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Description
Two Americans in Jazan, Saudi Arabia,
One ancient proverb,
Half an hour deep dive that changes everything.
Every episode starts with a centuries-old saying and ends with questions that keeps you up at night.
Join us to Think, Question, Connect.
New Episodes drop every Friday (Arabian Standard Time)
No fluff. Just the conversations you wish you were having at 2am.
Joe & Joyce
(in a corner of the hot Arabian desert...)
12 Episodes
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"Time heals all wounds" – we've all said it (or heard it) after heartbreak, loss, or failure. It's meant to comfort, promising that pain fades eventually. But is it always true... or just a polite lie we tell ourselves? In this episode of unANSWERED, we go back over 800 years to trace the proverb's roots: from ancient Greek and Roman writings to its explosive popularity in English adaptations and beyond. We'll explore why some versions insist "time heals most wounds" (or none at all), real ps...
You've heard it a million times: "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link." It's the ultimate reminder that one bad player—whether in a team, project, relationship, or system—can bring everything crashing down. But where did this powerful metaphor come from? In this episode of unANSWERED, we trace it back over 250 years to its first mention from a Scottish philosopher in the late 1700s, and follow how it exploded into everyday wisdom through American newspaper and beyond. We'll break do...
Ever heard the Cantonese saying "禾稈冚珍珠" (wo4 gon2 kam2 zan1 zyu1) – literally "rice stalks covering pearls"? It describes hiding something precious (like talent, beauty, or wealth) under something ordinary and unremarkable, like pretending to be modest or dressing down despite being loaded. In this episode of unANSWERED, we explore this vivid folk idiom's roots in everyday Cantonese wisdom: worthless straw concealing priceless pearls, a metaphor for people who downplay their abilities, rich f...
You've probably heard "cross the river and tear down the bridge" (過河拆橋, guò hé chāi qiáo) used to call out someone who's ungrateful—crossing the river safely thanks to help, then destroying the bridge so no one else (or even their helpers) can follow. It's a sharp warning against abandoning benefactors once you've succeeded. But did you know this idiom comes straight from a real political drama in the Yuan Dynasty (14th century)? In this episode of unANSWERED, we uncover the true story: Durin...
Ever heard someone called a "Jack of all trades, master of none"? It's thrown around as an insult today, implying someone's good at lots of things but great at nothing. But what if we told you the original phrase from the early 1600s was actually a compliment? In this episode of unANSWERED, we dive deep into the fascinating backstory of "Jack of all trades." We'll trace it back to its first appearances in 17th-century English writings, explore how "master of none" got added later (turning it ...
Everyone quotes it. Almost nobody does it. We unpack the forgotten story behind turning pain into power — and the dark side nobody admits. ____________________________________________ 🔔 Subscribe for more hidden histories behind everyday idioms, proverbs, and sayings from different cultures. NEW EPISODES every FRIDAY 3pm (AST). [7 AM EST · 12 PM GMT] ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leave a 5 star review if you like this episode — it helps more people find us! 📲 Find us on @unANSWERED100 on all social platform...
What does it really mean to "bite the bullet"? In this episode, we uncover the fascinating (and sometimes grim) origins of one of the most common English idioms—facing hardship with grit and determination. We break down the popular myths, like soldiers biting bullets during surgery without anesthesia, examine real historical sources, and reveal how the phrase entered everyday language. Plus, modern examples to show why we still use it today. Perfect for anyone interested in language, idioms...
Everyone believes life is better somewhere else. An ancient observation explains why we’re never satisfied — and the one mindset shift that actually works. _______________________________________ 🔔 Subscribe for more hidden histories behind everyday idioms, proverbs, and sayings from different cultures. NEW EPISODES every FRIDAY 3pm (AST). [7 AM EST · 12 PM GMT] ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leave a 5 star review if you like this episode — it helps more people find us! 📲 Find us on @unANSWERED100 on all soc...
They took his eye. The ancient law says he can take theirs. But what happens when everyone ends up blind? Two Americans in the desert ask the question nobody wants to answer honestly. ____________________________________________________________ 🔔 Subscribe for more hidden histories behind everyday idioms, proverbs, and sayings from different cultures. NEW EPISODES every FRIDAY 3pm (AST). [7 AM EST · 12 PM GMT] ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leave a 5 star review if you like this episode — it helps more people...
Some truths burn. Trying to hide them only makes the fire spread faster. Two Americans in the Saudi desert unpack an ancient street proverb that explains why secrets explode and what to do instead. ______________________________________________________ 🔔 Subscribe for more hidden histories behind everyday idioms, proverbs, and sayings from different cultures. NEW EPISODES every FRIDAY 3pm (AST). [7 AM EST · 12 PM GMT] ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leave a 5 star review if you like this episode — it helps mor...
When the tank is empty and the desert feels endless, one culture has been shouting the same two words for years. Discover the real meaning behind “Add Oil” and why it still works when motivation fails. ____________________________________________________________ 🔔 Subscribe for more hidden histories behind everyday idioms, proverbs, and sayings from different cultures. NEW EPISODES every FRIDAY 3pm (AST). [7 AM EST · 12 PM GMT] ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leave a 5 star review if you like this episode — i...
Welcome to unANSWERED, where we THINK, QUESTION & CONNECT! We are Joe and Joyce, an American couple living in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. In this podcast, we want to explore life's BIG questions through ancient proverbs and sayings from different cultures. We believe that there are so much more that unites us than separate us, so we are here to dig deep and learn from each other, that includes YOU, our audience! FOLLOW US on @unANSWERED100 on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X. 🔔 Subscribe for mo...
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