Forever Ago

Forever Ago is coming back and we want your help

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Woooohooooo and historical HUZZAH! We are coming back next spring and can't wait for you to hear all that we have planned. Now that Forever Ago and th...

We’re back! Brains On Universe has a new headquarters

08 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back! We’ve officially moved into our new headquarters! Come unpack with us and get a tour while we fill you in on some big news. Plus, new ...

A big update about Forever Ago and the Brains On Universe

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. We know: not cool. B...

Where did school uniforms come from?

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our world is filled with uniforms. From mail carriers, to sports teams to students! This week, Joy, cohost Hannah and Articles of Interest’s Avery T...

Josephine Baker: Diva and WWII spy!

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Joy and co-host Obasi are so obsessed with historical spycraft that they become top secret spies! Their mission, should they choose to accept it: inve...

Play ball! The first team sport

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today, sports are popular all over the world!  But have you ever wondered what the first team sport was?  This week, Joy and cohost Xenia learn all ...

Smarty Pass Bonus: First Things For Shizzle

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Joy is a real cool customer. How cool? Well, let’s just say she regularly sleeps in feline PJs, aka the cat’s pajamas. Cat’s pajamas are slang f...

How did the Girl Scouts get started?

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Joy is so excited to be going on her first big camping trip, but she needs help – STAT! How do you put up a tent, anyway? And how do you make perf...

Where does maple syrup come from?

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode is all about the best breakfast topping, the sap that slaps…maple syrup! If you’ve ever had maple syrup on your pancakes or waff...

Forever Ago is on Spring Break this week! Enjoy this saucy showdown from our friends at Smash Boom Best!

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Forever Ago is on Spring Break this week! We’ll be back next week with a brand new episode all about the magic of maple syrup. In the meantime, enjo...

OOO, AHHHH! The history of fireworks

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fireworks dazzle us on special holidays, at flashy concerts and during some big public events (National Mr. Potatohead Day anyone?). But did you know ...

How teens invented the Native Youth Olympics

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Forever ago is back with a brand new episode all about the Native Youth Olympics! Join Joy and cohost Ali to learn all about how a group of students i...

The birth of Bollywood movies

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Millions of people around the world love to watch the magical, musical, dance-filled films from India. The industry is nicknamed Bollywood. And its ro...

The history and mystery of mayonnaise

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Host Joy Dolo loves the listeners of Forever Ago – but does she love them enough to do an episode about her nemesis MAYONNAISE??? Yes, yes she does....

No Fooling! Forever Ago is back April 9th!

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Forever Ago friends! Happy April Fools Day! We’re so excited to be back in your ears with brand new episodes next week, on April 9th! No fooling...

Songs of the Humpback Whale: How one record helped save the whales

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We have a real whale of a story for you this week! It’s a FIN-tastic classic. Joy and cohost Mina meet up with Hugh the humpback whale to hear the s...

Hip-Hop History: How teenagers invented rap music

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Rap music is one of the most popular genres of music in the world today. But where did it all begin? Join hosts Joy and Savion as they go back to the ...

Jobs that don’t exist anymore

04 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As times change, so do jobs, and careers that once were common can go extinct! Join Joy and co-host Amirah as they head to the world famous “This Us...

How Sesame Street tried to change the world

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You probably know Sesame Street as a fun, fast-paced show full of talking puppets, like Elmo and Big Bird. But it actually started as a huge experimen...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Black Friday Special

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the holiday season, which for Forever Ago host Joy Dolo means one thing: DEALS!  Help her check off her holiday shopping list with a game of F...

What’s the history of Black Friday?

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Black Friday is a huge shopping holiday in the U.S. that happens the day after Thanksgiving. There are tons of sales and sometimes people even wait fo...

Who were the gladiators?

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Gladiators were professional fighters who lived thousands of years ago in ancient Rome. But they weren't just fighters, they were also influencers who...

The Ten News: Election Day Kid Takeover

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Tune in for a super special election day episode from our friends at The Ten News!🗳️ It’s Election Day and Pamela is driving Ryan to the polls...

Gotcha! The history of April Fool’s Day

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Happy April Fool’s Day! Just kidding, we know it’s October. But that doesn’t stop Joy from celebrating April Fool’s Day all year round — esp...

Smarty Pass Presents: Truth or Truth

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Usually, bonus episodes like this are exclusively for Smarty Pass subscribers but this month we’re sharing them with all our listeners. If you like ...

Who was the first Black woman to run for president?

23 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

2024 is an election year, where Americans will vote for a new president. Join Joy and co-host to Em as they learn all about what it takes to be Presid...

Why do we carve pumpkins on Halloween?

16 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joy’s ready for some Halloweeny fun, but her jack-o’-lantern pal Lionel wants to skip the whole thing. He doesn’t understand why carving pumpkin...

How did we send messages before cell phones?

09 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joy has a top secret message to deliver. There’s just one problem– she’s locked outside without her computer or phone! How will she send her VER...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Ragin’ road trip

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joy and Anna are amped to go on a fun road trip! And with a garage full of transportation options nothing is gonna stop them from hitting the road. Gr...

Banjos Pt. 2: Bluegrass, Beyoncé and Beyond

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back with part two of our string-tastic story of the banjo! In the last episode, musician Rhiannon Giddens helped tell the origin story of the...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Olympic History

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This summer it’s the 2024 Olympic games! In honor of this sporty season, Forever Ago host Joy Dolo quizzes producers Rosie duPont and Anna Weggel al...

Banjos Pt. 1: From Gourds to Grammys

17 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s episode has a lot of pluck! It’s all about the banjo. For over 100 years, the banjo has been associated with country and bluegrass music, ...

The flower hunters: how tropical orchids fueled a craze

10 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Uh oh! Joy picked up a free plant from a Buy Nothing group that can speak sign language and perform tricks. The bad news? It’s creating a jungle ins...

Don't steal my thunder! The history of idioms

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The cat's out of the bag!  We’re back with a brand new episode, and we didn’t cut any corners!  This one is all about idioms, those funny expres...

Who invented wheelchair basketball?

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Less than a hundred years ago, wheelchairs were big clunky wooden chairs that couldn’t even fit through most doorways.  But in the 1930s, a pair of...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Movie Forever Ago

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joy is building a movie theater in the basement of Brains On! Headquarters. She’s got the popcorn, air conditioning, and comfy seats but is overwhel...

Smash Boom Best: Bubble Gum Vs. Gummy Bears

19 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we’ve got a very special episode from our besties at Smash Boom Best!This debate is a tasty tussle between a chewy champion and a gummy g...

Why do we eat popcorn at the movies?

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Popcorn is a buttery, tasty treat. You can find it everywhere, from circuses to sports games. But it’s probably best known for its starring role as ...

Hole in One: History of the bagel

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today, bagels are a classic American breakfast food. But less than 100 years ago, most people in the U.S. had never heard of them! Join Joy, co-host A...

Terrific Toilets: how humans solved the potty problem

29 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s easy to take toilets for granted, but these porcelain thrones are nothing short of marvelous. In this episode, Joy and co-host Caleb find out h...

How guide dogs came to lead the way

22 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dogs have served as human’s loyal companions for thousands of years. They’ve also been trained to do some pretty cool jobs! In today’s episode, ...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Rock, Paper Scissors

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a Forever Ago face-off! Joy has turned the garage at HQ into a boxing arena and has brought in Molly Bloom and Nico Gonzalez Wisler for a rock,...

Where did the Fortune Cookie come from?

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When most of us think of fortune cookies, we think of those little folded cookies that come with Chinese food. But did you know that fortune cookies a...

Forever Ago is Back May 15!

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Forever Ago Friends!! Ready for more Forever Ago FUN?! Well you’re in luck— Forever Ago is back with a brand new season May 15th! Tune in to l...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Instrumental Enigma

22 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Forever Ago host Joy Dolo has a brand-new game she’s calling Instrumental Enigma. It sounds like a lot of fun! Emphasis on sounds! Grab your Smar...

Whatchamicallit: A Smarty Pass Sneak Peek

18 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do you know what Blibber-Blubber was? How about Wiff-Waff? If only there were an incredible game hosted by Joy Dolo to help us figure it out. Oh wait,...

Heartwords: A Smarty Pass Sneak Peek

19 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a time-honored Valentine’s Day tradition to hand out conversation hearts - those candies with phrases like “be mine” and “love always”...

Want more Forever Ago fun? Join Smarty Pass today!

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Forever Ago won’t be back for a few months, but never fear! You can catch up on tons of Forever Ago fun today by signing up for Smarty Pass and acce...

SnowZone Bowl: A Smarty Pass sneak peek

22 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joy hosts the timeless classic Snow Zone Bowl– the game where you guess the rules to odd Winter Olympic sports from history. Join Joy, Sanden Totten...

Chew on this! The surprising history of gum

27 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Who doesn’t love gum? It’s fun, sticky, and sweet! But did you know people have been chewing on stuff for centuries? Come explore the surprising h...

How the synthesizer changed music forever

20 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Synthesizers are revolutionary instruments. These electronic devices use knobs, buttons and sliders to make different sounds — and you can hear the...

Check it Out! The History of Children's Libraries

13 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Libraries are popular with everyone, but they're especially beloved by kids and their families. They’re places where you can listen to stories, chec...

Operation ozone: how the world patched up the hole in the sky

06 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Climate change can feel like an overwhelming problem, so it’s important to shine a light on environmental success stories. One such tale? How the wo...

Babies on the Boardwalk: History of the NICU

29 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Babies who are born too early often get extra care in the hospital at the NICU, or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. But the NICU didn’t always exist –...

Who was the first woman to win an olympic medal?

22 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, athletes like Simone Biles and  Katie Ledecky are Olympic rockstars. But did you know that when the Olympics started, women weren’t even all...

Gobble Gobble! What’s the real history of Thanksgiving?

15 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we examine the real history behind one of the most celebrated holidays: Thanksgiving. It’s a pretty big deal in the U.S., with all ...

Superman: An immigrant's story

08 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Superman isn’t just any old superhero -- he was the very first costumed superhero! He paved the way for Spiderman, Wonder Woman, Batman and all the ...

Forever Ago is back November 8th!

25 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you ready to explore the before?  Forever Ago is a history podcast for the whole family, and it's coming back on November 8th, 2023!  Joy Dolo a...

Happy Birthday to You: The story of the world's most popular song

05 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Do you know the birthday song? We bet you do! People all over the world sing a version of “Happy Birthday to You.” It’s even been played in OUTE...

It’s Electric! The history of electric cars

28 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Electric cars may seem like the latest technology, but they were actually first invented in the late 1880s! So what happened to the electric car? And ...

TGIF: Where did the weekend come from?

21 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Uh oh, Joy has a big problem: too many fun things to do every weekend and not enough time to do them all. In this episode, she and cohost Asa are on a...

Yee-Haw! The hidden history of Black cowboys

14 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Head down to the ranch with Joy and co-host Aaliyah as they share the stories of three incredible Black cowboys. These cowboys tamed wild horses, arre...

Flying colors: The story of the rainbow Pride flag

07 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This week, Joy and co-host Lilike are at a Pride celebration! These celebrations have taken place since 1969, but the rainbow flag is a more recent...

See Joy Dolo at Smash Boom Best LIVE!

06 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You know Joy Dolo as your favorite ever host of Forever Ago, but she's also a debater on our sister podcast Smash Boom Best. And we're really excited ...

Forever Ago History Sound Extravaganza!

05 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hey, Smarty Pal, want more Forever Ago? Check out this sneak peek of Joy playing a brand new game she just invented that bears no resemblance to any o...

How a freezing summer gave us Frankenstein, bicycles and more

31 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Joy and co-host Asa learn about the year without a summer, and how it led to some amazing inventions! 1816 was a very strange year. In many parts of...

ZAP! The history of the microwave

24 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Beep boop ZAP! Did you know that the microwave oven was invented by accident? From space-age luxury item to everyday appliance, microwaves have come a...

Way to Play: How Playgrounds Grew Up

17 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re so excited to be back for season THREE of Forever Ago! Join Joy, Elysse, and some talking playground equipment as they spring through time to ...

Forever Ago is Back May 17!

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Season 3 of Forever Ago is starting soon! Forever Ago is a history podcast for the whole family, where we explore the before! This season, we’ve got...

Million Bazillion: Why do some people get paid more than others?

24 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hey Forever Friends! A quick note: our new season starts on May 17th, and we can’t wait to share it with you! Until then, we’re excited to share t...

Do scientists have superpowers?

13 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hi! It’s Joy Dolo here. Forever Ago will be back in your feed with new episodes in May! But to tide you over until then, I wanted to share this epis...

Love is in the hair! A history of cornrow braids

23 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tag along with Joy, Amira and a magical bobblehead with the gift of gab on a road-trip while they explore the history of cornrow hair braiding! We’l...

Rocket women: How a secret program paved the way for female astronauts

16 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready for an out-of-this-world episode! Joy and co-host Elsa are trapped in a black hole with a baby elephant and a mountain of old junk! They’...

How pens rewrote history

09 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, but how did it get that way? Join Joy and co-host Buddy as they head to the U-PEN college reunion (a whol...

Tomb raiders: How Egypt’s treasures ended up all over the world

02 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There’s stuff from ancient Egypt in museums all over the world, from jewelry and statues to mummified bodies. But it turns out a lot of that stuff w...

Introducing Smarty Pass: Your ticket to the Brains On! Universe

31 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Become a Smarty Pass subscriber today to access bonus episodes and ad-free episodes of Brains On!, Smash Boom Best, Moment of Um, and Forever Ago -- a...

The lawn con: A history of grass

26 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Grab your hedge clippers and don’t forget to feed your plastic flamingos! Joy and cohost Max are exploring the surprising history—and even more su...

Guitar stars: Strumming through the ages

19 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Get ready to shred! Joy and cohost Buddy are building the most epic guitarchestra (aka guitar orchestra) in this week’s episode — so they’re aud...

The Bone Wars: A dino discovery duel!

12 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Looking for a story full of spies, sabotage, and feuding scientists? Get ready to dig into today’s episode all about the Bone Wars, a raging rivalry...

Keeping it chill with air conditioning

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back with a hot new episode on staying cool! We’re talking about the history of air conditioning, our favorite frosty invention. Joy and co-...

What do grown ups-do with all their money?

28 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hey there Forever Friends! We’re coming back with new weekly episodes, starting next week. Until then, check out this cash-riffic show from our pals...

Pirates: More than peg legs and parrots

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ahoy, matey! When you think of a pirate, you’re probably thinking of a white man with a beard and an eyepatch, maybe a pegleg, maybe a parrot on his...

Who was the first lifeguard?

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Whenever you go to a big pool or a public beach, you’ll always see lifeguards around: a person whose job it is to stand by the water and make sure e...

The Joy of Swimming

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Everybody loves a nice dip in the pool when it’s hot outside… but if you never learned to swim, that pool can be pretty scary. Host Joy Dolo and c...

When baths met soap

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Scrub-a-dub-dub, it’s time for the tub! Or is it? You probably wash up with soap plenty of times throughout the week, but did you know that most peo...

Mac and Cheese: From 'What's in these?' to 'Yes, please!'

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You might think macaroni and cheese is just a quick and easy meal, or a special dish that comes to the holiday table. But Joy and her co-host Buddy ar...

The rise and fall of fancy men

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We can learn a lot about what a culture thinks is important through its fashion. These days, most men don’t wear makeup to work, or lace collars, or...

Rubik’s Cube: The twists and turns of fads

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Rubik’s Cube is a twisty toy that has 43 quintillion possible configurations — and it can also teach us something about trends and fads. Joy a...

Ice cream flavors: From whale poo to vanilla

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Forever Ago kicks off the new season with everybody’s summer favorite: ice cream! In this episode Joy and co-host Maeve explore the many flavors of ...

Forever Ago is back June 1!

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Forever Ago fans! The moment is finally here! Host Joy Dolo and team are back with new episodes June 1! Forever Ago is a history show for the whole fa...

Shoes: How French Royalty Became the Fashion Police

27 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The oldest known pair of shoes didn’t look like much, but foot fashion has come a long ways since prehistoric sandals. Joy Dolo and her co-host Dari...

Umbrellas: The Magic Invention of the Sculptress

20 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Umbrellas have been shielding us from the elements for thousands of years, but they haven’t always been in style. Time-traveling reporter Josie Huan...

Emojis: The :-) That Changed Everything

13 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From simple smiley faces to sparkly unicorns, we have a lot of emoji options. But it wasn’t always this way. Joy Dolo and co-host Melissa search for...

Clocks: A Brief History of Telling Time

06 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Long before clocks, humans found creative ways to track time. From falling sand to burning incense, we tried it all. But it took a daydreaming astrono...

Sandwiches: A Hillel By Any Other Name

29 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a simple recipe: bread, filling, bread. But sandwiches had to get their scrumptious start somewhere. Joy Dolo and co-host Ben travel back to a ...

Skateboards: When Roller Skates Met Surfboards

22 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The first skateboards didn’t come from a store. Kids had to make them from scratch! And they made for a bumpy ride… Joy Dolo and twelve-year-old p...

Cameras: From Pinholes to Perfect Selfies

15 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that the ancestor of our smartphone cameras was just a box with a tiny hole in it? This week, Joy Dolo and kid co-host Elena explore the ...

Video Games: A Tale of Two Pongs

08 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Video games are a lot older than you probably realize, but it took a long time for them to catch on. Join host Joy Dolo and kid co-host Kai on an epic...

Season One: The Trailer

24 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Forever Ago is a history show for the whole family. Every episode explores the origin of one thing – like sandwiches, video games and clocks – whi...