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Stuff You Should Know

Short Stuff: Magic 8 Ball

28 Jan 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

0.031 - 20.744 Unknown

This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. Hey, it's Joel and Matt from How To Money. If your New Year's resolution is to finally get your finances in shape, we've got your back. Prices, they're still high, and the economy is all over the place. But 2026 is the year for you to get intentional and make real progress. That's right.

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20.804 - 40.264 Unknown

Yeah, each week we break down what's happening with your money, the most important issues to focus on, and the small moves that make a big difference. Kick off the year with confidence. Listen to How To Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, What if mind control is real? If you could control the behavior of anybody around you, what kind of life would you have?

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40.312 - 62.952 Unknown

Can you hypnotically persuade someone to buy a car? When you look at your car, you're going to become overwhelmed with such good feelings. Can you hypnotize someone into sleeping with you? I gave her some suggestions to be sexually aroused. Can you get someone to join your cult? NLP was used on me to access my subconscious. Mind Games, a new podcast exploring NLP, a.k.a.

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63.272 - 74.789 Unknown

Neurolinguistic Programming. Is it a self-help miracle, a shady hypnosis scam, or both? Listen to Mind Games on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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79.776 - 88.729 Josh Clark

Hey, and welcome to The Short Stuff. I'm Josh, and there's Chuck, and Jerry's here sitting in for Dave. This is Short Stuff, and we're talking about the Magic 8-Ball. You probably know what that is.

89.873 - 110.308 Chuck Bryant

We have one in our house, you know. It's kind of one of those toys that I think most Gen Xers, and actually knowing how old it is, probably boomers bought for Gen Xers, and now Gen Xers are buying for their Alphas and Zoomers. Zs? I don't know where millennials got left out. But this is the classic toy.

110.328 - 132.981 Chuck Bryant

I assume most people have seen this, but in other countries, you may not know what we're talking about. But it is essentially a looks like a billiards ball. It's about the size of a maybe a grapefruit. And it's got a little flat side on, let's say, the bottom. And in that side, it's got a little clear window with some dark liquid.

133.642 - 146.361 Chuck Bryant

And floating in that liquid is a 20-sided die with a bunch of answers to yes or no questions with the idea being that you ask it a question, you shake this thing up, and then you see what the answer tells you.

146.881 - 167.552 Josh Clark

Very simple. Yeah. That's it. And it is very simple, but I think that's the case with a lot of stuff that just becomes a part of pop culture. Yes, totally. There's not much to it, but just something about it comes together and makes everybody love it. And the Magic 8-Ball is no different. It's definitely one of the more successful toys to come out of the 20th century.

Chapter 2: What is the history behind the Magic 8-Ball?

320.951 - 347.982 Chuck Bryant

And then called it the Psycho Slate Colon, the Pocket Fortune Teller. We can't get it any smaller, everybody. So don't ask. And then in 1946, they formed a novelty company named Alabe Crafts from Albert and Abe, their names. And very sadly, I imagine probably somewhat due to the life he was living, Carter died and Abe was the sole owner of the company.

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348.903 - 352.428 Chuck Bryant

And maybe that's a good cliffhanger to see what happens next.

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352.869 - 353.67 Josh Clark

I think it's perfect.

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353.891 - 355.573 Chuck Bryant

All right. We're going to take a break. We'll be right back.

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361.173 - 379.479 Unknown

stuff is true. New year, new goals, and in this economy, a better money plan is more necessary than ever. I am Matt. And I'm Joel. We are from the How to Money podcast, and every week we help you to spend smarter, save more, and make sense of what's going on out there.

379.639 - 392.378 Unknown

If you want 2026 to be the year you finally feel in control of your money, we're here to give you the tools and advice to help you make it happen. Listen to How to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

393.067 - 414.827 Unknown

what if mind control is real if you could control the behavior of anybody around you what kind of life would you have can you hypnotically persuade someone to buy a car when you look at your car you're going to become overwhelmed with such good feelings can you hypnotize someone into sleeping with you i gave her some suggestions to be sexually aroused Can you get someone to join your cult?

415.148 - 440.915 Unknown

NLP was used on me to access my subconscious. NLP, aka neuro-linguistic programming, is a blend of hypnosis, linguistics, and psychology. Fans say it's like finally getting a user manual for your brain. It's about engineering consciousness. Mind Games is the story of NLP. It's crazy cast of disciples and the fake doctor who invented it at a new age commune and sold it to guys in suits.

441.315 - 455.811 Unknown

He stood trial for murder and got acquitted. The biggest mind game of all? NLP might actually work. This is wild. Listen to Mind Games on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Chapter 3: Who invented the prototype that led to the Magic 8-Ball?

666.982 - 675.531 Josh Clark

Yeah, apparently they sell a million a year reliably. If you own the Magic 8-Ball rights, you can expect to sell a million of them a year every year.

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675.772 - 677.253 Chuck Bryant

That's awesome. Let's get those rights.

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677.874 - 695.453 Josh Clark

Yeah. So you said they're part of pop culture. And I mentioned that sometimes on movies and TV, people will consult them for big life decisions. That's called a MacGuffin. That means that Magic 8-Ball is a MacGuffin, Chuck. I think you should explain it because you're the movie guy.

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695.433 - 710.034 Chuck Bryant

I don't even know how to best describe a MacGuffin. I mean, I think it's something that of low import in reality, but is has high import as far as what it means in the in the film.

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710.275 - 713.88 Josh Clark

Is that about right? Yeah, it moves. It moves the plot along.

714.468 - 729.912 Chuck Bryant

Yeah, it's not a fake thing, but it's not like you actually found the plans or the treasure map. A treasure map wouldn't be a MacGuffin unless the treasure didn't end up being a treasure and it's just what brought you to the place to meet the girl.

731.174 - 735.559 Josh Clark

Does that make sense? No. You just chandled me.

735.84 - 736.861 Chuck Bryant

No, no, no. I think I got it.

737.381 - 737.622 Josh Clark

Okay.

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