30 Minute Expert

In today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Daylight Saving Time! We just endured the clock change here in the US this weekend and it was not fun. So we figured why not find out why we do this in the first place! And it's an interesting story that has way more to do with wars and way less to do with farmers than we thought. Daylight Saving (note saving, not savings) Time as we know it has only been around since basically 2007. What the heck?! AND who do we have thank for the specific dates chosen? The candy industry?? The answer is yes. Seriously, this one may sound dry, but it is far from it. We had lots of fun and hope you do too :) And now, an announcement: We are at episode 100!! Woo hoo! We couldn't have done it without all of you. And with that exciting achievement comes another announcement: we are taking a hiatus from the podcast! We are so incredibly grateful to each and every one of you for sticking with us and listening in... We started this as a fun idea to get us through the depths of lockdown COVID times in 2020, and here we are two years later still going strong. We didn't know how long we'd go with it, but we are pretty proud to have gotten to 100 episodes. Don't completely forget about us, because we may be back! But for now, we say so long and thank you so so so much.   Highlights Include: - How long it takes chickens to adjust to daylight saving time - Two states who have never done daylight saving time! - What does Benjamin Franklin have to do with daylight saving time?? Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

In today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Peanut Butter! It's a simple food, but it has an interesting and fun-filled history. Although peanut butter might make you think of George Washington Carver, he actually did not invent peanut butter! But he did come up with lots of other uses for peanuts. Peanut butter has its roots in Aztec and Incan civilizations, but became popular in America in the early 1900s. And now we can't get enough of the stuff! Highlights Include: - The number of peanuts in one jar of peanut butter - How peanut butter and jelly first met - How many PB&Js the average American kid eats Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

In today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Sound Baths! We live in LA, so we've heard about sound baths a lot, but never really knew what they were. And turns out, they are super cool! If you are a sound bath skeptic, take it up with ancient peoples from over 40,000 years ago (!) because that's how long sound therapy has been used by humans. From Australian aboriginals to ancient Greeks and Tibetans, ancient cultures knew what was up with the healing powers of sound. Sound Baths are relaxing, healing, and accessible basically to all - even if it means a simple YouTube search and laying on your own couch for a while. So zen out and let this episode be a sound bath of its own! Highlights Include: - The oldest topic yet! - Sound Bath etiquette - The healing powers of a cat's purr Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

Hey experts! This week Katie is taking the Bar exam and she needed to focus... So we're doing a little review for you too! Here's one of our favorite episodes on a topic we all could stand to know more about. Send good vibes to Katie and all Bar takers across the country this week while you learn about how our this weird aspect of our government works!

In today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Curling! Have you been watching the Olympics? Because we have, and naturally, we're very into curling. But we didn't understand the first thing about it! So we decided to learn. Curling, one of the world's oldest team sports, is pretty fascinating. There's some very complicated physics involved - research at your own risk - but other than that it's pretty accessible. From 16th century Scotland to 202's Beijing Olympic games, curling hs quite the history, Highlights Include: - Lots of fun and funny terms - Ugly but effective shoes - The Spirit of Curling Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

In today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Super Bowl Commercials! We decided to get in the spirit of the season before the Big Game on Sunday and learn about the freakin' racket that is Super Bowl Commercials. We talk 1984 Apple, the Budweiser frogs, Betty White in Snickers, and more. Mostly this is a lot of - can you believe how much a 30 second ad cost in that year?? - talk, but it is fun.  Highlights Include: - The great merger of the AFL and NFL - Ridley Scott directing an Apple commercial - Lots of tangents Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

In today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Jell-O! Jell-O is a topic that is near and dear to our hearts, for a reason we disclose at the end of the episode! And it did not disappoint. Gelatin-based foods may date back to the 10th century, but modern day Jell-O has all of its roots in dear old New York State. Jell-O has had its ups and downs over the years, including a very successful campaign with a famous comedian who shall not be named, but we find overall it's a big up. And do yourselves a favor and check out @jelloambassador on instagram. You will be very happy you did. Highlights Include: - New York State: The Jelly Belt? - Utah: Actually the Jell-O State! - Disgusting Jell-O "salads" Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

In today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Quicksand! We took a cue from our last episode and decided to clear up another great fear from childhood. Because who didn't see that scene in Princess Bride and decide that someday they too would step into a pit in a forest never to be seen again?! But here's the thing - according to expert Zack, a human being cannot sink fully into and die from quicksand! What a relief! understanding why entails some discussion of viscosity and density of torsos, but it's not too technical. Overall, this was a super fun conversation that included some real relief. Highlights Include: - Another trope! This time of 1960s cinema - How to escape quicksand if you're ever caught in it - An appeal to Fat Joe Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

In today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Spontaneous Human Combustion! We're back and we're back with a bang! If you're like us, you were very worried about spontaneously bursting into flames throughout most of your childhood, but haven't thought about it much since. What was up with that? Well we find out in this episode. The truth is, probably not much was up with it, and most instances of spontaneous human combustion can be explained by a combination of alcohol and smoking. But it's still a super weird phenomenon, and pretty gross when you look into it. Highlights Include: - Spontaneous Human Combustion: A 19th century literary trope - Lots of disembodied feet - Stereotyping the Irish Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

Friends, dear listeners, stranger who so kindly support us... we needed one more week! And let's be honest, you probably need to brush up on your knowledge of the Constitution anyway. So basically, you're welcome! Learn about the supreme law of the land in the United States! Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

Happy New Year! Seems like a lot of people were ready to say good riddance to 2021 and we are too. Yay 2022! For our final holiday best of episode, we are giving you a refresher on Watergate! The scandal that rocked America and ended Nixon's presidency. Scandals! Presidencies! Maybe a good topic for this time of year... Watergate has consistently been a top episode of ours, and we hope it's both entertaining and informing. Enjoy! And then, let's have the best year yet! Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

Next up in our Holiday Best Of line-up: Tarot Cards! This is another of our most downloaded (and most enjoyed!) episodes, and for good reason. Tarot Cards are fascinating, and often misunderstood, topic. And when better to brush up on your fortune-telling mechanisms than right before the new year. You can get a tarot reading to see what the new year has in store, or make a resolution to pick up a new hobby and learn to read tarot yourself! Either way, enjoy this fun exploration with us! And Happy New Year!   Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

Happy Holidays Everyone! We are taking a vacation and decided to run three of our favorites for you while we are resting and relaxing. First up: Chess! We loved this topic when we first did it, and since then Katie has taken it upon herself to teach Zack how to play chess! And now we are addicted. Also, we recently (finally) watched The Queen's Gambit on Netflix - highly recommend! Do like we did - listen to this episode, then learn chess, then play it a lot, then binge the series. Spoiler alert - the "queen's gambit" is a chess opening! Surprisingly not some kind of conspiracy involving the royal family. Enjoy! 

In today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... The North Pole! We figured this was a fun seasonal topic. We broke it into three parts for your listening pleasure: the science, the history, and the Santa. So sit back, relax, and prop your feet up in front of the fire while learning about what the north pole really is (geographic vs. magnetic), who really discovered it (Peary? Or no!), and why Santa chose to live there (and how we know about it).  Highlights Include: - Historical drama!! Who was the first to reach the North pole? - A wobbling axis - Why Santa Lives at the North Pole! Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

In today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Who Really Wrote Shakespeare's Plays! William Shakespeare, that is! The man, the myth, the legend! Emphasis on myth here, because we dove into whether Shakespeare actually wrote all of the writing attributed to him! Zack dove into three big Shakespiracies -the Oxfordian theory, the Baconian theory, and the Marlovian theory. As much as we generally poo poo-ed these ideas, you have to respect how intense and powerful the names sound. Whether Shakespeare's plays were actually written by Edward de Vere, Sir Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, or William Shakespeare himself, this was a really fun ride and an interesting conspiracy the ponder! Highlights Include: - A faked death?! - Lost years (due to twins) - A Mark Twain cameo Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

In today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Oak Island! Wow this turned out to be our longest episode yet, because it's filled with PASSION! We love this topic, as you can tell from the fact that Zack (who did not do any research) chimes in throughout and is just about as knowledgeable as Katie (the professed expert). Just in case you don't know,Oak Island is a tiny island in Canada off the coast of Nova Scotia that may have the greatest treasure in human history buried on it!! Okay, got excited there again. But really, the mystery of Oak Island is fascinating, if you will just give it a chance. We pretty much poo-poo the curse idea (that 7 must die before the treasure can be found), but other than that we are on board. And with ll of amazing finds Rick and Marty Lagina have across across in the past several years, how could you not be?? This episode is basically an hour-long advertisement for the History Channel show, so if you like this at all, please go watch that. All new episodes this fall! Highlights Include: - The Curse of Oak Island - Blackbeard hiding treasure from Satan - The 90-foot-stone used for leather beating Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

In today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... SPAM! It's What's for Dinner! It is what's for dinner here tonight because, let me tell you, you can't learn all about SPAM and then not eat it for dinner that night. It's a fascinating tale! And SPAM is not the chemical-based processed meat byproduct that many of us think it is. SPAM fed countless soldiers all over the world in World War II, and even fed the civilians who were at home with less than complete supply chains. Lots of cultures have made SPAM a household item, and you can even find beautifully packaged gift boxes of SPAM for your loved ones in South Korea. Get on the SPAM train and fry it up with us! Highlights Include: - Austin, (wait for it) Minnesota! - the Waikiki SPAM Jam - Pumpkin Spice SPAM Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

In today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Maple Syrup! Starting with some fun Native American legends! Maybe a chief threw an axe at a tree, maybe some youths copied a squirrel, or maybe a god was mad at all the laziness he saw - whatever it was, thank goodness they discovered it. Although the process has changed significantly over the years, the method remains the same - get some sap, boil it down, and end up with some of the most delicious stuff you've ever tasted. Next time, go for the good stuff and treat yourself to some real maple syrup. Highlights Include: - Squirrels snacking  - Boiling sap with hot stones - 40 gallons of sap for one gallon of syrup Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

In today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Marathons! We watched the LA Marathon run essentially past our front door the morning we recorded, so it was a natural topic. not to mention there were several other major marathons that day across the country! So how did marathons start and why are they 26.2 miles? We had to find out. As usual, it was an interesting run through history, making stops in Greece, England, and Boston along the way. Some good old fashioned sexism in there as well - women couldn't run the marathon in the Olympics for 88 years! But all in all, marathon runners are super impressive no matter what their finish time. Next time there's a marathon near you, go out there with some extra knowledge from this podcast and cheer! Or even better, run it yourself! Highlights Include: - English royals getting their way (as usual) - Lots of questionable pronunciations - The oldest American marathon Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky

In today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Vampires! We recorded on Halloween, so we had to get one more spooky topic in. And this turned out to be a great one! Some history, some lore, and some gore - what more could we ask for? From real-life figures in history, like Mercy Brown, to larger than life characters like Count Dracula, vampires are an interesting and diverse bunch. More terrifying than interesting was real-life 15th century Romanian ruler Vlad Dracul, aka Vlad the Impaler, whose nickname was rather on the nose. Some of this is gross! But we provide warnings. Maybe the legend of vampires is due to one too many rabid humans running around in medieval Europe. Or, maybe vampires are real. Regardless, we can all agree that we love Edward from Twilight. Or Jacob. I forget which one is which. Highlights Include: - Vlad the Impaler's dinner customs  - Diseases that mimic vampirism - A 19th century American vampire Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com And please rate and review! Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky Music by Jake Radvansky