous AK-47 flag—and unpack the symbolism behind it. From the philosophical oddity of weaponized emblems to the quiet neutrality of Switzerland’s cross, we explore how flags can signal pride, power, or paranoia…

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The Latin Quarter 6:54

3M ago6:54

6:54

The Latin Quarter Why is a Parisian neighbourhood named after a dead language? In this episode, we trace the word quarter from Roman army camps to student-filled streets, and finally to your own resting quarters. It’s a journey through history, etymology, and mild confusion—with just enough Latin to sound clever, and just enough nonsense to stay on…

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The Helmholtz Illusion 5:57

3M ago5:57

5:57

Why do vertical stripes seem slimming? Or do they? In this episode, we unravel the curious case of the Helmholtz illusion—a 19th-century visual quirk that still influences fashion choices today. From French mimes to modern wardrobes, we explore how stripes mess with perception, why your mirror might lie to you, and what studies say about how we see…