The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week

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1
We Did it Joe (Pilates), They Did Surgery on a Cocaine Hippo, Steinbeck Digs Deep (Literally)

We Did it Joe (Pilates), They Did Surgery on a Cocaine Hippo, Steinbeck Digs Deep (Literally)

May 20, 2026

Ben Lillie joins the show to talk about John Steinbeck doing very in-character things on a scientific expedition out on the open ocean. Plus, Sara Kiley talks about Joseph Pilates (yes, that Pilates),...

2
A Musical Secret Weapon, Low Cortisol Beakmaxxing, Roller Coaster Science

A Musical Secret Weapon, Low Cortisol Beakmaxxing, Roller Coaster Science

May 06, 2026

Dropout's Grant O'Brien joins the show to talk about all things weird roller coasters. Plus, Jess hops on to discuss how a Gregorian chant has infiltrated all of our favorite media, from Shrek to Elde...

3
Cannibal Caribou, Charming Worms, Strawberry-Flavored Neutrinos

Cannibal Caribou, Charming Worms, Strawberry-Flavored Neutrinos

Apr 22, 2026

Rachel's officially back! Chanda Prescod-Weinstein also joins as a guest host. This week, they talk about self-made caribou snacks, how to charm a worm, and why neutrinos can be classified as nontrina...

4
REVISITING Naked Founding Fathers, Jalapeño Thumb, Counting Vampires

REVISITING Naked Founding Fathers, Jalapeño Thumb, Counting Vampires

Apr 08, 2026

In our final rerun episode during Rachel's parental leave, we have the oldest episode yet. It features one of Jess' first appearances on the show in which she details strange vampire folklore (and why...

5
Killer Demon Core, Victorian Theater-Kid Ghosts, Louis Pasteur's Secrets

Killer Demon Core, Victorian Theater-Kid Ghosts, Louis Pasteur's Secrets

Mar 25, 2026

Jess brings adef and jacksonparodi on the show this week to discuss how one sphere killed two men in a matter of days, why folks in Victorian Australia used glowing paint to transform into ghosts, and...

6
REVISITING Art Crime Doesn't Pay, Canines Cooking Meat, Eggs Gone Wrong

REVISITING Art Crime Doesn't Pay, Canines Cooking Meat, Eggs Gone Wrong

Mar 11, 2026

⁠⁠While Rachel is on parental leave, here's a vintage episode from our vault! Rachel, Sara, and comedian Josh Gondelman discuss dogs cooking in kitchens, chickens laying eggs inside themselves, and on...

7
Atomic Priesthood, Space Smells Like Beef, the Power of Pee Fuel

Atomic Priesthood, Space Smells Like Beef, the Power of Pee Fuel

Feb 25, 2026

Jess brings on science-minded friends Lindsey and Misti to discuss why space smells like a freshly opened beef stew packet, how having to pee makes you better at video games like Elden Ring, and how r...

8
REVISITING Olympic Weirdness: Barefoot Marathons, Medals for Artwork, Pistol Dueling

REVISITING Olympic Weirdness: Barefoot Marathons, Medals for Artwork, Pistol Dueling

Feb 11, 2026

⁠While Rachel is on parental leave, here's a vintage episode from our vault! Rachel, Claire, and Sara discuss all things weird related to the Olympics way back in 2021 (when the games were pushed back...

9
Beaver Skull Obsession, Aussie Widowmakers, Koalas Eating $#!%

Beaver Skull Obsession, Aussie Widowmakers, Koalas Eating $#!%

Jan 28, 2026

WELCOME TO SEASON 10! Jess hosts the show solo while Rachel is on maternity leave, but brings on a pair of her creator friends to chat about how beavers keep wildfires at bay, koalas eating their moms...

10
Bat-Devouring Rodents, Penguin Retirement Home, Chicago "Rat" Hole

Bat-Devouring Rodents, Penguin Retirement Home, Chicago "Rat" Hole

Dec 17, 2025

Kendra Pierre-Louis joins Weirdest Thing for the season 9 finale! She talks about the rats chowing down on bats, producer Jess Boddy explains the scientific study on Chicago's rat hole, and Rachel tal...

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