On The Origin Of Everything
Danny Payne
Show overview
On The Origin Of Everything launched in 2025 and has put out 25 episodes in the time since. That works out to roughly 10 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 20 min and 26 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language History show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 3 days ago, with 10 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Danny Payne.
From the publisher
A podcast about the origin of everyday things.
Latest Episodes
View all 25 episodesSmokey The Bear
Barbershops
Blue Jeans
Ep 22Commonly Used Phrases (Part 2)
Back by popular demand, more idiom origins!
Ep 21Birthdays
Learn all about the origins of birthday celebration traditions! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/ontheoriginofeverything/membership
Ep 20Disneyland
Learn all about the origins of the happiest place on earth: Disneyland! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/ontheoriginofeverything/membership
Ep 19Playgrounds
Learn all about how we got playgrounds, and why they are the way they are! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/ontheoriginofeverything/membership
Ep 18Commonly Used Phrases
Learn all about the origins of common expressions we use all the time! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/ontheoriginofeverything/membership
Ep 17Tupperware
Learn all about the origins of the food storage containers we all call Tupperware! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/ontheoriginofeverything/membership
Ep 16Advertising & Jingles
Learn all about the development of advertising, and who pioneered the practice of jingles!
Ep 15The Modern Origins Of Christmas
Learn all about the origins of modern Christmas traditions! Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/c/ontheoriginofeverything/membership
Ep 14The Ancient Origins Of Christmas
Learn all about the ancient origins of modern Christmas holiday traditions!
Ep 13Thanksgiving
Learn all about the true story of the origin of American Thanksgiving!
Ep 12Timekeeping
Learn all about the earliest forms of timekeeping from Neolithic Era calendars to the Atomic Clock, and everything in between!
Ep 11Halloween
Learn all about the ancient origins of Halloween and how it evolved into what it is today!
Ep 10Dating Apps & Mail-Order Brides
Learn all about how people have been getting together throughout history, and the strange practice of Mail-Order Brides! Support the show! https://www.patreon.com/c/ontheoriginofeverything/membership
Ep 9Board Games & Billiards
Learn all about the earliest board games and the ancient origins of pool!
Ep 8City Names & Civilization
Learn all about the stories behind the names of famous cities, and origin of civilization itself!
Ep 7NBA Team Names & Basketball
Learn all about the origin of basketball, and the stories behind the names of some NBA teams!
Ep 6Las Vegas & Buffets
Learn all about how the "Entertainment Capital of the World" ended up in such a remote part of Nevada, and who came up with the all-you-can-eat buffet!