PODCAST · history
Useless Information Podcast
by Airwave Media Podcast Network
Podcasting since 2008! - It really is all true! Quirky, bizarre, and unusual stories from the Flip Side of History.
Episodes
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The Straw Hat Riots - UI Podcast #263
It started as a harmless Wall Street tradition: smash the straw hats of any man foolish enough to wear one after September 15. Then teenagers took up the cause, and before long, New York City was in the grip of the bizarre—and sometimes deadly—Straw Hat Riots. Steve's Toolbox, my new YouTube...
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Retrocast #44 – UI Podcast #262
In this episode: Kids suck subway tokens from turnstiles, two men claim to save a girl’s life, a woman marries a pet rock, a meatloaf made from dog food, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-44-podcast-262/ You can...
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Braless Fridays - UI Podcast #261
In 1969, a casual coffee-break joke about going braless cost a woman her job, sparked nationwide headlines, inspired copycat events across the country, and eventually wound up in court. That's exactly what happened to Jane Andre—all because of an undergarment. Images, links, and transcripts for...
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Retrocast #43 - UI Podcast #260
In this episode: Al Capone’s son tries to avoid his notorious father’s past, a boy survives a 2-1/2 mile plunge in a tunnel, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-43-podcast-260/ You can follow the Useless…
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The Battle of the Bangs - UI Podcast #259
In 1967, a 14-year-old Ohio boy was suspended from school for refusing to cut his hair. What began as a dispute over dress code quickly spiraled into a courtroom battle, a night in juvenile detention, national headlines, and a family’s fight over conformity, authority, and the price of standing…
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Retrocast #42 - UI Podcast #258
In this episode: A house is cut in half after two sisters argue over its repair, two babies are switched at birth, an airplane lands at the wrong airport, and much more! My appearance on WNYT, our local NBC television channel:...
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Leaping Leopards - UI Podcast #257
A wild leopard fresh from the jungles of India escaped the Oklahoma City Zoo in 1950, unleashing a frantic manhunt that turned the city into a spectacle of fear, fascination, and chaos. The cat seemed to vanish and reappear like a phantom, leaving searchers scrambling to keep up. Images, links…
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Retrocast 41 - Podcast #256
In this episode: Who or what is ETAOIN SHRDLU, Nat King Cole is attacked, a boy gets the day off from school for a good deed, a man breaks into ȧ home to change a baby’s diaper, and much more! You can read about the two-time Carnegie Medal recipients at...
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Aren't We Devils? - UI Podcast #255
A running gag on the 1944 Truth or Consequences radio show was for host Ralph Edwards to ask, “Is there a Mr. Wickel in the house?” He never expected an answer. But when Rudolph Wickel stood up, he stepped into one of the most notorious pranks ever pulled on live radio. It was clever. It was…
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Retrocast #40 - UI Podcast #254
In this episode: A couple marries and divorces over and over again, a fugitive appears on The Dating Game tv show, a man is fined for failing to give his wife a goodbye kiss, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at...
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Lost in the Clouds - UI Podcast #253
In 1958, a small plane vanished into the mountains—and what followed became an extraordinary true story of survival, sacrifice, and love in the face of impossible odds. You can watch the PBS video Bruce Davis: The Gentleman of Jazz here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq4X4sEA81A Images, links,...
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Retrocast #39 - Podcast #252
In this episode: A woman has 1,446 metal objects in her stomach, a teenager faces almost certain death unless a nail is removed from her lung, a doctor claims that a patient has a bullfrog living in her stomach, and much more! My niece Sierra McGivney’s story about the four women who helped…
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The Hot Dog Santa Claus - UI Podcast #251
Throughout the 1920s, the children of Boston’s North End gathered in anticipation to see if their beloved Hot Dog Santa Claus, Axel Bjorklund, would once again arrive. Despite his vanishing fortunes and worsening health, he proved that even small gestures can leave a lasting legacy. Images…
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Retrocast #38 - UI Podcast #250
In this episode: Can a wife legally swipe cash from her husband’s wallet? One Chicago man puts a bizarre social experiment in motion—mailing $1 to 500 people and asking them to mail it back. Plus, a high school student discovers a brilliant workaround for his school’s long-hair ban… and much…
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A Forbidden Love - Podcast #249
In 1937, a small Indiana town was rocked by a scandal that made national headlines: a 12-year-old girl and her 13-year-old classmate became parents, igniting a legal and moral firestorm. Family loyalty, courtroom drama, and the harsh realities of the Great Depression collide in this true tale of...
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Retrocast #37 - UI Podcast #248
A fire department stands back and watches a man's home burn to the ground, a pig flies for possibly the first time ever, fleas are transported on a dog, and a gorilla destroys an American Tourister suitcase, and much more! The Flea Circus video mentioned in this episode can be seen on YouTube at...
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Bad Apples #6 – Lost Boundaries – UI #247
My wife, Mary Jane, joins me to discuss the 1949 movie Lost Boundaries, the screen adaptation of the lives of Dr. Albert and Thyra Johnston, the New Hampshire couple who passed as white for nearly twenty years. You can watch the movie Lost Boundaries on YouTube:...
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A White Lie - UI Podcast #246
A New Hampshire doctor and his wife kept a secret from their children, friends, and community for nearly two decades. That was until the federal government discovered the lie. After the publication of their story in Reader's Digest in 1947, the entire nation would know. Images, links, and...
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Rewind: 1st Jewish Couple Married on TV
Cartoonist Leigh Rubin's parents were the first Jewish couple ever to be married on US television, but it almost never happened. Includes audio clips from that Bride and Groom television episode. Original Release Date: April 25, 2019. If you would like to contribute to the GoFundMe set up to help...
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Retrocast #36 - UI Podcast #245
Abbott & Costello agree to perform in a boy’s backyard for 70 cents, parents sue a milk dairy because their son grew too tall, a man sleeps only 2 hours per day for 33 years, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at...
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Escape from Monkey Mountain - UI Podcast #244
Nearly 175 monkeys escaped from a zoo in Massapequa, New York in 1935. Led by an outlaw monkey named Al Capone, they mostly took refuge in the woods. While the vast majority of the monkeys were soon accounted for, Al Capone continued to remain at large. Images, links, and transcripts for this...
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Retrocast #35 - UI Podcast #243
Eight different stories in which someone or something got the last laugh. Includes: rattlesnakes that outsmarted a snake trap, jokes aimed at women are funnier, a friendly feud with the cable company, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at...
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To Russia for Love - UI Podcast #242
A British man hadn't seen his Russian wife for nearly five years. The Soviets repeatedly refused to allow him into the USSR, and they denied her request to leave. He became so desperate that he decided to risk his life to see her. Would he survive? There are two videos on YouTube about this…
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The Denver Spiderman - UI Podcast #241
In Denver, Colorado, in 1941, a man was found murdered in his own home. The most unusual part was that all of the doors and windows were locked from the inside. So, how was the killer able to make his getaway? You can listen to more of History Dispatches at https://historydispatches.com/ Images,...
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Retrocast 34 - UI Podcast #240
A warning to stay away from people with blue eyes, Stanford students use ice nickels to pay for phone calls, the speed limit for automobiles is set at 2 mph, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-34-podcast-240/ You...
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Diamond Jim's Shack - UI Podcast #239
A pristine view. A stubborn fisherman’s legacy. When wealth clashes with tradition, who wins? Dive into the gripping saga of Diamond Jim's Shack, where a simple fishing spot turns into a battleground between privilege and perseverance. Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found…
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Retrocast 33 - UI Podcast #238
The Titanic is supposedly unsinkable, a cat is jailed, clothing seems to instantly combust, shoes for postmen are designed to minimize dog bites, a tastier spinach, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at...
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Rent-A-Wife - UI Podcast #237
Need help? Try renting a wife! They would do anything from A to Z, except for X! A true story from the early 1980s in which some ambitious women decided to market what they did best: being a wife. Includes an interview with Jane Hanne Nevensmith, who ran a successful Rent-A-Wife business in...
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Retrocast 32 - UI Podcast #236
A man discovers the Roman Ruins of his youth have been torn down, a violin made from a lobster claw, an electric chair that electrocuted itself, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-32-podcast-236/ You can follow…
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Ding Dong Daddy - Part 2 - UI Podcast #235
Step into the life of Francis Van Wie, a streetcar conductor with charm, wit, and a string of marriages that captivated 1940s San Francisco, transforming a wartime distraction into a national sensation. Join the ride with the "Ding Dong Daddy"! Images, links, and transcripts for this episode can…
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Ding Dong Daddy - Part 1 - UI Podcast #234
In 1915, a man known only as John F. Kennedy appeared in Kenosha, WI unable to recall his past or even his own name. With only a few cryptic clues and a suitcase marked with the initials "R.E.J.," he embarked on a journey to uncover his forgotten life. From the kindness of strangers to the…
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Retrocast #31 - UI Podcast #233
A man recovers his lost diamond ring through a chance encounter, manhole covers fly in Chicago, how to divide a Cadillac 57 ways, a man is fined for barking like a dog, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at...
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Who Owns Her Face? - UI Podcast #232
When 17-year-old Abigail Roberson's photo was printed on a widely distributed poster without her consent, it set off a legal battle that would forever change the definition of privacy. Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at...
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Christmas Retrocast - UI Podcast #231
Christmas Retrocast! Includes: Tumbleweed replaces the standard Christmas tree for one family, a Santa who practically gave away the store, a policeman has a live turkey thrown at him for Christmas, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at...
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Snatched From Death - Podcast #230
The harrowing true story of three airmen stranded on an unforgiving, desolate island after their airplane crashed off the coast of Greenland. After the search for them was abandoned, they faced the relentless cold and starvation, teetering on the brink of death. Would they be rescued in time, or...
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Retrocast #29 - UI Podcast #229
Jill ChaCha of the podcast Well… That’s Interesting! cohosts! Includes: A debate over whether we should have female judges, a ventriloquist projects his voice to avoid paying a fine, why homely girls make the best wives, and much more! You can find Jill’s podcast here:...
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Pet Rocks - UI Podcast #228
Something different in this podcast!!! I let podcast hosts Art Quinn and Cynthia Coleman tell one of my stories! It’s all about the 1975 Pet Rock fad and how it all happened. Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/pet-rocks-podcast-228/...
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Miss USA for a Day - UI Podcast #227
Back in 1957, Leona Gage had beauty, charm, and a crown—until scandal snatched it away. Just what had she done wrong? Discover the whirlwind rise and dramatic fall of the beauty queen who became an overnight sensation. Video of Leona on the Ed Sullivan Show:...
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Retrocast #28 - UI Podcast #226
A man is forced to pay for the burial of a porcupine, a stowaway who hid inside of someone’s coffin, a cactus buried under concrete for 45 years, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-28-podcast-226/ The Useless...
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Winston Churchill Gets Run Over - UI Podcast #225
While Winston Churchill was crossing Fifth Avenue in Manhattan in 1931, he was hit by a car and thrown down to the pavement. Unable to move his fingers and toes, Churchill believed that he was paralyzed. Listen to this story to find out exactly what happened, the severity of Churchill’s injuries,...
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Dubious Advice 2 - UI Podcast #224
An exploration of advice columns and their evolution over time. How have the questions and responses shifted over the past century? Some of the answers are bound to make you laugh. Affiliate link for elevenlabs.io, which was used for the AI-generated voices in this episode:...
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Lies in the Fast Lane - UI Podcast #223
Truck driver Eugene Wood hid a big secret from his friends and family. No one suspected anything. That was until he was killed in a traffic accident and a judge in Troy, NY uncovered the truth. Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at...
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Retrocast #27 - UI Podcast #222
True fish stories, a newsreel photographer goes on an unexpected flight, a young girl attempts to visit Honolulu, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-27-podcast-222/ The Useless Information Podcast is a member of...
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Pete the Python - UI Podcast #221
This episode of the Useless Information Podcast is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/INFORMATIONPOD and get on your way to being your best self. The incredible true story of an 18-foot, 150-pound python who escaped from the Fort Worth Zoo back…
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The Man Who Would Become Uncle Sam - UI #220
Have you ever wondered why the United States government is called Uncle Sam? This nickname originates from Uncle Samuel Wilson, who provided beef and pork to the troops during the War of 1812. Join the City of Troy and Rensselaer County, New York historian Kathy Sheehan as she takes us on a tour…
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Mr. Benefactor - Podcast #219
In November 1949, Aurora, Illinois found itself with an unusual mystery on its hands. An unidentified benefactor lavishly distributed substantial sums of money to individuals, charities, and the local high school. Adjusted for inflation, the philanthropist bestowed millions within a mere span of...
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Retrocast #26 - Podcast #218
A man is arrested for stealing his own money, a barn is stolen while a farmer sleeps, a Harvard graduate who lost his memory, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-26-podcast-218/ The Useless Information Podcast is…
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A Crucifixion in Chicago - UI Podcast #217
In 1945, police were astounded to discover a man affixed to a wooden cross, hastily fastened to the beams supporting Chicago’s elevated railway. His assailants were never identified, but the victim repeatedly brought up the name of Dr. Emil Bronner. It's worth noting that this is the very same…
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Retrocast #25 - UI Podcast #216
An alligator is found in a California swamp, male toll collectors oppose the hiring of women, a mummified man inspires a Don McLean song, a chewing gum party, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-25-podcast-216/…
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The Strange Case of the Poppy Seed Roll - UI #215
In 1933, New York City police had a very unusual mystery on their hands. Two people died of nearly identical causes within an hour of one another at an Automat restaurant in Manhattan. Strangers to each other, the sole connecting thread between them was a poppy seed roll. Images, links, and...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Useless Information Podcast have?
Useless Information Podcast currently has 275 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Useless Information Podcast about?
Podcasting since 2008! - It really is all true! Quirky, bizarre, and unusual stories from the Flip Side of History.
How often does Useless Information Podcast release new episodes?
Useless Information Podcast publishes regularly with 275 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Useless Information Podcast?
You can listen to Useless Information Podcast 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 Useless Information Podcast?
Useless Information Podcast is created and hosted by Airwave Media Podcast Network.
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