So You Wanna Be Average

Pack your bags & hitch a ride on So You Wanna Be Average airlines to the world that is London. Who is Big Ben named after? How does Big Ben work? Is there a Little Ben? Why was the Tower of London built? Who are famous residents of the Tower of London? What is the song London Calling about and why does it seem (a little too) relevant today? Which artists have recorded at Abbey Road Studios? Find out the answers to these questions & many more! Introduction: 00:16 Average Discussion 1 (Big...

For this So You Wanna Be Average episode, we turn our eyes to one of our favourite big-box stores, IKEA! What does IKEA stand for? How are product names determined? Who founded IKEA and what did they sell? What is democratic design and why is it important? How many IKEA catalogues are distributed annually? Does IKEA do partnerships? Listen now to learn the answers to these questions and so many more. Introduction: 00:16 Average Discussion 1 (History of IKEA): 01:45 Average Discussion 2...

In this podcast episode on bridges, expect to learn: Why was the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge a feat of engineering? How many crossings does the New York bridge handle daily? When was the “new” bridge in Halifax built? Where is the longest covered bridge in the world? Why are some covered bridges called “kissing bridges”? Which famous viaduct was the location of numerous films, ads, and music videos? Introduction: 00:16 Average Discussion 1 (Brooklyn Bridge): 03:15 Average...

We are back to celebrate another Valentine's Day here on the podcast. In this episode we focus on the history of Valentine's Day cards & Cupid. What invention made romantic, personalized Valentine’s Day cards more common? What are Valentine Writers? Who wrote the first Valentine? Where does Cupid come from and what’s difference between him & Eros? Why is Cupid commonly depicted as a young child? Introduction: 00:16 Average Discussion 1 (Valentine’s Day Cards): 01:06 Average Discussion 2...

Season 2 of the podcast starts with a discussion of America's favourite sports event: the Super Bowl. How did the Super Bowl start? If you went to the first game, how much would you have paid for tickets and what might you pay this year? What factors determine which cities host it? How many people tune in for the ads? What were the repercussions of Janet Jackson’s halftime show? We cover all this & so much more! Introduction: 00:16 Average Discussion 1 (History of the Super Bowl):...

So you're still trying to be average, eh? Well we are back and more average than ever with So You Wanna Be Average Season 2. To keep things new and fresh, we’ve made some changes this year. Tune in every second Monday to learn new nuggets of knowledge about topics you’re familiar with but might not know too much about. Last season we learned about potatoes, license plates, Boston, and Blockbuster - this year we’re learning about the Super Bowl, bridges, IKEA, and more! We have also changed...

On the pumpkin-themed menu for your ears in our 35th episode: Who is Peter Pumpkinhead & what was the inspiration for his character? Where can you go to compete in a pumpkin paddling contest & who ran into legal issues when they wanted to compete? What is Punkin Chunkin? Why do we celebrate Halloween on October 31? Who is Stingy Jack and why must we respect his shady ways? Find out all this & more! Introduction: 00:16 Average Drink Selection: 01:24 Average Playlist: 14:14 Average...

Which album caused controversy when it was given to iTunes users for free? Which artists won’t you find on Apple Music and why? Which major band had a company with a name similar to Apple and how was that resolved? What memorable way did Apple choose to advertise in a special edition of Newsweek? Why do movie villains never use Apple products? Find out on our new So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode! Introduction: 00:16 Average Drink Selection: 00:40 Average Playlist: 09:05 Average...

We're talking about bears on Episode 33 of our So You Wanna Be Average podcast. How did a $20 purchase at a train station influence the literary world? Which animals was Winnie-the-Pooh named after? Was Christopher Robin a real person? How much bamboo might a panda eat per day? What are sun bears named after? What is a keystone species and how does this apply to bears? Is a sloth bear slow like a sloth? Introduction: 00:16 Average Drink Selection: 02:04 Average Playlist: 11:50 Average...

It's the start of a new school year in Nova Scotia and we're running with that in this So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode by talking about pencils. Why are pencils yellow? Is pencil lead actually lead? What are coloured pencils made of? How do erasers work? What is rotoscoping? How do the Napoleonic Wars play into the development of pencils? Where was the world’s largest known deposit of graphite located? Hit play for the answers to these questions (& many more!). Introduction:...

Gather your favourite game night snacks for our 31st So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode because we're talking board games! Which common game is about virtues and vices? What does an MC Hammer game look like? Who actually created Monopoly and how did it develop? Why has it been claimed that Catan is a “Monopoly Killer”? Why do we see a lot of strategic games come out of Germany? Learn the answers to these questions & so much more! Introduction: 00:16 Average Drink Selection:...

Every 10th episode of our So You Wanna Be Average podcast is dedicated to what we call “Something Different”. These episodes give us a chance to take a break from our usual style to discuss topics that do not fit into that format. In this episode we are using our platform to recommend some of our favourite places to go, things to do, and spots to eat or drink at in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The (non-exhaustive) list was far too long for the podcast so the episode provides details/opinions about...

In this So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode we are talking about fairs! What is the definition of a fair? What are some fun, common items that came out of the World's Fair? What songs do we recommend that have music videos situated at fairs/carnivals? How many people did the first official Ferris wheel carry at once? Where can you find a solar-powered Ferris wheel? Find out all this & more!

What cool facts will you learn to wow everyone at your next BBQ? How about: why is Bud Light not called Budweiser Light? Where did potato salad come from? Where might you find square watermelons? Are there differences between BBQ/barbecue/Bar-B-Q chips? Where did hamburgers originate? What is a cookout and how does it differ from a BBQ? Find out in Episode 28 of our So You Wanna be Average podcast!

What's the deal with umbrellas? Why are they called umbrellas? What's the difference between an umbrella and a parasol? Which artist was the song “Umbrella” written for? Who do British males have to thank for paving the way for them to use umbrellas? Who are some famous umbrella-wielders in pop culture? Find out these answers & more in Episode 27 of our So You Wanna Be Average podcast!

Our 26th So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode provides you with songs you’ll need for a Cape Breton road trip, local drink recommendations to sip at your campsite, and numerous facts about two crucial elements of your visit: the Canso Causeway & the Cabot Trail. Who is Angus L. Macdonald & how is he related to both? How did people travel before the causeway? Why is the island a cornucopia of awesomeness?

We're celebrating 25 episodes of our So You Wanna Be Average podcast with all things buses! What song should you listen to at the bus stop? How did a sketch lead to the creation of a popular bus? What was the Chicken War and how did it impact microbus imports? Where does the word “bus” come from? Why are London buses red? Does a triple-decker bus exist? What’s the deal with London’s phantom bus?

We bring the fireworks show to you with this So You Wanna Be Average podcast episode. We ask: What were the first natural firecrackers made of? How does the quest for eternal life factor in to the history of fireworks? Who are green men and what was their role in a fireworks show? Where should you go to see some of the best firework displays? What does a multi-sensory firework show smell like?

Lather yourself in sunscreen because we're going camping this week on the podcast! Which album should you turn to if you want to add to your campfire song repertoire? Why should you not add potato seeds to your camping diet? What are some techniques for building great fires? What popular camping item was deemed one of the most important non-combat products of World War 2? We've got the answers for you!

Golf is the name of the game - literally - in our 22nd podcast episode. Some of the talking points you can take away from this episode: what constitutes a “links” course? Why do golf pros need to put more effort into walk-up music? How did golfer Arnold Palmer inspire a new drink? Why do golf courses have 18 holes? When was golf banned in Scotland and why? How did Tiger Woods change the game?