Every Little Thing

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ARRRRR pirate peg legs really a thing? Who invented the Cha Cha Slide? How old is Winnie the Pooh? ELT is here to answer your burning questions. If you have a question that needs answering, call the ELT Help Line at 833-RING-ELT or send an audio message to elt@gimletmedia.com. Every Little Thing is…

Gimlet


    • Dec 13, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 24m AVG DURATION
    • 170 EPISODES

    4.7 from 3,741 ratings Listeners of Every Little Thing that love the show mention: flora, science vs, flamingos, every little, undone, science friday, upper hand, show from gimlet, never knew you wanted, eclipses, belly button, learning about things, useless knowledge, great gimlet, things you may, armadillos, mystery show, take itself too seriously, things you never knew, second thought.



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    Latest episodes from Every Little Thing

    What Did People Eat 10,000 Years Ago?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2021 22:31


    After unearthing a 10-year-old bottle of maple syrup in his pantry, listener Taylor wants to know: What sorts of ancient foods do archaeologists find? Pothead and biomolecular archaeologist Julie Dunne cracks the case on ancient diets and tells us how we know what people ate thousands of years ago. Warning: the answers are NSFL (not safe for lunch). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Jeremy's Muscle Car: An Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2021 3:41


    On our “I Did it For Love” episode, listener Jeremy told us about a 1968 AMX that he was buying to surprise his dad. This week, they go for their first ride. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    I Did It for Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 36:23


    What have you done for love? Hear about the impulsive, expensive, inspired and illegal things our listeners did for love. Thanks to Erica, Mario, Beth, Jeremy and everyone who called in with a heart-felt tale.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Kangaroo Pouch: A Four-Star Hotel of Horrors

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2021 26:45


    Caller Sophia needs to know: What's it like inside a kangaroo pouch? We get the inside scoop from marsupial expert Robin Beck. Plus, should Flora's sister Ruth fear her squash? Professional pumpkineer Steve Reiners has a tip: if it smells like cat urine, beware. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Auctioneers: Why Do They Talk Like That?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 24:00


    This week, an episode from the archives: Why do auctioneers talk the way they do? And what are they actually saying? Professional auctioneer Junior Staggs tells us about the psychology behind auction-speak, and gives caller Katie some tips for developing her own auctioneer chant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Important Message from Flora

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2021 1:06


    Flora is back with some news, and a request. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Can I Bury a Body in My Yard?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 28:46


    Listener Jake wants to know if he can bury a body in his tiny, suburban backyard. Grave expert and archaeologist Hal Hassen has the scoop on how we went from burying grandpa out back to the giant park-like cemeteries we have today. Plus, local zoning officer Sonya Abt walks Jake through the red tape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Worms and Pelicans: Dentistry's Rotten History

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2021 27:51


    This week, we brush off an ELT favorite on the gory history of tooth care. For most of human history, chomper maintenance has been bloody and brutal. So how'd we go from charlatans yanking teeth in a public square to the soft light and high-tech of the modern dentist's office? ELT asks retired dentist and dental historian J. Henry Clarke and historian Richard Barnett to open up and say how. Plus Chris Lyons tells us his secrets for making movie stars' teeth look terrible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    What the Flock Is in My Chimney?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2021 25:02


    Every evening at dusk, listener Tara watches clouds of tiny birds dive-bomb into her boyfriend's chimney. What are these creatures, and are they going to destroy the house? Ornithologist Margaret Rubega introduces us to these notoriously mysterious birds, and to the stubborn 19th-century artist-turned-scientist who was determined to study them. Special thanks to Barbara Boyle. Thanks also to songwriter Jay Ungar for the use of Ashokan Farewell, ©1983 by Swinging Door Music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    How Squirrels Track Their Nuts

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2021 18:18


    This week, we dug up a favorite episode on the secret life of squirrels. The average tree squirrel can bury up to 10,000 nuts every fall. How do they keep tabs on that stash? Animal behaviorist and pro squirrel watcher Mikel Maria Delgado exposes the secrets of squirrel pantry maintenance. Thanks to caller Cayra. This episode of Every Little Thing was produced by Stephanie Werner, Emily Forman, Phoebe Flanigan, Annette Heist and Flora Lichtman, with help from Nicole Pasulka and Doug Barron. Our consulting editors are Caitlin Kenney and Jorge Just. Mixed by Dara Hirsch and Enoch Kim. Scored by Dara Hirsch, Bobby Lord and Emma Munger. ELT is a Gimlet production and a Spotify original podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Symphony Secrets: Dirt from the Pit

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2021 27:48


    This week, an encore of a favorite episode: What happens behind the scenes at the symphony. Does a triangle player get the same pay as a violinist? Do conductors ever fall off their podiums? Which section do the other musicians love to hate? ELT dishes symphony secrets with violinist Akiko Tarumoto and conductor Rob Kapilow. Special thanks to Nathan Cole and danke schön to caller Laszlo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    When Astronauts Come Home

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2021 29:20


    This week, we're revisiting an intergalactic favorite: Preparing for a mission to space takes astronauts years, but listener Daniel wants to know — what does the other end of that journey look like? Record-holding NASA astronaut Christina Koch tells us what happens when space travelers come home.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    How Do Streets Get Named?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2021 24:17


    Caller Jessica lives on a street with an unwieldy name, and she wants to know: Who gets to name the streets? Deirdre Mask, author of “The Address Book: What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Race, Wealth, and Power,” tells us about a project to name all the streets in rural West Virginia, and why having a street address matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    ELT Presents: Not Past It

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2021 28:20


    Hey ELT fans! There's a new Gimlet podcast that we think you'll love. It's called Not Past It, and it's the kind of deep-dive into history that we live for at ELT. This episode, Rated PG-13 for Sex and Violence looks at the birth of the PG-13 rating, and how the movie rating system came to be. It's a story about Indiana Jones and Gremlins, and hidden Puritan agendas. Enjoy! And don't forget to follow Not Past It on Spotify.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Is It Weird to Be Nice to Alexa?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2021 21:21


    This week we're hitting repeat on one of our favorite episodes: Listener Elizabeth wants to know if it's weird to say “please” and “thank you” to her Google voice assistant. ELT talks to former Alexa insider Daren Gill (now senior director of product at Spotify), and human-robot interactions expert Leila Takayama to find out whether people are typically polite to machines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    spotify google weird elt leila takayama
    Do Any Animals Dance?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2021 23:44


    After trying (and failing) to start a dance party with her dogs, listener Heather wants to know: are there beasts that can boogie? Irena Schulz and Ani Patel break it down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    dance animals ani patel
    Cheese: Why Do We Worship Rotten Milk? A NSFW History

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2021 21:06


    This week, we're re-heating one of our ooey-gooey all-time favorite eps to re-trace the delicious and X-rated history of... cheese. With cheese biochemist and historian Paul Kindstedt. Plus, tips on how to make the most of the dairy aisle from processed cheese expert Lloyd Metzger. And a cicada killer update from cicada killer wasp biologist Chuck Holliday. Thanks to callers Kurt and Judy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    The Horrible Sound that Haunts Reality TV

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2021 20:22


    Who put the tension in reality TV? ELT tracks down the man behind the nail-biting sound you can't unhear. Plus, a listener's backyard horror story turns into an intervention, with cicada killer wasp expert Chuck Holliday. Thanks to callers Caitlin and Stephanie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    What It's Like To Live in the White House

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2021 25:36


    What's life really like in the White House? How does the president get snacks? Who walks the first dogs? What happens when the first family fights? Kate Andersen Brower, reporter and author of The Residence, takes us behind-the-scenes. Thanks to callers Lauren, Rachel, Iris, Zach and everyone who sent in a question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Why Is This Goose Out to Get Me?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2021 22:03


    Listener Corey needs to know if a goose named Dave is targeting him. Goose expert Tony Fox tells us why Dave's feathers may have gotten ruffled, and offers his advice for dealing with unhappy geese. Special thanks to Casey Williamson, Steve Davis, and Dan Potoczak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Why Is This Toy Talking?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 23:39


    Listener Megan wants to know who writes the bizzaro lyrics for her son's talking toys. Talking humans Jay Elkinton and Patrick Feaster tell us all about these earworm emitters — from modern plastic jabber-jaws to the nightmare-inducing doll who started it all. Special thanks to Toby Phillips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Sand: What's It Really Made Of?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2021 20:34


    We've dug up one of our favorite episodes this week: Caller Hank wants to know where the sand on his central California beach came from. Beach buff Kiki Patsch gives us the surprising scoop on how beaches are born. Special thanks to Gary Griggs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Why Is the Ocean Glowing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2021 23:26


    While Flora is away, we're shining a light on some of our favorite episodes. Listener Erik saw a mysterious glow in the water during a trip to the beach, and he wants to know more. ELT talks to the “Jacques Cousteau of glow,” a scientist who has spent decades deep diving for answers. Guest: biologist and ocean researcher Edie Widder. Thanks to Eelke Dekker for the seagull and ocean sounds we used in this episode. Thanks also to Steven Haddock, Michael Latz, Matt Davis, Vincent Pieribone, and Severine Martini. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Hummingbirds: Magical Fairies or Vicious Little Drones?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2021 28:12


    Caller Makaila needs to know about the hummingbirds that frequent her father's feeders. Hummingbird expert Alejandro Rico-Guevara fills us in on their feeding, flying, and fighting feats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Is My Cat Trying to Murder Me?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2021 22:51


    While Flora’s out, we’re revisiting an old favorite — caller Megan’s cat has zero empathy and tries to trip her on the stairs. Could he be a psychopath? Jon Ronson, author of The Psychopath Test, and cat psychologist Eva Waiblinger help Megan assess if she's got a killer just a whisker's length away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    Ever Felt Someone’s Pain… In Your Butt?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2021 27:02


    While Flora's out on parental leave, we're unswaddling some of her favorite babies. Favorite podcast babies. Like this one: Caller Lisa wants to know why her butt hurts whenever she sees someone else get injured. Neuroscientist Stuart Derbyshire shares the cold hard truth about whether some people really can feel your pain. Thanks to queen of Chapped Cheeks Lisa, and to researchers Natalie Bowling, Melita Giummarra, Helena Hartmann, Marina López-Solà, Bridget Rubenking, Jamie Ward, Scott Vrana, and Jamil Zaki. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Memory Game: Did This Meal Really Happen?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2021 22:04


    Caller Liz has a cherished childhood memory about a special meal with her great-grandmother. But she isn’t sure it really happened. How can she tell? Memory researcher Charan Ranganath, director of the Dynamic Memory Lab, fills in the blanks about the memory in question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    When a Million Ants Come Marching In

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2021 20:46


    Listener Gĩtaũ has a serious problem: every so often his home in rural Kenya is invaded by an army of ants. They coat the floors, climb the walls, and rain down on Gĩtaũ and his family while they sleep. Gĩtaũ wants to know: Why are these ants torturing us? Entomologists Dino Martins and Piotr Naskrecki have ant-swers. Special thanks to Caswell Munyai, Caspar Schöning, and Daniel Kronauer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    A Message From Flora

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2021 1:55


    Flora has a 6- to 9-pound piece of news to drop! She’ll be out on parental leave for a little while. Meet the hosts who’ll be filling in while she’s away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Dog Show Drama: Is There an Anti-Dachshund Conspiracy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2021 26:30


    Terriers have won Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show 48 times. Dachshunds? Never. Listener Yona wants to know why terriers triumph but dachshunds don’t get their due. Dog show judge Laurie Williams and dachshund-diehard Kim McCalmont take us behind the scenes of the dog show world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Chasing Ghosts: Searching For Endangered Animals

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2021 20:00


    Listener Diksha wants to know: when an animal species is endangered, how do we know when it’s really gone? Professional frog counter and disease ecologist Jamie Voyles has answers.

    Skewed Smells: A Weird COVID Mystery

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2021 20:05


    Caller Leña had COVID-19 last October and temporarily lost her sense of smell. As it started to come back, she noticed something strange — fruity things smelled like burnt hair and condoms. Where are Leña’s mystery smells coming from? Rhinologist Simon Gane fills us in on COVID-related smell loss.

    Embarrassing Little Tales: The Finalists

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2021 24:26


    We asked you to share your fail tales, and you delivered. Now we need your help picking a winner. Thanks to Erica, Dallas, Ryan, Mary, Nasja, David, Samantha, and everyone who called to share their worst moments.

    Space Trash: Is It Coming For Us?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2021 18:52


    The Earth is surrounded by a halo of trash — defunct satellites, discarded fuel tanks, one of Elon Musk’s Teslas. Listener Ryan wants to know: Does any of it ever fall down to Earth? ELT talks trash with Lottie Williams, the only person known to have been hit by falling space debris, and Ted Muelhaupt, director of the Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Study.

    Vodka, Spit, and Coke: How to Spring-Clean Like an Adult

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2021 22:48


    It’s spring-cleaning time! To help get you in the mood, we’re dusting off an episode from our archive. Cleaning expert Jolie Kerr tells us when it’s OK to use your own saliva as a cleaning agent, and addresses some listener “cleanspiracies” like: Will vodka clean my clothes? For more cleaning tips, check out Jolie’s podcast Ask a Clean Person.

    A Nasal-Gazing Mystery Solved

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2021 22:32


    Listener Paige heard a rumor: we only breathe through one nostril. Can it be true? ELT gets an answer from someone in the nose — rhinologist Simon Gane. Plus, Science Vs. host Wendy Zukerman joins Flora for an important wombat-butt update.

    How Did Dogs Land in Our Laps?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2021 24:25


    Listener Malik wants to know how wolves became pugs, poodles, and chihuahuas. Zooarchaeologist Angela Perri digs up the answers. Special thanks to Michael Worboys.

    Hollywood Punches: How to Make a Knockout Sound

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2021 21:29


    Listener Charlotte has been rewatching “The Sopranos” and the punches keep hitting her ear. Why do Hollywood wallops sound so punched up? Foley artist and Emmy Award-winning sound editor Joanna Fang shares her punch recipe. Plus, do real-life investigators actually connect the dots with red string and thumbtacks? Retired FBI agent Jerri Williams solves the evidence-board mystery.

    Scrabble’s Scramble to the Top

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2021 18:35


    Listener Malenia wants to know how her favorite word game came to be. It turns out it took a while for Scrabble to score big. Stefan Fatsis, author of Word Freak, fills in the blanks. Plus, can you beat Flora's most embarrassing story?

    How Old is Winnie-the-Pooh?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2020 24:53


    We’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes this week. A few years ago, listener Annie asked ELT to settle a longstanding family debate: exactly how old is Winnie-the-Pooh? To hunt down an answer, we consult with professional age-guesser Ben Ramey, bear biologist Rae Wynn-Grant, and Sarah Shea, a professor who has studied this question.

    How Potatoes Took Over the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 19:29


    Listener Taylor was making a medieval stew when she noticed a prominent ingredient was missing from the recipe: potatoes. Potato biologist Maria Scurrah and journalist Charles Mann explain the potato’s twisting route to stewpot domination. Special thanks to Graham Thiele, Bruce Owen, Alan Covey, and Gary Urton.

    Why Does the Wind Make Me Angry?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2020 22:06


    Listener Christina gets ruffled by a stiff breeze and wants to know if she’s alone in her wind rage. Atmospheric science historian Vladimir Jankovic introduces Christina to her people, and iconic couples therapist Esther Perel, host of “How’s Work” and “Where Should We Begin,” helps Christina rethink her relationship with the wind.

    Essential Workers 8 Months Later

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 28:26


    How are essential workers doing now? We check in with some of the essential workers we talked to back in April and hear what it’s been like to teach, fly on planes, ship packages, and drive a truck during a pandemic. Thanks to Rob, Justin, Tamasha, Lucy, Jacob, Kaleb, Ian, and Dawn.

    How To Be Less Clumsy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 19:03


    Listener Gab is clumsy — white sweaters, stemmed wine glasses, and sharp edges are off the table. Can Gab learn to be less clumsy? Professional steady hand Bryan Berg and kinesiologist Priscila Tamplain share tips for foiling fumbles. Special thanks to Carl Gabbard and Michael Wade.

    Crashing Your Most Memorable Meals

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2020 23:04


    This week, some comfort food. For a lot of us, the holidays won’t be the same this year. Instead of arguing around the table with our extended families, we’ll be stuck at home with a single-serving of mashed potatoes, face-timing the people we love. So we invited ourselves to your place. We asked you to tell us about a meal you can't forget. And you delivered. Your stories made us laugh, cry and get very hungry. Thanks to callers Margaret, Janae, Brandon, Johnny, Jameson, and Oz, and all of you who left us a message.

    WTF Happened to My Pumpkins?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2020 27:20


    Flora’s sister Ruth claims last year’s jack-o’-lantern seeds sprouted... a litter of decorative gourds. ELT gets to the bottom of this pumper stumper. Plus, a spooky Face ID mystery, and a peek under the husk of corn mazes. Guests: professor of horticulture and pumpkin expert Steve Reiners; farmer and corn maze designer Angie Treinen.

    A Meal You Can't Forget: Tell Us

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2020 0:51


    Maybe it’s the spaghetti you ate sitting on the kitchen floor in your first real apartment. Or the congee your best friend made you when your heart got broken. Call and tell us the story about a home-cooked meal that you can’t forget. 833 RING ELT.

    What Sparked That Wildfire?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 22:39


    Caller Sadera has a burning question: When there’s a wildfire, how do we figure out what caused it? Fire investigator Paul Steensland tells ELT what he searches for in the burnt landscape, and the clues that can lead him to the cause.

    Why Do We Cry?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2020 23:52


    Listener Lily called in about a crying shame: She thinks she cries too much. ELT investigates why we cry, and whether wet cheeks were once très chic. Ad Vingerhoets, crying researcher and clinical psychologist, and Tom Lutz, author of Crying: The Natural and Cultural History of Tears, talk through tears.

    Is Your Pet a Righty or a Lefty?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2020 24:43


    Caller Juanita wants to know if her cats are southpaws. ELT calls in animal behavior researcher Deborah Wells and neuroscientist Sebastian Ocklenburg for an answer. Plus, why would slugs ditch the shell? Biologist Robert Cowie fills us in.

    Frozen Food: How Long Is Too Long?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2020 24:54


    After their dad served 4-year-old fish for dinner one night, listener Max wants to know how long you can safely keep food in the freezer. Food safety expert Haley Oliver serves up the juicy details. Plus, can tiny eyes see things we can’t? Spider expert Sebastian Echeverri takes us behind some of the most impressive peepers in the animal kingdom. Thanks to listener Miles. 

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