Travis sits down with Dave Arena about the fascinating history of Horn & Hardart, the legendary automat chain that revolutionized fast dining in the 20th century. From its origins in Philadelphia to its peak in New York City, discover how these futuristic, coin-operated restaurants served millions daily with affordable comfort food and iconic coffe…

If you've never heard of the band GWAR, please listen to this episode! If you know the band GWAR, you're probably already listening to this episode! For episode 119, I'm joined by Scott Barber, director of This is GWAR. In the documentary, Scott follows the heavy metal band GWAR, through its early days coming up through the late '80s to near-commer…

Louis Le Prince was the first person to create moving pictures—but just weeks before unveiling his invention to the world, he mysteriously disappeared. Three and a half years later, Thomas Edison, Le Prince’s rival, made the device public, claiming to have invented it himself. And the man who had dedicated his life to preserving memories was himsel…

This is Part IV of this Route 66 series because we're finally doing the full Route 66 — 28 days in the RV from Chicago to LA! So, of course, I had to get the full breakdown on the history of Route 66, the must-see attractions, and what essentials we need to make the trip. To get the complete lowdown on Route 66 in California, I'm joined by Scott Pi…

This is Part III of this Route 66 series because we're finally doing the full Route 66 — 28 days in the RV from Chicago to LA! So, of course, I had to get the full breakdown on the history of Route 66, the must-see attractions, and what essentials we need to make the trip. To get the complete lowdown on Route 66 in Oklahoma, I'm joined by Rhys Mart…

This is Part II of this Route 66 series because we're finally doing the full Route 66 — 28 days in the RV from Chicago to LA! So, of course, I had to get the full breakdown on the history of Route 66, the must-see attractions, and what essentials we need to make the trip. To get the complete lowdown on Route 66 in Kansas, I'm joined by Renee Charle…

We're finally doing the full Route 66 — 28 days in the RV from Chicago to LA! So, of course, I had to get the full breakdown on the history of Route 66, the must-see attractions, and what essentials we need to make the trip. To get the complete lowdown, I'm joined by Route 66 Author, Tour Guide, and Advocate, Jim Hinkley! Tune in to learn… -Why Rou…

What if instead of our livestock and crops destroying our farm land, they actually improved the soil? That's the idea behind regenerative grazing and it is a big deal, even for non-farmers like us! To learn more about this, I'm joined by Pete Huff. Pete is the Co-Director of the Wallace Center, where he oversees the Resilient Agriculture & Ecosyste…

I think every dog owner, myself included, has wanted their dog to talk at one time or another. Well buckle up because Christina has taught her dog to talk and you can too! In this episode I'm joined by Christina Hunger who taught her dog, Stella, to communicate using over 50 simple paw-sized buttons programmed to say different words. It's kinda sim…

I'm admittedly not a massive baseball fan but I do enjoy a good origin story and some outrageous fiction. This episode has both! I'm joined by Tom Gilbert, author of the book, How Baseball Happened: Outrageous Lies Exposed! The True Story Revealed. The wrongness of baseball history can be staggering. You may have heard that Abner Doubleday or Alexa…

A few weeks ago I got to visit an art exhibit called The Art of the Brick and was blown away! I got to see recreations of famous art pieces like the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and even a full scale Easter Island head. Oh and these recreations are entirely made out of standard LEGO bricks! For this episode, I reached out to the artist, Nathan Saw…

If you remember the orange-roofed, twenty-eight flavored Howard Johnson's empire that stretched along roadways from coast to coast, you're gonna love this nostalgic and historical episode! If the name Howard Johnson's is only vaguely familiar to you (like it was to me), you're also gonna love this episode! In this episode, I'm joined by Boston hist…

Beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and Coca-Cola! In this episode I'm joined by Tom Standage for a dive into the history of the world through the lens of what (and why) people were drinking at the time. You may never look at your favorite drink the same way again! Tune in to learn… -What the first drink was (besides water), -How beer was accidentall…

B-A-N-A-N-A-S! Have you ever wondered why there's only one variety of banana but a dozen or more varieties of apples at your grocery store? How about why bananas, grown across oceans, are half the price of locally grown apples? To get these answers, and to learn more about the most fascinating fruit in the supermarket, I'm joined by Dan Koeppel in …

I love learning about new tech and how it can enhance our lives! But perhaps we are beginning to place too much confidence and reliance on things like AI and algorithms. In this episode I'm joined by Dr Robert Elliott Smith, author of the book, Rage Inside the Machine: The Prejudice of Algorithms, and How to Stop the Internet Making Bigots of Us Al…

I've started to develop quite a love for Western films lately and The Magnificent Seven is definitely among the top. But aside from being a great film, there is an incredible story behind The Magnificent Seven which could have been a movie in itself! In this episode I'm joined by Brian Hannan, author of The Making of The Magnificent Seven, to talk …

Lucid dreaming is the ability to CONTROL your dreams. A lucid dream feels like a normal dream but you’re aware of the fact that it’s a dream WHILE you’re actually in the dream, meaning you can guide it and control what you do, and what you experience. You can fly across alien planets, overcome nightmares and live the impossible. Anyone can learn ho…

Personal computers are everywhere! When was the last time you even saw a desk without a computer on it? But how did the personal computer rise up to become so ubiquitous and intertwined with our daily lives? In this episode I'm joined by Sean Haas, host of the Advent of Computing podcast, for a wild ride through the rise of the personal computer! T…

Astronomy sounds like an awesome career choice — spend your nights sitting under the stars with a massive telescope finding new astronomical objects in the sky. But that's only the half of it, there's so much more... In this episode I'm joined by Emily Levesque, astronomer and author of the book, The Last Stargazers: The Enduring Story of Astronomy…

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus? Me too — That's why, in this episode, I'm joined by Tom and Holly Valent. Tom and Holly are the deans of the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School. Founded in 1937, it is the oldest continuously run santa school in the world and is widely considered the Harvard of Santa school…

Astronauts are cool - It's just a fact. That's why I'm so excited to share this episode with NASA astronaut, Terry Virts! Terry piloted the Space Shuttle Endeavor, assumed command of the International Space Station (ISS), and spent more than seven months in space! This is such a fun interview where I got to ask everything you ever wanted to ask an …

It's the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower! Maybe you learned about the Pilgrims back in grade school but, if you’re like me, haven’t really thought about it much since. This episode is a great refresher on the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. But, more importantly, it’s also a deep dive to understand the whole story that they did…

How did soda, just flavored fizzy water, become so ubiquitous in today’s society? To find out, let’s dive in to the history of soda; It’s an astonishing tale featuring drugs, Roman baths, “curative” medicinal uses, and more! In this episode I’m joined by Tristan Donovan, author of Fizz: How Soda Shook Up the World. Tune in to learn… -If Coca-Cola a…

Imagine taking an entire farm and putting it underwater in the ocean. Now imagine that the crops you grow don't need to be watered and don’t need pesticides, fertilizer, feed, or soil to grow. Then imagine that this farm soaks up loads of carbon and nitrogen to help mitigate global warming. And then imagine that the food it creates is a nutrient-de…

You’ve probably been told that democracy is the ultimate, indisputable, best type of governance. But modern democracy is less than 250 years old―It’s largely an experiment with no previous track record! Myself, and most others, would say that democracy is arguably the best form of governance. But perhaps there are ways to tweak and improve it so th…

It's the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower! Maybe you learned about Plymouth and the Mayflower back in grade school but, if you’re like me, haven’t really thought about it much since. This episode is a great refresher on the story of the Pilgrims at Plymouth in 1620. But, more importantly, it’s also a deep dive to understand the whole story that t…

This is the story of Sealand, a micronation established on an abandoned WWII fort in international waters, seven miles off the shores of Britain! Roy Bates, the visionary Prince of Sealand, and his 'micro Royal Family’ declared the Principality of Sealand in 1967. The founding of this country was marked by the raising of a newly designed flag, a de…

LiDAR is becoming more ubiquitous. You’ve probably heard the term thrown around in regards to autonomous vehicles or as a feature of new iPhones and iPads. But what the heck is LiDAR? To understand what LiDAR is and how it’ll affect us, I’m joined by Todd Neff in this episode. Todd is the author of the book, The Laser That's Changing the World: The…

GMO sounds scary! Most of us associate genetically modified food as a bad thing and think organic is inherently better. But is that even the case? To help answer those questions I’m joined by Robert Saik, the author of Food 5.0: How We Feed the Future. Tune in to learn… -If organic farming still uses pesticides, -If Non-GMO labels are deceiving you…

You know the Griffith Observatory! It’s in the movie Rebel Without a Cause, Arnold Schwarzenegger walked across it naked for The Terminator, and it’s a freaking Los Angeles landmark! If you haven’t been to the Griffith Observatory, this episode will make you want to go. If you have been to the Griffith Observatory, this episode will make you apprec…

Isn’t it frustrating when you're unsure if you can trust what you read on Facebook, watch on YouTube, or hear on a podcast? Misinformation, disinformation, and fake news abound and it’s increasingly difficult to know what’s true. We need a set of powerful tools and the skill to cut through the most intimidating data! That’s why I’m joined by Profes…

Imagine coming home from work and your 3D food printer has just finished preparing you favorite dish, filet mignon with garlic herb butter and au gratin potatoes. It’s delicious, you didn’t have to prepare it, and it has the perfect combination of nutrients for just you at that specific moment. That’s the future of food! In this episode I got to ta…

Imagine being able to race any car on any track in the world! That’s the power of simulated virtual racing and the realism is mind-blowing! You could race a Porsche 919 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a couple hundred bucks from the safety and comfort of your home! In this episode I got to talk with Chris Leone of iRacing. iRacing is an incredibly r…

Imagine being able to convert any car into an EV! That’s right, convert your gas car into an electric vehicle - an electric restomod! You could convert a 1966 Mustang, a 1981 Delorean, or even my personal favorite, a 1961 Jaguar E-type! Get off fossil fuels while increasing your performance and reliability! In this episode I got to talk with Pete W…

I had assumed lighthouse keepers were a thing of the past but not so! Spence Wilson shares what it’s like to be a modern-day lighthouse keeper in British Columbia. Tune in to learn how lighthouses & their light-source work, the history & construction of lighthouses, modern lighthouse tech and automation, the responsibilities of a lighthouse keeper,…

Brendan and Claudio have found some Capuchin monkeys that are actually using stones as tools! Tune in to learn why this is so important, how rare this is, what this discovery means! Check out this video to see some of Brendan and Claudios footage of capuchin monkeys actually using stone tools: https://youtu.be/8navgU8-tw0 Here are some links to add…

There seems to be a lot of confusion about the different types of saunas and the health claims. Eero from the Sauna Society is here to set the record straight. The Sauna Society demonstrates and promotes the traditional nordic sauna experience. Tune in to learn the 3 steps of a authentic sauna experience, how to pronounce sauna, wet vs. dry saunas,…

Four-time Academy Award winner Richard Edlund is our guest on this episode! Richard was one of the first to join the groundbreaking visual effects team for Star Wars! He then moved on to supervise visual effects for the next two episodes of Star Wars, as well as Raiders of the Lost Ark and Poltergeist. Learn more about Richard at http://www.richard…

Remember hearing how 3D printing would revolutionize our lives? Just push a button and your new product would be printed right in front of you. You could even customize it however you’d like or make your creations easily! But that hasn’t really happened. Join me in this episode with Jaime Bonnin Roca as he shares if and when we’ll get 3D printing l…

Charles Phoenix is a mid-century pop culture expert, humorist and author celebrating classic and kitschy American life and style. He is known for his spirited live performances, colorful coffee table books, “field trip” tours, and madcap videos. The Los Angeles Times says, “Call him the King of Retro.” Join Charles and I in this fun episode as we d…

An ex-Navy bomb disposal frogman, Stephen Arrington fell from the ranks of heroes when he made a marijuana mistake, which led to his becoming a co-defendant in the John DeLorean Drug Case, AKA “The Drug Trial of the Century. After prison he achieved his childhood dream as chief diver/expedition leader for Captain Jacques Cousteau. Arrington is a ta…

Even if you’re not into wine, you’re gonna love this story about the most notorious con in wine history! Rudy Kurniawan, a young, virtually unknown twenty something from Indonesia, rose to become the leading purveyor of fine wines in a span of only six years. During that time, he sold tens of millions of dollars worth of wine to the American elite.…

If you’re not from California, you may not know about the statewide treasure who is Huell Howser! For 22 years, Huell Howser shared California's history, cultural diversity, natural wonders, and amazing denizens through his travel tv shows, "California's Gold" and “Visiting.” Born in Tennessee with a prominent southern accent, Huell was an unlikely…

You’ve seen the DeLorean car in Back to the Future and may even remember when it was released in 1981. But, as you’ll find out in this episode, production of the car only lasted until 1983! Tune in to hear the incredible story of John DeLorean, the ups and downs of the DeLorean Motor Company, and the truth about the cocaine bust that bankrupted DMC…

It’s a bit of a misnomer to say that Stonehenge is a mystery. We actually know a lot about the structure, the people who built it, and why they built it. Tune in to learn all about Stonehenge! To learn more about Stonehenge, visit https://www.english-heritage.org.uk Connect with Curiosityness... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiositynesspod…

You know those crazy holiday light displays that are animated, synced to music, and use an enormous amount of lights? Well my guest today, Darren Vader, creates those! Tune in to get a behind the scenes look at just how these Christmas light shows are created! For more info, find Darren at https://www.extremelightscapes.com Or grab some supplies fo…

If we plan to colonize Mars, the food we eat there is going to be a big deal! In this episode I’m joined by Heidi Neilson & Douglas Paulson who have created a Mars supper club and a Mars test kitchen! Join us to learn what the first food on Mars will be like, what we can start to grow there, how our relationship to food may change, and if we’re goi…

Does a Bigfoot species exist? Daniel Perez says yes! But for the scientific community and the public in general, a body needs to be found for hard proof. Daniel has been writing about Bigfoot since 1979 and has published the Bigfoot Times for over 20 years! To learn more about and subscribe to the Bigfoot Times, visit http://www.bigfoottimes.net An…

Las Vegas has gone through some phases. It started out as the Wild West, with saloon doors and wagon wheels. Then it decked itself out in midcentury modern sleekness, and moved on to twenty-story high neon signs. Then came Disney-like theme parks featuring castles and pirates, followed by replicas of Venetian canals, New York skyscrapers, and the E…

Even as a child of the 90’s in LA, I had never known that Los Angeles was once the bank robbery capital of the world. In 1992, there was a heist every 45 minutes! The main reason for that, among others, is freeways! We’re talking about guys who would rob multiple banks in one day and one particular bandit got in 64 robberies before being caught. Jo…