Shows
Scandinavian Product Podcast#27 Pitching, thinking big, characteristics of great founding teams, and more | Cecilie Skjong (Skyfall Ventures)My guest today is Cecilie Skjong, Investment Manager at Skyfall Ventures - a Norwegian early-stage venture capital fund.As a founder, nailing your pitch, thinking big and challenging yourself to be more visionary, and quickly testing your ideas to get a sense of the market pull are crucial.And the same applies to a cross-functional team building a new product in a scale-up. The same applies to a product leader leading a new opportunity in a large organization.After being exposed to hundreds of pitches and investing in several early-stage ventures, Cecilie shared...
2024-12-1851 min
Six Pack of FactsCookies & CocoaAs Six Pack of Facts comes to an end (for now!), it's time to get a little cozy. It's time for some cookies and cocoa.Thanks for listening!Research LinksCookiesMashed — The Strange History Of The Oreo And Hydrox Cookie RivalryHistory — The Surprising Origins of the Fortune CookiePBS — The History of GingerbreadThe Spruce Eats — The History of GingerbreadCocoaThe Spruce Eats — An Abridged History of Hot ChocolateChocolate: Food of the Gods — Cornell UniversityMentalfloss — 13 Things You Might Not Know About Hot
2021-11-1011 minSix Pack of FactsComets & The Oort CloudThe "dirty snowballs" of the sky have dazzled humans with their tails for centuries, and some of them have traveled quite a distance to put on the show.CometsThe Planets — Comet FactsSpace.com — Halley’s Comet: Facts About the Most Famous CometGuiness World Records — Longest measured comet tail Oort CloudNASA — Oort CloudPhys.org — What is the Oort Cloud?
2021-11-0310 minSix Pack of FactsHalloween Fact Flight! (Spooky Suite #4)In the final episode of our Spooky Suite, we're digging into 6 (...66) Halloween facts that are sure to scare the heck out of you. Or just mildly entertain you until the big night.Happy Halloween!Research LinksSmithsonian Magazine — The History of Trick-or-Treating Is Weirder Than You ThoughtHistory — SamhainNational Retail Federation — HalloweenIMDB — Hocus Pocus TriviaGood Housekeeping — 25 Fun and Scary Halloween Facts to Trick (or Treat) Your FriendsHistory — Halloween 2021
2021-10-2707 minSix Pack of FactsCandy Corn & Pumpkins (Spooky Suite #3)In the third episode of our Spooky Suite, we're getting sweet, savory, and (of course) a little spoooooky. 🎃Research LinksCandy CornBetter Homes & Gardens — The History of Candy Corn: A Halloween FavoriteAlways a Treat — All About Candy CornPumpkinsHistory — How Jack O’Lanterns Originated in Irish MythPBS — History of Pumpkins and Recipe Round-UpDiscover — Ancient Pumpkins Were Nothing Like the Fall Fruit We Know Today
2021-10-2010 minSix Pack of FactsLunacy & Werewolves (Spooky Suite #2)In the second episode of our Spooky Suite, we're gazing upward at the sky to indulge in a bit of lunar delight. Let me hear you howl... 🌕Research LinksLunacy NASA — Moon in MotionThe Washington Post — Dear Science: Does a full moon really change human behavior?Scientific American — Lunacy and the Full MoonWerewolvesHistory — Werewolf LegendsThe Conversation — The Ancient Origins of WerewolvesForbes — Here Is What Happens To Werewolves On The Moon, According To GeophysicsUniversity of Pittsburgh — The Saga of the Volsungs BBC — Who was...
2021-10-1311 minSix Pack of FactsMummies & The Mummy's Curse (Spooky Suite #1)Our Spooky Suite of Six Packs kicks off with a look into the arid sands of Egypt, the humid regions of ancient Peru and Chile, and the peaty bogs of Cheshire, England, followed by the bone-chilling afterlife revenge of the mummy's curse. Research LinksMummiesSmithsonian Magazine — What Have the World’s Oldest Mummies Kept Under Wraps?Smithsonian — Egyptian MummiesThe Atlantic — Were the Mysterious Bog People Human Sacrifices?The Mummy’s CurseNational Geographic — Curse of the MummyLive Science — What is the ancient Egyptian 'mummy's curse'?Independen...
2021-10-0613 min2021-09-2801 minSix Pack of FactsChess & CheckersCan you survive the blitzkrieg?Research LinksChessChess.com — ChaturangaMedium — What is an ELO Rating?Wired — Did a Computer Bug Help Deep Blue Beat Kasparov?CheckersCheckershistory.com — The Checkered History of CheckersThat’s — Explainer: The Origin of 'Chinese Checkers' CNN — Karate, Wonton, Chow Fun: The end of 'chop suey' fontsNew York Times — Marion Tinsley, 68, Unmatched As Checkers Champion, Is Dead
2021-09-1508 minSix Pack of FactsPickles - Fact Flight!Get ready for a quick and acidic six pack of pickle facts.Research LinksPBS — History in a Jar: The Story of PicklesPickle Science: How to Master the Preserving Power of Acids — SeriousEatsHistoric UK — James ‘Paraffin’ YoungThe Atlantic — The Mason Jar, RebornWilliam Shakespeare: The Complete Works — The Tempest
2021-09-0805 minSix Pack of FactsCotton Candy & Ferris WheelsSchedule a cleaning from your dentist now (or should you?) and get ready to go 'round and 'round and 'round.Research Links Cotton CandyNational Geographic — The Sticky-Sweet Story of Cotton CandyWordnik — A Brief History of Cotton Candy NamesFerris WheelsSmithsonian Magazine — The Brief History of the Ferris WheelThe Press of Atlantic City — Look back: Atlantic City's almost famous 'Somers Wheel'Mental Floss — 8 Amazing Ferris Wheels from Around the World
2021-09-0109 minSix Pack of FactsTurtles & ArmadillosIt's time to hunker down with your best natural armor and be amazed by these reptilian and mammalian champions.Also, don't paint turtles!Research LinksTurtlesLive Science — Turtle FactsHow Stuff Works — Can a Turtle Outgrow Its Shell?Chattahoochee Nature Center — A Turtle’s Shell Is More Than Its HomeThe Dodo — Meet Jonathan, The Oldest-Known Animal In The WorldGuinness World Records — Introducing Jonathan, the world’s oldest animal on land at 187 years old ArmadillosOne Kind Planet — ArmadilloNew York Times — Armadillos Can Tran...
2021-08-2508 minSix Pack of FactsEarth's Core & CherriesOne core is a molten, magnetic, churning hellzone. The other core is... not. But they're more similar than you might think?Ok, not really. But it's still fun, right?Research LinksEarth's Corehttps://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/core/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/earth-magnetic-field-flip-north-south-poles-scienceCherrieshttps://www.mentalfloss.com/article/82858/13-sweet-facts-about-cherrieshttps://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/in-praise-of-luxardo-cherries-articleGuide to Cultivated Plants — A. T. G. Elzebroekhttps://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/cherry-tree-myth/
2021-08-1809 minSix Pack of FactsMushrooms & MarioMy mom always said I was a... fungi.That's it. That's the show note.MushroomsModern Farmer — Truffle Hunting Has Gone to the DogsACT Gov — Death Cap MushroomBBC — The Largest Living Thing on Earth is a Humungous Fungus MarioDK Oldies — Why Did Mario Eat Mushrooms?MarioWiki — MushroomsGameRant — The Mushroom Man: 10 Weird Things You Didn't Know About Toad
2021-07-2109 minSix Pack of FactsNeutron Stars & Black HolesWe're going back to spaaaaaace to dig into two of the universe's most impressive heavyweights. Research LinksNeutron Starshttps://www.space.com/22180-neutron-stars.htmlhttps://www.symmetrymagazine.org/article/five-extreme-facts-about-neutron-starshttps://www.space.com/solar-system-fate-when-sun-dieshttps://earthsky.org/space/video-sciencecast-neutron-star-pulsar-to-magnetar/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2tfllMPIfABlack Holeshttps://www.livescience.com/black-holes.htmlhttps://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2018/11/03/ask-ethan-how-do-black-holes-actually-evaporate/?sh=31ecab624a1fhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pAnRKD4raY
2021-07-1412 minSix Pack of FactsFireworks - Fact Flight!BOOM! This episode is dog-friendly and I guarantee you'll finish it with every fingers intact.Research Linkshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/14-fun-facts-about-fireworks-180951957/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7XHc27R0fshttps://www.livescience.com/63468-fireworks-history.html
2021-07-0705 minSix Pack of FactsLogos & JinglesI've sold out to BIG ADVERTISING. ...not really, but this episode does have a ton of cool facts about stuff you've undoubtedly been manipulated by as a consumer. Fun!Research LinksLogoshttps://time.com/2904290/10-oldest-company-logos/https://creativemarket.com/blog/the-35-nike-logo-and-the-woman-who-designed-ithttps://www.mentalfloss.com/article/61633/histories-and-stories-behind-8-movie-studio-logosJingleshttps://money.howstuffworks.com/commercial-jingle.htmlhttps://www.cracked.com/blog/5-jingles-that-were-secretly-written-by-celebrities
2021-06-3008 minSix Pack of FactsPineapples & CoconutsIt's time for an audio tropical getaway! Hang ten and ride the smooth waves of these pineapple and coconut facts.Research Links Pineappleshttps://sciencemeetsfood.org/bromelain-in-pineapple/https://whatscookingamerica.net/Cake/pineapplecake.htmhttps://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/food/pineapples.htmlhttps://www.lovebigisland.com/quick-and-remarkable-facts-about-hawaii/pineapple/Coconutshttps://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/food/coconuts.htmlhttps://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/08/15/139638930/saved-by-the-coconut-water-parsing-coconut-waters-medical-claims
2021-06-2308 minSix Pack of FactsSummer Solstice - Fact Flight!Six facts up. Six facts down. It's a new of episode! A deliciously knowledge quenching flight of facts all about the upcoming summer solstice. Are you ready for summer (facts)?Research LinksAlmanac — Summer Solstice 2021: The First Day Of SummerMentalfloss — 15 Facts About the Summer Solstice
2021-06-1605 minSix Pack of FactsSand & CastlesIt’s time for a visit to the beach and trip back in time to the Middle Ages. Do you think knights wore their armor as sunscreen?Research LinksSandNature.com — What is Sand Made of? History.Sand Atlas — Sand TypesHowStuffWorks — How Sand Dunes WorkNPR — Which Is Greater, The Number Of Sand Grains On Earth Or Stars In The Sky?CastlesHowStuffWorks — How Castles WorkExploring Castles — Castle Designs Through History: From Simple Mounds to Fairytale MajestyKiwico — The Science Behind: Sandcastle Building
2021-06-1010 minSix Pack of FactsUV Rays & Ocean TidesThis week, it’s all about fun in the sun. Throw your shades on the grab your board, we’re talking UV rays and tides.Research LinksUV RaysLiveScience — What Is Electromagnetic Radiation?James Lincoln (YouTube) — Johann Ritter Ultraviolet Light DiscoveryUniversity of Iowa Health Care — What Is the Difference Between UVA and UVB Rays?FDA —Ultraviolent (UV) RadiationHard Medical School — The Science Of SunscreenTidesNOAA — TidesNOAA — What Are Tides?Sciencing — The Four Different Types of TidesU.S. Harbors — Amazing Facts About th
2021-06-0210 minSix Pack of FactsCrying & LaughterThis week, it’s ecstasy and agony. We’re exploring the gamut of human emotion and digging into some hilarious and sad facts about crying and laughter. Research Links CryingCleveland Clinic — Why We Cry and What Tears Are Made OfMental Floss — 7 Teary Facts About the Science of CryingThe Cut — Why Do We Cry to Express Feeling Overwhelmed?LaughingNPR — Dozens Of Animals Laugh Too, Study ShowsScience Daily — Fake Laughter Doesn't Fool the Brain, Research RevealsThe Conversation — The Evolutionary Origins of Laughte...
2021-05-2608 minSix Pack of FactsStrawberries & RhubarbI hope you’re prepared for your mouth to water because we’re digging into two foods — one sweet, the other tart, both delicious. It’s time for strawberries and rhubarb.Research LinksStrawberriesThe University of Vermont — History of the StrawberrySF Gate — The Difference Between Everbearing and Day-Neutral StrawberriesLiveScience — Why Are Bananas Berries, but Strawberries Aren't?RhubarbAtlas Obscura — How Alaska Became Home to Humongous RhubarbNational Geographic — Does Rhubarb Deserve Its Killer Reputation?
2021-05-1909 minSix Pack of FactsCake & CandlesDelicious history, luminous science, and smoke wishes to the gods.Happy Birthday to Theo!Research LinksCakeHow Stuff Works — How Cakes WorkFood Timline — FAQs: CakesFolklore Thursday — A Brief Tour of European Wedding Cake TraditionsToday’s Bride — The History of the Wedding Cake and Wedding Cake TopperThe Takeout — Candles, Wishes, and the History Behind our Birthday Cake TraditionsCandlesCandles.org — HistoryCandles.org — Candle ScienceSciencing — Candlepower Vs. Lumens
2021-05-1209 minSix Pack of FactsKites & Pressure SystemsUnder pressure? Go fly a kite.Thanks to Beth J. for the topic request!Research LinksKitesSports Fitness — The Most Interesting Guinness World Records For Kite FlyingAmerican Kitefliers Association — History of KitesWikipedia — Kite ExperimentPressure SystemsLive Science — Atmospheric Pressure: Definition & FactsUCAR — The Highs and Lows of Air PressureNOAA — What Is Bombogenesis?WIRED — June 11, 1644: The Barometer Gets Its First Practical Airing
2021-05-0509 minSix Pack of FactsLong Lifespans & The MayflyFrom thousands of years to just minutes, the world is made up of organisms that stretch across all timespans. Thanks to Ron S. for the topic suggestion!Research LinksLong LifespansNational Ocean Service — How Long Do Greenland Sharks Live?LiveScience — What’s the Oldest Living Organism?National Geographic — “Immortal” Jellyfish Swam World’s OceansMayflySmithsonian Channel — This Swarm of Mayflies is Big Enough to Fool Weather SatellitesWikipedia — Mayfly
2021-04-2807 minSix Pack of FactsThe Birth of the Earth & Earth DayHappy Earth Day! This week we’re turning back the clock… like, REALLY turning back the clock to discuss the birth of our humble-on-a-universal-scale-but-magnificent-nonetheless planet and the day that celebrates it. It’s time for the birth of the Earth and Earth Day.Find a local Earth Day event! Research LinksThe Birth of the EarthNASA — Solar SystemSmithsonian Magazine — How Did Water Come to Earth?Phys.org — How Was the Earth Formed?Earth DayMental Floss — 10 Fascinating Facts About Earth DayEarthDay.org — The History of Earth
2021-04-2109 minSix Pack of FactsExtinct Animals & PlantsThings were pretty different hundreds of millions of years ago, and although we haven’t quite mastered time travel yet, fossils give a glimpse into our prehistoric Earth. So, let’s look back at some incredible — and incredibly weird in some cases — extinct fauna and flora.Research LinksAnimalsAll That’s Interesting — The Glyptodon Was A Prehistoric Armadillo So Big That Early Humans Used Its Shells For SheltersNatural History Museum — What Was Megatherium? Earth Archives — The Biggest Insect Ever Was a Huge "Dragonfly"Smithsonian Magazine — Scientists Reveal What May Be the Largest...
2021-04-1409 minSix Pack of FactsBird Songs & SoundIt's a treat for your ears this episode (another very springy one to boot). Let's talk the tweety tweets of bird songs and the thing that makes it all possible — sound.Research LinksBird SongsThe Cornell Lab — All About Bird SongBBC — Tweet Top 10: Strangest Sounding BirdsThe Conversation — Lyrebirds Mimicking Chainsaws: Fact or Lie?ABC News — Lyrebird Legends Abound, but Not All the Stories Are True. Let's Sort Fact From FictionYouTube — Lyrebird: The Best Songbird EverYouTube — Lyrebird Mimics Construction SoundsYouTube — World’s Weirdest Bird Sounds – Part...
2021-04-0710 minSix Pack of FactsRain & TulipsWith spring springing soon, this episode is all about nature. The forecast is in, and it’s looking like… rain and tulips. Research LinksRainNASA — Anatomy of a RaindropSmithsonian Magazine — What Makes Rain Smell So Good?How Stuff Works — Does It Rain on Other Planets?TulipsHistory — The Real Story Behind the 17th-Century ‘Tulip Mania’ Financial CrashAmsterdam Tulip Museum - Broken Tulips: The Beautiful CurseYouTube — The History of the Tulip | Short Animation
2021-03-3107 minSix Pack of FactsMarch Madness & Extreme NumbersGet ready to hit the court for some hoops and to have your minds blown by math — it’s March Madness and extreme numbers. Research LinksMarch MadnessNCAA — March Madness History – The Ultimate GuideWikipedia — 1939 NCAA Basketball Championship GameNew York Daily News — The Triumph & Tragedy of the 1950 City College Grand SlamNCAA — The Absurd Odds of a Perfect NCAA BracketExtreme NumbersEssential Tuition — Googolplex - How big is big?Vox — The Mind-Bendy Weirdness of the Number Zero, ExplainedStuff — Think of a Very, Very, Small Number…
2021-03-2411 minSix Pack of FactsGold & GuinnessHappy St. Patrick's Day! In honor of the Irish holiday, let's dive into the stuff many a leprechaun has guarded and the nitrogenated wonder of the Emerald Isle. It’s time for gold and Guinness.Source LinksGoldFinancial Times — Scientists Discover the Origins of Gold in SpaceNASA — Gold CoatingHistory — Did Pirates Really Bury Their Treasure?GuinnessGuinness — Archive Fact Sheet: The History of GuinnessGuinness — Six Steps to Pour the Perfect Pint of GuinnessHow Stuff Works — Ridiculous History: How an Irish Beer Became th...
2021-03-1709 minSix Pack of FactsThe Ides of March & CaesarMarch 15 is right around the corner and you know what that means — the Ides are upon us! But is this date really cursed in some way? Let’s get into the infamous date and the title that helped make it so.Research LinksThe Ides of MarchHistory — Beware the Ides of March. But Why?Smithsonian Magazine — Top Ten Reasons to Beware the Ides of MarchPsychology Today — Being Amused by ApopheniaCaesarHistory — The Ides of MarchWikipedia — CaesarHistory of the Caesar Salad
2021-03-1011 minSix Pack of FactsVolcanoes & PompeiiIt's a hot one (or is it?) this week. The sometimes fiery, sometimes icy, sometimes destructive, sometimes life-bringing awe of volcanoes and one of their most infamous victims. Research LinksVolcanoesThe Conversation — Comets or Volcanoes? Scientists Are Changing Their Minds About How the Earth’s Water Got HereSpace.com — Olympus Mons: Giant Mountain of MarsForbes — This Is The Wonderfully Weird Science Behind Ice VolcanoesPompeiiHistory.com — PompeiiSmithsonian Magazine — Resurrecting Pompeii
2021-03-0310 minSix Pack of FactsChameleons & CamouflageNow here's a tricky-to-see episode! Welcome to the color-changing (and sometimes sticky) world of chameleons and camouflage. Research Links:ChameleonsMentalfloss — 10 Colorful Facts About ChameleonsNational Geographic — Chameleons’ Secret Hunting Weapon: Super-Sticky MucusNational Geographic — New Chameleon Species May be World’s Smallest ReptileCamouflageNational Geographic — Before and After: See Animals Change Their Coats for WinterThe Conversation — Motion Dazzle: Spotting the Patterns That Help Animals Outsmart Predators on the RunBritannica — The Occurrence Of Mimicry Among Plants And Animals
2021-02-2409 minSix Pack of FactsKetchup & MustardIt's a battle of red and yellow! A condiment thunderdome! A sauce showdown! ...you get the picture. It's time for ketchup and mustard.Research Links:Sources:History — The Surprisingly Ancient History of KetchupMental Floss — From Inedible to Indispensable: When a Quack Doctor Touted Tomatoes as a Medical Cure-AllLet’s Talk Science — Why Is Ketchup So Hard to Pour?Sources:Alimentarium — Mustard As a CondimentA Measured Life — Hello Again! Plus The Science of MustardMental Floss (YouTube) — Food History: Ketchup and Mustard
2021-02-1707 minSix Pack of FactsArchery & The HeartAn arrow is nocked, and the aim is true. It's all about aRchery and the hearT on this lovely episode.Research Links:ArcheryUntamed Science — Physics of Archery: The Science ExplainedSmarterEveryDay (Youtube) — The Archer's Paradox in SLOW MOTION - Smarter Every Day 136Time — Cherubic Cupid Is Everywhere on Valentine’s Day. Here’s Why That Famous Embodiment of Desire Is a ChildThe HeartNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute — How the Heart WorksNational Wildlife Federation — Amazing Animals HeartsNC State — 10 Amazing Animal Heart FactsHarvard — Whe...
2021-02-1010 minSix Pack of FactsFlamingos & Bubble GumIt's all about pink, pink, pink, PINK this episode. Flamingos — both the natural and plastic kind — and the chewy joy of bubble gum.Research Links:FlamingosMentalfloss — 15 Fascinating Flamingo FactsCleveland Clinic — Can Eating Too Many Carrots Turn Your Skin Orange?Livescience — Animal Sex: How Flamingos Do ItBritannica — Why Are Flamingos Pink?Smithsonian Magazine — The Tacky History of the Pink FlamingoBubble GumThoughtCo. — The Invention and History of Bubble GumScience World — Ever Wonder About Bubble Gum?Food&Wine — How Gum and Baseball Cards Became Intertw
2021-02-0310 minSix Pack of FactsSugar & HoneyIt's time to get sweet and sticky.Research LinksSugarWikipedia — SugarDiscover Magazine — 20 Things You Didn’t Know About… SugarSaveur — The Illustrated History of How Sugar Conquered the WorldNASA — First Detection of Sugars in Meteorites Gives Clues to Origin of LifeHoneyFood52 — The History of HoneySmithsonian Magazine — The Science Behind Honey’s Eternal Shelf LifeNational Honey Board — Honey Color and FlavorCNN — The Proven Health Benefits of Honey
2021-01-2710 minSix Pack of FactsMirrors & Bloody MaryIf you've ever been to a sleepover, there's a good chance you've tried to summon Bloody Mary. And that means you're pretty familiar with both topics of this week's six pack.Research LinksMirrorsWashington Post — Dear Science: Why is everything backward in a mirror?Live Science — Who Invented the Mirror?Brown — The Rise of the Mirror as CommonplacePsychology Today — Monsters in the Mirror: No Really, Literal MonstersBloody MaryHistory — What Inspired Queen ‘Bloody’ Mary’s Gruesome Nickname?History — 8 Things You Might Not Know About Mary IDifford...
2021-01-2010 minSix Pack of FactsTar Pits & Woolly MammothsWe're getting sticky and hairy this week. Sounds disgusting, but it's actually really interesting! ...and a little disgusting. Thanks to Carla S. for the topic request.Research LinksTar PitsUniversity of California Museum of Paleontology — The La Brea Tar PitsScience Buzz — Bubble, Bubble, Oil and… Bacteria!La Brea Tar Pits — La Brea Tar Pits and Hancock ParkUSA Today — The History of the Pitch Lake in TrinidadWikipedia — Pitch LakeWoolly MammothsLiveScience — The Last Woolly Mammoths on Earth Dad Disastrous DNAHistory — Were...
2021-01-1311 minSix Pack of FactsThe Great Wall of China & Galactic WallsHappy 2021! Let's celebrate with the first ever listener request. We're all about walls -- both Great and cosmic -- this week.Thanks to Brooke V. for the request! Interested in hearing about a topic? Send an email to sixpackoffacts@gmail.com.Research LinksGreat Wall of ChinaHistory — Great Wall of ChinaMentalfloss — 15 Colossal Facts About the Great Wall of ChinaSmithsonian Magazine — Sticky Rice Mortar, the View From Space, and More Fun Facts About China’s Great WallGalactic WallsSwinburne Astronomy Online — Galactic FilamentsGoddard Sp...
2021-01-0608 minSix Pack of FactsTime & ChampagneBreakin' the what?! Breakin' the law!This six pack runs a little longer than usual, but it's a holiday! Rules bend on holidays (or something like that).Tick tock and pop pop — dive into the mind-numbing scale of time itself and the effervescent fun of champagne. Happy New Year!Research LinksTimeExactly What Is Time? — Units of MeasurementInstitute of Advanced Studies of the University of Sao Paulo — When a Day Lasted Only 4 HoursSpace.com — Meet the Zeptosecond, the Shortest Unit of Time Ever MeasuredWikipedia —...
2020-12-3012 minSix Pack of FactsChocolate & MintStocking stuffer facts abound in this quick episode featuring mouthwatering and refreshing facts about chocolate and mint.Research Links:ChocolateNational Confectioners Associates — Fun Facts About ChocolateLive Science — Chocolate Facts, Effects & HistoryInvestopedia — The 4 Countries That Produce the Most ChocolateMintGreek Legends and Myths — The Naiad Minthe in Greek MythologyEater — A Brief History of Mint, from Air Freshener to Breath FreshenerJSTOR Daily — Plant of the Month: Mint
2020-12-2306 minSix Pack of FactsLight & ColorIs it bright or is that just Alex's technicolored podcast coat?Research Links:LightCosmos — What Is Light?Space.com — How Fast Does Light Travel? | The Speed of LightWikipedia — BioluminescenceHealth & Safety International — Miners Lamp History from Flame to ‘the Davy Lamp’ to ElectricColorTED — What Is Color?Smithsonian Magazine — The World Has Millions of Colors. Why Do We Only Name a Few?Lit Hub — Color or Fruit? On the Unlikely Etymology of “Orange”
2020-12-1609 minSix Pack of FactsSnowflakes & DiceLet it snow and roll those bones — it's a look at snowflakes and dice on this edition of Six Pack of Facts.Research LinksSnowflakes:Forbes — Ask Ethan: Could You Have Two Perfectly Identical Snowflakes?NOAA — How Do Snowflakes Form? Get the Science Behind SnowSnowcrystals.com (Caltech) — A Guide to SnowflakesMentalfloss — 15 Incredibly Cool Facts About SnowDice:Popular Mechanics — How Do You Know if Dice Are Really Fair? Math.Wired — The Mind-Boggling Challenge of Designing 120-Sided DiceThe Atlantic — The Shape of Ancient Dice Sug...
2020-12-0910 minSix Pack of FactsAbsolute Zero & Absolute HotWe're taking hot and cold to their extremes in this episode. How cold can things really get? How hot can things really get? The answers are almost certainly colder and hotter than you can imagine. Research Links:Absolute ZeroLivescience — Kelvin Temperature Scale: Facts and HistoryStandford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — The Uncertainty PrincipleSciShow — Absolute Zero: Absolute Awesome (YouTube)NASA — Fluctuations in the Cosmic Microwave BackgroundESA — Coldest Place in the Universe?MIT News — MIT team achieves coldest temperature everAbsolute HotPBS — Absolute Hot
2020-12-0209 minSix Pack of FactsCranberries & TurkeysIt's Thanksgiving week, and that means a pair of delicious topics to inhale. From the tiny and tart berries to more gobbles than you can handle, cranberries and turkey is on the SPOF menu.Research Links:CranberriesNational Geographic — Cranberries, a Thanksgiving Staple, Were a Native American SuperfoodAmerican Phytopathological Society — Cranberries: The Most Intriguing Native North American FruitNational Geographic — The U.S. cranberry harvest explained in four chartsWisconsin Cranberries — About CranberriesThe New Yorker — The Great Cranberry Scare of 1959TurkeysMentalfloss — 32 Facts About Turkeys to Gobble Ri...
2020-11-2509 minSix Pack of FactsThe Maillard Reaction & PopcornIf you've spent any time cooking, the Maillard Reaction has almost certainly been your best friend more than a few times. And popcorn? Well, popcorn is just delightful. Duh.Research Links:The Maillard ReactionReactions (YouTube) — Why the Maillard Reaction Makes Everything DeliciousFDFchannel — The Maillard ReactionKhymos — Speeding Up the Maillard ReactionPopcornWikipedia — PopcornScientific American — Explore the “POP” in PopcornNational Geographic — Ancient Popcorn Found—Made 2,000 Years Earlier Than Thought in Peru
2020-11-1807 minSix Pack of FactsPlayStation & XboxIt's the dawn of a new generation! ...of video games, at least. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are officially here. What better time to look back at some fascinating facts and stories from the two gaming giants?Research Links:PlayStationArsTechnica — The World’s Only Known Nintendo PlayStation Has Sold for $300,000IGN — History of the PlayStationThe Verge — Japanese Ps4s Can Now Use The X Button To Select, But Why Couldn’t They Do That Already?The Verge — Japanese PS4s can now use the X button to se...
2020-11-1109 minSix Pack of FactsSpeleothems & EcholocationCaves. They're dark. They're dank. They're full of interesting stuff. Speleothems are the rock giants of these environments, and echolocation is what critters use to make sure they don't bonk into them. A perfect pair, don't you think?Research Links:SpeleothemsBritannica - Stalactite and StalagmiteNational Park Service - How Stalactites and Stalagmites FormNew York Times - How Stalagmites Get Their ShapesEcholocationNational Park Service – EcholocationPhys.org - Just like bats, humans can use echolocationThe Royal So...
2020-11-0409 minSix Pack of FactsVampires & Premature BurialHalloween is upon us, and you know what that means...It's time to get spoooooooky.Vampires — at least how they’re portrayed in horror movies— are not real. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some real-world maladies that helped inspire and grow the myth of a bloodsucking night stalker.Premature burials, on the other hand, were — and are — very real. And so, so terrifying. People have created some incredible devices in hopes of avoiding the fate… but that hasn’t stopped poor souls from being placed in the Earth a bit too early…
2020-10-2810 minSix Pack of FactsThe Pistol Shrimp & The SunA tiny, tiny sea creature and the massive sphere of hellfire that heats and lights our planet might not seem like the likeliest of pairings, but the two actually have a bit more in common than you’d think.Research Links:Pistol ShrimpWired - Absurd Creature of the Week: The Feisty Shrimp That Kills…Wikipedia - AlpheidaeWikipedia - CavitationBBC - The World's Loudest Animal Might Surprise YouThe SunSpace.com - Atmosphere of the Sun: Photosphere, Chromosphere & Corona...
2020-10-2110 minSix Pack of FactsSix Pack of Facts TeaserWe all want to learn more about the world around us, but it’s not always that convenient to crack open the infinite wealth of knowledge available and dive right in.Never fear... Six Pack of Facts is here for you! Six Pack of Facts is a quick, informative, and fun podcast featuring two topics and — you guessed it — six awesome facts about them every week. From the mysteries of the cosmos to historical trips back in time to simple science that happens right in your own kitchen, you’ll learn tons of cool stuff in 10 min...
2020-10-1901 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichThe Modern Cocktail Menu - Life Behind Bars: What I’ve LearnedDuring times like these, how are bars across the country changing their drinks menus? Is it better to go with tried-and-true classics or to offer innovative and creative concoctions?On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Claire Sprouse from New York, Erick Castro from San Diego and Omar Yeefoon from Dallas—about what folks want to drink now and how the pandemic has changed the thought process behind putting together menus. So mix yourself a drink and listen to th...
2020-09-0934 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichStaffing Up During a Pandemic - Life Behind Bars: What I’ve LearnedIf hiring, training and managing a staff is one of the hardest parts of running a bar, try doing it during a pandemic.On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Ryan Fitzgerald from San Francisco, Anu Apte from Seattle and Derek Brown from Washington, D.C.—about their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic and how their roles and management styles have evolved. So mix yourself a drink and listen to this important episode of Life Behind Bars: What I’ve...
2020-09-0339 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichYes, There is an Official Bourbon Holiday - Life Behind BarsIf there was ever a time to have a glass of bourbon, now is it. Back in 2007, Congress passed a resolution declaring September National Bourbon Heritage Month. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Trey Zoeller, founder of Jefferson’s Bourbon, to talk about why the month-long holiday was created and how to properly celebrate it.So fix yourself a glass of bourbon and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Ful...
2020-09-0333 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichThe New World of To-Go Drinks - Life Behind Bars: What I’ve LearnedThanks to coronavirus closures, cities across the country have now allowed bars and restaurants to offer customers to-go drinks.On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Karl Franz Williams from New York, Christine Wiseman from Los Angeles, and Andrew Volk from Maine—about this important change in the bar industry. They discuss the new-found skills required to create to-go cocktails, as well as which drinks are (and aren’t) selling out.So mix yourself a drink and listen to thi...
2020-08-2835 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichThe Fight to Get People to Wear Face Masks in Bars - Life Behind Bars: What I’ve LearnedBartenders and bar owners are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. And one of the greatest challenges facing them today is getting their customers to wear face masks. On this special episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum talk to three top bartenders—Neal Bodenheimer from New Orleans, Alex Jump from Denver and Masa Urushido from New York—about this important issue. They discuss how patrons have reacted to wearing masks in their establishments and offer advice on how to conduct these occasionally fraught conversations.So...
2020-08-2831 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichAre the Manhattan & the Martini the Same Cocktail? - Life Behind BarsThe Martini and the Manhattan are two of the bedrock drinks that hold up the entire world of cocktails. While both have their own lore, mythology and fans, they in fact may be essentially the same drink. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the origins of both drinks and how they evolved into distinct recipes. So mix yourself a Manhattan or a Martini and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars fea...
2020-08-1923 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichFostering Diversity in the Beer & Spirits World - Life Behind BarsOn this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Garrett Oliver, the head brewer at the Brooklyn Brewery. He recently became the founding board chair of the new Michael Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling, which is named for the late legendary beer and whiskey writer. They discuss with Oliver his organization’s scholarship and mentorship program for black, indigenous, and people of color, and how he hopes these grants will shape the next generation of distillers and brewers in America. So, fix yourself a drink and...
2020-08-0535 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichCan Bars Survive the Pandemic? - Life Behind BarsThe coronavirus has the potential to decimate bars across America. Already a number of well-known establishments have announced that they won’t reopen and many others are struggling to stay afloat during these challenging times. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Nate Whitehouse, co-founder of Thirst, to talk about his organization’s efforts to get insurance companies and the federal government to help bars stay in business. So, fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Beh...
2020-07-2226 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichGone but Not Forgotten: Bars We Wish Were Still Open - Life Behind BarsDavid Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, the co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, share the bars they wish were still open: From a pioneering 18th-century punch house to Jerry Thomas’ legendary New York bar to Dale DeGroff shaking up drinks in the Rainbow Room to the recently closed Pegu Club. Their virtual bar crawl across centuries and continents covers the establishments that they have long dreamt of visiting, as well as some modern personal favorites that are no more. Which bars do you wish you could go back in time to check out? Let the...
2020-07-0930 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichThe Bars We Can’t Wait to Visit Again - Life Behind BarsAfter months of sheltering in place, David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, co-hosts of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, are daydreaming about visiting their favorite bars around the world.Listen in as they plan a bar crawl for the ages, which will hit New York, New Orleans, Detroit, Miami, Havana, Tequila, London, Paris and spots in between. Did they miss your favorite establishment? Let the hosts know on Twitter what bar you’d like to visit right now. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!...
2020-06-2530 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichTest Case: Bars Are Reopening in New Orleans - Life Behind BarsAfter weeks of being closed for a mandatory coronavirus shutdown, bars in New Orleans have begun to reopen with limited capacity. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Neal Bodenheimer, owner of James Beard Award-winning Nola bar Cure, to talk about his recent experiences reopening and the challenges that he’s had to overcome. So fix yourself a Sazerac and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor...
2020-06-1032 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 57 The Return of Cocktail HourSince the outbreak of the coronavirus, liquor store sales are up across the country with many folks fixing cocktails at home. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the return of America’s nightly cocktail hour and what people are mixing up. They also discuss the long-term effects of the coronavirus on the bar industry and how it might change after this pandemic is finished. So mix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!
2020-05-2728 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 56 The Bizarre History of Pandemic Cocktail CuresWhat happens when two committed bar flies can’t go to a bar? Find out on this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars. While sheltering in place at their respective homes, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the history of drinking during plagues and some of the cocktail cures that were created and popularized. (Spoiler alert: Rock and Rye doesn’t actually protect you from tuberculosis.) So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor...
2020-05-2025 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 55 A Concise History of Bourbon Street’s Cocktail CultureFrom the Hurricane to the Hand Grenade to the Shark Attack, some of the world’s most potent cocktails call Bourbon Street home. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the drinking culture of this famous New Orleans street. They are joined by acclaimed Half Full columnist and NOLA resident Wayne Curtis to discuss these infamous drinks and their creators. So fix yourself a cocktail and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editorNoah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks ColumnistDavid Wondrich as t...
2020-04-1531 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 54 Toasting a Bourbon LegendYou should really have a whiskey today—but better make it a bottled-in-bond whiskey. Why? Congress enacted the Bottled-in-Bond Act on March 3, 1897, which set a new standard for American whiskey and ushered in a new era of consumer protections. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, discuss the history of these important federal regulations and their modern implications. Wondrich and Rothbaum are joined by Beau Beckman, who runs the single-barrel program at Sazerac and is a descendant of bottled-in-bond advocate E.H. Taylor. So pour yourself a dram of bottled-in-bond whiskey an...
2020-03-0339 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 53 Fixing the Craft Cocktail MenuHaving trouble figuring out what to order in a craft cocktail bar? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. From exotic ingredients to wildly creative new concoctions, even for drinks experts picking a cocktail can be overwhelming at times. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, discuss the problems of the modern drinks menu and how to fix them. They also talk about how the perfect balance between classic cocktails and new creations is essential for developing the next generation of best sellers. So before you head out to the bar for...
2020-02-2634 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 52 Remembering Legendary Drinks Writer Gary ReganLast fall, we lost award-winning drinks writer Gary Regan. He wrote numerous pioneering books, including "The Joy of Mixology," "The Bartender’s Bible" and "The Negroni," in addition to writing a column for Half Full and several other publications. Gary also traveled the globe educating, inspiring and entertaining a whole generation of bartenders, and that’s not to mention finger stirring thousands of Negronis!On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum celebrate Gary’s life and work and share some of their favorite stories about him. They are joined by legendary barten...
2020-02-1146 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 51 A Cocktail Tour of Old New YorkFrom McSorley’s Old Ale House to the Ear Inn to the Nancy Whiskey, New York has no shortage of historic watering holes. On this episode of the award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about the extensive history of bars in New York and how the city’s drinking culture has evolved over the last two centuries. They dig deep into their archives for stories about oyster dens, drinking “mild ale” and the variety of speakeasies operating in the five boroughs during Prohibition.So fix yourself a drink and listen to this episode of Life Beh...
2020-01-1728 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 50 The Year in Drinks: 2019Over the last 12 months, David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum have traveled the globe—from New York to New Orleans to Naples, Italy—visiting dozens of distilleries and bars and tasting countless cocktails and spirits. On this episode of their award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, the co-hosts talk about some of the highlights of the year, the spirited fights they got into online (and won), and a few things they’d like to see happen in 2020. So mix yourself a cocktail and toast 2019 by listening to this episode of Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s...
2019-12-3125 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars Live - Episode 49 The Unspoken History of Scotch WhiskyFor the first time ever, Life Behind Bars hosts Noah Rothbaum andDavid Wondrich have taken their award-winning podcast out of the studio to do a live recording in front of an audience in, of course, a bar. On this episode, they’re joined by veteran bartender and Dewar’s North American brand ambassador Gareth Howells and over glasses of whisky (what else did you expect?) they discuss the birth and evolution of blended Scotch and single malts. So fix yourself a Scotch and listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah R...
2019-12-1148 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 48 American Whiskey’s Miraculous Comeback StoryImagine a world without bourbon or rye whiskey.As terrifying as that scenario sounds, not that long ago, America was heading in that very direction. Only a trickle of rye was being made each year and bourbon brands were struggling to stay relevant and were precipitously losing market share. But just in the nick of time, American whiskey distillers were miraculously able to stage a successful comeback.On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about how American whiskey brands lost their way and...
2019-11-2636 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 47 Death to Scotch SnobberyWhen did drinking Scotch get to be so damn complicated? There are rules, myths, legends and half-truths that are, for lack of a better term, absolute and utter shite. They can also unfortunately lead to Scotch shaming, preventing you from drinking what you really want to drink. (Bartender: Please just add a few ice cubes to my dram and hold the sanctimonious lecture about the sanctity of whisky’s purity.) Drinking whisky should, of course, be enjoyable. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum help you cut through the Scotch snobbery by...
2019-11-2232 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 46 The Undisputed Heavyweight Bar Champion: VodkaDrink trends come and go in America, but seemingly the one constant now is the unprecedented sale of vodka. Just how big is the spirit these days? Three out of every 10 bottles sold in America is vodka and the category is, unbelievably, still growing. It’s even more impressive given that 100 years ago, it wasn’t a contender and struggled to find a market. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about the secret to vodka’s unprecedented success and how it keeps defending its title. They are joined by Carl N...
2019-11-0730 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 45 From Zero to Hero: The Rise of Vodka CocktailsFrom the Moscow Mule and the Cosmopolitan to the Bloody Mary, it’s hard to find a bar that doesn’t serve at least one vodka cocktail…if not a dozen. While vodka seems like a thoroughly modern drink, it actually gained popularity after Prohibition, when Americans were thirsty for quality liquor after years of drinking alcohol of dubious origin. The spirit went on to reinvent itself for practically every successive generation and vodka continues to anchor best-selling drinks. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rot...
2019-10-0129 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 44 The Greatest Drinking City in America: New OrleansPractically since its founding some 300 years ago, New Orleans has had a famous bar scene. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, talk about the city’s rich cocktail history and their current favorite bars in and around the French Quarter. They also share a few stories, offer some drinking advice and reveal what signature Nola cocktails they like to order. If you’re a fan of New Orleans (or its cocktails), you need to listen to this episode of Life Behind Bars. Cheers!
2019-09-2028 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 43 Is the Next Big Drink a Rum Old-Fashioned?The Cuba Libre is the king of rum cocktails, but is its reign as a best-seller under siege? On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the recent global popularity of the rum Old-Fashioned and the new rum cocktails popping up on bar menus. Joining Wondrich and Rothbaum is Juan Coronado, category rum ambassador for Bacardi, who has bartended around New York and worked as cocktail innovator for celebrity chef José Andrés’s Think Food Group. Coronado called in from the rum route to d...
2019-08-1130 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 42 The Greatest American Whiskey MythWhiskey is now, of course, once again very popular but along with the adoration, the proliferation of bourbon bars and the ubiquity of the Old-Fashioned, comes an unintended side effect: nostalgia for a time that never existed.There is now a tendency among drinkers, bartenders, brands, writers and historians to glamorize the 19th century roots of American whiskey. Even worse there’s a popular idea that the way whiskey was made in the 1800s was pure and should be the model for today’s distillers. While there was certainly quality whiskey being sold at the time there was also a huge...
2019-07-3032 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 41 Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the NegroniAlong with the Vespa scooter and the Ferrari, the Negroni is one of Italy’s greatest modern inventions. The three-ingredients aperitif (the basic recipe is equal parts Campari, gin and sweet vermouth) has recently become a best-seller in America. But where did it come from? And why is it suddenly on just about every bar menu in the United States? On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum, discuss the history of the Negroni and how it evolved over the last century. If you love Negronis, you need to listen to this ep...
2019-07-0529 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 40 The Highball is Taking Over AmericaOne of the most popular drinks in craft cocktail bars at the moment is the simplest: the Highball. Generally, it’s a refreshing mix of whiskey and club soda, which is delicious on a hot afternoon. While many bartenders and drinkers discovered their love of the bubbly concoction in Tokyo bars where Highballs are a downright sensation, their history is much longer and they can actually be made from a variety of ingredients. On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the roots of th...
2019-05-2123 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 39 Is Rum Finally Ready to Seriously Challenge Whiskey?After years of being lost in a sea of Coke and other mixers, rum is finally emerging as a sipping spirit. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? And can rum actually attract whiskey drinkers and collectors? On this episode of the award-winning podcast Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss these developments, including the rise of collectible pot still rums and the associated snobbery, as well as the recent fiery debates on social media between rum aficionados. If you enjoy rum or whiskey, listen to this episode...
2019-05-0726 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 38 Are Dive Bars an Endangered Species?Before there were fancy craft cocktail bars, Americans learned to drink in dive bars. These humble establishments are a sacred tradition, dispensing affordable shots of potent whiskey and pints of cold beer to the thirsty masses. They likely date back to a subterranean Buffalo joint that opened in the mid-1800s along the banks of the city’s canal. Soon the term and style of bar spread across the United States. The popularity of dives usually ebbs and flows with the state of the country’s economy but they’ve always attracted a diverse and eclectic crowd. Sadly, in many c...
2019-03-2929 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 37 Drinking Your Way Across IrelandThere are few drinking institutions more revered or storied than the Irish pub. Traditionally, back in the old country, these bars were the center of their respective communities, often also serving as the post office, grocery store and, even, funeral home.On this episode of award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum are joined by Sean Muldoon and Tim Herlihy, the co-authors of the new book, “From Barley to Blarney: A Whiskey Lover’s Guide to Ireland,” to chat about the state of Ireland’s pubs and the secrets to pouring the perfect pint of Guinness. Muldoon...
2019-03-0934 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 36 Pushing the Boundaries of Single Malt Scotch WhiskyThe recipe for making Scotch is pretty simple: malted barley, water and yeast—that’s it. Talented distillers and blenders across Scotland transform these humble ingredients to produce delicious whisky. But Scotch is also one of the most heavily regulated spirits on the planet. The Scotch Whisky Association has very strict rules and regulations that you must follow if you want to call your spirit Scotch. (At the top of the list, of course, is that the whisky must be made and aged in Scotland!) As a result, whisky makers have to be very...
2019-02-1530 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 35 The Bastardization of the Hot ToddyThe Hot Toddy started out as a relatively simple drink: sugar, booze, hot water and possibly some grated nutmeg.Over the next roughly 300 years, that definition stretched to include a whole host of ingredients—everything from apple cider, honey and fresh lemon juice to a kitchen cabinet full of spices. While those drinks are certainly warming on a cold evening are they still a Hot Toddy?On this episode of award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the history of this hot cocktail and how it’s become a mess of a recipe.So put the...
2019-01-2724 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 34 Future Cocktails: What You’ll Be Drinking in 2019From spirits and craft beer to spiked seltzer, on this episode of award-winning podcast, Life Behind Bars, hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich looked into their crystal Martini glasses to divine what you’ll be drinking in 2019. The duo also dissect the biggest drinking trends of 2018, share some of the spirited events they’re looking forward to attending this year and forecast the future of a number of liquor categories. So pour fix yourself a drink and enjoy the discussion. Cheers! Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothba...
2019-01-1835 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 33 The Year in DrinksBefore the ball drops on New Year’s Eve listen to the year-end episode of podcast Life Behind Bars. Hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich recount the highs and lows of 2018, including some of the biggest bar openings of the year, the noteworthy new books that were published, their favorite Half Full stories and remember some friends who passed away this year. Pour yourself a glass of Champagne and enjoy the discussion. Cheers!Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the grea...
2018-12-2834 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 32 The Ultimate Holiday Party Drink: Cognac PunchForget the holiday season, it’s punch season! Seriously. For centuries, people have been making big bowls of Cognac punch for their friends and family. Why? It’s not only delicious but much easier to make than other traditional seasonal drinks, like Eggnog, Hot Buttered Run or Tom Jerry, and you can mix up a batch ahead of time. And when it comes to punch, there is no one more knowledgeable than David Wondrich. In fact, he wrote the book on the historic beverage.On this episode of Life Behind Bars, Wondrich and his co-host Noah Rothbaum discuss the origins of t...
2018-12-0825 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 31 The Wide World of WhiskeyFor decades, Kentucky, Scotland, Ireland and Canada dominated the whiskey business. Few bars carried any whiskies made anywhere else and that was really just fine with most drinkers. But over the last decade, these distilling stalwarts have been joined by an ever-growing international selection of bottles from India, Japan Scandinavia and seemingly everywhere in between. On this episode of Life Behind Bars co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss this growing trend, share their favorite international whiskies and forecast where they see the business headed. (Spoiler alert: Are you ready for Italian whiskey?) So pour yourself a good dram and...
2018-11-2928 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 30 - The Greatest Bartenders the World ForgotThe stars of the rebirth of the cocktail are legendary bartenders, likeJerry Thomas, Harry Johnson andHarry Craddock, who worked decades and decades ago. Their drink books are now back in print and their signature cocktails can be found on bar menus around the world.But there are several important bartenders who made major mixological contributions that have been largely lost to history. This episode of Life Behind Barsis about Duncan Nicol, who ran San Francisco’s famed Bank Exchange until Prohibition and was known for his signature Pisco Punch, and Jim Gray, who was one of New...
2018-10-2428 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 29 - You Only Know Half of Rum’s HistoryThe history of rum usually begins and ends with the Caribbean. It makes sense since the region is home to many famous brands and has been producing the liquor since the 1600s. But that’s really only part of the spirit’s long story. There is strong evidence that people were making spirits from sugarcane 1,000 years earlier in India. This distilling knowledge ultimately traveled with sailors, explorers and traders, and it was brought to the Caribbean and Brazil where it flourished. If you love to drink rum you need to listen to co-host David Wondrich build his case for this revo...
2018-10-1127 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 28 Everything You Know About the Sazerac is WrongThe legendary New Orleans drink had a lovely history about how it was originally made with Cognac, but thanks to the massive destruction wrought on European vineyards by phylloxera, Americans were forced to replace the French spirit with rye whiskey.Sadly, this history is not true. On this episode of Life Behind Bars, co-hosts David Wondrich and Noah Rothbaum discuss the complicated history of the Sazerac and try to finally set the record straight about its origins.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its Senior Drinks Columnist David Wondrich as they discuss the greatest bartenders an...
2018-08-2432 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 27 - Did Trump Curse New York’s Tiki Bars?During the winter of 1989, Donald Trump went to war with Trader Vic’s.The New York outpost of the famous tiki bar chain was located in the legendary Plaza Hotel, which Trump owned at the time. In an attempt to close the establishment, he reportedly said it had “gotten tacky.” He continued by saying “Trader Vic’s does not fit in with the image of the hotel that I want to achieve.”This lead to an uproar with even former President Richard Nixon issuing a statement about how much the bar meant to him and his family. Ultimately, Trader Vic’s closed and e...
2018-08-1628 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 26 - Your Summer Drink: The Tom CollinsThe beautiful simplicity of the Tom Collins recipe—gin, sugar, lemon juice and club soda—makes it hard to believe that someone had to actually convince the rest of us to give it a try. It’s the perfect drink for a hot summer afternoon.But the British bartender John Collin popularized the recipe in the early 19th century. Yes, it was originally called a John Collins but over time morphed and became known as a Tom Collins. It’s a good story full of odd twists and turns, and is the subject of the new episode of podcast Life Behind B...
2018-07-1227 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 25 - Punch Will Save Your Summer PartySummer party hosts, a word of advice: forget about serving cocktails.Parties should be fun for the guests as well as the host and making drinks for a large groups is hard and sweaty work. So, put away the shaker, the bar spoon and the strainer. You won’t need them. Instead, at your next event make a big bowl of delicious punch, which can be prepared in advance and is the original session drink!Over the last decade, the drink’s reputation has greatly improved—from fraternity house staple to the darling of the cocktail community. A number of the be...
2018-07-0230 min
Life Behind Bars with Noah Rothbaum & David WondrichLife Behind Bars - Episode 24 Are Drinking Rules Made to be Broken?From no standing at the bar to no yelling to no hats, over the last two decades, craft cocktail bars from coast to coast have been posting their own etiquette guidelines. But are any of these rules actually necessary or worth following?To answer this question, Life Behind Bars hosts Noah Rothbaum and David Wondrich are joined by veteran Portland, Oregon, bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler, who just published "Drinking Distilled: A User’s Manual."Listen to the episode to find out if you need to change your behavior in bars.Life Behind Bars features Half Full’s editor Noah Rothbaum and its...
2018-06-0134 min