Best WCBE Podcasts (2024)

1
The Amazing Pearl Harbor Prediction of Billy Mitchell 39:44

1d ago39:44

39:44

Billy Mitchell is often referred to as the Father of the United States Air Force. He was the first one to suggest that airplanes could be used to drop bombs on enemy naval ships. But a recent visit to a museum with my father illuminated a really bizarre fact: Billy Mitchell predicted the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 17 years before it happened. …

1
Thumbless Draft Dodging Romans 12:41

8d ago12:41

12:41

To avoid conscription into the Roman Army, some Romans adopted the practice of removing their own thumbs! In this short episode, we talk about this bizarre practice! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 Bonus episodes and content available at http://Patreon.com/MichaelKent For special…

1
Stuart Little and the Hungarian Masterpiece 17:40

18d ago17:40

17:40

An Art Historian from Budapest, Hungary was watching a film with his granddaughter when he recognized a painting in the background. It was a long-lost missing masterpiece from Róbert Berény. In this episode, we tell the story of how the 1928 painting disappeared from Hungary and reappeared on the silver screen. Then we play the quiz game! Review th…

1
The Blackest Black vs. The Pinkest Pink 41:00

22d ago41:00

41:00

In 2016, Surrey Nanosystems created a substance known as "The Blackest Black." Immediately, a British artist purchased the exclusive rights to use the "Vantablack" substance in art. The art world was angry and started developing ways to strike back. In this episode, we talk about Vantablack, Anish Kapoor, Stuart Semple and more. Then we chat with H…

1
Why Sammy Davis Jr. Left the Church of Satan - REWIND 36:00

29d ago36:00

36:00

Originally released May 2nd, 2022. Was Sammy Davis Jr. a member of the Church of Satan? It's widely known that he converted to Judaism after the auto accident that took his eye, but this week, a listener sent us an article about Sammy Davis Jr. the Satanist. In this episode, we talk about the life of this multi-faceted entertainer and the claim in …

1
Kilroy Was Here: Searching for the Origin of a Meme 41:03

1M ago41:03

41:03

Throughout WWII, the same doodle with the same words started appearing everywhere on Allied bases. "Kilroy Was Here" accompanied by a sketch of a bald man peering over a wall. This tag was so ubiquitous, you couldn't be around the British or American military without seeing it scrawled into some equipment. In this episode, we explore the origins of…

1
Bamber Bridge: American Racial Tension in the UK 23:18

1M ago23:18

23:18

A little known battle during WWII didn't occur between the Axis and Allies; rather it occurred between Black and White members of the U.S. Army. In this episode, we tell the story of what happened in the small village of Bamber Bridge in England during a time of extreme racial tension. Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/th…

1
Is The Original English Accent Still Alive in Parts of the United States? - REWIND 29:53

2M ago29:53

29:53

Originally released August of 2022. On the isolated island community of Tangier, Virginia, the residents speak with a dialect that is entirely unique. It's part southern drawl, part "brogue," and some have claimed it's a relic dialect left over from the first English settlers to the area in the 1600s. But is that true? In this episode, we learn abo…

1
Rube Waddell: Major League’s Strangest Pitcher 46:47

2M ago46:47

46:47

In the late 1890s and early 1900s, Rube Waddell attracted crowds to his Major League Baseball games for several reasons. Firstly, he was one of the most dominant pitchers of the time. But perhaps the larger reason had to do with his incredibly eccentric behavior. He would run out of the stadium to chase fire trucks, leave the mound to play with pup…

1
Al Capone’s Altruism and Spoiled Milk 42:44

2M ago42:44

42:44

Was infamous mobster Al Capone the reason we have expiration dates on containers of milk? This is a story that's been told for decades and in this episode, we talk about Al Capone, the reason for the story existing and try to get to the bottom of this piece of Gangland lore. Then we chat with Comedian, Jay Black! Review this podcast at https://podc…

1
The Zombies: A Real Song and a Fake Band 43:14

2M ago43:14

43:14

New Episode! In Spring of 1969, the song "Time of the Season" was being heard everywhere in the U.S. It nearly topped the Billboard Charts and had teenagers begging for a U.S. tour from The Zombies, the British band who recorded the song. The only problem was that the band had already broken up. So in 1969, a disingenuous promoter put together seve…

1
A Special Announcement 6:17

4M ago6:17

6:17

Listen for a special announcement about The Internet Says it's True!By Michael Kent

1
The World’s Most Dangerous Amusement Park Ride - Rewind 42:42

4M ago42:42

42:42

Originally released April 25th, 2022. Action Park in Vernon, NJ became known as "Accident Park," "Traction Park," "Friction Park" and "Class-Action Park" because of the many injuries, accidents and even deaths that occurred there. One of the most infamous was the legendary "Cannonball Loop" - a water slide with a loop that was so dangerous, it was …

1
That’s Not Chicken: The Kentucky Meat Shower - Rewind 36:25

4M ago36:25

36:25

Originally released Dec. 19, 2022. We've heard the expression "raining cats and dogs." We've even heard of small fish or frogs occasionally coming down with the rain. But in a tiny town in Kentucky, it once rained MEAT for several minutes. In this episode, we dig into this strange story and try to find out how it all happened. Then we play the quic…

1
Jailing Political Opponents: Abraham Lincoln and Habeas Corpus - Rewind 32:33

5M ago32:33

32:33

Originally released Nov. 22, 2021. Abraham Lincoln is known as "The Great Emancipator." But not many people know that during the Civil War, he jailed as many as 2,000 political opponents without charges or trial. The story in this episode revolves around what happened in Baltimore, Maryland in 1861 and why it led to the Mayor, the Police Chief, the…

1
The Memphis Pyramid and the Crystal Skull - Rewind 50:04

5M ago50:04

50:04

Originally released Oct. 17, 2022. When construction workers were on top of the giant pyramid in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, they discovered a small metal box welded to the structure. Inside, they were shocked to find a small crystal skull. The story of how the skull got there has become Memphis Legend. In this episode, we talk about the Crystal S…

1
Peter the Eagle: The U.S. Mint’s Unofficial Pet Bird 38:32

5M ago38:32

38:32

Did you know that several US Coins patterned their Bald Eagle after an actual pet bird that hung around the U.S. Mint? Peter the Eagle was an unofficial employee of the Mint in Philadelphia from 1830-1836 and they immortalized their avian friend. In this episode, we talk about Ben Franklin, the Eagle/Turkey controversy in the decision to honor a "N…

1
William Rankin: The Man Who Fell Through a Cloud 45:02

5M ago45:02

45:02

NEW EPISODE! When he was forced to eject from his F-8 Crusader in 1959, Lt. Col. William Rankin found himself falling through a thunderstorm. To this day, he's only one of two people to survive a fall through a cumulonimbus thunderstorm. In this episode, we tell the story of Rankin's harrowing ordeal and then play the quiz game with Comedian Lisa B…

1
Abraham Lincoln Invented the Chokeslam - Rewind 41:20

5M ago41:20

41:20

Originally released 5/9/2022. The "chokeslam" is the move that wrestlers do where they slam their opponent to the ground after lifting them up by the neck. The rumor is that it was invented by our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Could this possibly be true? In this episode, we investigate the origin of the move, it's modern versions and find out t…

1
The Thing: When The Soviets Spied and Got Caught- REWIND 1:01:28

6M ago1:01:28

1:01:28

Originally released 5/23/22. In 1945, a wooden plaque of the "Great Seal" was given to the United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union. It hung on the wall by his desk for years until it was discovered in 1951 to be a secret Soviet listening device. In this episode, we tell the story of "The Thing" or "The Great Seal Bug" and how it came to be. Th…

1
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker: Defying Gender Norms During the Civil War 40:04

6M ago40:04

40:04

Mary Edwards Walker lived a life so incredible that we had to cut a lot of her accomplishments out to fit into this podcast. But her story is one of perseverance, strength and very definition of a person marching to the beat of their own drum. In this episode, we talk about Mary Edwards Walker's efforts to treat the injured during the American Civi…

1
Self Surgery: Leonid Rogozov Removed His Own Appendix 47:50

6M ago47:50

47:50

Imagine the moment you're holding a scalpel over your own skin, knowing you need to cut into yourself in order to save your life. Leonid Rogozov was doctor who was a novice at surgery, but found himself needing to do exactly that in order to survive. In this episode, we talk about self-surgery and tell the story of the man who performed his own app…

1
Honus Wagner T206 : Scandal & The Journey of a Baseball Card 51:01

6M ago51:01

51:01

Collectibles teach us that the value of a thing is whatever someone is willing to pay for it. And this is especially true for baseball cards. Literal pieces of paper are sometimes worth millions. This story follows the journey of the "Gretzky T206 Wagner," a rare baseball card worth millions and the scandal attached to the card. Also stay tuned for…

1
Birdman & The Mysterious Toynbee Tiles 45:08

7M ago45:08

45:08

Sometime in the 1980s, mysterious "tiles" started appearing to be inlaid into city streets in cities across America, and even in South America. They all had similar lettering, style and themes. But no one knew how they got there. A 2011 documentary may have discovered the truth about the tiles, but to this day, no one has ever claimed responsibilit…

1
Stealing Thunder: John Dennis & The Real Story Behind the Phrase 44:01

7M ago44:01

44:01

Did you ever wonder where we got the phrase, "Stealing Someone's Thunder?" It turns out, it has a very literal origin in 18th century English theater. In this episode, we talk about how theater terms have entered the common vocabulary and examine the story of John Dennis and his wondrous thunder machine. Then we chat with avid theater-goer and worl…

1
The Amazing Story Behind the Bluetooth Logo 43:30

7M ago43:30

43:30

The Bluetooth Logo is universally recognizable since showing up on just about every smart device in the early 2000s. But have you ever wondered where the name and logo came from? In this episode, we talk about "Harald Bluetooth" the Viking King of Denmark and why his name was used for the technology. Then we chat with Comedian & Magician Matt Donne…

1
Pusha T: A Rapper Who Wrote Music You’ve All Heard 40:45

8M ago40:45

40:45

The McDonalds "I'm Lovin' It" has to be one of the most recognizable jingles in all of advertising. Did you know that a rapper best known for lyrics about his past selling dope may be partially responsible? Not only that, Pusha T always gets paid every time Arby's airs an ad. In this episode, we talk about famous people who wrote songs you don't kn…

1
A Hidden Gem at a Government Auction - REWIND 23:12

8M ago23:12

23:12

Originally released November 14, 2022. A recent government auction listed a "1989 Airstream Executive Air Coach" with little to no details about its history. Internet sleuths soon discovered that the RV was an important part of space exploration history! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530…

1
The German Christmas Pickle: Tradition or Marketing? REWIND 11:50

8M ago11:50

11:50

Originally released December 28, 2020. Many Americans have heard of the age-honored German tradition of hanging Pickle-shaped ornament on the Christmas Tree. But is it really a tradition in Germany? This episode explores the truth and myths behind this German "tradition." Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-say…

1
Nazis in America: The Madison Square Garden Rally - Rewind 53:41

8M ago53:41

53:41

Originally released August 15, 2022. In 1939, as many as 22,000 Americans met for a Nazi rally in New York's Madison Square Garden. It was an event of the German-American Bund and attendees cheered while listening to anti-semitic, Nazi-sympathizing speeches. It's hard to believe that this type of thing could happen in America, but it's true. In thi…

1
The Red Ghost and The United States Camel Corps - Rewind 44:10

9M ago44:10

44:10

Originally released February 14, 2022. Prior to the Civil War, the United States Army experimented with using Camels to transport cargo through the American West. The Camel Corps program would have been considered largely successful if it weren't for the war. In this episode, we tell the story about how the camels were acquired, tested and the unli…

1
Adobe Flash and The Demise of a Chinese Railroad - Rewind 30:42

9M ago30:42

30:42

Originally released May 31, 2021. When Adobe announced it would be discontinuing Flash in 2017, developers started replacing it with newer, more robust software. But one railroad system in Dalian, China didn't get the memo. When it was finally globally disabled in January of 2021, the entire railroad was disabled. In this episode, I get nostalgic a…

1
London Bridge is Falling Down (and coming to America) 42:30

9M ago42:30

42:30

Did you know that London Bridge is in Arizona? In this episode, we talk about the history of London Bridge, it's several iterations and how it came to exist in Lake Havasu City, AZ. Then we play the quiz with Comedian, Writer and Actor Dan Wilbur! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-internet-says-it-s-true/id1530853589 …

1
Sea Orphan: The Story of the Duperrault Family 32:20

9M ago32:20

32:20

When the Captain of a yacht was rescued in the Atlantic Ocean, he told a story about how everyone else perished when the yacht sank. Then one of the other members of the party - an 11-year old girl - was rescued and told the truth. And the story that little Terry Jo Duperrault told was very different than the Captain's. She had experienced a harrow…

1
The Hartlepool Monkey Hangers 42:08

10M ago42:08

42:08

There's an incredibly strange legend surrounding the port city of Hartlepool, England. The legend involves how the town decided to hang a monkey for being a French Spy. In this episode, we examine whether or not there's any truth to the legend, the way the town celebrates, and an unusual Mayoral race. Then we yap yap with Comedy Magician Ben Young!…

1
A Halloween Digest - SUPER REWIND EPISODE 51:00

10M ago51:00

51:00

It's Halloween! And for this spooky holiday, we've compiled 5 of our spookiest episodes! Enjoy hearing about: - a man who should be famous for inventing a veterinary device, but instead became famous for murder - a popular Mexican dish that has its origins in human sacrifice - a strange way that Victorian English people used mummies - what happened…

1
Swindled in Wichita Falls: The World’s Littlest Skyscraper 37:38

10M ago37:38

37:38

The World's Littlest Skyscraper is a 100-year old office building in the small city of Wichita Falls, Texas. It was built in 1919 and surprised everyone when it was completed, because they were expecting to see the 6th largest building in the world. Instead, they got a 4-story tiny brick structure. In this episode, we find out how it came about and…

1
Petty Revenge: Warren Beatty and Dick Tracy 47:47

10M ago47:47

47:47

In 2009 and again in 2023, Warren Beatty shows up on TV in the middle of the night on an obscure interview-style show. He's dressed as his 1990 Dick Tracy character and the appearances are just BIZARRE. That's because they have one sole purpose: to keep the Dick Tracy rights in Beatty's name. In this episode, we talk about the Dick Tracy movie and …

1
Cooping, Election Fraud & Edgar Allan Poe 45:43

11M ago45:43

45:43

The cause of death of famed American Author Edgar Allan Poe has been a mystery for 174 years. But could it have been the result of a form of election fraud? In this episode, we talk about election fraud throughout history, including recent claims, then tell the story about the mysterious conditions surrounding the death of "The Raven" author. Then …

1
The Guy Who Invented Hand Washing 1:01:24

11M ago1:01:24

1:01:24

Ignaz Semmelweis was a Hungarian Physician who hypothesized about the importance of washing hands for hygiene. It was a very particular case study in Vienna that led him to his conclusion, but no one took him seriously. It wasn't until after his death that he was recognized as a medical revolutionary. In this episode, we talk about the story, inclu…

1
Miraculous Sniffers: Smelling Parkinsons 40:08

11M ago40:08

40:08

Joy Milne found that her husband had a particular smell. Something she couldn't place, but something that was off. It turns out that Joy could actually smell his Parkinson's Disease long before he was ever diagnosed. In this episode, we talk about how both dogs and humans can sniff out illness in an almost miraculous way! Then we chat with Mentalis…

1
New Atlantis and the Other Hemingway 45:53

11M ago45:53

45:53

Imagine tying a bunch of rafts together, floating it in the ocean, and then claiming it was an independent island nation. That's exactly what Ernest Hemingway's youngest brother, Leicester did in 1964. In this episode, we learn about his quest to establish the island nation of "New Atlantis." Then we chat with the guy behind "614 Feast," Anthony O'…

1
BONUS EPISODE! Annual Patron Drive Episode 3 23:14

11M ago23:14

23:14

As a thank you to our listeners, and as part of a patron drive, we're releasing excerpts from Joke/Story/Trick, a live web show with amazing guests telling incredible stories. In this special bonus episode, we hear stories from Comedians Dan Wilbur, Amma Marfo and Jonathan Burns. When you join our Patreon at http://patreon.com/michaelkent, you get …

1
Where’s Tom Browning? The Missing Pitcher 34:50

11M ago34:50

34:50

During game 2 of the 1990 World Series, the Cincinnati Reds faced an unusual problem. They couldn't find one of their pitchers. In this episode, we tell the story of Tom Browning and why he went missing during this iconic baseball game. Then stay tuned for a special trivia section for listeners at the end! Review this podcast at https://podcasts.ap…

1
BONUS EPISODE! Annual Patron Drive Episode 2 26:50

12M ago26:50

26:50

As a thank you to our listeners, and as part of a patron drive, we're releasing excerpts from Joke/Story/Trick, a live web show with amazing guests telling incredible stories. In this special bonus episode, we hear stories from Celebrity comedy Writer Bruce Vilanch, Comedian & Actor Hal Sparks and and TV Journalist Cameron Fontana. When you join ou…

1
Unsinkable: The Man Who Wouldn’t Die 49:00

12M ago49:00

49:00

Imagine living through one disaster at sea, only to suffer another disaster months later, then again...and again, again and again. Arthur John Priest survived as many as 4 sinking ships and 6 total sea disasters in his short career as a coal stoker. His tale is one of luck. Whether you choose to see it as bad luck or good luck depends on your point…

1
BONUS EPISODE! Annual Patron Drive Episode 1 26:19

12M ago26:19

26:19

As a thank you to our listeners, and as part of a patron drive, we're releasing excerpts from Joke/Story/Trick, a live web show with amazing guests telling incredible stories. In this special bonus episode, we hear stories from United States Congressman Mark Pocan, Comedy Writer Jimmy Mak and Comedy Magician Chipper Lowell. When you join our Patreo…

1
The World’s Smallest National Park: Saving a Tropical Island 33:48

12M ago33:48

33:48

When Brendan Grimshaw bought a tiny island in the Seychelles for £8,000 in the early 60s, he was just looking for a home. That eventually turned into a lifelong obsession with preservation and protection. This is the story of how he created the world's smallest national park. In this episode, we tell the story, then play the quiz with hypnotist Jas…

1
Mass Hysteria and The War of the Worlds - REWIND 57:04

1y ago57:04

57:04

Originally released July 25, 2022. Did a radio broadcast about Aliens cause mass Hysteria in America in 1938? The Internet Says...maybe. Orson Welles's radio performance of H.G. Wells's War of the Worlds has become infamous as causing panic throughout the U.S. when people thought it was a real news report. But is the story overblown? In this episod…

1
The Man Who Survived BOTH Atomic Bombs in Japan: Tsutomu Yamaguchi - REWIND 43:18

1y ago43:18

43:18

Originally released March 21, 2022. Tsutomu Yamaguchi was one of the only people to survive both the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. He was the only one officially recognized as a double survivor by the Japanese government. In this episode, we tell his remarkable tale of survival. Then we chat with comedian Dan Wilbur. Review thi…

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