Best Typeface Podcasts (2025)

1
Times New Roman, A 1930s Typeface, Is Still A Top Font In The 21st Century 3:28

Play Pause

4h ago3:28

3:28

Today in 1932, the London newspaper The Times published its first edition with a brand new typeface: Times New Roman. And it's been a big deal ever since, even in the computer age. Plus: today in 2023, the end of a very long era for a book club in southern California. Where Did Times New Roman Come From? (New York Public Library) 28 years ago, a bo…

1
The Furby Fad Of The 1990s Briefly Became A National Security Concern 3:20

1h ago3:20

3:20

Today in 1998, the debut of the Furby. This 90s phenomenon became so popular that it actually raised some concerns in the national security community. Plus: if you’re into toys cars, then you may want to head to the Matchbox Road Museum in Newfield, New Jersey. How Old Is Your Furby? (Computer History Museum) New Jersey’s Matchbox Road Museum Is Di…

1
Smith Island Cake Is Maryland’s Official State Dessert 3:03

11m ago3:03

3:03

Today in 2008, the state of Maryland formally recognized Smith Island Cake as its official state dessert. It’s yellow cake and chocolate frosting in layers and layers and layers. Plus: for inspiration on this National Homemade Cookies Day, you might try the cookie recipe that's inscribed on a gravestone in Brooklyn. Maryland's Smith Island Cake Has…

1
How William Wrigley Went From Soap Guy To Baking Powder Guy To Chewing Gum Giant And Baseball Owner 3:15

5h ago3:15

3:15

Today in 1861, the birthday of William Wrigley, Jr., who made a huge fortune selling a small product: chewing gum. But that wasn't originally the way he expected to make it big. Plus: a man driving home from a workout has a massive heart attack, but fortunately he crashed in front of a cardiologist's office. How Wrigley Chewed Its Way to Gum Greatn…

1
Önneköp Is A Micronation In Sweden That Celebrates “Cuckoo-Coffee” 3:14

4d ago3:14

3:14

Today is National Coffee Day, and there is a micronation in Sweden that has a cup of coffee on its flag, along with a cuckoo bird. Which should tell you that this is no ordinary place. Plus: a Chinese cafe chain makes a splash with a drink called Sweet Little Rain. Önneköp (Arnold’s Cannibal Museum) Republic of Önneköp (Atlas Obscura) Magical Cup o…

1
Pizza Week: The Pizza And Pipe Organ Connection 2:38

5d ago2:38

2:38

This week we're replaying some of our favorite pizza-themed episodes. In this episode from April 2019, a visit to Organ Piper Pizza, a restaurant just outside Milwaukee with a giant pipe organ. Plus: police in respond to reports of a man on a train, sharpening a big carving knife. Turns out it was just a professional ham cutter on his way to work. …

1
Pizza Week: Math Says You Get More Pizza With A Large Instead Of Two Mediums 2:32

5d ago2:32

2:32

This week we're replaying some of our favorite pizza-themed episodes. In this episode from January 2020, a bold group of pizza researchers studies how to stretch your pizza budget to get the most pizza, and found that the answer is all about the geometry of circles. Plus: the Cocoa Press is a 3D printer for chocolate, freeing this popular dessert f…

1
Pizza Week: Detroit-Style Pizza Got Its Shape From Another Famous Detroit Industry 3:16

6d ago3:16

3:16

This week we're replaying some of our favorite pizza-themed episodes. In this episode from February 2022, the delicious history of Detroit-style pizza, which got an assist from something else the city is known for. Plus: students in Japan build a system using lasers to scan a birthday cake and then tell the server the exact angle to use to cut slic…

1
Pizza Week: Steve Jobs, The First Person To Order A Pizza Online 3:36

7d ago3:36

3:36

This week we're replaying some of our favorite pizza-themed episodes. In this episode from February 2023, the story of the first person to order a pizza on the internet, who also happened to be a giant in the tech world. Plus: Anchorage, Alaska hosts the annual Outhouse Races. AppStorey talks with Steve Green about Steve Jobs, The Smithsonian and h…

1
Pizza Week: How Chuck E. Cheese Became The World’s Top Animatronic Mouse Video Gamer And Pizza Restaurateur 3:12

8d ago3:12

3:12

This week we're replaying some of our favorite pizza-themed episodes. In this episode from May 2021, the inside story of Charles Entertainment Cheese (yes, that's his real name), the only mouse anyone ever wanted to see in a pizza place. Plus: the past meets the future in 1905, when a film crew documents the funeral of the last known veteran of the…

1
Nadia Sparkes Started Picking Up Litter On The Way To School And Became “Trash Girl” 3:01

11d ago3:01

3:01

National Cleanup Day is tomorrow, so we'll tell you about a young person in the UK who’s made pretty much every day a cleanup day: Nadia Sparkes, who’s now known as “Trash Girl.” Plus: starting tomorrow in Rapid City, South Dakota, it’s the Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival. 'Trash Girl' Nadia Sparkes moves schools over bullying (BBC) The Great Downt…

1
Muslims Pray Toward Mecca - Which Can Be A Challenge For Muslim Astronauts On A Space Station 3:23

12d ago3:23

3:23

There have been a number of Muslim astronauts, including one who went to the International Space Station today in 2006. Scholars and scientists have tried to figure out how to adapt religious traditions astronauts practice on Earth when they're spending time far above our home planet. Plus: today in 1981, a world record moment for the West Edmonton…

1
The Who’s American TV Debut Really Blew Up, Especially Keith Moon’s Drums 3:21

13d ago3:21

3:21

Today in 1967, The Who made their American TV debut, and it’s not an understatement to say that performance blew up. That’s just telling it like it is. Plus: New Haven, Connecticut may have held a world record-sized pizza party. The Who literally spark an explosion on national television (History.com) 'New Haven ah-beetz can’t be beat!': City says …

1
Why 90s Screen Savers Were Full Of Flying Toasters And Endless Mazes 3:16

14d ago3:16

3:16

For IT Professionals Day, the history of the screen saver, which was originally just supposed to keep monitors from getting overworked but eventually took on a whimsical style of their own. Plus: Warsaw, Poland is encouraging commuters to try something other than looking at their phones. Saving One Screen At A Time (Tedium) Warsaw opens metro stati…

1
We’ll Miss Maru, The Box-Obsessed Celebrity Internet Cat 3:28

19d ago3:28

3:28

Today we pay tribute to Maru the cat, one of web culture’s most beloved cats. YouTube cat fans and cardboard boxes will never be the same without him. Plus: today in 2015, a guy in Louisiana realizes he's in no condition to drive, so he finds a very different way home. The World Will Always Remember Maru (Neatorama) Drunk cowboy: 'Horse knows the w…

1
How Pink Floyd Got A Man On Fire Onto An Album Cover 3:01

18d ago3:01

3:01

Today in 1975, Pink Floyd released the album Wish You Were Here. It's a landmark both musically and visually, thanks to its cover featuring two men in suits are shaking hands… and one of them is on fire. Plus: starting tomorrow at the Nelson-Adkins Museum of Art, it’s the Kansas City Deaf Cultural Festival. The Story Behind Pink Floyd’s ‘Wish You W…

1
Roselle The Guide Dog Helped Her Human Get To Safety During The 9/11 Attacks 3:50

22d ago3:50

3:50

Today in 2001, as the world watched the horrific scene in lower Manhattan, and as those on scene faced all kinds of obstacles, a guide dog named Roselle stayed focused on her job, and helped her human get to safety. Michael Hingson (911Memorial.org)

1
Why Take A Bath Or A Shower When You Can Hop Into A “Human Washing Machine”? 3:13

20d ago3:13

3:13

We have baths and we have showers, but now a company in Japan is offering a pod that it says will wash and dry a person in about 15 minutes. Plus: today in 1881, a big first for Major League Baseball. Japan’s Innovative “Human Washing Machine” Can Clean up and Dry a Person in 15 Minutes (My Modern Met) Grondahl: Historian finds first grand slam in …

1
Teddy Bears Were Once The Big Threat To American Youth 3:01

22d ago3:01

3:01

It’s Teddy Bear Day. Kids of all kinds have loved and been loved by this OG stuffie, even if there was a time when Very Concerned People thought the teddy bear could imperil the nation’s future. Plus: a town in South Dakota used to be home to an enormous collection of teddies. The Teddy Bear Was Once Seen as a Dangerous Influence on Young Children …

1
Robert Coates, The Stage Actor Who Was So Terrible He Became A Legend 3:25

25d ago3:25

3:25

Today is Actors Day, and few actors have left an impression like Robert "Romeo" Coates, who was sort of the Florence Foster Jenkins of English stage stars. Plus: today in 2022, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II of England, which triggered a very old custom of notifying the royal bees. The Amateur of Fashion: Robert "Romeo" Coates (Folger Shakespear…

1
Sports Get Wild Week: Maryland’s Official State Sport Is Jousting 2:55

25d ago2:55

2:55

This week we're replaying some of our favorite episodes when the world of sports went off course. In this episode from March 2021, Maryland was the first state to adopt an official state sport, and that official state sport is jousting. Plus: a woman in New York does “space clearing,” which removes the negative energy from a home that won't sell. A…

1
Sports Get Wild Week: “Steady” Ed Headrick, the “Father of Disc Golf” 2:46

26d ago2:46

2:46

This week we're replaying some of our favorite episodes when the world of sports went off course. In this episode from June 2021, the story of a guy who took two sports and fused them into one: Ed Headrick, known today as the Father of Disc Golf. Plus: an exhibit highlights the original rainbow Pride flag, the one Gilbert Baker designed for San Fra…

1
Sports Get Wild Week: The Time A Golfer Won The US Open While Suffering From Dysentery 3:32

27d ago3:32

3:32

This week we're replaying some of our favorite episodes when the world of sports went off course. In this episode from June 2021, the winner of the prestigious 1934 U.S. Open golf tournament was sick as a dog the whole time. And the winner wasn’t the only golfer who had an odd time at the event. Bobby Cruickshank – the war hero who became one of Sc…

1
Sports Get Wild Week: The Netherlands Turned Pole-Sitting Into A Competitive Sport 3:01

28d ago3:01

3:01

This week we're replaying some of our favorite episodes when the world of sports went off course. In this episode from January 2021, a look at how one of the popular fads of the 1920s was flagpole sitting. Plus: for National Bird Day, a look at the shoebill, a bird for the record books. St. Simeon Stylites (Britannica) In the Netherlands Sitting on…

1
Sports Get Wild Week: In The 1920s There Was A Footrace From Los Angeles To New York 3:05

1M ago3:05

3:05

This week we're replaying some of our favorite episodes when the world of sports went off course. In this episode from March 2021, about 200 runners in Los Angeles set out to run all the way to New York City. Plus: The Long Trail is a 272 mile hike through Vermont's Green Mountains, from the Massachusetts line to the border with Quebec. Endurance R…

1
Most School Buses Are Bright Yellow For Exactly The Reasons You’d Probably Expect 3:19

1M ago3:19

3:19

Kids in my town are headed back to school next week. The buses they use will be very similar to ones dating back to 1939, when a bunch of experts chose a bright shade of yellow as the standard school bus color. Plus: starting today in Tilburg, in the Netherlands, it’s the Redhead Days Festival. Why Are School Buses Yellow? (HowStuffWorks) Redhead D…

1
Before Humans Ever Went To Space, A Mom In France Tried Training Her Son To Be An Astronaut 3:07

1M ago3:07

3:07

Today, a report in the San Francisco Examiner about Paul Granveaud of France, who was training to become an astronaut. Two important notes here: the report came out in 1927, long before humans ever went to space, and Paul Granveaud was just six years old. Plus: starting tomorrow in Rollag, Minnesota, it’s the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reuni…

1
Inventor Becky Schroeder Had A Patent Before She Was A Teenager 3:01

1M ago3:01

3:01

Today in 1974, the US issued a patent to one Becky Schroeder, an extremely inventive kid. After all, not many of us have our very own patent at age twelve. Plus: starting this Friday in Indiana, it’s the Marshall County Blueberry Festival. Girl Finds Way to Write in Dark (New York Times) Marshall County Blueberry Festival Help our show glow as a ba…

1
Rip The Dog Helped Rescue Londoners From Bomb Damaged Buildings During The Blitz 3:20

1M ago3:20

3:20

It's National Dog Day, so let’s talk about a dog who definitely found a way to carry on during World War II: Rip the dog, who rescued Londoners from rubble after Nazi bombing raids. Plus: in Spartanburg, South Carolina there's a statue of Chaser, known as the "Smartest Dog In The World." Medal for Dog Rip, Who Saved 100 People, Fetches 24,250 Pound…

1
The Great Moon Hoax Showed Misinformation Spread In The 19th Century Much Like It Does Today 3:28

1M ago3:28

3:28

Today in 1835, the start of a six-part series in the New York Sun newspaper about fantastical creatures living on the moon. It wasn't true, but it was wildly popular. Plus: starting today, an auction of some rare US gold coins from the collection of an 80s rocker and avid collector. The Great Moon Hoax of 1835: The Birth of Fake News? (Interesting …

1
A Formerly Enslaved Man Roasted His Former Master In A Classic Letter 3:23

1M ago3:23

3:23

Today in 1865, newspapers published "Letter From A Freedman To His Old Master," Jordan Anderson's note perfect response to a guy who probably shouldn’t have written to him in the first place. Plus: starting today in Illinois, it’s the Dekalb Corn Fest. How did ex-slave's letter to master come to be? (Salt Lake Tribune via Conifer) Dekalb Corn Fest …

1
A Restaurant In Wisconsin Keeps Goats On The Roof 3:01

1M ago3:01

3:01

it’s World Goat Day, so we’re heading to a spot in Sister Bay, Wisconsin, where goats get to go on the roof. Plus: today in 2023, the start of a contest to find the laziest citizen in Montenegro. Why Are There Goats on the Roof at This Swedish Restaurant in Wisconsin? (Thrillist) Montenegrins vie for record in lying down contest (Reuters) Our Patre…

1
Isabel Morgan Unlocked The Mysteries Of Polio On The Road To A Vaccine 3:23

1M ago3:23

3:23

Today in 1911, the birthday of Isabel Morgan, a scientist and researcher whose breakthroughs in polio helped protect millions of kids from that terrible disease. Plus: Pixply is a digital game board that can change its layout depending on which game you want to play. Forging the Trail for Polio Vaccination: Isabel Morgan and Dorothy Horstmann (Amer…

1
Potatoes Have Made Their Contribution To World Peace 3:11

1M ago3:11

3:11

The potato’s influence stretches out well beyond French fries and tater tots. In fact, there was a study in 2017 that said the potato helped keep the peace in Europe for centuries. Plus: a Prince Edward Island town is home to the Canadian Potato Museum. Potatoes helped keep peace in Europe for hundreds of years (Earth.com) The Canadian Potato Museu…

1
Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” Was Partly Based On Real Bird Weirdness 3:24

1M ago3:24

3:24

Today in 1961, a news report in the Santa Cruz Sentinel about a strange bird event along the coast of California that ended up shaping an iconic movie about a strange bird event. Plus: this week in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, the King Coal Show. Here’s the real story behind Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’ (Popular Science) King Coal Association Back …

1
When Eating With A Fork Was Scandalous 3:08

2M ago3:08

3:08

It’s National Spork Day! The spork gets a lot of grief, but not as much as one of its parents used to get. At one time, eating with a fork was a scandal. Plus: Arcola, Illinois is home to a 62 foot long Hippie Memorial. FORKS (California Academy of Sciences) One and Only Hippie Memorial (Roadside America) Serve up more episodes of our show as a bac…

1
30: Building AiKA: Spotify’s AI Knowledge Assistant 38:38

2M ago38:38

38:38

Hear about the journey behind building Spotify’s AI knowledge assistant, aka AiKA — from hack projects to internal chatbot, to enterprise developer tool. While general purpose chatbots are being used everywhere, they often fall short when it comes to navigating company-specific information — like which internal policy applies to your team or where …

1
The Guy Who Officially Had The First Social Security Number 3:14

2M ago3:14

3:14

Today in 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. Americans who pay into the system and receive benefits have Social Security Numbers, so who had the first one? The answer is kind of strange. Plus: starting tomorrow in Indiana, it’s the Elwood Glass Festival. New Rochelle Man Was First Person to Get a Social Secur…

1
A Guy In Saudi Arabia Has Over 400 Video Game Consoles Connected To A Single TV 3:08

2M ago3:08

3:08

Today in 2024, Guinness announced a world record for most gaming consoles connected to a single TV, 444 in all. Here's how the record holder does it. Plus: this Friday at Georgia Tech University, it’s The Great Cardboard Boat Race. Guy Plugs A Record-Breaking 444 Video Game Consoles Into A Single TV (Kotaku) THE GREAT CARDBOARD BOAT RACE Connect wi…

1
“Drop Kick Me Jesus” Is Country Music’s “Christian-Football Waltz” 3:00

2M ago3:00

3:00

Today in 1938, the birthday of Paul Craft, an acclaimed songwriter and musician whose catalog includes probably the world’s best known religious country football song: “Drop Kick Me Jesus (Through The Goalposts Of Life).” Plus: starting this Friday in Glasgow, Scotland, it’s the World Pipe Band Championships. Drop Kick Me Jesus (Through The Goalpos…

1
A Fair In Washington State Is Famous For Its Spaceburgers 3:00

2M ago3:00

3:00

If you’re near Moses Lake, Washington in the next couple days, you can try an iconic fair food: the Spaceburger. Plus: today in 1911, Hawaii's Duke Kahanamoku breaks a world swimming record by so much that the athletic organizers can't quite believe it. History & Mysteries of the “Space Burger” in Moses Lake, WA (The Quake 102.1) Duke Kahanamoku (L…

1
Here’s A Robot That’s Learning To Make Us Pizzas 3:02

2M ago3:02

3:02

We've done a lot of shows about robots, and we've done a lot of shows about pizza. Now, we're doing a show about a robot that's learning to make pizza with help from a team at Virginia Tech. Plus: Baltimore is home to the world’s tallest five-sided building in which the sides are all equal length. But first, pizza: Team creates assistive robotics t…

1
The Winchester Mystery House Probably Wasn’t Built To Be Mysterious 3:53

2M ago3:53

3:53

Sarah Winchester's decades-long renovation project turned an eight-room farmhouse into hundreds of rooms, and sparked endless rumors that at least some of those rooms are haunted. Plus: starting tomorrow in Ohio, it’s the Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival. Everything you think you know about the Winchester Mystery House probably isn't true (SFGate) TOMA…

1
Campbell’s Soup Grew To Love Andy Warhol’s Soup Can Paintings, Just Maybe Not Right Away 3:07

2M ago3:07

3:07

Today in 1928, the birthday of Andy Warhol. He made a mark with his paintings of Campbell's Soup cans, though the company wasn’t immediately thrilled with his work. Plus: starting tomorrow in Indiana, it’s the Van Buren Popcorn Festival. Why Campbell Soup hated, then embraced, Andy Warhol’s soup can paintings (CNN) Van Buren Popcorn Festival If you…

1
The “ManhattAnt” Is New York City’s Very Own Ant Species 3:01

2M ago3:01

3:01

It's World Ant Day, so we’re looking at an ant species that got so comfortable living in New York City that it earned the nickname “ManhattAnt.” Plus: if you missed National Mustard Day over the weekend, check out a pizzeria in New Jersey known for making the "mustard pie." Scientists identified the ‘ManhattAnt’ — and they have theories on why it’s…

1
Brad Lewis Kept His Son Safe As They Both Fell Off A Balcony 3:09

2M ago3:09

3:09

Today in 2018, a dad in Sydney, Australia saw his kid in danger and put himself on the line to make sure that kid was safe. Here's his story. Plus: today in 1922, a very quiet moment in the history of telecommunications. Heroic father breaks skull leaping off 4m balcony to cushion son’s fall (News.com.au) Telephones Were Silenced for One Minute Aft…

1
“Illustrated Songs” Were Proto-Music Videos Almost A Century Before MTV 3:10

2M ago3:10

3:10

Today in 1981, the debut of MTV. It brought music videos to the mainstream, but it didn't invent them - in fact, there were proto-music videos almost a century before the cable channel first appeared. Plus: starting tomorrow in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the 4th Annual Youth Hoop Dance Championship. The Complete History of the Music Video: From the 1890…

1
One Of MGM’s Roaring Lions Lived A Life Even Stranger Than The Movies 3:12

2M ago3:12

3:12

Today in 1928, the debut of Leo, MGM's roaring lion. One of the lions that played Leo in the movies used up more than a few of its nine lives while traveling for the movie studio. Plus: starting today in Indiana, it’s the Jasper Strassenfest. Meet ‘Leo The Lucky’—The MGM Lion Who Cheated Death 6 Times (Forbes) Jasper Indiana Strassenfest Send a lit…

1
Ford Once Tried To Replace The Steering Wheel With A “Wrist Twist” System 3:12

2M ago3:12

3:12

Today in 1863, the birthday of Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company. The automaker has had a huge impact on the auto industry, but not all of its ideas worked out. Like the time it tried to reinvent the (steering) wheel. Plus: starting tomorrow in Brownstown, Indiana, it’s the Jackson County Watermelon Festival. Mercury “Wrist-Twist” Steer…

1
Bacteria Can Consume Used Plastic And Turn It Into Medicine 3:01

2M ago3:01

3:01

New research finds a way to take waste plastic that might end up in landfills and turn it into a common pain medicine. Plus: starting Friday in South Dakota, it's Clark Potato Days. Microbes transform plastic waste into paracetamol (University of Edinburgh) CLARK POTATO DAYS Our backers have transformed this show into what it is today, join them on…