Forever Ago Premium

It’s a Forever Ago face-off! Joy has turned the garage at HQ into a boxing arena and has brought in Molly Bloom and Nico Gonzalez Wisler for a rock, paper, scissors showdown!  Grab your smarty pass to witness the raw power of rock, paper, scissors!

When most of us think of fortune cookies, we think of those little folded cookies that come with Chinese food. But did you know that fortune cookies aren’t from China? So where did they come from? And why do we think of them as Chinese? Join Joy and co-host Harlem as they find answers and trace the cookie’s journey. We’ll also hear from journalist Jennifer 8. Lee who wrote an entire book all about fortune cookies, plus a brand new First Things First!Featured expert: Jennifer 8. Lee is a journalist, film producer, and author. She wrote an entire book about the history of fortune cookies called The Fortune Cookie Chronicles. Lee also produced a documentary about the origins of General Tso’s Chicken. To learn more, check out her website.Resources: To learn more about the internment of Japanese Americans, check out the graphic novel Displacement by Kiku Hughes.This episode was sponsored by:Walt Disney Studios- Disney and Pixar's Inside Out 2 is coming to theaters, June 14th.

Forever Ago host Joy Dolo has a brand-new game she’s calling Instrumental Enigma. It sounds like a lot of fun! Emphasis on sounds! Grab your Smarty Pass to hear what producers Rosie duPont and Aron Woldeslassie think of the new game and all of its interesting sounds!

Do you know what Blibber-Blubber was? How about Wiff-Waff? If only there were an incredible game hosted by Joy Dolo to help us figure it out. Oh wait, there is! Grab your Smarty Pass and let’s play Whatchamacallit! The greatest game to explain a name.

Hey Smarty Pal!You’re invited to an exclusive virtual Smarty Party! Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or just subscribed to Smarty Pass, we are so grateful for your support. To say thank you, you’re invited to attend one of two virtual Smarty Parties. Join us for mystery sounds, trivia, jokes, and special appearances by Brains On Universe friends! You’ll even have a chance to ask Molly, Marc, Sanden, and Joy any question that’s on your mind.The events are free for Smarty Pass subscribers but please register in advance! Smarty Party #1Friday, March 15th at 7pm ET / 6pm CT / 5pm MT / 4pm PTRegister here!Smarty Party #2Saturday, March 16th at 1pm ET / 12pm CT / 11am MT / 10am PTRegister here!If you can’t make it to the shows live, don’t worry! We’ll share a recording of the event with all our Smarty Pals after the event.Get ready to party, Smarty!

It’s a time-honored Valentine’s Day tradition to hand out conversation hearts - those candies with phrases like “be mine” and “love always” written on them. In this episode, we learn a little about the history Cupid and play a game where contestants come up with conversation candies for made up holidays.

Party with Brains On in Washington DC, Princeton, Brooklyn, or online wherever you are!Brains On is coming to a theater near you with a hilarious science-themed live stage show that takes the audience on an adventure through the brain. Hosts Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez and Sanden Totten will be there with magic tricks, dance moves, out-of-body experiences, mystery sounds, and even a game show! If we are not coming to your city in person, we have a virtual event for you, featuring Forever Ago host Joy Dolo, alongside Molly, Marc and Sanden!Smarty Pass subscribers get a $10 discount on tickets when you use the code MAGIC at checkout. Find more and get your tickets at brainson.org/events

Joy hosts the timeless classic Snow Zone Bowl– the game where you guess the rules to odd Winter Olympic sports from history. Join Joy, Sanden Totten and Anna Weggel for some frosty fun you won’t want to miss!

Who doesn’t love gum? It’s fun, sticky, and sweet! But did you know people have been chewing on stuff for centuries? Come explore the surprising history of gum with Joy, co-host Aliyah, and their new friend Gumpy (who may or may not be a sculpture made of old gum who magically came alive). Learn how several happy accidents led to the invention of modern chewing gum and why bubble gum is pink. And be sure to stick around for a new First Things First!

Synthesizers are revolutionary instruments. These electronic devices use knobs, buttons and sliders to make different sounds — and you can hear them in all sorts of music, from pop to hip-hop. But that wasn’t always the case. Join Joy and co-host Lilike as they explore the history of the synthesizer and learn one album transformed it from an experimental instrument to an essential hitmaker. We’ll also hear from Switched On Pop producer Reanna Cruz about the legacy of these groovy instruments. All that, plus a new game of First Things First! This episode was sponsored by:Disney+ (ondisneyplus.disney.com/movie/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-christmas-cabin-fever) Diary of Wimply Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever, streaming only on Disney+ December 8th. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.

Oh no! Forever Ago host Joy Dolo has trapped producer Rosie duPont in a sticky situation. And it looks like the only way out is by playing Joy’s new game: Stranger Than Fiction! Will Rosie manage to get free? There’s only one way to find out. Grab your Smarty Pass and listen.

Libraries are popular with everyone, but they're especially beloved by kids and their families. They’re places where you can listen to stories, check out books, play with toys -- all for free! What's not to love? But, it wasn't so long ago that kids weren't welcome at all. In this episode, Joy and her cohost Lillike meet a very special wooden doll named Nicholas Knickerbocker, who helps tell the story of the country's first libraries that actually wanted kids there.This episode was sponsored by:Disney+ (ondisneyplus.disney.com/movie/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-christmas-cabin-fever) Diary of Wimply Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever, streaming only on Disney+ December 8th. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.

Climate change can feel like an overwhelming problem, so it’s important to shine a light on environmental success stories. One such tale? How the world came together to save the ozone! Join Joy and co-host Asa as they whisk listeners from the birth of ozone-depleting chemicals, to the scientific discovery that these chemicals were destroying our atmosphere, to the stunning act of international cooperation that lead to the Montreal Protocol, the world’s most successful environmental agreement to this day. Plus, a First Things First to light up your day!This episode was sponsored by:Disney+ (ondisneyplus.disney.com/movie/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-christmas-cabin-fever) Diary of Wimply Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever, streaming only on Disney+ December 8th. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested.IXL (IXL.COM/FIELDTRIP) To get a 20% off an IXL membership.Disney (movies.disney.com/wish) Only in theaters November 22, tickets available now. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested

Today, athletes like Simone Biles and  Katie Ledecky are Olympic rockstars. But did you know that when the Olympics started, women weren’t even allowed to compete? And when they did join the games, female athletes struggled to get the same recognition as men. Join Joy, co-host Elysse and couch coach “Dubs” as they explore the surprising and triumphant history of how female athletes became Olympic stars. Plus, a brand new round of First Things First!This episode was sponsored by:Disney (movies.disney.com/wish) Only in theaters November 22, tickets available now. Rated PG, parental guidance suggested

Forever Ago host Joy Dolo is producing the greatest film ever made: her life story! The only problem is her friend and script editor Molly Bloom has a few questions about Joy’s story. When did Joy graduate from college? When did she get glasses? When did she start performing improv? There’s only one real way to get to the answers Molly needs and that’s with a game of First Things First!

In this episode, we examine the real history behind one of the most celebrated holidays: Thanksgiving. It’s a pretty big deal in the U.S., with all the food and big gatherings and special traditions. But why do we celebrate Thanksgiving like we do?Join Joy and co-host Asa as they explore the history of Thanksgiving. Did the Pilgrims and Native Americans actually sit down for dinner together? Why do we eat turkey? And why do many Native Americans consider Thanksgiving a Day of Mourning? All that, plus a new First Things First featuring cranberry sauce, presidential turkey pardons and the first Thanksgiving day parade.Read more about the history of Thanksgiving from Native Knowledge 360° here: https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/rethinking-thanksgivingThis project from the National Museum of the American Indian provides educational resources based on the experiences and voices of Native Americans.This episode was sponsored by:IXL (IXL.COM/FIELDTRIP) To get a 20% off an IXL membership.Factor (Factormeals.com/brainson50) Code forever50 to get 50% off.Disney (movies.disney.com/wish) Only in theaters November 22, tickets available now. Rated PG, parental guidance suggestedDo you have your Smarty Pass yet?? Get yours today for just $4/month (or $36/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today!

Superman isn’t just any old superhero -- he was the very first costumed superhero! He paved the way for Spiderman, Wonder Woman, Batman and all the other caped, masked and spandexed superheroes. In this episode, join Joy, her cohost Aaliyah, and special guest Molly Bloom to hear how his origin story was written by two teens from Cleveland in the 1930s, inspired by their experiences as children of immigrants. Plus, a brand new First Things First!This episode was sponsored by:IXL (IXL.COM/FIELDTRIP) To get a 20% off an IXL membership.Factor (Factormeals.com/brainson50) Code forever50 to get 50% off.Disney (movies.disney.com/wish) Only in theaters November 22, tickets available now. Rated PG, parental guidance suggestedDo you have your Smarty Pass yet?? Get yours today for just $4/month (or $36/year) and get bonus episodes every month, and ad-free versions of every episode of Brains On, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago. Visit www.smartypass.org to get your Smarty Pass today!

Forever Ago host Joy Dolo is looking for the perfect outfit for the Brains On Ball, but her massive closet has too many different articles of clothing to choose from. Lucky for Joy, Brains On producer Rosie duPont knows the best way to find the perfect outfit: a game of First Things First! Grab you Smarty Pass for a game that’s as fun as it is glam!

Forever Ago host Joy Dolo has just learned some incredible car facts and she desperately wants to share them with… anyone who will listen! Lucky for Joy, Brains On! host Molly Bloom loves hearing about cars -- and the best way to share facts is a game of First Things First! Grab you Smarty Pass and cruise through a game that is as fun as it is factual!

Uh oh! Forever Ago host Joy Dolo has trapped Brains On! co-creator Sanden Totten. His only escape? Play her new game: Stranger Than Fiction! Will this game be a little bit fun or extremely fun? There’s only one way to find out. Grab your Smarty Pass and listen