The Internet Says it’s True

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about an invisible line penguins can't cross. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

What do you do when you've directed a movie... but you don't want your name on it? This week, Michael explores one of Hollywood's strangest traditions: Alan Smithee, the fictional film director created by the Directors Guild of America for filmmakers who had lost creative control of their projects. Along the way, you'll hear how one Western accidentally created a decades-long Hollywood secret, why critics unknowingly praised a man who didn't exist, and how a movie about Alan Smithee ultimately brought the entire system to an end. Then we chat with Emmy-Winning Writer and Educator, Joe Janes! Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about cow magnets.  Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

In 1969, future President Jimmy Carter stood outside a Lions Club meeting in rural Georgia and saw something in the sky he couldn't identify. Decades later, the report remains one of the most famous UFO sightings ever associated with a U.S. president. Was it Venus, a military-related phenomenon, an optical illusion, or something else entirely? This week, we follow the facts, separate the myths from the history, and explore why a simple sighting by an honest witness continues to fascinate people more than half a century later. Then we play the Yap Yap quiz with Comedian Marcus Monroe! Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy   Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals For a free, 2-minute assessment on your testosterone health, visit http://YourTScore.com

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about Scottish Soccer fans and their drinking habits in Boston. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

A computer sound effect sparked one of the funniest stories in tech history. This week, Michael explores the decades-long trademark war between Apple Computer and the Beatles' Apple Corps, a conflict that stretched from the late 1970s into the age of the iPod and iTunes. Along the way, an Apple engineer slipped a sarcastic message into the Macintosh operating system, creating the legendary "Sosumi" alert sound. What started as a legal battle ended with one of the greatest corporate inside jokes ever shipped to millions of users. Then we play the Yap Yap Quiz with Mindreader Eric Dittelman! Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about the origin of barber poles. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

A symbol of freedom standing atop the United States Capitol seems like the perfect representation of American ideals. But what if one of the people most responsible for bringing that symbol to life was himself enslaved? This week, Michael explores the remarkable true story of Philip Reid, the skilled craftsman whose expertise helped make the Statue of Freedom possible, and the extraordinary irony of a monument to liberty being completed during the Civil War by a man who gained his own freedom before it was finished. Then we play the Yap Yap Quiz with Comedian Glen Tickle! Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about the origin of the phrase "Never look a gift horse in the mouth." Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

Originally released September 15, 2025. During the Civil War, hundreds of people assigned female at birth served in male disguise. Some did it out of patriotism, some for love, and for others, it was about living as the gender they knew themselves to be. In this episode, we uncover the stories of Albert D.J. Cashier, Lyons Wakeman, Frank Thompson, Samuel Blalock, Mollie “Melvin” Bean, and Mary “John” Burns — individuals who challenged 19th-century gender norms and risked everything to serve as the men they truly were. Then we chat with Comedian, Kitty Long. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about Immortal Jellyfish. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

In 1898, workers building a railroad bridge in East Africa began disappearing during the night. Rumors spread that supernatural forces were stalking the camp, but the truth was terrifying enough: two lions had begun hunting humans. This week, Michael explores the true story of the Tsavo Man-Eaters, the months-long campaign of fear that threatened one of the British Empire's largest engineering projects, and the scientific mystery that still leaves researchers debating exactly why these lions turned to human prey. Then we play the Yap Yap Quiz with Comedian Jay Black! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we talk about the bizarre history of "Hidden Mother Photography." Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

A well-dressed man is found dead on an Australian beach with no identification, no known family, and a hidden scrap of paper reading “Tamám Shud” - “it is finished.” What followed became one of the strangest mysteries of the 20th century involving secret codes, missing labels, Cold War spy theories, and a question that haunted investigators for more than 70 years. This week, Michael Kent dives into the eerie true story of the Somerton Man. Then we play the Yap Yap Quiz with The Cosmic Romantics! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we learn why grape flavor doesn't taste like grapes. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

To observe Memorial Day this year, we're running a digest of 4 American heroes.  Story #1: Peter Conover Hains was born before the Civil War and still wore a U.S. Army uniform in World War I. He fired one of the Civil War’s first naval shots, built ports and canals, and returned to active duty at age 77. His legacy spans over half a century of American warfare — and four generations of service.  Story #2: Billy Mitchell is often referred to as the Father of the United States Air Force. He was the first one to suggest that airplanes could be used to drop bombs on enemy naval ships. But a recent visit to a museum with my father illuminated a really bizarre fact: Billy Mitchell predicted the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 17 years before it happened. In this episode, we learn all about Billy Mitchell, military aviation history and his amazing prediction. Story #3: In 1976, a skirmish at the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea led to the brutal murders of two Americans. The skirmish began over the trimming of a tree. The result was the most expensive tree-trimming in history. America and South Korea returned to the tree with all of their military might in a show of force. In this episode, I'll tell you a story about the DMZ that you may have never heard. Story #4: 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. Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we learn that Sea Otters hold hands. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

Three thousand years ago, workers building royal tombs in ancient Egypt did something almost unthinkable - they went on strike. While history records their demands as delayed wages, and popular culture thinks it was all about depriving them of makeup, the full story reveals a deeper fight for dignity, identity, and the essentials of daily life. This episode explores the world’s first recorded labor strike and the surprising human details behind it. Then we yap yap with Shadowbox Live's Jimmy Mak! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we learn that water can freeze and boil at the same time.  Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

Originally released Sept. 6, 2021. When Barbra Streisand's 14-year old Coton du Tulear dog was nearing the end of its life, she sent some of its skin cells to ViaGen Pets. Now two of her dogs are perfect clones of that pet! In this episode, we tell the story of Babs' cloned dogs and chat with Comedian and Actor Maria DeCotis!  Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we learn that mushrooms are more similar to people than they are plants. Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

A group of counterfeiters once tried to steal Abraham Lincoln’s body and hold it for ransom. This episode explores one of the strangest and most unbelievable plots in American history, revealing just how close they came and what happened after. Then we're joined with author of the new book, "Tell It Well," Taylor Hughes. internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

In this week's Mid-Week Mini Episode, we find out the answer to the question: Which came first? Orange the color? Or Orange the fruit? Did you know The Internet Says It's True is now a book? Get it here: https://amzn.to/4miqLNy Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent

Originally released January 4th, 2021. 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! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals

Originally released May 23, 2021. In our history, we've had at least 32 "Broken Arrow" incidents: instances of nuclear weapons accidents that don't cause a nuclear war. One of those was in 1958, in which an Air Force B-47 Bomber almost nuked Mars Bluff, South Carolina. In this episode, we talk about the B-47, it's staggering 10% loss rate and the Mars Bluff incident. Then we catch up with actor and podcaster Michael Spedden for the Quick Quiz! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special discounts and links to our sponsors, visit http://theinternetsaysitstrue.com/deals