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What? Explain Podcast

Bite-sized facts that demand to be explained further. Host Braden Thorvaldson provides bits of info

07/12/2023

Our teddy bear wrangler would like to announce that OH MY GOODNESS, WE ARE BACK!

And we even have a guest! The host of , joins Braden for another episode of What?! No YOU Explain. One of us talks about the underwhelming true story of The Lost Colony of Roanoke, while the other regales us with one of the gems of Canadian broadcasting: Big Brother Canada. Who tells what story? Is Gates’ BS meter as highly tuned as one claims it is? My god, we talked for an HOUR?! LISTEN AND FIND OUT THE ANSWERS!

04/04/2023

Hi all! It’s Braden, your host with the most! Still working away at what is coming next, including some things that I am very excited to announce, and they’re all within this fun little 9200 word document.

TLDR: things are coming! They are being made, and very sorry for the delays!

16/02/2023

ICYMI, our Valentine here at What?! Explain. would like to announce that Love and Cornflakes, our Valentines Day Special for this year, is live on all podcast apps!

We’re bringing two stories of love and lust, and with 100% less fossilized genitalia than last year. We’re sorry/you’re welcome.

Learn about the story and inspiration behind Für Elise, the work is Beethoven that he never intended to be published, as well as why the romantic potential of corn flakes was truly never realized.

There is a content warning here for improper use of yogurt. This may sound like a joke, but I assure you, it’s not. You may not look at dairy products as a whole in the same way again.

24/01/2023

ICYMI, Our pillow comfort specialist would like to announce that our latest episode, “The Good, The Bad, and The Furry” is live and ready to be downloaded!

Gather around for a collection of stories about man’s best friend in all its facets! We have dogs being good, dogs being adorable, and… well, dogs kind of being a bit of a jerk.

Let us know what you think of this collection!

06/01/2023

Our neighborhood watcher would like to announce that for this episode, Braden has given Craig and Sara the greatest gift he can: the episode off.

This is the fireside chat episode, where we all take a deep breath, sit down by a roaring fire or approximate digital equivalent, and just… relax.

It is also emphatically a bonus episode, so you don’t need to worry too much if you’re late on this one. The link is in my bio, so Happy New Year, and I hope you enjoy it!

02/01/2023

Our New Years Dog would like to announce that the social media person on this account is REAL behind, and we do in fact have a Christmas episode out!

It has all the things you expect from a What?! Explain. Christmas episode: friendship, a story of two literary titans, and how one of them putting Santa in his book almost caused a brawl between the two of them.

15/12/2022

We here at What?! Explain. would like to wish Pippa, our coworker of many hats, a very Happy 2nd Birthday! Here’s to many more!

09/12/2022

ICYMI, Our ductile merchandising co-ordinator would like to announce that episode 7 of our third season of What?! Explain. has released!

This is a story about a treasure of unusual proportions, hidden within a massive cavern in the center of the United States. A hoard brought together by the United States government over half a century ago, and still maintained to this day.

Curious at all? Listen to the show, and let us know what you think!

10/11/2022

Our office efficiency expert would like to announce that there's YET ANOTHER episode of What?! No, YOU Explain., and this time, we look to our own team! For the first time in front of the microphone on this show, it's the owner of a very soothing baritone, sound engineer extraordinaire, Craig Murdock!

This episode has two stories, both containing music and questionably earned military rank! I tell the story of Colonel Tom Parker, manager to the stars (or so he would say), and overall morally questionable man, while Craig regaled me with the story of the recording of Captain Beefheart's hit album Trout Mask Replica. It, uh... probably couldn't have been made today.

Then, as is tradition, the game of Two Truths and a Lie. Can the man who has literally heard the podcast more times than anyone else on the planet (he is our sound engineer, after all) figure out which is which?!

LISTEN AND FIND OUT!

27/10/2022

Our All Hallows Eve correspondent would like to announce that IT’S THE HALLOWEEN EPISODE OF WHAT?! EXPLAIN. We have yet another episode that I think may have topped our double episode last year. Craig, our audio engineer, has absolutely gone OFF this time, and I’m so excited for you all to hear this.

We have two stories for you this year: the first involving a woman determined to wield the forces of the supernatural against the criminal element, while the second involves a series of taxi drivers who picked up… unusual passengers.

Just a quick note: apparently there’s a bit of strange audio interference right at the beginning and end of the recording, so apologies in advance. I was trying out a new recording space, but couldn’t get over the feeling of being… watched somehow. But I hope you enjoy the episode, and let me know what you think!

13/10/2022

Our outdoor activity co-ordinator here at What?! Explain. would like to announce that It's ANOTHER episode of What?! No, YOU Explain., the show where Braden... TALKS TO OTHER PEOPLE?!

This episode, Braden welcomes podcaster, songwriter, guitarist, singer, and fellow interrobang (the ?!) enthusiast Nathan Iles ( )to the show!

Nathan is the co-host of Last Gen Arcade ( )where he and his fellow host Will Cowan go through history's favorite games and answer the age old question: how do your favorite games hold up?
As a result, he is now one of the world's foremost experts in both the history and the playing of Duke Nukem Forever (2011). The world is funny like that.
Because he does things in the real world, he is also part of Brain Bent (.bent ), a post punk/new wave band with a sinister, satirical edge.

We go down some rabbit holes on this episode, as Nathan brings a story of a haunted video game with a particular twist, and I share a story about an artifact so secretive that the Catholic Church has threatened anyone writing about it with excommunication. Luckily, this is a podcast, so I think I'm okay.

Then, the single most involved section of two truths and a lie that we have had YET on the show! Will Nathan's confidence in the overall cool-ness of Scandinavian countries be rewarded? What do Scandinavian countries have to do with this? LISTEN AND FIND OUT!

(There may be some cursing and mild blasphemy in this one, just a heads up!)

09/10/2022

Sometimes our employees need rest days as well. Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all our Canadian listeners, and to everyone else… Happy Sunday, and here’s a picture of an adorable cat!

02/10/2022

Our stair supervision specialists here at What?! Explain. would like to announce that our latest episode, “Eight Blocks in Manhattan” is live!

There's not many people that know of Wall Street that don't have an opinion on what it represents. Anchored within these eight blocks are financial houses and stock exchange that have billions of dollars flowing through them on a daily basis. It is well known that what happens on Wall Street has ripple effects all the way across the United States, and in some cases, the world.

However, the history of how this street came to be in an equally interesting story, steeped in blood, trade, questionable defensive fortifications, and a complete indifference to the surrounding ocean.

19/09/2022

ICYMI, our dual-core snooze specialists would like to announce that our spin-off of the main show continues, and this episode, I have on my dear friend and co-host of BLEEPIN' SPACE, JIM! ( a Twitch show where I find out the joys and horrors of Star Trek: The Original Series), Haley! ()

Haley is also the host of Nominated, a biweekly movie club podcast about every movie nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award. Every episode covers one year's nominated movies and at the end of each episode, Haley and her guest select their Best Picture. Do they agree with the Academy? Eh, about 50-50.

That being said, Haley will absolutely dive into an analysis and research the heck out of whichever movies were nominated for that year, and for the years in which the Academy nominated TEN movies... good lord. Nominated is absolutely worth a listen, and highly recommend it for any cinephile or anyone that just enjoys good analysis!

However, we also tend to feed off each other, so over the course of this episode, we cover the story of Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American Civil Rights activist whose LEAST exciting part of life was declining an Academy Award on Marlon Brando's behalf, drawing attention to the Wounded Knee occupation. Rapidly followed, of course, by my sharing the story of John Mytton, the one-man argument AGAINST the superiority of the British class system.

Finally, we go into two truths and a lie, where Haley tries to see if she can tell my very strange tidbits of facts from my artisanal crafted lies. You know how the game works. Does she succeed? Is there cursing? HOW IS THIS EPISODE THREE TIMES LONGER THAN SOME OF THE OTHER ONES?! Listen and find out!

01/09/2022

Our fancy apex predator expert here at What?! Explain. would like to announce that our fourth episode, Tires, Diners, and Drives is now out in the world for your listening pleasure!

This is a story of two organizations. One, a trusted name in automotive tires that has been around for over a century, and the other, a deeply secretive group that publishes fine dining guides that can make or break a chef’s career. These two groups share the same name: Michelin.

That has to be a coincidence, right?

…right?

TW: mention of su***de

Link to the story is in bio!

19/08/2022

Our sleep hygiene team here at What?! Explain. would like to announce that our newest episode, “The Gun Show” is live on all podcast feeds!

This is an episode of four… eccentric offshoots of traditional fi****ms: the world’s largest double-barreled cannon, the first rapid-fire artillery with one glaring error, a questionably disguised triple pistol, and of course, a gun exclusively made for telling the time.

Give us a listen and let us know what you think of our newest episode!

04/08/2022

Now for something completely different! Which of course, I mean that it’s quite similar to my regular format, I just have guests on.

The first episode of our spin-off show, What?! No, YOU Explain. is live on all your podcast feeds! It’s a show where I have friends, podcasters, and all sorts of interesting people on to share their interesting stories.

On this inaugural episode, I welcome my dear friend and fellow podcaster, Dawar.

Dawar is the host of a podcast/show called "A Conversation with a Friend", where he has various friends on to talk about their lives. He is a very insightful interviewer, and I have had the honor of being on his show in the past, so I was very happy to have him on the inaugural episode of What?! No, YOU Explain.

In this episode, we talk about the unlikely origin of Febreze, how the CIA managed to get an ungodly amount of titanium during the Cold War, and we play a VERY involved game of Two Truths and a Lie. Want to know more? LISTEN TO THE SHOW!

Also let me know what you think of the new spin-off format!

NOTE: For those worried that I have done something completely different and am ignoring my old format, fret not! The What?! No, YOU Explain. episodes were all created in addition to the full thirteen episode third season, not in replacement of.

07/07/2022

Our cardboard quality control manager would like to announce that the Season 3 premiere of What?! Explain, “Burn It All Down” is now live!

When tragedy strikes, it can often define the life of those who were left behind. Some people will fall to pieces, while others carry on as best they can. However, for one woman known as Olga of Kiev, what she did afterwards would define the history of Eastern Europe for hundreds of years afterwards.

The link is in my bio, and I’m really excited for you guys to hear this one!

14/02/2022

WE HAVE A VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL!

What could be more romantic than the story of one of the world’s most famous Frenchmen, Napoleon Bonaparte, his travels throughout his military history and… well… after his death.

Well, part of him travelled after his death, anyways.

Listen to the episode, it’ll all make sense.

As with all good holiday specials, this one comes with a content warning. (CW: death, post-death dismemberment)

If you’re a bit squeamish, you may want to give this a miss, but for those listening, let me know what you think!

26/01/2022

Hi all! While we’re still working on Season 3, there will be some specials released in the interim, the first of which is the What?! Explain. Valentine’s Day Special.

It… might not be for the squeamish.

24/12/2021

Our resident doughnut and baked goods supervisor here at What?! Explain. would like to apologize for the delay in posting, but the season finale episode, “O Christmas Tree” is live and ready for download!

We dive into the origin of one of the most iconic symbols of many during this time of year: The Christmas Tree.

We go into how exactly people started bringing trees into their house in the middle of winter, how they started lighting them, why Thomas Edison and Martin Luther are involved, and why exactly Christmas trees were the reason that house insurance had to get changed all the way in the 19th century.

If you’re looking for something to listen to while munching on Christmas baking, drinking some eggnog, or just relaxing around the house, give us a listen!

17/12/2021

Our moving co-ordination specialist would like to announce that our second last episode of the season, “Fifteen Cents A Day” is live wherever you get your podcasts!

This episode takes a deep dive into a decade of miner uprisings in West Virginia, which STARTED with daily shootouts between miners and mine guards, and ended with the largest civil insurrection of the 20th century, with over a million rounds of ammunition fired. What started this war between miners and the mine owners? Well, listen to find out!

https://whatexplaincast.buzzsprout.com

02/12/2021

Our ergonomic specialist here at What?! Explain. would like to announce that our latest episode “Lights Over Paradise Ranch” is now live and ready for download!

On this episode, we go into a bit of a deep dive into the history of Area 51, the potential origin of the “Men in Black”, and why exactly a man originally known only as “Dennis” is the reason you probably know what Area 51 is today.

If you’re curious, and have about eighteen minutes to spare, give the episode a listen!
Link is in the bio!

18/11/2021

Our winter wear model and elevator disapproval specialist would like to announce that the newest episode (and our 25th published!) of What?! Explain., “The OTHER Mysterious Affair at Styles” is now live on all podcast apps.

This episode looks into the life of Agatha Christie, including which of her characters she hated with a passion, how she started writing detective novels, and how she disappeared for two weeks without a trace in December 1926.

If you’re curious, and have about thirteen minutes, LISTEN TO THE EPISODE! The link is below!

https://whatexplaincast.buzzsprout.com

01/11/2021

This absolute lazy-bones would like to announce that the second of the Halloween episodes “Always Room For One More” is out and available for download! And has been since Thursday, but he just forgot to post about it. DANGIT, Braden.

This one takes a look at one of the grimmer urban legends about Disneyland, and why you absolutely shouldn’t touch anything dusty in The Haunted Mansion. Seriously. Don’t do the thing.

Link is in the bio, and let me know if you’re down for listening to Halloween episodes in early November!

21/10/2021

Our sleep positioning specialist here at What?! Explain. would like to announce that our first Halloween Episode, “Still Life”, is now available to download in all podcasting locations!

When someone you love passes on, how can you make sure they’re remembered, safe from the shifting states of memory? This episode delves into one of the more… unusual methods.

I will say, this is a content-warning heavy episode, so if you’re at all squeamish, check the show notes before you listen. As always, let me know what you think of the newest episode! Link to the newest episode is below, so feel free to plug in and get spooky!

https://whatexplaincast.buzzsprout.com

07/10/2021

Our textile specialist here at What?! Explain. would like to announce that our latest episode, “That Old Oak Tree”, is live and ready for download in all the podcast downloading locations!

This is a story about the most unlikely landowner in Georgian history. A landowner that watched over the land it occupied for over a century. A landowner so unusual, that the land it occupies became an international tourist attraction.

As usual, link to the episode is below, and let me know what you think!

https://whatexplaincast.buzzsprout.com

23/09/2021

Our potential ham sandwich tester here at What?! Explain. would like to announce that our newest episode, “639th Time’s the Charm” is now live and uploaded!

This episode digs into one of the (allegedly) longest running set of operations in CIA history: the “removal” of Fidel Castro, and the series of events that set it all in motion.

The link is below, so enjoy this dive into American Cold War history, and let me know what you think!

https://whatexplaincast.buzzsprout.com

09/09/2021

This is one of these things that doesn’t seem huge, but really is for me. I started this podcast when I was in a real weird place, mentally, and just needed something to keep my mind off of everything. I kept it going for the first season based off of sheer reactivity of “OH GOD, WHAT DO I DO FOR AN EPISODE THIS WEEK?!” And repeat for as many episodes as I could. But I think I’ve gotten a bit better. I brought some new people in, got a sound engineer (CRAIG YOU’RE A DELIGHT!)

But yeah, the fact that it’s not only had people interested in this weird little true stories podcast, but that they have STAYED, and that more people have come with every episode, it’s a good feeling.

Thank you all for coming with me on this ride, and there will be more seasons, I promise! Shoot, I just bought a new microphone, so I may as well use it.

I’m Braden Thorvaldson, and I’ll talk to you all in a couple weeks!

09/09/2021

Our alarm clock and sleep hygiene technician here at “What?! Explain.” would like to announce that episode 5 of season 2, “A Rose By Any Other Name” is now live on all podcast apps! This episode takes a look at one of the most pervasive conspiracy theories in the last two centuries: who ACTUALLY wrote the works of William Shakespeare? Whether you thrived or suffered in high school English class, this episode is for you! Find out if it was a spy for the Queen, a lord with ambitions to higher powers, OR a man who had a secret dalliance with Queen Elizabeth I ! OR WAS IT SOMEONE ELSE?! The link is below, so enjoy the episode and let me know what you think!

https://whatexplaincast.buzzsprout.com

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WE HAVE A VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL! What could be more romantic than the story of one of the world’s most famous Frenchmen, Napoleon Bonaparte, his travels throughout his military history and… well… after his death. Well, part of him travelled after his death, anyways. Listen to the episode, it’ll all make sense. As with all good holiday specials, this one comes with a content warning. (CW: death, post-death dismemberment) If you’re a bit squeamish, you may want to give this a miss, but for those listening, let me know what you think!

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