logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
11m 52s

Meet Mr Potato Head

The Retrospectors
About this episode
The advertising industry underwent a minor revolution on 30th April 1952 when Mr Potato Head starred in the first ever nationally televised ad campaign for a toy, unleashing the demon force of kiddie pester power on an unsuspecting world. Unlike regular toy dolls, a Mr Potato Head wasn’t self-explanatory, so toy company Hasbro decided it was worth investing ... Show More
Up next
Today
The Chastity Belt and the Frenchman
Henri Littière and his adulterous wife Suzanne thought they’d come up with a novel way to combat her philandering - by commissioning a custom-made chastity belt. But on 21st January, 1934, Littière was sentenced to three months in prison for cruelty to his spouse. It’s a strange ... Show More
11m 35s
Yesterday
Lalli and the Axe
According to Finnish legend, a peasant farmer named Lalli murdered the Christian missionary Bishop Henry on the ice of lake Köyliönjärvi on January 20, 1156, dispatching him with an axe blow to the head. It is fair to say things didn’t go terribly well for Lalli after that. He me ... Show More
12m 8s
Jan 19
Britain's Last Witch
Celebrated medium Helen Duncan was arrested on 19th January, 1944, when, midway through one of her séances, an undercover policeman dramatically revealed her "spirit" to be nothing more than… herself draped in white fabric. Initially charged with minor fraud, her case took a wild ... Show More
12m 30s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2022
The Potato Chip
“But you guys already did an episode about potato chips in 2017!” Uh, ever hear of a little thing called a ‘requel?’ This week we’re rebooting the potato chip franchise, but also adding to it, with additional spuds talk.For weekly episodes of Books: The Podcast and much, much mor ... Show More
1h 7m
Jan 2021
Julie and The Hot Guy
<p>HAPPY NEW YEAR! In the first Double Threat of 2021, Tom and Julie watch listener clips inspired by Brett's New Year's Resolutions, including Joel Osteen's Inspiration Cube (Be Inspired in 2021); Bob &amp; Brad, the Two Most Famous Physical Therapists on the Internet (Be Health ... Show More
1h 26m
Jun 2020
50 - It's Not Your Father's Car Anymore
We are finally back to recording stories face-to-face! Moe and Jamil invested $800 into a 1985 Cutlass Oldsmobile during their college years in Canada. The legendary Oldsmobile resurfaces into our lives as Moe catches a glimpse of it on the popular Netflix show Ozark.. and we cou ... Show More
38m 5s
Dec 2023
Potatoes and Rocks
Episode 87: Potatoes and Rocks It’s our annual end-of-year episode dedicated to toys and we have some fun with Mr. Potato Head and Pet Rocks. From the first toy on a commercial to the earthiest fad, you might soon find yourself out digging in the dirt in search of one natural new ... Show More
31m 11s
Nov 2023
Milli Vanilli Unsynced w/Luke & Patrick - Just Shoot It 399
tail spinning
1h 5m
Jan 2022
#184: Johnny Scramblers & The Heartbreak Pumpkins
<p>We hope you need a name for your band-because we’ve got plenty! We have some listener submitted riddles this week-And a desire to kill some time before we read them. This episode also has time travel, a snake biting off more than it can chew, and a very dignified conversation ... Show More
1h 3m
Feb 2024
S3 Ep 12: Friday Bonus & More Film Pitches
First up, some news about Rom’s unsolvable internet problems, the many varieties of fibre, Tom’s blood test, late night eating, boring sandwiches and using abacuses. Then it’s onto the main event as we read out more of our listener’s Wolf & Owl film pitches. Thank so much for you ... Show More
35m 4s