Episodes

  • How Shrunken Heads Were Made

    How Shrunken Heads Were Made
    May 18 2026
    ⁠In this episode of The Brain Food Show, we begin by discussing a random quick fact involving the parents of Ferris Bueller on Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Next we move into the main content for today’s episode which is discussing how exactly people used to get human heads to shrink and why they did this in the first place. Moving on from that, we look at the fascinating saga of famed philosopher Jeremy Bentham’s head and body. Finally we move into some feedback and then an interesting Star Trek Fact related to skeletons. And for those interested: ⁠Picture of Jeremy Bentham’s Head⁠ Our mentioned video on the history of passwords: ⁠Who Invented Passwords and the Guy That Made Them Suck⁠ A sampling of Marina Sirtis talking at various conventions: ⁠The Riker Maneuver⁠ ⁠Riker and Picard Badass Walk Loop⁠ On another note, if you could do us a huge favor and rate and review this show in whatever podcasting platform you’re using (including hopefully giving us some feedback related to the new format), we would be extremely grateful. Thanks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • What Happens When You Find Buried Treasure, Stick Your Head in a Particle Accelerator & Much More

    What Happens When You Find Buried Treasure, Stick Your Head in a Particle Accelerator & Much More
    May 15 2026
    In the video today we're looking at what happens in the real world when you find a buried treasure. What happens when someone objects during a wedding and why ministers ask. What happens if you commit a crime aboard an aircraft or in International waters. What happens when you give a homeless person $100,000. What happens if a cemetery goes under. What exactly happens to animals swallowed alive. What happens if you accidentally damage or destroy a priceless work of art in a museum. What happens when a town votes for a dog or a cat to be mayor. What really happens when someone enters the witness protection program. And, finally, what happens when you stick your head into a particle accelerator. 0:00 What Happens in the Real World if You Find a Buried Treasure? 11:09 What Happens When Someone DOES Object During a Wedding and Where Did This Practice Come From? 16:37 What Happens if You Commit a Crime Aboard an Aircraft or in International Waters? 32:25 What Happened When You Give a Homeless Person $100,000 43:08 What Happens If a Cemetery Goes Under? 48:39 What Exactly Happens to Animals Swallowed Alive and Do Any Animals Ever Get Out Alive After? 1:00:25 What Happens if You Accidentally Damage or Destroy a Priceless Work of Art in a Museum? 1:09:49 What Happens When a Town Votes For a Dog or Cat to Be Mayor? 1:15:25 What Really Happens When Someone Enters the Witness Protection Program 1:19:59 What Happens When You Stick Your Head Into a Particle Accelerator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • The Surprisingly Heartwarming Ending to That Time Japan Invaded the United States' Mainland

    The Surprisingly Heartwarming Ending to That Time Japan Invaded the United States' Mainland
    May 14 2026
    Discover the untold story of WWII's Lookout Air Raids—Japan’s daring bombing of U.S. soil—and the unexpected journey from fear and devastation to forgiveness and reconciliation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 mins
  • The Incredible Worst Gun of WWII

    The Incredible Worst Gun of WWII
    May 13 2026
    There are countless bizarre guns that have been created since humans began gunning, but few are as bad, or as famous and widely produced, as one in WWII produced with the hope of equipping insurgents against their German overlords. This is the story of the worst gun of WWII The Second World War was by far the deadliest and most destructive conflict in modern history in part as it saw the combat debut of dozens of legendary weapons, from the American M1 Garand (or Gare-und if you want to pronounce it like the original designer pronounced his name instead of how most say it today) - the first self-loading combat rifle to be issued as standard in any Army; to the Soviet PPSh-41 and PPS-43 - simple but reliable submachine guns greatly prized and feared for their blistering rate of fire; then there was the German Stg-44 Sturmgewehr, the ancestor of the modern assault rifle. But not all weapons developed during the conflict were so iconic or effective. Some were downright questionable, and none more so than the American FP-45 Liberator, an alarmingly crude single-shot, smoothbore pistol made entirely of cheap metal stampings. Yet despite looking like a cross between a children’s toy and a petty criminal’s homemade zip gun, a whopping one million Liberators were manufactured in only eleven weeks - a herculean feat of wartime production. Here now is the fascinating story of the Liberator, WWII’s strangest gun. Author: Gilles Messier Editor/Host: Daven Hiskey Producer: Samuel Avila Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    25 mins
  • The Lamentable Laugh Track and Who Invented It

    The Lamentable Laugh Track and Who Invented It
    May 12 2026
    The laugh track: a bizarre, reviled, yet oddly influential piece of television history. How did it rise, why did it fall, and—most importantly—did it ever actually work? Let’s find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • The Gruesome Tale of Burke and Hare

    The Gruesome Tale of Burke and Hare
    May 11 2026
    ⁠In this episode of The Brain Food Show, we begin by discussing a random quick fact involving the curious old practice of mailing children. Next we move into the main content for today’s episode which is the gruesome tale of William Burke and William Hare and their year long murder spree. Moving on from that, we look at a man who decided to raise his son as a native speaker of Klingon and how that all worked out… Then briefly we touch on whether it’s actually true that kids learn languages faster than adults. *Note: the clip of Alec singing the Klingon Anthem is no longer available online anymore, but you can ⁠hear it sung here if you’re curious⁠. On another note, if you could do us a huge favor and rate and review this show in whatever podcasting platform you’re using (including hopefully giving us some feedback related to the new format), we would be extremely grateful. Thanks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • How the Swiss Stayed Neutral, the Near Disaster Surrender Flight, and More (Stories of WWII Part 4)

    How the Swiss Stayed Neutral, the Near Disaster Surrender Flight, and More (Stories of WWII Part 4)
    May 8 2026
    In today's episode, we're looking at how Switzerland managed to remain neutral with WWI and WWII raging around them, how Germany was so successful at the start of WWII against vastly superior numbers, the forgotten harrowing peace flight that nearly torpedoed the Japanese surrender, and much more! 0:00 How Switzerland Managed to Remain Neutral with WWI and WWII Raging Around Them 16:09 How was the German Army so Successful at the Start of WWII Against Vastly Superior Numbers? 51:22 The Forgotten Harrowing, Near Disaster Japanese Surrender Flight That Ended WWII 1:11:55 How on Earth Did Winston Churchill Lose the Election Directly Following Germany’s Defeat? 1:36:07 How WWII Made Everybody Think Carrots Were Good for Eyes and Why It Didn’t Really Have to Do With Tricking the Germans 1:44:37 The Steampunk Flight Simulator That Helped Win WWII 1:58:19 Could the Allies Really Have Crushed Germany Right at the Start of WWII 2:10:19 Gravy Stockings and TNT Hair Dye: The Fascinating Fashions of WW2 2:19:27 That One Time a Parachuting Soldier Took Down a Zero Fighter Plane With Nothing but a Handgun 2:25:47 The Red Devil: The Only Axis Prisoner to Escape from North America And Make It Back to Germany 2:39:32 A Tale of Two Brothers- The Devil and the Absolute Legend 2:48:51 The Forgotten Pearl Harbor Before Pearl Harbor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    3 hrs and 10 mins
  • Introducing: No Such Thing

    Introducing: No Such Thing
    May 7 2026
    I'm excited to share a preview of a new podcast we think you’d enjoy: No Such Thing No Such Thing is a show where three best friends and journalists settle their dumb arguments — and yours — by actually doing the research. Hosts Manny Fidel, Noah Friedman, and Devan Joseph start each episode with an argument using just their gut feelings. Then they go out into the world, investigate, talk to experts, and conduct some experiments. Finally, the guys bring their findings back to the group to see if they can change minds, enlighten each other, and move past their emotional truths. Find No Such Thing on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. New episodes out Wednesdays Listen here: No Such Thing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    15 mins