Zippers!

Tracy shares a story of looking for an article in the wrong historical journal. Holly reads a section of the U.S. flag code, and waxes rhapsodic about toys.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

Beulah was such a prolific inventor in the early 20th century that the press nicknamed her Lady Edison. She was an outlier as an unmarried woman who got her foot in the door as an inventor by pounding the pavement in 1920s New York. Research: Bengtson, Harlan H. “Beulah Louise He ... Show More

Mary Mallon became known as Typhoid Mary in the early 20th century. She has often been vilified in in modern references, though her story is actually quite complex. Research: "Mary Mallon." Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, vol. 21, Gale, 2001. Gale In Context: Opposing Vie ... Show More

The zipper may be the most unsung invention we humans have ever come up with. Prior to zippers, everyone walked around like idiots with nothing but buttons to hold their clothes together. The zipper changed all that. The zipper changed everything. Learn more about your ad-choices ... Show More

<p>Alex Schmidt is joined by comedy writer Dan Hopper (Ranker, The New Yorker) and actor/comedian Benny Wayne Sully ('NDND' on YouTube, 'My First Native American Boyfriend' short) for a look at why zippers are secretly incredibly fascinating.</p> <p>Visit <a href="http://sifpod.f ... Show More

Today's tour features some amazing inventions that might have been a heavy lift, but we've been writing about them ever since.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes!: https://www.patreon.com/grimandmildSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

This week, we’re unraveling the fashion industry’s 19th century origins. Progress was everywhere… But with each apparently miraculous innovation came pain, illness—and even death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 

<p>We put man on the moon before we invented the wheeled suitcase. Why did it take so long? Find out in this episode of Patented: History of Inventions, where host Dallas Campbell is joined by expert Katrine Marçal, whose research has revealed an intriguing hidden chapter in the ... Show More

In this classic invention-themed episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the ancient origins of the gimbal, its connections to Chinese incense censers and its role in technological innovation. (originally published 09/27/2022)See omnystudio.com/listener for pri ... Show More

Free the belly button! In this episode of Thick & Thin, we travel back 75 years ago to discover the risqué origins of the now-popular, two-piece swimsuit—the bikini. // Follow me on IG: instagram.com/katybellotte // Sources: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-bikinis-i ... Show More

In this invention-themed episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe explore the ancient origins of the gimbal, its connections to Chinese incense censers and its role in technological innovation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

Pockets. They are something you don’t notice, until you don’t have one to stash your phone, wallet, keys, or the random Walgreens receipt. Invented in the 16th century, pockets have had a unique trajectory in fashion. Men’s clothes are full of practical pockets. Women’s clothing, ... Show More

Some people are inventive, while others can't seem to get it together. How their stories play out, though, can always be curious.Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes!: https://www.patreon.com/grimandmildSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.