536 AD: The Worst Year to Be Alive in Human History | The Tipsy Exchange

It's been a rough couple of years. Brain fog? Check. Forgetting the name of that one actor in that one movie? Weekly. The introvert's pandemic dream turning into a nightmare? Oh yeah. Before we get to the history, Berly and LA talk about the real toll of living through tough times, and why it's okay to give yourself a break. Now, some perspective: you think your year was bad? This week, LA takes us back to 536 AD, the year many historians call the worst year to be alive. A mysterious fog swallowed Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia, and the sun basically clocked out. There was snow in summer, crops failed, and there was no bread for years. Berly would not have survived. And just when things couldn't get worse, they did: a devastating pandemic followed. Scientists have since pieced together what caused it all, and the evidence is fascinating. There might even be a connection to some famous Norse myths. Along the way, you'll hear some mixed feelings about Furiosa (no Tom Hardy, but hello Chris Hemsworth), Berly's first Peaky Blinders binge, our love-then-lost-it relationship with Vikings, and way too much excitement about The Northman. That spear throw in the trailer, though. Plus, a trip back to Björk's last movie, which is… apparently 22 years old? We're old. This week's toast: From Neil Gaiman's graphic novel Signal to Noise: "There's no big apocalypse, just an endless procession of little ones." Be kind to yourself, be grateful, and let's get through this together. Cheers! Tell us what you think! Coming up next is our mid-season happy hour, and we want to hear from you! What's made you happy so far this year? Have you discovered a new favorite show, movie, or book? Did you reconnect with someone you love? What's your favorite Tipsy Exchange episode this season? Tell us in the comments or tag us on Twitter at @TipsyExchange or Instagram at @TheTipsyExchange. You might hear your answer on the show! Please drink responsibly. Support the show The Tipsy Exchange is a comedy podcast where besties Berly and LA pour a drink, raise a toast, and dive into true crime, mysteries, the paranormal, and pop culture, with plenty of tangents along the way. It's like happy hour with your funniest friends. The show is currently on hiatus, but you can find previous episodes at thetipsyexchange.com. If you are a Supernatural fan, you can find Berly and LA's latest project at denimwrappednightmares.com. Special thanks to Fesliyan Studios. Cheers!