So You Wanna Be Average

Pack your bags & hitch a ride on So You Wanna Be Average airlines to the world that is London. Who is Big Ben named after? How does Big Ben work? Is there a Little Ben? Why was the Tower of London built? Who are famous residents of the Tower of London? What is the song London Calling about and why does it seem (a little too) relevant today? Which artists have recorded at Abbey Road Studios? Find out the answers to these questions & many more!Introduction: 00:16Average Discussion 1 (Big Ben): 03:09Average Discussion 2 (Tower of London): 16:08Average Playlist: 29:33

For this So You Wanna Be Average episode, we turn our eyes to one of our favourite big-box stores, IKEA! What does IKEA stand for? How are product names determined? Who founded IKEA and what did they sell? What is democratic design and why is it important? How many IKEA catalogues are distributed annually? Does IKEA do partnerships? Listen now to learn the answers to these questions and so many more.Introduction: 00:16Average Discussion 1 (History of IKEA): 01:45Average Discussion 2 (Democratic Design): 22:57Average Playlist: 38:50

In this podcast episode on bridges, expect to learn: Why was the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge a feat of engineering? How many crossings does the New York bridge handle daily? When was the “new” bridge in Halifax built? Where is the longest covered bridge in the world? Why are some covered bridges called “kissing bridges”? Which famous viaduct was the location of numerous films, ads, and music videos?Introduction: 00:16Average Discussion 1 (Brooklyn Bridge): 03:15Average Discussion 2 (Covered Bridges): 16:26Average Playlist: 31:54

We are back to celebrate another Valentine's Day here on the podcast. In this episode we focus on the history of Valentine's Day cards & Cupid. What invention made romantic, personalized Valentine's Day cards more common? What are Valentine Writers? Who wrote the first Valentine? Where does Cupid come from and what's difference between him & Eros? Why is Cupid commonly depicted as a young child?Introduction: 00:16Average Discussion 1 (Valentine's Day Cards): 01:06Average Discussion 2 (Cupid): 20:28Average Playlist: 32:50

Season 2 of the podcast starts with a discussion of America's favourite sports event: the Super Bowl. How did the Super Bowl start? If you went to the first game, how much would you have paid for tickets and what might you pay this year? What factors determine which cities host it? How many people tune in for the ads? What were the repercussions of Janet Jackson's halftime show? We cover all this & so much more!Introduction: 00:16Average Discussion 1 (History of the Super Bowl): 04:35Average Discussion 2 (Super Bowl Ads): 14:46Average Playlist: 31:17

So you're still trying to be average, eh? Well we are back and more average than ever with So You Wanna Be Average Season 2. To keep things new and fresh, we've made some changes this year. Tune in every second Monday to learn new nuggets of knowledge about topics you're familiar with but might not know too much about. Last season we learned about potatoes, license plates, Boston, and Blockbuster - this year we're learning about the Super Bowl, bridges, IKEA, and more! We have also changed the format so we will be coming out of the gate with main topic discussions that will knock the khakis right off of you, ending with a music recommendation that will link back to the general topic and that you can play on the commute to your 9-5. We are excited to take you on another tour of the utterly mundane world around us beginning January 31, 2022.

On the pumpkin-themed menu for your ears in our 35th episode: Who is Peter Pumpkinhead & what was the inspiration for his character? Where can you go to compete in a pumpkin paddling contest & who ran into legal issues when they wanted to compete? What is Punkin Chunkin? Why do we celebrate Halloween on October 31? Who is Stingy Jack and why must we respect his shady ways? Find out all this & more!Introduction: 00:16Average Drink Selection: 01:24Average Playlist: 14:14Average Discussion 1 (Pumpkin Sports): 24:46Average Discussion 2 (History of jack-o-lanterns): 33:47

Which album caused controversy when it was given to iTunes users for free? Which artists won't you find on Apple Music and why? Which major band had a company with a name similar to Apple and how was that resolved? What memorable way did Apple choose to advertise in a special edition of Newsweek? Why do movie villains never use Apple products? Find out on our new So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode!Introduction: 00:16Average Drink Selection: 00:40Average Playlist: 09:05Average Discussion 1 (Apple's entrance into music): 22:12Average Discussion 2 (Apple's marketing): 31:18

We're talking about bears on Episode 33 of our So You Wanna Be Average podcast. How did a $20 purchase at a train station influence the literary world? Which animals was Winnie-the-Pooh named after? Was Christopher Robin a real person? How much bamboo might a panda eat per day? What are sun bears named after? What is a keystone species and how does this apply to bears? Is a sloth bear slow like a sloth?Introduction: 00:16Average Drink Selection: 02:04Average Playlist: 11:50Average Discussion 1 (Winnie-the-Pooh): 24:40Average Discussion 2 (Uncommon Bears): 35:37

It's the start of a new school year in Nova Scotia and we're running with that in this So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode by talking about pencils. Why are pencils yellow? Is pencil lead actually lead? What are coloured pencils made of? How do erasers work? What is rotoscoping? How do the Napoleonic Wars play into the development of pencils? Where was the world's largest known deposit of graphite located? Hit play for the answers to these questions (& many more!).Introduction: 00:16Average Drink Selection: 02:18Average Playlist: 11:03Average Discussion 1 (Development of the Pencil): 20:34Average Discussion 2 (Coloured Pencils): 30:20

Gather your favourite game night snacks for our 31st So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode because we're talking board games! Which common game is about virtues and vices? What does an MC Hammer game look like? Who actually created Monopoly and how did it develop? Why has it been claimed that Catan is a “Monopoly Killer”? Why do we see a lot of strategic games come out of Germany? Learn the answers to these questions & so much more!Introduction: 00:16Average Drink Selection: 01:58Average Playlist: 09:11Average Discussion 1 (The origins of Monopoly): 20:20Average Discussion 2 (The origins of Catan): 28:04

Every 10th episode of our So You Wanna Be Average podcast is dedicated to what we call “Something Different”. These episodes give us a chance to take a break from our usual style to discuss topics that do not fit into that format. In this episode we are using our platform to recommend some of our favourite places to go, things to do, and spots to eat or drink at in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The (non-exhaustive) list was far too long for the podcast so the episode provides details/opinions about a select few of the options listed on our website at www.soyouwannabeaverage.com

In this So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode we are talking about fairs! What is the definition of a fair? What are some fun, common items that came out of the World's Fair? What songs do we recommend that have music videos situated at fairs/carnivals? How many people did the first official Ferris wheel carry at once? Where can you find a solar-powered Ferris wheel? Find out all this & more!

What cool facts will you learn to wow everyone at your next BBQ? How about: why is Bud Light not called Budweiser Light? Where did potato salad come from? Where might you find square watermelons? Are there differences between BBQ/barbecue/Bar-B-Q chips? Where did hamburgers originate? What is a cookout and how does it differ from a BBQ? Find out in Episode 28 of our So You Wanna be Average podcast!

What's the deal with umbrellas? Why are they called umbrellas? What's the difference between an umbrella and a parasol? Which artist was the song “Umbrella” written for? Who do British males have to thank for paving the way for them to use umbrellas? Who are some famous umbrella-wielders in pop culture? Find out these answers & more in Episode 27 of our So You Wanna Be Average podcast!

Our 26th So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode provides you with songs you'll need for a Cape Breton road trip, local drink recommendations to sip at your campsite, and numerous facts about two crucial elements of your visit: the Canso Causeway & the Cabot Trail. Who is Angus L. Macdonald & how is he related to both? How did people travel before the causeway? Why is the island a cornucopia of awesomeness?

We're celebrating 25 episodes of our So You Wanna Be Average podcast with all things buses! What song should you listen to at the bus stop? How did a sketch lead to the creation of a popular bus? What was the Chicken War and how did it impact microbus imports? Where does the word “bus” come from? Why are London buses red? Does a triple-decker bus exist? What's the deal with London's phantom bus?

We bring the fireworks show to you with this So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode. We ask: What were the first natural firecrackers made of? How does the quest for eternal life factor in to the history of fireworks? Who are green men and what was their role in a fireworks show? Where should you go to see some of the best firework displays? What does a multi-sensory firework show smell like?

Lather yourself in sunscreen because we're going camping this week on the podcast! Which album should you turn to if you want to add to your campfire song repertoire? Why should you not add potato seeds to your camping diet? What are some techniques for building great fires? What popular camping item was deemed one of the most important non-combat products of World War 2? We've got the answers for you!

Golf is the name of the game - literally - in our 22nd podcast episode. Some of the talking points you can take away from this episode: what constitutes a “links” course? Why do golf pros need to put more effort into walk-up music? How did golfer Arnold Palmer inspire a new drink? Why do golf courses have 18 holes? When was golf banned in Scotland and why? How did Tiger Woods change the game?

The idea of "home" has been on our minds lately so we made it the theme of our 21st episode. If we were famous athletes, where would our sports cards say we were from and what is our issue with this? Is home where you were born, where you were raised, where you live now, or something else entirely? How has COVID-19 changed what home-buyers are looking for and prioritizing? Find out all this & more on our So You Wanna Be Average podcast.

In our 20th podcast episode we talked with Nikki and Adam of End of the Road Beginnings about how they came to be entrepreneurs. How did they go from a concept to a business? How do they juggle their time across various individual and shared projects? What are some challenges they face? What is their advice for other people starting small businesses? Let them inspire you as they continue to inspire us!

This episode is all about the licence (license, number) plate! Which country first used licence plates? What were the first licence plates in the United States made of? Which province had the slogan “Seed, Potato, Foxes” on their plates? How did the iconic Northwest Territories polar bear plate come to be? What are some examples of licence plate design and implementation gone wrong? Find out all this and more on Episode 19 of our So You Wanna Be Average podcast.

Nike is the topic of our 18th So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode. What sport was Nike trying to develop through their relationship with hockey? If you want special edition Wu-Tang Clan sneakers, how much should you be prepared to shell out? Why should Nike fans thank their waffle irons for the company they know and love? What's the morbid history of their "Just Do It" slogan? Find out here!

In this episode, we talk about what once was (or, if you're in Bend, Oregon, what still is): Blockbuster. Where was the first Blockbuster? How did Blockbuster expand into markets that already had mom and pop video shops? How did charging late fees and not charging late fees have negative consequences? Is it true that Netflix killed Blockbuster? How is the last Blockbuster responding to the times? We cover all that and more with no rewinding necessary.

We discuss gardens on this So You Wanna Be Average episode, primarily focusing on rock gardens and arena gardens. Which animal creates gardens and why? What is the difference between a Japanese rock garden and an alpine garden? What are the benefits to rock gardens? How do "illustrated lectures" in "gardens" translate to boxing in a stadium? Find out all that and more in Episode 16: Gardens!

Montreal is the topic of discussion on this week's So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode. Which of us had Dave Grohl spit in our mouth while in Montreal (and why)? Why do Metro stations have a distinctly familiar smell at times? Who were the Montreal Expos and where are they now? What event do the Montreal Expos get their name from? What is “The Big O” and why is it sometimes called “The Big Owe”? How many Montreal Metro trips were recorded during the first year of operation? Find out all this and more on Episode 15!

What is a pet peeve? How is a comic involved in the development of the term? Why do people not use turn signals while driving? How did a contractural obligation result in one of Tom Petty's hits? What job involves tickling rats? Why is “tickle torture” a very real threat instead of a fun activity? We cover these questions and more in Episode 14 of the So You Wanna Be Average podcast.

We're celebrating Earth Day on the So You Wanna Be Average podcast by focusing on when & why our obsession with using plastic bags developed. Who invented them & did they intend to kill the planet like a comic book villain? Why are they bad for the environment? What is a Sobeys bag? What's the deal with milk… in bags? Find out the answers to these questions (& more!) in our 13th episode!

We're adding a shot of caffeine to the So You Wanna Be Average podcast by talking about all things coffee in Episode 12! Where does coffee come from? Where did the term "coffee break" come from and why do we have them? What makes a coffee cake ... a coffee cake? Who was Tim Horton? Which coffee-themed songs by Arkells and Sarah Vaughan are we listening to? Find out in Episode 12: Coffee.

We are celebrating Tartan Day on our 11th So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode with a discussion about plaid! What is Tartan Day? Is there a difference between plaid and tartan? Which Nova Scotian location is the provincial tartan apparently inspired by? How does plaid relate to the punk movement? Which drinks and songs to we think of when it comes to the topic? Find out all that and more in Episode 11: Plaid!

We do "Something Different" in our tenth So You Wanna Be Average episode by lifting the curtain and helping listeners learn more about us! What are some of our go-to drinks? What music were we raised on? Who was rammed by a ram? Who has toured Canada as a musician? How has the podcast life been so far? Find out all that and more in Episode 10!

We're talking about stop signs on the ninth episode of our So You Wanna Be Average podcast. What colours were early stop signs? What is the significance of the octagon shape? What are alternatives to the classic four-way stop? What's the history behind famous songs with "stop" in the title? Find out all that and more in Episode 09: Stop Signs!

In this So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode, we are celebrating St. Patrick's Day in a COVID-friendly fashion … sharing facts about the holiday over the internet while drinking in our basement! Does Guinness taste better in Ireland? How long is the “perfect pour” of Guinness beer (it's longer than you probably think!)? Which character briefly replaced Lucky the Leprechaun from Lucky Charms in a particular region? What are the marshmallows in Lucky Charms called? Did leprechauns always wear green? How did Bono of U2 get his nickname? Find out all that and more in Episode 08!

In this So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode, we discuss potatoes. What is the (brief) history of the potato? Who was known to wear potato blossoms? Which Canadian province is leading the potato race? What's the deal with Mr. Potato Head?Find out all that and more in Episode 07!

In this So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode, we discuss arcades and the golden age of gaming, touching upon the video game crash of 1983.. What are arcades? Were there famous arcade gamers? What happened when successful arcade companies tried to bring games into the house? How did a major mogul trick a friend during development of an arcade game? Find out all that and more in Episode 06!

This week on So You Wanna Be Average we discuss Valentine's Day: what are crushes and are they good for you? What celebrity is the song You Oughta Know about? Which candy company got in trouble for telling people to SMILE? Find out in Episode 04!

This week on So You Wanna Be Average we talk about guilty pleasures. What is a guilty pleasure? What are our guilty pleasures (professional wrestling and watching Real Housewives)? What are the commonalities in our guilty pleasures (they are surprisingly similar)? Why should we be retiring the phrase guilty pleasure? Find out all of this and more in Episode 3!

We're discussing birthdays this week on So You Wanna Be Average. How did we come to celebrate birthdays? Who gets to celebrate multiple birthdays per year? What songs remind us of birthdays past? What is the most popular birth month in the US and when are people least likely to be born? Find out all this and more.

For our first episode of So You Wanna Be Average we take a trip down memory lane and end up in the (regional) land of music and sports, Boston. Which artists have we seen perform live in storied Boston venues and why are Boston sports teams so good? We set aside time to talk about some Halifax-Boston connections and what makes a New England IPA different than your regular IPA.

So You Wanna Be Average is a podcast out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The trailer (An Average Introduction) explains the general concept of the podcast and outlines the structure listeners can expect from each episode.