Podcasts about The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State men’s basketball beat reporter Adam Jardy recaps the latest interview with AD Ross Bjork on the latest episode of BuckeyeXtra basketball podcast. During this edition, we provide our takeaways from this and discuss some news from a busy summer offseason.

We discuss the two-year state budget and what Gov. Mike DeWine may do when it reaches his desk.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Blue Jackets beat reporter Brian Hedger on the latest episode of the Cannon Fodder podcast. During this edition, we preview the upcoming NHL draft, speculate about what the Jackets might do, and discuss the implications for the future.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat reporter Adam Jardy recaps his takeaways from Jake Deibler’s press conference on the latest episode of the BuckeyeXtra basketball podcast. During this edition, we provide news and nuggets on what we've learned about the current roster and discuss player Devin Royal.

Franklin County's new 2025 Health Map is here, offering an updated look at the region's biggest health challenges—and signs of progress. What do the latest numbers tell us about healthcare access, infant mortality, adverse childhood experiences, and more? Featuring: Joe Mazzola, Franklin County Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika W. Roberts, Health Commissioner, Columbus Public Health Dr. Andrew Thomas, Chief Clinical Officer, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center The host is Tracy Townsend, Medical Correspondent and Anchor, 10TV News This Morning. The presenting sponsors of CMC's long-running Optimal Health Series are Nationwide Children's Hospital, OhioHealth, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This forum was sponsored by Mount Carmel Health System, Cardinal Health, and Ian Alexander Photography.  The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus' historic Italian Village on June 18, 2025.

Happy Tuesday! The Thunder took a 3-2 lead over the Pacers last night, and we have Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final this evening. Somehow we get into a discussion about the most famous athletes from each sport, and there's a lot of disagreement among the panel. Brian Hedger of the Columbus Dispatch joins the show to discuss some of the tough decisions that the Blue Jackets need to make this offseason. Rory McIlroy either got a shot of confidence from his Masters victory or he's just mentally exhausted based on his recent behavior. Is there any way the Browns keep all 4 QBs heading into the season? Which NFL teams could plummet this season? Baker Mayfield speaks glowingly of Emeka Egbuka. The Buckeyes are expecting a commit on Thursday. An Arkansas Razorbacks pitcher has more guts than Clayton Kershaw. Ryan Clark thinks the legacy of Aaron Rodgers' and Mike Tomlin's entire careers are riding on this season. And we kick around whether or not the basketball community truly views Tyrese Haliburton as a superstar player in Tell the Truth.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat reporter Adam Jardy recaps “Vet Week” on the latest episode of the BuckeyeXtra basketball podcast. During this edition, we break down what we learned and provide some takeaways from this event.

We discuss the new leader of the Ohio Democratic Party, the latest with the budget process, a fight over abortion waiting periods and how the Make America Healthy Again agenda is trickling into Ohio.

Central Ohio's economic future is high-tech—but is our education system ready? With new semiconductor plants, clean energy facilities, and advanced logistics hubs rising across the region, the workforce of tomorrow will need advanced skills today. This week, the Columbus Metropolitan Club welcomes a panel of business and education leaders for a candid discussion on what it will take to prepare Ohio students for careers in STEM, AI, and other fast-evolving industries. Featuring: Geena Gamble, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, Worthington Enterprises Lisa Gray, President, Ohio Excels Pat Tiberi, President and CEO, Ohio Business Roundtable The host is Alissa Widman Neese, Reporter, Axios. This forum was sponsored by Communities in Schools of Ohio and The Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus' historic Italian Village on June 11, 2025.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat reporter Adam Jardy talks about team camp on the latest episode of the BuckeyeXtra basketball podcast. During this edition we also mention Ohio State’s revenue sharing plans after a settlement approval, and more.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Brianna Mac Kay and photography editor Kyle Robertson on the latest episode of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition, discuss the Crew’s performance halfway through the season and talk about how Guillermo Barros Schelotto was selected for Crew Circle of Honor.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Blue Jackets beat reporter Brian Hedger on the latest episode of the Cannon Fodder podcast. During this edition, we talk about how center Sean Monahan was voted Masterton Trophy winner and provide other news and notes regarding the Blue Jackets.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat reporter Adam Jardy talks about the latest roster updates on the newest episode of the BuckeyeXtra basketball podcast. During this edition, we discuss how freshman guard Dorian Jones will not play at Ohio State in the 2025-26 season and mention how the Buckeyes have landed commitments from Mathieu Grujicic and Myles Herro.

Happy Tuesday! Rothman is back from his day off. Bill Belichick is officially a very cheap head coach now that we have eclipsed the June 1 threshold. We have a new media feud that looks like it's going to be resolved face-to-face which is shocking. Deion admits he was hurt by how Shedeur was publicly discussed throughout the draft process. For all of the criticism that George Pickens has received, there is one pretty prominent figure that has his back. A two-time Super Bowl champion QB thinks Jayden Daniels is still on the outside looking in. Joel Bitonio is excited to be back with the Browns, and he wants the team to behave like they want to win and sit the rookie QBs to start the season. Brenden Deeg of the The Score joins the show to talk football. Ohio State is falsely advertising their new stadium renovations. A former player thinks the Jets were crazy for putting their future in the hands of Justin Fields over Shedeur Sanders. Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch joins the show to discuss Jake Diebler's latest additions on the recruiting trail. And we Tell the Truth.

Optimal Health Series Is Ohio headed for a crisis in health coverage, especially for mental health and addiction services? More than a decade ago, Ohio's Medicaid expansion was a game changer, extending coverage to over 700,000 Ohioans and providing a lifeline to thousands of Ohioans in need of mental health and addiction treatment services. Expansion worked: uninsured rates dropped, medical debt decreased, health improved, and emergency room visits went down. In just four years, 630,000 Ohioans received treatment for mental illness or substance use disorder, a victory in the fight against opioid addiction. In 2024, forty percent of adults covered by expansion had a primary mental health and/or substance use disorder diagnosis. These gains may now be in jeopardy: Governor DeWine's new proposed biennial budget includes a so-called “kill-switch” provision that would automatically end mental health and addiction services provided through the expansion if federal Medicaid funding is reduced. With key leaders and policy experts, we'll unpack the impact Medicaid has had on health outcomes in Ohio and the consequences facing patients in recovery if the state's landmark care expansion is abandoned. Featuring: Oyauma Garrison, President & CEO, Maryhaven, Inc. Rachelle Martin; Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness of Franklin County Amy Bush Stevens, Amy Bush Stevens Consulting, LLC, Consultant to the Health Policy Institute of Ohio The host is Greg Moody, Director of Professional Development, The John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University The presenting sponsors of the CMC Optimal Health Series are Nationwide Children's Hospital, OhioHealth, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This forum was sponsored by Maryhaven. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus' historic Italian Village on June 4, 2025.  

Ten years ago, Jim Obergefell's U.S. Supreme Court case made gay marriage the law of the land. What does he make of LGBTQ rights in Ohio today?

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace talks with special guest Morgan Hughes on the latest episode of the Columbus Crew Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition, we answer two key questions regarding the team right now and speculate on where things go from here.

We discuss a new plan to change Ohio's marijuana law, a surprise pardon from President Donald Trump, why lawmakers want to limit immigrants' property rights and how Trump's budget bill could affect Ohio Medicaid patients.

Something about the newsroom of The Reporting Project at Denison University in Granville, Ohio feels different. It's energetic— humming, even when the lights are dimmed and the computer screens are turned off at the end of a long day of writing, collaborating, and crafting stories from the raw materials of community and change in rural Ohio. From Intel's $20 billion arrival in the region to local election night coverage to the antics and attire of the Buckeye Lake Pirate Festival, The Reporting Project weaves human connection together with a liberal arts approach to narrative journalism.In “the most egoless newsroom” around, a growing cohort of student journalists works alongside veterans of the craft—seasoned educators like Jack Shuler (founder of The Reporting Project and Director of Journalism at Denison) and Alan Miller (former Executive Editor and 37-year veteran of The Columbus Dispatch)— to shine a light on stories of deep significance to surrounding communities. In this episode, we are also joined by Julia Lerner (managing editor of The Reporting Project) and Caroline Zollinger (recent Denison graduate, editor, and reporter) to discuss how the revitalization of community news is fostering trust, awakening civic life, and driving a new generation of students toward curiosity and community engagement.To learn more about The Reporting Project, visit thereportingproject.org. Please support your local news organizations!Additional Notes & Resources:The Reporting ProjectThe Observers CollaborativeCenter for Community News | The University of VermontWCLT Radio

In 2012, Celeste Fronsman was abducted, tortured, and burned alive in rural Ohio. Her killers? People she thought were her friends. In this episode of Almost Fiction, we explore the dark world of addiction, abuse, and betrayal, and how Celeste's final words helped solve her own murder. Sources: Lafonse Dixon v. Warden Richland Correctional Institution. Case NO. 2:16-CV-0251-EAS-KAJ. Filed November 21, 2016. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ohsd-2_16-cv-00251/pdf/USCOURTS-ohsd-2_16-cv-00251-0.pdf.Those responsible for Celeste Fronsman's death serving life. By Kate Snyder for ZanesvilleTimesRecorder.com. September 14, 2017. https://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/story/news/local/2017/09/14/those-responsible-celeste-fronsmans-death-serving-life/662198001/.Culberson to be sentenced in Fronsman murder. By Ed Balint for TimesReporter.com. November 5, 2013. https://www.timesreporter.com/story/news/local/canton/2013/11/06/culberson-to-be-sentenced-in/41981635007/. Former lover gets life sentence for Canton woman's burning death. By Eric Lyttle for The Columbus Dispatch. November 7, 2013. https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/crime/2013/11/06/former-lover-gets-life-sentence/23746132007/. Ohio Man Guilty of Setting Woman Ablaze. Author not noted for The Columbus Dispatch. October 16, 2013. https://www.firehouse.com/home/news/11192998/ohio-man-facing-death-penalty-for-burning-woman.5 years later: Celeste Fronsman murder case stays with officials. By Kate Snyder for ZanesvilleTimesRecorder.com. September 15, 2017. https://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/story/news/local/2017/09/14/5-years-later-celeste-fronsman-murder-case-stays-investigators/626693001/.Celeste Fronsman Murder: LaFonse Dixon sentenced to life in prison in death of Ohio woman who was beaten and burned. By Crimesider Staff for CBSnews.com. November 4, 2013. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/celeste-fronsman-murder-lafonse-dixon-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-in-death-of-ohio-woman-who-was-beaten-and-burned/. Fronsman investigation unique for Muskingum. By Ed Balint for CantonRep.com. November 9, 2013. November 9, 2013.Woman sentenced to life for Fronsman burning death. Author not Noted for CoshoctonTribune.com. November 7, 2013. Canton woman pleads guilty to murder in Fronsman death. By Kathy Thompson for ZanesvilleTimesRecorder.com. September 27, 2012. 

Canada isn't just a neighbor—it's Ohio's number one international trading partner. In this week's Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, we explore what recent U.S.-Canada trade tensions could mean for jobs, industries, and the economic future of Central Ohio.  Featuring: Colin Bird, Consul General of Canada in Detroit Allison Russo, Ohio State Representative, District 7, and Statehouse Minority Leader Bala Sathyanarayanan, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Greif The host is Dan Eaton, Senior Reporter, Columbus Business First. This forum was sponsored by The Ohio Manufacturers' Association. The forum partners were The Columbus Council on World Affairs and The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus.  The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus' historic Italian Village on May 21, 2025.

We discuss a proposed amendment to abolish property taxes, a plan to expand gambling, sexual misconduct allegations against a state lawmaker and why Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Ohio.

Why are your property taxes going up — and where is that money actually going? This week's CMC forum tackles the property tax questions on everyone's mind, with experts who understand the system inside and out. From home values to school funding, to mills and assessments, our panel helps make sense of it all. Featuring: Michael D. Cole, President, Columbus City School Board Greg Lawson, Research Fellow, The Buckeye Institute And Michael Stinziano, Franklin County Auditor The host is Anna Staver, State Government and Politics Reporter for Cleveland.com and The Cleveland Plain Dealer. This forum was sponsored by Bricker Graydon. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. Recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus' historic Italian Village on May 14, 2025.

We discuss leadership changes at the Ohio Democratic Party, a bipartisan plan to relieve medical debt, the latest with Larry Householder and why lawmakers want to ban ranked choice voting.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Blue Jackets beat reporter Brian Hedger on the latest episode of the Cannon Fodder podcast. During this edition, we recap the 2025 NHL Draft and talk about everything that happened with the Blue Jackets.

Products often tell you exactly how they're intended to be used. But why leave it at that? As a culture, we have long had a knack for finding ingenious, off-label uses for things. In this episode, we take a close look at a few examples of products that are ostensibly meant for one thing, but are better known for something else entirely. We explore Q-tips, which we are explicitly told not to put into our ears; the Hitachi Magic Wand, the iconic sex toy marketed as a body massager; the musical washboard; and the children's electrolyte solution Pedialyte that many adults swear by as a hangover cure. You'll hear from Hallie Lieberman, author of Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy; Jacqui Barnett of the Columbus Washboard Company; Christopher Wilson, curator and chair of the Division of Home and Community Life at the Smithsonian; musician and educator Súle Greg Wilson; zydeco musicians C.J. Chenier and Steve Nash; Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, author of Hungover: The Morning After and One Man's Quest for the Cure; as well as writers Roberto Ferdman, Dan Brooks, and Kaitlyn Tiffany. Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin, Max Freedman, Katie Shepherd, and Evan Chung, Decoder Ring's supervising producer. We had additional production from Sofie Kodner. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director. Special thanks to Kate Sloan, Dr. Carol Queen, Bryony Cole, Amber Singer, Molly Born, Laura Selikson, and Nell McShane Wulfhart. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, please email us at DecoderRing@slate.com, or leave a message on our hotline at 347-460-7281. Sources for This Episode Bishop-Stall, Shaughnessy. Hungover: The Morning After and One Man's Quest for the Cure, Penguin, 2018. Brooks, Dan. “Letter of Recommendation: Pedialyte,” New York Times Magazine, Jan. 26, 2017. Comella, Lynn. Vibrator Nation: How Feminist Sex-Toy Stores Changed the Business of Pleasure, Duke University Press, 2017. Dodson, Betty. “Having Sex with Machines: The Return of the Electric Vibrator,” Dodson and Ross, June 9, 2010. Feran, Tim. “Pedialyte Is Not Just For Kids,” Columbus Dispatch, July 19, 2015. Ferdman, Roberto A. “The strange life of Q-tips, the most bizarre thing people buy,” Washington Post, Jan. 20, 2016. Kushner, David. “Inside Orgasmatron,” Village Voice, March 26, 1999. Lieberman, Hallie. Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy, Pegasus Books, 2017. Lieberman, Hallie. “Selling Sex Toys: Marketing and the Meaning of Vibrators in Early Twentieth-Century America,” Enterprise & Society, June 2016. Russel, Ruth. “Hangover Remedies? I'll Drink to That!,” Idaho Statesman, Jan. 1, 1978. Sloan, Kate. Making Magic, 2024. Tiffany, Kaitlyn. “How Pedialyte got Pedialit,” Vox, Sep. 10, 2018. Williams, Dell. “The Roots of the Garden,” Journal of Sex Research, August 1990. Wulfhart, Nell McShane. “The Best Hangover Cure,” Slate, Aug. 29, 2013. Want more Decoder Ring? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of the Decoder Ring show page. Or, visit slate.com/decoderplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Products often tell you exactly how they're intended to be used. But why leave it at that? As a culture, we have long had a knack for finding ingenious, off-label uses for things. In this episode, we take a close look at a few examples of products that are ostensibly meant for one thing, but are better known for something else entirely. We explore Q-tips, which we are explicitly told not to put into our ears; the Hitachi Magic Wand, the iconic sex toy marketed as a body massager; the musical washboard; and the children's electrolyte solution Pedialyte that many adults swear by as a hangover cure. You'll hear from Hallie Lieberman, author of Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy; Jacqui Barnett of the Columbus Washboard Company; Christopher Wilson, curator and chair of the Division of Home and Community Life at the Smithsonian; musician and educator Súle Greg Wilson; zydeco musicians C.J. Chenier and Steve Nash; Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, author of Hungover: The Morning After and One Man's Quest for the Cure; as well as writers Roberto Ferdman, Dan Brooks, and Kaitlyn Tiffany. Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin, Max Freedman, Katie Shepherd, and Evan Chung, Decoder Ring's supervising producer. We had additional production from Sofie Kodner. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director. Special thanks to Kate Sloan, Dr. Carol Queen, Bryony Cole, Amber Singer, Molly Born, Laura Selikson, and Nell McShane Wulfhart. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, please email us at DecoderRing@slate.com, or leave a message on our hotline at 347-460-7281. Sources for This Episode Bishop-Stall, Shaughnessy. Hungover: The Morning After and One Man's Quest for the Cure, Penguin, 2018. Brooks, Dan. “Letter of Recommendation: Pedialyte,” New York Times Magazine, Jan. 26, 2017. Comella, Lynn. Vibrator Nation: How Feminist Sex-Toy Stores Changed the Business of Pleasure, Duke University Press, 2017. Dodson, Betty. “Having Sex with Machines: The Return of the Electric Vibrator,” Dodson and Ross, June 9, 2010. Feran, Tim. “Pedialyte Is Not Just For Kids,” Columbus Dispatch, July 19, 2015. Ferdman, Roberto A. “The strange life of Q-tips, the most bizarre thing people buy,” Washington Post, Jan. 20, 2016. Kushner, David. “Inside Orgasmatron,” Village Voice, March 26, 1999. Lieberman, Hallie. Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy, Pegasus Books, 2017. Lieberman, Hallie. “Selling Sex Toys: Marketing and the Meaning of Vibrators in Early Twentieth-Century America,” Enterprise & Society, June 2016. Russel, Ruth. “Hangover Remedies? I'll Drink to That!,” Idaho Statesman, Jan. 1, 1978. Sloan, Kate. Making Magic, 2024. Tiffany, Kaitlyn. “How Pedialyte got Pedialit,” Vox, Sep. 10, 2018. Williams, Dell. “The Roots of the Garden,” Journal of Sex Research, August 1990. Wulfhart, Nell McShane. “The Best Hangover Cure,” Slate, Aug. 29, 2013. Want more Decoder Ring? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of the Decoder Ring show page. Or, visit slate.com/decoderplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Products often tell you exactly how they're intended to be used. But why leave it at that? As a culture, we have long had a knack for finding ingenious, off-label uses for things. In this episode, we take a close look at a few examples of products that are ostensibly meant for one thing, but are better known for something else entirely. We explore Q-tips, which we are explicitly told not to put into our ears; the Hitachi Magic Wand, the iconic sex toy marketed as a body massager; the musical washboard; and the children's electrolyte solution Pedialyte that many adults swear by as a hangover cure. You'll hear from Hallie Lieberman, author of Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy; Jacqui Barnett of the Columbus Washboard Company; Christopher Wilson, curator and chair of the Division of Home and Community Life at the Smithsonian; musician and educator Súle Greg Wilson; zydeco musicians C.J. Chenier and Steve Nash; Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, author of Hungover: The Morning After and One Man's Quest for the Cure; as well as writers Roberto Ferdman, Dan Brooks, and Kaitlyn Tiffany. Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin, Max Freedman, Katie Shepherd, and Evan Chung, Decoder Ring's supervising producer. We had additional production from Sofie Kodner. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director. Special thanks to Kate Sloan, Dr. Carol Queen, Bryony Cole, Amber Singer, Molly Born, Laura Selikson, and Nell McShane Wulfhart. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, please email us at DecoderRing@slate.com, or leave a message on our hotline at 347-460-7281. Sources for This Episode Bishop-Stall, Shaughnessy. Hungover: The Morning After and One Man's Quest for the Cure, Penguin, 2018. Brooks, Dan. “Letter of Recommendation: Pedialyte,” New York Times Magazine, Jan. 26, 2017. Comella, Lynn. Vibrator Nation: How Feminist Sex-Toy Stores Changed the Business of Pleasure, Duke University Press, 2017. Dodson, Betty. “Having Sex with Machines: The Return of the Electric Vibrator,” Dodson and Ross, June 9, 2010. Feran, Tim. “Pedialyte Is Not Just For Kids,” Columbus Dispatch, July 19, 2015. Ferdman, Roberto A. “The strange life of Q-tips, the most bizarre thing people buy,” Washington Post, Jan. 20, 2016. Kushner, David. “Inside Orgasmatron,” Village Voice, March 26, 1999. Lieberman, Hallie. Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy, Pegasus Books, 2017. Lieberman, Hallie. “Selling Sex Toys: Marketing and the Meaning of Vibrators in Early Twentieth-Century America,” Enterprise & Society, June 2016. Russel, Ruth. “Hangover Remedies? I'll Drink to That!,” Idaho Statesman, Jan. 1, 1978. Sloan, Kate. Making Magic, 2024. Tiffany, Kaitlyn. “How Pedialyte got Pedialit,” Vox, Sep. 10, 2018. Williams, Dell. “The Roots of the Garden,” Journal of Sex Research, August 1990. Wulfhart, Nell McShane. “The Best Hangover Cure,” Slate, Aug. 29, 2013. Want more Decoder Ring? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of the Decoder Ring show page. Or, visit slate.com/decoderplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Products often tell you exactly how they're intended to be used. But why leave it at that? As a culture, we have long had a knack for finding ingenious, off-label uses for things. In this episode, we take a close look at a few examples of products that are ostensibly meant for one thing, but are better known for something else entirely. We explore Q-tips, which we are explicitly told not to put into our ears; the Hitachi Magic Wand, the iconic sex toy marketed as a body massager; the musical washboard; and the children's electrolyte solution Pedialyte that many adults swear by as a hangover cure. You'll hear from Hallie Lieberman, author of Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy; Jacqui Barnett of the Columbus Washboard Company; Christopher Wilson, curator and chair of the Division of Home and Community Life at the Smithsonian; musician and educator Súle Greg Wilson; zydeco musicians C.J. Chenier and Steve Nash; Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall, author of Hungover: The Morning After and One Man's Quest for the Cure; as well as writers Roberto Ferdman, Dan Brooks, and Kaitlyn Tiffany. Decoder Ring is produced by Willa Paskin, Max Freedman, Katie Shepherd, and Evan Chung, Decoder Ring's supervising producer. We had additional production from Sofie Kodner. Merritt Jacob is Senior Technical Director. Special thanks to Kate Sloan, Dr. Carol Queen, Bryony Cole, Amber Singer, Molly Born, Laura Selikson, and Nell McShane Wulfhart. If you have any cultural mysteries you want us to decode, please email us at DecoderRing@slate.com, or leave a message on our hotline at 347-460-7281. Sources for This Episode Bishop-Stall, Shaughnessy. Hungover: The Morning After and One Man's Quest for the Cure, Penguin, 2018. Brooks, Dan. “Letter of Recommendation: Pedialyte,” New York Times Magazine, Jan. 26, 2017. Comella, Lynn. Vibrator Nation: How Feminist Sex-Toy Stores Changed the Business of Pleasure, Duke University Press, 2017. Dodson, Betty. “Having Sex with Machines: The Return of the Electric Vibrator,” Dodson and Ross, June 9, 2010. Feran, Tim. “Pedialyte Is Not Just For Kids,” Columbus Dispatch, July 19, 2015. Ferdman, Roberto A. “The strange life of Q-tips, the most bizarre thing people buy,” Washington Post, Jan. 20, 2016. Kushner, David. “Inside Orgasmatron,” Village Voice, March 26, 1999. Lieberman, Hallie. Buzz: A Stimulating History of the Sex Toy, Pegasus Books, 2017. Lieberman, Hallie. “Selling Sex Toys: Marketing and the Meaning of Vibrators in Early Twentieth-Century America,” Enterprise & Society, June 2016. Russel, Ruth. “Hangover Remedies? I'll Drink to That!,” Idaho Statesman, Jan. 1, 1978. Sloan, Kate. Making Magic, 2024. Tiffany, Kaitlyn. “How Pedialyte got Pedialit,” Vox, Sep. 10, 2018. Williams, Dell. “The Roots of the Garden,” Journal of Sex Research, August 1990. Wulfhart, Nell McShane. “The Best Hangover Cure,” Slate, Aug. 29, 2013. Want more Decoder Ring? Subscribe to Slate Plus to unlock exclusive bonus episodes. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of the Decoder Ring show page. Or, visit slate.com/decoderplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Brianna Mac Kay and photography editor Kyle Robertson on the latest episode of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition, we recap the 4-2 victory over Charlotte FC and look ahead to what’s next.

Central Ohio is prospering, but economic mobility remains out of reach for many families. This forum explores the stark racial and economic disparities in the Columbus region and asks what new policies and community actions are needed to ensure shared prosperity. Featuring: Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, Columbus City Councilmember Keith Jones, President & CEO, Oakwood Management Duwain Pinder, Partner, Ohio - Columbus, McKinsey & Company Dr. Jason Reece, Associate Professor, City and Regional Planning, Knowlton School of Architecture, The Ohio State University The host is Mataryun "Mo" Wright, President & CEO, RAMA Consulting Group. This forum was sponsored by The Crane Group, The McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility, and The Robert Weiler Company. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's promotional and livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus' historic Italian Village on May 7, 2025.

We discuss the May 6 election, problems with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, a bill to revamp state energy policy and the latest with the Cleveland Browns stadium.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat reporter Adam Jardy speaks with special guest Rob Dauster on the latest episode of the BuckeyeXtra Basketball podcast. During this edition, we discuss Ohio State basketball and get Rob’s thoughts on the team and where they fit into the college basketball landscape in the offseason.

Ohio State football beat reporter Joey Kaufman and Bill Rabinowitz speak with Dispatch sports columnist Rob Oller on the latest episode of the BuckeyeXtra football podcast. During this edition, we break down what happened with Ohio State’s 14 players who were selected in the NFL Draft and discuss what this means for the Buckeyes going forward.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat reporter Adam Jardy talks the transfer portal closing on the latest episode of the BuckeyeXtra basketball podcast. During this edition, we talk about how Aaron Bradshaw and Sean Stewart have entered the transfer portal and what this means for the Buckeyes going forward and their roster for next season.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Brianna Mac Kay and photography editor Kyle Robertson on the latest episode of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition, we recap the roster moves the Crew made at the end of the transfer window and talk about the recent 1-0 loss Inter Miami.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Blue Jackets beat reporter Brian Hedger on the latest episode of the Cannon Fodder podcast. During this edition, we discuss what has happened in the offseason and what we expect to see forthcoming.

Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel joined Ohio Politics Explained to discuss his new job, higher education and whether he's thinking about a run for governor in 2026.

We discuss how Trump tariffs are affecting Ohio's pension systems, a new House Bill 6 documentary, a court ruling on Ohio's social media law for teens and why lawmakers don't want coroners to be elected.

Happy Thursday! The Blue Jackets season came to an end last night even though they still have one game left. Brian Hedger from the Columbus Dispatch joins the show to help us gather our Jackets thoughts. Colin Cowherd of all people is playing reporter with some big Nico news. There is already another Nico Imaleava in college football, and the week isn't even over yet. Ashton Jeanty has a message for NFL teams. Rothman has a hypothesis about a draft-day trade. Sam Bruchhaus of Sumer Sports joins the show to discuss the draft. Kyle McCord went into the QB classroom with Jon Gruden. Are the Browns telling us who they are going to take? Dan Orlovsky delivers some high praise of Cam Ward. Keith Smith of Spotrac joins the show to help us preview the NBA playoffs. And Michigan's new prized possession might actually be a prized pig.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Brianna Mac Kay on the latest episode of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition, we discuss recent Crew news and look ahead to Saturday's upcoming match against Inter Miami.

We discuss the two-year budget that passed the House, a key endorsement for Sen. Jon Husted and a proposal to ban China and Russia from buying property in Ohio.

Ohio State football beat reporters Bill Rabinowitz and Joey Kaufman talk about the upcoming spring game on the latest episode of the BuckeyeXtra football podcast. During this edition, we discuss what we can expect to see from the Buckeyes on the field and talk about the quarterback position.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat reporter Adam Jardy talks about the latest developments on the newest episode of the BuckeyeXtra basketball podcast. During this edition, we discuss how Bruce Thornton is likely returning to Ohio State for a final season and how Santa Clara transfer Christoph Tilly has committed to the Buckeyes. Finally, we hear thoughts from the Dispatch text subscribers.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Brianna Mac Kay on the latest episode of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition, we recap everything that’s been happening with the Crew and looks ahead to what’s next for this team.

Scott Mason talks withJoey Kaufman of the Columbus Dispatch about the Ohio State Buckeye years of new Jets QB Justin Fields! Joey discusses what led up to Fields transfer from Georgia to Ohio State, early dominance and elite playmaking, leadership shown when he stepped up during the Covid season,battles and rivalry with Trevor Lawrence, connection with his fellow Ohio State alums Garrett Wilson and Jeremy Ruckert, whether there's a scenario that could lead his a successful tenure for him in NY with the Jets...........and more! Check out the Play Like A Jet store and get your "Play Like A Jet" logo shirt RIGHT NOW! Hoodies, hats, mugs, etc.....also available! https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/19770068-play-like-a-jet-logo-shirt?store_id=717242 To advertise on Play Like A Jet, please contact: Justin@Brokencontrollermedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In hour two, Mike & Jason chat with the Columbus Dispatch' Brian Hedger (5:52) ahead of the Blue Jackets home matchup tonight versus the Canucks, plus they discuss more of the latest 'Nucks news with analyst Bob "The Moj" Marjanovich (24:38). This podcast is produced by Andy Cole and Greg Balloch. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Media Inc. or any affiliate.

Ohio State men’s basketball beat reporter Adam Jardy discusses how the transfer portal is now open on the latest episode of the BuckeyeXtra Basketball podcast. During this edition, we discuss what’s currently going on with the team and developments that have happened so far at the start of this offseason.

It’s almost peak bloom in Washington, D.C., which means it’s time for our annual cherry blossom celebration! But first, some federal funding news: Columbia University will give in to far-reaching demands by President Donald Trump to restore threatened federal funding. We’ll get into what kind of precedent the move sets for higher education. And, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will cancel $500 million in food deliveries. Rural food banks could be impacted most. Plus, we’ll play a blossom-themed round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trump weighs in on report King Charles will offer U.S. Commonwealth membership” from The Independent “Columbia Yields to Trump in Battle Over Federal Funding” from The Wall Street Journal “USDA cancels $500M in food deliveries, leaving food banks scrambling” from The Washington Post “Ohio among best places to see cherry blossoms blooming. Here’s where” from The Columbus Dispatch “Cherry Blossom predictions are in! Will AI bloom or bust?” from George Mason University “Beyond the bud: How the nation’s pink trees became an indicator of changing climate” from WBAL “2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival set to boost DC tourism” from ABC7 News Donate to our March fundraiser to get classic public media thank-you gifts! https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn

It’s almost peak bloom in Washington, D.C., which means it’s time for our annual cherry blossom celebration! But first, some federal funding news: Columbia University will give in to far-reaching demands by President Donald Trump to restore threatened federal funding. We’ll get into what kind of precedent the move sets for higher education. And, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will cancel $500 million in food deliveries. Rural food banks could be impacted most. Plus, we’ll play a blossom-themed round of Half Full/Half Empty! Here’s everything we talked about today: “Trump weighs in on report King Charles will offer U.S. Commonwealth membership” from The Independent “Columbia Yields to Trump in Battle Over Federal Funding” from The Wall Street Journal “USDA cancels $500M in food deliveries, leaving food banks scrambling” from The Washington Post “Ohio among best places to see cherry blossoms blooming. Here’s where” from The Columbus Dispatch “Cherry Blossom predictions are in! Will AI bloom or bust?” from George Mason University “Beyond the bud: How the nation’s pink trees became an indicator of changing climate” from WBAL “2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival set to boost DC tourism” from ABC7 News Donate to our March fundraiser to get classic public media thank-you gifts! https://support.marketplace.org/smart-sn