PODCAST · education
Intellectual Potluck
by Sam Wheatley
Ever wondered about the stories history class skipped over? Or had a question so odd you weren’t sure who to ask? We are serving up a feast of fascinating deep dives and expert interviews, exploring the weird, wonderful, and sometimes overlooked corners of history, science, and beyond. Each episode is a potluck of curiosity—sometimes a gripping historical mystery, other times a conversation with someone who has the answers to questions you didn’t even know you had. From the forgotten moments that shaped the world to the surprising insights hiding in plain sight, we’re here to uncover the stories that make you say, “Wait, why didn’t I learn this in school?” If you love unexpected discoveries, fresh perspectives, and the thrill of learning something new, pull up a chair. There’s always something interesting on the table at Intellectual Potluck.
Episodes
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Great Mistakes that led to the Great War | WW1 - Part 1 of 4
Europe in 1914 looked peaceful, but beneath the surface, it was ready to explode. In this episode, we follow the chain of events that turned the assassination of an archduke into a world-changing conflict. From secret alliances and military war plans to the chaos of the July Crisis, this is the...
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Game ON - using gaming skills in real life
Can Video Games Actually Help You in Real Life? In this episode, James and I explore the surprising ways that gaming can equip us with real-world skills. From improving brain development and supporting mental health, to inspiring new ways of learning through gamified education. It's not just…
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Gallipoli: The Battle That Made Australia
In this episode we’re diving into one of the most defining events in Australian history — the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I. Originally intended as a bold move to break the stalemate on the Western Front, Gallipoli turned into a brutal and costly failure. But for Australia, it became…
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Can an Algorithm Inspire? The Debate Over AI and Teaching
As AI becomes more integrated into everyday life, the big question on everyone's mind is: Will AI replace teachers? In this episode, we look at the role of AI in education - using AI as a teaching tool, what it can and can’t do, and the ethical concerns surrounding its use in classrooms. From...
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How a Pagan Celebration Became a Revolutionary Symbol | History's Headlines
What do ancient fertility rituals, medieval village dances, Puritan crackdowns, and labour strikes have in common? May Day. In this episode, we trace the surprising journey of May 1st — from its pagan roots in Beltane and bonfires, to the colourful folk traditions of Maypole dancing, to its…
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The Lipstick Effect: Can you put a price on fun?
Why does it feel like fun costs more than ever — and yet, we’re more willing to pay for it? In this episode, we dive into how the price of leisure has skyrocketed over the generations, from concerts and theme parks to streaming subscriptions and brunch. While big milestones like home ownership…
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Martin Luther King Jr: A dream that changed the world | History's Headlines
In this episode, we take a dive into the life, work, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We explore his pivotal role in the civil rights movement, the intense resistance he faced from the FBI, white supremacists, and political critics, and the tragic events surrounding his assassination in...
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Breaking the Silence: Khrushchev's Secret Speech | History's Headlines
In this episode, we dive deep into Nikita Khrushchev's pivotal Secret Speech, where he publicly denounced Stalin's regime and began reshaping Soviet politics. We learn how Stalin built his ruthless personality cult—using propaganda, political purges, and fear—and why his reign instilled obedience...
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The Mental Battle of Running: Mind over Mileage
Why is running so hard—mentally?? In this episode, we dive into the biggest mental barriers that stop people from running (or sticking with it). From motivation struggles to the mind games of endurance, we chat about what makes running feel impossible some days and effortless on others. Grant is…
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How Hitler Rose to Power: Democracy to Dictatorship | History's Headlines
To kick off the new season of this podcast we're exploring one of the pivotal events from history that took place on this date. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, a moment that would change history forever. But how did a radical extremist, once dismissed as a...
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Educated Guesses: Is a degree really worth it?
We've all heard the great debate around university. If everyone has a degree do they become meaningless? And can we ever really justify the cost? Each to their own of course, but with so many of us having degrees we don't use, we have to ask if the time, cost and effort was really worth it. Join…
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Is this a CULT? My time in Multi-Level Marketing
Are MLMs really cults? And how do people get caught up in them? Join me as I dive into how people can end up in these situations, and the problematic side to girlbossing your way through life. Chapters Intro: 00:00 What is Multi-Level Marketing: 01:31 My story: 02:48 Are MLMs cults: 12:39 Funny...
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Do-Gooder or Delusional: Does one person really make a difference
This episode Sam and Megs are diving into whether one person can really make a difference. Whether that's to charitable causes, politics, or even the power of influencers. Can one person really make a difference, or are we being delusional? Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 01:45 - Does helping really help...
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Halloween Scrooges - Not here for the fear
This week Grant and Sam are exploring their unpopular Halloween opinions - diving into the r/unpopularopinion subreddit to uncover and debate the internet's opinions on the spooky season. Relevant links: r/unpopularopinion: https://www.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/ Opinion 1: Jump scares don't...
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Quiet Battles: Exploring the world of hidden disabilities
Once again we're deviating slightly away from our Unpopular opinions for this week to talk about a topic close to Sam and Mel's hearts, hidden disabilities. Covering everything from what a hidden disability is, our personal experiences and cool things that are now available like the Hidden...
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Never too old: Reliving childhood fandoms
We're deviating slightly away from our Unpopular opinions for this week and just embracing the awesomeness of our childhood joys. Join Sam and her brother in law James as they chat all things video games, cartoons and anything else we love that may be considered "childish". Join us as we chat...
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Gender Equity Revisited: Empowering Women
ur first ever episode which was all around Gender Equity - but this time I've brought in someone who knows what she's talking about! Join Urmi and I as we chat not just about gender equity, but all the ways that women can empower themselves. Gender Equity episode 1: https://youtu.be/0nCjPDWIM0c…
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Lessons from High School: Do we ever grow out of it?
We're diving back into our Unpopular opinions, and this week host Sam is joined by her sister Mel to debate whether or not we ever grow up from High School. Whether your high school experience was great or terrible, it's a time where our brains are so squishy and malleable that the lessons and...
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Nickelback: Respect the Back
To kick off this brand new podcast, Intellectual Potluck host Sam is focusing on Unpopular Opinions, whether that's from Sam or her guest for the episode! This episode Sam is joined once again by her partner Grant to talk about the second love of his life: Nickelback! Nickelback have had a lot of...
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Not all Landlords: redefining rental relationships
To kick off this brand new podcast, Intellectual Potluck host Sam is focusing on Unpopular Opinions, whether that's from Sam or her guest for the episode! This episode Sam is joined by her friend Steph to explore our latest topic. We're focusing dissect the perception of Landlords, and whether…
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Gender Equity: Living in a Barbie World
To kick off this brand new podcast, Intellectual Potluck host Sam is focusing on Unpopular Opinions, whether that's from Sam or her guest for the episode! To start Sam is joined by her partner Grant as they explore gender biases in the post-Barbie world! We look at the cultural impact of Barbie…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Ever wondered about the stories history class skipped over? Or had a question so odd you weren’t sure who to ask? We are serving up a feast of fascinating deep dives and expert interviews, exploring the weird, wonderful, and sometimes overlooked corners of history, science, and beyond.
Each episode is a potluck of curiosity—sometimes a gripping historical mystery, other times a conversation with someone who has the answers to questions you didn’t even know you had. From the forgotten moments that shaped the world to the surprising insights hiding in plain sight, we’re here to uncover the stories that make you say, “Wait, why didn’t I learn this in school?”
If you love unexpected discoveries, fresh perspectives, and the thrill of learning something new, pull up a chair. There’s always something interesting on the table at Intellectual Potluck.
HOSTED BY
Sam Wheatley
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Intellectual Potluck have?
Intellectual Potluck currently has 21 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Intellectual Potluck about?
Ever wondered about the stories history class skipped over? Or had a question so odd you weren’t sure who to ask? We are serving up a feast of fascinating deep dives and expert interviews, exploring the weird, wonderful, and sometimes overlooked corners of history, science, and beyond. Each episode...
How often does Intellectual Potluck release new episodes?
Intellectual Potluck has 21 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Intellectual Potluck?
You can listen to Intellectual Potluck 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 Intellectual Potluck?
Intellectual Potluck is created and hosted by Sam Wheatley.
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