Researching the Obvious

emilyfekete

Two long-distance best friends researching all the things interesting about every day life.

  1. Sep 22

    Romanced by the Regency: The Millennial Obsession with Austen

    If you’re a woman and a millennial, in particular, you likely are obsessed, or are aware of the obsession with, not only Jane Austen but also the shows, films, and adaptations that continue to be released. Whether it’s Bridgerton or The Other Bennett Sister or yet another retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Austen’s stories have remained popular content for over 200 years. In this episode Emily and Katie discuss the Regency Era in which Austen’s novels were published and what has kept them in the spotlight for such a long time. When and what was the Regency Era anyway? What other authors helped establish Austen’s popularity? What makes Austen’s stories so timeless? What are some of the modern examples of the Regency Era’s popularity? https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-are-regency-era-shows-like-bridgerton-so-popular-180979851/  https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/regency-era  https://www.history.com/articles/george-iii  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanticism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austen https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jul/02/why-are-jane-austen-regency-dramas-still-popular-persuasion-netflix-bridgerton  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styles_and_themes_of_Jane_Austen  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgette_Heyer  https://www.penguin.co.uk/discover/articles/georgette-heyer-regency-romance-bridgerton  https://historicalnovelsociety.org/historically-speaking-a-retrospective-on-georgette-heyer/

    Romanced by the Regency: The Millennial Obsession with Austen

  2. Sep 8

    Getting Snacky With It

    If you’re craving a crunchy, salty treat, there’s nothing better than a crispy fried potato chip or a crunchy baked pretzel. Potato chips and pretzels are among the most beloved American snacks and are always easy to find on a shelf near you. How exactly did they become the ubiquitous grab and go snack that they are today? In this episode, Emily and Katie explore the history of these two snack foods and the popular and regional brands that continue to bake, fry, and create them today.  (Also enjoy a completely unrelated but important update to our Season 1 Nancy Drew Episode, “Something’s Missing Here”.) What are the (questionable) origin stories of potato chips and pretzels? What are the histories of some of the most famous snack brands? Why is Pennsylvania such a hot spot for snack foods? https://www.history.com/articles/the-pretzel-a-twisted-history https://www.tomsturgispretzels.com/pretzel-history/ https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/blog/western-pennsylvania-history-pretzels-and-prohibition/ https://www.visitpa.com/blog/post/pretzels-and-pennsylvania-twisted-tale/  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCn3l4tbd9A&t=583s https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/curious-history-potato-chip-180979232/ https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/pennsylvania-potato-chips  https://www.wilsonluna.com/post/herman-lays-chips-leadership-story  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_chips  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Cod_Potato_Chips

    Getting Snacky With It

  3. Aug 25

    Time Flies

    How many times per day do you check the time? Your watch? Or maybe your phone or computer? Time rules our schedules and our lives but how often do you think about where these time measurements and devices come from? In this episode Emily and Katie try not to get too existential as they discuss time zones, time keeping devices, and the ancient roots of why we measure time the way that we do. What are some historical timekeeping devices? Why do we have time zones?  Who established the methods for tracking time? What the heck is with daylight savings anyway? https://www.bts.gov/explore-topics-and-geography/geography/geospatial-portal/history-time-zones-and-daylight-saving https://www.history.com/articles/when-did-the-united-states-start-using-time-zones  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/experts-time-division-days-hours-minutes/  https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/15-old-fashioned-ways-keeping-time

    Time Flies

  4. Aug 11

    Buy Me Some Peanuts and Crackerjacks… and Other Baseball Foods

    Summertime means baseball season and Katie and Emily are ready to say take me out to the ballgame. But what is a day at the ballpark without something to snack on? In this episode, learn about iconic baseball treats, stadium facts, and what it was like going to college in New England during the Red Sox’s run to the 2004 World Series. Plus, some regional delicacies you’ll only find if you make it to select stadiums. Let’s play ball!  Why do we eat peanuts and hot dogs at baseball games? What does stadium design have to do with baseball food?  How do they come up with these crazy ballpark snacks? Did those Red Sox fans really flip a car??? https://www.mlb.com/news/9-9-9-challenge-mlb-2026  https://www.mlb.com/news/history-of-iconic-mlb-ballpark-food-explained  https://bigthink.com/culture-religion/a-look-back-at-the-20-year-renaissance-of-baseball-architecture/ https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-fried-grasshoppers-backstory https://www.mlb.com/pirates/fans/mascots/pirates-pierogies https://www.webstaurantstore.com/blog/628/beer-hot-dog-and-ticket-prices-at-major-league-baseball-parks.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqFK9-ZMw0aBhr1UvAmfGGyay-XMm57YuKY5CiXw7MBEwQrT-oC https://www.chowhound.com/2123031/must-try-baseball-stadium-foods/ https://www.tastingtable.com/2134176/best-mlb-stadium-foods/  https://www.foodnetwork.com/restaurants/photos/best-baseball-stadium-food  https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/fenway-park-concessions-new-food-lobster/

    Buy Me Some Peanuts and Crackerjacks… and Other Baseball Foods

  5. Jul 30

    Back Home Again in Indiana

    If you’ve never visited Indiana, odds are you’ve driven through it or at least flown over it - and maybe never given it a second thought? From ancient civilizations to the automobile industry and the Indianapolis 500, the state that is deemed the “crossroads of America” has plenty of history to share. In this episode Emily and Katie do a little exploration of Katie’s home city and state that proves there’s much more than corn in Indiana. What existed before Indiana became a state? How were Indiana’s state borders determined? What industries have shaped the city of Indianapolis over the years? What’s the big deal about the Indianapolis 500? How the States Got Their Shapes by Mark Stein 1491 by Charles C. Mann https://indyencyclopedia.org/ku-klux-klan/  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis#Infrastructure  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_500#  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_Motor_Speedway  https://visitindiana.in.gov/about-indiana/famous-hoosiers/

    Back Home Again in Indiana

  6. Jul 14

    That’s a No From Me Dawg: The Roots of Reality TV

    There’s no shortage of “Housewives”, “Fiancés”, “Voices”, and “Love” reality TV shows to choose from these days, but not too long ago the reality tv industry was just starting to take off. The early 2000s saw a boom in unscripted and “real” competitive and observational tv shows sprouting from a few key programs that set the stage for their success. In this episode, Emily and Katie reminisce about and explore the early days of Reality TV and the core shows that defined a genre that subsequently exploded into spin-offs and unique concepts for years to come. What were the earliest examples of Reality TV? What shows saw unprecedented success in the Reality TV Boom of the early 2000s? What are some defining shows of the Reality genre? Did Brett Michaels ever find his Rock of Love!? (Spoiler alert: No.) https://time.com/collections/reality-tv-most-influential-seasons/6199108/reality-tv-influence-on-world/  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_television https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_(American_TV_series) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Brother_(American_TV_series) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Idol https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Biggest_Loser_(American_TV_series)

    That’s a No From Me Dawg: The Roots of Reality TV

  7. Jun 30

    Look at this Thing, Isn’t it Neat?: A Brief History of Eating Utensils

    What will you be using to eat your dinner tonight? You’re probably reaching for a fork, but in the history of utensils and cutlery using a fork to eat is practically brand new! When exactly did we start using forks, knives, and spoons to eat our meals?  And what about chopsticks, how long have they been around?  In this episode, Emily and Katie explore a brief history of what we use to eat and drink and some of the more unusual instruments that have been set at tables throughout the years. When did humans first start using utensils to eat? What else do cultures use to eat food? How did the use of forks become popular? How old are chopsticks and have they changed at all over the years? https://www.thedailymeal.com/1264581/kfc-spork-success-origin-story/ https://www.google.com/url?q=https://leitesculinaria.com/1157/writings-origins-fork https://www.salon.com/2012/10/06/consider_the_spork/ https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/invented-spork.htm  https://stixasia.com/chopsticks-101-types-materials-and-cultural-significance/  https://www.history.com/articles/a-brief-history-of-chopsticks  https://www.saveur.com/weird-victorian-forks/ https://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/trends-news/article/history-of-the-straw https://www.rosenberg-library-museum.org/treasures/victorian-silverware

    Look at this Thing, Isn’t it Neat?: A Brief History of Eating Utensils

  8. Jun 16

    It’s in the Cards: How Card Games Create Community

    Most people have a deck of cards in their home and a go-to game for gatherings. Where you live or your cultural background might influence that game more than you think! Maybe you enter Euchre tournaments, or Spades makes an appearance at your family get together. What about the playing cards themselves? Have you ever wondered where all of those symbols came from? Or why certain cards are used in different ways depending on the game? In this episode, Katie and Emily deep dive into that 52 card collection that has led to endless variations of games. Why is Euchre the cardgame of the Midwest? How did the standard suits come about? What are the cultural connections to different card games? What is the history of the standard 52 card deck? https://www.wopc.co.uk/the-history-of-playing-cards/early-history-of-playing-cards#Saracen  https://www.wopc.co.uk/egypt/mamluk-playing-cards  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playing_card  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whist  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triomphe  https://scalar.usc.edu/works/pest-problems-as-result-of-food-waste-in-london-boroughs/the-untold-history-of-spades-and-how-it-spread https://pudding.cool/2021/08/spades/ https://www.midstory.org/in-the-euchre-belt-a-declining-national-pastime-is-still-dealing/ https://medium.com/@jasonboog/the-legend-of-euchre-402d419679b5

    It’s in the Cards: How Card Games Create Community
See All (42)

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Two long-distance best friends researching all the things interesting about every day life.

Information

  • Creator
    emilyfekete
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 emilyfekete
  • Show Website
    Researching the Obvious