Thank You for Toilet Paper: A History of the Little Things

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A podcast where we explore the fascinating history of how some of the "little things" were invented, produced, or just happened to be a cool part of life. A little gratitude with a little history.

Elizabeth Miller


    • Sep 23, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 10m AVG DURATION
    • 188 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Thank You for Toilet Paper: A History of the Little Things

    Faith and Thank You for Listening!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 18:33


    Hello, my friends! Today we'll take a little bit of time to talk about faith--faith in yourself! You're on this rip-roaring adventure called life, and tackling it without knowing what's around the corner. You're pretty amazing! On today's podcast episode, we'll talk about faith, and building faith in yourself, and I'll take a little time to show gratitude to you! Thank you for listening all this while!

    Velcro

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 7:22


    Today we will talk about a handy device that has helped us since early childhood, from beginner-level shoes to hospital visits, military adventures, fashion, toys, and more! On today's podcast episode, we're going to take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for Velcro! (Which is a specific brand, not just a generic name for loop and hook fasteners, but we'll get there in the episode!)

    The Harp

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 13:28


    As one of our earliest stringed instruments, the harp has been a part of music and worship for thousands of years. But did you know that it also played a part in "La Bamba"? On today's podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for the harp!

    Doorbell

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 5:53


    From knockers to bells to leaving secret treats for friends and neighbors, doorbells have helped us make connections over the years and saved our hands from knocking on cold days. On today's podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for the doorbell!

    Egg Carton

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2024 9:17


    From egg transportation to settling disputes between a hotel and a farmer, the egg carton has come to the rescue on a number of occasions over the years. On today's podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for the egg carton!

    Elevators

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2024 12:30


    From the Roman Colosseum to battlefields and corporate meetings, the elevator has taken humanity to quite a few places throughout history. And no one quite loves a good elevator like everyone on moving day. On today's podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for elevators.

    Spatula

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2024 7:31


    From frosting cakes to flipping burgers, the spatula has made baking and cooking a lot easier for us over the years! On today's podcast episode, we take time for a little bit of love and gratitude for the spatula!

    Toaster

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2024 8:50


    What if I told you that the invention of the toaster intersected with a huge, years-long internet prank and a fake Scottish inventor? Well, grab a piece of bread and pop it in the toaster, as we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude on today's podcast episode for toasters, and the surprisingly great story that goes with it. Or doesn't. We'll see. 

    Screen Printing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 10:07


    From ancient China to the Pop Art movement to bowling shirts and concert Tees, screen printing has made for some pretty incredible designs and memories over the years! In today's podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for screen printing!

    Bookmarks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 9:31


    What's the oddest thing you've ever used as a bookmark? Maybe an old receipt? Or even a piece of money? What about false eyelashes? Librarians have seen that one before! Whether you're going the traditional route or perhaps getting a little more creative with your marker, there are many reasons to be grateful for bookmarks! And on today's podcast episode, we're going to talk about a few reasons we love them.

    Dryer Sheets

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 6:23


    While dryer sheets may help keep the static out of our laundry, they got their start because of a special spark between husband and wife in the 1960s. On today's podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for dryer sheets!

    dryer sheets
    Bouncy Balls

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2024 7:55


    From ancient Mayan games to the White House, bouncy balls have had a place in sacred rituals, childhood memories, and stress relief for thousands of years. On today's episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude and love for bouncy balls!

    Crutches

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2024 7:35


    This little invention has been helping us get around since ancient Egypt. From broken bones to lifestyles with better mobility, crutches have been helping humanity get on the move for centuries. On today's podcast, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for crutches!

    Garage

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2024 9:36


    What do the Beatles, Metallica, Apple, Google, Disney, and Harley-Davidson have in common? They all got their start in a good old-fashioned garage! On today's podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for some gratitude for the garage!

    Hominy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 8:45


    From tortillas to stew to dessert, this versatile version of corn has fed humanity for thousands of years! In today's podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of love for hominy!

    hominy
    Rubber Foam

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2024 7:02


    Foam shows up in so many places in our lives! From mattresses and yoga mats to car seats and shoes. To foam pits of doom. But more on that later. On today's podcast episode, we'll take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for rubber foam!

    Wet Wipes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 7:31


    Let's talk about a handy invention that comes to the rescue when we have a sticky mess to clean up. And as it turns out, this invention has a connection to Kentucky Fried Chicken! On today's podcast, we'll take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for wet wipes!

    Solar Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2024 9:45


    It's kept the world going for billions of years, it's the center of our solar system and can give a wicked sunburn. But more than that, the power of the sun can keep us warm, nurture crops, and even help us power our homes, cities, and airplanes! On today's podcast episode, we'll be taking a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for solar power!

    Baking Yeast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 8:44


    Taking us to greater heights in the world of bread, yeast has been lifting our spirits for hundreds of years. In this podcast episode, we take a little time for a little bit of love and gratitude for baking yeast!

    Fire Hydrant

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 9:00


    Taking us from buckets of water to high-powered streams, the fire hydrant has helped humanity fight fires and keep each other safe for many years. In this podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude and love for the fire hydrant!

    Karaoke

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2024 12:22


    From nights out with co-workers or friends, to still later nights out with the true die-hards, karaoke has sparked the joy of music and convinced many of us that we can sing (even outside the shower) and has given us the spotlight for a moment while making fond memories. On this podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for love and gratitude for Karaoke and all the late-night sing-alongs we've enjoyed over the years.

    Dishwasher

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 9:51


    From washing dishes to saving time and water to perhaps cooking a salmon dinner, there are quite a few, and even some surprising, reasons to be grateful for the dishwasher! Let's take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude on today's podcast episode!

    Cutting Board

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2024 7:31


    From professional kitchens to our counters at home, cutting boards make life and cooking just a little bit easier! On this episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for cutting boards!

    Soda Bread

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024 7:14


    From potash to baking soda and from the Native Americans to the Irish, soda bread has impacted the cuisine of quite a few countries--and it certainly makes for a delicious addition to St. Patrick's Day celebrations. On this podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for soda bread!

    Tap Dance

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 10:53


    If you've ever made a shuffle ball change, a shim sham shimmy, or cramp rolls, you've played a part in the world of tap dance! From its beginnings in the US with roots in West Africa and Europe, tap dance has brought the beat for generations. In this podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for tap dance!

    Lawn Mowers

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2024 12:18


    From pristine soccer pitches and golf courses to your own front lawn, a well-trimmed lawn makes for wonderful memories, fun activities, and healthier grass. On today's podcast episode, we take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for lawn mowers! (Even though I'm pretty sure my lawn mower hates me.) ;)

    Kimchi

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024 8:37


    This delicious dish has been an important part of Korean cuisine for hundreds and hundreds of years! On today's episode, it's time for a little bit of love and gratitude for Kimchi!

    Saltwater Taffy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2024 8:15


    From the boardwalk to social gatherings, saltwater taffy has appeared in many places to make life sweet. In this podcast episode, it's time for a little bit of love and gratitude for saltwater taffy!

    Molasses

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2024 8:40


    From brown sugar to barbecue sauce and more, molasses has a long history with lots of food and a few crazy stories to boot(leg). Time for a little bit of gratitude for molasses!

    Hula Hoops

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2024 10:57


    From ancient Egypt to Native American dancing to schoolyard crazes, hoops, and hula hooping have given humanity a lot of joy over the years! Time for a little bit of love for hula hoops!

    The Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2024 15:51


    The future is what we make of it! As we look forward to the new year, it's time for a little bit of gratitude for the power of looking ahead! Joining us on this episode are a few voices of the future too, thanks to this week's special guests, the "cool boys in the neighborhood"!

    Paper Stars

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2023 12:43


    From Germany to Japan to the Philippines and around the world, paper stars hold a special meaning, from good luck to religious symbols to lighting the windows of our homes and the way to a brighter future, there are quite a few reasons to be grateful for paper stars. Time for a little bit of love and gratitude for paper stars!

    Potatoes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023 15:19


    Did you know that potatoes used to be nicknamed "the devil's apples"? Turns out some of our ancestors were a little afraid of the veggie, while others had been enjoying potatoes for thousands of years. Time for a little bit of love and gratitude for potatoes!

    Chalk

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2023 9:09


    From the White Cliffs of Dover to blackboards to toothpaste, chalk shows up in a number of delightful, surprising places. Time for a little bit of love and gratitude for chalk!

    Sandpaper

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2023 6:32


    From woodworking to metalworking, to keeping slugs off your plants, there are plenty of reasons to be grateful for sandpaper!

    Toothbrushes

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 8:56


    Did you know that the first mass-produced toothbrush had its origins in prison? From using trees and sticks to electric toothbrushes, we've come a long way in keeping our teeth clean and smiles fresh. Time for a little bit of gratitude and love for the toothbrush.

    Sunflowers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 7:52


    Did you know that sunflowers were planted to help clean up after Chernobyl? Sounds like they do a little bit more than simply follow the sun. Time for a little bit of gratitude and love for sunflowers!

    Dental Floss

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023 7:15


    Did you know that New Orleans has a connection to your dental hygiene? Did you also know that humans aren't the only ones who floss their teeth? Time for a little bit of love and gratitude for dental floss!

    Pinwheels and Whirligigs

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 10:02


    Growing up, playing with a pinwheel in the wind was something like magic. But did you know that a pinwheel is technically also a whirligig? And whirligigs have been around since ancient China. Time for a little bit of love and gratitude for pinwheels and whirligigs!

    Ice Cream Sundae

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 8:52


    Did you know the ice cream sundae was created to work around a law in the United States? Well, at least, that's one of the stories! From outlawed sodas to cherry syrup spread on a whim, there are a number of stories about how we got the first ice cream sundae. Time for a little bit of gratitude and love for ice cream sundaes!

    Ballpoint Pens

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 15:12


    Have you ever searched for a pen to make note of your brilliant, world-saving idea you had in the middle of the night? Or maybe you took a moment to write a nice note to someone? Ballpoint pens have been making it easier to connect, write, explore, take note, and more for decades! Time for a little bit of gratitude for ballpoint pens!

    Cinnamon

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2023 9:08


    Did you know that Aristotle believed in cinnamon birds? And he wasn't the only one! From trade secrets to medicine to becoming a part of breakfast with cinnamon sugar toast, there are quite a few reasons to be grateful for cinnamon!

    Dry Ice

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2023 7:39


    From spooky fog to cauldron brews, dry ice has been used to create a few magical effects over the years. But did you also know it can work as an effective bug trap? Time for a little bit of gratitude and love for dry ice!

    Mirrors

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 13:32


    Mirror, mirror on the wall, time for a little gratitude for how you've helped us all! From rearview mirrors to letting us know we've got food in our teeth, mirrors have been helping us see a little more clearly for thousands of years. Time for a little bit of love and gratitude for mirrors!

    Bricks

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 12:37


    From the three little pigs to fireproofing, bricks do a lot to keep us safe. And they make for a fine pizza oven. Time for a little bit of love and gratitude for bricks!

    Drinking Fountains

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 11:11


    Did you know that drinking fountains had a strong connection to the temperance movement in the US and the UK? From temperance to playgrounds, to city drinking water, there are many reasons to be grateful for drinking fountains! Time for a little love and gratitude for the handy water dispenser.

    Burritos

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2023 9:35


    From frozen burritos to breakfast burritos to ones filled with tater tots and guacamole, there are a lot of reasons to love burritos. Let's take a little bit of time for a little bit of gratitude for burritos.

    Sign Language

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2023 12:29


    Every language has its own beauty and mystery. (I'm looking at you grammar for the mystery). And for sign language in particular, that beauty can be felt without sound. Time for a little bit of love and gratitude for sign language.

    Ice Packs

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 9:35


    For all the times we've stubbed a toe, gotten injured on the playing field, or needed to keep food cold in the cooler, ice packs have been there to help us keep our cool. Time for a little bit of love and gratitude for ice packs!

    Ukulele

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2023 11:17


    Perfect for chill vibes and hanging out at the beach, the ukulele has been the soundtrack for a good time for over a hundred years. Time for a little bit of love and gratitude for the ukulele!

    Pencil Sharpener

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 9:36


    For all the times you've needed to make a fine point about something. For all the classroom, or meeting note doodles, the letters, art, and more, there are quite a few reasons to be grateful for the pencil sharpener. Time for a little bit of love, for this handy little tool.

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