Shows
30 Minute ExpertDaylight Saving TimeIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Daylight Saving Time! We just endured the clock change here in the US this weekend and it was not fun. So we figured why not find out why we do this in the first place! And it's an interesting story that has way more to do with wars and way less to do with farmers than we thought. Daylight Saving (note saving, not savings) Time as we know it has only been around since basically 2007. What the heck?! AND who do we have thank for the specific dates...
2022-03-1448 min30 Minute ExpertPeanut ButterIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Peanut Butter! It's a simple food, but it has an interesting and fun-filled history. Although peanut butter might make you think of George Washington Carver, he actually did not invent peanut butter! But he did come up with lots of other uses for peanuts. Peanut butter has its roots in Aztec and Incan civilizations, but became popular in America in the early 1900s. And now we can't get enough of the stuff!
Highlights Include:
- The number of peanuts in one jar of peanut bu...
2022-03-0742 min30 Minute ExpertSound BathsIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Sound Baths! We live in LA, so we've heard about sound baths a lot, but never really knew what they were. And turns out, they are super cool! If you are a sound bath skeptic, take it up with ancient peoples from over 40,000 years ago (!) because that's how long sound therapy has been used by humans. From Australian aboriginals to ancient Greeks and Tibetans, ancient cultures knew what was up with the healing powers of sound. Sound Baths are relaxing, healing, and accessible basically to all - even...
2022-02-2837 min30 Minute ExpertBar Exam Week Review: The Electoral CollegeHey experts! This week Katie is taking the Bar exam and she needed to focus... So we're doing a little review for you too! Here's one of our favorite episodes on a topic we all could stand to know more about. Send good vibes to Katie and all Bar takers across the country this week while you learn about how our this weird aspect of our government works!
2022-02-2143 min30 Minute ExpertCurlingIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Curling! Have you been watching the Olympics? Because we have, and naturally, we're very into curling. But we didn't understand the first thing about it! So we decided to learn. Curling, one of the world's oldest team sports, is pretty fascinating. There's some very complicated physics involved - research at your own risk - but other than that it's pretty accessible. From 16th century Scotland to 202's Beijing Olympic games, curling hs quite the history,
Highlights Include:
- Lots of fun and funny terms
2022-02-1442 min30 Minute ExpertSuper Bowl CommercialsIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Super Bowl Commercials! We decided to get in the spirit of the season before the Big Game on Sunday and learn about the freakin' racket that is Super Bowl Commercials. We talk 1984 Apple, the Budweiser frogs, Betty White in Snickers, and more. Mostly this is a lot of - can you believe how much a 30 second ad cost in that year?? - talk, but it is fun.
Highlights Include:
- The great merger of the AFL and NFL
- Ridley Scott directing a...
2022-02-0750 min30 Minute ExpertJell-OIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Jell-O! Jell-O is a topic that is near and dear to our hearts, for a reason we disclose at the end of the episode! And it did not disappoint. Gelatin-based foods may date back to the 10th century, but modern day Jell-O has all of its roots in dear old New York State. Jell-O has had its ups and downs over the years, including a very successful campaign with a famous comedian who shall not be named, but we find overall it's a big up. And do yourselves a...
2022-01-3142 min30 Minute ExpertQuicksandIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Quicksand! We took a cue from our last episode and decided to clear up another great fear from childhood. Because who didn't see that scene in Princess Bride and decide that someday they too would step into a pit in a forest never to be seen again?! But here's the thing - according to expert Zack, a human being cannot sink fully into and die from quicksand! What a relief! understanding why entails some discussion of viscosity and density of torsos, but it's not too technical. Overall, this...
2022-01-2431 min30 Minute ExpertSpontaneous Human CombustionIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Spontaneous Human Combustion! We're back and we're back with a bang! If you're like us, you were very worried about spontaneously bursting into flames throughout most of your childhood, but haven't thought about it much since. What was up with that? Well we find out in this episode. The truth is, probably not much was up with it, and most instances of spontaneous human combustion can be explained by a combination of alcohol and smoking. But it's still a super weird phenomenon, and pretty gross when you look in...
2022-01-1734 min30 Minute ExpertHoliday Best Of: The Constitution of the United States of AmericaFriends, dear listeners, stranger who so kindly support us... we needed one more week! And let's be honest, you probably need to brush up on your knowledge of the Constitution anyway. So basically, you're welcome! Learn about the supreme law of the land in the United States!
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Music by Jake Radvansky
2022-01-1039 min30 Minute ExpertHoliday Best Of: WatergateHappy New Year! Seems like a lot of people were ready to say good riddance to 2021 and we are too. Yay 2022! For our final holiday best of episode, we are giving you a refresher on Watergate! The scandal that rocked America and ended Nixon's presidency. Scandals! Presidencies! Maybe a good topic for this time of year... Watergate has consistently been a top episode of ours, and we hope it's both entertaining and informing. Enjoy! And then, let's have the best year yet!
Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and twitter @30minexpertpod
Send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@g...
2022-01-0342 min30 Minute ExpertHoliday Best Of: Tarot CardsNext up in our Holiday Best Of line-up: Tarot Cards! This is another of our most downloaded (and most enjoyed!) episodes, and for good reason. Tarot Cards are fascinating, and often misunderstood, topic. And when better to brush up on your fortune-telling mechanisms than right before the new year. You can get a tarot reading to see what the new year has in store, or make a resolution to pick up a new hobby and learn to read tarot yourself! Either way, enjoy this fun exploration with us! And Happy New Year!
Follow on instagram @30m...
2021-12-2744 min30 Minute ExpertHoliday Best Of: ChessHappy Holidays Everyone! We are taking a vacation and decided to run three of our favorites for you while we are resting and relaxing. First up: Chess! We loved this topic when we first did it, and since then Katie has taken it upon herself to teach Zack how to play chess! And now we are addicted. Also, we recently (finally) watched The Queen's Gambit on Netflix - highly recommend! Do like we did - listen to this episode, then learn chess, then play it a lot, then binge the series. Spoiler alert - the "queen's gambit" is a...
2021-12-2039 min30 Minute ExpertThe North PoleIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... The North Pole! We figured this was a fun seasonal topic. We broke it into three parts for your listening pleasure: the science, the history, and the Santa. So sit back, relax, and prop your feet up in front of the fire while learning about what the north pole really is (geographic vs. magnetic), who really discovered it (Peary? Or no!), and why Santa chose to live there (and how we know about it).
Highlights Include:
- Historical drama!! Who was the first to r...
2021-12-1338 min30 Minute ExpertWho Really Wrote Shakespeare‘s Plays?In today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Who Really Wrote Shakespeare's Plays! William Shakespeare, that is! The man, the myth, the legend! Emphasis on myth here, because we dove into whether Shakespeare actually wrote all of the writing attributed to him! Zack dove into three big Shakespiracies -the Oxfordian theory, the Baconian theory, and the Marlovian theory. As much as we generally poo poo-ed these ideas, you have to respect how intense and powerful the names sound. Whether Shakespeare's plays were actually written by Edward de Vere, Sir Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, or William Shakespeare...
2021-12-0647 min30 Minute ExpertOak IslandIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Oak Island! Wow this turned out to be our longest episode yet, because it's filled with PASSION! We love this topic, as you can tell from the fact that Zack (who did not do any research) chimes in throughout and is just about as knowledgeable as Katie (the professed expert). Just in case you don't know,Oak Island is a tiny island in Canada off the coast of Nova Scotia that may have the greatest treasure in human history buried on it!! Okay, got excited there again. But r...
2021-11-291h 1130 Minute ExpertSPAM. It‘s What‘s for Dinner.In today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... SPAM! It's What's for Dinner! It is what's for dinner here tonight because, let me tell you, you can't learn all about SPAM and then not eat it for dinner that night. It's a fascinating tale! And SPAM is not the chemical-based processed meat byproduct that many of us think it is. SPAM fed countless soldiers all over the world in World War II, and even fed the civilians who were at home with less than complete supply chains. Lots of cultures have made SPAM a household item, an...
2021-11-2242 min30 Minute ExpertMaple SyrupIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Maple Syrup! Starting with some fun Native American legends! Maybe a chief threw an axe at a tree, maybe some youths copied a squirrel, or maybe a god was mad at all the laziness he saw - whatever it was, thank goodness they discovered it. Although the process has changed significantly over the years, the method remains the same - get some sap, boil it down, and end up with some of the most delicious stuff you've ever tasted. Next time, go for the good stuff and treat y...
2021-11-1537 min30 Minute ExpertMarathonsIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Marathons! We watched the LA Marathon run essentially past our front door the morning we recorded, so it was a natural topic. not to mention there were several other major marathons that day across the country! So how did marathons start and why are they 26.2 miles? We had to find out. As usual, it was an interesting run through history, making stops in Greece, England, and Boston along the way. Some good old fashioned sexism in there as well - women couldn't run the marathon in the Olympics...
2021-11-0847 min30 Minute ExpertVampiresIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Vampires! We recorded on Halloween, so we had to get one more spooky topic in. And this turned out to be a great one! Some history, some lore, and some gore - what more could we ask for? From real-life figures in history, like Mercy Brown, to larger than life characters like Count Dracula, vampires are an interesting and diverse bunch. More terrifying than interesting was real-life 15th century Romanian ruler Vlad Dracul, aka Vlad the Impaler, whose nickname was rather on the nose. Some of this is...
2021-11-0139 min30 Minute ExpertHalloweenIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Halloween! While it may feel like pandering to the audience, really, when would you more want to learn about Halloween more than right now? And it turns out, it's a really fun and interesting topic to learn about! Get ready for some Celt history, how to pronounce Samhain, and the very disturbing origin of the word "bonfire." Samhain is a fascinating ancient festival celebrating the ed of summer, the harvest, and the thinning of the veil between the living and the dead. We learned about soul cakes, turnip...
2021-10-2550 min30 Minute ExpertOktoberfestIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Oktoberfest! The world's biggest festival! This was a really fun one. Just full of joy and celebration and food and drink - exactly what you want to kick off the fall. Sometimes, when you have a really successful royal wedding, it turns into a 200-year long celebration that only gets better as the years pass. And turns out that most of the people who attend Oktoberfest are Germans - specifically, Bavarians. So if the locals go there, you know it's good. After hearing about the parade, and the g...
2021-10-1840 min30 Minute ExpertThe Tour de FranceIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... The Tour de France! We knew the Tour de France was a bike race, and we knew it was in France, but boy, we did not know much else! Did you know the course changes every year? That participants have to be excellent at biking on flat, hilly, AND mountain terrain?? That they have to bike over 2,000 miles in like 20 days??? It was exhausting to learn about, and probably even more exhausting to do. But it was really interesting and, like most things, had some really fun origins...
2021-10-1144 min30 Minute ExpertHenna, aka MehndiIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Henna aka Mehndi! This was a Katie personal pick because of a recent experience, and maybe we need to do more like that because it was so fun! Henna, aka Mehndi, was so fun to get done, and then just as fun to learn about. Rarely do you come across cultural practices that are so old, and run through so many varied cultures. And rarely does one word have so many meanings! Henna can be a plant, a dye, or a temporary tattoo on your skin, but it is a...
2021-10-0448 min30 Minute ExpertGummy BearsIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Gummy Bears! Okay, so this was a tough week and Katie totally copped out and let Zack ick his own topic, so naturally we landed on... gummy bears. But as with most things in life, if you take a close look at them, they turn out to be interesting! As was the case with gummy bears. Some World War II in there, some circus bears of the early 1900s, this tale has got it all. And we promise to find some vegan gummy bears for all you vegans...
2021-09-2732 min30 Minute ExpertHip-HopIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Hip-Hop! Yup, I said a hip, hop, the hippie, the hippie, to the hip hip-hop, and you don't stop the rock it to the bang-bang, boogie say "up jump" the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie, the beat. Thanks, The Sugar Hill Gang for that fabulous intro. Hip-Hop is more than just a music genre, it's a culture and a movement. And it all started at one party in the South Bronx in the early 70s with an innovative young man called DJ Kool Herc. We thought t...
2021-09-2042 min30 Minute ExpertBungee JumpingIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Bungee Jumping! This was a wild one! Get ready to search youtube for videos of vine jumping on Pentecost Island. It's always fun when a modern fad is based in an established culture, and that's what we found here. Why do they vine jump? Is it to thank the gods for an abundance of yams? Or to make sure that abused wives can never get away again? We're sticking with the first one. As for modern bungee jumping, we can all thank AJ Hackett - a New Zealander w...
2021-09-1338 min30 Minute ExpertThe Empire State BuildingIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... The Empire State Building! As you'll hear in the intro, the construction story is pretty interesting. Turns out this interesting story ended up being a lot of pettiness on the part of grown-men builders as they strove to out-do each other and claim the tallest building on earth. Spoiler alert: they did! Well, the Empire State Building guys did. Not so much for Mr. Chrysler or the dudes at 40 Wall Street. This episode is full of mind-blowing facts about the building and its construction. They don't do it l...
2021-09-0636 min30 Minute ExpertThe La Brea Tar PitsIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... The La Brea Tar Pits! If you live in LA, you've probably seen or at least smelled the La Brea Tar pits at some point. For those who don't know - these are pits of tar, right smack in the middle of Los Angeles. Like, there's a Walgreens and an IHOP and then Boom! Tar Pits! Outta nowhere. What you might not realize is that these random pits of smelly black goo house an incredible wealth of historic artifacts. Scientists have found tons of remnants of long-extinct plants...
2021-08-3037 min30 Minute ExpertThe YetiIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Yetis! AKA, Abominable Snowmen! We figured, it's pretty hot, so let's talk about some cold snow-beasts. And it did the trick! We are both cooled off and a little scared actually... Because now we believe in Yetis! Maybe not really, but you gotta listen to the sherpas on mount Everest, don't you? And when the sherpas tell tales of Yetis, and a guy in 1951 takes a picture of a Yeti footprint, and Zack has a recovered memory of FOOTAGE OF YETIS... you believe. All jokes aside, this was...
2021-08-2334 min30 Minute ExpertSurfingIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Surfing! First of all, thanks for the break! Hope you guys enjoyed those couple of throwbacks -they were two of our favorites. Now school is back in session (for Katie, at least), and we are back to our regularly scheduled programming! But we still wanted to keep the summer feel going, so we learned all about surfing. As Zack mentions, he focused on the history and cultural roots of surfing, and it was a good choice. We learned all about surfing's roots, from ancient Peru to less ancient...
2021-08-1648 min30 Minute ExpertSummer Re-Run: BanksyThis episode we are giving ourselves a little summer break and throwing it back to one of our favorites, Banksy! Happy Summer Everyone!
In today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Banksy! Who is Banksy? Okay, we didn't actually figure out Banksy's true identity in this episode, but we did learn a whole lot about the anonymous street artist. In today's world, it's pretty rare to maintain true anonymity in spite of worldwide fame, but somehow Banksy has managed it. This is a really visual episode for obvious reasons, so definitely check out our i...
2021-08-0942 min30 Minute ExpertSummer Re-Run: KintsugiThis episode we are giving ourselves a little summer break and throwing it back to one of our favorites, Kintsugi! Happy Summer Everyone! Have fun and appreciate your flaws :)
In today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Kintsugi! What is kintsugi, you may ask? Zack did too! Join Zack and Katie in learning about the Japanese practice of repairing broken pottery with gold, and maybe learn to appreciate your own flaws along the way. Self-love. Kintsugi style.
2021-08-0230 min30 Minute ExpertThe Butterfly EffectIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The Butterfly Effect! This is a complicated one, but ultimately satisfying. If you've ever wondered whether a tiny decision in your life led to massive changes and unforetold differences, this episode will NOT clear that up for you, but it will certainly try. A math mistake in a weather simulation in the 1960s made Edward Norton Lorenz ask, does the flap of a butterfly's wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas? And everyone RAN with it. However, pretty sure they ran with the opposite of what...
2021-07-2624 min30 Minute ExpertPublisher's Clearing House: You May Already Be A Winner!In today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Publisher's Clearing House! What a random topic, but it turned out super fun. In fact, Zack puts it in his top three episodes of ALL TIME. So I wouldn't skip it. If you aren't American, or are like 12, you may not know what this is. But rest assured, you will know by the end of this episode! Direct Sales! Sweepstakes! Giant Checks! Ed McMahon? It's all here. Except Ed McMahon, who is a figment of the Mandela Effect (shoutout a couple weeks ago). A little bit predatory, a...
2021-07-1945 min30 Minute ExpertTaxidermyIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Taxidermy! If you are grossed out right now, then you know how she felt! But it ended up being a lot more interesting, historical, and environmentally-inclined of a topic than we anticipated. Taxidermy has its roots in Ancient Egypt, as well as in the practices of ancient Europeans as well as Native Americans through today. We did a brief run through how it actually works (nothing too upsetting, we promise), but focused on the history of taxidermy and its impact on society.
Highlights Include:
- A...
2021-07-1252 min30 Minute ExpertFireworksIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Fireworks! How did we come up with this idea? Oh, maybe because they've been going off non-stop for the past week! As we learned, fireworks have been a part of celebrating our country's independence since the first anniversary of the singing of the Declaration of Independence, which is pretty cool. Makes those 2am explosions have some significance, you know? If you've ever wondered how on earth fireworks work, this one's for you. We learned where the colors come from, where the shapes come from, how they get up...
2021-07-0544 min30 Minute ExpertRoller-coastersIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Roller-coasters! Hang on to your hats, kids! Literally, if you are on a roller-coaster, and figuratively if you are listening to this episode because it is one wild ride. Roller-coasters have such a fun history, and continue to be fun today. We went to 16th-century Russia to ride some ice-slides with Catherine the Great, Coney Island to see the creations of the father of the roller-coaster himself, La Marcus Thompson, and ended up on the tallest of all - Kingda Ka in none other than Jackson, New Jersey...
2021-06-281h 0230 Minute ExpertStonehengeIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Stonehenge! This may be the oldest topic we've ever covered here on #0 Minute Expert, because man, that thing is old! Stonehenge is still very much a mystery, but very smart scientists and archaeologists are pretty sure (and convinced us) that Stonehenge dates to as early as 4,200 B.C. WOW! Also, it was likely built in stages over 1,500 years - talk about contractors taking a long time to get the job done! Unfortunately Zack could not solve the mystery, but we did explore options including: temple? burial ground? place...
2021-06-2140 min30 Minute ExpertThe Rosetta StoneIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The Rosetta Stone! Not the software that teaches you Spanish, we covered that in the intro. But the real Rosetta Stone! The ancient granite slab that finally allowed modern humans to understand what was written in ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics. Who knew there was another ancient Egyptian system of writing called "Demotic"? Probably some smart people and definitely lots of archaeologists, but not us. We were floored. It took two men over 20 years to finally crack the code of the Rosetta Stone - only to learn that it's just...
2021-06-1444 min30 Minute ExpertNudismIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Nudism! Or, as we learned it should be referred to, Naturalism! If you've ever wondered what it might be like to spend all your days sans clothes, this is the one for you. We learned about the intention/philosophy/mentality behind nudism, and you know what? It's pretty peaceful. Lots of retirees embracing themselves and the simplicity of life. You can purchase a one-day pass to a bunch of nudist spas across the country, so maybe go check it out. If you are feelin' breezy.
Highlights...
2021-06-0729 min30 Minute ExpertH.P. LovecraftIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... H.P. Lovecraft! Okay, "expert" is always a stretch, but it's a big one here. It's hard to learn about a person's whole life in 30 minutes, especially when that person wrote over 70 stories, over 100,000 letters, and inspired countless metal bands, games, and works of literature. Lovecraft even has a whole subgenre of horror named after him. "Lovecraftian" works are likely to be horrific, full of monsters and fear of the unknown, and to leave you feeling full of terror and despair - nice! Really this man was not a...
2021-05-3145 min30 Minute ExpertEarthquakesIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Earthquakes! Fun fact - Zack is taking Geography this semester, so he was already a bit of an exert on the subject before his 30 minutes study period! But he became even more of an expert for us and for that, we are grateful. So let's shake, rattle and roll our way to tectonic brilliance. Zack schools us on the three different types of tectonic plate movement and explains why the kind that the San Andreas fault is is the most dangerous and potentially devastating (of course). But knowledge i...
2021-05-2457 min30 Minute ExpertThe Mandela EffectIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The Mandela Effect! First of all, guess what?! This is 30 Minute Expert's One Year Anniversary! That's right, we've been at it for one whole year. Very proud to have made it this far - thank you so much to everyone who has listened and supported us. We did it! Back to scheduled programming: The Mandela Effect! If you thought the Berenstain Bears were the Berenstein Bears, or that Darth Vader said "Luke, I am your father," or that Tom Cruise wore sunglasses in that underwear scene in Risky Bu...
2021-05-171h 0430 Minute ExpertVanillaIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Vanilla! The plant, the spice, the flavor, we cover it all. And, at the risk/certainty of making a very embarrassing and overdone joke, there is nothing "vanilla" about vanilla. Vanilla is the second-most expensive spice in the world (after saffron). It has to be hand-pollinated using a method discovered by a 12-year-old boy enslaved on an island off Madagascar. And the flower blooms for one day before it dies, a la Dennis the Menace, so if you miss that one day, you're out of luck - hence...
2021-05-1041 min30 Minute ExpertThe Panama CanalIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The Panama Canal! The Suez Canal got a lot of press earlier this year, so we thought the Panama Canal deserved some attention. Building the Panama Canal was a ten-year endeavor, and was extremely complicated, but (from our humble perspective) appears to have been worth it. Thousands of container ships use this shortcut now every year - a shortcut that cuts 8,000 miles off of a trip from the east to west coast of the United States. We can thank Teddy Roosevelt and the Panamanian rebels for the possibility of...
2021-05-0336 min30 Minute ExpertDid England Send Convicts to Australia?In today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Did England Send Convicts to Australia? Answer: Yes it did! This was a fascinating look into a really dark part of history. England only sent convicts to Australia because it couldn't send them to the Americas anymore, because duh, the Revolutionary War. We don't want your tea or your convicts anymore! And the hulks - the ships-turned-prisons floating in harbors in England - were full (plus everyone on them was dying of typhoid and cholera). Man, this was a rough one! Between 70-year-old ladies being shipped across the...
2021-04-2635 min30 Minute ExpertCatnipIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Catnip! That sprinkly stuff that makes the cats go wild! We figured, if there's something you regularly give your pets, why not understand it a little better? This was a fun one - simple to understand, and fun to picture all of those kitties having fun. Listen to hear Katie try and pronounce "nepetalactone" and to hear Zack get real uncomfortable with the more mature aspects of catnip's effects. You can grow catnip yourself - and even make some tea for you if your cat happens to be...
2021-04-1937 min30 Minute ExpertDutch Tulip ManiaIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Dutch Tulip Mania! First of all, what is "Dutch," amirite? If you've ever wondered what the difference is between Holland, Amsterdam, and The Netherlands, this episode will clear all of that up for you. Great. Now that that's out of the way, what does tulip mania have to do with them? Turns out that tulips were at the center of the first financial "bubble" ever! Caveat - maybe. There's a lot of myth hyping up this story, but the story itself is pretty interesting nonetheless. Dutch people back...
2021-04-1243 min30 Minute ExpertMatchesIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Matches! Uh huh, those little cardboard or wooden sticks you use to light things on fire. Hopefully not a lot of things, but candles, maybe! Zack thought he knew that matches were invented after lighters, and he was right! For being such a handy little gadget, matches did not come around until late in the game of humanity. Probably because there are some seriously dangerous chemicals involved, and we were not ready to handle them. Ancient China (I'm talking 5th century A.D.) had little sticks soaked in sul...
2021-04-0543 min30 Minute ExpertPheromonesIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Pheromones! Okay, you know you want to listen to this one. It's a highway to scoring a hot date in the post-pandemic world, right? Well, pump the brakes for a minute, because we've got good news and bad news. The good news is pheromones are totally real, and are present in most of the animal world (for sure moths and goldfish, the gold standard of animal traits). It's almost certain that humans have pheromones as well - however, we haven't isolated the molecule that constitutes them yet. So...
2021-03-2931 min30 Minute ExpertThe Bermuda TriangleIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The Bermuda Triangle! Wow. This is an episode for the ages. The Bermuda Triangle! What the heck is it? It's a triangle, first of all, but it's so much more. Or, it's nothing, if you're gonna believe what the Navy has to say about it (smh). Weird stuff has been happening in the Bermuda Triangle since Shakespeare's time apparently, and even Chris Columbus, that fool, had an experience with it. Here's the thing - weird stuff has happened there. Lots of ships and planes that disappear without a...
2021-03-2246 min30 Minute ExpertSt. PatrickIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... St. Patrick! Every once in a while we like to give you a timely episode, and this is one! Before you all celebrate in COVID-friendly ways like the good little experts you are, why not learn about the man you are getting drunk in honor of. This one takes us way way back to the 5th century (which is the 400s for those of us who have trouble with that). We move from Britain, to Ireland, back to Britain again, and lose no snakes in the process. St. Pa...
2021-03-1534 min30 Minute ExpertVisual Agnosia, or The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a HatIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Visual Agnosia, or The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat! Boom! Long Title! This one was a doozy! Whenever things get sciency up in here, we get a little nervous because it is not our personal forte. But the various disorders that fall under the umbrella of "agnosia" are so interesting and unknown, it was worth the deep dive. This episode was sparked by Katie's request to Zack that he let her know if he learned about a guy who thought his wife was a hat...
2021-03-0847 min30 Minute ExpertDry CleaningIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Dry Cleaning! Are you like us and just drop your clothes off at the dry cleaner and have no idea what they do with them? Then this episode is for YOU! Get educated on what happens to your most delicate fabrics in the magic that is dry cleaning. And wow, HUGE spoiler but, dry cleaning? It isn't dry. Crazy times!! It also isn't very environmentally friendly, but it's getting better. Dry cleaning is as old as the gross woolen togas the ancient Greeks wore, and even ties into a...
2021-03-0139 min30 Minute ExpertJackie RobinsonIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Jackie Robinson! It's the last Monday in February, and we finally decided to celebrate Black History Month! Being a sports figure, Jackie Robinson had yet eluded Katie's knowledge base. So she made Zack learn about him and teach her! I think we all know that Jackie Robinson is a pretty incredible guy, but we were even more blown away and impressed than we expected to be. Talk about multi-talented! This guy could do it all: football, baseball, long-jump, you name it. And he was literally the best at...
2021-02-2240 min30 Minute ExpertThe Assassination of Abraham LincolnIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln! Americans know "Honest Abe" as the 16th president, the guy on the $5 bill, and of course, the president responsible for the Emancipation Proclamation, which ended slavery in the US. Unfortunately, he's also known for being assassinated. Most people probably think they know how this story goes, but we were shocked to learn the whole truth! What was meant to be an enjoyable evening at the theatre turned into a day that will live in infamy. The killer, John Wilkes Booth, was a horrible g...
2021-02-1537 min30 Minute ExpertDiatomsIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Diatoms! Boy is this episode a treat. Our guess is that most of you don't even know what a diatom is! But you will by the time we're through. Diatoms are, to quote from the episode, one of the largest and ecologically most significant groups of organisms on Earth. That's amazing! You might not be able to see these single-celled phytoplankton with your naked eye, but you surely can feel their impact. Considering anywhere from 25-50% of earth's oxygen comes from diatoms, we're pretty confident we can all bre...
2021-02-0841 min30 Minute ExpertAlexander the GreatIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Alexander the Great! Or should we say Alexander the Really Really Awful, because boy was he. Dang! He may have been tutored by Aristotle as an adolescent, but it doesn't seem like he picked up much wisdom. If you're into conquering, pillaging, burning this, and selling human beings into slavery, then Alexander might be your guy - as he is to Napoleon and Julius Cesar. Go figure. Although the breadth of his conquests may be impressive (again, if you're into that kind of thing), there isn't much to s...
2021-02-0141 min30 Minute ExpertMona LisaIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Mona Lisa! Who IS she, am I right?? Zack definitively answers this question... psych! Of course he doesn't, but he does posit some pretty fun theories. Whether Mona Lisa is Lisa Giacondo, the artist known as Salai, or Da Vinci himself, she is quite bewitching. There are a few fun surprises in Mona Lisa - her hands may have been painted twice! She has letters in her eyes! What a gal. And she may in fact owe her extreme level of fame to an Italian art thief who k...
2021-01-2545 min30 Minute ExpertSnowflakesIn today’s episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an “expert” on... snowflakes! Depending where on Earth you live, these tiny miracles fall around you by the millions. And boy do they fall! Sometimes from clouds over 2 miles in the sky! We were fascinated to learn exactly how these precious little treasures form up there. Although they’ve been landing on Earth for probably forever, it wasn’t until just over 100 years ago that their uniqueness was captured up close in photos thanks to a certain young Vermonter. Cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate, put on your new Christ...
2021-01-1834 min30 Minute ExpertTimes SquareHappy New Year, again! In the first new episode of 2021, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Times Square! We watched the ball drop in Times Square this year, and even though it was weird without all the people, we were happy to see the tradition live on. But what's the deal with Times Square? Why is it called that? It's not a square, so truly a mystery. But a mystery we solved! From its humble beginnings as Longacre Square, to its seedy history in the 1980s, Times Square is a real joy to learn about. That ball...
2021-01-1134 min30 Minute ExpertThe MicrowaveHappy New Year!! Hope you all had lovely and relaxing holidays, and are ready to celebrate 2021 with what we think is our worst episode ever! This is the last of our unreleased group, so enjoy it! Hopefully next week you will be stunned by the incredible difference in our research and banter skills when we jump back into the present.
In this week's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The Microwave! For some reason, a quote that is maybe from Albert Einstein features heavily in this episode. It's a little off the rails. But...
2021-01-0426 min30 Minute ExpertVodkaIt's week 2 of our throwback episodes! If you're still here, thank you! If not, we get it! Here's the next one of our unreleased backlog:
In this week's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Vodka! Now this is a topic we can all get behind! Burping yeast! Watered-down Everclear! Vodka is a fun ride. If you've ever had it - which we know you have - why not learn what's in it? That's a pretty easy task, since it's only ethanol and water. Whoops I spoiled it. But still listen to the episode! Where...
2020-12-2827 min30 Minute ExpertInterstate Highway SystemHappy Holidays, experts! Hopefully you are all finding some kind of peace and comfort in this crazy time. We have both finished finals (hooray!!) and are taking a holiday break to catch up on sleep and celebrate. But we didn't want to leave you hanging, especially if you were looking forward to the soothing sounds of our voices to keep you company. So we decided to do something fun! We had a couple episodes backlogged from before we officially launched the podcast - test episodes, if you will, that we have never released. So we are releasing them now...
2020-12-2131 min30 Minute ExpertAntarcticaIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Antarctica! And a little bit of the Arctic too! Mainly the differences between the two and why Antarctica is so dang cold. Because, dang! Is it cold down there! it's the only continent that humans have never lived on - except for now, when a thousand or so crazy scientists hunker down there year round to study all kinds of important stuff that makes the world go round. Antarctica may not be home to any indigenous people, but it is home to penguins, and the now (thanks to t...
2020-12-1439 min30 Minute ExpertChessIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Chess! If you've been watching The Queen's Gambit, this episode is for you. We haven't been watching (too busy studying for finals *eyeroll*), but we still thought that this would be a great topic. And it was! As with many things, chess has a long history that really jumps all over the world. The true origins of chess are in India around the 7th century, but the chess-as-we-know-it today comes from England, all the way fast-forwarded to the 1850s! Thanks Howard Staunton for a ringing endorsement. Did they...
2020-12-0739 min30 Minute ExpertYo-YosIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Yo-Yos! The world's second oldest toy. The long history of the yo-yo spans many centuries and several countries. If you've ever heard that yo-yos were initially used as weapons, we think you're wrong! But we also think we might know why you think that. Americans didn't get their hands on yo-yos in any real way until the 1920s, but then they got wayyyyy into it. Thank Pedro Flores, Donald F. Duncan, and 40 million kids who purchased a total of 45 million yo-yos in 1962 alone. This was a fun topic t...
2020-11-3045 min30 Minute ExpertChewing GumIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Chewing Gum! Uh huh, that's right, chewing gum. All these years you've been popping a little piece of who-knows-what in your mouth and chowing down for hours at a time, knowing little to nothing about what it is you're munching on. So we're gonna tell you! Although humans have a very long history of yanking bits off of trees and chewing them, the fairy tale that is modern chewing gum starts with a sticky substance called chicle from the sapodilla tree in South America. And we have the...
2020-11-2342 min30 Minute ExpertAlpacasIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Alpacas! Our cutest topic yet . (Sorry, Evel Knievel!) You might think of alpacas as llamas' adorable little cousins, but they are actually descended from another delightful furball - the vicuña! As cute as this episode got at times, it wasn't without its disgusting bits as well. Have you ever heard about how llamas spit? Well, alpacas do too, and Zack almost barfed over the specifics of it. We learn where alpacas are from, whether or not they like dogs (they don't!!), and how much it might cost t...
2020-11-1631 min30 Minute ExpertRainbowsIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Rainbows! Our election coverage has ended, as has the election itself, and we were ready for a nice, easy topic. However, we didn't necessarily get one! Katie thought rainbows would be simple, straightforward, and put a smile on all of our weary faces. But when one researches them properly (as Zack always does), there's a lot of scientific explanation that goes into understanding them. Get ready for: refraction, angles, references to hours on a clock, and of course, Mr. Roy G. Biv himself! The first half of this...
2020-11-0929 min30 Minute ExpertThe Constitution of the United States of AmericaIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The Constitution of the United States of America! We've made it to the end of our election suite, for better or worse! And we figured we'd end where it all started for us Americans -- with the Constitution itself. People like to reference the Constitution a lot these days, so we figured we'd tell you what it actually says. Note: it's only 4 pages long, so if this episode sounds like a real slog to you, maybe go ahead and just read it yourself instead! But if you'd like...
2020-11-0239 min30 Minute ExpertDemocracyIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Democracy! Yup, good old democracy. We're continuing our run up to the election with the American/election/government theme and learning about our nation. So we're going back to the beginning! To Ancient Greece, where it all (probably?) started. What's the difference between our current representative democracy and the direct democracy those dudes enjoyed? You gotta listen to find out, but it may or may not include a giant hat. You'll see. Basically if you want to call yourself a democracy, you have to make sure that the...
2020-10-2629 min30 Minute ExpertThe Electoral CollegeIn today's episode, Katie has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The Electoral College! Yup that's right, I said Katie because this is another flip the script episode! If you hadn't noticed, we have a bit of an election/America/government theme going on here, and it is not an accident! We have a presidential election coming up here in the US, and that only happens once every four years, so it's something to be excited about. Considering Katie was a Political Science major in college (and Zack can sometimes use a break), we let her take this one...
2020-10-1943 min30 Minute ExpertThe Declaration of IndependenceIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The Declaration of Independence! The upcoming election has got us feeling patriotic and we want to know more about the foundation of our nation. So Katie made Zack learn about it! Of course, we've all learned about the Declaration of Independence at various times in our life, but do we really remember the specifics? Of course not! This episode will be a great refresher. Also, lots and lots of Hamilton talk (too much?), so if you're into that, you're in luck. Hopefully you know who wrote The Declaration...
2020-10-1233 min30 Minute ExpertGatoradeIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Gatorade! Yup, Gatorade. That colorful sports drink that's apparently been around since the mid-70s. This was a fun one for Zack, and hopefully will be fun for the rest of you too. Sometimes you need a light topic! And you know when's a time like that? NOW. However, Gatorade isn't "light" in the sense that it's low in calories - hate to break it to you, but there's a ton of sugar in there! We really dove into some of the health issues, but kept it fun al...
2020-10-0536 min30 Minute ExpertThe International Space StationIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The International Space Station! After a hard week of being in the hot seat, Katie threw out a personal topic selection and boy did it pay off. The ISS is fascinating! From its football field size to the fact that it runs on solar power, it was full of adorable surprises. One of the few places on Earth (not literally) where people from different nations come together in pursuit of science. Except Russia, of course, who has their "own side." We delve into some physics, which does not...
2020-09-2847 min30 Minute ExpertCrayonsIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Crayons! Wait a minute! Did we say Zack? Scratch that! Hold on to your hats, folks, because we pulled a big switch-up this week! Ahem, Katie (!) has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Crayons! Yup, crayons. Those colorful, waxy little guys you apparently encountered over 700 times before you were ten (you'll see what we mean). And if you happened to have eaten one, no worries. They planned for that. Crayons have their origins in some pretty old art forms, and continue to be an important part of the a...
2020-09-2137 min30 Minute ExpertThe California Gold RushIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The California Gold Rush! In a real twist, Zack selected the topic this week (unbeknownst to him, apparently). But his passion for this very specific slice of time in California's history really came through. We have another fun origin story that Zack (nearly) got right in the intro before he studied. From spoons to hydraulic mining, we learned all about how gold is extracted from the earth, and how much all of the gold that's been found in California's history is worth - a sum that would make Jef...
2020-09-1440 min30 Minute ExpertMotorcyclesIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Motorcycles! Full disclosure, it is Labor Day weekend, so we took the week off to enjoy a labor-free weekend for crying out loud! But we had the episode up in the old archives, waiting to be heard by the world. So we pulled it out, dusted it off, and it wasn't too bad! But you, the audience should really be the judge. Anyway, enough about all of that, how about motorcycles?!? This was a pretty wide topic to cover, so Zack tried to hit as many interesting facets...
2020-09-0735 min30 Minute ExpertMezcalIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Mezcal! The legendary start to mezcal is absolutely tops. But we aren't going to tell you it here - you gotta listen! Mezcal is tequila's smoky brother, which is pretty intriguing on its own. But mezcal's backstory and the method by which it is made is absolutely fascinating. From donkey-pulled grinding wheels to worms in bottles, this episode has it all. Want to know how many states Mexico has? Gotta listen. Want to know what the agave plant looks like? Gotta listen! And the second half of the...
2020-08-3132 min30 Minute ExpertThe Georgia GuidestonesIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The Georgia Guidestones! This topic came in as a suggestion, and neither Zack nor Katie knew what it/they were, which is just how we like it. Learning is the name of the game, after all! But what's the name of the group that paid for and erected the Georgia Guidestones? You heard it here first, folks, we cracked the case and it was......... Okay, well we didn't actually crack that case. But we did learn a whole lot about a fascinating monument built in Georgia in 1980 by...
2020-08-2447 min30 Minute ExpertHarry HoudiniIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Harry Houdini! Or should we say.. Erik Weisz? Harry Houdini had all kinds of fun secrets up his sleeve, not the least of which was how he managed to break into that judge's safe! (Spoiler alert, it was open the whole time!) A classic tale of the American dream, Harry Houdini came from an immigrant family with practically nothing, and ended up with an internationally successful career. He loved to hang upside down, he loved to expose huckster mediums, he loved to break out of locks. He was a...
2020-08-1742 min30 Minute ExpertMachu PicchuIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Machu Picchu! If you're missing travel like we are, tune in to virtually experience the splendor of what's not actually the Lost City of the Incas, but was probably a retreat for the wealthy. Ah, the wealthy, winning even back then! Although local Peruvians were likely aware of Machu Picchu's existence all along, the rest of us didn't get the memo until Hiram Bingham "discovered" it in 1911. Check out his Wikipedia pic if you want a good scare. Machu Picchu is still a bit of a mystery, but t...
2020-08-1047 min30 Minute ExpertBonnie and ClydeIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Bonnie and Clyde! The darling pair of outlaws who will grab hold of your heartstrings and won't let go, right? Wrong! These two were bad, bad, bad to the bone. Katie and Zack expected a sympathetic tale that involved some stealing and running from cops. What they got was a long string of pretty ruthless murders and seemingly pointless robberies. What was up with Bonnie and Clyde? Early childhood trauma may be to blame, because nothing else really explains it. This is a wild ride, so hold on t...
2020-08-0357 min30 Minute ExpertTarot CardsIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Tarot Cards! Oooh spooky, you say? Nonsense, we say! After a good 30 minute dive into their history and current use, Tarot Cards seem to be one of those things that are just misunderstood. If you (like a lot of people) think of them as a tool of the occult, prepare to be surprised. Also, prepare to learn the definition of “occult” and maybe be surprised by that too. We learned a bit about the history of playing cards themselves (thank you, Egypt!) and then found ourselves in Italy once...
2020-07-2744 min30 Minute ExpertThe Haitian RevolutionIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... The Haitian Revolution! Known as one of the only successful "Slave Rebellions," this story of how the enslaved people on the island of Saint Domingue fought for and achieved their freedom is one for the history books. Avid listeners of 30 Minute Expert will remember that we mentioned this epic tale in our episode on the Louisiana Purchase - we said we would cover it in a full episode, and here we are coming through for all of you. You're welcome. Toussaint L'Ouverture led the enslaved people of Haiti in...
2020-07-2042 min30 Minute ExpertBanksyIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Banksy! Who is Banksy? Okay, we didn't actually figure out Banksy's true identity in this episode, but we did learn a whole lot about the anonymous street artist. In today's world, it's pretty rare to maintain true anonymity in spite of worldwide fame, but somehow Banksy has managed it. This is a really visual episode for obvious reasons, so definitely check out our instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast to see all of the cool works of art Zack so eloquently describes. Including: A teddy bear throwing a molotov cocktail! Princess Diana on...
2020-07-1342 min30 Minute ExpertNiccolo Machiavelli & MachiavellianismIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... Niccolo Machiavelli & Machiavellianism! That's a mouthful! And it was a big topic to conquer, but as always, Zack made it look easy. If you've ever heard the phrase, "the ends justify the means," then you have an intro to the glorious evil that is Niccolo Machiavelli. You have to have been a pretty rough dude to end up with a psychological disorder named after you - and this one's a doozy. Join us to learn what *not* to do when running a country... or a business or a h...
2020-07-0628 min30 Minute ExpertThe Louisiana PurchaseIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an "expert" on... the Louisiana Purchase! Apparently, in 1803, you could double the size of your country for the low low price of $15 million dollars! What do you do when you set out to buy one city and get offered half a country? You take it, of course! At least Thomas Jefferson did. This is a wild story. Players include Napoleon (think a 19th century George Costanza), Alexander Hamilton (he and Jefferson did NOT get along), and Toussaint L'Ouverture (we are going to get back to this guy in a future episode). As...
2020-06-2925 min30 Minute ExpertSilly PuttyIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Silly Putty! A fun toy that is really kinda weird if you think about it. Why does it come in an egg? And why is it that weird fleshy color? Spoiler alert, we did not get the answer to that second question. But we *think* we got the answer to the first one! Another happy accident story - you know how we love those - this one out of a Work War II rubber shortage. The history of silly putty includes a battle of the patent grabbers, a wo...
2020-06-2228 min30 Minute ExpertEvel KnievelIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Evel Knievel! Who was Evel Knievel and how'd he get so evil? Just kidding! He's not evil, he's Evel. And he's not even really Evel - he's Robert! Learn along with us about how ol' Robby went from a regular life growing up in Montana, to becoming a full-blown daredevil. In between he runs (and steals from) a semi-pro hockey team, owns a Honda motorcycle dealership, and marries two different women named Linda. Evel turned out to be an even more fascinating character than we expected, complete with mu...
2020-06-1551 min30 Minute ExpertWatergateIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Watergate! What was Watergate anyway? Something to do with Richard Nixon, a hotel, and "Deep Throat," but beyond that who knows. Well now, we know! And we'll tell you. Impeachment, political scandals, secret recordings - Watergate has got all that, and some lessons we could really take to heart today.
Highlights include:
- A Supreme Court Case
- A Presidential Resignation
- Cops dressed as Hippies
Donate to the ACLU: https://action.aclu.org/give/donate-to-aclu-multistep...
2020-06-0842 min30 Minute ExpertPenicillinIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Penicillin! Ah, penicillin... we've all heard of it - most of us have ingested it! But where did it come from? Listen to hear the tale of Alexander Fleming and how his lack of hygiene may have saved some of our lives. Come for the mold talk (is blue cheese penicillin? Spoiler Alert - NO!), stay for the SWAT team bursting balloons analogies.
Highlights include:
- another happy accident discovery
- How Dr. Cecil George Paine saved babies!
- Super-infections (o...
2020-06-0125 min30 Minute ExpertAtlantisIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Atlantis! The Lost City! Was Atlantis real? Or simply a watery fantasy for the ages? To get to the "bottom" of it, Zack "dives" into some Plato, an ancient volcanic eruption, and even a midwestern congressman's book on our antediluvian (real word) past.
Follow on instagram @30minuteexpertpodcast and send us your expertise at 30minuteexpertpodcast@gmail.com.
Podcast artwork by Rick Radvansky
Intro and Outro music by Jake Radvansky
2020-05-2522 min30 Minute ExpertKintsugiIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Kintsugi! What is kintsugi, you may ask? Zack did too! Join Zack and Katie in learning about the Japanese practice of repairing broken pottery with gold, and maybe learn to appreciate your own flaws along the way. Self-love. Kintsugi style.
2020-05-1430 min30 Minute ExpertConcreteIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Concrete! This was a "hard topic"... okay now that that's out of the way, let's learn about concrete. What's it made from? Is it the most prevalent building material on earth? (hint - why would we ask if it wasn't!) And finally, is it destroying the planet? (see previous hint!)
2020-05-1441 min30 Minute ExpertThe Salem Witch TrialsIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... the Salem Witch Trials! Lots of Arthur Miller/The Crucible talk in this one (naturally). Learn how wild Salem was in the 1690s, from convulsive fits to (spoiler alert!) cakes made with pee. Why did this happen? Witches? Mold? You decide!
2020-05-1433 min30 Minute ExpertPizzaIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... Pizza! If you can get through the intro (lots of Noid talk), you'll learn all about how pizza was born, Queen Margherita, and which holiday is the number one pizza-delivery day in the US (not what you think!).
2020-05-1429 min30 Minute ExpertKing TutIn today's episode, Zack has 30 minutes to become an expert on... King Tut! We've all heard of him, but do any of us really know him? Zack and Katie definitely didn't! Turns out, King Tut is an incredibly unique and interesting dude, but maybe not for the reasons you think.
2020-05-1426 min