58 Episodes

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Every year the TSA confiscates millions of pounds of pocketknives, sunscreen and snow globes from airport travelers. Where does it all go? ELT investigates. Plus, tips for sneaking your weed onboard, from a former TSA agent.Guests: Ex-TSO “Taylor”; TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein; surplus agents for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Patrick Knight and Mike Starr; press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of General Services Troy Thompson.Thanks to caller Kimberly.

🛩TSA Treasure Chest : What Happens To Your Confiscated Stuff? 💸

2019-01-1400:23:262

How did cold uncooked eggs become a festive beverage? Plus, coquito for the nogged out. And one of the first scientists to hoist herself into the treetops describes life in the canopy. Guests: Chef and food writer J. Kenji López-Alt; Chef and Noshery.com founder Meseidy Rivera. You can find Kenji’s eggnog recipe here and Meseidy’s coquito recipe here. Biologist Meg Lowman, Director of Global Initiatives, Lindsay Chair of Botany & Senior Scientist in Plant Conservation at the California Academy of Sciences.

Is Egg the Only Nog? Plus, Discovering the 8th Continent

2018-12-1700:21:138

Why is pumpkin spice a thing? Flavor scientists explain why this particular combination is so appealing -- or not. Plus, how to make a new flavor, and ELT listeners pitch their ideas for the next flavor fad. Guests: Food scientist Kantha Shelke; flavor chemist Bill Aslanides.Thanks to caller Ally, and to flavor forecasters Hunter, Travis, Amelia, Kassy, Rachel, Brooke, Wyatt, Thomas, and to all the listeners who submitted ice cream ideas. Special thanks and congrats to Just Ani.Additional thanks to Michelle Gillespie of SPINS Research and to Genevieve Aronson of Nielsen Research.If you want to hear more about pumpkin spice, and flavor science, check out this episode of Science Friday. Thanks to our sponsor, Cole Haan. You can hear more of Flora and other Gimlet hosts in conversation at ExtraordinariesOnTheMic.com, produced in partnership with Cole Haan.

Pumpkin Spice: The Science Behind the Invasion. Plus, What’s the Next Big Flavor Fad?

2018-12-1000:27:153

A Bulletin Board of Glory™ nomination from comedian Josh Gondelman takes ELT down a trashy rabbit hole, to a time before sanitation workers, when pigs roamed the streets. Plus, we meet the man who defied all odds to bring us the bag that cinches. Warning: Explicit.Guests: comedian and Last Week Tonight writer Josh Gondelman; trash historian Carl Zimring; engineers Steve Tallman and Dana Boyd.Thanks to our sponsor, Cole Haan. You can hear more of Flora and other Gimlet hosts in conversation at ExtraordinariesOnTheMic.com, produced in partnership with Cole Haan.

Garbage: What Did We Do Before the Bag? Plus, A Trash Bag Moonshot

2018-12-0300:24:197

Where does bubblegum flavor come from? A bubblegum bush? A beaver’s butt? We track down the original bubblegum flavor formula, and find out what’s in there. Plus, why turkey eggs aren’t a thing.Guests: Philadelphia events expert Scott Bruce, confectioners Bob Boutin and Mauricio Bobadilla, turkey biologist James Dickson and birder Laura Erickson. Thanks to callers Arrie and Chiara, and also to Phillip Clauer and Christine Alvarado for their egg-spertise.

Bubblegum: What’s That Flavor? Plus, What’s the Deal With Turkey Eggs?

2018-11-1900:24:286

How did goldfish come to dominate our fish bowls and pet stores? We dive into the history of America’s favorite finned pet. Plus, the fanciest goldfish money can buy, and the best pet in a vocal performance. Guests: Katherine "Kasey" Grier, the pet historian; Dave Mandley, goldfish freak.Thanks to caller Liana, pet owners Kerry Ann, Stephanie and Diane, and all the listeners who shared their pet’s special talent. Additional thanks to Katrina Gulliver, Mary Mannix, Liz Thomas, James Rada, Prosanta Chakrabarty, Konrad Dabrowski, Zachary Sperstad, Andrew Simons, Loren Miller, Barbara Mable, Peter Hundt, Norman Stacey, Larry Cleveland, Margaret Thomas Koogle, Charles B. Thomas, Jim Bland, Stephen Eaton, and Mike Rice.

Why Goldfish Swam Into Our Living Rooms. Plus, Best Pet Vocalist

2018-11-1200:20:541

If you dug up the graves of our founding fathers, what would you find? Tri-corner hats and puffy shirts? A grave expert fills us in on what remains. Plus, a terrifying sea creature that lurks in the waters off northern Australia. Guests: Nicholas Bellantoni, former Connecticut State Archaeologist and author; jellyfish expert Lisa-ann Gershwin. Thanks to callers Brenda and Keira and all the listeners who shared their final wishes.

Old Graves: What Would You Find In There? Plus, the Scariest Creature Under the Sea

2018-10-2900:23:193

When did “the wave” become a staple of stadium crowds? ELT talks to the professional cheerleader who first got fans out of their seats. Plus, the egg-laying mammal that is not a marsupial. We give monotremes their due.Guests: professional cheerleader “Krazy” George Henderson; weird-Australian-mammal expert Robin Beck.Thanks also to callers Leslie, Natalie, and Manuel.Got a burning question that needs answering? Call now: 833-RING-ELT.

Who Made ‘The Wave’ a Thing? Plus, a Mammal Mix-Up Made Right

2018-10-2200:22:232

Tucked into your car’s dashboard is a tiny arrow that points to the side of the car with the gas tank cap. Who came up with it? ELT tracks down the inventor of this tiny, brilliant car hack. Plus, do you really need to warm up your car?Guests: Automobile aficionado Jason Torchinsky of Jalopnik; gas tank-indicator arrow inventor Jim Moylan. Thanks to caller Jonathan, the listeners who shared their car-spiracies, and the car experts who answered our questions.Have a tiny but important invention you want to know more about? Tell us who belongs on ELT’s Bulletin Board of Glory™. Email us at elt@gimletmedia.com.

Do You Need to Warm Up Your Car? Plus, a Teeny, Glorious Car Hack

2018-10-0800:24:079

How did they make the dinosaur roars in the Jurassic Park movies? Flora talks with the sound engineers behind the bellows. Plus, ELT goes deep into the Mesozoic to find out what what dinosaurs looked (and tasted) like. Guests: Al Nelson and Pete Horner of Skywalker Sound; dinosaur expert Thomas R. Holtz Jr.; paleontologista Jingmai O’ConnorThanks to callers Gwen and Lilah and all the listeners who sent us dinosaur questions. Send audio of your animal star to elt@gimletmedia.com

T. Rex Roar: How Is It Made? Plus, Would Dinosaurs Taste Like Chicken?

2018-10-0100:22:585

Comments (33)

Mia Yamauchi

Bongs alert! when you discover this podcast you can't listen to just one ep :)

Jan 11th

Jen P Oak

Doug screaming,.. I’m dead 😂😂😂😂

Jan 9th

Javier Vega

thank you that was amazing being Puerto Rican myself it brought me memories thank you so much have a blessed day

Dec 17th

Emily Somach

MAPLE WALNUT

Dec 12th

Black Lizard Podcast Team

amazing podcast

Dec 4th

NAZZ Watson

wait, did he say wife?

Jonas Grumbie

when I hear the guest's voices, I'm always wishing they had a more podcast friendly voice, until I recall the one time I heard myself on the radio. Sorry about my judgy attitude, podcast guests.

Christian Barraza

This podcast is very relaxing and fun to listen to. One of my favorite from Gimlet.

Oct 31st

Nicole Clifton

Just started and I'm already sucked in, love this.

Oct 27th

Nicki Berger

..k

Sep 26th

Francesca Patera

This person just needs to watch the TV show "my cat from hell". I'm willing to bet that if she plays with her cat 10minutes per day, all psychopathic attributes will disappear

Sep 8th

my.android. Mfz

Windy Zukerman in ELT.. i was surprised and excited. i wish that part of the program was longer and more interesting topic was used.

Aug 28th

Tire Chasers Houston

Loved the show about self-checkout.

Jun 15th

Bella Ring

enjoyable 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Jun 12th

puskin is a CAT....!!!

Jun 4th

Katja Wolski

Hilarious!

May 30th

Jocelyn Isais

delightful

May 5th

m

beetle people vs lepidoperists

Apr 19th

Samsara Dunston

great fun and always really surprising.

Apr 9th

Every Little Thing

🛩TSA Treasure Chest : What Happens To Your Confiscated Stuff? 💸

Is Egg the Only Nog? Plus, Discovering the 8th Continent

Pumpkin Spice: The Science Behind the Invasion. Plus, What’s the Next Big Flavor Fad?

Garbage: What Did We Do Before the Bag? Plus, A Trash Bag Moonshot

Bubblegum: What’s That Flavor? Plus, What’s the Deal With Turkey Eggs?

Why Goldfish Swam Into Our Living Rooms. Plus, Best Pet Vocalist

Old Graves: What Would You Find In There? Plus, the Scariest Creature Under the Sea

Who Made ‘The Wave’ a Thing? Plus, a Mammal Mix-Up Made Right

Do You Need to Warm Up Your Car? Plus, a Teeny, Glorious Car Hack

T. Rex Roar: How Is It Made? Plus, Would Dinosaurs Taste Like Chicken?

Mia Yamauchi

Jen P Oak

Javier Vega

Emily Somach

Black Lizard Podcast Team

NAZZ Watson

Jonas Grumbie

Christian Barraza

Nicole Clifton

Nicki Berger

Nicki Berger

Francesca Patera

my.android. Mfz

Tire Chasers Houston

Bella Ring

my.android. Mfz

Katja Wolski

Jocelyn Isais

m

Samsara Dunston