Forgotten history, bizarre tales & facts that seem too strange to be true! Host Michael Kent asks listeners to tell him something strange, bizarre or surprising that they‘ve recently learned and he gets to the bottom of it! Every episode ends by playing a gameshow-style quiz game with a celebrity guest. Part of the WCBE Podcast Experience.
Origin of the Blaster: Han Solo’s Weapon in Star Wars - Rewind
00:33:04
Did you know Han Solo's iconic blaster, the "DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol" in Star Wars was actually based on a handgun used by the Nazis? In this episode, we talk about the Mauser C96 Pistol, the origin of a few interesting Star Wars props and I quiz Comedian, Writer and Producer, Jay Black who is a much larger Star Wars nerd than I ever knew. This is a good one!
Was film star Hedy Lamarr responsible for the invention of wireless internet? In this episode, we find out about her amazing (and somewhat tragic) life and find out if the internet says it's true! Then we play a quiz game with Cameron Zvara! Originally released March 29, 2021.
In a departure from our regular style of episodes, this one is a strange tale that I stumbled on by mistake. I was doing some wildlife photography in a cemetery in Columbus, OH and saw a grave marker upon which people had left all types of coins. When I googled the person's name, I was shocked at the story. I tell that story in this episode, and then play the quick quiz with Magician, Erik Tait.
You won't believe why graham crackers were invented. When Sylvester Graham invented this snack in the 19th century, it had nothing to do with hunger. Well, at least not THAT kind of hunger. In this episode, we learn about the "Grahamites," Sylvester Graham, and the invention of the snack that bares his name. Then we play the Quick Quiz with Mindreader Eric Dittelman!
Broken Arrow: The Time We Almost Nuked South Carolina - REWIND
00:31:33
In our history, we've had at least 32 "Broken Arrow" incidents: instances of nuclear weapons accidents that don't cause a nuclear war. One of those was in 1958, in which an Air Force B-47 Bomber almost nuked Mars Bluff, South Carolina. In this episode, we talk about the B-47, it's staggering 10% loss rate and the Mars Bluff incident. Then we catch up with actor and podcaster Michael Spedden for the Quick Quiz! Originally released May 24, 2021.
The Pepsi Cola Navy: Soviet Trade Gone Strange - REWIND
00:33:40
Originally released August 30, 2021. For a very short time period, the Pepsi Cola Company had the sixth largest navy in the world. It was the result of a crazy trade deal with the Soviet Union and the Soviets' love for the soft drink. In this episode, we explore how this came to be and then play the Quick Quiz game with Comedian & Magician Erik Tait!
In the mid-1940s, there was a rash of very strange calls to police in the small city of Mattoon, IL. More than a dozen people believed they were being gassed by a mystery assailant. In this episode, we talk about the "Mad Gasser of Mattoon" and then chat with Comedian and Screenwriter, Jay Black!
Did Giants Exist? George Hull and the Cardiff Giant
00:43:14
It turns out that it's pretty easy to convince people that a race of giant humans used to roam the Earth. Because of a biblical passage in Genesis 6, lots of people still believe it to this day, but in the 19th century, the belief was much more widespread. One non-believer named George Hull devised one of the greatest hoaxes known to man in an attempt to make them look foolish. In this episode, we talk about Nephilim, George Hull and the Cardiff Giant. Then we chat with Rachel and Victor from the Wikilisten podcast!
Through a strange misunderstanding, a small town in France maintained the grave of a fallen American soldier for several decades. It wasn't a soldier's grave at all, but a spot where General George Patton had marked an abandoned latrine pit. In this episode, we learn a little about Patton and how this story came to be. Then we chat with Comedian, Magician and Author Nick Paul.