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Naked skydivers. Jeopardy champions. Rodeo clowns. Suzi Quatro. Professional mascots. Competitive eaters. Astronauts. Cherry Vanilla. Renaissance fair kings. Benjamin Franklin. Olympic Curlers. Mandalorians. Gay erotica writers. Mermaids. Fruit cake tossers. Martha Wash. Dolphin Lovers. Hair collectors. Strippers. And satanists. We've talked to them all. On Why? every week we talk with another guest leading a fascinating life.
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Most people unwind after a long day by hoisting a stein of beer. But for Jim Banko, picking up a stein was just the beginning. As a former world champion stein holder, Jim is now part of USA Steinholding, the official body of the sport. How do you get into the competition? How do you practice? And, most importantly, do you get to drink the beer you hold? We get all the answers from Jim. For more information, check out USA Steinholding's website, or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
Dan Hawkins, also known as DH Johnathan is about to release his newest book, "Propagation" on January 20th. We talked with Dan about the book and his lifetime spent working as a nude art model. For more information, check out Dan's author website.
What better way to kick off a new year than by looking at how we can reset and find balance in our lives? We talked with Health and Wellness Expert, Cassie Sobelton, about her new book The Power Reset, what inspired her to reset aspects of her own life, and how we can incorporate simple but impactful changes into our lives. Cassie shares her story of overcoming seemingly insurmountable health challenges and the continued work she does through spirituality, boundaries, self-care, and con...
With the year drawing to a close, we take a review over the 52 episodes and the new friends we've made along the way.
As we wrap up 2025, we play some of our favorite holiday music that you likely can't find elsewhere. Enjoy and we'll be back next week with a look at the year in Why!
Cherie DeVille achieved fame through her work in adult films. But it's not all sunshine and hot tubs in the world of porn, and Cherie has learned how to successfully navigate a difficult industry and to not only come out on top, but has done so repeatedly. For more information on Cherie, you can check out her website or you can follow her on Instragram and TikTok.
Titanic is, of course, one of the biggest movies of all time. And when it was released on VHS, it probably goes without saying, it was a really big deal. And for one man, it was life changing. Josh started collecting copies of the movie on VHS. First one, than a few more and... well, he's at 5,000 and still growing. And now Josh has opened a museum dedicated to Titanic on VHS. Want to visit? Send in your copy on VHS? Check out Josh's Facebook page, or follow him on Instagram.
Divorce is difficult, no matter how you look at it. But what if you could come out of the process with a positivity and an outlook that would put you in a better place for both financial and emotional success? That's what Meagan Norris is offering. Meagan is a divorce coach. And she's been helping women reshape the narrative and succeed. For more information, you can check out her website, or follow her on Instagram.
Seth Neblett's book Mothership Connected is a fascinating, first-hand look inside the mothership that was Parliament Funkadelic. (As well as the side projects The Parlets, The Brides of Funkenstein and many more.) Seth tells the stories of the women who were part of this one-of-a-kind group and allows them to explain their role. It's a fascinating read and easily one of the best music books of the year. Mothership Connected is available right now from University of Texas press.
Looking to take your gaming to a new level? Try competitive Scrabble. The game is growing in popularity and the competition to find the best is riveting. We sat down with John Chew, the CEO of the North American Scrabble Players Association to learn about the history of the game and how it has grown to what it is today. For more information about the North American Scrabble Players Association and their tournaments, you can check out their website.
Brian Wilson was a musical genius. And a new re-issue highlights his brilliance in live performance. And if there's anyone who can talk about Wilson's work it's David Leaf. He's literally written the book (well, 2, actually) as well as made the movie about Brian. Brian Wilson- Live at The Roxy Theater is available right now wherever you get your music.
1990's rock was an exciting time. Nevermind (no pun intended) Nirvana, what about Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, The Meat Puppets, Primus and Smashing Pumpkins? In his new book, Greg Prato gets the full story of the era from the folks who lived it. Alternative for the Masses by Greg Prato is available right now wherever you get your books.
Paul Gambino is an expert in mourning, death and all sorts of macabre interests. And in his new book, Beyond the Veil: The Victorian Obsession with Death and Mourning is a fascinating look at one era's way of remembering those who have passed. Beyond the Veil is available right now wherever you get your books. For more information and to learn about Paul and his other books, check out his website.
Paul Gambino is an expert in mourning, death and all sorts of macabre interests. And in his new book, Beyond the Veil: The Victorian Obsession with Death and Mourning is a fascinating look at one era's way of remembering those who have passed. Beyond the Veil is available right now wherever you get your books. For more information and to learn about Paul and his other books, check out his website.
We know we say it all the time, but Ivy Austin is really a fascinating person. From her work on Broadway, in film and on television, to her work as a therapist in New York, she has led a unique and memorable life. For more information on her acting, you can check out her website, and for more information on her work as a therapist, check out her Couples Therapy website.
Liz West has the greatest collection of Spice Girls items in the world. Don't believe us? Ask the Guinness folks. And if that isn't enough, some of what she got from the Spice Girls has inspired her art career. To get a glimpse of her collection, check out her website. And if you want to see some of her really fascinating art on display, check out her art site.
Lucy Wightman has had a fascinating life. From learning how to become a dancer at The Naked i, located in Boston's infamous Combat Zone, to a relationship with Cat Stevens to so much more. And now she's written it all up in her book, Princess Cheyenne: My Life as Boston's Most Famous Stripper, now available wherever you get your books. For more information, you can follow her on Facebook, or visit her website.
Film writer Tom Huddleston has penned a great tribute and study of filmmaker, artist and musician David Lynch. Huddleston's David Lynch: His Work, His World is the perfect coffee table book to unnerve your friends, but also a wonderful delve into all things Lynch. David Lynch: His Work, His World is available now, wherever you get books.
Did you know the first town lit by nuclear power in the US was in Idaho? Did you know you could tour the reactor that created this amazing advancement in power? We talk with Shelly Norman, the senior tour advisor from the EBR-1 Museum (that's the Experimental Breeder Reactor if you're not into the whole brevity thing). For more information, check out their website.
With Taylor Swift's 12th record about to come out, we thought it a good time to explore what has come before with two experts- Kase Wickman and Moira McAvoy, co-authors (with Joanna Weiss), authors of Taylor Swift: Album by Album, available from Motorbooks wherever you get your books on October 10th.
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