Épisodes

  • #22: Hysteria — Ancient Doctors Blamed a Wandering Uterus

    #22: Hysteria — Ancient Doctors Blamed a Wandering Uterus
    May 5 2026
    Explore the shocking origin of 'hysteria'—a word rooted in the Greek *hystera* (uterus). For centuries, doctors believed the uterus could literally wander through a woman's body, causing mental breakdown. Discover how ancient medical pseudoscience shaped language and stigma.

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    More from Sticky Note Podcasts:
    Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)
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    2 min
  • #21: Muscle — Romans Saw a Little Mouse Under Your Skin

    #21: Muscle — Romans Saw a Little Mouse Under Your Skin
    May 4 2026
    Explore the surprising etymology of the word "muscle"—it doesn't come from Latin words meaning strength or power as you'd expect. Instead, the Romans named muscles after something tiny and squirming: the word musculus literally means "mouse" because a flexing bicep resembled a small rodent.

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    Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)
    stickynotepodcasts.com
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    2 min
  • #20: Pajamas — Indian Leg-Garments Became British Sleepwear

    #20: Pajamas — Indian Leg-Garments Became British Sleepwear
    May 1 2026
    Discover the surprising origin of the word 'pajamas'—it actually comes from India, derived from Urdu and Persian *paijama*, meaning 'leg-garment.' Explore how British colonizers encountered this comfortable clothing and gave it a name that stuck with us today.

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    More from Sticky Note Podcasts:
    Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)
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    2 min
  • #19: Cravat — Croatian Soldiers Made This the Height of Fashion

    #19: Cravat — Croatian Soldiers Made This the Height of Fashion
    Apr 30 2026
    Explore the surprising history of the cravat, a fancy neck accessory that evolved into the modern tie. Contrary to popular belief, this elegant garment wasn't invented by Parisian dandies but originated with Croatian mercenary soldiers in the 17th century who spread the fashion across Europe.

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    More from Sticky Note Podcasts:
    Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)
    stickynotepodcasts.com
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    2 min
  • #18: Bikini — Named After a Nuclear Test Site in the Pacific

    #18: Bikini — Named After a Nuclear Test Site in the Pacific
    Apr 29 2026
    Explore the surprising origin of the bikini, a word born not from fashion logic but from a 1946 atomic bomb test. Discover how a Paris designer revolutionized swimwear by making it smaller, and uncover the true etymology behind this iconic two-piece bathing suit that challenges popular misconceptions about language and history.

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    More from Sticky Note Podcasts:
    Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)
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    2 min
  • #17: Cardigan — Named After a General Who Lost a Famous Battle

    #17: Cardigan — Named After a General Who Lost a Famous Battle
    Apr 28 2026
    Discover the surprising origin of the cardigan, the button-up sweater that's been solving temperature problems since the 1800s. Most people assume it comes from an old English word for knit or wool, but the truth is far more interesting—it's actually named after James Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, a man who famously lost a battle.

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    Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)
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    2 min
  • #16: Jeans — America's Most Iconic Pants Come From Italy

    #16: Jeans — America's Most Iconic Pants Come From Italy
    Apr 27 2026
    Discover the surprising Italian origins of jeans, the most iconic American garment. The word traces back to Genoa, an Italian port city known in French as 'Gênes,' where sturdy cotton twill fabric was called 'jean.' Explore how this everyday clothing staple got its unexpected name.

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    Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)
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    2 min
  • #15: Torpedo — Named After an Electric Fish That Stuns Its Prey

    #15: Torpedo — Named After an Electric Fish That Stuns Its Prey
    Apr 24 2026
    Discover the surprisingly weird origin of the word 'torpedo'—it didn't start as a weapon, but as the name of a deadly electric ray. This episode traces how a fish from the Mediterranean became the term for modern underwater missiles, revealing the unexpected path of linguistic evolution.

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    More from Sticky Note Podcasts:
    Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)
    stickynotepodcasts.com
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    2 min