Factoid Podcast

Payton discovers the strange business strategies of a self-help book series. Chris learns why creating a 20ft tall barrel isn’t the safest idea. They also discuss the Cannonball Run’s electric vehicle category.

Chris discovers an unlikely secret agent. Payton’s lawn gives him an existential crisis. They also discuss The Mooning of the Amtrak.

Payton sweats it out in the sauna. Chris finds an improbably successful investor. They also discuss Ready Player One fan fiction.

Chris discovers the chaos of an old-timey Olympics. Payton regrets living like a 19th-century bachelor. They also discuss New Zealand’s “Laser Kiwi Flag.”

Payton learns the value of happiness from the Bhutanese royal family. Chris discovers a modern-day Noah's Ark. They also discuss the controversy around two-handed bowling.

Chris discovers the power of adopting a professional pseudonym. Payton learns two tiny languages that might change his perception of reality. They also discuss Dubai’s novelty license plate culture.

Payton discovers the violent life behind the inventor of the saxophone. Chris unlocks a new fear when going to the doctor. They also discuss recent developments in dog cloning technology.

Chris searches for new ways to intensify his household chores. Payton wishes meat would rain down in his backyard. They also discuss a performance from a miniature horse music therapist.

Payton uncovers how the sun interfered with a Belgian election. Chris honors the continued legacy of a famous meme. They also discuss a new Rubik's Cube world record.

Chris finds the hardest town to document on Google Maps. Payton uncovers the elaborate schemes of New York City's strangest criminals. They also discuss Montenegro's Lazy Olympics.Check out the full video here⁠ from Chris The Producer about mapping North Oaks on Google Street View.

Payton discovers the limits of “faking it until you make it.” Chris hears a compelling argument for the existence of time travel. They also discuss the Josh Fight.

Chris learns about the absurd surplus of cheese sitting in American caves. Payton visits a micronation. They also discuss a scientific explanation for grandmas.

We are returning from our hiatus and will start releasing episodes on a regular schedule beginning Monday, January 12. We're excited to be back!

Chris is out this week, so Payton is joined by guests Kenton Steiner and Mark Artrip. Mark names his Mount Rushmore of Hip Hop. Kenton finds a sweepstakes too good to be true. Payton discovers the master of tent-pitching. They also discuss the surprising origins of Wayne County, Ohio. Billboard's 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time The Best Rapper Alive, Every Year Since 1979

Payton looks to Ancient Rome for new Christmas traditions. Chris struggles to understand the appeal of figgy pudding. They also discuss misleading thermometers on store-bought turkeys.

Chris brainstorms ideas for a new side gig. Payton explores ambitious web design trends from the 90s. They also discuss Denmark’s unorthodox use of cinnamon.

Payton discovers why lighting technology took so long to evolve. Chris dreams of becoming a background actor after studying one man’s unlikely path to stardom. They also discuss a cologne that smells like WD-40.

Chris finds a loophole for saving money on electric vehicles. Payton sets the record straight on the science behind hugs. They also discuss a prison guarded by geese.

Payton discovers the baggage associated with being named Kevin in Germany. Chris finds a map of New York’s best free toilets. They also discuss the merits of being considered unremarkable.

Chris learns about an extremely unfair football game. Payton reports on the state of the German soda industry. They also discuss how Spanish grocery stores became the newest dating craze.

Payton decides if competitive spreadsheets are greater than the =SUM of their parts. Chris debates if his love for golf is strong enough to make him tolerate running. They also discuss a secret cause of bad breath.

Chris learns how to hack old phones using a box of Captain Crunch cereal. Payton eats too many hot dogs and learns why they are considered patriotic in Australia. They also discuss the best ways to spend a $2 bill.

Today, we deliver 20 factoids to you with speed and efficiency! Find out who loses the competition and has to wear their clothes inside-out for a day.

Payton falls in love with Eurovision and learns how Chechnya censors music based on tempo. Chris tracks the progress of a music teacher trying to circumnavigate the globe. They also discuss fixing your car by burying it underground. Link to Lezginka music

Chris recounts the fight that led to a change in his favorite hot sauce. Payton finds a new alternative to Olympic Equestrian. They also discuss the etymology of Chips Ahoy! cookies.

Payton chronicles the annual race to deliver Supreme Court rulings. Chris finds the fanciest fake restaurant in London. They also discuss the snowboard's original (and much worse) name.

Chris participates in an all-you-can-eat shrimp contest and finds a man who eats junk food for entertainment. Payton learns about the British nobility and how they influenced the common sandwich. They also discuss hiring a hermit to live in your garden.

Payton chickens out of leaving a 3-star review and learns why that’s not a bad score in Japan. Chris discovers an unreliable ride-share alternative. They also discuss a South Park episode hidden inside a video game.

We recorded today’s episode while fishing! Chris investigates a 90-year-old record with a fishy past. Payton discovers the parasite behind crazy cat ladies. They also discuss why the Midwest smells like a wet dog.

Payton watches The Devil Wears Prada and searches for his signature scent. Chris’s dad meets a legendary theme park guest. They also discuss the best way to throw a Pringle.

Chris discovers a man who pretends to sue his friends. Payton takes shelter in his basement and wonders why his city never gets hit by tornadoes. They also discuss Target's advanced forensics division. You can listen to Buck's podcast episode about tornadogenesis here.

Payton begins to see hidden faces in everyday objects. Chris studies a baseball fan’s strategy for catching 12,000 game balls. They also discuss how to be a successful video game pacifist.

We're back with more of your questions, including: Why do we say adjectives in a very specific order? What is the meaning behind handing someone a white feather? What is the smallest crime I can commit on a cruise ship to be considered a pirate? Thanks to everyone who wrote in!

Payton tries his hand at music production and discovers a strangely widespread sound effect. Chris highlights a small business disrupting the food delivery industry. They also discuss a potato-based scoring metric for electric vehicle reviews.

Chris learns that eating Big Macs for 50 years may not be that bad for your health. Payton practices his dunking skills and realizes why Serbian basketball players are better off without it. They also discuss the time when Roman calendars occasionally had 13 months.

Payton searches for our biohacking future and finds it in an unlikely place. Chris learns practical (and impractical) ways to butcher poultry. They also discuss the accuracy of a Pokémon pedometer.

Chris breaks down the minimum income needed to fly in style. Payton schemes up the best way to spread human ashes at Disney. They also discuss movie awards only eligible to old people.

Payton discovers how prisoners learn financial management by playing Dungeons & Dragons. Chris marvels at the wild hand dexterity it takes to truly win a game of Tetris. They also discuss a phone that survived a 16,000 ft drop.

Chris explores how a popular nursery rhyme resulted in an Arizona tourist trap. Payton adjusts his body chemistry to make his armpits smell faintly of pancakes. They also discuss how to build a second brain.

Payton experiences firsthand how well humans can spot a snake in the wild. Chris discovers the lengths skydivers will go for the ultimate adrenaline rush. They also discuss one of General Electric’s bizarre business ventures. Enter our Factoid Christmas Giveaway at ⁠chrisandpayton.fun

Gather ’round the virtual fireplace and learn something new about Christmas! Chris learns why fruitcake has such a bad reputation. Payton traces the history of Batman’s inclusion in Jingle Bells parodies. They also discuss how poop plays a major role in Spanish Christmas traditions. Enter our Factoid Christmas Giveaway at chrisandpayton.fun

Payton learns about societal collapse through a lab rat experiment. Chris discovers a man recycling old copies of The DaVinci Code into new copies of 1984. They also discuss how a lady once bought a new car for 1,395 bananas.

We answer more of your burning questions, including: Which kind of turkeys are the tastiest? Who decided Peggy was a good nickname for Margaret? Why do men think about the Roman Empire so much? Thanks to everyone who wrote in!

Chris hunts down the truth about a legendary cryptid in Wisconsin. Payton discovers a dangerous sport where competitors pursue a cheese wheel down a steep hill. They also discuss a frying pan allegedly forged in 30,000° heat. Our next Listener Episode is on Cyber Monday, so send your questions to ⁠[email protected]⁠.

We get a bit spookier today in our Halloween-themed episode! Payton warns us about phrogging and the people who may secretly live undetected in your home. Chris tries to understand why we're all afraid of clowns while grappling with the fact that he himself exhibits many clownlike behaviors. They also discuss the lethal dose of candy corn and a soda-based serial killer.

Chris dives into the real and fictional backstories of everyone's favorite animatronic mouse. Payton realizes humanity has been telling the same jokes for 5,000 years. We also discuss film festival standing ovations that somehow last for twenty minutes. "The Story of Chuck E. Cheese" Ebook: https://issuu.com/chuckecheeses/docs/the_story_of_chuck_e?e=11869875%2F7768485 Mentioned Article: https://blog.adafruit.com/2018/05/10/robot-archeology-chuck-e-cheese-and-showbiz-pizza-animatronics-makerobotfriend-robots-adafruit

Payton is so hungry that he could eat a horse, but can't find anyone who can legally sell him horsemeat. Chris breaks down the social hierarchy behind who waves first when two Jeeps cross paths. They also discuss the upcoming shift in McDonald's drink-filling policy.

Chris discovers a surprisingly effective way to send large amounts of data. Payton contemplates if we can truly know what it's like to be a bat. They also discuss a perpetual stew that's been cooking for 50 years. Jeff Geerling's Pigeon Data Transfer Experiment

Payton considers adding a chicken to his video production workflow. Chris discovers why so many people accidentally grew the wrong peppers this year. We also discuss the Heinz Remix sauce vending machine. Video of Payton testing a chicken's stabilization capabilities

Chris learns how to warp straight to the credits of Super Mario World with a series of carefully-timed button presses. Payton's obsession with a video game about Japanese lawyers actually teaches him about injustices in the Japanese legal system. They also discuss how bulls and bears became the mascots of Wall Street.