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Underunderstood

Underunderstood

By Select Works

There are questions the internet just can't answer. But that doesn't mean we can't find them.

On each episode of Underunderstood, we find a question the internet can’t answer — maybe it’s a dead-end Wikipedia page, an abandoned Reddit thread, or an unanswered question on Twitter — and we fill in the gaps. It’s part chat show, part documentary, and almost always surprising.
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Currently playing episode

Where's My Chile?

UnderunderstoodAug 20, 2019

00:00
42:12
Update + LIVE show!
Jun 26, 202307:23
Big Ideas Lost to Mini Rooms
May 18, 202346:45
Even If It's Fake, It's Real
May 10, 202332:42
The Other Masked Magician
May 03, 202332:16
What's the Deal With Airport Food?
Apr 26, 202342:26
Hunting for Manhunt
Apr 19, 202355:23
MTV Cribs or MTV Fibs?
Apr 05, 202348:00
Did Daft Punk Record ‘Pee is Stored in the Balls?’
Mar 29, 202342:16
Mail Time!
Mar 22, 202344:25
What happened to Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom?
Mar 15, 202351:19
Why Is It Called a Triscuit?
Mar 08, 202339:28
More Than Just A Friend
Mar 01, 202334:33
Raisin Suspicion
Feb 22, 202301:08:48
Tough Calls
Feb 15, 202338:41
How Far Is Tattoo Far: Real or Fake?

How Far Is Tattoo Far: Real or Fake?

A listener question sends Billy on a deep dive into an MTV reality show.


Want to support the show? Become a patron at https://patreon.com/underunderstood.

Have a mystery? Email hello@underunderstood.com or leave a voicemail at 212-994-4882‬.


Show notes:

MTV has not yet responded to our request for comment.

Feb 08, 202356:01
Sleuth Songs
Apr 26, 202248:07
I Want My MTV Dial Position Sticker
Apr 12, 202240:58
One More Thing… Deodorant

One More Thing… Deodorant

Billy investigates a theory that Apple products are packaged with a signature fragrance.

Want to join us for "the world's largest trivia contest"? Visit https://underunderstood.com/trivia to sign up.

Support Underunderstood and get our bonus podcast by joining our Patreon!

Show notes:

Mar 29, 202246:30
Mystery Sounds + Some Personal News
Mar 15, 202242:53
2-for-1: Pursuit and Pizza
Dec 21, 202147:46
Lou Pearlman Tried to Send a Boy Band to Space
Nov 23, 202147:38
California License Plate 2SAM564
Nov 09, 202137:31
Chief Laugh Officer
Oct 26, 202139:11
Who Is John, the Psychic Santa from The Circle?
Jun 03, 202129:36
The Most Popular Snoopy Quote in Japan
Apr 06, 202134:18
Side Quests: Tampons, iCarly, and Fruit Snacks

Side Quests: Tampons, iCarly, and Fruit Snacks

A few “side quests” from our inbox: tampons in the freezer, a missing iCarly cover, and some long lost fruit snacks.

If you like the show, support us on Patreon and get access to our bonus show, Overunderstood.

Tampons in the freezer

The missing Miranda Cosgrove cover

Mystery fruit snacks

Mar 23, 202138:37
The Origins of Oranges and Door Hinges

The Origins of Oranges and Door Hinges

Mar 16, 202144:46
A Conspiracy Theory About Area Codes

A Conspiracy Theory About Area Codes

Adrianne tries to deconstruct how a big city got a seemingly low-prestige area code.

If you like the show, support us on Patreon and get access to our bonus show, Overunderstood.

Show notes:

Mar 09, 202141:40
How Cool Ranch Doritos Got Cooler
Mar 02, 202144:11
Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute
Feb 23, 202147:22
How Long Does Lipstick Last on a Dead Body?
Feb 16, 202136:45
Why Is This Sheriff Arresting Fire TV Sellers?
Feb 09, 202145:38
Jeff Goldblum’s Secret Tattoo

Jeff Goldblum’s Secret Tattoo

A listener emails Underunderstood: "Jeff Goldblum has a tattoo in Jurrassic Park - no one noticed, no one can identify. Help!"

Show notes:

Support Underunderstood on Patreon and get access to our Discord community and bonus podcast, Overunderstood!

Feb 02, 202143:32
Does Anyone Remember this Robot Vegetable Band?
Dec 15, 202047:23
The Case of the Blah Blah Blahs

The Case of the Blah Blah Blahs

A famous datset of Reuters articles from the 1980s includes “Blah blah blah.” in place of some stories. Why?

We have a Patreon now! Sign up to support the show and get access to our bonus podcast, Overunderstood.

Show notes:

Dec 08, 202036:33
Closing the Loop on China's Mystery Seeds

Closing the Loop on China's Mystery Seeds

What ever happened with those mysterious seeds that were showing up in U.S. mailboxes?

Nov 24, 202043:08
The One About the Masked Singer
Nov 17, 202042:06
Justice for Jocko

Justice for Jocko

An unsolved mystery from our members-only podcast, Overunderstood. You can sign up and get access at patreon.com/underunderstood.

Nov 10, 202036:12
Tom and Gerry

Tom and Gerry

Regina searches for the true story behind a sexist remark.

Show notes:

  • 00:40 - This is Geraldine Ferraro's Wikipedia page.
  • 0:52 - And this is Walter Mondale's.
  • 01:21 - This episode published on November 4, 2020, which is election day in the United States for the 2020 Presidential election.
  • 01:31 - The 2020 Democratic National Convention kicked off on August 17, 2020. It was technically in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but because of the Coronavirus pandemic it was a mostly virtual event.
  • 03:15 - Edit desk: Shades of sexism, published April 30, 2017, is the piece of Emily's that I am referring to.
  • 04:05 - hereGeraldine Ferraro's full acceptance speech
  • 04:30 - Walter Mondale's full acceptance speech
  • 06:10 - Kamala Harris Tests America’s Relationship to Women in Power, published in The New York Times on August 19, 2020
  • 06:57 - In 1992, Hillary Clinton got in some trouble for implying she didn't want to "stay home and bake cookies" and as a result ended up in a bake-off with Barbara Bush. She won, apparently due to using shortening instead of butter.
  • 07:56 - Prematurely mentioned obituary in The Economist.
  • 12:04 - Tom Brokaw was accused of sexual misconduct in April 2018. Here is an Opinions piece in The Washington Post that his former colleague wrote about the experience.
  • 13:41 - The Vanderbilt Television News Archive.
  • 15:56 - "The Lady Is a Pol," by Marie Brenner for New York Magazine's July 1984 issue.
  • 17:07 - "out of sight of the cameras, her feet began doing a secret minuet, an odd, pigeon-toed dance. Her size 7 ½’s were sheathed..."
  • 17:51 - "The Rise of Geraldine Ferraro," written by Elisabeth Bumiller and published by The Washington Poston April 29, 1984
  • 19:05 - Here are the details for Caroline's article, published in 2015.
  • 20:46 - Some of the great research Caroline is referencing can be found in these research study results from Celinda Lake for Name It Change It with the Women's Media Canter and She Should Run.
  • 23:07 - "Cosmetic Coverage," by Jennifer L Pozner
  • 24:47 - The Representation Project.
  • 34:39 - Check out our patreon to sign up and get access to Overunderstood as well as our Discord channel!
Nov 03, 202035:17
The Guacfather

The Guacfather

The origin story of a wobbly toy with a peculiar name.

We have a Patreon now! Members get access to Overunderstood, our bonus podcast. Check it out at patreon.com/underunderstood.

Show Notes:

Oct 27, 202031:14
May Contain Up To 60% Peanuts

May Contain Up To 60% Peanuts

The FDA gets salty.

Oct 20, 202034:36
Amazon's Next Top Model

Amazon's Next Top Model

Once a photo gets on the internet, it could end up anywhere.

Oct 13, 202043:06
The One About The Circle
Feb 10, 202035:51
The Pittsburgh Potty
Jan 28, 202021:13
A Tale of Two Billies
Jan 21, 202037:07
Toilet Seat Blues

Toilet Seat Blues

Add “Smurf butt” to the list of things to expect when you’re expecting.

Jan 14, 202025:45
Grab Bag
Jan 07, 202026:09
The Incredible Shrinking Cap’n

The Incredible Shrinking Cap’n

Dec 17, 201936:08
43 Years in Biscuitville
Dec 10, 201925:45
Brave Dot Com

Brave Dot Com

How a misfit polka band scored a premium spot on the World Wide Web in 1995.

Brave Combo songs in this episode (Spotify playlist):

  • "Do Something Different"
  • "The Simpsons Theme"
  • "In Heaven, There Is No Beer"
  • "Ice Machine in the Desert"
  • "Crazy Serbian Butcher's Dance"
  • "Purple Haze (Polka Version)"
  • "The Chicken Dance"
Dec 03, 201928:50