Surface Knowledge

GT5 Network

Just enough to impress in 30 minutes or less. New episodes weekly. Surface Knowledge is your weekly deep dive into fascinating topics. Served fast, smart, and with a twist. From missing ghost ships and serial killers to dream science, American folklore, cults, and space oddities like ‘Oumuamua, each episode delivers compact, compelling stories that scratch the itch of curiosity without overwhelming you with jargon or filler. Think of it as a well-researched overview. The kind of weird and often surprising info you’ll want to repeat to your friends, co-workers, or any random you meet on the street. Join award-winning journalist and podcast presenter Max Kurton as he keeps it conversational, skeptical where it counts, and just weird enough to keep things interesting. Perfect for curious minds, short attention spans, and lovers of the phrase “wait, what?” Follow @surfaceknowledgepod for clips, facts, and more.

  1. A Surface Knowledge of American Folklore

    12 MAY

    A Surface Knowledge of American Folklore

    From steel-driving legends to swamp-dwelling spirits, this episode explores the uniquely strange and powerful world of American folklore. We’re diving into the myths, heroes, creatures, and oral traditions that helped shape the U.S. not just as entertainment, but as a way of passing on values, resistance, and cultural identity. In this episode, you’ll meet: John Henry – the folk hero who took on a steam drill and became a symbol of dignity through labor White Buffalo Calf Woman – a sacred Lakota figure who gifted spiritual rites and promised unity High John the Conqueror – the trickster spirit of resistance, hope, and clever rebellion during slavery The Jersey Devil – a cryptid born from colonial myth, political smear campaigns, and Pine Barrens lore Each story is followed by surface-level facts to round out your knowledge and explore the cultural impact of folklore across regions and communities. Because sometimes, the best way to understand a nation isn’t through its history books…it’s through the stories it whispers after dark. Mentioned in this episode: The Sacred Pipe and Lakota Seven Rites Hoodoo traditions and conjure culture Tricksters in folklore (Br’er Rabbit, Coyote, Esu) American cryptids like Mothman, Bell Witch, and Wendigo Why oral storytelling matters across cultures All of this is covered within 26 minutes!!! Like what you hear? Follow and rate the show, and check out @surfaceknowledgepod on YouTube, TikTok, Bluesky, and Instagram for more daily facts and weird history drops. Got a local legend you think deserves some surface knowledge? Email gottillfive@gmail.com. Presenter: Max Kurton Intro Voiceover: John Raynar Proudly part of the GT5 Network

    27 min
  2. A Surface Knowledge of Oumuamua

    29 APR

    A Surface Knowledge of Oumuamua

    In October 2017, something strange passed through our solar system, which was fast, silent, and not from around here. Meet ʻOumuamua: the first confirmed interstellar object ever detected in our skies. Was it a comet? An asteroid? A giant hydrogen snowball? Or, as one Harvard astrophysicist controversially suggested… something else entirely? In this episode of Surface Knowledge, we explore the mystery of ʻOumuamua: How it was discovered (just in time) Why its shape, spin, and movement baffled scientists The wild scientific theories about what it could be Avi Loeb’s bold claim that it might be alien technology The legacy it left behind — and why it still matters It’s a story that sits perfectly between science and science fiction. A reminder that even with all our tech, the universe still throws curveballs. If you love weird space stories, unsolved mysteries, or challenging what we think we know... this one’s for you. Mentioned in this episode: Pan-STARRS Telescope (Hawaii)Extraterrestrial by Avi LoebThe Galileo ProjectProject LyraLightSail & solar sail technologyInterstellar objects and future missions Follow us for bite-sized facts and behind-the-scenes content: @surfaceknowledgepod on TikTok, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube Got questions, theories, or corrections? Email: gottillfive@gmail.com Don’t forget to rate and follow the show — it helps more curious minds find us! Presenter: Max Kurton Intro Voiceover: John Raynar Proudly part of the GT5 Network

    22 min

About

Just enough to impress in 30 minutes or less. New episodes weekly. Surface Knowledge is your weekly deep dive into fascinating topics. Served fast, smart, and with a twist. From missing ghost ships and serial killers to dream science, American folklore, cults, and space oddities like ‘Oumuamua, each episode delivers compact, compelling stories that scratch the itch of curiosity without overwhelming you with jargon or filler. Think of it as a well-researched overview. The kind of weird and often surprising info you’ll want to repeat to your friends, co-workers, or any random you meet on the street. Join award-winning journalist and podcast presenter Max Kurton as he keeps it conversational, skeptical where it counts, and just weird enough to keep things interesting. Perfect for curious minds, short attention spans, and lovers of the phrase “wait, what?” Follow @surfaceknowledgepod for clips, facts, and more.