Hypnotic History

Hypnotic History

What was in the Whole Earth Catalog? How did a program called est give people inner peace while keeping them out of the bathroom? And why was everyone in the past putting gross stuff in Jell-O? Find out the answers to these questions and more as we explore 20th century American life.

  1. 5 days ago

    E135: Birthdays

    American birthday parties are not as old as you may think. Sources: “After all, when did celebrating birthdays became a thing?” The Oakland Post, 15 February 2023, https://oaklandpostonline.com/45230/features/after-all-when-did-celebrating-birthdays-became-a-thing/. Cieslik, Emma. “The festive history of American birthdays | National Museum of American History.” National Museum of American History, 28 May 2026, https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stories/festive-history-american-birthdays.  “Hallmark Proudly Celebrates 100 Years in Gift Wrap.” Hallmark, https://corporate.hallmark.com/hallmark-news/100-years-in-gift-wrap/.  Pinsker, Joe. “The Strange History of Birthday Celebrations.” The Atlantic, 2 November 2021, https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/11/history-birthday-celebrations/620585/.  Spencer, Laura. “The History Of Gift Wrap.” NPR, https://www.npr.org/2017/12/23/573217009/the-history-of-gift-wrap.

  2. 7 Sept

    E134: Ale-8-One

    We’ll tell all of you non-Kentuckians what this is and where it got its name. Sources: “Family Secret.” Ale-8, https://ale8one.com/heritage/family-secret/.  “Fun Facts..” Ale-8, https://ale8one.com/heritage/fun-facts/.  “G. Lee Wainscott: The Ale-8 Man (Part One).” Win City Voices, 22 October 2024, https://www.wincityvoices.org/g-lee-wainscott-the-ale-8-man-part-one/.  “G. Lee Wainscott: The Ale-8 Man (Part Two).” Win City Voices, 29 October 2024, https://www.wincityvoices.org/g-lee-wainscott-the-ale-8-man-part-two/.  Hunt, Ruth. “Explore | Ale-8-One Bottling Plant.” Kentucky Tourism, https://www.kentuckytourism.com/explore/ale-8-one-bottling-plant-5847. Juett, James. “Kentucky soda for a century: Ale-8-One marks 100 years.” The Daily Independent [Ashland, KY], 1-2 August 2026, p. C1. “Oral History: Ale-8-One Bottling Company.” Southern Foodways Alliance, https://www.southernfoodways.org/interview/ale-8-one-bottling-company/. Walsh, Karla. “Ale-8-One Soda's History.” Southern Living, 23 August 2025, https://www.southernliving.com/ale-8-one-soda-history-11761535.

  3. 4 Jul

    E133: The Bicentennial

    Who did the Senate charge with attempting to “steal the Bicentennial?” Sources: Goetz, Matthew, and Marlyne Sexton. “Gerald R. Ford's Bicentennial Adventure.” White House Historical Association, 6 March 2026, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/gerald-r-fords-bicentennial-adventure. Kalikin, Autumn. “Off the Shelf: The People's Bicentennial.” DC History Center, 12 February 2026, https://dchistory.org/news-and-insights/the-peoples-bicentennial-populist-movement/.  Kennedy, Lesley. “Photos: How Americans Celebrated the 1976 Bicentennial.” History.com, 9 June 2026, https://www.history.com/articles/american-bicentennial-1976-photos.  Mahoney, Mary. “From Noodles to Nostalgia: The Bizarre History of the 1976 Bicentennial.” Landline, 3 July 2024, https://marymmahoney.substack.com/p/noodling-around-the-bicentennial.  Marshall, Sarah. “The Grim American History Of ‘The Bicentennial Minute.’” Medium, 14 March 2013, https://medium.com/the-awl/the-grim-american-history-of-the-bicentennial-minute-1ef9137e29c7.  Rymsza-Pawlowska, M.J. “U.S. Bicentennial, 1976.” The Inclusive Historian's Handbook, 2 July 2019, https://inclusivehistorian.com/u-s-bicentennial-1976/.

  4. 11 May

    E132: Pop Rocks

    The candy with an alleged death count. Sources: “Ever Wonder About Pop Rocks?” Science World, 7 November 2014, https://www.scienceworld.ca/stories/ever-wonder-about-pop-rocks/. Hunt, Krisin. “10 Things You Didn’t Know About Pop Rocks.” thrillist, 25 March 2015, https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/things-you-didn-t-know-about-pop-rocks-trivia-about-pop-rocks-candy. Muse, Tyler. “The Unknown History of Pop Rocks: The Rise, Fall & Rival.” History Oasis, 29 October 2024, https://www.historyoasis.com/post/history-pop-rocks. Smith, Scott. “Inventor of Pop Rocks candy dies of heart failure at 92.” Recordnet.com, 28 July 2004, https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/2004/07/28/inventor-pop-rocks-candy-dies/50697314007/. Tishfield, Holly. “The Accidental Origin of Pop Rocks Candy.” Tasting Table, 1 July 2025, https://www.tastingtable.com/1897723/pop-rocks-candy-origin/.

  5. 4 May

    E131: Aunt Sammy

    Uncle Sam had a wife! Or was she? Sources: Griffith, Bobby. “Turn Your Radio On and Learn How to Cook Mouth-Watering Treats the Aunt Sammy Way.” UNT Sycamore Stacks Blog, https://blogs.library.unt.edu/sycamore-stacks/2022/10/04/turn-your-radio-on-and-learn-how-to-cook-mouth-watering-treats-the-aunt-sammy-way/. Hill, Alexis N. “Aunt Sammy and Her Radio Recipes – The Unwritten Record.” The Unwritten Record, 17 March 2022, https://unwritten-record.blogs.archives.gov/2022/03/17/aunt-sammy-and-her-radio-recipes/.  “History of Aunt Sammy and Her Recipes.” Quaint Cooking, 16 January 2019, https://quaintcooking.com/2019/01/16/history-of-aunt-sammy-and-her-recipes/. Lee, Karen. “The Recipes that Ruled the Radio during the Depression.” Fishwrap: The Official Blog of Newspapers.com, 16 December 2022, https://blog.newspapers.com/recipes-that-ruled-the-radio-during-the-depression/.

  6. 27 Apr

    E130: Chia Pets

    Is it okay to eat your Chia Pet? Sources: “About Chia.” Chia Pet, https://chia.com/pages/about-us. Edwards, Owen. “Chia Pet.” Smithsonian Magazine, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/chia-pet-180308610/. Fawcett, Kirstin. “9 Nostalgic Facts About Chia Pets.” Mental Floss, 13 February 2017, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/91683/9-nostalgic-facts-about-chia-pets.  Rasmussen, Patty, et al. “Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! You Know the Jingle, Now Hear the Chia Pet Story.” People | HowStuffWorks, 5 May 2020, https://people.howstuffworks.com/chia-pet.htm.

  7. 20 Apr

    E129: Circus of the Stars

    Which celebrity walked on broken glass? Sources: “Circus of the Stars.” Retro Video Inc., https://www.retrovideo.com/footage_library/circus-of-the-stars/. O'Connor, John J. “TV: 'Circus of the Stars,' a One-Ring show on CBS.” The New York Times, 13 January 1977, p. 49, https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/13/archives/tv-circus-of-the-stars-a-onering-show-on-cbs-tacky-bicentennial.html. Rossen, Jake. “When Circus of the Stars Ruled Primetime.” Mental Floss, 9 February 2023, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/642242/when-circus-of-the-stars-ruled-primetime.

  8. 13 Apr

    E128: Battle of the Network Stars

    Who was the holdout who refused to do the show, and why? Sources: Gajewski, Ryan. “Hollywood Flashback: 'Battle of the Network Stars' Turned Celebs Into Gladiators.” The Hollywood Reporter, 25 August 2025, https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/battle-of-the-network-stars-celebs-gladiators-1236348098/. Harris, Will. “A Battle Royale Revisited: An Oral History of Battle of the Network Stars.” AV Club, 14 August 2017, https://www.avclub.com/a-battle-royale-revisited-an-oral-history-of-battle-of-1797835884. Nagle, Dave. “Battle of the Network Stars Returns to ABC on June 29.” ESPN Press Room, 30 May 2017, https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2017/05/battle-network-stars-returns-abc-june-29/. Rossen, Jake. “When Network Stars Went to Battle.” Mental Floss, 29 June 2017, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/501898/when-network-stars-went-battle.

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What was in the Whole Earth Catalog? How did a program called est give people inner peace while keeping them out of the bathroom? And why was everyone in the past putting gross stuff in Jell-O? Find out the answers to these questions and more as we explore 20th century American life.

Information

  • Creator
    Hypnotic History
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    135
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Hypnotic History
  • Show Website
    Hypnotic History