11 episodes

Comedian and pop culture fanatic Aasif Mandvi gets up close and personal with the most iconic artifacts at the National Museum of American History. Join Aasif and his guests as they explore how vintage clothing, ratty furniture, and mismatched shoes transformed into Fonzie's leather jacket, Archie Bunker's chair, and Dorothy's ruby slippers and became defining symbols of American culture along the way.

Lost at the Smithsonian with Aasif Mandvi Stitcher, Aasif Mandvi

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 44 Ratings

Comedian and pop culture fanatic Aasif Mandvi gets up close and personal with the most iconic artifacts at the National Museum of American History. Join Aasif and his guests as they explore how vintage clothing, ratty furniture, and mismatched shoes transformed into Fonzie's leather jacket, Archie Bunker's chair, and Dorothy's ruby slippers and became defining symbols of American culture along the way.

    The Original Muppets

    The Original Muppets

    Jim Henson created hundreds of Muppets. Many of them are well known, but there are a whole bunch of Muppets from the early days that most people haven't even heard of. The Smithsonian has more than 30 of those original, obscure Muppets including the original lizard-like Kermit who was made from an old green coat Henson's mother threw out.

    • 35 min
    Bee Gees' Silver Suits

    Bee Gees' Silver Suits

    The Bee Gees -- Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, were among the most successful vocal groups in rock and roll history, helping define the disco era with their falsetto harmonies and funky beats. The Australian band's silver suits at the Smithsonian are from their 1978 tour, riding on the heels of their album for the movie "Saturday Night Fever," one of the top selling soundtracks in history.

    • 33 min
    Pelé's #10 Jersey

    Pelé's #10 Jersey

    Professional soccer player, Pelé -- did more for the sport's global appeal than anyone in history. He did so much that the International Olympic Committee named him the athlete of the century. In 1975, he came out of retirement in Brazil, put on his unassuming white mesh jersey with the number ten on it and went to play with the New York Cosmos, lifting the sport from a sleepy backwater in the U.S. to having unprecedented interest today.




    This episode is sponsored by Parcast - Mythology (www.parcast.com/MYTHOLOGY) and Bayer.

    • 28 min
    Archie Bunker's Chair

    Archie Bunker's Chair

    All in the Family was a groundbreaking sitcom. Its pilot episode came with a trigger warning, and every episode thereafter came with a hefty dose of retrograde political commentary from Archie Bunker. So why is the chair in the Smithsonian? How did this piece of furniture make it from a second hand store in Los Angeles to the National Museum of American History in DC? (Celeb interviews: Hector Elizondo and Norman Lear)







    This episode is sponsored by Bayer.

    • 32 min
    Carrie Bradshaw's Laptop

    Carrie Bradshaw's Laptop

    Carrie Bradshaw was the voice of HBO's groundbreaking comedy Sex and the City. Launching in 1998, each episode was built around Bradshaw writing her weekly column and uncensored voice and actions of four women who rode the roller coaster of modern sexual relationships. Her laptop now resides at the Smithsonian. Host Aasif Mandvi (who had a role on the show as Dmitri, a computer tech) explores the show's enduring appeal. (Celeb interview: Candace Bushnell).




    This episode is sponsored by Bayer and The Great Courses (www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/LOST).

    • 31 min
    Muhammad Ali's Robe

    Muhammad Ali's Robe

    Muhammad Ali was a legendary boxer and much, much more. Finding the robe Ali wore during training gives Aasif a chance to get into the history of one of the biggest sporting events of all time: The Rumble in the Jungle. (Celeb interview: Reporter, Jerry Izenberg)




    This episode is sponsored by Bayer and The Great Courses (www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/LOST).

    • 34 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
44 Ratings

44 Ratings

rlhcopper ,

It’s about the museum piece but so much more

I listened to the shoes, the silver suits and really enjoyed but Archie Bunkers Chair is extrodinary. The curative narrative, societal impacts, nostalgia with intelligence and waxing borderline Buddism with Norman Lear at 96. Beautifully done. This is my first review but I have been listening to podcasts for years.
More please 🌟

crs.omega ,

Nostalgia

This podcast takes me back to my childhood.

Bug70 ,

Endless possibility!

The amount of items in the Smithsonian make for an endless amount of topics for this show! Literally endless!!

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