What We Did Before

OG Podcasts

Before modern inventions and conveniences, humans had ingenious ways of solving problems. So how exactly did humans survive before fridges, without clothes or before surnames were invented? Find out the answers to these questions and more, right here. Hosted by Ollie Guillou.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    What We Did Before Valentine’s Day

    💬 Before we had Valentine’s Day, we had a much stranger way of showing love for one another in February. The ancient festival of Lupercalia involved fertility rites, goat sacrifices, public nudity and priests whipping women… ⚡In this episode we explore why the ancient Romans chose to mark the 15th February this way each year - and how Valentine’s Day eventually took over. We also discuss the complicated story of St. Valentine, who may actually be three different people.  Don't miss an episode - subscribe now: https://podfollow.com/what-we-did-before  🎧 Stay tuned to learn about: ➡ How the story of Lupercalia honours the origin story of Rome’s founding ➡ Why St. Valentine may have had nothing to do with love or romance at all ➡ Why spanking and laughter was meant to ward off evil and bad luck ➡ How chocolate giving became so tightly linked to Valentine’s Day ➡ The origin of the heart symbol - and why it looks nothing like an anatomical heart About the podcast: What We Did Before is a podcast where we chart the history of modern inventions, from how we kept food fresh before fridges, to how we survived without shoes and what came before AI. About your host: Ollie Guillou is an award-winning podcast producer and broadcaster. He's co-founder of OG Podcasts, working with the likes of New Scientist, Dr Karan and Lessons From Our Mothers. Matt Pyle is a lead software developer and tech enthusiast with a keen interest in media, and a love for interesting conversation and learning. Connect with Ollie: Website: www.ogpodcasts.co.uk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillou  Email: hello@ogpodcasts.co.uk

    30 min

  2. 2 FEB

    Before Chocolate: From Ritual Drink to Global Obsession | Spencer Hyman

    💬 Before chocolate was turned into a sugary snack, it was a drink of great renown - used in ceremonies and rituals. This frothy elixir was favoured for its power to grant strength and sexual stamina. The cocoa bean itself was even used as an ancient form of currency. So how did modern people end up changing it so dramatically? From its use by Aztec Emperor Montezuma, to the truth behind chocolate’s role in ritual sacrifice, we chart the history of the world’s favourite snack. Learn why it was eventually turned into bars - and who came up with the idea. And discover how we actually make chocolate today - and why it keeps us so addicted. ⚡ In this episode we’re joined by Spencer Hyman, co-founder of Cocoa Runners - a company that sells craft chocolate made by growers around the world. Don't miss an episode - subscribe now: https://podfollow.com/what-we-did-before  🎧 Stay tuned to learn: ➡ The true origins of chocolate - and why the Aztecs didn’t get to it first  ➡ How our enduring love of alcohol led to the discovery of chocolate ➡ The earliest archaeological evidence of chocolate use ➡ How Joseph Fry invented the chocolate bar - and why that changed everything ➡ Why we can’t stop scoffing modern chocolate ➡ How craft chocolate brings back the ancient experience of chocolate Check out Cocoa Runners' Chocopedia: https://cocoarunners.com/chocopedia-category/history-and-culture/  About the podcast: What We Did Before is a podcast where we chart the history of modern inventions, from how we kept food fresh before fridges, to how we survived without shoes and what came before AI. About your hosts: Ollie Guillou is an award-winning podcast producer and broadcaster. He's co-founder of OG Podcasts, working with the likes of New Scientist, Dr Karan and Lessons From Our Mothers. Matt Pyle is a lead software developer and tech enthusiast with a keen interest in media, and a love for interesting conversation and learning. Connect with Ollie: Website: www.ogpodcasts.co.uk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillouEmail: hello@ogpodcasts.co.uk

    1h 13m

  3. 26 JAN

    Before Fridges: How Humans Learned to Control the Cold | Nicola Twilley

    💬 Before we all had fridges in our home, cold was a luxury. Just 100 years ago, food spoilage was a constant threat - animals were walked alive to slaughter, and the ice-trade was a booming global industry. But once humans learned how to control the cold, we reshaped the world. For thousands of years our ancient ancestors relied on nature to preserve food. Today, seasonal eating is largely a thing of the past - we can access food on demand, from anywhere on Earth. Mankind’s control of the cold has become the bedrock of modern civilisation. ⚡ In this episode we’re joined by Nicola Twilley, podcaster and author of Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves. Don't miss an episode - subscribe now: https://podfollow.com/what-we-did-before  🎧 Stay tuned to learn about: ➡ How humans were preserving mammoth meat as far back as 12,000 BCE ➡ How humanity’s “artificial cryosphere” is larger than Mount Everest ➡ How “The Ice King” Frederic Tudor made the cold addictive ➡ Why the ice trade led to criminal attacks and literal “snow heists” ➡ Why, for much of history, meat had to walk itself to slaughter ➡ Why fridges were first feared - from explosions, to toxic gases and food safety issues Check out Nicola’s book Frostbite: https://www.nicolatwilley.com/frostbite/ And hear her podcast Gastropod: https://podfollow.com/gastropod About the podcast: What We Did Before is a podcast where we chart the history of modern inventions, from how we kept food fresh before fridges, to how we survived without shoes and what came before AI. About your hosts: Ollie Guillou is an award-winning podcast producer and broadcaster. He's co-founder of OG Podcasts, working with the likes of New Scientist, Dr Karan and Lessons From Our Mothers. Matt Pyle is a lead software developer and tech enthusiast with a keen interest in media, and a love for interesting conversation and learning. Connect with Ollie: Website: www.ogpodcasts.co.uk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillou  Email: hello@ogpodcasts.co.uk

    56 min

  4. 19 JAN

    Before Bigfoot and Nessie: Earth's Forgotten Monsters

    💬 Before we had myths like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster, our ancestors believed all sorts of strange creatures roamed the Earth. The difference is, they believed these strange species of half-humans and monsters were real. ⚡In this episode we explore the ancient legends of four different cryptids that were once said to roam the distant corners of the unmapped world. Including the Blemmyes, the Cynocephali, the Aspidochelone and the Catoblepas. Discover the origin of each of these strange creatures and why our ancestors thought them to be real. Don't miss an episode - subscribe now: https://podfollow.com/what-we-did-before  🎧 Stay tuned to learn about: ➡ Why the “Headless” Blemmyes featured on Medieval maps ➡ Why the Blemmyes were thought to be a tribe of peoples, rather than monsters ➡ How the Cynocephali - “dog-headed people” - spoke in a language of barks ➡ How the Aspidochelone would trick the unprepared in the open ocean ➡ Why the Catoblepas is said to have been able to kill just by looking at you ➡ And the likely cautionary tales that sparked the origin stories of these creatures 📕 Chapters: (00:00) Intro (01:17) The Blemmyes (11:25) The Cynocephali (23:52) The Aspidochelone (30:14) The Catoblepas (36:04) Conclusion About the podcast: What We Did Before is a podcast where we chart the history of modern inventions, from how we kept food fresh before fridges, to how we survived without shoes and what came before AI. About your host: Ollie Guillou is an award-winning podcast producer and broadcaster. He's co-founder of OG Podcasts, working with the likes of New Scientist, Dr Karan and Lessons From Our Mothers. Connect with Ollie: Website: www.ogpodcasts.co.uk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillou  Email: hello@ogpodcasts.co.uk

    41 min

  5. 12 JAN

    Before Inner Thought: Has Consciousness Changed Through History? | Brian McVeigh

    💬 Would you believe there was a time before humans had consciousness? It’s almost impossible to imagine, but there is one theory that proposes this very thing. Brian McVeigh explores the theory of the 'bicameral mind', an incredibly provocative idea about the evolution of modern human consciousness. Today we speak to ourselves inside our own heads - and we understand that voice is ours. But for our ancestors, this theory suggests their minds were instead filled with the voices of Gods, the ancestors and hallucinations. This is the basis of Julian Jaynes’ idea, which McVeigh has built on.⚡ In this episode we explore exactly what it means for humans to live without consciousness and why we might have developed the minds and inner thoughts that we know today. This is an exploration of just one theory of consciousness. It’s a descriptive framework about how inner experience and belief systems may have functioned in different periods - not a claim about whether religious beliefs are true or false. Don't miss an episode - subscribe now: https://podfollow.com/what-we-did-before  🎧 Stay tuned to learn about: ➡ What was going on in the minds of our ancestors, before self reflection ➡ Why religion may have been so common in pre-modern societies ➡ The importance of language and writing in the emergence of consciousness ➡ The downsides of modern consciousness, like anxiety and depression ➡ How technology may be changing consciousness ➡ How humans may one day develop artificial consciousness About the podcast: What We Did Before is a podcast where we chart the history of modern inventions, from how we kept food fresh before fridges, to how we survived without shoes and what came before AI. About your host: Ollie Guillou is an award-winning podcast producer and broadcaster. He's co-founder of OG Podcasts, working with the likes of New Scientist, Dr Karan and Lessons From Our Mothers. Connect with Ollie: Website: www.ogpodcasts.co.uk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillou  Email: hello@ogpodcasts.co.uk

    1h 19m

  6. 6 JAN

    Before Cars: The Dangers of Travel Told in Three Stories

    💬 Before we had cars, travel was unforgiving, exhausting and dangerous. Journeys we tune out now were once hard graft, plagued with setbacks, illness, robberies - and sometimes death. So what was travel really like for the people who came before us? ⚡ In this episode we follow three journeys of those who travelled pre-car. Firstly Ibn Battuta, one of the most extensive travelers of all time. Secondly Celia Fiennes, who travelled the length and breadth of the United Kingdom several times. And finally we tackle travel through the eyes of the working poor in Victorian times, for whom travel was essential for survival. Don't miss an episode - subscribe now: https://podfollow.com/what-we-did-before 🎧 Stay tuned to learn about: ➡ How one man’s pilgrimage turned into a 30-year fight to keep moving ➡ Why bad roads, bad weather, and bad luck could end a journey instantly ➡ Why the threat of bandits, illness and even execution were normal travel concerns ➡ Why inns mattered so much on a long, arduous journey ➡ Why railways didn’t end dangerous travel for the Victorian poor About the podcast: What We Did Before is a podcast where we chart the history of modern inventions, from how we kept food fresh before fridges, to how we survived without shoes and what came before AI. About your host: Ollie Guillou is an award-winning podcast producer and broadcaster. He's co-founder of OG Podcasts, working with the likes of New Scientist, Dr Karan and Lessons From Our Mothers. Connect with Ollie: Website: www.ogpodcasts.co.uk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillou Email: hello@ogpodcasts.co.uk

    24 min

  7. 29/12/2025

    Before Surnames: When Names Were Brutally Honest

    💬 Before surnames existed, people survived with just one name. Surprisingly, some places in the world still haven’t adopted formal surnames at all. So what led to the spread of the last name? And why were the predecessors of surnames so often insulting? ⚡ In this episode we explore what we did before surnames, how they started out simply as descriptions of a person - and why the modern meaning of a surname is shifting. Don't miss an episode - subscribe now: https://podfollow.com/what-we-did-before  🎧 Stay tuned to learn about: ➡ How humans relied on simple “eke-names” for a long time ➡ The four main types of surname that exist ➡ How some people were literally called “Blackinthemouth”, “the Druncard” or “Badneighbor”  ➡ The man with 2,253 unique words to his name ➡ How the rise of surnames is deeply tied to power, money and control About the podcast: What We Did Before is a podcast where we chart the history of modern inventions, from how we kept food fresh before fridges, to how we survived without shoes and what came before AI. About your host: Ollie Guillou is an award-winning podcast producer and broadcaster. He's co-founder of OG Podcasts, working with the likes of New Scientist, Dr Karan and Lessons From Our Mothers. Connect with Ollie: Website: www.ogpodcasts.co.uk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillou  Email: hello@ogpodcasts.co.uk  Attributions: Domesday book image: Mark Cartwright - CC BY 4.0

    26 min

  8. 22/12/2025

    Before Christmas: The Figures That Ruled the Dark Winter

    💬 Before we had Christmas, how did we mark this time of year? Ancient humans were celebrating the winter solstice thousands of years ago. But for them it was about surviving the harsh conditions of an unforgiving season. So how did we get from then to now? ⚡ In this episode we explore the many iterations of Christmas that came before it, from Saturnalia to Yule - and the ancient ceremonies held at megalithic monuments like Stone Henge. Don't miss an episode - subscribe now: https://podfollow.com/what-we-did-before 🎧 Stay tuned to learn about: ➡ The many predecessors of Father Christmas ➡ The frightening figures of festive folklore - like the Krampus  ➡ Why winter solstice celebrations were important for ancient people ➡ How Christmas was once rowdy - and how the Victorian’s cleaned it up ➡ How one poem changed Christmas forever  About the podcast: What We Did Before is a podcast where we chart the history of modern inventions, from how we kept food fresh before fridges, to how we survived without shoes and what came before AI. About your host: Ollie Guillou is an award-winning podcast producer and broadcaster. He's co-founder of OG Podcasts, working with the likes of New Scientist, Dr Karan and Lessons From Our Mothers. Connect with Ollie: Website: www.ogpodcasts.co.uk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-guillou  Email: hello@ogpodcasts.co.uk

    1h 14m
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About

Before modern inventions and conveniences, humans had ingenious ways of solving problems. So how exactly did humans survive before fridges, without clothes or before surnames were invented? Find out the answers to these questions and more, right here. Hosted by Ollie Guillou.

Information

  • Creator
    OG Podcasts
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © OG Podcasts
  • Show Website
    What We Did Before