We have an episode with Will Cowan, the busiest man in showbiz (that I know personally). He takes some time from his band and podcast network to join Braden for a chat! First, Braden tells a story about a man who single-handedly (heh) created a sperm bank exclusively "populated" (heh) from Nobel Prize laureates at an incredibly worryingly recent ti…

It's yet ANOTHER episode where Braden invites a guest to do half his work! Tiktoker Tee joins Braden to hear the story of one of the most famous Polish soldiers in history, and to share how you can start growing your plants with copper wire, and why Big Pesticide wants you to not do that thing. Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.faceb…

For this current episode, Braden welcomes a man who not only talks into microphones for a living, BUT ALSO IN FRONT OF A CAMERA! ON the eve of his first year anniversary into this media industry, Gates goes into detail on one of the Canadian gems of broadcasting: Big Brother Canada. Braden returns with the TRUE story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke, …

CONTENT WARNING: improper use of yogurt. This may sound like a joke, but I assure you, it is not. Happy Valentine's Day/Happy Discount Chocolate Day Eve to all! Today, I bring you two stories: one of the inspiration behind one of Beethoven's most enduring works, and one of a man who saw America spread out in front of him and thought "WHY CAN'T THEY…

Gather round for a collection of stories about man's best friend in all their facets: the good, the bad, and the furry! Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Instagram: @whatexplaincast We have a lovely new Patreon! Go check out the tiers at https://www.patreon.com/whatexplain…

Hi Everyone! This episode is going to be considerably more freeform than anything else that I've released. Really, it's kind of going to be a State of the Podcast sort of deal, put together as something of a fireside chat. (Plus Sara and Craig are in dire need of some time off, so I'm more than happy to give it to them!) ((And pardon the jingling c…

We have another Christmas-ish episode here on What?! Explain. For this episode, we tell the story of the friendship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, two authors with very different philosophies on writing, but still very good friends. Well, right up until Lewis wanted to put Santa Claus into the Chronicles of Narnia. Follow us on social media! Fac…

This is a story about a treasure of unusual proportions, hidden within a massive cavern in the center of the United States. A hoard brought together by the United States government over half a century ago, and still maintained to this day. This is a story of... The Great American Cheese Vaults. Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.faceb…

Hi All! This is just a quick announcement that we're taking a mid-season break, and returning in December! But we also have some exciting looks ahead at what the rest of the season will look like. Thanks very much, and we'll see you in a bit! Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Instagram: @whatexplaincast W…

There's YET ANOTHER episode of What?! No, YOU Explain., and this time, we look to our own team! For the first time in front of the microphone on this show, it's the owner of a very soothing baritone, sound engineer extraordinaire, Craig Murdock! This episode has two stories, both containing music and questionably earned military rank! I tell the st…

It's almost that scariest time of year here at What?! Explain. : HALLOWEEN! So we decided to give you not one, but two spooky stories! The first involving a woman determined to wield the forces of the supernatural against the criminal element, while the second involves a series of taxi drivers who picked up... unusual passengers. Note for the liste…

It's ANOTHER episode of the show where Braden... TALKS TO OTHER PEOPLE?! This episode, Braden welcomes podcaster, songwriter, guitarist, singer, and fellow interrobang (the ?!) enthusiast Nathan Iles to the show! Nathan is the co-host of Last Gen Arcade, where he and his fellow host Will Cowan go through history's favorite games and answer the age …

There's not many people that know of Wall Street that don't have an opinion on what it represents. Anchored within these eight blocks are financial houses and stock exchange that have billions of dollars flowing through them on a daily basis. It is well known that what happens on Wall Street has ripple effects all the way across the United States, …

EXPLAINER NATION! (Which is what you are all called now, thank you Haley for this idea!) Our spin-off of the main show continues, and this episode, I have on my dear friend and co-host of BLEEPIN' SPACE, JIM! ( a Twitch show where I find out the joys and horrors of Star Trek: The Original Series), Haley! Haley is also the host of Nominated, a biwee…

TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNING: Suicide This is a story about two enterprises: one, a trusted name in automotive tires that has been around for over a century, and the other, a deeply secretive organization that publishes fine dining guides that can make or break a chef's career. Both of these enterprises have existed for well over a century, and even sha…

This is a story about four genuinely insane offshoots of what could be argued as one of the most significant inventions in the history of humanity: the gun. I'm not saying good, I'm not saying bad. I'm saying significant. That being said, this episode is about the world's largest double-barreled cannon, the first rapid-fire artillery with one glari…

And now, for something... well, pretty similar. The start of our lovely spin-off show, What?! No, YOU Explain., where I have friends, podcasters, and all sorts of interesting people on to share their interesting stories. This episode, my guest is my dear friend and fellow podcaster, Dawar. Dawar is the host of a podcast/show called "A Conversation …

This is one of many stories taking place over the period of time known as the Great Depression: A time of droughts, unemployment, and economic ruin. However, this story also involves a group of people coming together to help save one of their townspeople’s livelihood, and started a movement to help others do the exact same. It’s a happy story. I pr…

When tragedy strikes, it can often define the life of those who were left behind. Some people will fall to pieces, while others carry on as best as they can. However, for one woman known as Olga of Kiev, what she did afterwards would define the history of eastern Europe for hundreds of years afterwards. Thanks for the patience, and I hope you enjoy…

As with all good holiday specials, this one comes with a content warning, which will be after the description. That being said, this is a Valentine's Day special, and what could be more romantic than the story of one of the world's most famous Frenchmen, Napoleon Bonaparte, his travels throughout his military history... and... well, after his death…

Our second season finale dives into the origin of one of the most iconic symbols of many during this time of year: The Christmas Tree. We go into how exactly people started bringing trees into their house in the middle of winter, how they started lighting them, why Thomas Edison and Martin Luther are involved, and why exactly Christmas trees were t…

This episode takes us to the coal mines of West Virginia in the early 20th century, where one the largest labor uprisings in American history occurred, resulting in hundreds of deaths, thousands of people losing their homes, a march of armed miners to the state capital, and a pitched battle which took place over five days in which over one million …

This episode takes us to the desert north of Las Vegas, to a small town named Rachel, Nevada, and the history of the area that brings thousands of sightseers to the town of 54 people. So what exactly is the history of the area surrounding Rachel, Nevada? Well, it's a lot less ranching and gambling, and a lot more... extraterrestrial. In fact, Rache…

This episode takes a deep dive into the life of Agatha Christie, the most widely read author of fiction in history. By listening, you'll find out which of her most famous characters she hated with a passion, how she started on her path of detective novel-writing, and the mystery that surrounds a two week period in her life in December 1926. Curious…

This is the second of our two Halloween episodes, and this one takes us to a surprising destination... Disneyland. What is the unexpected secret behind The Haunted Mansion? What are some people smuggling into Disneyland on a monthly basis? And most importantly, what is the signature grisly experience that many Disney janitorial staff end up having …

How do you remember those who have passed on? How can one make sure their loved ones are remembered long after they are gone, in a way safe from the shifting states of memory? In the first of our two Halloween episodes, we delve into one of the more... unusual methods of remembrance. This episode does start with a story that may be upsetting to som…

This episode is a story. A true story, but a story nonetheless. A story about a town in Georgia, and the most unusual landowner the town has ever had. A landowner that watched over the land it occupied for over a century. A landowner so unusual, that the land it owns and occupies has become an international tourist attraction. Follow us on social m…

This episode takes us back to a revelation given by some declassified CIA documents released in 2007. These documents stated that the CIA had in fact attempted to assassinate multiple world leaders in the 1960s, including Fidel Castro. But is that the whole story? Or was this just the tip of a decades-long international vendetta against the leader …

This episode focuses on a topic that anyone who has gone through high school literature class is very familiar with, but with a twist. It's also about one of the more pervasive conspiracy theories of the last two centuries, one that has not only not faded with time, but gotten more intense in some circles. This episode is about... who ACTUALLY wrot…

This episode goes all the way back to the instigating event that created Canada, and how Irish separatists are responsible for that final push towards confederation that Canada needed! Need more information? LISTEN TO THE SHOW! Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Twitter: @whatexplaincast Instagram: @whatex…

The conclusion of "King of the Bootleggers" is here! Find out what happens to Rocco Perri! Does he get out of prison? Does he still run liquor? Or has his brush with prison finally changed him enough for him to start work as a temperance worker? FIND OUT BY LISTENING! Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Twi…

This is our first two-part story for What?! Explain. , and boy, is it a doozy! Rocco Perri loomed large over Hamilton, Ontario for almost a quarter of the 20th century with bootlegging, gambling, and smuggling. He was a figure of public fascination and police frustration, only to vanish without a trace, with no evidence of what really happened to h…

Welcome back to What?! Explain. ! Thank you for being patient, and I assure you, this episode is worth the wait! In this season premiere, we dive into the career of one of the most influential comic book writers in the 20th and 21st centuries, Alan Moore. He wrote V for Vendetta, Watchmen, and hundreds of other stories throughout his career, and ye…

Season 2 of What?! Explain. premieres July 8th! Mark your calendars! Tell your friends! Tell your enemies! Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Twitter: @whatexplaincast Instagram: @whatexplaincastBy Braden Thorvaldson

Why settle for one fact when you can have TWO?! In this very special episode, Braden tells two of his favorite facts that were never quite long enough for a full episode. Listen and find out about the dog who was the subject of a American presidential memo, and the piece of art that nearly caused Braden to fall off a double-decker bus. Follow us on…

Sure, you may know Leif Eriksson, the first European explorer to set foot on North American soil, but how much do you know of his family? What events took place that put Eriksson in the exact place to be able to go on this voyage? What do ceremonial seat posts, and a fall off a horse have to do with it? LISTEN AND FIND OUT! Follow us on social medi…

Given the sheer amount of scrutiny placed upon them nowadays, politicians in the modern world have to acknowledge that their life will not be truly private as long as they hold office. This episode dives into a different time, where the single most well-kept secret in Canadian political history lasted well over twenty years without the public havin…

Ah, fame. Money, status, and best of all, an adoring audience waiting on the next thing you do. Absolutely nothing can be wrong with that... right? Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Twitter: @whatexplaincast Instagram: @whatexplaincastBy Braden Thorvaldson

Sometimes the devil is in the details, as we dive into this episode about Canada's secret Cold War Bunker system, and the tiny little detail that made it not-so-secret after all. Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Twitter: @whatexplaincast Instagram: @whatexplaincast…

Hi All! Some listeners have requested I provide them a music-less option for their listening, and I am more than willing to provide! This is the narration-only episode 6, so if you want some background music with your stories, check the other episode that went live today! Happy Holidays, everyone! In the spirit of the reason, the episode focuses on…

CONTENT WARNING AT END OF DESCRIPTION Hi All! Some listeners have requested I provide them a music-less option for their listening, and I am more than willing to provide! This is the narration-only episode 5, so if you want some background music with your stories, check the other episode that went live today! Mummies have held a place of fascinatio…

CONTENT WARNING LISTED BELOW DESCRIPTION Hi All! Some listeners have requested I provide them a music-less option for their listening, and I am more than willing to provide! This is the version of episode 5 with background music, so if you want just the sound of my soothing, soothing voice to tell you stories, check the other episode that went live…

Hi All! Some listeners have requested I provide them a music-less option for their listening, and I am more than willing to provide! This is the version of episode 4 with background music, so if you want just the sound of my soothing, soothing voice to tell you stories, check the other episode that went live today! This episode dives into the birth…

Hi All! Some listeners have requested I provide them a music-less option for their listening, and I am more than willing to provide! This is the narration-only episode 4, so if you want some background music with your stories, check the other episode that went live today! This episode dives into the birth of the only member of European royalty to b…

Hi All! Some listeners have requested I provide them a music-less option for their listening, and I am more than willing to provide! This is the narration-only episode 3, so if you want some background music with your stories, check the other episode that went live today! This episode dives into the story behind the biggest mystery in Elbert County…

Hi All! Some listeners have requested I provide them a music-less option for their listening, and I am more than willing to provide! This is the version of episode 3 with background music, so if you want just the sound of my soothing, soothing voice to tell you stories, check the other episode that went live today! This episode dives into the story…

We all want to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life every now and again, but this episode tells us about the Quietest Place on Earth... and why sometimes a little too much quiet can be a bad thing. Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Twitter: @whatexplaincast Instagram: @whatexplaincast…

In this inaugural episode of "What?! Explain.", we take a look at the life of Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, and find out the unlikely way how two of his greatest successes, "The Cat in the Hat" and "Green Eggs and Ham" were created. Follow us on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatExplainCast Twitter: @whatexplaincast …