PODCAST · comedy
Things I Learned Last Night
by Jaron Myers and Tim Stone
You know when you can’t sleep at night so you Google everything about deep sea diving? Things I Learned Last Night (TILLN) is that, but in a podcast. Check us out on Spotify, Apple, or wherever else you get your podcasts
Episodes
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The Loch Ness Monster | A Monk Started the Loch Ness Myth 1,500 Years Ago
What if the most famous monster in the world started as a 1,500-year-old tall tale told by a monk who used his own buddy as bait? Buckle up, because Nessie's origin story is wilder than you think. Everybody's seen the blurry black-and-white photo, but almost nobody knows the insane backstory…
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655,000 Men Went Into Russia. 93,000 Came Out | Napoleon Bonaparte
What if the guy history remembers as a tiny, insecure tyrant was actually an average-height military genius who reshaped the laws of 120 countries? Napoleon Bonaparte is way weirder — and way more consequential — than the "short man complex" meme. This week Jaron and Tim go deep on Napoleon...
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The War of 1812: America's Most Pointless War?
Ever wondered how a war can end a full month before its biggest, bloodiest battle even happens? Welcome to the War of 1812 — history's most confusing "second war for independence." Jaron and Tim go deep on the War of 1812 — the war everybody's heard of and nobody actually understands. This is the...
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Trustor | The Man Who Bought a Company With Its Own Money
What if you could buy an entire company without spending a single dollar of your own money — by using the company's own cash to pay for itself? Ever wondered if you could buy a company using that company's own money? In the summer of 1997, a group of European businessmen did exactly that — and…
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Prospera | Rich People Trying to Takeover Honduras
What if a billionaire could just... buy a chunk of an island, wall it off, and write his own laws? No pesky government, no red tape, no rules. Ever wondered what happens when a Nobel Prize-winning economist, a 16-year-old's sci-fi novel, and a pile of crypto billionaires collide on a beautiful...
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Benjaman Kyle | This Man Forgot His Own Name For 11 Years
What if the only way to escape a mob hit was to erase yourself completely — no name, no memory, no identity — and hope the government would hand you a fresh start? For one man, that gamble became a decade-long nightmare. In 2004, a Burger King employee in Richmond Hill, Georgia, showed up for the…
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Mint Cakes | This Item Almost Destroyed Runescape
Ever heard of a mint cake? Not the candy — the digital dessert that triggered one of the wildest speculative financial bubbles in gaming history. This week Jaron and Tim go deep — like 99 Fletching deep — into RuneScape, the game that was basically "a chat room with armor" for a generation of...
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John Hanke | The Video Game That Was Secretly Mapping Your World
What if the summer you spent chasing Pikachu in the park was actually you volunteering to build a global military mapping system? Yeah. That happened. Ever wondered where Google Earth actually came from? Buckle up, because this one goes to some wild places. This week Jaron and Tim dig into John...
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Percy Fawcett | Did They Just Find the City of Gold?
What happened to the legendary explorer Percy Fawcett? We dive into the disappearance of the man who obsessed over the mysterious Lost City of Z. In this episode, we unpack the fascinating life and final expedition of Percy Fawcett, the British explorer who vanished in the Amazon rainforest while...
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Winchester Mystery House | She Built a House to TRAP Ghosts
Was the Winchester Mystery House a ghost-trapping labyrinth or a feat of architectural genius? We uncover the truth behind the Winchester legend. In this episode, we dive deep into the mysterious history of the Winchester Mystery House, one of the most famous haunted attractions in America. Sarah...
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The Teen Wolf Of Wall Street
Discover the wild true story of Barry Minko, the teenage entrepreneur who built a $600 million corporate empire on a foundation of pure fraud. Dive into one of history’s most audacious Ponzi schemes. In this episode, we break down the incredible life of Barry Minko, a man whose ambition at age...
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MacKenzie-Childs | She Paid $5.5 Million to Erase Them Completely
What happens when massive talent meets an absolute business nightmare? Discover the wild story behind the iconic MacKenzie-Childs brand. In this episode of Things I Learned Last Night, we dive deep into the fascinating and chaotic history of MacKenzie-Childs. From a modest start as a...
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The Luddites | 200 Years Ago, Workers Watched Machines Take Their Jobs.
Discover the true story behind the Luddites, the 19th-century workers who rebelled against industrialization to save their livelihoods. Were they just anti-tech Luddites, or was it something more? In this deep dive into the history of the Industrial Revolution, we unpack the misunderstood legacy…
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Robert Chesebrough | The Nasty Goo Made Him Rich
Ever wondered how Vaseline, a byproduct of oil drilling, became a global household name? Discover the wild, true origin of petroleum jelly today. In this episode of Things I Learned Last Night, we dive deep into the fascinating and slightly unnerving history of Robert Cheesebrough, the man behind...
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Bricks & Minifigs | YouTuber Gets DESTROYED In $200k Lawsuit
Ever wonder how a simple Lego consignment spiraled into a viral legal nightmare? Dive into the wild saga of Bricks & Minifigs and the fight for a fortune. In this deep dive, we break down one of the most convoluted store takeover stories in recent history involving a $200,000 Lego Star Wars...
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Samuel Morse | The Most Famous Inventor You Know Nothing About
Ever wondered how Morse code was really invented? Explore the complicated history and surprising legacy of Samuel Morse beyond just the telegraph. In this deep dive into history, we uncover the fascinating, often uncredited life of Samuel Morse—a man who struggled as an artist before finding fame...
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Howard Hughes | The Man Who Bought Vegas
What would you do with unlimited money, your own private air force, and absolutely nobody to tell you "no"? If you're Howard Hughes, you crash planes through Los Angeles neighborhoods, corporatize the Vegas mob, and eventually lock yourself in a hotel room wearing tissue boxes on your feet. This...
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The Business Plot | Wall Street Tried to Overthrow the Government
What would you do if Wall Street's richest men showed up at your door with a briefcase full of cash and a plan to overthrow the United States government? For one of the most decorated Marines in American history, the answer was: snitch immediately. This week, Jaron and Tim dig into the wild life…
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Crackas With Attitude | These Guys Hacked the CIA
Two teenagers managed to pull off the ultimate cybercrime: hacking the CIA, FBI, and NSA using nothing but clever social engineering. Discover the wild true story of the infamous 'Crackers with Attitude' and how they played the system. In this episode of Things I Learned Last Night, we dive into...
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Gunther VI | The Scam Behind the World's Richest Dog
Meet Gunther, the world's wealthiest dog, worth $400 million. But is this German Shepherd a financial genius, or is the entire story a massive tax-evasion scam? In this deep dive, we uncover the bizarre and true story of Gunther the Sixth, the dog famously reported to be the wealthiest animal on...
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American Heartland | God Told Me to Build a Theme Park
Discover the shocking true story behind the American Heartland theme park scam that bilked millions from an unsuspecting billionaire. This tale of greed, fake emails from 'God,' and massive construction fraud will leave you stunned. In this deep dive, we investigate the rise and fall of the...
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Limitarianism | Is It Wrong to Be Filthy Rich?
Is there a moral limit to how much wealth one person should accumulate? We dive into the controversial concept of limitarianism. In this episode, we break down the provocative ideas found in Ingrid Robeyns' book 'Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth.' We explore the ethical, economic…
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Paul Dirac | What if Antimatter Was Cheap
Ever wondered if an 'anti-world' really exists? Discover the mind-bending reality of antimatter and how it could hold the key to our planet's future. In this episode, we tackle the complex and fascinating world of antimatter. Ever feel like the universe has an 'upside down'? We break down the...
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Iodine | Can Salt Make You Smart?
Are you accidentally hindering your brain health? Discover why iodine deficiency is a silent epidemic and how your simple salt choice affects IQ. In this episode, we dive into the surprising history and biological necessity of iodine, an essential chemical element that plays a critical role in...
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Bad Grandpas | These Old Men Robbed a Bank
Ever wondered how a group of pensioners pulled off one of history's most audacious crimes? Discover the insane true story of the Hatton Garden heist. In this episode, we dive deep into the infamous 2015 Hatton Garden safe deposit burglary, a crime so bold it feels like a movie script. Join us as…
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Roswell | The Declassified Truth Behind the Crashed UFO
Was the infamous Roswell incident truly humanity's first contact with aliens, or is there a much more grounded explanation? Dive into the mystery behind the 1947 UFO crash. In this episode, we unpack the legendary Roswell, New Mexico incident that sparked the global UFO phenomenon. We explore the...
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Alfred Nobel | The Explosive Truth of the Nobel Peace Prize
Ever wondered why the inventor of dynamite created the Nobel Peace Prize? Discover the shocking history of Alfred Nobel and his quest for a better legacy. In this episode of Things I Learned Last Night, we dive deep into the fascinating and ironic life of Alfred Nobel. Known primarily for...
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The Panama Papers | How 11.5 Million Documents Ended a President
Ever wonder how the ultra-wealthy hide billions in offshore accounts? We're diving into the Panama Papers leak to uncover the truth behind shell companies. In this episode, we break down one of the largest data leaks in history: the Panama Papers. You will learn how the law firm Mossack Fonseca...
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APRIL FOOLS SPECIAL
Is modern corporate greed preventing you from fixing your own electronics? Discover the hidden truth behind the 'Right to Repair' movement. In this episode of Things I Learned Last Night, we dive deep into the fascinating, frustrating, and often absurd reality of the 'Right to Repair' movement....
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Spruce Pine | How One Mineral From NC Protects Taiwan
Ever notice how one small town in North Carolina controls the global tech market? Discover how a hidden deposit of ultra-pure quartz runs everything. In this episode, we dive deep into the fascinating, high-stakes world of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, and its critical role in our modern global...
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Snake Oil | The Wild West's Biggest Scam
Dive into the fascinating history of America's most famous 'snake oil salesman,' Clark Stanley. In this episode, we unpack the story of the 'Rattlesnake King,' who rose to fame at the 1893 World's Fair by peddling a miracle cure that contained no snake oil at all. We explore the remedy's true...
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Moltbook | An AI Built Its Own Social Media
What happens when AI bots create their own secret social network? We dive into the wild story of Moltbook and Clawbot, uncovering the truth behind this supposed Reddit for bots. In this episode, we investigate the bizarre story of Clawbot, a powerful local AI agent that gives artificial...
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Urantia | Sleep-Talking Cult Leader: The Urantia Book & Celestial Seasonings Tea
Ever wonder about the story behind your favorite Sleepy Time tea? Discover the shocking connection between Celestial Seasonings and a 2,000-page book allegedly channeled from a sleeping man. In the early 1900s, a respected doctor made a discovery that would lead to a 2,000-page religious text—and...
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The Death Harvest | How 19 Deaths Saved Football
In 1905, Football faced its darkest season. That year became known as The Death Harvest because players were dying at an alarming rate. The game was brutal, chaotic, and barely regulated. Parents feared for their sons. Newspapers demanded change. And the future of Football hung in the balance....
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Was Tom DeLonge Right About Aliens?
Most people know Tom DeLonge as the guitarist and singer from Blink-182. He helped define pop-punk in the late 1990s and early 2000s. But over time, his name became connected to something very different: Aliens. What started as a personal interest in UFO books turned into a public mission. Tom...
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Why Watergate Changed America Forever
Watergate is one of the most important political scandals in American history. It reshaped how Americans view power, elections, and trust in government. What began as a small break-in at an office complex slowly uncovered corruption at the highest level of the presidency. At the center of it all...
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This Invention Made Billions, but He Only Got Paid $180? | Blue Light
Blue Light is everywhere today. It shines from our phones, TVs, laptops, streetlights, and homes. Most people never stop to wonder where it came from or who made it possible. The story of Blue Light is not just about technology. It is about persistence, failure, and one scientist who refused to...
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3I/ATLAS | It's Official the Aliens Are Coming
For decades, scientists believed space was mostly predictable. Objects followed known paths. Light behaved in expected ways. Then discoveries like 3I/ATLAS challenged those assumptions. Suddenly, people began asking bigger questions about technology, space, and even aliens. This story connects...
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Project X Haren | The Real Story Behind 'Project X' Movie
In 2012, a teenage girl in the Netherlands planned a simple birthday celebration. She wanted friends, music, and a normal night at home. One mistake on Facebook changed everything. What followed became known as Project X Haren, one of the most infamous internet-driven events ever recorded. This...
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Stuxnet | How the US Started Cyber War
In 2010, cybersecurity experts uncovered a computer virus unlike anything seen before. This malware did not target personal computers or steal private data. Instead, it quietly sabotaged industrial machines, changing how the world thinks about cyber warfare. That computer virus, Stuxnet, is still...
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Secret Mall Apartment | They Hid in the Mall for Four Years
In the late 1990s, a strange housing experiment unfolded in Rhode Island. It was not advertised or permitted. It existed quietly inside a busy shopping mall. This hidden space, known as the secret mall apartment, was built by artist Michael Townsend. What began as an art protest turned into one…
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Our Funniest Moments From 2025
This episode is a full look back at one of the wildest years in the history of the show. Tim and Jaron revisit their favorite moments, hardest laughs, and most unhinged conversations from the past year, all in one highlight-packed episode. From accidental reveals and bizarre school assemblies to...
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Kevin McCallister | How this Kid Saved Christmas
The podcast tells the story of Kevin McCallister, a young boy who gets accidentally left behind when his family goes on a Christmas trip to France. While home alone, Kevin has to fend off two burglars called the “Wet Bandits,” who are trying to rob his house. Kevin sets up creative booby traps…
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The Matsukawa Derailment | How the CIA Rigged Japan's Democracy
In the early morning hours of August 17, 1949, a passenger train derailed near the town of Matsukawa in northern Japan. At first, the crash appeared to be a tragic accident, but investigators quickly discovered clear signs of sabotage. Bolts had been removed from the tracks, and the rails had…
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Unknown Number | Cyberbullying Gone WAY too Far
Strange messages can shake even the strongest people. That is what happened in a small Michigan town when an Unknown Number began sending cruel texts to two young teens. What seemed like simple bullying slowly grew into something darker. This is the true story of how a community faced fear,...
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Apollo 13 | This Is the Problem Houston Had
The Apollo 13 mission began as a routine trip to the moon. At first, many people barely paid attention. NASA had already reached the moon twice by then. But everything changed when an explosion put three astronauts in danger. What started as a quiet mission soon became one of the most dramatic...
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Sarma Melngailis | He Told Her He'd Make Her Dog Immortal
The story of Sarma Melngailis is one of ambition, success, and a shocking scam that pulled her entire world apart. It begins with a bold dream in New York City and ends with a cross-country chase, unpaid employees, and millions of dollars missing. This tale shows how even the brightest people can...
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Bat Bombs | The Atom Bomb Saved Thousands of Bats
The bat bomb was one of the most unusual ideas to emerge from the World War II era. It mixed wildlife, explosive science, and creative military strategy. This unusual weapon did not gain fame, yet it reveals how far nations will go during war. Today, we can look back and learn from its wild...
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How XI Jinping Took Control of China
For decades, China has stood as one of the most powerful nations on earth. At the center of that rise stands one man, Xi Jinping. His story isn’t just about politics; it’s about power, control, and the transformation of an entire country. Understanding how Xi Jinping came to lead modern China…
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Lydia Fairchild | This Mom's DNA Didn't Match Her Kids
When Lydia Fairchild applied for child support in 2002, she thought it was a routine process. She was a young mother of two, pregnant with her third child, and wanted to ensure help from her children’s father. But what began as paperwork turned into one of the strangest legal and scientific...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
You know when you can’t sleep at night so you Google everything about deep sea diving? Things I Learned Last Night (TILLN) is that, but in a podcast. Check us out on Spotify, Apple, or wherever else you get your podcasts
HOSTED BY
Jaron Myers and Tim Stone
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Things I Learned Last Night have?
Things I Learned Last Night currently has 370 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Things I Learned Last Night about?
You know when you can’t sleep at night so you Google everything about deep sea diving? Things I Learned Last Night (TILLN) is that, but in a podcast. Check us out on Spotify, Apple, or wherever else you get your podcasts
How often does Things I Learned Last Night release new episodes?
Things I Learned Last Night publishes regularly with 370 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Things I Learned Last Night?
You can listen to Things I Learned Last Night 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 Things I Learned Last Night?
Things I Learned Last Night is created and hosted by Jaron Myers and Tim Stone.
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