Hyperfixation Investigations

Part 1 of Our Mini-Series: "Language Through the Ages" Let’s talk language! Specifically, this episode delves into a brief history and overview of the study of etymology. Learn about the method of research for etymology, the difference between semantics and syntax, and the historical backgrounds of words like “weird” and “orange”! This episode sets the stage for further deep-dives into language studies as well as the use of etymology in our other episodes. Discussion Includes: Definitions and Clarifications of Language Categories Overview of Scientific Etymological Study Examples of Etymology Examples of Vernacular Homophones! © Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2026

Swim with us through the coral reefs and dark sea floors as we explore the outrageous octopus! This episode specifically delves into the general evolutionary and biological facts of these 8-legged friends. Mythology, history, culture impacts and more will be available in a later episode! The intelligence and strangeness of these animals is sure to fascinate you, as it does Josh and Kara!Discussion Includes:Etymology of Octopus & Its PluralsEvolution & the Mollusk PhylumCephalopods & Jet PropulsionSurviving the Chicxulub MeteorDNA versus RNA: Evolution & AdaptionBiology OverviewArms versus Legs©Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2026

© Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2026

Happy Valentine’s Day to all who celebrate! This holiday of love has ancient origins from Rome and Catholicism. It has become a saturated business market and an important day for restaurants, flower shops, bakeries and more. Join us as we explore the roots of this holiday and the myths, saints, and female entrepreneurs that have shaped it!Discussion Includes:Lupercalia and Ancient RomeVarious Myths and OriginsSaint Valentine(s) & Feast DaysChaucerEsther Howland©Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2026

In January 1926, some of the most important strides in mechanical television technology were made! Join Kara and Josh as they discuss the history & science of mechanical television and one of it’s most important inventors: John Logie Baird. With technology created in the 1880’s through to the switch to electronic television, we will flip the channels through many cool and impressive moments in television’s early history.Discussion Includes:Nipkow Discs & Other ScienceEarly Mechanical TV HistoryJohn Logie BairdOverview of the Move to Electronic Television© Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2026

After a lovely holiday season, Josh and Kara return to talk about Santa’s home—The North Pole! But what many may not know, is that there are in fact, multiple north poles, each with slightly different definitions and uses in the sciences. So join us this week as we explore the many north poles!Discussion Includes:Geographic PolesMagnetic PolesThe Mythical North PoleExplorations of the Poles©Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2026

Welcome to the final episode of 2025! To “round out” the year, we are telling the tale of pumpkins, North America’s favorite native gourd/squash! While most know for its use in pies and lattes, pumpkin has a long and diverse history! It is likely one of the oldest domesticated foods in the Americas. So join us in celebrating the end of autumn with a deep dive on these famous gourds!Discussion Includes:Scientific Biology OverviewAgricultural OverviewAncient History of PumpkinsColonization of PumpkinsPumpkin Fun Facts!© Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

The skies of November have turned gloomy friends, so it is a fitting time to tell the tale of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. Many have heard the song, but the true story is a tragic example of the dangers of Lake Superior even in modern times. In this episode, Josh leads us through the life and final voyage of The Fitz and how Gordon Lightfoot found inspiration for a famous folk rock sea shanty.Discussion Includes:The Creation of the ShipThe Omens of it’s LaunchThe CargoHer 749th & Final VoyageTheories and Investigations of the SinkingThe Song & The Memorials©Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

Let’s do the Time Warp again and step right into an episode dedicated to the Rocky Horror Picture Show and it’s predecessor, the Rocky Horror Show! Some descriptors for RHPS include: a cult classic, a cultural phenomenon, an immersive experience, & a great way to usher in the Halloween season. Listen closely and jump with us into the unique world of this beloved show as Hyperfixation Investigations celebrates it’s 1-year anniversary!Discussion Includes:Brief Plot SummaryKey Dates & People for the Rocky Horror ShowKey Dates & People for the Rocky Horror Picture ShowAudience Participation & The Rocky Horror Picture Show Fan ClubCounterculture and a Cult Classic© Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

Roll an investigation check with us this week as Josh leads us through a brief history and overview of the table top role-playing game (TTRPG), Dungeons & Dragons (D&D)! This beloved TTRPG has had a renaissance over the last decade, with growing popularity in streams, podcasts, main-stream films, and more.Discussion Includes:History of D&DHow Dungeons & Dragons has changed since its inceptionOverview of the Basic Functions of the GameWhy Josh Loves It SO MUCH!©Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

Part 2 of Our Mini-Series “Geeks, Games, & General Mayhem”Join us for this week’s “minisode” as we break down the history of LEGOs. From a beloved children’s toy, to a creative adult hobby, a movie franchise, a plethora of videogames, and even amusement parks, LEGO has grown and evolved over the decades. But at it’s heart is the idea of quality toys and creativity. Discussion Includes:Brief Overview of the LEGO Group’s HistoryThe MoviesThe Franchise DealsThe Video GamesThe Discussion of “Adult” versus “Kids” LEGOs.© Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

You might think this episode is about first- or third-person shooter games. Ya know, all that conversation about video games making kids violent. The general genocides that happen in many a game. But you would be wrong! Follow along on this minisode as we detail the real war crime that video game producers have been getting in trouble over for years!Discussion Includes:Prison ArchitectDoomHaloStardew ValleyThe Red Cross©Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

After last month’s episode: Salt Overview, we delve further into specific examples of the history, science, medicinal, and religious uses of salt! Learn about the links between salt production & the harnessing of natural gas, salt and Christian monasteries, how molten salt nuclear reactors powered planes in the Cold War, and more!Discussion Includes:Historical Salt Production in ChinaThorium Salt Nuclear ReactorsPostural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) & SaltSalt in Christianity.For Research Resources & Related Images : www.hyperfixation-investigations.com/episodes/episode-21-salts-close-upTiming:00:00:00-Intro00:01:11-Act 100:34:52-Intermission00:39:41-Act 200:59:25-Outro© Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

Welcome, at last, to the Black Hole episode! Josh has long alluded to creating an episode around these celestial objects and now is the time. Join us as we delve into the science, history, and misconceptions about some of the architects of galaxies! And of course, we discuss the use of Black Holes in Science Fiction (usually incorrectly). Be warned, once you cross the event horizon and begin this journey with us, there will be no going back!Discussion Includes:Black Hole BasicsHistory of Human Discovery & KnowledgeCommon MisconceptionsBlack Holes in Media: Sci-Fi’s Favorite Plot Device©Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

Salt is one of the most important and influential minerals in human history. From flavoring food, to being used as a form of payment, to its impact on science, the effects cannot be overstated. There are many kinds of salts, and they all have different chemical signatures. Throughout this episode, learn about table salt (sodium chloride or NaCl) and other edible sea salts from ancient times as well as salts we find in agriculture and other scientific areas. This episode is an overview of the history, science, and uses of salts, with more in-depth analysis coming in August!Discussion Includes:History of Salt from Ancient China to TodaySalt in Ancient Trade & PoliticsMummification & Salt in EgyptThe Chemistry & Basic Science of SaltsSalt in ReligionsGeneral Uses of Salts©️ Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

We are starting off Season 2 with a “bang?” (sorry, not sorry). This episode is all about the often forgotten third atomic bomb core from World War II: Rufus, now known as The Demon Core. While this core was never dropped as a bomb, it was used for nuclear/plutonium testing after WWII and along the way, it was deemed “cursed”. Take a listen and find out why!Discussion Includes:The Bombs Dropped on JapanBasic Chemistry of Atomic BombsHistoric Atomic/Nuclear Research in the USARufus the Demon CoreBasic Radiation OverviewThe Deaths that Cursed the Demon CoreLong-Lasting Changes due to the Demon CoreResurgence of the Demon Core in Internet Culture©️ Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

Join us for some laughs to whet your appetites for Season 2! This blooper reel contains funny moments and tangents that didn’t make it into the final edits of Season 1’s Episodes 1-4. Warning: this reel contains “that’s what she said” jokes and mouth sounds! ©️Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2024-2025

We are happy to announce that Season 2 of Hyperfixation Investigations will be coming your way in July, 2025. Josh and Kara are hard at work behind-the-scenes on new episodes and new features for general listeners and subscribers alike. Check in for a blooper reel teaser in two weeks, and be on the look-out for announcements here on the website and on BlueSky and YouTube over the new few months regarding some exciting changes coming to HI! Thank you for all your support.©️Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

We finally have an episode where our favorite phrase “deep dive” is truly apropos! So join us as we deep dive the fascinating underwater world of whales. This group of animals technically includes dolphins and porpoises in addition to whales. Discover their forms of communication, diets, family structures and more! Discussion Includes: The Evolution of Whales Communication & Friendship for Whales & Dolphins The Diet of Whales: Teeth versus Baleen Orcas! (Kara’s Fav) Whales and Echolocation Whales in Media ©️Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

Nearly 70% of women in the U.S. use hair-coloring products ranging from bleach to permanent hair dye. Learn about the use of hair coloring in the ancient world and how a discovery in the 1800s brought about the hair dye we know of today. Discover the biochemistry of how different types of hair dye work, the economic strength of the industry, and more in this episode! Discussion Includes: Biochemistry of 4 Types of Hair Dye History of Ancient Hair Dye Modern Hair Dye from the 1800s to Today Hair Dye & Health Economics of the Hair Coloring subsection of the Cosmetics Industry ©Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

WARNING: EPISODE CONTAINS STAR WARS SPOILERS! Travel to Naboo and Coruscant via starship as Josh outlines the factors leading to the fall of the Jedi Order throughout the Star Wars Franchise, including movies, television shows, and books. Fun facts include which politician’s name is used almost verbatim in the films and more! Discussion Includes: History & Function of the Jedi Order Origins & Conflict with the Sith The Jedi and the Galactic Republic The Clone Wars Nails in the Coffin: Jedi Order and Galactic Republic The High Republic Era (Star Wars Books) ©️Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

It’s all in the Tea-Tails! After learning about the main types of tea and how tea plants are processed to create one of our favorite drinks, we’ll dive into the complex and often dark history of tea. The introduction of tea to the Western World is embroiled in colonization, smuggling, scandals, and wars. One of the main culprits behind all of this mayhem was the East India Company. Did you know the Opium trade and Opium Wars are closely tied to the tea trade? Discussion Includes: The Main Tea Plant Types of Teas Tea Processing Methods The Colonization of Tea pre-East India Company Tea Smuggling Tea, Opium, and the East India Company ©️Wolf and Stag Productions LLC, 2025

We’re going nuts for our favorite tree rodents! Kara and Josh delve into the world of tree squirrels from the different species found in Illinois to their beneficial effect on their habitats! We love these cute little guys and we’re excited to bring a little bit more awareness to some of our most numerous animal neighbors. Discussion Includes: The four species of tree squirrels in IL Urban studies of Fox and Grey Squirrels Squirrel Appreciation Day Squirrels as Forest/Habitat Gardeners Squirrels as an Indicator Species Spiritual Themes and Examples Squirrels in Movies & TV ©️Wolf and Stag Productions LLC, 2025

Fly through the cosmos this week with Josh and Kara as they cycle through the births and deaths of various kinds of stars in our universe. Learn how stars have been classified over time and how some of our favorite telescopes (Hubble!) help scientists figure out how hot and old stars are across space. From the beautiful clouds of gas that are the “nurseries for stars” to black holes that form from the death of the largest stars, discover how the saying “we are all born of stardust” is true! Discussion: Nebulas & Protostars Nuclear Fusion Star Classification Systems Supernovas, & Other Forms of Star Death Red Dwarf Stars ©️Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

Learn the bare-bones basics of reading your Natal Birth Chart for your Zodiac. Kara and Josh discuss the Big Three and how to break down Planets vs Signs vs Houses. For more in-depth lessons on this topic, check out Corinne Lane’s Lessons and consider the Chani app to find out the details and interpretations of your birth chart!

Explore the history of Western Zodiac Astrology with Kara and Josh! From Ancient Babylon, to Medieval Europe, to 20th-century Britain, to Modern USA, learn about the ebbs and flows of Zodiac Astrology. From a form of science to a pre-Enlightenment relic, to a modern phenomenon, the practice of astrology has long had cultural significance. Learn from an astronomical point of view, why your sign or birth chart is “wrong”. Listen as Kara (a practitioner) and Josh (a respectful skeptic) discuss astrology as a form of faith as well as a useful self-improvement tool. Discussion: Ancient to Modern History of Western Zodiac Astrology How Astrology Aided Astronomy Why Some Say your Sign is Incorrect Modern Cultural Implications and the Virality of Astrology Faith, Pseudo-psychology, and Disbelief

In honor of this month’s annual meteor shower, The Quadrantids, Josh and Kara explore some of Earth’s smaller and numerous neighbors: asteroids and comets. Learn what and where these Near Earth Objects (NEOs) are and how they turn into shooting stars! Finally, discover how an unofficial constellation named Earth’s annual December-January meteor shower: The Quadrantids. Discussion: Meteoroids vs Meteors vs Meteorites Asteroids Comets Meteor Showers The Quadrantids Meteor Shower ©️Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2025

Part 2 of the Mini-Series "Examples of Pagan 'Repurposing' in Organized Religion" (non-consecutive episodes) Ancient Rome boasted an impressive polytheistic religion. Festivals to various gods were celebrated throughout the year, and Saturnalia and Natalis Invictus occurred around the winter solstice (Dec 20/21). Kara and Josh explore these holidays and what, if any, influence they have on the date of Christmas and how the holiday is celebrated today. Discussion Includes: Overview of Saturnalia Overview of Natalis Invictus Similarities of Saturnalia and Natalis Invictus to Christmas The Debate of the Church’s Decision for December 25th as Christmas Overview of the Astronomy of the Winter Solstice ©️Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2024

We’re wrapping up this section of “The Deep, Dark, & Dirty Depths” with a look at fungi and their many different forms! Building on Episode 2: Roots!, Josh goes deeper into the mysterious world of mycelium, molds, mildews, and more. Discover how the fungi, known as molds, became a vital part of medicine and what certain types of fungi have in common with BookTok’s favorite books. Of course, you can’t talk about fungi without talking about mushrooms, and we have quite the example of one out in Oregon! Discussion Includes: Review of Fungi & Mycelium Systems Mushrooms, Molds, Mildews, Yeasts and more! The Humongous Fungus ©️Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2024

Trigger Warning: Spiders discussed 49:50--52:55 Listen along as Kara and Josh learn more about the iconic holiday fruit native to North America, from its growing process to how canned cranberry sauce became a staple food during the winter holidays! Cranberries are perennial plants that form vines to grow, regrowing year after year. While native to North America, they are mostly found and grown through commercial agriculture now, given the particular needs of the plant to produce fruit. Description: Cranberry Basic Overview & Growth Process Cranberry Health Benefits Commercial Agriculture Climate Change and Wetland Conservation Ocean Spray and the Boom of Jellied Canned Cranberry Sauce ©️Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2024

Following Part 1 of this Mini-Series, Episode 2: Roots!, Josh guides us on a hike through the Redwoods and Pando to teach us about megaflora. From tree hollows to heartwoods, Josh and Kara discuss how Redwoods get so old and so tall, how many plants clone themselves to create new life, and why Pando is argued to be the largest living organism on the planet. Learn what endangers the Redwoods and Pando and what initiatives are underway to protect them. Discussion Includes: Overview of Redwoods Plant Cloning and Fairy Circles Overview of Pando Tree Hollows & Goose Pens Germination vs. Cloning—Fruit vs. Sprouts Visiting Pando ©️Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2024

Kara and Josh talk about music and activism in this episode. Musician Hozier has had a career full of popular hits and masterful lyricism. Among those lyrics sit messages about issues ranging from LGBTQIA+ Rights to anthems for Civil Rights Activists. Explore the themes of feminism, civil rights, LGBTQIA+ discrimination, and more in his music. Then, consider as Kara and Josh discuss parasocial relationships and celebrity and activism vs celebrity and politics. Discussion Includes: An Overview of Hozier's Career Information on How his Songs have Activism Feminism and LGBTQIA+ Communities and Hozier Parasocial Relationships and Fan Culture Celebrity and Activism vs. Celebrity and Politics Hozier's Artistic Connection with his Mom! ©️Wolf & Stag Productions LLC, 2024

We're digging down this week and researching the basics of root structures and mycelium! Learn as Josh presents about their similarities and differences and our hosts discuss their wider effect on our natural world.