Teach Me Something

Do you love coffee or potatoes? If so, you are lucky you don't live in Prussia or France in the 1700s as those items both were banned at one point. Join us in this episode as we explore many different things we enjoy today, ranging from purple clothes to dying, that have been banned throughout history.

Humans as a species love our alcohol, but humans aren't the only animal to consume ethanol. Ever wondered where alcohol comes from, what animals drink it naturally, or what species could drink us under the table? Well look no further than this episode where we explore animals that consume alcohol.

In this episode of Teach Me Something we are once again joined by resident European history buff Warren as we discuss the amusing epithets of many European monarchs. We run the whole spectrum from the Impotent to the Babymaker to Battle-Seizer the Battle-Decliner to the Terrible, so come and learn how exactly these kings have earned their nicknames.

There are millions of species of animals and only a handful of them have been domesticated. In this episode we dive into the definition and process of animal domestication, learn about the origins of many domesticated animals, and about some domesticated populations that have become feral.

Did you know that some cancers are contagious? But they are extremely rare. In this episode you can learn which unfortunate animals get these cancers and which one is being driven to the point of extinction by this deadly disease.

We are here to talk about cosmetics in the final episode of our history of hygiene series, including a whole lot of advice from Pliny the Elder. Learn about the history of skincare, haircare, perfume, and makeup, and how many of those things were likely to kill you.

Join us as we explore the various definitions of fruits and vegetables and ultimately come to the conclusion: its confusing. Let's just say, when it comes to botany, the existence of vegetables is questionable, but one thing is certain, coconuts are dangerous.

Canada is a large country with a lot of border. We discuss a few silly wars that have shaped those boarders plus throw in a bonus silly war that Australia fought against its great emu population.

Let's clear this up right off the bat, MSG is safe to eat and is delicious. Join us to learn about the discovery of MSG and umami and hear about the devastating consequences of bad science.