Researching the Obvious

emilyfekete
  • 4.7 (3)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

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

  1. 1d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. Jun 2

    Poppin Off! Some Soda History

    What is your go to soda order at a restaurant?  Do you hope they carry Coke products? Or maybe you’re a Pepsi person?  Most of our beloved and well known soda brands today actually started out in … pharmacies!?  In this episode Emily and Katie dive into the big soda names and their origin stories in the Soda Fountains of the late 19th century as well as some lesser known regional sodas that have survived the test of time. Why do we have flavored soda at all? Who invented Coca Cola and Pepsi? What exactly goes into a Root Beer? What are some of the niche regional sodas still popular today? https://www.diffordsguide.com/encyclopedia/1253/bws/schhh-you-know-who-the-story-of-schweppes  https://www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online-research/encyclopedia-of-detroit/vernors-ginger-ale https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-root-beer-1992386 https://cheerwine.com/about/ https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-coca-cola-1991477 https://www.coca-colacompany.com/about-us/history https://wacohistory.org/items/show/36

    Poppin Off! Some Soda History

  6. Season 3 Trailer

    Season 3 Coming June 2!

    Did you miss us? Katie and Emily have been spending the winter months diligently researching all the obvious topics you never thought to look up for yourself. Catch the two of them in Season 3 of Researching the Obvious coming out on June 2, 2026.

    Season 3 Coming June 2!

  7. Feb 13 ·  Bonus

    Winter Olympics Are Coming

    BONUS EPISODE!  It’s that time of the year when you’re waiting for the snow to melt and the sun to come back …or maybe you’re enjoying being cozy inside and watching the Winter Olympics! In the midst of the iconic winter sporting event, join Emily and Katie for a little bonus discussion about when the Winter Olympics got started and what kind of sporting events you can expect to see! When were the Winter Olympics established? What are the sport classes in the Winter Olympics? How many athletes and countries participate? What are some of the most loved sporting events?

  8. 12/23/2025

    These are a Few (More) of Our Favorite Things: Season 2 Recap

    Season 2 of Researching the Obvious is coming to an end. In this episode Emily and Katie review some of their favorite topics and facts of Season 2 and reflect on both surprising revelations and the unexpected paths their research took in various episodes. Thank you to everyone who has listened and supported the show for another season! Season Three will start in the spring, but in the meantime, if there are any topics you want to learn more about, share them on Instagram @ResearchingtheObviouspod. Happy New Year!

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About

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

Information

  • Creator
    emilyfekete
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 emilyfekete
  • Show Website
    Researching the Obvious