Top Podcast Fun Facts of 2024
“I was listening to a podcast and here’s what I learned…”
Arielle Nissenblatt
2025 is here! I listened to about 60 days of podcasts in 2024 (thank you to Pocket Casts for keeping track for me). And I bet, if you’re here reading this, you listened to a lot of podcasts too. OR you’re here because you want to up your intake. I’ve got you covered.
Well, me and a bunch of listeners. We got you. For the past two years, I’ve asked my friends and colleagues to share one thing that they learned from a podcast this past year. I find that I’m always collecting tidbits by way of my podcast listening. And it turns out, lots of other people do too. So, I’m back for a third year of our Podcast Fun Fact blog.
Here’s last year’s list if you’re curious.
And let’s get on with it…
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this blog post. We really appreciate your podcast friendship here at EarBuds!
Here’s what we learned this year:
Revisionist History
McDonald’s chips are scientifically less tasty than they used to be.
Submitted by Fatima Zaidi, Founder & CEO of Quill and CoHost
Terrestrials
Did you know it’s not entirely uncommon for bald eagles to form a trio of two dads and a mom as a tight-knit family?! Nature is wild.
Submitted by Erik Jones, Hurt Your Brain
Second Nature: The Business of Outdoor
There is a political demographic coined "The Outdoor State" — the 70+ million people that take part in outdoor recreation in the U.S. — and they can affect change on climate issues (voting, using their voice) if they come together in strategic ways.
Submitted by Addie Thompson, host of Where the Climate Things Are and co-host of The Trail Ahead
There Are No Girls on the Internet
U.S. families with kids between the ages of six and 12 spent nearly $2.5 billion on skincare products in 2023, an increase of 27% over the previous year.
Submitted by Skye Pillsbury, Founder of The Squeeze
Radiolab
There is an “organ” that scientists didn’t really discover until just about six years ago! It’s a network of fluid channels inside the tissues around our organs that connects our internal systems in big and fascinating ways. It’s called the interstitium — and part of the reason scientists didn’t discover it sooner is because the traditional process of studying human tissue involves drying it out — which made the interstitium harder to see!
Submitted by Nina Joss, former EarBuds Podcast and Newsletter Coordinator, and current podcast enthusiast
Inconceivable Truth
I call this anecdote "That 70’s Sperm." In the 1970s the fertility industry was in its infancy. When couples went to a doctor looking for help getting pregnant, doctors would sometimes mix semen from the husband with a semen sample from a donor. They told the husband that the donor sperm would "help" his sperm even though they knew that was nonsense. The reason for doing this was they figured if the husband thought the baby could be his biological offspring he would be more likely to stick around and care for the kid.
Submitted by Andrea Muraskin, independent producer
Fifty Words for Snow
When they decided to standardize the language in most of the world, they usually just went with the version that was being spoken in the biggest city, ignoring everything regional. Meaning, they usually went with the French being spoken in Paris. But in Italy, they gathered a team of writers and poets who, rather than just choosing the words from Rome, chose the most beautiful noteworthy words from all over Italy.
Submitted by Lauren Passell, founder of Tink Media
The Daily
China is getting terrifyingly good at hacking — so good that they hacked into the U.S. telephone network for over a year before anyone figured it out. It's referred to as the Salt Typhoon hack, and it's considered the worst telecom hack in our nation’s history by many experts.
Submitted by Courtney Kocak, Podcast Bestie founder
We Know Survivor
The worst job you can have on “Survivor” is no longer as a lawyer, cop, or salesman. It's podcaster.
Submitted by Amanda McLoughlin, CEO, Multitude
The Micheaux Mission
Through this podcast, I discovered lesser-known movies and artists who have significantly contributed to the evolution of Black cinema but may not have received mainstream recognition.
Submitted by Adell Coleman, COO & Podcast Host: DCP Entertainment
Radiolab / Science Vs
The funniest words in many languages have a "k" sound in them.
Submitted by Abby Klionsky, EarBuds Podcast Collective editor
Sumo Kaboom
An "oyakata" is a sumo elder, or coach, in the Japanese sumo community.
Submitted by Cory Choy, Silver Sound
Stuff You Should Know
From the 1920s until the 1960s, Lysol was marketed and used as a contraceptive (marketed sneakily since you couldn't market contraceptives at that time). Lysol... that is CRAZY.
Submitted by Alison Osbourne, VP of Marketing at Quill & CoHost
ReCollections: a Parks Canada podcast
Before colonization, the majority of southern Alberta's land was kept by a number of First Nations, who used prescribed fires to maintain the land. When colonizers came to Canada, they saw prescribed fires as "barbaric,” and forced these communities to stop the practice. This resulted in the land eventually being completely overrun by trees and invasive plant species, which have since led to countless horrific and devastating wildfires throughout modern history: a massive contributor to CO2 emissions.
Submitted by Kattie Laur, Podcast Producer and Specialist, Writer for Pod the North
Verbal Diorama
That the dog in "Prey" was actually period accurate. I had no idea wild dogs were so important to Comanche peoples. Random, I know!
Submitted by Mark Asquith, MD & Co-founder, Captivate
The Only One In The Room
Just say yes to everything.
Scott Slaughter, Executive Producer and Co-Host
WTF with Marc Maron
Discovered the best vegan shawarma I've ever tasted at Bewalis from this show.
Submitted by Laura Cathcart Robbins, Host of The Only One In The Room
The Totally Football Show
"Stay Another Day" by East 17 was #1 on the UK charts the last time Nottingham Forest won at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium (30 years ago). This specific fact isn't so much what I want to share — it's the use of "what was #1 on the charts last time X happened" as a recurring bit. This is a thrice-weekly podcast about British and European football; every few episodes, when something happens in the game that hasn't happened in 30 years or so (as was the case this time), the host will play a little game with his guests: what was #1 on the charts last time this happened? Cue a bit of banter and a snippet of the song. I always find myself listening a little closer, getting invested in the guess. Sometimes I discover a new song, as was the case this time!
Submitted by Francis Zierer, editor, writer, and host at Creator Spotlight
Sold a Story
More than a third of fourth graders in the United States can't read even on a basic level. That's due to educators who are trained in a method of teaching reading that doesn't work. And there's much more to the story. It blew my mind!
Submitted by Andreea Coscai, Eurowaves Writer
Good One: A Podcast About Jokes from Vulture
The thing that has stuck with me the most this year has been a quote by the comedian Alex Edelman reflecting on what he missed about his longtime co-creator, critic, and deeply loving friend, Adam, who had died suddenly. When asked about what he missed and/or remembered most about Adam, Alex told a story that culminated with the line: "[Adam] just had a real joy about how hard it was to make good things." That line struck a chord in my soul. In a creative world that is constantly marketing us shortcuts, tactics, and hacks, there is something deliciously subversive, empowering, and energizing to stare an impossibly high mountain down and begin—step by step—to climb anyway. To me, the fun part of creating anything has always been precisely because it is hard, and this quote encapsulated that feeling perfectly for me.
Submitted by Jeremy Enns, Podcast Marketing Academy
Exile
Jackie Gerlich, the red munchkin in “The Wizard of Oz,” was a Viennese Jew who was human trafficked by a shady circus impresario to the U.S. His parents didn't hear from him for years until his mother, having just escaped Hitler's Europe, recognized him on screen in an American movie theater.
Submitted by Jeremy Helton, Podcast Marketing and Audience Development Consultant
Gooned
In 2024, I learned about the "Troubled Teen Industry" (TTI)—it’s pretty horrifying. Teens are kidnapped from their homes in front of their parents. I had no idea it even existed.
Submitted by Odile Beniflah, Ausha
Think School
I learned about how England's royal family and their lavish weddings have long served as powerful marketing strategies, driving merchandise sales and boosting the economy. For instance, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding attracted 1.9 billion viewers worldwide — outshining even the FIFA World Cup's 1.1 billion audience!
Submitted by Roshni Baronia, Founder Done For You Podcasts & Indian Podcast List
The Liz Moody Podcast
A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar diluted in a glass of water before a meal will help prevent blood glucose spikes!
Submitted by Sequoia Holmes, host and creator of Black People Love Paramore Podcast
Beef & Dairy Network
I learned the long, tumultuous, and downright horrifying journey one must go on in order to turn from milk boy to milkman. And that, if one isn't careful enough, you might just find yourself winding down that road whether you like it or not.
Submitted by Bob Raymonda, Rogue Dialogue Productions, Showrunner of Forgive Me
Dissect
I learned that it takes several listens and a college-level course to fully understand the depths of Kendrick Lamar. Thanks, Dissect podcast!
Submitted by Donald Albright, CEO/Co Founder, Tenderfoot TV
Smogland Radio
The entire city of Los Angeles has only 14 public bathrooms.
Submitted by Emma Lehman, independent producer, scriptwriter, and investigative journalist
Noble
I learned how cremation works and how bodies decompose and about how it didn't work out in Noble, GA.
Submitted by Andy C., Impact 24
Well... That's Interesting
I learned that each nostril works independently from the other, leading it to have its own sense of smell. So, technically, you could be smelling the sweetest thing ever, and one nostril will love it while the other will think it's the foulest thing ever. And people wonder why humans are so confused all the time... :)
Submitted by Danny Brown, head of Podcaster Support & Experience at Captivate.fm
The Ringer Fantasy Football Show
I learned that no matter how many fantasy football podcast episodes I listen to, I'll still win the most games by doing autodraft.
Submitted by Eric Silver, Head of Development at Multitude Podcasts
Slow Burn: The Rise of Fox News
I learned that Fox News' debut election coverage in 1996 was a relative disaster.
Submitted by Paul Riismandel, President, Signal Hill Insights
The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast
In the lead-up to making her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live back in 2006, Natalie Portman initiated the conversation for a parody rap song skit, and convinced The Lonely Island's team with her recitation of a Lil' Kim verse. It's been nearly 18 years since "Natalie's Rap" debuted, and it remains one of the best SNL Digital Shorts.
Submitted by Joni Deutsch, SVP of Marketing & Audience Development at The Podglomerate
Science Wise
I learned how to reconcile the science of evolution with our personal faith and values.
Submitted by Maribel Quezada Smith, Executive Producer, Diferente Creative
Switched on Pop
I learned why Djo's "End of Beginning" is such an earworm.
Submitted by Chris Boniello, VP Production Services, The Podglomerate
Critics At Large
Our fascination with true crime has always existed, though the reasons behind it aren’t always easy to pinpoint.
Submitted by Nick Castner, Marketing & Monetization Consultant at PodCastner
Smartless
That Zoe Saldaña is the only actor in the top-three grossing movies.
Submitted by Brittany Hall, founder of Golden Audio
The Wild
Certain species of male lightning bugs/fireflies all flash in sync to attract females, and they can direct their flashes at women.
Submitted by Tom Koenig, Fresh Tracks Creative
Twenty Thousand Hertz
Putting a low-pass filter on audio creates a “softening” effect perfect for kids’ programming.
Submitted by Newt Schottelkotte, Caldera Studios
Uncanny
My tolerance for spooky stories is way higher than I realized.
Submitted by Lizzy Pollott, CCBO, Acast
Search Engine
I was surprised to learn that trigger warnings might do more harm than good.
Submitted by Maria Lorenz-Bokelberg, Pool Artists - Founder/CEO
Podcast: The Ride
The Los Angeles County Fair has a longtime porcine mascot named "Thummer," who was renamed years ago from his previous moniker, "Porky the Hitchhiking Pig." The fair had to change his name in 1952 because of a flagrant copyright violation.
Submitted by Chris Berube, Senior Producer, 99% Invisible
Founders
I learned that Edwin Land, the founder of Polaroid, very closely resembled Steve Jobs in many ways, and the origin story and ethos of Polaroid was in many ways similar to Apple.
Sebastian Arciszewski, Find That Pod
Twenty Thousand Hertz
The "huffing" sound a dog makes means they're having fun.
Submitted by Stew Redwine, Oxford Road VP, Creative Services
Straightiolab
I learned that all 10 of the top-grossing films this year were sequels. And most of the rest of the list, sequels or something based on pre-existing stuff. This sparked an interesting (and hilarious) discussion about "films" vs. "movies" and the current state of the industry.
Submitted by Holly Brown, Tink Media, Podcast Marketing Specialist, Stand Up Comedian
Outside/In
Without refrigeration, it would be nearly impossible to make a cheeseburger.
Submitted by Jeff Umbro, founder and CEO of The Podglomerate
Writing Class Radio
There is a price to pay for talking too much.
Submitted by Matt Cundill, Owner, Sound Off Podcast Network
Hard Fork
Tech CEOs made $60 billion after Trump got elected.
Submitted by Jeremy Ney, American Inequality, author
Hey!
While listening to a podcast called Hey! (like one of his famous songs), I discovered that Julio Iglesias, the famous Spanish singer who has said hundreds of times that he studied law before becoming a singer... didn't finish his studies until the year 2000, when he was over sixty years old. At the Complutense University of Madrid they gave him a 'special' exam to pass. I also discovered that the story that was always told, that he started singing when he was forced to stop playing goalkeeper for Real Madrid because of an accident, was also a lie. The great always embellish their lives.
Submitted by Ana Ribera, Editor in Chief of Prisa Audio and writer of Sonogram
Why We Mine
The world is going to need to produce more copper in the next 30 years than it has in the last 5000 years.
Submitted by Roger Nairn, JAR Audio Senior Producer
Normal Gossip
I learned that some people are very passionate about mushroom foraging.
Submitted by Anita Flores podcast producer/host of Doctor Horror
Financial Feminist
I learned that the seven deadly sins were not actually created by religious leaders but instead co-opted by religious leaders to start to control the masses a bit more.
Submitted by Emily Holland, Co-Founder of Wild Poppy Creative Consulting
Midnight Burger
Sound design can be an awesome thing when you get it right.
Submitted by Flloyd Kennedy, Thunder's Mouth Theatre, artistic director/dogsbody
Science Friday
Grey matter and total cortical thickness shrinks during pregnancy and doesn't fully rebound after the baby is born.
Submitted by Annalise Nielsen, Lower Street, Head of Strategy & Development
McCartney: A Life in Lyrics
Paul McCartney wrote "Picasso's Last Words" when Dustin Hoffman challenged him on the spot to write a song using them ("Drink to me, drink to my health").
Submitted by Joe Casabona, Podcast and Systems Coach
Why Wars Happen
The quality of life in the 1600s in England was an early catalyst for the American Revolution.
Submitted by Frank Racioppi, Ear Worthy
Cement City
I learned that Donora, Pennsylvania has a smog museum.
Submitted by Samantha Hodder, founder of Bingeworthy
And that’s what we’ve got for our fun facts of 2024 in podcasts! Hope you learned something new AND found a new show to explore. Major thank you to everyone who submitted a response. If you’d like to be featured next year, get in touch with us by subscribing to the EarBuds newsletter.