Episodes

  • 99: Survivor Season 1; Or, Immunity Service (Classic)

    99: Survivor Season 1; Or, Immunity Service (Classic)
    Sep 3 2024
    Most people would probably say “Yes” immediately if someone agreed to pay them a million dollars for spending time on an island. But what if you had to undergo challenges like eating beetle larvae, and be judged by a jury of your peers in order to get the money? Oh, also, finding a place to poop is not fun. That may not sound like your ideal vacation, but to the first-season contestants on Survivor, that was their reality for the 39-day duration of the show. And to the millions of people who were glued to the screen, they witnessed a seminal moment of television that helped define a genre and has continued to this day.Ray teaches Rob about the first season of Survivor and how its creators and producers, Charlie Parsons and Mark Burnett, made their dream reality show an actual reality; why psychologists are essential to the casting of the show; Ray’s deep love for Mr. Jeff Probst, the show’s legendary host; moments of the first season that have become part of Survivor canon; the strong personalities that made up the show’s original sixteen-person cast; and how Survivor has innovated on its formula since the first season.If you like what we’re doing, please support us on Patreon, or you can subscribe to our bonus content on Apple Podcasts. And we’d love to find even more listeners, so if you have time, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you have any other thoughts or feedback you’d like to share with us, we’d love to hear from you - feel free to email us or send us a message on social media.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaEPISODE CLIPSSue’s Famous Rat and Snake speechSurvivor Borneo Rudy Likes Rich Not in a Homosexual waySurvivor Borneo in 19 Minutes!Survivor 1 Borneo Opening Credits High QualityADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS“Happy Bee"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro
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    1 hr
  • 114: B.F. Skinner; Or, Thinking Inside the Box (Classic)

    114: B.F. Skinner; Or, Thinking Inside the Box (Classic)
    Aug 20 2024
    Have you ever tried to build a new habit? Ever find yourself reaching for your phone even when it’s not in your pocket? Ever thought about whether free will actually exists? Yeah, that last one got deep, but that’s just how we roll here at This Was A Thing. Because this week, we’re talking all about a man who devoted his life to studying whether or not humans have a say in how they behave. His conclusion? We’re all pretty much rats pressing levers. Daniel teaches Ray and Rob about B.F. Skinner, the psychologist, writer, and inventor whose ideas about free will and shaping behaviors made him famous and infamous; how Skinner bucked the trend of Pavlov and Freud to try to take a quantitative and objective approach to sudying human behavior; Skinner’s belief that pigeons could be the next big thing in missile technology; why Skinner’s book Beyond Freedom and Dignity earned him a spot on Noam Chomsky’s sh*& list; the real origin story of Splinter from TMNT; and how B.F. Skinner continues to influence everything from modern psychology to teaching technologies.If you like what we’re doing, please support us on Patreon, or you can subscribe to our bonus content on Apple Podcasts. And we’d love to find even more listeners, so if you have time, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you have any other thoughts or feedback you’d like to share with us, we’d love to hear from you - feel free to email us or send us a message on social media. TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergNatalie DeSaviaARTICLES, BOOKS, AND ADDITIONAL LINKSPreschoolers: Box-Bred Babies - TIMEBABY IN A BOX (Article by BF Skinner)The First Baby Tender“Skinner Air Crib” Article by Nick Joyce and Cathy FayeI was not a lab rat | Deborah Skinner Buzan | The GuardianB. F. Skinner | Department of PsychologyA Science Odyssey: People and Discoveries: B.F. SkinnerB. F. Skinner (1904–1990) | Mount Auburn CemeteryB. F. Skinner: Biography of the Influential Behaviorist Skinner’s Operant Conditioning: Rewards & PunishmentsB.F. Skinner | Biography, Facts, & Contributions | Britannica100 years of B.F. SkinnerB.F. Skinner: The Man Who Taught Pigeons to Play Ping-Pong and Rats to Pull Levers | Science| Smithsonian MagazineOperant Conditioning In Psychology: B.F. Skinner TheorySkinner Box: What Is an Operant Conditioning Chamber?Classics in the History of Psychology – Skinner (1948) Episode 21: Being BF Skinner’s Daughter: Deborah Buzan Dispels The Myths - Annie Grossman, Dog TrainerWatch B.F. Skinner: A Fresh Appraisal | Prime VideoProject Pigeon - WikipediaEPISODE CLIPSJim’s Best Pranks Against Dwight - The Office USAn Interview with BF Skinner, 1971B. F. Skinner: A Fresh Appraisal With Murray Sidman, Ph.D.BF Skinner Foundation - Pigeon Ping Pong ClipADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS“This Was A Thing” Theme Songs composed by Billy Recce“Happy Bee” and “Big Rock” • Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • 73: Howard Johnson's; Or, Get Your Licks on Route 66 (Classic)

    73: Howard Johnson's; Or, Get Your Licks on Route 66 (Classic)
    Aug 13 2024

    If you’ve ever ordered at a chain restaurant, then you know the homey feeling of knowing you’re about to eat the exact same meal as you could get at any other location. And even though the Golden Arches or a pair of red braids and freckles are some of the most recognizable franchise mascots today, if we flashback to the mid-1900s, then Simple Simon and the Pieman would’ve been just as recognizable as those other icons. Why? Because if you wanted a tasty clam belly, a delicious sundae, or to snag a couple of ZZZs, then there was one only one chain that fit the bill.

    Rob teaches Ray about how the eponymous Mr. Johnson went from owning one small Massachusetts eatery, to running a national network of restaurants and lodges; why we can thank Eugene O’Neill for HoJo’s original boost in popularity; Jacques Pepin’s contribution to the franchise’s legacy; some unexpected controversies at HoJo’s; and how, even after the HoJo’s brand sank into obscurity, it still has a physical and cultural impact in today’s world.

    If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.

    TEAM

    Ray Hebel

    Robert W. Schneider

    Mark Schroeder

    Billy Recce

    Daniel Schwartzberg

    Gabe Crawford

    Natalie DeSavia

    EPISODE CLIPS

    Howard Johnson’s Commercial 1962

    Chef Jacques Pépin on working at Howard Johnson’s and his experiences on the American food scene

    HOWARD JOHNSON RESTURANT

    1970 Howard Johnson’s Animated Commercial #2

    Howard Johnson Restaurants This Is Howard Johnson Today 1988 TV Commercial HD

    ADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS

    “Happy Bee” and “Happy Boy End Theme”

    • Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

    • Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro
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    44 mins
  • 65: Crazy Eddie; Or, This Tax Fraud Is Insane! (Classic)

    65: Crazy Eddie; Or, This Tax Fraud Is Insane! (Classic)
    Aug 6 2024
    Are you looking for a story that is 100% guaranteed to blow your mind? A true crime tale that'll leave you wondering how crooks got away with it for so long in the first place? Well, hold on to your girdle, because this one's a doozy. It's got everything: insurance scams, fake passports, an undercover sting operation, Israeli really bank accounts, and huge sales on some of the best TVs and VCRs around (sales tax not included). Best of all, you can listen to this story for the low, low price of FREE! Now that price is insane! Ray teaches Rob about how a mom-and-pop consumer electronics store went from being a tri-state curiosity to a national sensation; who the real man is behind all those infamous ads; why having a CPA in the family comes in handy when you're committing tax fraud; and why building an empire on a foundation of shady financials and skimming off the top probably isn't the best business model.If you like what we are doing, please support us on Patreon.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaWEBSITEWhite Collar Fraud ARTICLESMental FlossNew York Times - 1985New York Times - 2016 (1)New York Times - 2016 (2)New YorkerNJ.comWashington PostEPISODE CLIPS1987 Crazy Eddie CommercialCrazy Eddie 'Insane!' Commercial (NY, 1978)Classic Crazy Eddie Commercial 'Bathroom DooWop' (1977-1979)Crazy Eddie Commercials and Bloopers 1980's1972 Crazy Eddie Radio Commercial for Brooklyn storeThe Biggest Retail Fraud In American History - Masterminds - Crazy Eddie - Eddie Antar DocumentaryCrazy Eddie Fever commercial 1978Crazy Eddie Antar and His CFO/CPA Cousin Sam Antar Meet for first time in 30 YearsADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS"Happy Bee"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro
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    54 mins
  • 109: The Easy-Bake Oven; Or, Burning Down the House (Classic)

    109: The Easy-Bake Oven; Or, Burning Down the House (Classic)
    Jul 30 2024
    We're busy behind the scenes here putting together a whole new batch episodes for the upcoming year, so while we do that, have a tasty, bite-sized treat on us - a chance to listen back to our episode all about the world's favorite mini-oven!~~~Happy holidays, listeners! We’ve got a delectable episode for you today, featuring a toy that has been a household staple for more than 60 years and is still going strong. In fact, it would be just the thing if you’re looking for some help with holiday baking, as long as you don’t mind your baked goods being on the miniature side…and possibly losing a finger or two in the process… Daniel teaches Ray and Rob about the Easy-Bake Oven’s origins at the renowned toy company Kenner Products; how New York pretzel vendors played an essential role in providing inspiration for the product; all the different ways the word “cookies” can be pronounced; the battle to make a version of the Easy-Bake that wasn’t explicitly marketed for girls; and how this kitchen toy has influenced everyone from amateur bakers to professional chefs and which, despite its ups and downs, remains one of the most fondly remembered toys of all time.If you like what we’re doing, please support us on Patreon, or you can subscribe to our bonus content on Apple Podcasts. And we’d love to find even more listeners, so if you have time, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you have any other thoughts or feedback you’d like to share with us, we’d love to hear from you - feel free to email us or send us a message on social media. TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergGabe CrawfordNatalie DeSaviaARTICLES“How Easy-Bake Ovens Work” by Nathan ChandlerEasy-Bake Evolution: 50 Years of Cakes, Cookies, and Gender Politics | Collectors WeeklyLight Bulb Baking: A History of the Easy-Bake Oven“Easy-Bake Oven Gourmet” by David HoffmanEasy-Bake Oven: Ronald Howes (Toy Stories)National Easy-Bake Oven DayInformation about the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007)Original Easy-Bake Oven PatentEasy-Bake Oven - The Strong National Museum of PlayNew Easy-Bake Oven Recall Following Partial Finger Amputation; Consumers Urged to Return Toy OvensEasy-Bake Oven enters Toy Hall of FameMcKenna Pope’s CampaignMcKenna Pope’s Change.org PetitionThe Untold History of the Easy-Bake OvenEPISODE CLIPSEasy-Bake Oven Commercial (1963)Jim’s Red Book: Easy Bake Oven CommercialQueasy Bake Cookerator “Mud & Crud Cakes” Commercial (2002)Easy-Bake Oven Recall Retrofit KitEasy Bake Oven for Boys: Girl, 13, Helps Transform Easy-Bake Oven Into Unisex ToyA Cameo Appearance From the Easy-Bake OvenEasy-Bake Ultimate Oven Commercial (2011)ADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS“Happy Bee” and “Jingle Bells”• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro
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    49 mins
  • 62: Murphy Brown vs Dan Quayle; Or, This Guy Was No Jack Kennedy (Classic)

    62: Murphy Brown vs Dan Quayle; Or, This Guy Was No Jack Kennedy (Classic)
    Jul 23 2024
    If you turn back the clocks to the early 90s, it would be impossible to avoid all the late night jokes about Vice President Dan Quayle. Likewise, if you followed the 90s TV scene, you couldn't miss the fact that Candice Bergen was raking in the Emmys for her role as the titular Murphy Brown on CBS. So when two media behemoths like that unexpectedly went head-to-head, it was bound to be a battle for the ages...Rob teaches Ray about Dan Quayle's life and career, and his sudden rise to prominence as the running mate of George H. Dubya Bush; how the Republican decision to focus more heavily on "traditional family values" emerged partly as an attack against Bill and Hillary Clinton; when spelling really does matter; why the V.P.'s condemnation of single mother families in general, and Murphy Brown in particular, brought him such a backlash; and how the outrage stirred up by this clash of cultural titans continues to this day.If you turn back the clocks to the early 90s, it would be impossible to avoid all the late night jokes about Vice President Dan Quayle. Likewise, if you followed the 90s TV scene, you couldn't miss the fact that Candice Bergen was raking in the Emmys for her role as the titular Murphy Brown on CBS. So when two media behemoths like that unexpectedly went head-to-head, it was bound to be a battle for the ages...Rob teaches Ray about Dan Quayle's life and career, and his sudden rise to prominence as the running mate of George H. Dubya Bush; how the Republican decision to focus more heavily on "traditional family values" emerged partly as an attack against Bill and Hillary Clinton; when spelling really does matter; why the V.P.'s condemnation of single mother families in general, and Murphy Brown in particular, brought him such a backlash; and how the outrage stirred up by this clash of cultural titans continues to this day.If you like what we’re doing, please support us on Patreon, or you can subscribe to our bonus content on Apple Podcasts. And we’d love to find even more listeners, so if you have time, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you have any other thoughts or feedback you’d like to share with us, we’d love to hear from you - feel free to email us or send us a message on social media.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergNatalie DeSaviaEPISODE CLIPS“You’re No Jack Kennedy” Clip From Bentsen-Quayle DebateMurphy Brown on “Family Guy”Bill & Hillary Clinton Interview ClipDan Quayle’s Comments Against Murphy Brown in San FranciscoMurphy Brown Response to Quayle’s CommentsCandace Bergen Reflecting on Conflict with Dan QuayleRESOURCES & ARTICLESKnott, Stephen, et al. “George H. W. Bush: Campaigns and Elections.” Miller Center, 1 Aug. 2017, millercenter.org/president/bush/campaigns-and-elections.“The Republicans: The Quyale Quagmire.” Internet Archive: Wayback Machine, archive.org/web/.“Bush Wanted Quayle Off ’92 Ticket but Refused to Push Him, Book Says.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 1994, www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994–10–16-mn-51115-story.html.“Valuing Families: Opinion: The Harvard Crimson.” Opinion | The Harvard Crimson, www.thecrimson.com/article/1993/4/27/valuing-families-pbobn-monday-night-of/.Chavez, Tim. “DQ-TV Is Now on the Air.” The Oklahoman, Oklahoman, 31 May 1992, www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1992/05/31/dq-tv-is-now-on-the-air/62491590007/.Gajanan, Mahita. “How the Original ‘Murphy Brown’ Caused Controversy.” Time, Time, 27 Sept. 2018, time.com/5405100/murphy-brown-cultural-importance-reboot/.Fortin, Jacey. “That Time ‘Murphy Brown’ and Dan Quayle Topped the Front Page.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 Jan. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/01/26/arts/television/murphy-brown-dan-quayle.html.Murphy Brown, Motherhood, and “Family Values” - Jstor Daily. daily.jstor.org/murphy-brown-motherhood-and-family-values/.Alan Carter Updated May 15, 1992 at 04:00 AM EDT. “’Murphy Brown’ Interview.” EW.com, ew.com/article/1992/05/15/murphy-brown-interview/.Weinraub, Bernard. “The Talk of Hollywood; after Months of Political Attack, the ‘Cultural Elite’ Fires Back.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 Sept. 1992, www.nytimes.com/1992/09/01/arts/talk-hollywood-after-months-political-attack-cultural-elite-fires-back.html.BuzzFeed News, and ErikaNeddenien. “We Tracked down the Kid Vice President Dan Quayle Made Misspell ‘Potato.’” BuzzFeed News, BuzzFeed News, 12 Sept. 2019, www.buzzfeednews.com/article/buzzfeednews/dan-quayle-potato-spelling.“Hollins Digital Commons.” Site, digitalcommons.hollins.edu/.ADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS“This Was A Thing” Theme Songs composed by Billy Recce“Happy Bee”• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/...
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    51 mins
  • 121: First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Force; Or, Fly, Film, Win!

    121: First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Force; Or, Fly, Film, Win!
    Jul 17 2024
    If you’ve ever fallen into the YouTube rabbit hole of corporate training videos, then you’re our kind of listener. We could (and probably should) do a whole episode just about the glorious world of schlocky and cheesy company-produced entertainment intended to get employees the information they need - and with style! And as America prepared to enter World War II, hundreds of thousands of troops needed to quickly learn essential topics about everything from Japanese fighter planes to the perks of being an airman. What better way to teach them than to show them a movie?Ray teaches Rob and Daniel about the origin of a special unit of the U.S. armed forces dedicated solely to producing films to help instruct and entertain the troops of WWII; how big names like Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, and even future president Ronald Reagan all got involved with these films; why the animation department became an essential part of illustrating concepts to troops; how “Little Rascals” producer Hal Roach played a pivotal role in the story of this regiment; and the prolific output of this unit that made it one of the most talked-about entertainment of its day.If you like what we’re doing, please support us on Patreon, or you can subscribe to our bonus content on Apple Podcasts. And we’d love to find even more listeners, so if you have time, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you have any other thoughts or feedback you’d like to share with us, we’d love to hear from you - feel free to email us or send us a message on social media. Thank you as always for your support, and if you have any thoughts or feedback you’d like to share with us, we’d love to hear from you - feel free to send us a message on social media! And we’d love to find even more listeners, so if you have a second, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergNatalie DeSaviaARTICLESEPISODE CLIPS“Winning Your Wings" With Jimmy StewartMilitary Film Bloopers U.S. Army First Motion Picture Unit 58324ADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS“This Was A Thing” Theme Songs composed by Billy Recce“Happy Bee”• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 120: The Death of Dorothy Kilgallen; Or, Silencing the Voice of Broadway

    120: The Death of Dorothy Kilgallen; Or, Silencing the Voice of Broadway
    Jul 3 2024
    This week, we’re celebrating a very important birthday here at This Was A Thing. No, not that one involving declarations of independence and tea taxes (although we do love spilling tea) - this July 3rd would have been the 111th birthday of Dorothy Kilgallen, one of the most recognized reporters and celebrities of the early 20th century. But in addition to a life filled with notable accomplishments, what might have made Dorothy most remembered in the history books was her death - because it happened in a very strange and unexpected manner…Rob teaches Ray and Daniel about the life, career, and mysterious death of journalist and TV personality Dorothy Kilgallen; her popular column all about Broadway’s happenings on and offstage; Dorothy’s long-running gig as a celebrity panelist on the game show “What’s My Line?”; Dorothy’s reporting on politics and crime; why she took an interest in the assassination of John F. Kennedy and her interviews with Jack Ruby; the suspicious circumstances around Dorothy’s sudden death; and why people are still trying to answer the question: did Dorothy Kilgallen really die, or was she killed for knowing too much?If you like what we’re doing, please support us on Patreon, or you can subscribe to our bonus content on Apple Podcasts. And we’d love to find even more listeners, so if you have time, please leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And if you have any other thoughts or feedback you’d like to share with us, we’d love to hear from you - feel free to email us or send us a message on social media.TEAMRay HebelRobert W. SchneiderMark SchroederBilly RecceDaniel SchwartzbergNatalie DeSaviaEPISODE CLIPSPerson to Person - Dorothy Kilgallen & Dick Kollmar (1956)My Top 10 Dorothy Kilgallen’s Moments on What’s My line“What’s My Line?” - Tribute to Dorothy KilgallenADDITIONAL MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS“This Was A Thing” Theme Songs composed by Billy Recce“Happy Bee” and "George Street Shuffle"• Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)• Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Additional Sound Effects from Final Cut Pro, iLife, and Logic Pro
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    58 mins