Little Fish: No Harm, No Foul

Little Fish: I believed it when Pythagoras said it

Jul 5, 202628 minSummary

In this episode of No Such Thing As A Fish, the hosts dive into a wide array of fascinating facts sent in by listeners. The conversation kicks off with the impressive film career of John Cazale, who starred in five Best Picture-nominated films in just seven years. The hosts also explore quirky trivia, such as the disproportionate fines for traffic violations in India compared to Australia, the historical connection between Catherine Parr and Catherine of Aragon, and President James Garfield’s unique contribution to mathematics with his proof of Pythagoras' theorem. The discussion takes several eclectic turns, covering the origin of the Nike waffle-sole shoe, the strange practice of spiny anteaters during mating, and the bizarre fact that some rats dream of places they wish to visit. The hosts also tackle misconceptions, such as the legal requirement to scare cormorants, and share lighter, humorous moments involving local festivals dedicated to Bigfoot and the rise of professional horse sheath cleaning. As always, the episode concludes by bestowing unique facts upon new members of the show’s fan club, celebrating the oddities that make the world such an interesting place.

No Such Thing As An Unlucky Fountain

Jul 2, 202656 minSummary

In this episode of No Such Thing As A Fish, guest host Jamie Morton joins Dan Schreiber, Andrew Hunter Murray, and Anna Ptaszynski to share another round of fascinating facts. The conversation kicks off with the survival story of Archibald Gracie IV, a Titanic passenger who credited his habit of swimming in the ship’s heated, salt-water pool with helping him survive the sinking. This leads to a discussion on the modern ingenuity of using data center waste heat to warm swimming pools, as well as the curious history of the abandoned White House pool now filled with server equipment. The hosts also dive into the peculiar cultural norms surrounding swimming pools, specifically the strict rules regarding attire in French public pools. The conversation takes an unexpected turn into the history of dance, moving from the seductive Egyptian "Dance of the Bee"—where performers mimicked a bee trapped in their clothing—to the Italian "Tarantella," a frantic dance originally believed to cure the bite of a tarantula. The episode provides an eclectic mix of historical trivia, scientific insights, and humor, maintaining the show's signature style of blending the educational with the bizarre.

Little Fish: Shall we put a podcast on? What a stupid idea!

Jun 28, 202630 minSummary

In this bonus episode of No Such Thing As A Fish, hosts Dan Schreiber, Andrew Hunter Murray, and Anna Ptaszynski step away from their usual research to share a collection of quirky and fascinating facts sent in by their listeners. The conversation kicks off with a surprise proposal sent by a listener, leading the hosts to speculate humorously on the trials and tribulations of couples listening to podcasts during arguments. The episode covers an eclectic range of topics, including the origin of the Lidl supermarket brand name, the specific musical playlists created by the pasta company Barilla to match cooking times, and a fascinating West African tradition of joking kinship that allows people to diffuse tension with insults. The hosts also explore historical trivia, such as the Victorian parlor game that evolved into the modern-day personality questionnaire, the Canadian use of ice-breaker hovercrafts to prevent flooding, and the possibility that historical figures like Charles Darwin and Karl Marx could have enjoyed modern luxuries like fruit pastels and Heinz ketchup during their lifetimes. The episode concludes with a series of dedicated facts for the podcast’s community members, ranging from moth-deterring pheromones to the synchronization of hatching baby turtles.

No Such Thing As A Glazed Lizard Donut

Jun 25, 202657 minSummary

In this episode of No Such Thing As A Fish, the hosts dive into a characteristically eclectic mix of research, beginning with the curious psychological impact of naming artwork. The discussion explores a study suggesting that giving an artwork a pretentious title—regardless of the piece's actual content—often leads audiences to perceive the work as more profound. The hosts analyze the thin line between artistic intent and absurdity, sharing stories of manufactured art movements and the human tendency to over-interpret abstract creations, such as the works of Jackson Pollock. Transitioning from the gallery to the screen, the conversation turns to the evolving world of Disney princesses. The team discusses an unusual study regarding the handedness of these iconic characters, noting a shift toward ambidexterity in more modern films. Beyond the animation trivia, the hosts touch on the broader cultural significance of these films, debating whether they truly shape societal attitudes toward the modern workforce or if academics sometimes over-analyze their influence. Filled with lighthearted banter and historical anecdotes, the episode offers a witty exploration of why we attribute deep meaning to the things we watch and create.

Little Fish: Really Siding With The Baddies

Jun 21, 202630 minSummary

In this episode of Little Fish, the hosts dive into an eclectic collection of fascinating facts submitted by listeners, ranging from historical oddities to bizarre modern inventions. The conversation kicks off with a linguistic coincidence regarding Shaggy from Scooby-Doo and the musical artist Shaggy, both of whom share surprising real-name connections. The group also explores the peculiar world of Victorian-era hats, discussing a historical paper that highlights just how socially essential headwear was in early modern England, sometimes to the point of absurdity. The hosts continue their fact-filled romp with tales of the United States Army’s historical reliance on their own air force branch, the surprisingly flammable nature of chlorine trifluoride, and the clever mimicry skills of the Chilean jungle vine. Other highlights include the story of a mathematician who effectively named himself via his own initials, the debut shots of World War I in Australia, and the engineering challenge of installing toilets in Japanese elevators. As always, the episode blends humor, skepticism, and curiosity, ultimately bestowing custodianship of these varied facts to listeners while providing an engaging, high-energy listening experience for trivia enthusiasts.

No Such Thing As The Metal Bloke

Jun 18, 202653 minSummary

In this episode of No Such Thing As A Fish, the hosts are joined by comedian Nish Kumar to share a collection of bizarre and fascinating facts. The conversation kicks off with the unconventional origins of James Cameron’s career, specifically his obsessive behavior during the production of Piranha Two. The group discusses how Cameron’s perfectionism, even in his early days, set the stage for his later cinematic triumphs. The discussion then transitions into the history of stand-up comedy, focusing on Charlie Case, often cited as the father of the craft, who was known for his strange habit of constantly fiddling with a piece of string on stage. The hosts explore other curious superstitions within the entertainment industry, ranging from the theater world’s fear of the color green to the eccentric pre-performance rituals of legends like Luciano Pavarotti and David Bowie’s early, harsh rejection by the BBC. Through these anecdotes, the episode highlights the intersection of talent, obsession, and the strange, unwritten rules that define the history of performance.

Little Fish: I've Booked Us In A Lovely Toilet

Jun 14, 202629 minSummary

In this episode of No Such Thing As A Fish, the hosts assemble to share an eclectic collection of facts submitted by listeners. The conversation kicks off with some humorous observations about football names, including the serendipitous and somewhat unfortunate coincidence of midfielders at Aston Villa in 1969. The hosts then transition to the quirky biology of guinea pigs, leading to a hilarious hypothetical discussion about how human society would function if our digestive processes mirrored theirs. The episode continues with a wide-ranging exploration of trivia, covering topics as diverse as the peculiar naming conventions of American universities, the unintended consequences of importing eucalyptus trees to California, and the strict theological debates within the Catholic Church regarding gluten-free communion wafers. Further discussions touch upon ingenious wartime sabotage tactics, the bizarre reality of Barbra Streisand’s private basement shopping mall, and the curious phenomenon of disappearing lakes in Slovenia. Filled with the show's trademark blend of wit and intellectual curiosity, the episode balances these bizarre historical anecdotes and scientific oddities with the hosts' characteristically natural and engaging rapport.

No Such Thing As Poddyversity Challenge

Jun 11, 202658 minSummary

In this episode of No Such Thing As A Fish, the hosts dive into a fascinating array of topics ranging from ancient cultural practices to the complexities of modern technology. The discussion kicks off with an exploration of 17th-century Sami shamans, detailing their use of ceremonial drums for divination and the subsequent suppression of these traditions by Christian missionaries. The hosts touch upon the unique relationship between the Sami people and their environment, including their historic reliance on reindeer and the curious, albeit controversial, methods used to manage their herds. The conversation then shifts toward the intersection of humanity and artificial intelligence. The hosts analyze the history of the Loebner Prize, an annual competition designed to test chatbots against human participants through the lens of the Turing test. They share anecdotes about the eccentric founder, Hugh Loebner, and discuss the mounting challenges in distinguishing human interactions from increasingly sophisticated AI. From the difficulty of modern "captcha" tests to the realization that bots are becoming more proficient than humans at visual recognition, the episode highlights the blurred lines between biological and artificial intelligence in our digital age.

Little Fish: Accordion To Whom?

Jun 7, 202629 minSummary

In this episode of Little Fish, the hosts dive into a wide-ranging collection of listener-submitted facts, continuing their mission to explore the world’s most curious trivia. The conversation kicks off with the surprising world of professional sumo wrestling, revealing the massive amount of salt used to purify the ring and discussing the peculiar, often debated statistics regarding the life expectancy of various athletes—including the mysterious longevity benefits allegedly enjoyed by pole vaulters. The episode also tackles several strange myths and scientific curiosities, such as the legend of ten thousand buried accordions beneath a Swedish parking lot and the innovative use of pig sperm components in cancer research for mice. Cultural quirks receive their fair share of attention as well, with discussions on the etymology of Welsh surnames, the odd cartographic history of Tasmania’s land border, and the social challenge of encouraging bystander CPR for women. Throughout the show, the hosts maintain their signature blend of humor and intellectual curiosity, wrapping up the session by bestowing custodianship of select facts upon members of their community, cementing the episode's role as a playful archive of human oddities.

No Such Thing As Chekhov's Volcano

Jun 4, 20261h 0mSummary

In this episode of No Such Thing As A Fish, the team is joined by science communicator Greg Foot to dive into an array of bizarre and fascinating facts. The discussion kicks off with an exploration of infant behavior, covering everything from the historical—and scientifically dubious—use of wine and opium to calm crying babies, to the peculiar finding that vibrations from vintage Volvo 240s were once championed as an effective sedative for infants. The hosts examine the universal "cry curve" and debunk the myth that parents have an innate, unique ability to distinguish their child's specific cries from others without contextual clues. The conversation then shifts from the biological to the physical, as the team demonstrates the power of air pressure using a set of Magdeburg hemispheres. They recount the 1654 experiment by Otto von Guericke, who used a vacuum to effectively defy teams of straining horses, illustrating the immense force of atmospheric pressure. This leads to a surreal look at mathematical paradoxes, specifically Torricelli’s trumpet—a shape with an infinite surface area but a finite volume—before concluding with insights into the massive vacuum systems required by the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.