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Forever Ago

American Public Media

Brains On presents Forever Ago®, a history show for the whole family! Every episode looks into the surprising and fascinating history of things we think are ordinary, but they’re not -- like ice cream flavors, video games, baths and more. We make learning about the past fun while teaching listeners to think critically about history.

Location:

United States

Description:

Brains On presents Forever Ago®, a history show for the whole family! Every episode looks into the surprising and fascinating history of things we think are ordinary, but they’re not -- like ice cream flavors, video games, baths and more. We make learning about the past fun while teaching listeners to think critically about history.

Language:

English


Episodes
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Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Sesame Street So and So’s

1/27/2025
Can you tell me how to get…to Brains On Headquarters for a special Sesame Street Showdown? Sanden has been hard at work reading up on the beloved children’s show for an episode of Forever Ago. Now that his brain is full of marvelous muppet trivia, he wants to share it with his best buds, Marc and Molly. Join these three amigos as they play a game of Sesame Street So-and-so’s!

Duration:00:01:39

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Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: A whale of a game show

12/24/2024
Forever Ago and Brains On have each recently released episodes about whale communication. Join the hosts of both shows, Joy Dolo and Molly Bloom, as they get stuck in Elevator. The only way out: to play a whale of a game!

Duration:00:01:24

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Songs of the Humpback Whale: How one record helped save the whales

12/18/2024
We have a real whale of a story for you this week! It’s a FIN-tastic classic. Joy and cohost Mina meet up with Hugh the humpback whale to hear the story of Marie Fish, a real-life biologist who used underwater microphones to show the world that life under the sea is full of sounds. Then, they’ll hear how scientist Roger Payne changed the course of history for whales by releasing a record of their songs. Don’t forget a splashy new First Things First! A huge thank you to Science Friday’s podcast “Undiscovered” for sharing a recording of their interview with Roger Payne. This episode also includes recordings from Whale.org, Ocean Alliance and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Library. Want to learn more about how and why whales make songs and clicks?Check out Brains On episode about whale communication here. This episode was sponsored by: Wondery - Follow 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast and unlock weekly Christmas mystery bonus content and listen to every episode ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:26:58

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Hip-Hop History: How teenagers invented rap music

12/11/2024
Rap music is one of the most popular genres of music in the world today. But where did it all begin? Join hosts Joy and Savion as they go back to the 1970s to hear two stories about how rap music started. Learn how one teenager's back-to-school party brought together beats and rhyming to form a new style of music. And find out how a female record producer introduced rap music to the radio for the first time. All that plus a fresh First Things First. Hip hop and you don’t stop! This episode is brought to you by Wondery. Follow 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast and unlock weekly Christmas mystery bonus content and listen to every episode ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:26:14

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Jobs that don’t exist anymore

12/4/2024
As times change, so do jobs, and careers that once were common can go extinct! Join Joy and co-host Amirah as they head to the world famous “This Used to be a Career Fair.” There, you’ll hear about knocker uppers, switchboard operators, ornamental hermits and other unique jobs that have gone away as technology and culture have changed. Plus, listeners share their ideas for new jobs that will exist in the future, and we play a brand new game of First Things First! This episode was sponsored by: Wondery - Follow 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast and unlock weekly Christmas mystery bonus content and listen to every episode ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:26:59

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Donate today and get a personalized message!

12/3/2024
You – yes, you – are at the heart of the Brains On Universe! This is a public radio podcast and you are the public! That means we rely on your donations to keep us going strong. This Giving Tuesday, we’re offering a limited time deal. When you donate $72 you can choose to receive a personal message from hosts Joy Dolo or Molly Bloom. If you donate today, you’ll receive your special, one-of-a-kind personalized message by December 20th. Contribute today at foreverago.org/donate and don’t forget – today is the ONLY day you can get a personalized message at this discount and in time for the holidays!

Duration:00:01:04

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How Sesame Street tried to change the world

11/27/2024
You probably know Sesame Street as a fun, fast-paced show full of talking puppets, like Elmo and Big Bird. But it actually started as a huge experiment to see if TV could change kids’ lives for the better! Join Joy and co-host Truman as tell the tale of how Sesame Street came to be. It’s a wild story full of big gambles, creative ideas, haters and doubters! Along the way, they’ll help a very eager actor get ready for a big audition. Plus, a new First Things First featuring three iconic Sesame Street characters! This episode brought to you by Wondery. Follow 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast and unlock weekly Christmas mystery bonus content and listen to every episode ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Duration:00:28:43

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Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Black Friday Special

11/25/2024
It’s the holiday season, which for Forever Ago host Joy Dolo means one thing: DEALS! Help her check off her holiday shopping list with a game of First Things First, where she and co-host Petra guess the order three classic toys were invented in.

Duration:00:01:29

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What’s the history of Black Friday?

11/20/2024
Black Friday is a huge shopping holiday in the U.S. that happens the day after Thanksgiving. There are tons of sales and sometimes people even wait for hours outside of stores to get the best deals! But where did this mega shopping day even come from? And what’s in it for the stores? Forever Ago and Million Bazillion have teamed up to investigate! Join Joy Dolo and co-host Petra as they travel back in time to find out how Black Friday started. Then, join Million Bazillion’s hosts Bridget Bodnar and Ryan Perez at the mall to learn how stores come up with deals and what to watch out for when you’re shopping for holiday gifts. It’s an epic crossover episode you won’t want to miss! This episode was sponsored by: Greenlight - Help your kids learn to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with Greenlight, the debit card and money app for teens. Visit Greenlight.com/inclined.

Duration:00:31:56

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Who were the gladiators?

11/13/2024
Gladiators were professional fighters who lived thousands of years ago in ancient Rome. But they weren't just fighters, they were also influencers who helped sell products and were hugely popular with fans. Join Joy and co-host Juliette as they explore the history of these athletes – and learn how some of them tried to escape their lives of constant battle. They’ll hear the story of one of the most famous gladiators of all time, Spartacus, and the revolution he led. Plus, a sporty new First Things First! Featured Expert: Dr. Fiona Radford is a historian who specializes in ancient Rome. She also co-hosts The Partial Historians podcast. This episode was sponsored by: Greenlight - Help your kids learn to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with Greenlight, the debit card and money app for teens. Visit Greenlight.com/inclined. Goodie Witch Books - Combine the spirit of Halloween with the magic of giving with Goodie Witch!: Spreading the Magic of Kindness, available at Amazon. Wild Interest: Let your kids' imaginations run wild and check out the new podcast Wild Interest wherever you get your podcasts. wildinterest.com

Duration:00:25:09

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The Ten News: Election Day Kid Takeover

11/5/2024
Tune in for a super special election day episode from our friends at The Ten News! 🗳️ It’s Election Day and Pamela is driving Ryan to the polls 🎙️Ten’ers Tupelo and Everrett have taken over the studio! 🤯 Get caught up on the key things to remember about today. ⁉️ Ten’er Alonso has an important question 🌐 And let’s not forget about the rest of the world. Ten News Correspondent Jamie looks at elections around the world. About The Ten News: The Ten News releases weekly 10 Things You Need to Know episodes on Thursdays and monthly Deep Dives. The episodes are packed full of news, stories, and fun for kids and their families. Follow The Ten News wherever you listen to podcasts, and visit us online at www.thetennews.com to check out past episodes, sign up for news updates, and dive deeper into the world around you!

Duration:00:11:14

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Gotcha! The history of April Fool’s Day

10/30/2024
Happy April Fool’s Day! Just kidding, we know it’s October. But that doesn’t stop Joy from celebrating April Fool’s Day all year round — especially with lots of banana peels and whoopee cushions! Join Joy and co-host Michalea as they explore how the prankiest day of the year might’ve started. They’ll hear about some of the most epic pranks throughout history, from hot dog-flavored fizzy drinks to spaghetti-growing trees. Plus, Brains On! host Molly Bloom drops by to talk about how posting fake information online is bad news. And last but not least, another mischievous game of First Things First! This episode was sponsored by: Greenlight-Help your kids learn to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with Greenlight, the debit card and money app for teens. Visit Greenlight.com/inclined.

Duration:00:26:30

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Smarty Pass Presents: Truth or Truth

10/28/2024
Usually, bonus episodes like this are exclusively for Smarty Pass subscribers but this month we’re sharing them with all our listeners. If you like this bonus episode and want to hear fun games every month, plus ad-free episodes, sign up for Smarty Pass! Forever Ago host Joy Dolo is producing the greatest film ever made: her life story! The only problem is her friend and script editor Molly Bloom has a few questions about Joy’s story. When did Joy graduate from college? When did she get glasses? When did she start performing improv? There’s only one real way to get to the answers Molly needs and that’s with a game of First Things First! To get more bonus episodes like this every month, sign up for Smarty Pass at SmartyPass.org.

Duration:00:08:48

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Who was the first Black woman to run for president?

10/23/2024
2024 is an election year, where Americans will vote for a new president. Join Joy and co-host to Em as they learn all about what it takes to be President, and hear about Shirley Chisholm, a trailblazer who was the first Black woman ever to run for the office. Plus, a brand new game of First Things First! This episode was sponsored by: Greenlight - Help your kids learn to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with Greenlight, the debit card and money app for teens. Visit Greenlight.com/inclined. Goodie Witch Books - Combine the spirit of Halloween with the magic of giving with Goodie Witch!: Spreading the Magic of Kindness, available at Amazon.

Duration:00:27:54

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Why do we carve pumpkins on Halloween?

10/16/2024
Joy’s ready for some Halloweeny fun, but her jack-o’-lantern pal Lionel wants to skip the whole thing. He doesn’t understand why carving pumpkins is such an important Halloween tradition! Why don’t we just paint faces on bananas and call it a day?Lucky for Lionel, Joy and co-host Baron are ready to explain the twisty history of jack-o’-lanterns! First, they’ll wade into the history of ignus fatuus, a mysterious blue light seen in bogs at night and the creepy myth it inspired! Then they’ll explore pumpkin pranks in early America and learn how carving pumpkins came to be associated with Halloween. All that, plus a sweet new First Things First featuring Halloween candy! This episode was sponsored by: Greenlight-Help your kids learn to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with Greenlight, the debit card and money app for teens. Visit Greenlight.com/inclined. Wild Interest-Let your kids' imaginations run wild and check out the new podcast Wild Interest wherever you get your podcasts. wildinterest.com. Goodie Witch Books-Combine the spirit of Halloween with the magic of giving with Goodie Witch!: Spreading the Magic of Kindness, available at Amazon.

Duration:00:25:01

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How did we send messages before cell phones?

10/9/2024
Joy has a top secret message to deliver. There’s just one problem– she’s locked outside without her computer or phone! How will she send her VERY important message? Join Joy and co-host Cassandra as they explore the different ways people sent messages in the past, from smoke signals to trained pigeons. Plus, how the U.S. Postal Service started as a secret way to smack talk the British during the American Revolution. Signed, sealed, delivered, with a fresh round of First Things First! Today’s episode is sponsored by: Wild Interest - Let your kids' imaginations run wild and check out the new podcast Wild Interest wherever you get your podcasts. wildinterest.com Goodie Witch!: Spreading the Magic of Kindness - Combine the spirit of Halloween with the magic of giving with Goodie Witch!: Spreading the Magic of Kindness, available at Amazon.

Duration:00:27:10

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Join us for the first-ever Forever Ago live show!

9/20/2024
Hi friends! We’ve been busy at Forever Ago headquarters. Joy’s organizing her chaos closet, we’re making a bunch of new episodes of Forever Ago AND we’re getting ready for a super fun live show! Join Joy on November 10th in Minneapolis, MN as she takes the audience on a trek through time, exploring Eureka moments that led to amazing inventions. Find out how a bath became a breakthrough, how a mold-covered dish ended up saving lives and more. There will be games, singing, giant cartoons and a talking bag of frozen peas. Plus, kids will learn how they can have Eureka moments of their own, all while discovering the weird and wonderful history all around us. Get your tickets at foreverago.org/events. Psst, Smarty Pass subscribers! Check your email for your discount code to get 20% off tickets. Don’t have Smarty Pass? Sign up today to get discounted tickets to the show, plus other perks like ad-free podcasts and bonus episodes. Find out more at smartypass.org. And if you can’t make the live show, don’t worry! A brand new episode of Forever Ago is coming out on October 9th — plus lots more this fall!

Duration:00:01:53

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Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Ragin’ road trip

8/19/2024
Joy and Anna are amped to go on a fun road trip! And with a garage full of transportation options nothing is gonna stop them from hitting the road. Grab your smarty pass to see what they use for their ragin road trip!

Duration:00:01:39

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Banjos Pt. 2: Bluegrass, Beyoncé and Beyond

7/24/2024
We’re back with part two of our string-tastic story of the banjo! In the last episode, musician Rhiannon Giddens helped tell the origin story of the banjo, an instrument many think of as American. But it actually comes from Africa. Today, we’re focusing on how the banjo went from an instrument played mostly by enslaved people to one of the most popular instruments in the United States. The reason for this was a popular form of entertainment in the mid to late 1800s called minstrel shows. Later on, the banjo helped create the genre known as bluegrass. Now it's having a resurgence thanks to artists like Beyoncé. Featured expert: Rhiannon Giddens is a Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning singer and instrumentalist. You can check out her website here!

Duration:00:24:30

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Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Olympic History

7/22/2024
This summer it’s the 2024 Olympic games! In honor of this sporty season, Forever Ago host Joy Dolo quizzes producers Rosie duPont and Anna Weggel all about Olympic games of the past.

Duration:00:01:23