Things I Learned Last Night Podcast
1) Sarma Melngailis | He Told Her He'd Make Her Dog Immortal
The story of Sarma Melngailis is one of ambition, success, and a shocking scam that pulled her entire world apart. It begins with a bold dream in New York City and ends with a cross-country chase, unp...Show More
2) Bat Bombs | The Atom Bomb Saved Thousands of Bats
The bat bomb was one of the most unusual ideas to emerge from the World War II era. It mixed wildlife, explosive science, and creative military strategy. This unusual weapon did not gain fame, yet it ...Show More
3) How XI Jinping Took Control of China
For decades, China has stood as one of the most powerful nations on earth. At the center of that rise stands one man, Xi Jinping. His story isn’t just about politics; it’s about power, control, and th...Show More
4) Lydia Fairchild | This Mom's DNA Didn't Match Her Kids
When Lydia Fairchild applied for child support in 2002, she thought it was a routine process. She was a young mother of two, pregnant with her third child, and wanted to ensure help from her children’...Show More
5) The Roofman | Lived in Toys R Us for a Year
In the late 1990s, a man named Jeffrey Allen Manchester earned a strange nickname: the Roofman. His crime spree would go down as one of the most unusual and oddly polite series of robberies in America...Show More
6) The True Story Behind Moneyball
When most people think of baseball legends, they imagine home runs, golden gloves, and towering trophies. But Billy Beane became a legend not because of his swing—but because of his brain. The story b...Show More
7) Theo Albrecht | How Aldi's Founder Got Kidnapped
In 1971, the unthinkable happened. Theo Albrecht was kidnapped outside his office in Germany. The crime was led by Heinz Joachim Ollenburg, a dishonest lawyer with a gambling problem, and an accomplic...Show More
8) Rafael Perez | The Time Aliens Possessed a Pilot
In 1976, a student pilot named Rafael Perez took off on what was supposed to be a simple solo flight from Mexico City. The plan was to circle a nearby lake, make a brief landing in an open field, and ...Show More
9) D.A.R.E | The Truth About Dare and Drugs
The 1980s and 1990s were filled with slogans warning kids to “just say no.” At the center of this effort was the Dare program, a nationwide campaign that claimed to stop young people from falling into...Show More
10) The Shaggs | This Is the Worst Band Ever
Some stories in music history are stranger than fiction. The rise of The Shaggs is one of them. What started as a father’s obsession with a palm reading became a band often labeled the worst band ever...Show More