178 episodes

Did you know that Europeans used to believe that sheep grew from Mongolian trees? Have you heard about the misbegotten discovery of a new form of water in the 1960s that set off a cold war arms race? Ever seen the gleaming Las Vegas hotel that accidentally shoots heat rays at poolside guests? The Constant is an audio history of getting things wrong. From ancient science to contemporary blunders, we take you on journeys of misadventure and misapprehension, filling your brain with juicy nuggets of the sometimes comical, sometimes tragical and always fascinating ways people mess things up.

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Airwave Media

    • History
    • 4.8 • 767 Ratings

Did you know that Europeans used to believe that sheep grew from Mongolian trees? Have you heard about the misbegotten discovery of a new form of water in the 1960s that set off a cold war arms race? Ever seen the gleaming Las Vegas hotel that accidentally shoots heat rays at poolside guests? The Constant is an audio history of getting things wrong. From ancient science to contemporary blunders, we take you on journeys of misadventure and misapprehension, filling your brain with juicy nuggets of the sometimes comical, sometimes tragical and always fascinating ways people mess things up.

    Comfortably Numb, Part 3

    Comfortably Numb, Part 3

    Many men tried to claim the invention of anesthesia as their own. It didn't work out well for any of them.
    Check out: indeed.com/theconstant now to start hiring
    Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
    BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
    The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
    ​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 1 hr 9 min
    Comfortably Numb, Part 2

    Comfortably Numb, Part 2

    What does every wild west shootout in every movie you've ever seen have to do with the history of anesthesia? You'll find out in the cold open! Then, stick around for the rest.
    Check out: indeed.com/theconstant now to start hiring
    Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
    BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
    The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
    ​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 45 min
    Comfortably Numb, Part 1

    Comfortably Numb, Part 1

    The war between humanity and its oldest, archest of enemies: pain.
    Get 50% off by navigating to factormeals.com/constant50
    Check out: indeed.com/theconstant now to start hiring
    Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
    BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
    The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
    ​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 48 min
    Like a Son

    Like a Son

    He was the most beautiful man in the history of Athens. And he nearly destroyed it.
    Check out: indeed.com/theconstant now to start hiring
    Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
    BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
    The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
    ​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 56 min
    Whoa Baby

    Whoa Baby

    Until recently, our understanding of where babies came from was hazy. Which made it easy for a certain class of hucksters to make up crazy stuff about them.
    Get 50% off by navigating to factormeals.com/constant50
    Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
    BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
    The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
    ​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 54 min
    Let's Talk About Sex, Babies (Remix!)

    Let's Talk About Sex, Babies (Remix!)

    We're remaking one of the all-time classic Constant episodes, this time with decent audio!
    Check out: indeed.com/theconstant now to start hiring
    Visit our Patreon here. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, starting now!​​
    BUY OUR MERCH, YOU FILTHY ANIMALS!
    The Constant is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.​​
    ​​Interested in advertising on The Constant? Email sales@advertisecast.com to get on board!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 56 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
767 Ratings

767 Ratings

Leez34 ,

Good one

It’s a good show I like it

RogerBantley22 ,

Dragging Things Out

Making 2 Episodes out of content that used to be one episode. Substance great as ever.

Tryng2findNameNotTaken ,

Funny and informative podcast that puts a spotlight on epistemological failures

The presenter is very erudite, a great writer, and has a good sense of humor and comedic timing.

I would invite the listener to listen to any of the episodes before “The Foolkiller”. Everything before that was pretty top notch. Everything was tight.”

Episodes since then suffer from - higher production values? Lots of audio effects and musical interludes that don’t justify the time spent.

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