An Ounce - For Your Consideration

Why do we trust people who sound smart—even when they’re not? Discover the psychology behind smooth talk and confident nonsense. This episode of An Ounce unpacks The Eloquence Illusion—how polished words and perfect delivery can disguise empty thinking. From corporate spin to “quantum detox,” we explore why we fall for what sounds right instead of what is right. Learn how to recognize verbal sleight-of-hand and keep your brain one step ahead of the charm. Like, subscribe, and share if this story surprised you. Related Episodes / Playlists: The Distasteful History of Toothpaste – how bad breath built a billion-dollar industry https://youtu.be/wq_H-8_pKKI Why People Stopped Smiling in Photos – culture, cameras, and changing faces https://youtu.be/l3xddLnkqME 📚 References: • Reber, R. et al. (1998). Processing Fluency and Aesthetic Pleasure: Is Beauty in the Perceiver’s Processing Experience? • Historical Advertising Archives: Camel & Lysol print ads (public domain). • Mayo Clinic & NIH resources on Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT). • Common English language paradoxes — “cargo/driveway” examples from folk linguistics. Credits: Music: Licensed via YouTube Audio Library Images: Wikimedia Commons, Picryl, Public Domain & Open Government sources Hashtags: #EloquenceIllusion #CriticalThinking #AnOuncePodcast ________________________________________ 🎯 Chapters (Timestamps) 00:00 – The Beautiful Sound of Nonsense 01:19 – Why Smooth Equals Smart 02:39 – The Museum of Beautiful Nonsense 04:39 – When Absurdity Becomes Truth 05:35 – An Ounce 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

The Piper Alpha oil platform explosion killed 167 men and changed offshore safety forever. This is how a chain of ignored warnings turned the North Sea into a firestorm. And how another disaster, Deep Water Horizon, was foreshadowed by Piper. On July 6th, 1988, the North Sea lit up like a second sun. The Piper Alpha disaster wasn’t just an accident—it was engineered by complacency, cost-cutting, and a system built to fail. This An Ounce episode dives into the chain of decisions that made disaster inevitable: missing paperwork, disabled safety systems, and production pressure that drowned out caution. From the first spark to the last survivor, this is the story of a night that reshaped offshore drilling worldwide. If you’ve ever wondered how safety rules are written in blood, this is it. 👉 Watch more Disaster Files on An Ounce, where we uncover how small oversights become historic catastrophes. 📺 Related episode: “The Ghost Train That Destroyed a Town” — the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster that echoes the same lessons of system failure. https://youtu.be/8r4543HXmms Like, subscribe, and share to support stories that outsmart the obvious. #PiperAlpha #DisasterFiles #AnOuncePodcast #NorthSeaOil #deepwaterhorizon #SafetyLessons #IndustrialDisasters #FireInvestigation #EnergyHistory ________________________________________ ⏱️ 3. Chapters 00:00 — The Night the North Sea Burned 00:50 — The Chain of Failure 03:35 — Event Progression and Response 05:22 — Outcomes and Recovery 06:20 — Comparison, Context, and Lessons 07:59 — An Ounce ________________________________________ 🌐 4. References (Plain-Text URLs) • Cullen Inquiry Final Report (1990): https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20090805144911/http://www.hse.gov.uk/aboutus/meetings/iacs/osd/piperalpha.pdf • UK HSE – Piper Alpha Inquiry Site (Open Government License v3.0): https://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/piperalpha.htm • BBC Archive – Piper Alpha Disaster Overview: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-44749392 • Energy Institute – Lessons from Piper Alpha: https://publishing.energyinst.org/topics/major-accident-prevention/piper-alpha • Survivor Steve Rae Interview (Energy Voice): https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/243942/steve-rae-piper-alpha-survivor ________________________________________ 🏷️ 5. Tags (Comma-Separated) Piper Alpha, Piper Alpha Disaster, North Sea Explosion, North Sea Oil, Offshore Disaster, Oil Rig Explosion, Occidental Petroleum, Cullen Inquiry, Offshore Safety, Disaster Files, An Ounce Podcast, Jim Fugate, Industrial Safety, Fire Investigation, Deepwater Horizon Comparison, 1988 Explosion, Energy History, Safety Culture, Preventable Disasters, Piper Alpha Documentary, Piper Alpha Explained, Piper Alpha Investigation. Credits: Image and Video: By subscription through Getty and iStock, and: Sources & Licenses Images and reference materials from the Piper Alpha Disaster Inquiry (1988 – 1990) are reproduced with permission under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL). © Crown copyright, UK Health and Safety Executive. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 – https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Some images have been cropped, color-graded, or composited for clarity. No endorsement by the HSE or the UK Government is implied. For the full Inquiry and reports, visit: https://www.hse.gov.uk/offshore/piper-alpha-disaster-public-inquiry.htm Music: Ebb by Density and Time via YouTube Audio Library 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

There are zombies walking among us — but not the kind you’ve seen in horror films. These monsters don’t eat brains. They drain confidence, independence, and joy. This Halloween episode of An Ounce exposes the terrifying truth: how the “zombie pathogen” infects abusers, how they hunt, what they feed on, and—most importantly—how their prey can break free. In this episode: • The hidden origin of these zombies. • How they stalk and select their prey. • The slow harvest of confidence and joy. • Why they lash out when threatened. • The cure that starves the monster. 👻 A Halloween allegory with a real message: you’re not infected, you’re being harvested. And you can walk away. 👉 Tap subscribe so you don’t miss the next twist in history. Related Episodes/Playlists: • The Ghost Train That Destroyed a Town – [insert link] • The Forgotten War That Shaped America – [insert link] • Playlist: Dark & Strange Stories – [insert link] 📚 References: (Allegorical episode – no direct sources. Optional: drop in hotline/resource links here.) “If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, there is help and hope. These resources are free, confidential, and available 24/7:” 📚 References / Resources for Help • U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline – https://www.thehotline.org | Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788 • RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) – https://www.rainn.org | Call 1-800-656-4673 • SAMHSA Helpline (substance abuse & mental health, for related crises) – https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline | Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) 🌍 International: • UN Women Global Directory of Domestic Violence Hotlines – https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/global-resources • UK – National Domestic Abuse Helpline – https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk | Call 0808 2000 247 • Canada – ShelterSafe (connects to nearest women’s shelter) – https://sheltersafe.ca Credits: Music: [list if used] Images: [list if used] #AnOuncePodcast #Halloween #ZombieStory ________________________________________ 🎯 Chapters (Timestamps) 00:00 – Intro: A real monster story 01:02 – Origin Story 02:17 – The Monster Speaks 05:00 – The Capture 07:15 – Hope: breaking free of the harvest 08:51 – A Word of Warning 09:22 – An Ounce 09:50 – Finding Help ________________________________________ Credits: Music: Radar, Deified, and Stats by The Gray Room, Density & Time via YouTube Audio Library 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

What if the very struggles you avoid—the pain, the awkwardness, the breakdown—were the only path to strength and freedom? In this episode of An Ounce, we explore the lessons of the chick in the egg and the caterpillar in the cocoon. Both teach us a universal truth: without struggle, there is no growth. Without hardship, there is no flight. If you’ve ever been in your own “caterpillar soup” moment, this is for you. 👍 Like, subscribe, and share if this story surprised you. 💬 Share your own “breaking free” story in the comments—I’d love to hear it. 👉 You might also enjoy this related An Ounce episode: Ruby Crane and the Blind Soldiers: Kindness in the Dark - https://youtu.be/O8O6Hb6-veQ #Inspiration #Motivation #AnOuncePodcast #Growth ________________________________________ 🎯 Chapters 00:00 – Struggle is Necessary 01:04 – Baby Birds, Tougher than Bikers 02:02 – Caterpillars and Horror-Movie Goo 03:13 – Formation, not Failure 04:01 – Pulling it Together 04:50 – Anecdote 06:08 – An Ounce (Adjust after editing/recording.) ________________________________________ 📚 References Toastmasters Speech: The Blessing of Hard Things (Jim Fugate, 2025). Biology basics: bird hatching, butterfly metamorphosis (public domain). Fire service personal anecdote. ________________________________________ Credits: Images: iStock, Getty, by subscription. Music: Sata Yuga by Jesse Gallagher via YouTube Music 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

In 1944, the Hartford Circus Fire turned the “Greatest Show on Earth” into one of America’s deadliest disasters. Flames consumed the Big Top in less than 10 minutes. This episode of An Ounce takes you inside the Hartford Circus Fire — the spark, the panic, and the aftermath. Why was the tent waterproofed with gasoline and paraffin? Why were families trapped under burning canvas? And what lessons from earlier fires like Triangle Shirt waist and Coconut Grove went ignored until it was too late? If this story struck you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone else who should hear it. 👉 For another fire that reshaped history, watch London Ablaze: Tragedy, Blame, and Rebirth in 1666. https://youtu.be/zB4575siib0 #DisasterHistory #HartfordCircusFire #AnOunce ________________________________________ 🕒 CHAPTERS 00:00 – Hook: The Day the Clowns Cried 00:50 – The Before the Spark 01:38 – The Spark: Wallendas & the First Flames 02:33 – Escalation & Exits 04:15 – Response 04:49 – Outcomes 06:15 – Lessons, Changes, What was Missed 07:43 – An Ounce ________________________________________ 📚 REFERENCES • NFPA Quarterly (July 1944) – Hartford Circus Holocaust • Volunteer Firemen magazine (Aug 1944) – eyewitness accounts • Hartford Courant archives: https://www.courant.com/hartford-circus-fire/ • Connecticut State Library: https://libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/hcf • NFPA retrospective: https://www.nfpa.org/news-archive/2014/nfpa-remembers-hartford-circus-fire ________________________________________ Credits Images: Images and videos from iStock and Getty by subscription. Additional Images through the Library of Congress, Archive.org, and Wikimedia. Some image a representative only and not from the 1944 event, and some images are AI generated art inspired by contemporary sources. Music: Maestro Tlakaelel by Jesse Galagher via YouTube audio archive. 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

What if Joseph Merrick, the so-called “Elephant Man,” had been born beautiful? This episode explores his life, his genius, and what society still struggles to see: elusive humanity. They called him a monster. History remembers him as the Elephant Man. But Joseph Merrick was far more than his face. This episode explores his real story — his suffering, his dignity, and the haunting “what if” of how different life might have been if he had looked “normal.” After watching, you’ll see how cultural awkwardness and silence still shape how we treat difference today — and why Merrick’s story still matters. Call to Action (rotation): • Like, subscribe, and share if this story surprised you. • Tap subscribe so you don’t miss the next twist in history. Episode/Playlist Links: • The Distasteful History of Toothpaste – Why smiles once meant something very different. https://youtu.be/wq_H-8_pKKI • The Smile That Changed Culture – Why people didn’t smile in old photos. https://youtu.be/l3xddLnkqME • Playlist: An Ounce Podcast – Historical Lives & Legends https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvguDu9efxtoRfoCHh3ZqVEXIJ1zBpwLW #JosephMerrick #HistoryWhatIf #AnOuncePodcast ________________________________________ 🎯 Chapters (Timestamps) 00:00 – The Monster or the Man? 01:03 – Life 01:45 – The Freak Show Years 02:33 – A Doctor Sees the Person 03:28 – What If He Were Beautiful? 04:26 – Elusive Humanity 05:14 – An Ounce ________________________________________ 📚 References (Spelled-out URLs for source material; add before upload. Example entries below) • BBC History: Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man – https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/merrick_joseph.shtml • Science Museum UK: Who Was the Elephant Man? – https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/joseph-merrick-elephant-man • Biography.com: Joseph Merrick – https://www.biography.com/person/joseph-merrick • Royal London Hospital Archives – https://archives.history.qmul.ac.uk _____ Images: iStock and Getty, Wikimedia, and Picryl Public Domain images annotated in video. Also images generates by A.I. Music: Images of Tomorrow by Unicorn Heads Via YouTube Music Library. 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

Think you know history? From Marie Antoinette’s fake cake quote to a pope putting a corpse on trial, we debunk 10 myths and reveal the weird truths behind them. You know the story — or so you thought. This episode of An Ounce dives into 10 famous “facts” that never happened, plus a few true events so strange you’ll swear we made them up. From Columbus’s wrong math to political window-tossing in Prague, we’re swapping history class clichés for the real — and often ridiculous — truth. It’s fast-paced, insightful, and packed with twists that outsmart the obvious. What surprised you the most? Drop a comment below. If you could rewrite one moment in history, what would you change? 👉 Like, subscribe, and share for more smart, surprising storytelling. 🎥 Related episode: The Corpse on Trial: Pope Formosus and the Cadaver Synod – https://youtu.be/sd81dgO6Wpw 🎥 Related episode: Operation ‘Paul Bunyan’ in the Korean DMZ - https://youtu.be/lAYCcG8Xuqo #HistoricalMyths #WeirdHistory #AnOuncePodcast #OutsmartTheObvious ________________________________________ ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Intro: What You “Know” Is Wrong 00:45 – Marie Antoinette’s Cake Problem 01:44 – The Pope Who Put a Corpse on Trial 02:35 – Medieval People and the Shape of the Earth 03:42 – Defenestrations of Prague 04:23 – Franklin’s Kite and the Real Experiment 05:12 – Operation Paul Bunyan: The Tree War 06:14 – Nero and the Nonexistent Fiddle 06:48 – Jeremy Bentham Attends Meetings (While Dead) 07:33 – Great Wall of China from Space? Nope. 08:02 – Medieval Toilets and the Groom of the Stool 09:17 – Big Picture: History’s Bad Habits ________________________________________ 📚 References (Fully Written Out URLs): • Marie Antoinette quote – Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marie-Antoinette-queen-of-France • Cadaver Synod – Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/cadaver-synod-medieval-trial-dead-pope-180971919/ • Columbus & Earth’s Shape – History.com: https://www.history.com/topics/exploration/columbus • Defenestrations of Prague – Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/event/Defenestration-of-Prague • Franklin’s Kite Experiment – Franklin Institute: https://www.fi.edu/benjamin-franklin/kite-key-experiment • Operation Paul Bunyan – U.S. Army: https://www.army.mil/article/112622 • Nero & Rome Fire – National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/nero • Jeremy Bentham’s Auto-Icon – University College London: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bentham-project/who-was-jeremy-bentham • Great Wall visibility – NASA: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/blogs/earthmatters/2012/05/11/the-great-wall-of-china-from-space/ • Medieval Toilets – Historic England: https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/disability-history/medieval-toilets ________________________________________ Credits: Images and Video: Via iStock and Getty, Picryl, Wikimedia, and A.I. generated as noted in the video. Music: Via the YouTube Audio Library: Clouds Lifting, Country Funk, For our Friends, Merry Go Round, and Tomorrow’s Light by Telecasted. 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

In 1835, a New York newspaper convinced the public that intelligent bat-men lived on the moon—and millions believed it. This is the true story of the first viral media hoax in history. 🌓 They Fell for This?! Bat-Men on the Moon and the First Fake News Frenzy In August of 1835, The New York Sun published a story claiming that a new telescope had revealed intelligent life on the moon—complete with beaver-bat creatures, sapphire cities, and lunar philosophers. It was bizarre, bold... and completely fake. Yet millions believed it. This episode of An Ounce explores how the Great Moon Hoax fooled the public, what it says about our need to believe, and how the echoes of that story still ripple through the internet age. 🔍 Featuring original engravings from the hoax and eerie parallels to today's fake news. 📌 If you enjoy true stories with strange twists, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment! 💬 QUESTION: What modern hoax do you think future generations will laugh at? Let us know below. #FakeNews #BatmenOnTheMoon #MoonHoax #GreatMoonHoax #HistoryPodcast #AnOuncePodcast #MediaHoaxes #19thCenturyNews #TrueHistory #YouTubeHistory ________________________________________ Chapters 00:00 – They Discovered Bat-Men on the Moon?! 00:37 – The Headline That Fooled the Nation 02:06 – The Public Goes Lunar-Loco 03:27 – The Big Reveal: It Was All Made Up 04:39 – Why We Wanted It to Be True 05:43 – From 1835 to Today: We Still Fall For It 07:01 – An Ounce of Wisdom ________________________________________ References: • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Moon_Hoax General overview of the 1835 Great Moon Hoax, including publication details and public reaction. • https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-great-moon-hoax Brief summary article from History.com marking the publication of the hoax in The New York Sun. • https://www.britannica.com/story/the-great-moon-hoax-of-1835-was-sci-fi-passed-off-as-news Encyclopedia Britannica article analyzing how the hoax resembled early science fiction and fooled the public. • https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Moon_Hoax_Bat_Man.jpg Public domain engraving of a “moon bat-man” used in the original hoax illustrations—ideal for visual reference. ________________________________________ Credits: Visual: Images via iStock, Getty, and Picryl. Additional representative images generated with AI. Music: The Dark Glow of the Mountains by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Source: http://chriszabriskie.com/darkglow/ Artist: http://chriszabriskie.com/ 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

These famous names weren’t born famous. From Bob Dylan to David Bowie, discover how six stars reinvented themselves—starting with a name change. What do Bob Dylan, Katy Perry, and David Bowie have in common? None of those were their original names. In this final episode of You Won’t Believe Who These Names Belong To, we explore how six celebrities—and two curveball bonus entries—changed their public identity by changing their names. This isn’t just trivia. It’s transformation. You’ll meet artists who dodged confusion, dropped Roman numerals, or launched candy-coated personas to take control of their legacy. ⭐ Who will surprise you the most? ⭐ Which name feels like a total mismatch? ⭐ And what does your name say about you? 🧠 Watch the whole series and see how a name—just a name—can change everything. 👉 Like, subscribe, and share this with someone who thinks Engelbert Humperdinck was a Muppet. 📺 Catch more surprising stories on An Ounce: real history, weird twists, and small things that changed everything. 🎧 You might also like: Watch How Four Marines Created a Rock Legend—By Accident — The bizarre fight that changed Peter Cetera’s voice, and music history. https://youtu.be/CYsCINKQJaA #NameChanges #CelebrityOrigins #AnOuncePodcast #TrueStories #popculturehistory ________________________________________ 🟨Chapters 00:00 - Intro: The Power of a Name 00:45 - Robert Zimmerman → Bob Dylan 01:40 - Thomas Mapother IV → Tom Cruise 02:41 - Katheryn Hudson → Katy Perry 03:45 - Faith Perry → Faith Hill 04:35 - Ruth Elizabeth Davis → Bette Davis 05:41 - David Robert Jones → David Bowie 07:00 - Bonus: Engelbert Humperdinck (Real!) 07:40 - Bonus: Reese Witherspoon (Also Real!) 08:29 - Final Thoughts: The Reinvention Game ________________________________________ 🟩 References • Bob Dylan – Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Dylan • Tom Cruise – Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tom-Cruise • Katy Perry – Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Katy-Perry • Faith Hill – Wikipedia (no Britannica entry): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_Hill • Bette Davis – Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bette-Davis • David Bowie – Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/David-Bowie • Engelbert Humperdinck – Wikipedia (biographical focus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engelbert_Humperdinck_(singer) • Reese Witherspoon – Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Reese-Witherspoon Credits: Images via iStock and Getty, additional images through Wikimedia (as noted in video) Music: A New Orleans Crawfish Bowl by Unicorn Heads via YouTube Music ________________________________________ 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

You know the name—or so you think. From Whitey Bulger to Adolf Eichmann, discover six real-life fugitives, impostors, and legends who used fake names to vanish—or to become unforgettable. True stories stranger than fiction. This episode of An Ounce reveals the hidden lives behind six infamous name changes—mobsters hiding by the beach, war criminals living next door, con men becoming anyone they wanted, and outlaws rewriting history. It’s fast-paced, riveting, and packed with twists that prove the truth really can be stranger than fiction. Which name shocked you most? Drop a comment below. If you could rewrite your name—or your past—what would you choose? 👉 Like, subscribe, and share for more smart, surprising storytelling. 🎥 Related episode: You Won’t Believe Who These Names Belong To – Episode 2: The Power of Reinvention – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[INSERT] #HiddenHistory #TrueCrimeStories #AnOuncePodcast #NameChanges #MastersOfDisguise #OutsmartTheObvious You Won’t Believe Who These Names Belong To! The “Name Change Series” from An Ounce Released on or about: (1) July 31, 2025:The Real Identities of Famous Icons (2) August 14, 2025:They Changed Their Names -Then Changed Pop Culture (3) August 28, 2025:Masters of Disguise - When Changing Your Name Was the Only Way to Escape (4) September 4, 2025:The Reinvention Game ________________________________________ ⏱️ Chapters (Timestamps) 0:00 – Intro: Names that hide more than they reveal 0:34 – Charles Gasko → James “Whitey” Bulger 1:32 – Ricardo Klement → Adolf Eichmann 2:24 – Wolfgang Gerhard → Joseph Mengele 3:20 – Literally Everyone → Frank Abagnale Jr. 4:19 – Robert Leroy Parker → Butch Cassidy 5:09 – Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. → The Great Impostor 6:25 – An Ounce ________________________________________ 📚 References • Whitey Bulger – FBI: https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/james-whitey-bulger • Adolf Eichmann – United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/adolf-eichmann • Joseph Mengele – United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/josef-mengele • Frank Abagnale Jr. – Biography.com: https://www.biography.com/crime/frank-abagnale • Butch Cassidy – History.com: https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/butch-cassidy • Ferdinand Waldo Demara – Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-great-impostor-125679967/ ________________________________________ 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

In 2013, a runaway train with no crew, no lights, and 72 tank cars of crude oil tore into Lac Mégantic, Quebec — triggering Canada’s deadliest modern rail disaster. At 1:14 a.m. on July 6th, 2013, a silent, unmanned train derailed on a curve in Lac Mégantic. The resulting firestorm — fueled by six million liters of volatile Bakken crude — leveled the downtown, claimed 47 lives, and left a permanent scar on the town and rail safety history. In this An Ounce disaster case study, we break down the chain of mechanical failures, human decisions, and systemic weaknesses that led to the catastrophe — and the lessons still unlearned. If you think the systems we rely on are fail safe, this story might change your mind. Watch more stories like this on An Ounce: [Insert URL to related episode — recommend Halifax Explosion once both are in the same playlist] If you value clear, honest storytelling about real disasters and the lessons they leave behind, like this video, subscribe to the channel, and share it with someone who thinks “it can’t happen here.” #AnOunce #LacMegantic #TrainDisaster #DisasterCaseStudy #RailSafety #CanadaHistory ________________________________________ Chapters (Timestamps) 00:00 – The Ghost Train 00:51 – Set-Up 02:01 – The Spark 03:56 – The Ghost Train Rolls in 05:39 – The Response 06:40 – Outcomes: The Cost 07:16 – Outcomes: Lessons Learned 08:02 – What We Missed? 09:10 – An Ounce 09:40 – Firefighting Chaos ________________________________________ Authoritative References with URLs 1. Transportation Safety Board of Canada – Full Official Report Primary investigation report with findings, causes, and timeline. 🔗 https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2013/r13d0054/r13d0054.html ________________________________________ 2. CBC News Interactive Coverage (Includes survivor quotes, images, and maps) Excellent resource for human stories, political context, maps, and aftermath. 🔗 https://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/lac-megantic/ ________________________________________ 3. Wikipedia Summary with Many Cited Sources Includes citations from TSB, Reuters, Globe and Mail, and CBC. 🔗 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lac-Mégantic_rail_disaster ________________________________________ 4. YouTube: Aerial Footage and Aftermath Clips (Public Footage) Aerial shots and survivor videos. May contain content usable with credit or editing. 🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khpEAfYzTnc 🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U46ikEotb8 ________________________________________ 5. Google Image Search for Public Photos Use filters like “labeled for reuse” for royalty-free visuals. 🔗 https://www.google.com/search?q=Lac-M%C3%A9gantic+rail+disaster+2013&tbm=isch&tbs=il:cl ________________________________________ 6. TSB Canada Infographics and Diagrams Often embedded in their reports or retrievable through archive tools. 🔗 https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2013/r13d0054/r13d0054.html#appendix ________________________________________ Sources and Credits: Music: Torsion by Density & Time via YouTube music library Certain images, tables, and excerpts used in this documentary are provided by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB). Original report: Railway Investigation Report R13D0054 Available at: https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2013/r13d0054/r13d0054.html#photo-13 © Transportation Safety Board of Canada. Used under the Government of Canada’s Open Government License. Content has been reproduced for educational and documentary purposes with attribution. The TSB does not endorse this video or its interpretations. Additional images via iStock and Getty 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

A cargo ship fire triggered the largest explosion before the atomic bomb. 2,000 dead. Halifax destroyed. This true story reshaped disaster response—and it all started with a spark on the water.—and you’ve probably never heard of it. On December 6, 1917, the SS Mont-Blanc collided with another ship in Halifax Harbor. Twenty minutes later, it exploded—flattening neighborhoods, killing 2,000, and rewriting the rules of disaster response. Here's how a small accident changed the world forever. 🎧 Like, comment, and subscribe for more short-but-mind-blowing history episodes every week. 🔁 Related episode: “London Ablaze: Tragedy, Blame, and Rebirth in 1666” – https://youtu.be/zB4575siib0 🎙️ From An Ounce, your dose of surprising true stories. #HalifaxExplosion #History #Disaster #WWI #AnOuncePodcast #CargoShipBlast #ForgottenHistory ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – A Quiet Morning in Halifax 1:08 – Two Ships, One Dangerous Secret 3:24 – Miscommunication and the Collision 5:02 – The Fire Everyone Watched 6:37 – The Explosion That Flattened a City 9:20 – Relief, Response, and a Boston Christmas Tree 11:22 – The Takeaway: Small Sparks, Big Consequences ________________________________________ 🔗 References • CBC Archive Overview: https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/the-halifax-explosion • Canadian War Museum: https://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/life-at-home-during-the-war/the-halifax-explosion • Britannica Entry: https://www.britannica.com/event/Halifax-explosion • Anchor Distance Map: https://www.novascotiahistory.ca/halifax-explosion-artifacts-map ________________________________________ Media Credits: Images and video via Wikimedia and Picryl as noted in video, images also obtained through iStock and Getty. And representative AI generated scenes as noted. Music via YouTube Music Library (Yacoby, Wind-Up Mountains, and Never Don’t Stop by Schwartzy) 👉Watch the weekly podcast, 'An Ounce', at - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvguDu9efxtrh6QOIZpApuBCHIfaZQmmP 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

Lady Gaga. Drake. Snoop Dogg. Vin Diesel. You know the names—but not the ones they were born with. In this second episode of You Won’t Believe Who These Names Belong To, we uncover the real names behind the fame and the surprising stories of how some of pop culture’s biggest legends rewrote their identities—and sometimes, their destinies. 🎭 What does it take to go from Peter Hernandez to Bruno Mars? From Mark Sinclair to Vin Diesel? Join us as we dig into the childhoods, turning points, and bold decisions that shaped their public personas. From hilarious nicknames to strategic reinventions, these transformations are anything but accidental. 🧠 How many did you guess right? What names shocked you most? Got a weird name-change story of your own—or know someone who once legally became Optimus Prime? Drop it in the comments and share the game. 📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with a friend who thinks “Caryn Johnson” sounds familiar… 👉 You might also like: Check out Did Einstein Steal Her Genius?—another story that rewrites everything you thought you knew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQmG7VpR6Ek #LadyGaga #Drake #SnoopDogg #VinDiesel #StageNames #NameChange #CelebrityOrigins #PopCultureHistory #AnOuncePodcast Other episodes in the series: You Won’t Believe Who These Names Belong To! The “Name Change Series” from An Ounce Released on or about: (1) July 31, 2025:The Real Identities of Famous Icons (2) August 14, 2025:They Changed Their Names -Then Changed Pop Culture (3) August 28, 2025:Masters of Disguise - When Changing Your Name Was the Only Way to Escape (4) September 4, 2025:The Reinvention Game ________________________________________ Chapters 00:00 – Intro: Do You Know Their Real Names? 00:39 – Stefani Germanotta → Lady Gaga 01:56 – Peter Hernandez → Bruno Mars 03:06 – Mark Sinclair → Vin Diesel 04:06 – Caryn Johnson → Whoopi Goldberg 04:53 – Aubrey Graham → Drake 05:46 – Calvin Broadus Jr. → Snoop Dogg 06:26 – Final Reflection & Closing Thoughts 06:45 – An Ounce ________________________________________ References • Bruno Mars name origin – The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/aug/24/bruno-mars-facts • Whoopi Goldberg name history – Biography https://www.biography.com/actors/whoopi-goldberg • Vin Diesel real name and background – IMDb Bio https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004874/bio • Drake on Degrassi – NPR https://www.npr.org/2023/10/05/drake-degrassi-career • Lady Gaga early life and name – Britannica https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lady-Gaga • Snoop Dogg biography – Rolling Stone https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/snoop-dogg-biography-career-2022-1284649/ 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

Pluto was a planet—until scientists held a vote and kicked it out. What else have we been hilariously wrong about? From medicine to space, here’s why certainty is overrated… Pluto used to be our ninth planet—until it wasn’t. In 2006, a group of scientists demoted it to “dwarf planet” status, and suddenly, everything we knew about the solar system got a little weirder. But Pluto’s not the only thing we’ve misunderstood. We once thought smoking was healthy, that babies didn’t feel pain, and that doctors didn’t need to wash their hands. Oops. This episode of An Ounce is a hilarious reminder that some of our “facts” might not be facts forever. So the next time you hear someone say, “It’s settled science,”—you might want to smile politely… and leave the door open. 👉 If this made you laugh—or made you think—hit subscribe. Maybe Pluto will forgive us. 🪐 Drop a comment and share what you think humanity’s gotten hilariously wrong. 🎧 You might also like: The Distasteful History of Toothpaste – How brushing your teeth used to involve lizard guts, radioactive paste, and crushed bones. 👉https://youtu.be/tLr0idEsopY 👉 https://youtu.be/wq_H-8_pKKI Media Credits: Music – Seagull, and Spoon by Telecasted via YouTube Library, images and video from iStock and Getty. 🔹 Pluto's Discovery and Demotion: • NASA on Pluto's planet status: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/dwarf-planets/pluto/overview/ • History of Pluto's discovery by Clyde Tombaugh (via Lowell Observatory): https://lowell.edu/history-of-pluto/ • Why Pluto was demoted by the IAU in 2006: https://www.space.com/why-pluto-is-not-a-planet.html ________________________________________ 🔹 Outdated Scientific Beliefs: • Handwashing and Ignaz Semmelweis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC164365/ • Tongue map myth: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-tongue-map/ • Babies and pain perception: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1440629/ • Smoking and historical advertising: https://www.history.com/news/smoking-health-ads-doctors-cigarettes 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

What do Muhammad Ali, Marilyn Monroe, and Martin Luther King Jr. have in common? None of them were born with those names. Discover the real stories behind seven iconic identities. You know their stage names—but what about the names they left behind? From Muhammad Ali to Marilyn Monroe and Martin Luther King Jr., this episode of An Ounce uncovers the hidden identities behind seven legendary figures. It’s a fast-paced guessing game filled with name changes, reinventions, and the unexpected reasons behind them. Which reveal surprised you the most? Did you guess any right? Let us know in the comments. other episodes in the series: You Won’t Believe Who These Names Belong To! The “Name Change Series” from An Ounce Released on or about: (1) July 31, 2025:The Real Identities of Famous Icons (2) August 14, 2025:They Changed Their Names -Then Changed Pop Culture (3) August 28, 2025:Masters of Disguise - When Changing Your Name Was the Only Way to Escape (4) September 4, 2025:The Reinvention Game ------------------------------------------------------------- If you could change your name… what would you choose? 👉 Like, subscribe, and share for more stories that outsmart the obvious. 🎥 Related episode: [You’ve Been Lied To! The Truth Behind History’s Biggest Myths] #FamousNames #AnOuncePodcast #NameOrigins #CelebrityRealNames #HistoryRevealed ________________________________________ ⏱️ Chapters (Timestamps): 00:00 – Intro 00:48 – Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. (Muhammad Ali) 01:48 – Norma Mortenson (Marilyn Monroe) 03:01 – Reginald Dwight (Elton John) 04:18 – Marion Morrison (John Wayne) 05:14 – Archibald Leach (Cary Grant) 06:05 – Ferdinand Alcindor, Jr. (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) 06:58 – Michael King, Jr. (Martin Luther King, Jr.) 07:54 – An Ounce ________________________________________ 📚 References: • Muhammad Ali – Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammad-Ali-boxer • Marilyn Monroe – Biography.com: https://www.biography.com/actor/marilyn-monroe • Elton John – Official Website: https://www.eltonjohn.com/ • John Wayne – IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000078/ • Cary Grant – TCM: https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/76170|27646/Cary-Grant#biography • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – NBA: https://www.nba.com/stats/player/76003/career • Martin Luther King Jr. – Nobel Prize: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1964/king/biographical/ ________________________________________ Additional Media Credits: Images though Wikimedia, iStock, and Getty. Music via YouTube Music Library (Posted by Joel Cummings) 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

Before Superman soared, there was another Man of Steel—Joe Magarac. A towering figure born in the steel mills of Pittsburgh, Joe could lift trains, drink molten metal, and work without rest. But was he stronger than Superman—or even real at all? This episode uncovers the legend of Joe Magarac: part folk hero, part labor myth, and maybe part corporate propaganda. We’ll explore how an imaginary steelworker became a symbol of working-class endurance and how his legacy challenges everything we think we know about strength, sacrifice, and storytelling. 📣 Share this with the strongest person you know. 💬 And tell us in the comments: Who would you back—Joe or Superman? 🎧 Related episode you might enjoy: An Ounce – The Legend of Paul Bunyan: Big Lies and Tall Truths https://youtu.be/zCQZST8n2Xw #JoeMagarac #Superman #Folklore #LaborHistory #AmericanLegends #AnOuncePodcast ________________________________________ 🕒 Chapters (Timestamps – estimate and adjust after edit) 00:00 – Intro: The Steel Man vs. Superman 00:58 – Chapter 1: Born from Fire 02:16 – Chapter 2: The Original Man of Steel 03:48 – Chapter 3: Too Strong to Be True? 04:09 – Chapter 4: Superman vs. Magarac 06:06 – An Ounce ________________________________________ 🔗 References (Plain URLs with context) • Collier’s Weekly (1931 article by Owen Francis): Origin of Joe Magarac https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b4147162&view=1up&seq=11 • “Joe Magarac” entry, American Folklore.net https://www.americanfolklore.net/folklore/2010/07/joe_magarac.html • Superman debut issue (Action Comics #1, June 1938) https://www.comics.org/issue/586/ Images : Representative images generates by AI as indicated in video(multiple Sources), Wikimedia, and Picryl; as well as iStock and Getty Music: Via YouTube Music – Spoons by Telecasted, Boomin by Dan (lebo) Lebowitz and Tone, Seekers, Comom Vamos by Casa Rosa, and Down with your Getup by Mini Vandals ________________________________________ 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

Four Marines. One shattered jaw. And a sound that would define a generation. In 1969, Peter Cetera—future frontman of Chicago—got beaten up at a baseball game. That fight didn’t just break his face… it transformed his voice. From clenched teeth and reconstructive surgery came a vocal style that shaped hits like 25 or 6 to 4, Hard to Say I’m Sorry, and You’re the Inspiration. 🎙️ Discover the wild true story behind Chicago’s rise—and the injury that made it all possible. 👍 Like the story? Hit subscribe, share it with a music history buff, and explore more unexpected twists on An Ounce. You might also like: 🎧 If It Feels Good… – A true story about radiation, ignorance, and how comfort can be deadly. 👉 https://youtu.be/Z39Qf8z0gB4 #PeterCetera #ChicagoBand #MusicHistory #RockLegends #AnOunce #StorytellingPodcast #VocalTransformation ________________________________________ ⏱️ Chapters (Timestamps – Estimate Only) 0:00 – Ordinary Guy 1:11 – Something Strange Came From the Damage 1:38 – The Facts 3:14 – Now You Know The Name 3:52 – An Ounce ________________________________________ 🔗 Online References 1. Peter Cetera interview about the jaw injury (Goldmine Magazine): https://www.goldminemag.com/articles/peter-cetera-recalls-beating-that-rewired-his-voice 2. James Guercio quote about 25 or 6 to 4 session (Classic Rock History): https://www.classicrockhistory.com/the-story-behind-25-or-6-to-4-by-chicago/ 3. Chicago's early band history (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame): https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/chicago 4. Fan analysis of Cetera’s vocal change post-injury (Chicago fan forums archive): https://forums.klipsch.com/index.php?/topic/136923-peter-ceteras-voice-change/ 5. Cetera explains the origin of “25 or 6 to 4” title (Ultimate Classic Rock): https://ultimateclassicrock.com/25-or-6-to-4-title-explained/ Images: Credited in video and/or sourced through Getty and iStock by subscription through Power Director 365. Music: Ducky Funk by Quincas Moreira via YouTube music library 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

A deadly fog. A city caught off guard. Over 12,000 lives lost—and barely a whisper. In December 1952, London was smothered by a yellow fog so thick it stopped traffic, filled hospitals, and choked the breath from thousands. No alarms. No evacuation. Just cold air, coal smoke, and silence. This episode of An Ounce follows fictional lives inside a real catastrophe: the Great Smog of London. Discover how a slow-moving, invisible predator crept into homes, settled into lungs, and changed public health policy forever. 👉 Like stories that reveal forgotten truths? Tap like, subscribe, and share An Ounce with someone who thinks disasters only come with a bang. 🎧 You Might Also Like London Ablaze: Tragedy, Blame, and Rebirth in 1666 — The gripping story of another deadly chapter in London’s past. https://youtu.be/zB4575siib0 #GreatSmog #LondonHistory #AnOuncePodcast #DisasterHistory #ForgottenCatastrophes ________________________________________ 📍 CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED) 00:00 – Intro: A Fog That Shouldn't Have hurt anyone 00:46 – Day One: December 5th, 1952 02:43 – Day Two: Silence and Shadows 04:02 – Day Three: The Coughing City 05:24 – Day Four: No Way Out 06:40 – Day Five: The Fog Lifts 07:45 – It’s Just Fog 09:10 – An Ounce ________________________________________ 📚 REFERENCES (Spelled Out URLs) • UK Government Archives – The Great Smog of 1952 https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/great-smog-1952/ • BBC News – What Was the Great Smog of London? https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-50818441 • The Guardian – A Killer Smog: How Londoners Died Slowly https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/dec/05/the-great-smog-of-london-1952 • Scientific American – The Fog That Killed 12,000 People https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-fog-that-killed-12000-people/ • UK Parliament – Clean Air Act 1956 Historical Overview https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/towncountry/towns/urbanplanning/overview/clean-air/ ________________________________________ Images: Accessed through, iStock and Getty by subscription; accessed from Pexels and Pixbay, Public Domain images from Wikimedia, and AI images from Powerdirector and Meta. Music: Via Youtube Music library, recorded by The Mini Vandals: City of the Wolf, Portcullis, Whirlpool, Nomads, and Cater Lake 👉Watch the weekly podcast, 'An Ounce', at - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvguDu9efxtrh6QOIZpApuBCHIfaZQmmP 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

Take a brief glimpse into how ordinary items can become a real treasure! This short video shows how things like old toys and collectible memorabilia can be worth a lot of money today. Find out what's special about finding priceless antiques! #historytoday #shortswhatsappstatusvideos What if the junk you tossed in the trash could’ve paid for your next vacation? In this episode of An Ounce, we explore the unexpected value of things you probably let slip through your fingers. It’s not just about stuff… it’s about memory, meaning, and what we choose to keep. ________________________________________ Chapters 00:00 - Intro: You Threw That Away? 00:51 - The Penny That Costs Too Much 02:00 - Tax Tokens and Forgotten Currencies 02:55 - Cards, Cards, and More Cards 04:16 - Toys You Shouldn’t Have Tossed 05:17 - Why We Pay So Much for Yesterday 07:05 - Close: What’s Really Worth Keeping 08:02 - Here’s An Ounce ________________________________________ Reference URLs • U.S. Mint coin production costs: https://www.usmint.gov/news/inside-the-mint/2025-coin-cost-update • 1909-S VDB Penny details: https://www.pcgs.com/news/1909-s-vdb-lincoln-cent • 1943 Steel Penny background: https://www.coinstudy.com/1943-penny-value.html • State-issued tax tokens: https://www.tokenandmedal.org/tax-tokens • $12M Mickey Mantle card auction: https://www.npr.org/2022/08/28/mickey-mantle-baseball-card-record • $500,000 Beanie Baby: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/most-expensive-beanie-baby/ ________________________________________ (d) Suggested Episodes (Cross-Promote) Based on your current catalog, include these 3 suggested companion videos: 1. Did Einstein Steal Her Genius? → The hidden mind behind a world-changing formula. https://youtu.be/Aia5JovCydo 2. The Distasteful History of Toothpaste → When cleanliness met questionable chemistry. https://youtu.be/wq_H-8_pKKI 3. If it Feels Good... A Soothing but Deadly Power of Uranium → From glowing clocks to dangerous charm. https://youtu.be/Z39Qf8z0gB4 Images/Video: Obtained through iStock and Getty. Public Domain images sourced through Wikimedia and Picryl. Music: YouTube Audio Library 👉Watch the weekly podcast, 'An Ounce', at - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvguDu9efxtrh6QOIZpApuBCHIfaZQmmP 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube

What if 11 days just disappeared? It happened in 1752. This video explains the lost days, the daylight savings time connection, and why we still struggle with time today. Discover how a calendar change shook the world—missing wages, confused farmers, shifted birthdays, and even George Washington’s “new” birthday. From mobs yelling “Give us back our 11 days!” to parallels with Y2K panic and today’s daylight savings chaos, this isn’t just a strange moment in history—it’s a warning about how fragile our relationship with time really is. 📌 Chapters (Adjust timestamps after upload) 00:00 – Intro: Time… Lost? 01:14 – The Calendar Catastrophe 03:14 – History Forgets.. 04:02 – Modern Parallel: Y2K Panic 04:55 – What Mislaying 11 Days Can Do! 06:00 – So… What’s the Deal 06:45 – An Ounce 🧠 Key Topics & Keywords Gregorian calendar, Julian calendar, 11 days missing, 1752 calendar change, daylight savings time, history of timekeeping, calendar reform, lost time in history, time confusion, Y2K, time anxiety 📺 You Might Also Like (From An Ounce) The Mandela Effect: Did We All Misremember Reality? When the Pope Was Put on Trial (After He Died) The Forgotten War That Shaped America: King Philip’s War Operation Paul Bunyan: When the U.S. Flexed with Chainsaws A Cold War standoff that proves time isn’t the only thing that can disappear fast—like trees in the DMZ https://youtu.be/lAYCcG8Xuqo Referenced or Inspired By Calendar (New Style) Act 1750 – UK Parliamentary Archives William Hogarth’s “An Election Entertainment” Oxford University Press Blog: “The Lost Days of 1752” National Archives – George Washington’s Birthday and Calendar Change The Church and the Calendar – Journal of Ecclesiastical History (Cambridge) Images: Video and image files also sourced through iStock and Getty, and some AI generated images as noted. Music: Bored Shortz and The Cat’s Meow by Everet Almond, Muffin Man by Cooper Cannell 10 second pre-roll promo for An Ounce Podcast on YouTube