Hosts Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson dig into the internet's vast and curious ecosystem of online communities to find untold histories, unsolved mysterie...
Barry Enderwick got kicked out of college. Then, in the early aughts, he became the first graphic designer for a little start-up media company you may have heard of: Netflix. But today, the Internet knows Barry as the guy behind the beloved and wildly popular "Sandwiches of History" accounts, where he recreates historical sandwich recipes from old cookbooks and rates and reviews them.
He just released his first cookbook, "Sandwiches of History the Cookbook: All the Best (and Most Surprising) Things People Have Put Between Slices of Bread," and he's taking the show on the road, including a stop at WBUR CitySpace later this month.
But first, Barry joined Ben and Amory from his kitchen in the Bay Area to make the triple-decker sandwich that graces the cover of his debut cookbook, and to talk about how Sandwiches of History came to be. To quote Barry's signature phrase, we think you should give this episode "a GO!"
Show notes:
Sandwiches of History on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit
"Sandwiches of History the Cookbook: All the Best (and Most Surprising) Things People Have Put Between Slices of Bread"
Sandwiches of History: Live! at WBUR CitySpace
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34:08
Episodes We Love: Swedengate
When a Redditor said that he was expected to stay in his Swedish friend's bedroom while the friend ate dinner with his family, the internet exploded with hot takes. Is Sweden the most inhospitable country in the world? We talk to the individuals at the center of the Swedengate saga, including the OP himself. We also delve into how questioning cultural norms can shed light on Sweden's reckoning with nationalism, racism, and xenophobia.
Credits: This episode was written and produced by Amory Siverston. Mixing and sound design by Matt Reed. Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson are the co-hosts.
This episode originally aired on July 15, 2022.
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41:30
You'll never believe what happens in our MrBeast explainer...
Jimmy Donaldson — AKA "MrBeast" — has taken YouTube by storm, racking up more than 330 million subscribers with his cleverly edited videos of stunts ranging from performative philanthropy to Fear Factor-esque challenges. Ryan Broderick, creator of the Garbage Day newsletter and host of the podcast Panic World, tells Ben and Amory about the awkward past, the controversial present, and the uncertain future of MrBeast.
Show notes:
Panic World's MrBeast episode with Ben and Amory
Garbage Day, the newsletter
"In the Belly of MrBeast" (Time)
"Willing to Die for MrBeast (and $5 Million)" (The New York Times)
"From baking to MrBeast: Meet the YouTuber taking on the platform’s biggest creator" (NBC News)
Credits: This episode was produced by Amory Sivertson and Grant Irving. Mix and sound design by Paul Vaitkus. It was hosted by Ben Brock Johnson, Amory Sivertson, and Ryan Broderick.
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44:19
The Internet Does Its Thing with Luigi Mangione
The shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson captured the internet's attention last week. Then, a suspect, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, was arrested, and social media really went wild. Why, in a week of historic headlines from around the world, did this story captivate so many, so thoroughly?
Show notes:
Suspect in CEO’s Killing Had Discussed His Health Struggles on Reddit (The New York Times)
r/GetNoted (Reddit)
What Can We Learn From the C.E.O. Shooting Suspect’s Goodreads History? (The New York Times)
Credits: This episode was produced by Grace Tatter. Sivertson. Mix and sound design by Paul Vaitkus. It was hosted by Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson.
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26:49
Stick Nation
Anyone who has been a kid before knows that there are few joys in life like finding a really cool stick.
That is the basis of Official Stick Reviews, a viral account on Instagram that has amassed 2.5 million followers in just a year and a half.
But what is it about sticks that inspires this universal enthusiasm? In this episode, Amory and Ben join producer Frannie Monahan for a walk in the woods to look for answers, and some sticks of their own.
Show notes:
Official Stick Reviews (@officialstickreviews)
Sticks. And the People Who Love Them. (NYT)
Earliest Evidence of Wooden Construction Uncovered (Scientific American)
Credits: This episode was produced by Frannie Monahan. Mix and sound design by Paul Vaitkus. It was hosted by Frannie Monahan, Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson.
Hosts Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson dig into the internet's vast and curious ecosystem of online communities to find untold histories, unsolved mysteries, and other jaw-dropping stories online and IRL.
New Zealand