Mark Chrisler - Podcast Details

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The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong It's a Secret to Everyone (Volume 3)It's Mark's birthday, it's The Constant's birthday, and it's Thanksgiving. In celebration we're opening up The Secret Feed vault and asking you to sponsor this show!This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/theconstant and get on your way to being your best self:http://betterhelp.com/theconstantVisit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.Interested...

2022-11-2250 min

Follow Friday Mark Chrisler (The Constant): Chicago's worst food, The Berenstain Bears, video games are artFull transcript: https://followfridaypodcast.com/mark-chrislerBack us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/followfridayReview the show: https://lovethepodcast.com/followfriday~On The Constant, Mark Chrisler chronicles "a history of getting things wrong" — the many ways that humans have misunderstood the world, or misled others about it. Over the past 100 (!) episodes, Mark's topics have ranged from death rays to forensic science to a submarine that was discovered at the bottom of the Chicago River. Today on Follow Friday, Mark talks about his years-long podcast feud with the ancient Gr...

2021-07-0235 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Introducing In God We LustA woman named Becki is lounging by the pool at the Fontainebleau Hotel when she decides to proposition a strapping pool attendant. Go on a date with her...and her husband. What begins as an unconventional proposition will soon throw them all into the international spotlight. And that’s because the couple is none other than Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife Becki, two of the most powerful figures in Evangelical America. Wondery presents In God We Lust, hosted by Brooke Siffrin and Aricia Skidmore-Williams of Even the Rich. A story of an alluring sex scandal, power, money and a ve...

2021-04-2306 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Don't Know Much About HistoryNobody paid much attention to Jean Hardouin in 1729 when he said that all of history was faked. But since then, his message has found a lot more receptive ears. Meet your newest conspiratorial friends: The Chronology Truthers. Get $75 credit to upgrade your job post at indeed.com/theconstant (http://www.indeed.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant)Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS! (https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirts/the-constant-podcast)Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.b...

2021-04-201h 02

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong It's All a LieWhat if I told you everything you knew was a lie? Okay, well what if a 17th century French librarian told you everything you knew was a lie?Check out Don't Stop for Monkeys (https://dontstopformonkeys.weebly.com/), or else.Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant)Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS! (https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirts/the-constant-podcast)Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)Kevin MacLeodI Solipsisti (https://musopen.org/m...

2021-04-0652 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Zoo StoryOn March 8th, 1874, the animals escaped from The Central Park Zoo. Check out Don't Stop for Monkeys (https://dontstopformonkeys.weebly.com/), or else.Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant)Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS! (https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirts/the-constant-podcast)Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2021-03-231h 05

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong CrackpotsSome things are ordered and some are chaotic. This story is neither.Get $75 credit to upgrade your job post at indeed.com/theconstant (http://www.indeed.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant)Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS! (https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirts/the-constant-podcast)Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...

2021-03-0943 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong On The RocksWhat do the modern flat earth movement, the history of animal experimentation, the invention of civil engineering, ballet, pantomime, and the first British robot all have in common?The Eddystone Lighthouse.Get $75 credit to upgrade your job post at indeed.com/theconstant (http://www.indeed.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant)Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS! (https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirts/the-constant-podcast)Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.co...

2021-02-2355 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong How to Solve a Murder (pt 3)We no longer make people walk hot coals, or swim witches, or touch dead bodies. But everything we know about solving crime is still wrong.The National Registry of Exonerations (https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/about.aspx)2009 NAS Report (https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/228091.pdf)The Innocence Project (https://innocenceproject.org/)The Story of Gary Dotson (https://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/exonerations/il/gary-dotson.html)Leora Smith's excellent reporting on Herbert MacDonell and blood spatter (https://features.propublica.org/blood-spatter-analysis/herbert-macdonell-forensic-evidence-judges-and-courts/)Trial by Fire, David Grann for The New Yorker (https://www...

2021-02-091h 26

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong How to Solve a Murder (pt 2)On part two of this three part series on forensics, we're bridging the gap, between the ancient and modern means of solving crimes. How did forensic science get into courts in the first place? And is it actually science at all?Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant)Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS! (https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirts/the-constant-podcast)Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee RosevereJS BachListen to:I Know Dino (https://iknowdino.com/)Rumble S...

2021-01-2654 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong How to Solve a Murder (pt 1)Fingerprints, DNA, blood spatter, ballistics. Before any of those forensic sciences, investigators and courts had a very different suite of tools for solving crime. On this episode, we're looking at some of them. Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant)Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS! (https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirts/the-constant-podcast)Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) Learn more about your a...

2021-01-121h 10

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Lick The EarthFor the last episode of 2020, we're returning to our fair city, Chicago, for the unlikely story of a hard-scrapple hobo who formed his own independent, autonomous district on the non-existent east side of town, which he managed to keep control of for nearly forty years... well, sort of.Visit https://andstillivote.org/YOUR-Story-Matters/ (https://andstillivote.org/YOUR-Story-Matters/) to join the fight for voting rights today.Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant)Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS! (https://www.t...

2020-12-151h 13

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong It's a Secret to EverybodyFor The Constant's third birthday, here are three stories out of the secret feed. Medicinal gold, the story of theater's greatest Hamlet, and a melancholy Christmas tale, all for you. Visit https://andstillivote.org/YOUR-Story-Matters/ (https://andstillivote.org/YOUR-Story-Matters/) to join the fight for voting rights today.Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant)Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS! (https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirts/the-constant-podcast)Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee RosevereKevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com...

2020-12-0144 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong DesertedIn September of 1822, a ship carrying 70 immigrants left London bound for St. Joseph, a bustling city on The Mosquito Coast in the small Central American nation of Poyais. They were followed by hundreds more pilgrims, all looking for a better life. They were about to be severely disappointed. Visit andstillivote.org (https://publish.blubrry.com/content/andstillivote.org) to join the fight for voting rights today.Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant)Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!Listen to...

2020-11-171h 01

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Presidents in BathtubsHow do you thread the needle between political and apolitical, frivolous and serious, fun and relevant, on this extremely stressful election day? I don't know, but here's an episode about presidential bathtubs. Visit andstillivote.org (https://publish.blubrry.com/content/andstillivote.org) to join the fight for voting rights today.Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Music by:Dana Boule (https://www.danaboule.com/)Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)

2020-11-0353 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong GefIt's almost Halloween, so how's about a spooky bonfire tale. The spookiest story from the spookiest place we can think of. The story of Gef, The Talking Mongoose. Visit andstillivote.org (andstillivote.org) to join the fight for voting rights today. Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Music by:Dana Boule (https://www.danaboule.com/)Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...

2020-10-2051 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong This is the story of the worst American presidential election (so far). Get a free trial of The Great Courses Plus by going to https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant (https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2020-10-061h 03

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Rest of The StoryIn 1899 a plan was hatched. To start a war? To sell newspapers? Or to tear down The Great Wall of China?Get a free trial of The Great Courses Plus by going to https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant (https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

2020-09-2243 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong In The Air Tonight (I Can Feel It)You know what you haven't heard enough about recently? How disease spreads. On this episode we finally circle back to the oft mentioned miasma theory, AKA Bad Air Make You Sick. Get a free trial of The Great Courses Plus by going to https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant (https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/)

2020-09-081h 07

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Run for Your LifeThere was no Olympics this year, but it's almost the anniversary of the single worst event in the history of the games: The 1904 Olympic Marathon. Get a free trial of The Great Courses Plus by going to https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant (https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) Learn more abo...

2020-08-251h 15

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Apocalypse Now and ThenSome days it feels like we're living at the end of the world. And by "some days" I mean "literally every day ever". Take a ride with us through some of the best apocalypses to never happen! Check out Heather's Youtube series, Art Infusions here! (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjI3jzV0xGqwJKN60Y4T8Kg) Get a free trial of The Great Courses Plus by going to https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant (https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) Visit our Patreon her...

2020-08-111h 10

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Real Facts, and BeerHere is a story about the city I love, Chicago.Get a free trial of The Great Courses Plus by going to: https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant (https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/)BenSound (https://www.bensound.com/) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2020-07-2830 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Reductio Ad AbsurdumThe Earth is Flat! That is the conclusion that many ancient societies once drew. Then, in the 19th century, belief in the flat earth started to return, and in the last decade this easily disprovable fallacy has celebrated a remarkable resurgence. And that's all thanks, in large part, to an 1887 science experiment. This week, for the start of season 8, we're looking at the shaggy dog story of how that experiment came to take place, and how it came to be seen as evidence for the flatness of our planet. Get a free trial of The Great Courses Plus by g...

2020-07-141h 26

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Fish StorySharks have been known to eat a lot of weird stuff. Fur coats, license plates, cannonballs, chicken coups, even a suit of armor. But the strangest thing ever found within the belly of a shark was... a bundle of papers. Trust me: it's more unbelievable than it sounds.Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".Donate to: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/ (https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/)https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/ (https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/)https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd (https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd...

2020-06-1633 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Cold, Hard Truth, Pt 2Two men, two islands, two claims for The North Pole. In part two of The Cold, Hard, Truth we're looking at the expedition formed in the wake of Peary and Cook's battle for The Pole. An expedition formed with the goal of finding Crocker Land, a lost arctic continent, and the truth.Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant". Donate to: https://www.blackvisionsmn.org/https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd (https://www.gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd) (https://www.blackvisionsmn.o...

2020-06-021h 06

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Cold, Hard Truth, Pt 1On September 7th, 1909, The New York Times announced that Robert Peary was the first person to ever reach The North Pole. But a week earlier, The New York Herald had said the same thing about Frederick Cook. Only one of them could be right, but which one? And how could you tell for certain? Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting: http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.c...

2020-05-1957 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The AirshipIn December of 1909, the vice president of a Worcester Massachusetts steamfitting company decided he wanted to fly. This is his story. Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant". Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)Kevin MacLeodGilbert VinterThe President's Own Marine Band Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2020-05-0542 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Use The AccidentHere's a change of pace: what about stuff we got wrong for the better? On this episode we've got 13 short stories of mistakes that went right. From jazz to physics to chemistry to frozen dessert, we've got it all. Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) Learn more about your ad c...

2020-04-2151 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong True CrimeHey! I think we invented a new kind of podcast this week! It's a crime story, but it's also true. We're calling it "True Crime". I think there might be a market for this!Get a free trial of The Great Courses Plus and three months of unlimited access for just $30 dollars by going to https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant (https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Music by:Blue D...

2020-04-0742 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Light and Shadow of American LifeIn almost seventy episodes chronicling bad ideas and loopy frauds through the ages one name has come up again and again. From phrenology to mesmerism to a strange ghostly bowl of molasses, he's the Forrest Gump of 19th century pseudo-science. Get a free trial of The Great Courses Plus and three months of unlimited access for just $30 dollars by going to https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant (https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".Visit our Patreon here (https://p...

2020-03-241h 01

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Foolkiller Pt 5: The White WhaleHere we are. We've examined arctic explorers, secret armies, zany daredevils, Wisconsin whiz kids and so many more only to come up empty. This is the end of the rope. Can we solve the mystery of The Foolkiller, the submarine discovered in the Chicago River in 1915, or is this one just meant to be a mystery forever. Stick around and find out. Get a free trial of The Great Courses Plus and three months of unlimited access for just $30 dollars by going to https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant (https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of...

2020-03-101h 51

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Foolkiller Pt 4: The Unusual SuspectsWe're onto the long shots now: An Irish-American secret society bent on war with Canada, a kid genius out of Oshkosh and an Indiana shoe factory owner. With so few options left, one of them--surely--must be the creator of The Foolkiller. Right? Get a free trial of The Great Courses Plus and three months of unlimited access for just $30 dollars by going to https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant (https://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/theconstant)Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".Finally, there's www...

2020-02-251h 05

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Foolkiller Pt 3: The Man from The EastAmid all the confusing and contradictory reporting that accompanied the discovery of The Foolkiller submarine in 1915 Chicago, there are a handful of mentions of an "Eastern man". On this episode, we look through the annals of submarine history in search of this mysterious figure. Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant). Finally, there's www.industrialartifacts.net (https://www.industrialartifacts.net/) where you can enter coupon code "theconstant" for 15% off your first order. For more information, ph...

2020-02-1155 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Foolkiller Pt 2: Infinite DistressA proper story has three acts, but the story of The Foolkiller submarine is missing two of them. Today, we're looking at act 2: the brief window of time during which we know where this giant steel craft was. We're also examining the three initial theories that people at the time held about where the thing came from, and who built it. To do that, we're going from The North Pole to The Center of The Earth and even all the way to the deep jungle depths of Ottawa Illinois. Get a free trial of The Great Courses Plus and t...

2020-01-281h 03

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Foolkiller Pt 1: Tears Falling from The SkyIn November of 1915, a submarine was found at the bottom of The Chicago River. It had been there for at least ten years, was 40 feet long, and contained the remains of a man and his dog. To this day, no one knows who built it, where it came from, or who was inside. This is the first in a five part series looking into the mystery of The Foolkiller. With luck, we might even be able to solve it. But before we get into the meat of the question, we need to learn the context. We need to learn...

2020-01-1446 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong It's Wonderful ReduxFor our last episode of 2019 and season 6, we're revisiting last year's Christmas episode. Stick around through the end to hear a tease for next season's big multi-part opening story, and check out these other podcasts from the top of the show: Iconography (https://iconographypodcast.com/episodes) Mark's appearance on Chad The Podcast (http://www.chadthebird.com/chadthepodcast/2019/12/14/me-mark-chrisler-and-the-irishman) and That Was Genius (https://www.thatwasgeniuspodcast.com/) See you in 2020, for The Fool Killer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2019-12-3030 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Christmas BulletThrow on another yule log and gather round the fire For a new Constant episode is about to transpire It's a holiday one, though it contains little joy About a con named Christmas and his terrible ploy Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/)Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com/) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...

2019-12-1717 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Perpetuum MobileHappy Second Birthday to The Constant! To celebrate, we're tackling the story that everyone advised Mark not to tell, that Mark himself failed over and over again to write: The Brownian Ratchet. And along the way, we're dropping into a select few of the many, many perpetual motion machines people have claimed to invented over the centuries. Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (h...

2019-12-0354 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Suck and BlowEverything you've ever learned about physics, chemistry, astronomy, and even biology, is wrong. That was the conclusion reached by Alfred Lawson, major league pitcher, avionics pioneer, populist political leader and the founder of the stupidest university ever: The University of Lawsonomy. Come with us for a journey through the life and confounding works of Lawson, the rise of his new science and its rapid, farcical fall. Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".

2019-11-1935 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong NecessityIn the first century BC, The Greek philosopher Carneades asked a question: is it moral to kill an innocent person to preserve your own life? Two thousand years later, a court in England settled the matter, once and for all. This is a story about sailors, shipwrecks, murder, cannibalism and, ultimately, who owes what to whom. Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (https://l...

2019-11-0554 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The CurseDid someone say "more mummies"? No? You didn't hear that? It sounded like "more mummies" but it was kind of muffled and droning? OH GOD WHAT'S THAT!? It's still October, and we're still being spooky. This week, it's the story of King Tutankhamen's Curse, which is a bit more superstitious than our usual fare. But stick with me, because there's more to this urban legend than you might at first suspect. It might not be from a Pharaohor an Egyptian god, but by the end of this episode, I promise there will be a curse. Visit our Patreon here (h...

2019-10-2240 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Chewing The FatIn 2009, Peruvian police offered a disturbing solution to the murders of 46 people in the city of Trujillo. It was sensational, shocking and unbelievable. Yet, it was tied to a long, rich--and now largely forgotten--part of western history: using and eating human body parts as medicine. This episode may be disturbing to... anyone who is at all sensible. Discretion is advised. Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant". Learn more about your a...

2019-10-0845 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong A Pain in The GlassIn April of 1954, Seattle was home to one of the weirdest events in American history: residents were gripped with fear as a mysterious force roamed the city, leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage in its wake. Despite the efforts of mayors and governors, police and marines, scientists, engineers and even The President of The United States, no one could figure out the culprit. But we can. On today's episode, we solve the mystery of The Seattle Windshield Pitting Epidemic. Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting:h...

2019-09-2447 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong A Dreamcast DeferredOn 9/9/99 The Sega Dreamcast had the most successful product launch of literally any commercial product in history. It quickly came to dominate the market, outperforming all its competition. Less than a year and a half later, it was dead, and Sega was cut down to a shell of its former self. This week, we're looking at why, and at the long storied history of failure and missteps that came along with building an entirely new creative medium like nothing the world had ever seen before: video games. Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Get 10% off your first m...

2019-09-101h 37

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Forty Six Dollar ManWhile shooting an episode in a Carnival Funhouse, the production team of The Six Million Dollar Man made a gruesome discovery: a mummified human corpse, painted neon red and mistakenly hung from a noose as a cheap scare. And the story of who he was, and how he got there, is so much better than anything 1970s television could have ever produced. Visit our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting: betterhelp.com/theconstant and entering discount code "theconstant". And visit fullstackacademy.com/constant (https://www.fullstackacademy.com/constant) for $500 off...

2019-08-2746 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong MadagascarThis is the story of an island, and the worst thing to never happen there. Find our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant). Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".And visit https://www.fullstackacademy.com/constant (https://www.fullstackacademy.com/constant) for $500 off tuition to your very own coding bootcamp!Finally, there's www.industrialartifacts.net (https://www.industrialartifacts.net/) where you can enter coupon code "theconstant" for 15% off your first order.Music by:Blue Dot Sessions (https://www.sessions.blue/)Lee Rosevere (htt...

2019-08-1344 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Golden EpisodeIt's our fiftieth episode! Our golden anniversary! You know what we got you? The Lost City of Gold: El Dorado. We know, we shouldn't have. Seriously, we really shouldn't have. Find our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".And visit https://www.fullstackacademy.com/constant (https://www.fullstackacademy.com/constant) for $500 off tuition to your very own coding bootcamp!Finally, there's www.industrialartifacts.net (https://www.industrialartifacts.net/) where you can enter coupon code "theconstant" for 15% off...

2019-07-3041 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Right Stuff, The Wrong WayWe've got a lot to celebrate this week! Not only have we joined Hub & Spoke Audio Collective (https://www.hubspokeaudio.org/), but it's also a Constant Holiday. The Saint Day of Douglas Corrigan, who in 1938 became the 11th person to fly nonstop across The Atlantic, and the first person to do it by accident... Maybe. So by the powers vested in us by Podcastlandia, we're naming this #Wrongwayday. Find our Patreon here (https://patreon.com/theconstant).Get 10% off your first month of online counseling by visiting http://betterhelp.com/theconstant (http://betterhelp.com/theconstant) and entering discount code "theconstant".An...

2019-07-1637 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong For That Healthy GlowIn the early 1900s, people finally figured out what made water so healthy: radiation! This week we’re looking at some of the hundreds of terrifying products meant to give you that healthy glow, and the story of one of the most terrible mistakes in medical history, and the brutal way it got corrected. Get tix for The Paper Machete Blowout! (https://sleeping-village.com/calendar/paper-machete-blowout/) And for 20x2! (http://20x2.org/chicago/) Check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theconstant. Look at all the deals we've got for you! Check out www.betterhelp.com/theconstant and enter di...

2019-07-0250 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Seeing is Believing1903 was a year of boundless possibilities: the airplane, open heart surgery, Ford Motor Company, and--most importantly--n-rays. This new form of radiation could be gathered from The Sun and stored in ordinary salt water. It could diagnose illness and grant superhuman abilities. It was the greatest scientific discovery of the century. The only problem was, it wasn't real. Check out our Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theconstant): https://www.patreon.com/theconstant (https://www.patreon.com/theconstant). Look at all the deals we've got for you! Go to https://www.hellofresh.com/landing/theconstant80 (https://www.hellofresh.com/landing/theconstant80) a...

2019-06-1837 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ShockingThis is the story of the greatest jailbreak ever attempted. Well, maybe not "greatest", but certainly "weirdest." It's also, somehow, the story of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. And one of science's great rivalries. And of a number of murderers, mobsters and maniacs. But more than any of that, it's the story of a whole lot of very unfortunate froggies. Checkout Our Fake History Here (https://ourfakehistory.com/) The Whatever Happened to Series Here (https://www.whateverhappenedseries.com/constant) And Industrial Artifacts Here (https://www.industrialartifacts.net/) And while you're at it, clinking links so well, why not check out our Pa...

2019-06-041h 24

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong EndlingsMartha died alone, becoming the first named member of an exclusive and terrible club: The Endlings. This episode we're tracking the history of the passenger pigeon, a bird that once darkened American skies by the billions. The story of the passenger pigeon is the story of our understanding of extinction, and the lessons we once learned but appear to be struggling to remember. Visit our Patreon page here (https://www.patreon.com/theconstant). And our sponsor, www.industrialartifacts.net (https://www.industrialartifacts.net/) where you can entered coupon code "theconstant" for 15% off your first order. ...

2019-05-2124 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Gentle HammerBelieving he was Jesus Christ, Laszlo Toth entered St. Peter's Basilica on May 21st, 1972 and took a hammer to Michelangelo's Pieta. What happened next would make the world wonder what separates a work of art from a forgery. Check out this Spiro Agnew Music Box from our sponsor, Industrial Artifacts. (https://www.industrialartifacts.net/products/vintage-spiro-agnew-music-box-with-nixon-election-pin?variant=14645622079531) Get your free "Whatever Happened To" ebooks here. (https://www.whateverhappenedseries.com/constant) (https://www.whateverhappenedseries.com/constant)And don't forget to visit our Patreon. (https://www.patreon.com/theconstant) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...

2019-05-0734 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Snap, Crackle, Boom!The Apocalypse fails to appear. A doctor goes to disturbing lengths to end masturbation. A millionaire spends his fortune dynamiting the sky. Breakfast is changed forever. The Constant is back. Check out our new Patreon, (https://www.patreon.com/theconstant) to help fund the show and get all kinds of neat bonus stuff: https://www.patreon.com/theconstant (https://www.patreon.com/theconstant). And be sure to visit our newest sponsor, HelloFresh, via this link here: https://www.hellofresh.com/landing/theconstant80 (https://www.hellofresh.com/landing/theconstant80) and enter promo code "theconstant80" for $80 off your first month of...

2019-04-2339 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Is There Life on Mars?Take a look at those star men, gazing at the night sky. Oh man, wonder if they'll ever know? on October 30th, 1938, Orson Welles and The Mercury Theatre on The Air unleashed the most infamous media prank of all time. But The War of The Worlds wasn't the first time humanity got itself turned sideways thinking about Martians, and it sure wasn't the last. This week, for our season finale, we're doing a little primer on our weird and sordid history with our closest planetary neighbor. From Aristotle to the Martians we've maybe already discovered, we've got The Red...

2019-03-051h 02

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Broadcasting The BarricadesThis is the story of the first radio hoax. No, not that one. On January 16th, 1926, a Catholic priest took the mic at BBC Radio and threw all of England into panic with... a joke. Unfortunately, the original recording was lost long ago. Fortunately, this week, we're recreating it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2019-02-2633 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Ship and Understanding?War! Good God, y'all. What is it good for? According to Henry Ford: Absolutely nothing. So in 1915 he launched a ship, bound for Europe, with a simple if outlandish mission: to end World War I. On this episode we look at the ill-fated voyage of The Oscar II, better known as The Peace Ship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2019-02-191h 02

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Let's Kill MikeHow do you survive in 1932, when The Great Depression is at its peak and prohibition is in full force? How about a little insurance fraud? It's easy: all you need is an undertaker willing to fake a cause of death, a couple of life insurance policies and a target to murder. Simple as sin. The only thing you really need to do to survive 1932 is to make sure your victim isn't better at surviving than you are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2019-02-1227 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong GulliBottleIn January of 1749, a London advertisement promised an impossible show at The Haymarket Theatre: a full-grown man would jump into a wine bottle and, from within it, sing. You won't be surprised to find out that the show didn't happen. But you will be surprised by what happened instead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2019-02-0516 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Idea that Broke AmericaMesmerism didn't stop with Mesmer. This week, we pick up where we left off, tracing the idea of animal magnetism to America, where it went through some... changes. Get ready for a whirlwind tour of American enterprise, religion and entertainment that leads us right through the door of this dark timeline we're living in. This one's a doozy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2019-01-291h 02

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong MesmerizingWhat is this? Are you some kind of hypnotist? We're doing a deep dive into one of the single most fascinating mistaken ideas and the fascinating man who thought it up. This story has got it all: demonic possession, mysterious seductions, beheadings, public shamings, miracle cures and The Avengers of 18th Century Science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2019-01-221h 00

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong A Sticky SituationHappy 100th birthday to one of the strangest disasters in American history: Boston's Great Molasses Flood. For our season 5 premiere, we're looking at the weird and deadly 35 foot tall wall of syrup that destroyed Boston's North End a century ago, and what caused such an enormous--and enormously curious--thing to happen in the first place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2019-01-1521 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Join UsNew season begins Tuesday, January 15th. Join us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2019-01-0802 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong It's WonderfulOn today's holiday special we're looking at a Christmas classic: It's a Wonderful Life. A movie that was almost never made, that was almost forever forgotten, and that almost missed its chance to change a woman's life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-12-2424 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Introducing 'Safe for Work'Just a couple of days before our Christmas special, here's a little gift for you: Safe for Work. Safe For Work is an advice show that reminds you that while your office may be crazy, you don’t have to be. Office MVPs and corporate veterans Liz Dolan (ex-CMO, Nike, NatGeo, Oprah Winfrey Network) and Rico Gagliano (audio host, producer, print reporter and author) will help you make the big decisions, sort through the small stuff, and get more fulfillment from your work life. Listen here (https://wondery.com/shows/safe-for-work/) or wherever you get your podcasts. Le...

2018-12-2005 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong No RagretsAlright, there are two ways this can go down. Scenario 1: Mark finds the story of the worst tattoo ever and feels heartened by it, going through with finally getting his own. Scenario 2: Mark finds the story of the worst tattoo ever given and feels terrified by it, running away once more from his promises to you, loyal listeners. Wanna take bets? Once you're ready, head over to www.constantpodcast.com (http://www.constantpodcast.com) to see for yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-12-1811 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Way to Go Again, Einstein!Because you wonderful, amazing jerks helped reach our stretch goal, Mark's got a promise to fulfill. To explain that promise--and the title of this very show--we're rebroadcasting our season 1 finale. Einstein was a genius, but that didn't save him from messing stuff up. So let's revisit his greatest blunder, and catchup on the year-long saga of the tattoo that wasn't but will soon be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-12-1128 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Bewitched, Bothered and BewilderedIt's Halloween and that means it's time for a spooky one. This week, for the last episode of our Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/468920813/the-constant-a-history-of-getting-things-wrong) season, we've got a real-life story of ghosts, possession and a weird nexus where superstition meets science. Plus, there's chance for you to force Mark into getting that tattoo from way back in season 1. All it takes is to donate to our Kickstarter fundraiser right here. (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/468920813/the-constant-a-history-of-getting-things-wrong) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-10-3034 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong What The Fork?Forks! A handier, less-controversial item would be difficult to imagine. Yet, for hundreds of years Europeans recoiled from the fork with a hilarious zeal: condemning anyone who used one to jokes, shame and even death. For the third episode of our Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/468920813/the-constant-a-history-of-getting-things-wrong) season, we're looking at the anti-fork panic that seized a continent for centuries. We're less than two weeks from the end of our fundraiser, so when you're done listening, go take a look here. (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/468920813/the-constant-a-history-of-getting-things-wrong) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

2018-10-2316 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Typis and ErrirsTo honor all the flubs of our first year, we're going down the rabbit hole of the worst typos and mistakes in history. From sacrilegious Bibles to doomed space missions to a certain cartoon Sailor Man and his super-powered vegetable. This is the second episode of our Kickstarter season so be sure to take a look while the lookin's good! (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/468920813/the-constant-a-history-of-getting-things-wrong) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-10-1629 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Dis-CoveredIn 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. And then... well, that's the question. What exactly did this dude do? And where did the myth of Columbus come from? For the first episode of our new Kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/468920813/the-constant-a-history-of-getting-things-wrong) season, we're finding out. Oh, you wanted to hear more about that 'kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/468920813/the-constant-a-history-of-getting-things-wrong)'? You can do so right here. (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/468920813/the-constant-a-history-of-getting-things-wrong) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-10-0934 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong It's A GambleFour weeks, four new episodes. Starting Tuesday, October 9th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-10-0202 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Diabolical Devices of The Demon of DarknessIt was a dark and stormy night. A dark and stormy year, really. And it gave birth to a monster, a New Prometheus which descended upon the panicked world, leaving death and destruction in its wake. For this, our season finale, we give you the most frightening and dangerous invention of the 19th century. The bicycle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-08-0738 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Make It RainIn the late 19th century, Americans moved into the western states because of one simple phrase. But despite what you learned in junior high, it wasn't "manifest destiny." Today we're talking about the real maxim responsible for westward expansion, a maxim that centered a bizarre bit of pseudo-science that shaped America and then nearly destroyed it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-07-3136 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The Ox and The SharkThis week we're back at The Paper Machete for more political comedy, talking about Trump and Russia. Which is probably the last thing you need to hear more about, because the world is a confusing, terrifying morass of impossible contradictions that's only deepened in its horror by the wash cycle of unthinkable news stories. But maybe there's a way to ride that wash cycle! And maybe it comes from looking back at two animals that challenge how we think we know what we know. Or! Maybe it's all just a longwinded setup to a cheap punchline. Only one way to...

2018-07-2415 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Turks, Turks!Without accidents, mistakes and foolishness, there would be no military history. Nearly every war ever fought was determined, to some large degree, by someone getting something wrong. Napoleon, Hitler, Robert E. Lee, Hannibal... you name it. So to tell a war story on The Constant, that story would have to be an act of military stupidity orders of magnitude greater than the norm. Luckily for you, this week we have just such a story. And for some reason, we're giving it to you in the style of an old school nintendo game. Learn more about...

2018-07-1729 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Hair Today, Gone TomorrowIn 1926, the quiet, small-town of Kittanning, Pennsylvania was descended upon by a mob of salesmen and hucksters selling solutions to a peculiar problem: a mysterious and inexplicable epidemic of baldness. This week, we look at the weird and wacky history of baldness cures, and the even stranger story of a town in need of them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-07-1019 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Boom TownIn 1896 two trains, going full-speed, slammed into one another in the middle of the 2nd largest city in Texas. Just like they were supposed to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-07-0316 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Here Be DragonsThrough nearly all time, humankind believed in leviathans and krakens and mermaids. People didn't give up believing in sea monsters until the turn of the 20th century. Then, in 1925, one washed up on the shores of Santa Cruz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-06-2625 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong The ReflexIn the 1840's, a mysterious disease was running roughshod through a Viennese hospital, killing new mothers in terrifying numbers. On this, our season 3 premiere, we're looking at one of the greatest medical mysteries of all time, the tragic story of the genius who solved it, and why no one listened to him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-06-1931 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong CatchupSeason 3 begins June 19th. In the meantime, we'll be dropping a couple of these meta-ads. Hope you enjoy. Share, like, subscribe, rate, review and... catchup. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-06-0702 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Lord Morton's MareA fly bites, a sickness spreads, a horse is born, an idea returns. This week we attempt to correct an oversight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-05-0317 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Let's Talk About Sex, BabiesDid you ever wonder where babies come from? So did all these guys! But only one of them managed to figure it out. This week, for our season finale, the remarkable story of how we came to know the most fundamental and critical of human questions, and all the bumps along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-04-1753 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong People This IsleLook, out in the sea: it's an earthquake, it's a boat fire, it's a sea monster! It's a tiny, newborn volcanic island! In 1831, a small scrap of land suddenly formed in The Mediterranean. Lifeless, inhospitable, fiery and useless. So, naturally, the world went to war over it. Settle in and listen to the short and ludicrous history of (deep breath) Correo-Hotham-Graham-Ferdinandea-Nerita-Sciacca-Julia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-04-1023 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Everyone Loves a MysteryToday the story of a mysterious grave in the foothills of Appalachia, and the two wannabe detectives that set about deciphering it. This episode is a little different than most. It's a personal story. And we want more of them going forward. To that end, we've setup a hotline you can call to leave YOUR story of getting things wrong. We really want to hear from you. 708-761-0493 Warning: This episode also contains stories of harm to children. If you're not up for that or have sensitive listeners in earshot, please go ahead and skip this one for...

2018-04-0319 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Do Good CarefullyHere's something you don't see everyday: parachuting cats. It did happen, though. In the 1950s, The Royal Air Force airdropped parakitties onto the Island of Borneo. Why would they do such a thing? Stick around and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-03-2725 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Everything Aristotle Said is WrongWe give Aristotle a pretty hard time here at The Constant. But we can't hold an Aristotle-hating candle to the guy in this episode. A man whose distaste and distrust for Aristotle is responsible for the birth of the enlightenment, and--maybe--his own demise. It's time you got to know Petrus Ramus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-03-2018 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Ice and Fire and FuryIt started off as an innocent enough idea: what if the moon was made of ice? But from there it grew. Into an alternative-science, into a grand conspiracy theory and, finally, into one of the greatest evils in history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-03-1322 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Bitcoin, Bitcoin, BITCOIN!Would you like a serious deep-dive into the technical history of cryptocurrency? Too bad. That does sound like something we'd do, but instead we're giving you a political comedy piece by host Mark Chrisler, performed for The Paper Machete, a weekly live magazine out of our hometown, Chicago Illinois. We'll be back next week with more sober examinations of historical ephemera. For this week, give yourself a little break. You've possibly earned it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-03-0613 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong ShipwrecklessIn 1867, The Eliza set out to sea with a fresh crew, a full hold and fair weather. Yet no one expected her to ever make land again. This episode we look at why, and why, throughout the 19th century, hundreds of ships sank every year in entirely preventable circumstances. It's a story of high seas adventure, murder for profit and... a London coffee shop? It also happens to bear a more than passing resemblance to the gun debate happening in America today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-02-2729 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Tidbits and TrimmingsWhile we work away on season 2, here's a few extra stories related to the content from season 1 that didn't make their way into the episodes. More art hoaxes! More diligent prime number seekers! More birds on The Moon! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-02-1411 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Way to Go, Einstein!We could've called this show "Whoopsie!" or "Oops!" or "People Believe The Strangest Things." But instead, we called it "The Constant." On this, the season finale, we finally explain why. That means it's time to fawn about Einstein, and the thing he called "the biggest blunder of his life." It also means it's time for Mark to get a tattoo. Which... Look: let's not talk about it, okay? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-01-3026 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Fire-Proof Lizards, Vegetable Sheep and Ball-Biting BeaversThroughout time people have twisted the most humdrum of creatures until they were fantastical, bizarre, unbelievable monsters. From a logistically unfeasible hybrid to a self-castrating quarry, we're bringing you a suite of four stupefying animal myths, and then tracing them to their surprisingly humble beginnings. Plus, do you know what's in your vanilla flavoring? Do you want to? Well, listen anyway. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-01-2324 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Take None of These and Call Me in The MorningThis week: a whirlwind history of bad medical practices, worse medical practices and medical practices that--while still pretty awful--looked fantastic by comparison. Western medical history began with a madman who threw himself into a volcano to prove he was a god, and it only went downhill from there. For our story, we look at how one man managed to change 19th century medicine for the better, and how his discovery managed to make 20th century medicine worse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-01-1619 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong We're Still Here"Threatening the world with Famine, Plague and War: To Princes, Death! To Kingdoms, many Crosses; To all Estates, inevitable Losses! To Herdsmen, Rot; to Plowmen, hapless Seasons; To Sailors, Storms, To Cities, Civil Treasons!" -John Gadsbury, 1665. This week we get superstitious with comets, the great bearded stars that herald wishes made true. Or else fiery death. One or the other. For millennia mankind was panicked by these heavenly signs, not knowing what they were. And once we did find out what they were... well, then we panicked differently. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...

2018-01-0916 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Art is DeadYou don't know this story. You don't know the killer. You don't know the victims. You don't know the artist and you don't know the artworks. But in 1998 Yugoslavia, a series of mutilated corpses shocked the public, rocked the art world and, maybe, changed politics forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2018-01-0219 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Three Years of SundaysIt's difficult to honor the spirit of the season when you're making a show about mistakes, foibles and failures, but we've done our best. This week, the most uplifting story about prime numbers you'll hear all season. Promise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2017-12-2610 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong 1% InspirationIn the 1960's, scientists discovered a new form of water, kicking off millions of dollars of research, Nobel Prize consideration and a new Cold War arms race between the USA and USSR. This episode we investigate the history of the miraculous discovery that almost changed the world, and the unbelievable story of why it didn't. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2017-12-1911 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Why Do Birds Suddenly (Dis)Appear?Have you ever wondered where birds go in the winter? Of course not. But throughout history, many people have. On this, the season premiere of The Constant, we dive into some of the incredible explanations people concocted for this seemingly obvious question, and give you the surprising story of how we eventually came to know what we do. https://theconstantpodcast.weebly.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2017-12-1218 min

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong You Gotta Fry a Few EggsA preview of things to come: this is our "stress test" mini episode to try to work out all the kinks. Music byLee Rosevere http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/ and Animeistrash Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2017-12-0610 min