Episodes

  • The Secret Life of Things: The Tale of the Umbrella

    The Secret Life of Things: The Tale of the Umbrella
    Dec 19 2025
    From royal parasols in ancient Egypt to everyday rain shields on city streets, the umbrella has carried centuries of symbolism and transformation. In this episode of The Secret Life of Things, we trace its journey from a mark of divine power and social status to the practical companion we snap open today. Discover how this simple canopy reveals a surprisingly rich cultural history.

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    3 mins
  • The Secret Life of Things: The Refrigerator Magnet

    The Secret Life of Things: The Refrigerator Magnet
    Dec 5 2025
    The refrigerator magnet: ubiquitous, silent, and essential. Join us as we uncover the surprising history, the science of its stickiness, and how this simple souvenir became the most vital communication hub in the modern home, documenting the beautiful, chaotic life of the family.

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    4 mins
  • The Secret Life of Things: High Heels

    The Secret Life of Things: High Heels
    Nov 30 2025
    High heels weren't always for women. Trace the heel's dramatic journey from 10th-century Persian battlefields to 17th-century European courts. We explore how this simple piece of footwear became a definitive, and sometimes demanding, uniform of modern femininity.

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    5 mins
  • The Tea Bag: The Accidental Delivery Method

    The Tea Bag: The Accidental Delivery Method
    Nov 29 2025
    This episode of The Secret Life of Things unveils the true, accidental origin of the tea bag. It tells the story of early 20th-century tea merchant Thomas Sullivan, who sent samples of loose-leaf tea in small, cost-saving silk bags. However, his customers, mistaking the packaging for the proper brewing method, steeped the entire pouch, inadvertently inventing one of the most convenient staples of the modern kitchen.

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    3 mins