Researching the Obvious

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.

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?

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!

Merry Happy Holiday Traditions Around the World

As the holiday season approaches what traditions are you using to get into the spirit? Would you be waiting for a visit from the Christmas Cat? Or perhaps you would carve a radish, eat a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, or maybe you gather around a giant Christmas Tree made of tumbleweeds? In this episode Emily and Katie explore a variety of unique holiday practices and lore that are part of the holiday season for different cultures.   Who are the Yule Lads and the Christmas Cat? What is the Night of the Radishes? Why do we send Christmas Cards? How long has that Yule Log channel been around? What are some other unusual holiday traditions and myths and where did they originate?   https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/before-the-yule-lads-evolved-into-icelandic-versions-santa-claus-they-terrorized-children-into-following-rules-180948162/ [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/before-the-yule-lads-evolved-into-icelandic-versions-santa-claus-they-terrorized-children-into-following-rules-180948162/]  https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/regina/the-icelandic-yulelads-at-dimmuborgir [https://guidetoiceland.is/connect-with-locals/regina/the-icelandic-yulelads-at-dimmuborgir]  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Krampus [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Krampus]  https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/noche-de-rabanos-oaxaca-holiday-celebration [https://www.thrillist.com/travel/nation/noche-de-rabanos-oaxaca-holiday-celebration]  https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/twelve-grapes-new-years-eve [https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/twelve-grapes-new-years-eve]  https://www.countryliving.com/life/a46116/christmas-crowns/ [https://www.countryliving.com/life/a46116/christmas-crowns/]  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumbleweed_Tree [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumbleweed_Tree]  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-christmas-card-180957487/ [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/history-christmas-card-180957487/]  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/un-christmassy-origin-gingerbread-houses-180967461/ [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/un-christmassy-origin-gingerbread-houses-180967461/]  https://www.history.com/articles/christmas-traditions-history [https://www.history.com/articles/christmas-traditions-history]  https://www.almanac.com/content/christmas-firsts-christmas-traditions-america [https://www.almanac.com/content/christmas-firsts-christmas-traditions-america]

Let the Good Times Roll: Bowling in North America

What do ducks, candles, and turkeys all have in common? It’s not Thanksgiving…it’s bowling, of course! Bowling is a form of entertainment that has firmly rooted itself as an all-American pastime, and there are more variations than you might think! From candlepin to duckpin to the more traditional tenpin, bowling and bowling alleys have international origins but a rich history of popularity in the United States. In this episode, Emily and Katie go on a journey exploring the many types of bowling, starting with the early years, through the golden age, and discovering what pins are left standing in the game today.   What are bowling’s religious roots? How did bowling become a distinctive American pastime? What was the golden age of bowling? What are the different varieties of bowling and how do they differ from one another? What are some of the most iconic pop culture bowling moments?   https://sites.psu.edu/ballgamesoftheworld/bowls-and-bowling/small-ball-pin-bowling/ [https://sites.psu.edu/ballgamesoftheworld/bowls-and-bowling/small-ball-pin-bowling/] https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/sports/html/bowling.html [https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/sports/html/bowling.html]  https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/community/duckpin-bowling-history-stoneleigh-lanes-towson/ [https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/community/duckpin-bowling-history-stoneleigh-lanes-towson/] https://www.bowlingheritage.com/item/rubber-ducks/ [https://www.bowlingheritage.com/item/rubber-ducks/]  https://www.thetenpinexpress.com/content/all-you-need-know-about-duckpins [https://www.thetenpinexpress.com/content/all-you-need-know-about-duckpins]  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenpin_bowling# [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenpin_bowling] https://www.gotenpin.co.uk/about/history-of-bowling [https://www.gotenpin.co.uk/about/history-of-bowling]  https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/05/10/bowling-final-frames-roll/27070351/ [https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/05/10/bowling-final-frames-roll/27070351/]  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_Alone [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowling_Alone]