Constant Wonder
Episodes
1904 Olympic Marathon Mayhem
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Why the mishaps of the 1904 Olympic Marathon almost led to the event being banned in all future Olympic Games. Also, how world's fairs have changed th...
Nature Conspiracies
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Trees conspire with each other to thwart seed predators. David Allen Sibley tries to answer essential birder questions: “What do birds do?” and “...
Henry Ford’s Forgotten Utopia
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Henry Ford and Thomas Edison dreamed of more than Model-Ts and lightbulbs.
Aloha Rodeo in the Wild West
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How Hawaiian cowboys stunned Wyoming.
Lifesaving Fear
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The benefits and hazards of fear. And, how to die in space.
Freed Slaves Sue for Damages
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How a formerly enslaved man in Kentucky worked with a former Confederate hero to win damages from a lynch mob, and how a formerly enslaved woman sued ...
The Weird, Wonderful World of Scorpions
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Scorpions hear through their feet, navigate by the stars, and cannibalize each other. And, milking deadly snakes to make lifesaving anti-venom.
Pho and Other Specialty Foods
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The secrets to making excellent pho at home; cooking with Italian grannies; and an introduction to the world's only sourdough library.
Before We Swiped Right
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A delightful history of using personal ads to find love. And, when did diamonds become a girl's best friend?
The History of Color
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pigments in every color that you can imagine.
The Hidden Life of the Deep Ocean
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The abyss of the deep sea is anything but lifeless!
Conning Their Way to Freedom
03 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For two POWs in WWI, a con was the only way to secure their freedom. And, Gregor MacGregor fooled hundreds into believing in a nonexistent promised la...
Whitman, Alabama & America in Maps
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Whitman's poetry sheds light on human connections and national identity. Maps help us view history differently.
How Mexican Food Conquered America
28 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From "chili queens" to the founder of Taco Bell to the invention of Doritos, how America embraced Mexican food.
Despots of Ancient Egypt
27 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Monuments and mummies alike provide insights to the distribution of power in ancient Egypt.
Kris Kringle Nabs Cash
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Santa Claus Association was supposed to help kids, but its founder was no saint. And, the myths behind the man Johnny Appleseed.
Snow, Snow, Snow!
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Climate change, ice instruments, and lab-designed snowflakes.
Making the Modern Christmas
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas wouldn't be the same without Dickens. And, the railroads changed Christmas forever.
Tasteblind
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Danielle Reed explores the wide genetic differences in taste buds, and a related topic, why COVID-19 causes some people to lose their sense of taste a...
Teddy Roosevelt and the Founding of the FBI
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Federal law enforcement was weak at the beginning of the 20th century.
Tales from the Heart
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Advances in cardiac surgery were pioneered by fearless heart surgeons, and some unsung heroes who assisted them.
Jim Thorpe: All-American
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jim Thorpe was known as the greatest athlete in the world.
The Ancient Craft of Japanese Boatbuilding
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Preserving traditional and ancient arts.
The Soul of an Octopus
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The wonders of these smart, social creatures.
TRAILER: Constant Wonder Podcast
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join host Marcus Smith for conversations that invite you to discover, explore, and reengage with the wonders of the world around you. Find new episode...