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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

Dec. 16, 2024

Ep. 255: Who Lives At That Address?

Jon went into the fictional phone book to make a list of home addresses where TV/film/literary characters lived. And then he decided to test Kurt’s knowledge of said addresses, giving him three questions to ask to try and id…
Dec. 9, 2024

Ep. 254: Monumental Secrets

Humans love their monuments…the pyramids, the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower, the coliseum, etc. But what do we know of them except what we learn from a hard to hear guide on crowded tour when you just want to get t…
Dec. 2, 2024

Ep.253: Old Words We Really Don't Use Anymore (redux)

Jon and Kurt find amusement (they are easily amused) in discussing words and phrases that were once popular but have now gone out of style. Of course, this is just a launching point for some meandering musings.
Nov. 25, 2024

Ep.252: To Err is Human

Humans make mistakes. They also change their mind. Or think they can improve something. In all these cases, when written, these same humans are grateful for the invention of the eraser. Yes, the eraser. That wonderful piece …
Nov. 18, 2024

Ep.251: The Mighty Toothpick

Jon and Kurt take a deep dive into the history of the pedestrian, utilitarian, humble yet mighty toothpick. From its practical origins to its stint as a status symbol to its reign as the arbiter of cool to its “usage drift”,…
Nov. 11, 2024

Ep. 250: Ten Billion Donuts (redux)

Join Jon and Kurt for a rollicking, delicious, jaunt through the history of donuts and their role in pop culture. Find out why they (ok, just one of them) call donuts "the Truman Doctrine of Pastries", what Clark Gable and W…