Good Job, Brain!

...BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL! Join us as we skip down memory lane and talk about the delightful origins and facts behind our favorite dolls and action figures. Learn how Star Wars and Barbie revolutionized the toy industry, how Cabbage Patch dolls get fertilized, and WHAT EXACTLY IS STRETCH ARMSTRONG MADE OUT OF?! Also: toy name quiz, and see if you can find the two Mel Brooks references Karen made in the episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Grrarr! We find scientific theories about the existence of popular monsters such as cyclops, unicorns, and the Loch Ness monster. We do some unnecessarily extensive research on how exactly would mermaids make merbabies, and sexy vampire lore. Also: monster body part quiz, what "Godzilla" actually means, a mnemonic that will help you memorize all of the 12 labors of Hercules in order, and the "Black & Blue" quiz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey Smart Cookies - LET'S GET READY TO CCRRUUMMMBLLLEEEE. An all-quiz episode to keep your noggin nimble. Movies! Literature! Animal superlatives! Dogs! Famous Final Lines! ...and of course...the Music Round is back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remember when Hypercolor and acid-wash jeans were cool? Lots of laughs in this episode about ridiculous fashion trends and their origins. Learn about intriguing facts behind a simple pair of blue jeans, the bikini, powdered wigs, and more. ALSO: pop culture style quiz, new listener challenge, and impressive tricky geography trivia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris said it best: nothing that man can think up in science-fiction stories is crazier, creepier, and more disgusting than nature. Mother Nature is a very odd gal. We share our research on weird animals and behavior, and shocking animal ingredients in our everyday lives. ALSO: pop quiz!, famous paradoxes, and how to memorize very specific parts of the male anatomy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DOH! You might end up getting a food coma just from listening to this episode. Greasy and sugary origin tales behind junkfood and outrageous snack finds: donuts, maltballs, Cheetos, and other delicious offenders. ALSO: Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade, double-letter quiz, and new listener challenge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gold underwear, chopsticks, and rabbit's foot. Everyone has their own crazy superstitions and lucky charms. We confess to our own rituals, talk about really nutty ones in the world of sports and theatre, and find out about the origins of classic superstitions like black cats and triskaidekaphobia. Hope you enjoy the show, FINGERS CROSSED! (Har har.) ALSO: bizarre headlines, name the famous pooch, Chris' special challenge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do wax tadpoles and Wonka have in common? Find out in this big advertising episode! Our favorite unsuccessful marketing campaigns, advertisement urban legends, ridiculous informercials, company mascot/spokesperson quiz, our own shameless plugs, the ultra-useful mnemonic for identifying the Rice Krispies Elves, and the mysterious anatomy of the Starbucks lady creature. BONUS: Our pub trivia tactics! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crossword champ Tyler Hinman joins us for a fantastic fest fawning over words. We talk about the history and process of constructing crosswords, why Noah Webster is our A-hole of the week, and we introduce you to your new ultimate favorite word of THE FOREVER! ALSO: pop quiz, odd spelling bee, Chris Hansen, movie titles lost in translation, and how to memorize the biological taxonomy order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An all-quiz episode! Movie portrayals, psychic trivia, food+drink, rhymes, and Music Round is back. Ladies and Gentlemen, fire up those brains! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That Tommy Edison sure was a class-A jerkface! We also gab about the invention of cornflakes, air-conditioning, tampons, Ouija board, Viagra, and more. ALSO: pop quiz, etymology factoids, highest-rated movies, and top film quotes of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oh boy. How do we even begin to describe this episode? The original idea was to talk about expensive and luxurious gourmet food and the opulent stories behind them... but... well, let's just say we took a few intriguing turns and found ourselves in the absolutely eccentric (and dark) sector of the haute cuisine world. Castoreum, kopi luwak civet coffee, ortolans… we really can't give too much away. ALSO: pop quiz, foreign food translations, weird name origins of companies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We dish about classic fairytales along with their more scandalous and gruesome folklore origins. Find out what "Rapunzel" actually means, and learn why Charles Dickens hates Hans Christian Andersen's face. ALSO: Pop Quiz, how to memorize pi, "First in Line" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kanpai! Slainte! Cheers! Douse yourself in eccentric facts about liquor, spirits, and libations. Seagull wine, beer laws, cocktail origins, "alternative" imbibation methods, and more. Also: pop quiz, music round, and how to memorize the provinces of Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices