PODCAST · education
Fact Off
by Stove Leg Media
Join Alex, Mike, and Pat for a weekly Fact Off ~ a (mostly) friendly competition in which the three elaborate on different facts and then debate on what fact is the best.
Episodes
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Orcas and the Zoot Suit Riots
The Facts: First, we explore the peculiar world of strange orca fads, unraveling the bizarre behaviors and trends observed among these magnificent creatures. Then, we shift gears to shed light on the historical Zoot Suit Riots, delving into the tensions and conflicts that erupted in 1940s Los...
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Bones and Perverts
The Facts: First, we explore the bone-chilling discovery of human remains unearthed in the basement of none other than Benjamin Franklin, shedding light on the enigmatic facets of this esteemed Founding Father's life. Then we encounter the perplexing tale of Whipping Tom, a notorious pervert who...
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Painless Parker and Caesar's Revenge
The Facts: First, we explore the fascinating life of dentist Edgar R. R. "Painless" Parker and his unorthodox methods. Known for his innovative techniques and showmanship, Parker revolutionized dentistry by combining entertainment and oral care. From extracting teeth with his bare hands to...
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Rolling Wieners, Vibrating Beds, and Sweet Cones
The Facts: First up is the iconic Wienermobile, the beloved hot dog-shaped vehicle that has been cruising American roads since the 1930s. Discover how this unique marketing tool for Oscar Mayer became a cultural icon and an enduring symbol of American fast food. Next, we explore the magic fingers...
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Fast Cars, Golden Spikes, and Cheesy Parties
The Facts: First, we learn about the origin of soap box derby racing and how it evolved from a simple pastime to a national competition. Next, we delve into the history of the Golden Spike, a commemorative spike driven into the ground at the end of the American Transcontinental Railroad. Finally,...
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The Draft, a Punch, and Portland, Oregon
The Facts: First, you will discover the humble origins of the NFL draft. Then, you'll hear about an iconic comic book cover featuring Captain America delivering a punch to Hitler's face. Finally, you'll find out how a popular city in Oregon got its name. VOTE HERE FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM TWITTER EMAIL
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Taxation, Protest, and Cheese
First, we learn about the origin of the income tax in America, which was first introduced during the Civil War to raise funds for the Union Army. Then, we dive into the origin of the word "boycott," which originated during the Irish Land War in the late 1800s to protest unfair treatment by...
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From the Stone of Scone to Death by a Bag
The Facts: First, we delve into the fascinating history of the Stone of Scone and its journey from Scotland to Westminster Abbey. Next, we discuss the surprising problem of defective purple LED stop lights, and the safety concerns they pose on the roads. Finally, we discover the ancient Roman...
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Poor Parties and Papal Perversions
The Facts: First, we delve into the phenomenon of poverty parties during the Gilded Age in America, where wealthy elites would throw extravagant parties themed around poverty and destitution. Next, we turn to the Cadaver Synod, a bizarre event that took place in 9th century Rome. This macabre...
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The Origins of Seasons, The Patron Saint of Television, and the Halley's Comet Scare of 1910
The Facts: we delve into the fascinating origins of the names of the seasons, from the ancient Greeks to modern-day astronomers. We also explore the surprising story of the patron saint of television and how she came to be associated with this modern technology. Finally, we uncover the…
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Buried Treasure, a Missing Child, and Canned Meat
The Facts: First, we delve into the mystery of the buried Atari ET games in the New Mexico desert and how it became one of the most infamous moments in video game history. Then, we revisit the Lindbergh baby kidnapping and the media frenzy that surrounded it. Finally, we look at the history of...
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The Deadly Island, the Picky Eaters, and the Cursed Tribe
The Facts: First, we delve into the infamous Snake Island, a remote Brazilian island teeming with venomous snakes that has been off-limits to visitors for decades. Next, we learn about the surprising origin of the children's menu in restaurants, which emerged as a response to the Prohibition era…
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From Fish Burgers to Battlefield Blunders: Exploring the Origins of the Filet-O-Fish, Activision Achievement Patches, and the Battle of Kará
The Facts: First, we delve into the origins of the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich, which was created in the 1960s by a franchise owner who noticed a drop in sales during Lent. Next, we learn about Activision's Achievement Patches, which were introduced in the 1980s as a way to reward gamers for...
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Butte’s Toxic Pit, Operation Big Itch, and Second Chance Body Armor
The Facts: How Berkeley Pit became toxic and the great lengths taken to keep wildlife away from the deadly waters. The strange, declassified military tests that weaponized fleas. And how a botched robbery during a pizza delivery led to the creation of the modern bulletproof vest. Vote or Die...
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The Tragic Tale of Franz Reichelt, the Resilience of the American Chestnut Tree, and the Yippies' Wild Day at Disneyland
The Facts: Discover the tragic story of Franz Reichelt, a French inventor who jumped from the Eiffel Tower in 1912 wearing a parachute suit he had designed himself. The episode also delves into the history and decline of the American chestnut tree, which used to be one of the most abundant trees…
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From First Lady to Fast Cars: The Story of Edith Wilson, NASCAR, and the Fight to End Pay Toilets in America
The Facts: the remarkable story of Edith Wilson, the wife of former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson who became the de facto president after her husband suffered a stroke; the surprising origins of NASCAR, a sport born from the bootlegging days of Prohibition-era America; and the grassroots movement...
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The Laughing Song, the Serum Run, and the Brooklyn Bridge
The Facts: the story of a forgotten recording artist pioneer, the tale of Balto and Togo’s harrowing journey through the tundra, and the Roebling family defies all odds to build the Brooklyn Bridge. Vote Here Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @thefactoffpod Email: [email protected] Learn more...
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The Gentleman Pirate, Sperm Oil, and New Year's Resolutions
The Facts: How a midlife crisis lead to the pirate’s life, the origin of new year’s resolutions, and the many uses for sperm oil. Vote Here Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpodcast Email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Mistletoe, Lemmings, and Wayne Gretzky
The Facts: How mistletoe worked its way into our holiday traditions. A nature documentary that spawned the saying, “Don’t be a Lemming.”? And the one career accolade that Wayne Gretzky earned but did not receive. VOTE HERE Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @factoffpod Email: [email protected]...
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Florida Monkeys and the World’s First Vending Machine
The Facts: How Silver Springs State Park ended up becoming home to hundreds of rhesus macaques monkeys and the odd problem the world’s first vending machine solved. VOTE HERE Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod Email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
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Rudolph, Active Sonar, and Fort Knox
The Facts: How Robert L. May and Montgomery Ward created the classic Christmas character, Rudolph. Why the portrayal of sonar in movies doesn’t reveal its true destructive power. And how Fort Knox became America’s gold vault. VOTE HERE Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod Email:...
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Baby Cages, Charles Goodyear, and 1229 University of Paris Strike
The Facts: How baby cages became a popular commodity in large cities like London. The tragic tale of Charles Goodyear, the inventor of vulcanized rubber. And the events that led up to the violent 1229 University of Paris strike. VOTE HERE Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod Email:...
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Sputnik 2, Aeschylus, and the American Hippo Bill
The Facts: How Russia sent the first creature into orbit, the unlikely death of an ancient Greek tragedian, and Robert F. Broussard’s preposterous proposal to end the American meat shortage. VOTE HERE Send us your facts: [email protected] Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: @factoffpod Learn…
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Bats, Werewolves, and Malleus Maleficarum
The Facts: How bats became Halloween icons, the horrifying murders that inspired werewolf legend, and the historical manual on how to discover and annihilate witches. VOTE HERE Send your facts to @factoffpod on Twitter or email them to [email protected]. Learn more about your ad…
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The Haunted Queen Mary, the University of Texas Tower Shooting, and the Candyman
This week's facts: how the massive ocean liner, the Queen Mary, became a haunted hotel. Find out the troubled backstory of the University of Texas tower shooting. And learn how one trick-or-treating incident sparked an unfounded fear of candy tampering. VOTE HERE Facebook/Instagram/Twitter:...
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Betty Crocker and the Quest for the Philosopher's Stone
The Facts: How Betty Crocker rose to fame to become the most trusted source for cooking tips, advice, and recipes. And how Hennig Brand made an unlikely discovery in his quest to find the Philosopher’s Stone. VOTE HERE Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod Email: [email protected]…
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The Deadly Tomato, Lazarus Lizards, and Bill Fong's Legendary Bowling Record
The Facts: Why the world believed the tomato was a poisonous fruit, the family that brought on Cincinnati’s lizard invasion, and Bill Fong’s legendary Texas bowling record. VOTE HERE Socials: @factoffpod Email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
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The War on Christmas, the Conqueror, and No White after Labor Day
The Facts: Find out why it’s unfashionable to wear white after Labor Day, why the movie the Conqueror haunted Howard Hughes’s career, and just how far back the war on Christmas goes. VOTE HERE Socials: @factoffpod Email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
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Erfurt Latrine Disaster, Sandwiches, and Happy Birthday
The facts: the unbelievable Erfurt latrine disaster, the convoluted history of the sandwich, and how the Happy Birthday song became America’s favorite tune. VOTE HERE Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod Email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
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Echo and Narcissus, the Mechanical Turk, and the King's Daughters
Alex shares the mythical origin of the word’s narcissist and echo. Mike tells the tale of a long-forgotten automaton chess player nicknamed the Mechanical Turk. Pat reveals the strange history behind the rapid population growth in New France (Canada). Link to Vote Facebook/Instagram/Twitter:...
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The Curse of Tutankhamun, Hitchbot, and Mr. Potato Head
Pat shares how a string of mysterious deaths was associated with the excavation of Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb. Mike tells the tragic tale of Hitchbot, the hitchhiking robot sensation that traveled the globe. Alex reveals the origin story of the beloved toy, Mr. Potato Head. VOTE HERE...
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The Liberty Bell, Callin' Baton Rouge, and Silence Dogwood
Alex tells the exhaustive history of the Liberty Bell. Pat shares about a Garth Brooks concert that registered on the Richter scale. Mike reveals how a widow, Silence Dogwood, catfished an entire newspaper. VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE FACT Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod Learn more about your…
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Bionic Girl, Billy Possum, and the London Bridge
Vote: Pat explains how a girl’s rare chromosome condition removed her feelings of pain, hunger, and tiredness. Mike tells the odd story of the forgotten Teddy Bear rival, the Billy Possum. Alex shares the strange tale of how the London Bridge ended up relocating to a small town in Arizona....
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Watermelons, Goiters, and the War on Rats
Vote here: Alex explains how the watermelon evolved in it’s uses and became the summer treat we know and love. Mike shares about an uptick in goiters in the Mid-west that brought about the implementation of iodized salt. Pat reveals the story of a little-known war in Alberta, Canada that was…
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The Pro Football Hall of Fame, a Plane Crash, and the Thames Tunnel
Vote Here: Alex shares the rich history of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Mike tells the miraculous tale of plane crash survivor, Juliane Koepcke. Pat describes the deadly process of building the world’s first underwater tunnel, the Thames Tunnel. Facebook/Instagram/Twitter:...
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Christmas in July, Buffalo Gals, and the Qwerty Keyboard
Vote Here: Mike shares the troubling history of the song, “Buffalo Gals”. Pat explains how the Qwerty keyboard became our default typing choice. Alex reveals the origin of the fake holiday, Christmas in July. Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod [email protected] Learn…
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Stuffed Mangoes, Full Moons, and Apple Pie
Vote here: Alex explains why each month’s full moon has a different moniker. Mike unravels the mystery of the Midwest mango pepper. Pat reveals that apple pie may not be as American as pop culture wants you to believe. Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: @factoffpod Email: [email protected]…
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The Poisoning of Queen Stateira, Echidnas, and the Khodynka Tragedy
Tap to Vote: Alex explains why the Echidna is one of the most fascinating creatures around. Mike tells the horrible tale of a coronation celebration turned deadly. Pat reveals how a Persian King’s mother ended up assassinating the Queen. Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @factoffpod Email:...
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Fireworks, Cat Litter, and Hot Dogs
Tap to Vote: Pat tells the explosive history of the firework. Mike shares how the invention of kitty litter made house cats in vogue. Alex explains why the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest is synonymous with America’s Independence Day celebrations. Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod Email:...
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The Mercy Brown Vampire Incident, Guinness World Records, and the Empire State Building Airship Dock
Tap to Vote: Pat tells the horrifying tale of a Rhode Island vampire incident. Mike shares the strange method the Empire State Building used to steal the world’s tallest building moniker from the Chrysler Building. Alex explains the origin of the Guinness Book of World Records....
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Anthropodermic Bibliopegy, Crossword Puzzles, and Night Games
Vote: Alex shares how the crossword puzzle became a New York Times staple. Pat tells the story of the MLB’s slow adoption of night games. Mike reveals that there are historical books that were found to be bound in human skin. Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod+ [email protected]...
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Pinball Prohibition, Cracker Jacks, and Top Gun
Vote: Pat shares the strange history behind outlawing Pinball machines. Alex tells the origin story of a beloved game time snack, the cracker jack. Mike reveals that Top Gun is a real-life naval training program. Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod [email protected] Learn more about...
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The Rubber Ducky, Domesticated Fox, and the Infinite Shuffle
Vote: Pat explains how you could shuffle a 52-card deck for eternity and still get different combinations. Alex shares the origin story of everyone’s favorite bath toy, the rubber ducky. Mike tells the tale of the Russian’ domesticated fox program. Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod...
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Black Olives, Mercedes-Benz, and John Carter
Vote: Mike tells the tragic story of why black olives are not available in jars. Alex shares the tale of the first cross country road trip. Pat covers the story of one of Hollywood’s largest blockbuster bombs. Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod [email protected] Learn more about…
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The Incubator Doctor, Bezoars, and Monowi, Nebraska
Vote: Pat shares about the odd one-person town of Monowi, Nebraska. Alex tells the tale of a man who incubated premature babies and turned them into an amusement park sideshow. Mike explains about the various types of bizarre bezoars. Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod...
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The Supreme Court, Thunderscreech, and the Marathon
Vote: Alex shares the epic backstory of the modern-day marathon. Mike proves that the brown note is a farce, but discovers there is a sound that will make you puke. Pat explains that the Supreme Court is not the stable and unchanging institution that we imagine it to be.…
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The World's Largest Ball of Twine, Mother's Day, and Breakfast
Vote: Pat explains how a family that helped establish Mother’s Day eventually became its greatest detractors. Mike shares how breakfast vacillated between being the most overlooked meal, to the most important meal of the day. Alex tells the origin stories of the 4 largest balls of twine....
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Turnspit Dogs, Post-it Notes, and the Missing Sri Lankan Handball Team
Vote: Alex shares the strange tale of a missing Sri Lankan handball team. Mike tells the tragic origin of the turnspit dog. Pat uncovers the mystery behind the Post-it Note invention. Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @factoffpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Key West Corpse Bride, Early Submarines, and Pearls
Vote: Pat unravels the mystery behind a stolen corpse that was found incased in wax and plaster. Did the culprit, Carl Tanzler, take his love obsession too far? Mike shares about the early successes and failures involving the world’s oldest submarines. The first rudimentary sub, the Drebbel, even...
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Unicorn Hunters, Roman Concrete, and Noah Webster
Vote: Pat tells the quirky story of how a small University in Michigan became world famous for its Unicorn hunting tradition. Mike reveals how Roman concrete has stood the test of time, even besting the modern formulas we use. Alex shares how Noah Webster shaped and standardized the English...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join Alex, Mike, and Pat for a weekly Fact Off ~ a (mostly) friendly competition in which the three elaborate on different facts and then debate on what fact is the best.
HOSTED BY
Stove Leg Media
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Fact Off have?
Fact Off currently has 73 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Fact Off about?
Join Alex, Mike, and Pat for a weekly Fact Off ~ a (mostly) friendly competition in which the three elaborate on different facts and then debate on what fact is the best.
How often does Fact Off release new episodes?
Fact Off has 73 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Fact Off?
You can listen to Fact Off on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Fact Off?
Fact Off is created and hosted by Stove Leg Media.
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