Useless Information Podcast
Podcasting since 2008, this show presents quirky, bizarre, and unusual stories from the flip side of history. It features true tales that are often overlooked, covering a wide range of odd and fascinating topics. The podcast aims to entertain and inform listeners with obscure and amusing facts.
Episodes
The Straw Hat Riots - UI Podcast #263
It started as a harmless Wall Street tradition: smash the straw hats of any man foolish enough to wear one after September 15. Then teenagers took up the cause, and before long, New York City was in the grip of the bizarre—and sometimes deadly—Straw Hat Riots.
Steve's Toolbox, my new YouTube channel, can be found at
https://www.youtube.com/@StevesToolbox
Images, links, and transcripts for this
Retrocast #44 – UI Podcast #262
In this episode: Kids suck subway tokens from turnstiles, two men claim to save a girl’s life, a woman marries a pet rock, a meatloaf made from dog food, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-44-podcast-262/
You can follow the Useless Information Podcast on these platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usele
Braless Fridays - UI Podcast #261
In 1969, a casual coffee-break joke about going braless cost a woman her job, sparked nationwide headlines, inspired copycat events across the country, and eventually wound up in court. That's exactly what happened to Jane Andre—all because of an undergarment.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/braless-fridays-podcast-261/
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Retrocast #43 - UI Podcast #260
In this episode: Al Capone’s son tries to avoid his notorious father’s past, a boy survives a 2-1/2 mile plunge in a tunnel, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-43-podcast-260/
You can follow the Useless Information Podcast on these platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uselessinformationpodcast
X (Twit
The Battle of the Bangs - UI Podcast #259
In 1967, a 14-year-old Ohio boy was suspended from school for refusing to cut his hair. What began as a dispute over dress code quickly spiraled into a courtroom battle, a night in juvenile detention, national headlines, and a family’s fight over conformity, authority, and the price of standing on principle.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformatio
Retrocast #42 - UI Podcast #258
In this episode: A house is cut in half after two sisters argue over its repair, two babies are switched at birth, an airplane lands at the wrong airport, and much more!
My appearance on WNYT, our local NBC television channel: https://wnyt.com/capital-region-news/historys-flip-side-bringing-untold-stories-to-life/
The data showing the least and most popular days for a baby to be born in the Unit
Leaping Leopards - UI Podcast #257
A wild leopard fresh from the jungles of India escaped the Oklahoma City Zoo in 1950, unleashing a frantic manhunt that turned the city into a spectacle of fear, fascination, and chaos. The cat seemed to vanish and reappear like a phantom, leaving searchers scrambling to keep up.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found
at https://uselessinformation.org/leaping-leopards-podcas
Retrocast 41 - Podcast #256
In this episode: Who or what is ETAOIN SHRDLU, Nat King Cole is attacked, a boy gets the day off from school for a good deed, a man breaks into ȧ home to change a baby’s diaper, and much more!
You can read about the two-time Carnegie Medal recipients at https://www.carnegiehero.org/heroes/roll-of-two-time-carnegie-medal-recipients/
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at
Aren't We Devils? - UI Podcast #255
A running gag on the 1944 Truth or Consequences radio show was for host Ralph Edwards to ask, “Is there a Mr. Wickel in the house?” He never expected an answer. But when Rudolph Wickel stood up, he stepped into one of the most notorious pranks ever pulled on live radio. It was clever. It was cruel. And it was unforgettable.
You can watch the video of Mayer Field mentioned in this episode at https
Retrocast #40 - UI Podcast #254
In this episode: A couple marries and divorces over and over again, a fugitive appears on The Dating Game tv show, a man is fined for failing to give his wife a goodbye kiss, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-40-podcast-254/
You can follow the Useless Information Podcast on these platforms:
Facebook: https://w
Lost in the Clouds - UI Podcast #253
In 1958, a small plane vanished into the mountains—and what followed became an extraordinary true story of survival, sacrifice, and love in the face of impossible odds.
You can watch the PBS video Bruce Davis: The Gentleman of Jazz
here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq4X4sEA81A
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/lost-in-the-clouds-p
Retrocast #39 - Podcast #252
In this episode: A woman has 1,446 metal objects in her stomach, a teenager faces almost certain death unless a nail is removed from her lung, a doctor claims that a patient has a bullfrog living in her stomach, and much more!
My niece Sierra McGivney’s story about the four women who helped create the American Alpine Club: https://americanalpineclub.org/news/2025/11/5/guidebook-xvilibrary-featur
The Hot Dog Santa Claus - UI Podcast #251
Throughout the 1920s, the children of Boston’s North End gathered in anticipation to see if their beloved Hot Dog Santa Claus, Axel Bjorklund, would once again arrive. Despite his vanishing fortunes and worsening health, he proved that even small gestures can leave a lasting legacy.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/the-hot-dog-santa-cl
Retrocast #38 - UI Podcast #250
In this episode: Can a wife legally swipe cash from her husband’s wallet? One Chicago man puts a bizarre social experiment in motion—mailing $1 to 500 people and asking them to mail it back. Plus, a high school student discovers a brilliant workaround for his school’s long-hair ban… and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retro
A Forbidden Love - Podcast #249
In 1937, a small Indiana town was rocked by a scandal that made national headlines: a 12-year-old girl and her 13-year-old classmate became parents, igniting a legal and moral firestorm. Family loyalty, courtroom drama, and the harsh realities of the Great Depression collide in this true tale of forbidden young love.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessi
Retrocast #37 - UI Podcast #248
A fire department stands back and watches a man's home burn to the ground, a pig flies for possibly the first time ever, fleas are transported on a dog, and a gorilla destroys an American Tourister suitcase, and much more!
The Flea Circus video mentioned in this episode can be seen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9BjN_GHIic
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be
Bad Apples #6 – Lost Boundaries – UI #247
My wife, Mary Jane, joins me to discuss the 1949 movie Lost Boundaries, the screen adaptation of the lives of Dr. Albert and Thyra Johnston, the New Hampshire couple who passed as white for nearly twenty years.
You can watch the movie Lost Boundaries on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z26VL_0EQks
and the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/LostBoundaries.
Home to Keene: The
A White Lie - UI Podcast #246
A New Hampshire doctor and his wife kept a secret from their children, friends, and community for nearly two decades. That was until the federal government discovered the lie. After the publication of their story in Reader's Digest in 1947, the entire nation would know.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/a-white-lie-podcast-246/
You can
Rewind: 1st Jewish Couple Married on TV
Cartoonist Leigh Rubin's parents were the first Jewish couple ever to be married on US television, but it almost never happened. Includes audio clips from that Bride and Groom television episode. Original Release Date: April 25, 2019.
If you would like to contribute to the GoFundMe set up to help with the long-term care of Leigh's wife Teresa, please go to
https://gofund.me/acbd2683 (A very BIG
Retrocast #36 - UI Podcast #245
Abbott & Costello agree to perform in a boy’s backyard for 70 cents, parents sue a milk dairy because their son grew too tall, a man sleeps only 2 hours per day for 33 years, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-36-podcast-245/
Listen to my interview with cartoonist Leigh Rubin discussing how his parents were The
Escape from Monkey Mountain - UI Podcast #244
Nearly 175 monkeys escaped from a zoo in Massapequa, New York in 1935. Led by an outlaw monkey named Al Capone, they mostly took refuge in the woods. While the vast majority of the monkeys were soon accounted for, Al Capone continued to remain at large.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/escape-from-monkey-mountain-podcast-244/
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Retrocast #35 - UI Podcast #243
Eight different stories in which someone or something got the last laugh. Includes: rattlesnakes that outsmarted a snake trap, jokes aimed at women are funnier, a friendly feud with the cable company, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-35-podcast-243/
You can follow the Useless Information Podcast on these platf
To Russia for Love - UI Podcast #242
A British man hadn't seen his Russian wife for nearly five years. The Soviets repeatedly refused to allow him into the USSR, and they denied her request to leave. He became so desperate that he decided to risk his life to see her. Would he survive?
There are two videos on YouTube about this story:
Brian Grover Home at Last (1939) (British Pathé) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fJVeQbmjRY
Mr.
The Denver Spiderman - UI Podcast #241
In Denver, Colorado, in 1941, a man was found murdered in his own home. The most unusual part was that all of the doors and windows were locked from the inside. So, how was the killer able to make his getaway?
You can listen to more of History Dispatches at https://historydispatches.com/
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found
at https://uselessinformation.org/the-denver-spi
Retrocast 34 - UI Podcast #240
A warning to stay away from people with blue eyes, Stanford students use ice nickels to pay for phone calls, the speed limit for automobiles is set at 2 mph, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-34-podcast-240/
You can follow the Useless Information Podcast on these platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/u
Diamond Jim's Shack - UI Podcast #239
A pristine view. A stubborn fisherman’s legacy. When wealth clashes with tradition, who wins? Dive into the gripping saga of Diamond Jim's Shack, where a simple fishing spot turns into a battleground between privilege and perseverance.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/diamond-jims-shack-podcast-239/
You can follow the Useless Informat
Retrocast 33 - UI Podcast #238
The Titanic is supposedly unsinkable, a cat is jailed, clothing seems to instantly combust, shoes for postmen are designed to minimize dog bites, a tastier spinach, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-33-podcast-238/
You can follow the Useless Information Podcast on these platforms:
Facebook: https://www.faceboo
Rent-A-Wife - UI Podcast #237
Need help? Try renting a wife! They would do anything from A to Z, except for X! A true story from the early 1980s in which some ambitious women decided to market what they did best: being a wife. Includes an interview with Jane Hanne Nevensmith, who ran a successful Rent-A-Wife business in Massachusetts.
The 2022 interview with Jane Nevensmith mentioned in the podcast can be found here: https://
Retrocast 32 - UI Podcast #236
A man discovers the Roman Ruins of his youth have been torn down, a violin made from a lobster claw, an electric chair that electrocuted itself, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-32-podcast-236/
You can follow the Useless Information Podcast on these platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uselessinformat
Ding Dong Daddy - Part 2 - UI Podcast #235
Step into the life of Francis Van Wie, a streetcar conductor with charm, wit, and a string of marriages that captivated 1940s San Francisco, transforming a wartime distraction into a national sensation. Join the ride with the "Ding Dong Daddy"!
Images, links, and transcripts for this episode can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/ding-dong-daddy-part-2-podcast-235/
Listen to the song, ht
Ding Dong Daddy - Part 1 - UI Podcast #234
In 1915, a man known only as John F. Kennedy appeared in Kenosha, WI unable to recall his past or even his own name. With only a few cryptic clues and a suitcase marked with the initials "R.E.J.," he embarked on a journey to uncover his forgotten life. From the kindness of strangers to the shocking revelations of his true identity, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Images, links
Retrocast #31 - UI Podcast #233
A man recovers his lost diamond ring through a chance encounter, manhole covers fly in Chicago, how to divide a Cadillac 57 ways, a man is fined for barking like a dog, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-31-podcast-233/
You can follow the Useless Information Podcast on these platforms:
Facebook: https://www.face
Who Owns Her Face? - UI Podcast #232
When 17-year-old Abigail Roberson's photo was printed on a widely distributed poster without her consent, it set off a legal battle that would forever change the definition of privacy.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/who-owns-her-face-podcast-232/
You can follow the Useless Information Podcast on these platforms:
Facebook: https://w
Christmas Retrocast - UI Podcast #231
Christmas Retrocast! Includes: Tumbleweed replaces the standard Christmas tree for one family, a Santa who practically gave away the store, a policeman has a live turkey thrown at him for Christmas, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/christmas-retrocast-podcast-231/
You can follow the Useless Information Podcast on these pl
Snatched From Death - Podcast #230
The harrowing true story of three airmen stranded on an unforgiving, desolate island after their airplane crashed off the coast of Greenland. After the search for them was abandoned, they faced the relentless cold and starvation, teetering on the brink of death. Would they be rescued in time, or would the merciless Arctic become their final resting place?
Images, links, and transcripts for this po
Retrocast #29 - UI Podcast #229
Jill ChaCha of the podcast Well… That’s Interesting! cohosts! Includes: A debate over whether we should have female judges, a ventriloquist projects his voice to avoid paying a fine, why homely girls make the best wives, and much more!
You can find Jill’s podcast here: https://www.airwavemedia.com/our-shows/well...-that's-interesting
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at
Pet Rocks - UI Podcast #228
Something different in this podcast!!! I let podcast hosts Art Quinn and Cynthia Coleman tell one of my stories! It’s all about the 1975 Pet Rock fad and how it all happened.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/pet-rocks-podcast-228/
Comment on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/FlipSideofHistory/
The Useless Information Podcast is a member
Miss USA for a Day - UI Podcast #227
Back in 1957, Leona Gage had beauty, charm, and a crown—until scandal snatched it away. Just what had she done wrong? Discover the whirlwind rise and dramatic fall of the beauty queen who became an overnight sensation.
Video of Leona on the Ed Sullivan Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyUZaZtit_o
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/mi
Retrocast #28 - UI Podcast #226
A man is forced to pay for the burial of a porcupine, a stowaway who hid inside of someone’s coffin, a cactus buried under concrete for 45 years, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-28-podcast-226/
The Useless Information Podcast is a member of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit https://www.airwavemedia.com/
Winston Churchill Gets Run Over - UI Podcast #225
While Winston Churchill was crossing Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in 1931, he was hit by a car and thrown down to the pavement. Unable to move his fingers and toes, Churchill believed that he was paralyzed. Listen to this story to find out exactly what happened, the severity of Churchill’s injuries, and what consequences the driver of that car faced.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast ca
Dubious Advice 2 - UI Podcast #224
An exploration of advice columns and their evolution over time. How have the questions and responses shifted over the past century? Some of the answers are bound to make you laugh.
Affiliate link for elevenlabs.io, which was used for the AI-generated voices in this episode: https://elevenlabs.io/?from=partnerray4138
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinf
Lies in the Fast Lane - UI Podcast #223
Truck driver Eugene Wood hid a big secret from his friends and family. No one suspected anything. That was until he was killed in a traffic accident and a judge in Troy, NY uncovered the truth.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/lies-in-the-fast-lane-podcast-223/
The Useless Information Podcast is a member of the Airwave Media podcast net
Retrocast #27 - UI Podcast #222
True fish stories, a newsreel photographer goes on an unexpected flight, a young girl attempts to visit Honolulu, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-27-podcast-222/
The Useless Information Podcast is a member of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit https://www.airwavemedia.com/ to listen to more great podcasts
Pete the Python - UI Podcast #221
This episode of the Useless Information Podcast is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/INFORMATIONPOD and get on your way to being your best self.
The incredible true story of an 18-foot, 150-pound python who escaped from the Fort Worth Zoo back in 1954. But instead of causing widespread fear, this serpent slithered his way into the hearts of peop
The Man Who Would Become Uncle Sam - UI #220
Have you ever wondered why the United States government is called Uncle Sam? This nickname originates from Uncle Samuel Wilson, who provided beef and pork to the troops during the War of 1812. Join the City of Troy and Rensselaer County, New York historian Kathy Sheehan as she takes us on a tour of Uncle Sam's life.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessin
Mr. Benefactor - Podcast #219
In November 1949, Aurora, Illinois found itself with an unusual mystery on its hands. An unidentified benefactor lavishly distributed substantial sums of money to individuals, charities, and the local high school. Adjusted for inflation, the philanthropist bestowed millions within a mere span of weeks. The burning question: Who was this mysterious figure and what motivated such a profound act of g
Retrocast #26 - Podcast #218
A man is arrested for stealing his own money, a barn is stolen while a farmer sleeps, a Harvard graduate who lost his memory, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-26-podcast-218/
The Useless Information Podcast is a member of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit https://www.airwavemedia.com/ to listen to more gr
A Crucifixion in Chicago - UI Podcast #217
In 1945, police were astounded to discover a man affixed to a wooden cross, hastily fastened to the beams supporting Chicago’s elevated railway. His assailants were never identified, but the victim repeatedly brought up the name of Dr. Emil Bronner. It's worth noting that this is the very same Dr. Bronner who later pioneered the widely acclaimed castile soap that carries his name. This story will
Retrocast #25 - UI Podcast #216
An alligator is found in a California swamp, male toll collectors oppose the hiring of women, a mummified man inspires a Don McLean song, a chewing gum party, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-25-podcast-216/
The Useless Information Podcast is a member of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit https://www.airwa
The Strange Case of the Poppy Seed Roll - UI #215
In 1933, New York City police had a very unusual mystery on their hands. Two people died of nearly identical causes within an hour of one another at an Automat restaurant in Manhattan. Strangers to each other, the sole connecting thread between them was a poppy seed roll.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/the-strange-case-of-the-poppy-se
The Lightning Tamers - UI Podcast #214
Our modern world is dependent on electricity. But did you ever stop to wonder where it all began? Guest Kathy Joseph, author of the book The Lightning Tamers and host of the popular YouTube channel Kathy Loves Physics, joins me to talk about some of these amazing stories.
Video of this interview: https://uselessinformation.org/the-lightning-tamers-podcast-214/
Purchase The Lightning Tamers by Kath
The Radiator Romeo - UI Podcast #213
Back in 1937, Harold Hulen was madly in love with Florence Hurlbut. He desperately wanted to marry her, but every time he asked, she turned him down. After a couple of years of constant rejection, Harold came up with an outrageous way to get her attention. Soon their story would be told in newspapers and on the radio from coast-to-coast.
Affiliate link for elevenlabs.io: https://elevenlabs.io/?fr
Retrocast #24 - UI Podcast #212
Bruce Carlson of My History Can Beat Up Your Politics cohosts! A man survives going over Niagara, only to later die after slipping on an orange peel; a family is told they can only take one bath per week; a woman catches a trout with a fly swatter, Beatles hair is clogging up swimming pools, and much more!
You can find Bruce Carlson’s podcast here: https://myhistorycanbeatupyourpolitics.com/
Image
The Poor Rich Man - UI Podcast #211
In 1950, the Hecht department store chain unveiled plans for constructing a massive new store in Arlington, Virginia. However, their ambitious project faced a formidable obstacle in the form of an 82-year-old preacher. This elderly man insisted on selling his property to the company only if they agreed to pay an exorbitant sum. The question remained: who would emerge victorious in this standoff?
I
Christmas Retrocast - UI Podcast #210
In this episode: A look at letters to Santa through the years, a judge who sentences two men to get a boy his Christmas gifts, Santa’s pants fall down, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/christmas-retrocast-podcast-210
The Useless Information Podcast is a member of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit https://www.airwav
The Beardless Santa - UI Podcast #209
The heartwarming story of "Uncle Dan" Vinson, a man who dedicated much of his life to ensuring that Christmas became a truly special occasion for children all around the world. In his workshop, his helpers tirelessly worked throughout the year, diligently fixing misfit toys and crafting new ones. Somehow millions of those gifts would find their way to where they needed to go. He derived immense jo
Retrocast #22 - UI Podcast #208
In this episode: A hippopotamus is on the loose in Detroit, a skydiver in freefall grabs a parachute from another skydiver, Chicago steaks are really horse meat, a boy’s crib is struck by lightning, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-22-podcast-208/
The Useless Information Podcast is a member of the Airwave Media
Slippery the Sea Lion - UI Podcast #207
Cyril, the daring sea lion, embarked on an epic escape from a London, Ontario zoo in 1958, setting his sights on the vast Atlantic Ocean. His incredible journey left everyone wondering: Could he survive the challenges that lie ahead? Would he make it to Niagara Falls? And if he did, how would he get over the Falls? This captivating tale held readers on both sides of the border spellbound and even
Retrocast #21 - UI Podcast #206
In this episode: Boston women must beat a deadline to marry, a man’s feet are too big for the US Marines, a vice-principal cuts offensive images from a sex-ed textbook, dresses arrive 63 years late, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-21-podcast-206/
The Useless Information Podcast is a member of the Airwave Media
The Naked Mustard Ladies - UI Podcast #205
A bizarre true story that involves mustard, relish, the United Parcel Service (UPS), and three Michigan women who wore nothing more than their shoes. It was one that gained national notoriety, but just as quickly as it ascended to the spotlight, it disappeared into the shadows of obscurity.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/the-naked-mus
Retrocast #20 - UI Podcast #204
In this episode: A kangaroo is on the loose in NYC, a woman fails her driving test 39 times, someone is sneaking under the tables at college libraries and painting women’s toenails, a man breaks into an apartment and covers a woman with cake icing, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-20-podcast-204/
The Useless Inf
Boxed for a Better Life - UI Podcast #203
Back in 1901, Johann Beck was madly in love with his fiancé Johanna, but he found it difficult to obtain employment in Germany. They both dreamed of going to the United States to start a new life, but they couldn’t afford to do so. Then, Johann had a brilliant idea! He came up with a unique, lower-cost way of sailing across the vast Atlantic Ocean. Yet even the slightest mishap could cost him his
Retrocast #19 - UI Podcast #202
In this episode: A World War II veteran who could only rent a home in an upscale New Jersey neighborhood if he agreed to bring a live goat, Baltimore requires male go-go dancers to cover their breasts while performing, and a woman who sat through 864 showings of the film The Sound of Music, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.or
Back Into the Woods - Podcast #201
Ted Hollingworth shares his perspective on the intense search for his sister 5-year-old Pamela Hollingworth, who went missing in New Hampshire's White Mountains back in 1941. The news of her disappearance prompted an enormous response, with thousands of volunteers combing the woods tirelessly in search of her. After eight grueling days both rain and freezing temperatures, a miraculous turn of even
Mississippi Bans Sesame Street - UI Podcast #200
Since its initial premiere, the children's television program Sesame Street achieved immense popularity and acclaim, captivating millions of viewers throughout the United States. However, there was a notable exception to its widespread reach: the state of Mississippi. It was purported that the decision to prohibit the show on their educational television station stemmed from concerns over its raci
Bonus Episode: I Am a Guest on the Off Exit 10 Podcast
In this episode, I am the one being interviewed! Recorded on June 24, 2023, I was a guest on the Off Exit 10 Podcast, which is produced by my former students Mike & Jordan Sirani and Paul Morse. During the discussion, I talked about how I became a teacher, what it was like to be on the Internet before the world wide web, how the podcast came about, and more.
You can listen to more episodes of the
Retrocast 18 - UI #199
In this episode: A deer stabs a man, a dress made from postage stamps, three teenagers take a joyride in an airplane, the history of the pay telephone, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-18-podcast-199/
The Useless Information Podcast is a member of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit https://www.airwavemedia
Bonus Episode: The Cold War Spy Swap
With the recent passing of FBI cryptanalyst Marvin Lautzenheiser, here is an episode of History Daily that tells the exciting story of William Fisher (aka Rudolf Abel) and his Cold War spy swap with US pilot Gary Powers.
Every weekday, host Lindsay Graham (American Scandal, American History Tellers) takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened ‘on this day’ in history. Whether
The Kid Is Not My Son - UI #198
In 1923, Joseph Boyer III was born to a wealthy Detroit couple. He stood to inherit a trust fund valued in the many millions of dollars until everything suddenly spiraled out of control. Was his dad really the father? Was his mom really the mother? If not, who was? It’s the long-forgotten true story that involves deceit, attempted blackmail, international law, forged papers, a deceased lawyer, and
Dubious Advice - UI Podcast #197
Something NEW! for the podcast: A look at advice columns and how they have evolved over time. Have the questions and responses changed over the past century? Some of the responses are sure to make you laugh.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/dubious-advice-podcast-197
The Useless Information Podcast is a member of the Airwave Media podca
Frasier, the Sensuous Lion - UI Podcast #196
Frasier was a decrepit old circus lion whose best days were far behind him, or at least that was what his caregivers believed. While he wasn’t much to look at, he proved popular with the lionesses. Frasier showed the world that it was better to be a lover than a fighter by surprisingly fathering 35 cubs during the last 18 months of his life. His virility made him famous worldwide. Fan clubs, Frasi
Retrocast #17 - UI Podcast #195
In this episode: a train that derailed and then jumped back on the track, a man who claimed ownership of nearly the entire universe, a bet in which the loser would have to eat 1 million peas, and much more!
Link to the auction of the Einstein letter: https://bit.ly/3LazYrx
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-17-podcast-195/
The U
The Love Pirate - UI Podcast #194
In 1923, Kathleen Morrell was arrested by Chicago police for having five children out of wedlock. She was an excellent mother, but as an unmarried woman, she was charged with contributing to the delinquency of her own children. Would a judge really place her kids in an orphanage? Listen to learn more.
The survey discussed in the podcast can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave
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Retrocast #16 - UI Podcast #193
In this episode: a man who recorded the location of buried treasure on a record, a girl who swallowed 200 rocks, a color-blind plumber, the history of McDonald’s Big Mac, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-16-podcast-193/
The Useless Information Podcast is a member of the Airwave Media podcast network. Visit https
A Severed Relationship - UI #192
Ouch!!! The ghastly true story of Bertha Boronda who, in 1907, took a straight razor and sliced off her husband Frank’s penis. During her trial, the courtroom was packed, and all the regional newspapers followed the story closely. She was the Lorena Bobbitt of her day.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/bertha-boronda-podcast-192/
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Retrocast #15 - UI Podcast #191
In this episode: A man who eats match heads, a wife receives a frozen baby elephant for Valentine’s Day, every kiss supposedly knocks 3 minutes off of your life, a couple who waited 60 years to marry, a 10-year-ban is proposed to curb the spread of tuberculosis, and much more!
Link to the survey discussed in this episode: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave
Images, links, and transcripts for th
Marty the Marijuana Mouse - UI Podcast #190
The crazy true story of Marty, a mouse who was stealing marijuana and other drugs from the evidence room of the San Jose police department in 1974. He was placed on trial for his crimes and then sent off to a lab for testing. Protestors rallied to free Marty. Bumper stickers were printed, Free Marty tee-shirts were sold, there was a Marty fan club, and Marty Mouse awards were handed out at a banqu
Retrocast #14 - UI Podcast #189
In this episode: A man claims his wife snores in Morse code, a student runs away after his teacher tells him not to return until he brings his textbook, a man hitchhikes after his car is stolen and is picked up by his own vehicle, the AMA recommends those over 40 not do the Twist, and much more!
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocas
The Newburyport Anti-Inflation Plan - UI #188
Inflation in the United States hit 20% shortly after World War II. The government couldn’t get it under control, so the businessmen of Newburyport, Massachusetts came up with their own plan. Soon, other towns and cities were doing the same. Did it work? Could it work today? Listen to find out.
Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/the-newbur
Christmas Retrocast - UI Podcast #187
Ten true, long-forgotten stories from Christmas past! A man pays for 41,000 student accounts at a closed Pittsburgh bank, a Christmas cactus theft epidemic, a wife serves her husband golf ball hash, two boys are contacted by Santa via their walkie-talkies, and much more!
Links to the text of each of these stories can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/christmas-retrocast-podcast-187/
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