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Smart Drivel

Smart Drivel

"Two intelligent gents accidentally teaching the masses about history, etymology and everything in-between! You'll laugh and learn, and come out with some smart drivel to take to your next party (virtual or otherwise)!"

Recent Episodes

March 25, 2024

Ep. 207: Euro-Weirded Out

As Americans, we tend to be ethnocentric when we travel. We expect, stereotypically and categorically, that things “over there” will be what they are back in the States. We seem to be shocked and/or humored by their lack of …
March 18, 2024

Ep.206: Happy Fill in the Blank Day

Holidays used to be the domain of religions, banks, or governments. Recently, however, there is a new phenomenon in nationwide–global even–celebrations as certain days on the calendar become elevated above others. There is P…
March 11, 2024

Ep.205 Ode to the Commode

In this episode, Jon and Kurt turn their attention to the room in the house where we spend a good chunk of our waking hours–the bathroom. How did this space–borne out of necessary cleaning of our bodies and expunging of our …
March 4, 2024

Ep. 204:From Wars to Stores (redux)

Jon and Kurt explore everyday products that got their start in the military. How did something originally developed for the battlefield end up in our everyday life? From the practical to the hysterical, the co-hosts examine …
Feb. 26, 2024

Ep.203: Could That Really Happen?

Humankind loves to guess, predict, and wonder at what the future holds. Countless sci fi books and movies have taken a shot at imagining what the years ahead will look like and there has been no shortage of pundits claiming …
Feb. 19, 2024

Ep.202: Do you Believe in Miracles?

With the advent of globe spanning media technology and distribution platforms in the early 20th century, millions of people have been exposed to singular events–some tragic, some horrific, and some inspiring–that have been c…