Episode 6: Mad as a Hatter

Let the Cat Out of the Bag: Secrets, Scams, and a Furious Cat

We use the phrase “let the cat out of the bag” when someone spills a secret… but what if it began with an actual scam? In this episode of Ridin’ Wordy, Sean Rhoads explores the wild and possibly shady history behind one of the most colorful phrases in the English language. Journey back to crowded medieval marketplaces, where buyers may have thought they were purchasing a piglet… only to open the sack and discover an angry cat instead. Was this the true origin of the phrase? Or just a story that survived because it was too good to forget? From fraud and folklore to modern spoilers and surprise reveals, this episode uncovers how a phrase about hidden truth may have clawed its way into everyday speech. You’ll never hear this saying the same way again.

Muscle: From Little Mouse to Big Strength

You flex every day… but did you know your muscles are named after mice? In this episode of Ridin’ Wordy, Sean Rhoads explores the bizarre and hilarious origin of the word muscle, which traces back to the Latin word musculus, meaning little mouse. Why would the mighty Romans, conquerors of empires and builders of roads, name one of the strongest parts of the human body after a tiny rodent? Because when muscles moved under the skin… they thought it looked like mice scurrying beneath a blanket. From Ancient Rome to modern gyms, this episode dives into language, anatomy, history, and the wonderfully strange way humans name things. You’ll never do a bicep curl the same way again.

Episode 6: Mad as a Hatter

Mad as a Hatter will take working yourself crazy to a whole new level.

Episode 5: Deadline

This word might carry even more pressure when you learn the true origin.

Episode 4: Balls to the Wall

Get your mind out of the gutter. This word has an action-packed history, but probably not the same kind of action you might be thinking.