The Internet Says it’s True

I’m taking a few weeks off from the podcast, and since it’s Black History Month, I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight a few of the stories that I’ve done that honor the contributions and legacies of Black Americans. This week I’m going ALL the way back to the second episode of Tell Me What to Google. here’s “The Hidden Village Under Central Park”, originally broadcast on September 14 of 2020. Seneca Village was one of our nation’s first, free middle-class black communities. Its memory was nearly lost to history. In this podcast, we explore what happened to Seneca Village and speak with Nan Rothschild, Former Director of Museum Studies at Columbia University and a Research Professor at Barnard College, who has been studying Seneca Village since the mid 1990s.

In 1969, Queen Elizabeth II and her family were followed around by a film crew for a special documentary to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the Royal Family. While the public loved it, the Queen did not and it was banned forever. Until this month, when it was leaked to the internet. In this episode, we talk about the documentary and quiz my friend Lance Thompson! Bonus content is available at Patreon.com/MichaelKent

I recently learned that historians credit a 1968 James Brown concert with saving the city of Boston from riots after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In this special episode, I tell the story of the Boston Garden Concert and how it almost never happened. Then we quiz my friend Josh Quillen. Bonus content available at Patreon.com/MichaelKent

Did you know that Spock's "Vulcan Salute" in Star Trek was based on a Jewish Blessing? It's true! We explore the history of the hand signal and the accompanying phrase "Live Long and Prosper" in this episode, and then quiz Comedy Writer Jimmy Mak! Bonus content available at Patreon.com/MichaelKent

Did you know the man who invented Pringles was BURIED inside a Pringles can? It's true and we discuss it in detail in this episode. Then we invite Erik Tait on the show to quiz him about it! Bonus content available at Patreon.com/MichaelKent

The dropping of the ball in NYC's Times Square on New Years Eve is a tradition seen by billions of people around the world. But did the tradition of dropping a ball start in New York? In this episode, we explore the real history of the dropping ball and quiz my friend, magician Peter Boie! For bonus content, visit Patreon.com/MichaelKent

Many Americans have heard of the age-honored German tradition of hanging Pickle-shaped ornament on the Christmas Tree. But is it really a tradition in Germany? This episode explores the truth and myths behind this German "tradition." Bonus content is available at Patreon.com/michaelkent

Not many people realize that when we use the word "Jumbo" in the English language to denote something gigantic, we owe the origin of the word to a Barnum & Bailey circus elephant! In this episode, we explore the story behind Jumbo the Elephant and how it launched the use of a word to describe something that's larger-than-life. Then we quick my good friend Jonathan Burns! For bonus content (and this episode has a lot!), visit Patreon.com/MichaelKent

From 1854 to 1929 many orphaned children were placed onto trains in America's Eastern cities and taken West to find new families. These trains, which came to be known as "Orphan Trains," helped 200,000 children find a new home. In this episode, we interview Shaley George, the Curator of the National Orphan Train Complex in Concordia, KS and quiz her against Mindreader Eric Dittelman! Bonus content is available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

In 1941, a little girl in a Chicago suburb gave herself and 4 of her playmates Polio from her sidewalk lemonade stand. This episode explores this case study and how it helped scientists to understand the disease. Then we invite Comedian Marcus Monroe on the show to play the newest version of "Quiz a Friend!" See the original newspaper article by clicking here. Bonus content is available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

Not many Americans know about the first black fighter pilot, Eugene Bullard. He was one of the most decorated War Heroes in France, fought in two world wars, was a spy, a jazz drummer, a boxer...and he was an American. In this episode, we explore the history of this amazing man. For bonus content, visit Patreon.com/MichaelKent Air Prelude by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100337 Artist: http://incompetech.com/

Have you ever wondered why we call a submarine sandwich a sub? Or why some people call them "hoagies," "grinders," or "spuckies?" In this episode, we examine the multitude of origins of some of these sandwich names and we chat with my friend Eric Dittelman (including a surprise visit from his mother)! For bonus content, visit patreon.com/michaelkent

There's a legend in West Virginia that in 1948, famed pilot Chuck Yeager flew an Air Force jet under a bridge in downtown Charleston. Over the years, the story has been embellished and exaggerated, but in this episode, we get to the truth. Then, I ask my pilot friend Doc Sacolick what would happen if he did the same. For bonus content and the unedited interview with Doc, visit my patreon at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent Photos: Doc's Zoom Background | A Photo of the South Side Bridge

Have you ever heard of the Flea Circus? If you're like me, you were surprised to find out the original flea circuses used REAL FLEAS! In this episode of Tell Me What to Google, we explore the history of the flea circus, and talk with Psychology Professor and Flea Circus Scholar Richard Wiseman. For the full unedited video with Richard Wiseman, visit Patreon.com/MichaelKent Photos: Professor Heckler's Flea Circus | A Flea Pulling a Chariot | Mimi Garneau Pitch Card | Richard Wiseman with his Flea Circus

Willy Higinbotham is considered by many to be the inventor of the world's first video game. But there's more - he was also on the team that helped create the world's first nuclear bomb! In this episode we explore Willy's game, "Tennis for Two" and chat with former video game developer and professional magician, Nick Locapo. For bonus content, including full unedited video of interviews, visit Patreon.com/michaelkent. Willy Higinbotham's Photo | Tennis for Two Photo 1 | Tennis for Two Photo 2 | Circuit Drawing 1 | Circuit Drawing 2

In 1941, Master Magician Jasper Maskelyne was called upon by the British Army to create elaborate illusions to aid in the war effort in North Africa. But for the first time in Tell Me What to Google history, I'm calling this legend into question! In this episode, I examine this unusual story in detail and chat with magician Erik Tait about its veracity! For the unedited video of my conversation with Erik Tait and more, visit my Patreon. Jasper Maskelyne's Photo

In 1919, a flood of Molasses devastated the North End neighborhood of Boston. In this episode we talk about the disaster in detail and even discuss some of the possible reasons for the horrible killer wave of sweet molasses. Then we chat with writer, speaker and Bostonian Amma Marfo to see if she's heard of it! To view the interview in its unedited format, along with all TMW2G Podcast Interviews, join our Patreon! Learn about our guest Amma Marfo at AmmaMarfo.com Photos of the Boston Molasses Flood of 1919: Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3

This week we examine the curious case of Human Lightning Rod, Roy Sullivan. Roy became famous for having been struck SEVEN different times by lightning during his career as a National Park Ranger. We do a deep dive into Roy's electrifying story and then chat with my friend, Mindreader Eric Dittelman! For bonus content like unedited videos of TMW2G Interviews and more, join our Patreon at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

Using the bathroom in space has never been easy. And since the early NASA space missions of the 1960s, engineers have been solving this problem in ingenious ways. In this episode, we explore some of the many ways Astronauts have been able to go number 1 and 2. And we call Comedy Magician Erik Tait to see if he know what we've just learned! To see bonus content like full unedited videos of the interviews from this podcast, join at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

In this episode, we learn that people who take the holistic concoction Colloidal Silver may turn their skin blue! And an inbred family from Kentucky has been blue-ing themselves for 200 years. Then we talk with the hilarious Comedian & Juggler Marcus Monroe to ask him of his knowledge on the topic! The Original Blue Man Group? Photo: Paul Karason - Photo: Stan Jones To see my full unedited interview with Marcus Monroe and all guests of this podcast, join http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

In this episode, we explore the bizarre fact that - like Galileo himself - African Dung Beetles use the stars to navigate! As a bonus, we talk with Eric Warrant, Professor of Biology at Lund University and co-author of the ground-breaking discovery. To see bonus content like unedited videos of these interviews, check out our Patreon at http://Patreon.com/michaelkent

Seneca Village was one of our nation’s first, free middle-class black communities. Its memory was nearly lost to history. In this podcast, we explore what happened to Seneca Village and speak with Nan Rothschild, Former Director of Museum Studies at Columbia University and a Research Professor at Barnard College, who has been studying Seneca Village since the mid 1990s.

Did you know Cap'n Crunch has a real name? In this episode, we learn all about Cap'n Crunch's backstory. Then we quiz my good friend Josh Quillen! Crew Kit - Photo 1 Crew Kit - Photo 2 Crew Kit - Photo 3 (Spoiler)