Ballpoint pens? Heck yes, ballpoint pens...

The break-up of the USSR was a tough one for Russia, being the jilted republic. For the entire decade after, the country plunged into a type of controlled chaos, with a rampantly corrupt kleptocracy taking the place of the toppled socialist society.See omnystudio.com/listener for ... Show More

Today we dive in to celebrate the international treasure that is Dolly Parton. Why is she nearly universally loved? Listen in to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

The US has an unusual number of outbreaks of food-borne illness going on in the summer of 2026, and the star of the show is cyclospora. How does this parasite make people sick, where does it come from? You may not want to know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, but how did it get that way? Join Joy and co-host Buddy as they head to the U-PEN college reunion (a whole university for pens!) and meet pen pals from throughout history, made of everything from feathers to steel. And on First Things ... Show More

It’s easy to take the pencil for granted, but that eraser-capped wooden cylinder with a core of graphite has a story and a history -- and Robert and Joe explore it in this episode of Invention. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio ... Show More

Do you usually use a pen or a pencil? Do you prefer a pen or a pencil? When was the last time you bought a pen or a pencil? Would you give a pen or a pencil as a gift? Tune in and have a great day! - Get exclusive episodes on IELTS Speaking parts 1, 2, and 3: https://linktr.ee ... Show More

Zede and Mallory explore the world of marking pens. There are a plethora of choices including chalk (in multiple styles), iron away or wash away markers, tracing wheels, sharpie and good old pencils to name a few. They both agree that the fabric to be marked upon can really dicta ... Show More

<p>The inventiveness of people will never stop being a major curiosity for us to enjoy. But today's stories have more than a healthy dose of surprise.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.c ... Show More

We know a lot of you debate heads like to take notes and keep score while you're listening to Smash Boom Best, BUT have you ever stopped to think how the pencil lead your’re using sticks to the paper? Strange concept right? This is just the type of question we like to answer on o ... Show More

Grab your podcast journal and pen for this episode as you'll want to take notes! Join PP101 here Get the Essential Forms for Private Practice here 

Is the pencil underrated? Tim Harford examines the role pencils have played in developing our world, and finds out why some writers have called them a "miracle of the free market". Do they have a point?