Commute | The Podcast

Did basketball begin when Dr. James Naismith nailed up two peach baskets or with a teenage YMCA director lobbing cabbages?The “IKEA effect” says sweat equity adds worth. There's science behind the lopsided bookshelf that you still consider priceless.Sources:https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/06/12/a-psychologist-explains-the-ikea-effect-how-labor-leads-to-love/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/nyregion/basketball-herkimer-ny.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleSharehttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Why do toddlers experience an event but lose the memory? This week we explore why our youngest years vanish - and what we can do to make those earliest moments stick.How a tree nearly started WWlll. Sources:https://www.thehindu.com/children/operation-paul-bunyan-when-a-tree-sparked-a-military-standoff/article68763759.ece/amp/https://www.popsci.com/health/why-we-forget-our-childhoods/#:~:text=This%20suggests%20the%20issue%20is,that%20prepares%20humans%20for%20adulthoodhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

How did a 19th-century joke become the world's most spoken word?This week we scan the baby name blacklist and learn why some will never make it onto a birth certificate.Sources:https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/06/03/us-banned-baby-names/84011765007/https://www.history.com/articles/the-birth-of-ok-175-years-agohttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Was the famous tongue-twister really about a Victorian-era fossil hunter?Ever notice great whites are missing from aquariums? This week, we explore why the ocean's superstar can't survive life behind glass.Sources:https://blogs.loc.gov/folklife/2017/07/she-sells-seashells-and-mary-anning-metafolklore-with-a-twist/https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/504168/why-dont-you-see-great-white-sharks-aquariumshttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

It's our 200th episode! We start with a note of gratitude and a show announcement. If you grew up in an American public school, you likely really loved or really hated your school lunches. Here's the surprising tale of how schools came to provide lunch for students. Some 1990s era video games for Super Nintendo were notoriously challenging. One of the most difficult was the Lion King - but it was done on purpose and for a unusually specific reason.Sources:https://www.cbr.com/lion-king-brutally-difficult-platformer/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/american-schools-have-been-feeding-children-for-more-than-100-years-heres-how-the-school-lunch-has-changed-180986583/http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Karaoke is one of America's favorite activities. Why are so many people willing to sing (so badly) in public?At the recent running of the Kentucky Derby, the horses had more in common than you'd think.Humans talk slightly differently based on geographic regions. Can the same be said for animals?Sources:https://www.si.com/fannation/rodeo/news/secretariat-lives-on-through-hooves-every-horse-kentucky-derbyhttps://www.statsignificant.com/p/what-are-the-greatest-karaoke-songshttps://www.mentalfloss.com/do-animals-have-regional-accentshttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

You can choose the wake-up sound for your phone's alarm. It took a lot of effort to create all those options. It makes sense on a gallon of milk, but does bottled water really expire?Many of us say “please” and “thank you” to the artificial intelligence systems we interact with. Maybe we should stop.Sources:https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/22098/why-does-bottled-water-have-expiration-datehttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/24/technology/chatgpt-alexa-please-thank-you.htmlhttps://www.20k.org/episodes/the-sound-of-apple-2http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

 Easter season has come and gone and, with it, the slightly stale marshmallow juggernaut known as the peep. But every single peep has something uniquely in common…In a plot straight out of the TV show that made it all happen, an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm literally saved one man's life.Bad news for Dave. If you're playing a character with that name in a movie, you might want start looking for your next gig. Sources:https://innocenceproject.org/news/how-curb-your-enthusiasm-saved-an-innocent-man-from-death-row/https://apnews.com/article/peeps-easter-candy-marshmallow-love-hate-5712b5cad525a0da50622ff8f8c86b73https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/06/warning-if-your-name-is-david-you-wont-survive-a-horror-moviehttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Scientists have resurrected an ancient, extinct wolf. Is there any reason to be concerned?Minecraft has been one the most popular games in the world for a decade and a half. What's its secret?A Goofy Movie just turned 30. How did it unexpectedly resonate beyond its, well, goofy leading character to become a beloved cult classic? Sources:https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/rs-gaming/what-is-minecraft-1235310785/https://time.com/7274542/colossal-dire-wolf/https://www.polygon.com/movies/554432/a-goofy-movie-not-just-a-goof-productionhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

The NCAA basketball tournament is one of the most significant of all sporting events and, if you consider its impact beyond just the games, that's an understatement. The children's horror series Goosebumps has been keeping kids up at night since the 1990s. How does author R.L. Stine, now in his 80s, keep cranking out books?Burger King is a fast-food giant with 20,000 locations worldwide. You won't find one in a particular town in Illinois, however. At least not the one you're expecting. http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

You may remember when buying cereal was as much about the toy inside the box as the cereal. Then it just stopped. There's a unique island that's less than 10 miles long, has under 1,000 permanent residents, and speaks its own language. And it's part of North Carolina. This week, we set sail for Ocrcoke. We all know how to play Marco Polo, but no one knows where it came from - until now.Sources:https://www.sporcle.com/blog/2022/04/why-do-we-yell-marco-polo/amp/https://www.mentalfloss.com/why-toys-disappeared-from-cereal-boxeshttps://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20190623-the-us-island-that-speaks-elizabethan-englishhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

It transformed arcades into performance halls by asking people to dance in public. We'll explore the cultural impact of Dance Dance Revolution.Just because you're an astronaut doesn't mean you still don't need to shower - so how does one do it outside the Earth's atmosphere?Little Caesars is the go-to meal for social gatherings everywhere. This week how a small Michigan pizza parlor rose to fame, nearly went bankrupt, and somehow emerged even stronger.http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

A good movie preview should show just enough to excite us about the upcoming film. What about if the previews show a scene that doesn't end up in the movie?Professional drivers are very good at what they do - but NASCAR's origins are as much about spirits as they are about skills. Typos are embarrassing. Sometimes they can be costly.  Sources:https://www.rd.com/list/expensive-typos/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/ana-de-armas-yesterday-trailer-lawsuit-settled-1235972010/https://www.history.com/news/how-prohibition-gave-birth-to-nascarhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

The basket of bread often appears before you even place your order and is never listed on the final bill. How did restaurants get started giving away free food?The Surgeon General's recent New York Times op-ed, warning of the potential harm social media can have on young people, provocatively equated internet risks to smoking cigarettes. This isn't the first time the Surgeon General has had a problem with online content … and their names are Inky, Pinky, Blinky, and Clyde. It's an endless quest to  catch sales of Coca-Cola's popular Sprite, PepsiCo recently rebranded Sierra Mist as Starry. Of course, that's not the whole story…http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Kate Winslet owns the record for the longest breathhold in cinematic history. No matter how long you think it is, it's longer than that. Every parent must face the dreaded question - “Where do babies come from?” How did the poor stork get involved?Weight Watchers has been synonymous with weight loss for decades. That all may be coming to an end. Sources:https://variety.com/2022/film/news/kate-winslets-filmed-avatar-2-underwater-breath-hold-record-die-1235459216/https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmoney/consumer/article-14398443/weightwatchers-debt-struggles-restructuring.htmlhttps://www.livescience.com/62807-why-storks-baby-myth.htmlhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Fast-food chain Rax filed bankruptcy in the early 1990s. Could a short-lived, ill-timed mascot be partly to blame?Your favorite author may have some help, thanks to the world's best-kept open secret: a ghostwriter. Advances in DNA testing finally tell us who Jack the Ripper really was. Maybe. Sources:https://www.newsnationnow.com/crime/jack-the-ripper-real-identity-discovered-historian-claims/amp/https://www.mentalfloss.com/mr-delicious-most-bizarre-fast-food-mascothttps://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/87886-ghostwriters-come-out-of-the-shadows.htmlhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

For decades the Super Bowl MVP has been telling the world they're going to Disney World. How did it get started?In Super Bowl commercials you rarely hear the words "Super" or "Bowl." Why? Scratch-off lottery tickets are cheap but promise life-changing wealth. They have brought changes, both good and bad. Sources:https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/91272/how-did-super-bowls-im-going-disney-world-slogan-originatehttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

The first night in an unfamiliar place is usually not great for sleep. We look to the research to tell us why. Many dog owners leave the TV on to entertain their pet when they go out. Does the dog actually care?It wasn't that long ago that Pluto was our 9th planet. How did it lose that status?  Could it ever regain its place in our solar system?Sources:https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/04/21/474691141/half-your-brain-stands-guard-when-sleeping-in-a-new-placehttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jan/17/can-dogs-watch-tv#:~:text=Unlikely.,it%2520than%2520focus%2520on%2520it.&text=%E2%80%9CThere%2520are%2520dogs%2520that%2520will,commercial%252Dlength%2520amounts%2520of%2520timehttps://www.axios.com/2024/07/11/planet-definition-change-astronomers-proposal-plutohttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

We're very close to something that hasn't occurred in a decade and a half.  Just don't blink or you might miss it. Celebrities ask for some strange things in contracts. We'll tell you about some of the best requests.Instead of cryogenic chambers or infrared lights, here are seven affordable and attainable ways to increase your life span. Sources:https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgpnqe91j1ohttps://toofab.com/2023/05/26/unexpected-clauses-that-ended-up-in-actors-contracts/http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

The Wizard of Oz is a beloved cinematic classic. What happened behind the scenes was far from lovely.The board game Guess Who has been a best seller for nearly 45 years. It's the way that happened you'll want to tell your friends about at your next social gathering.Today, Donald Trump will be sworn in (for the 2nd time) as President of the United States of America. Like those before him, he'll do it with his hand on a Bible. Is this a requirement?http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Did it take a cartoon mascot to convince the public to include five-digit codes on mailing addresses? When natural disasters strike, most people look to established news outlets for the latest updates. Others look to … Waffle House.First Winnie the Pooh, then Mickey Mouse, and now our favorite sailor man enters the public domain. Why does this keep happening?Sources:https://zipcodes.org/blog/funny-facts-about-zip-codeshttps://www.wafflehouse.com/how-to-measure-a-storms-fury-one-breakfast-at-a-time/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/happy-public-domain-day-popeye-rhapsody-in-blue-the-sound-and-the-fury-and-thousands-of-other-captivating-creations-are-finally-free-for-everyone-to-use-180985744/http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Some reviewers have called the recent remake of the horror classic Nosferatu “the perfect horror film.” However, its source material, a silent film from the 1920s, almost didn't exist. This week, that complicated history and the story it tells us about the challenges of preserving films from the silent era.We know a product or service can be trademarked, but can a smell? A toy from your past decided to try. Why is New Year's Day observed on January 1st?  “Why not?” is not a sufficient answer.Sources:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/nightmarish-classic-nosferatu-almost-destroyed-one-furious/https://mashable.com/article/hasbro-play-doh-smell-trademarkhttps://time.com/6550127/new-year-celebration-january-calendar-date-history/http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

It's that time of year—Christmas trees, twinkling lights, too many sweets… and endless holiday movies! An update on one of our most popular segments tells how (and why) original holiday films are made.Why are we supposed to kiss if we meet under mistletoe? Here's everything you could want to know about the festive berries. Which U.S. state has the most holiday spirit? How about the least? You know someone has figured it out for us. Sources:https://www.npr.org/transcripts/1211596888https://www.history.com/news/why-do-we-kiss-under-the-mistletoehttps://www.mentalfloss.com/states-with-the-most-and-least-christmas-spirithttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Judges surely get hangry in the afternoons, like the rest of us. Does that impact their job?Banana candy, you've probably noticed, tastes nothing like banana. That's intentional.A collection of never-before-heard Michael Jackson songs were found in a storage unit. That doesn't mean you'll ever hear them. Sources:https://www.randomactsofmedicine.com/p/are-hungry-judges-and-tardy-doctorshttps://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140829-the-secrets-of-fake-flavourshttps://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/unreleased-michael-jackson-tapes-found-130500824.htmlhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Helium, that we use to blow up parade floats and birthday balloons, is a uniquely one-of-a-kind element. That's not necessarily a good thing.What if we lived in a world where we wanted for nothing, where our every wish and need was cared for? Scientists ran an experiment and, as always, things did not go as expected. Ever tried to sneak a drink into the movies or some candy to a ballgame? There's always that one guy who takes things too far. Sources:https://www.npr.org/2019/11/01/775554343/the-world-is-constantly-running-out-of-helium-heres-why-it-mattershttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-old-experiment-with-mice-led-to-bleak-predictions-for-humanitys-future-180954423/https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/20/americas/smuggler-tarantulas-peru-intl-scli/index.htmlhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

More than three decades ago, the New Yorker Magazine printed a cartoon about the internet that is just as accurate today as it was then, setting records for reprints. It's still setting records.It's after Halloween. What happens to all the pumpkins?Porta potties - everyone uses them; no one wants to. We'll tell you more than you ever expected to know, including how often, if ever, they're cleaned.http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

The film Sideways, about male bonding in wine country, was released in 2004. Twenty years later, it's still has an impact on one industry. A scientific experiment taught rats to drive. That's not even the most amazing part.In the 1950s, Roger Bannister did what was previously thought impossible - run a mile in under 4 minutes. Why did multiple runners suddenly do the same just days later?Sources:https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/07/05/535038513/the-sideways-effect-how-a-wine-obsessed-film-reshaped-the-industryhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2024/11/08/driving-rats-anticipation-learning-neuroscience/https://www.scienceofrunning.com/2017/05/the-roger-bannister-effect-the-myth-of-the-psychological-breakthrough.html?v=47e5dceea252http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Some corporate programs really do work. One has convinced millions of kids to read millions of books for more than 40 years by promising them the perfect incentive - free pizza. Have you ever set out to buy one thing but ended up with something else? That's what happened to Cecil Chubb, though his unintended purchase was a little bigger than typical.If it seems the McDonald's McFlurry ice cream machine is broken more often than not, you wouldn't be wrong. America's court system decided to do something about it. Sources:https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/31/books/pizza-hut-book-it.htmlhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/man-buys-stonehenge-his-wife-she-not-pleased-180956719/https://www.mentalfloss.com/mcdonalds-mcflurry-machines-government-rulinghttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

You may hear these days of unfair or too close-to-call elections, but this isn't a recent development. It's not the national anthem, but God Bless the USA sure feels like it could be … until you hear this segment. Everyone hates changing their clocks twice per year. More than 80% of Americans say we should stop. Why don't we?Sources:https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/presidential-election-1876https://www.npr.org/2018/09/11/645270955/god-bless-the-u-s-a-a-country-anthem-with-enduring-political-powerhttps://www.nytimes.com/article/daylight-saving-time-questions.htmlhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

The dark web is a largely unregulated version of the internet where many kinds of questionable things go on. Much like Amazon, the dark web even has its own marketplace. The similarities end there. Political campaigns have likely been texting you for months; asking for your money, your time and, of course, your vote. How did they get your number? For the last 140 years, Dr. Pepper has been popular, but never been able to crack the top two in soda sales, the domain of Coke and Pepsi, until now. Sources:https://time.com/6994868/political-campaign-texts-what-to-do/https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/how-dr-pepper-beat-pepsi-no-2-soft-drink/https://www.marketingdive.com/news/dr-pepper-passed-pepsi-number-two-football-flavor-marketing/718197/#:~:text=from%20your%20inbox.-,How%20Dr%20Pepper%20passed%20Pepsi%20by%20marketing%20around%20football%2C%20flavor,soft%20drink%20in%20the%20U.S.&text=As%20its%20vintage%20advertising%20maintained%2C%20it's%20Dr%20Pepper%20timehttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

We wear wedding rings on the left-hand ring finger. Would another finger work?Magazines are losing subscribers at an alarming rate. You'll never guess which one is an exception. It's time to get your Halloween costume!  Many come from a pop-up store named “Spirit of Halloween.”  Where do these stores come from and, maybe more importantly, where do they go? (From the archives)http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

The first Tuesday in November we head to the polls to vote. Why that day, in that month? Could it ever change?Pitt bulls are the meanest, nastiest, most dangerous of dogs … aren't they?Have you tried to hold in a sneeze? You might want to rethink that.Sources:https://www.history.com/news/why-is-election-day-a-tuesday-in-novemberhttps://www.vox.com/videos/367080/how-pit-bulls-got-a-bad-reputationhttps://www.health.com/condition/cold/is-it-just-me-holding-in-sneeze-bad#:~:text=It%20might%20be%20bad%20to,brain%20aneurysm%20or%20rib%20fractureshttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

It's hard to go on a busy highway without seeing a billboard for an accident lawyer. Is it legal to advertise such a service? Well, it hasn't always been. Gift cards are big business. We are good at buying them but not always so good at using them. Chicken tenders are one of the most popular foods in America. One city wants all the credit. Sources:https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lawyer-commercials-a-billion-dollar-industry/https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesfinancecouncil/2024/02/09/gift-cards-a-strategy-for-retailers-and-consumers/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/01/dining/chicken-tenders.htmlhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

In honor of the calendar turning to October, this week we re-air one of our most popular episodes from the archives. We'll be back next week with an all-new episode!How did “cheese” become the universal smile word used by photographers? You'll never guess what word it replaced!It's the official slogan of Halloween, but where and when did it begin? And what did cabbage have to do with the whole thing?The most terrifying mask of all time has one of the most bizarre backstories. http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Does the President have a little red button that can fire nuclear weapons and end the world?Why do dogs love riding with the windows down? Should we let them?More people are scared of clowns than entertained by them. Science will tell us why. Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Codes?wprov=sfti1#https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/why-dogs-stick-their-heads-out-car-windows#:~:text=Sticking%20his%20or%20her%20head,can%20see%2C%E2%80%9D%20veterinarian%20Drhttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-weird-reason-were-afraid-of-clowns/http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Famous people get paid millions of dollars to convince you to spend money. Does it work?Do you shower in the morning or at night? Science has something to say about that.  More people are choosing to be dog parents instead of human parents. What does this mean for the future of humanity (and for dogs)?Sources:https://qz.com/do-celebrity-endorsements-political-or-otherwise-work-1851646337/slides/7https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/morning-or-night-showerhttps://www.newsweek.com/south-korea-news-dog-strollers-babies-1952011https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/pet-insurance/pets-over-parenthood/http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Presidents are maxed to two terms of four years. Why is that?Have you ever been on a radio call-in contest. It seems so random who gets on the air. But is it?The carton tells you the juice was squeezed from farm-fresh Florida oranges. Reality, of course, is a little more complicated. Sources:https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/633015/why-presidents-serve-four-year-termshttps://www.wired.com/story/how-to-win-radio-contests/https://www.wnyc.org/story/last-chance-foods-secret-highly-processed-life-orange-juice/http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Referred to as winged rats, pigeons aren't often at the top of many favorite bird lists. They should be. When would you guess the last Civil War pension check went out?  You're probably wrong. What we wear has an impact on how people perceive us. How big an impact?Sources:https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/review-pigeonshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/06/04/she-was-last-american-collect-civil-war-pension-7313-month-she-just-died/https://www.businessinsider.com/dressing-for-success-actually-works-2016-2http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

This week we revisit one of our favorites (including a Labor Day segment!) from last year, but we'll be back next week with an all-new ep!-We all love a feel-good sports movie. The underdog learning to win, the budding romance, the dad who works too much….  When The Mighty Ducks became a hit in the 90s, Disney loved the movie so much that they made a real team.If you're listening to this on release day, it's Labor Day and you'll have to put away your white clothes until next Spring. Why?When you pause a DVD you see a floating logo bounce around the screen continually. This week we reveal - does it ever eventually hit the corner?Sources:https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/astrazeneca-s-vaccine-mishaps-the-mighty-ducks-nhl-history-ryan-mcmahon-the-barbizon-hotel-and-more-1.5964106/why-disney-turned-the-mighty-ducks-movie-into-an-actual-nhl-team-1.5964113https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2022/08/12/white-after-labor-day-explained/10269739002/https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/did-the-bouncing-dvd-logo-ever-hit-the-corner-of-the-screenhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

The claymation TV special Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer is a beloved Christmas classic, but it's one of the few times Rudolph appears in a film. There's a reason. Most of us try to avoid eating bugs. Several high-end restaurants now serve them on purpose.You know we love to talk Beanie Babies. This week we discuss a specific beanie bear designed for more than just being a collectible. Sources:https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a46120585/why-rudolph-isnt-in-christmas-movies/https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2024/08/16/restaurants-bugs-edible-insectshttps://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/princess-diana-beanie-babyhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Some masterminds have gone to incredible lengths to steal amazing targets, from chicken wings to beanie babies.  Should we separate lights and darks when washing clothes?Fantasy Football is staggeringly popular. Its rise didn't happen overnight, and its growth might not be from a source you'd expect. Sources:https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/aug/12/chicago-woman-stolen-chicken-wings-sentencinghttps://www.mentalfloss.com/article/649391/unusual-heistshttps://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/should-you-separate-laundryhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/fantasy/2023/12/15/fantasy-football-sports-economy/71870731007/http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

You may have noticed an athlete during the recent Olympic Games who didn't represent a country. They still won a medal. We all look for ways to cope with stress.  Some exercise. Some eat sweets. Others go in unusual directions. Why are more people pushing back against the latest smartphones?Sources:https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/what-know-about-refugee-olympic-teamhttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/02/world/asia/china-birds-social-media.html#:~:text=Some%20young%20people%20in%20China%20are%20pretending%20to%20be%20birds,face%20of%20slowing%20economic%20growthhttps://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7236222http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

That cash in your wallet, purse, or sock drawer – many other people have owned it, too. What's the actual lifespan of a dollar bill? The COVID-19 pandemic changed our world in many ways. One change that's remained is the way we work. Many employees now spend their professional lives completely online, but are virtual employees actually working eight hours per day?Many iterations have come and gone, but the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers of the 90s became nostalgic legend for that generation. This week we remember a kid's show that captivated the nation.Sources:https://fox59.com/news/national-world/your-cash-has-an-estimated-lifespan-will-you-need-to-replace-it/https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/06/26/opinions/bossware-wells-fargo-mouse-jiggler-yanghttps://www.mentalfloss.com/article/68016/23-mighty-facts-about-mighty-morphin-power-rangers#_qowfso7v1http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

You've probably noticed novelty popcorn buckets tied-in with select blockbuster movies. If you miss them in the theater, you can always take a loan to buy one online after the fact.  Screen time and the potentially harmful side effects are a real concern, even at zoos. Okay, so he's not sued EVERYone, but Jonathan Riches has filed more lawsuits than anyone.Sources:https://www.thewrap.com/popcorn-collectible-buckets-movie-theaters-amc/https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2024/07/24/gorillas-zoo-screen-time-concernshttps://www.cp24.com/news/toronto-zoo-gorilla-now-engaging-in-normal-activities-after-cutting-down-screen-time-1.6540631https://newrepublic.com/article/113739/jonathan-lee-riches-jailhouse-lawyer-turned-internet-celebrityhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Hidden in plain sight in Disney Theme Parks is an exclusive (and expensive!) secret members-only club.  Could you get in?When Dave Thomas started Wendy's in the 1960s, he named it after one of his daughters. He regretted that decision years later.This week we remember a sequined tank-top-wearing fitness guru who revolutionized the exercise industry.  You know who we're talking about…Sources:http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

What do Olympic athletes get for winning? It can depend on where they're from and how well they do, but it often doesn't end with just the money. Frisbee Golf has risen in popularity for decades. Here's why. If you have Q-Tips and you have ears you're likely doing something you shouldn't. Sources:https://apple.news/AeqppUX0BSbmtBBOL_6Co7whttps://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/18/well/move/disc-golf.htmlhttps://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/06/25/business/q-tips-ears-wellness-historyhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

 Fifty years ago, a simple yet complicated puzzle game was created. This week, we look back at the fun - and frustration - of the Rubik's Cube.Grocery store shopping seems straightforward, but it's not. Every square inch is constructed to manipulate you to stay longer and spend more. For all the world-famous Olympic athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics, like Simone Biles, there will also be ordinary people who have regular jobs.Sources:http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

The basket of bread often appears before you even place your order and is never listed on the final bill. How did restaurants get started giving away free food?The Surgeon General's recent New York Times op-ed, warning of the potential harm social media can have on young people, provocatively equated internet risks to smoking cigarettes. This isn't the first time the Surgeon General has had a problem with online content … and their names are Inky, Pinky, Blinky, and Clyde. It's an endless quest to  catch sales of Coca-Cola's popular Sprite, PepsiCo recently rebranded Sierra Mist as Starry. Of course, that's not the whole story…http://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

It's vacation season around here... but we'll be back next week with an all-new episode!_It's not uncommon to have something lost in the mail, but typically it's not something irreplaceable … like human remains.Is it hard to make new friends as an adult, or is it just you?Traveling internationally soon?  We have your back with our guide to proper etiquette across borders and cultures.-Sources:https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxjxkm/the-usps-has-452-wayward-cremated-bodieshttps://www.americansurveycenter.org/research/the-state-of-american-friendship-change-challenges-and-loss/https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/peculiar-etiquette-practices-world-maphttp://www.commutethepodcast.comhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Jaywalking- crossing the road wherever you please instead of at a crosswalk or stoplight - is a crime. But it wasn't the police department's idea.Ah, summer. Vacations and outdoor fun … and mosquitoes. Are they more particular choosing victims than we think?  And what's up with the itch?Recently, a vintage toy set an incredible record sale price at a collectibles auction. What are people thinking??NOTE: Fixed Audio VersionSources:https://www.vox.com/2015/1/15/7551873/jaywalking-historyhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/12/19/old-toys-worth-money/71976097007/https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/10/business/vintage-collectible-toys-market-sale/index.htmlhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast

Who decided that the Earth would be called the Earth?It's been a century since a physician's own weight loss journey introduced the concept of counting calories. We still do that, but is it the best approach?Famed physicist Stephen Hawking once held a dinner party where every guest shared the same peculiarity - they were from the future. Who showed up? Sources:https://www.livescience.com/32274-how-did-earth-get-its-name.htmlhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/doctor-pioneered-counting-calories-century-ago-were-still-dealing-with-consequences-180984282/#:~:text=The%20cover%20of%20Lulu%20Hunt,diet%20best%20seller%20in%20historyhttps://mashable.com/article/stephen-hawking-time-travel-partyhttp://www.commutethepodcast.comFollow Commute:Instagram - instagram.com/commutethepodcast/Twitter - @PodcastCommuteFacebook - facebook.com/commutethepodcast