Not Your Average Holiday

We Thought It Was Luddite Day... It Wasn't | Paper Airplane Day

What happens when Luddite Day accidentally becomes Paper Airplane Day? Apparently… a full-blown trip back to simpler times, schoolyard chaos, and very serious aerodynamic research.In this episode, Akshay confidently walks in thinking it’s Luddite Day (it is not), and suddenly we’re spiraling into:✈️ epic plane stories🏫 schoolyard nostalgia and how we passed the time before phones📵 what it actually means to “reject technology” in a modern world📜 the surprising history behind the Luddite movement🧠 why paper airplanes might be the perfect symbol of freedom, simplicity, and rebellion📐 and yes… the secret sauce to our personal paper airplane strategiesFrom Ned Ludd smashing knitting frames to folding the perfect dart that hits the ceiling fan just right—this episode connects history, humor, and folded notebook paper in a way that probably shouldn’t make sense… but somehow does.So the real question is:Are we building better tech… or just forgetting how to fly paper?Drop a comment:What was YOUR best schoolyard pastime? And do you still remember your paper airplane design?🎧 New episodes available now.✈️ Full episode link in bio.Music in this episodeBe Quiet - KashidoThe Day After Tomorrow - Maya BelsitzmanAdventures (Creative Cut) - djnooneRACE IT - PlayerZeroDancin in the Tub - Family KushMilky Way - Roie ShpiglerFriends on the Way - Assaf AyalonSunshine - Creative Cut - Acoustic - Day DreamersCircle of Life - Short version - LetraIts the 80s Triumphant Retro Logo - Callum DonaldsonSources in this episodeHistory.com (A&E Networks) – Who Were the Luddites? https://www.history.com/news/who-were-the-ludditesWorld History Encyclopedia – Luddite https://www.worldhistory.org/Luddite/Joseph Needham, Science and Civilisation in China, Vol. 4: Physics and Physical Technology (Cambridge University Press)Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum – Kite History Resources (https://airandspace.si.edu)Leonardo da Vinci, The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, ed. Jean Paul RichterBritish Library – Leonardo da Vinci Manuscripts Collection (https://www.bl.uk)Royal Aeronautical Society Archives – Sir George Cayley Papers (https://www.aerosociety.com)Library of Congress – Wright Brothers Collection (https://www.loc.gov)David McCullough, The Wright Brothers (Simon & Schuster)René J. Francillon, Lockheed Aircraft Since 1913Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum – Early Flight & WWII Training Materials (https://airandspace.si.edu)The Great International Paper Airplane Book by Jerry Mander, George Dippel, Howard Gossage (1971)NASA – Beginner’s Guide to Aeronautics (https://www.nasa.gov/aeronautics/)Guinness World Records – Paper Aircraft Records (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com)Red Bull Paper Wings Official Competition (https://www.redbullpaperwings.com)#LudditeDay #PaperAirplanes #NostalgiaTrip #SchoolyardStories #TechVsTradition #PodcastComedy #SimpleTimes #ThrowbackCulture

The Most Important Object in the Universe | Towel Day

What can a towel teach you about you? The vibe for this one is a bit different—in the best way. This week, Matt and Akshay celebrate Towel Day, honoring the late Douglas Adams. What starts as a holiday about innocent, fluffy towels quickly becomes something more thoughtful than expected. This episode leans introspective, exploring life, the power of shifting perspective, and how to handle the unexpected things that threaten to derail your entire galaxy—while still delivering the jokes and moments you’ve come to expect. Think of it like a good movie: a little more heart, a little more meaning… and still plenty of laughs when you need them. __________________Sources & References * Towel Day & Hitchhiker’s Guide [https://www.space.com/towel-day-hitchhikers-guide-to-the-galaxy] * Who Was Douglas Adams [https://www.thecollector.com/who-was-douglas-adams/] * Lifestyle Changes for Heart Health [https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/life-after-a-heart-attack/lifestyle-changes-for-heart-attack-prevention#:~:text=Quick%20Facts%20*%20Healthy%20habits%20are%20the,pressure%20and%20blood%20sugar%20at%20healthy%20levels.] * Cleveland Clinic: How Often to Wash Towels [https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-often-should-you-wash-your-germ-magnet-of-a-bath-towel] * Adams, Douglas. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Pan Books, 1979. * Gaiman, Neil. “Douglas Adams Obituary,” The Guardian, 2001 * Remembering Douglas Adams [https://www.neilgaiman.com/Cool_Stuff/Essays/Introductions/Remembering_Douglas] * NBC News Tribute [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna6867061] Song Credits / Music * Dancin in the Tub — Family Kush * Just Candy — Just for Kicks * Maps Without Names — Risian * Hallow — Stephen Keech * The Barrenness of a Busy Life — BENJA * Departure — Stephen Beddall * Limitless — Stephen Beddall __________________ There are 52 weeks in a year. How are you celebrating this one? Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday and follow on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. Join Matt and Akshay for weird stories, bad jokes, and unique celebrations every week. #TowelDay #DouglasAdams #HitchhikersGuide #NotYourAverageHoliday #PodcastLife #WeirdHolidays #LifeLessons #ComedyPodcast #GeekCulture #IntrospectiveHumor #FluffyThoughts

Why Do Only Chickens Get Dances? | Dance Like a Chicken Day

Do you really not want to be like a chicken? What do you have against ducks? This week, Akshay and Matt celebrate Dance Like a Chicken Day, the one holiday where you’re fully encouraged to briefly ignore all dignity and let your feathers fly. In this episode, they: * Dive into the surprisingly strange origins of this wedding dance floor staple * Draft the next animals that deserve their own dance craze * Reflect on their own public humiliation… sorry, dance histories If you’ve been waiting for a sign to flap your wings in front of your boss this week, this is it. Consider this episode your official permission. Legal Disclaimer: This podcast is not liable for any resulting dance parties or cease and desist letters stemming from your newfound dance confidence. _________________ References/Sources * https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-oddities/the-birdie-song-how-a-swiss-wrote-the-most-annoying-song-of-all-time/90561194 [https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-oddities/the-birdie-song-how-a-swiss-wrote-the-most-annoying-song-of-all-time/90561194] * https://web.archive.org/web/20100203225653/http://www.kjrh.com/mostpopular/story/josef-hardt-mr-oktoberfest-dies/EJL2iD5uEUmaoFVihieG7g.cspx [https://web.archive.org/web/20100203225653/http://www.kjrh.com/mostpopular/story/josef-hardt-mr-oktoberfest-dies/EJL2iD5uEUmaoFVihieG7g.cspx] * https://stagemusiccenter.com/music-school-blog-winchester-acton-ma/2020/9/4/accordion-history-fun-facts-and-benefits-of-learning [https://stagemusiccenter.com/music-school-blog-winchester-acton-ma/2020/9/4/accordion-history-fun-facts-and-benefits-of-learning] * https://www.cacklehatchery.com/20-weird-and-wonderful-facts-about-chickens/ [https://www.cacklehatchery.com/20-weird-and-wonderful-facts-about-chickens/] Music Credits * “Dancin in the Tub” — Family Kush * “And He’d Say OO-La-La Wee Wee” — Pietro Deiro * “Linger” — Marshall Usinger * “Jaan” — Sharabina __________________________ Listen now and celebrate something weird this week. There are 52 weeks in a year—how are you celebrating this one? Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday and follow along on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app. Join Matt and Akshay for weird stories, bad jokes, and uniquely questionable holidays every week. Hashtags #DanceLikeAChicken #ChickenDance #FunnyPodcast #ComedyPodcast #WeirdHolidays #HolidayPodcast #NotYourAverageHoliday #PodcastClip #NewPodcast #Humor #ComedyContent #WeeklyPodcast #CelebrateAnything #RandomFacts #LightheartedContent

Where Do Lost Socks Actually Go? | Lost Sock Memorial Day

There are many theories on where lost socks end up ranging from the strange to the downright unbelievable, but one thing is certain... we have all mourned a lost sock and someday will mourn one again. This week, Matt and Akshay celebrate Lost Sock Memorial Day, a holiday dedicated to honoring those we’ve lost over the past year — specifically, the single socks that vanished without explanation. Think the “In Memoriam” segment of the Oscars… except instead of celebrities, it’s the quiet disappearance of your once-proud sock collection.From the depths of the Sock Drawer of Despair, they explore surprising sock facts, the strange history of socks, and a series of increasingly questionable theories about where missing socks actually go. Including, yes… sock-stealing gremlins with suspicious motives.They also investigate whether this is just laundry chaos… or something far more organized than we’d like to admit. Sources / References • https://www.blacksocks.com/en-us/pages/sock-loss [https://www.blacksocks.com/en-us/pages/sock-loss] https://nationaltoday.com/lost-sock-memorial-day/ [https://nationaltoday.com/lost-sock-memorial-day/] https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/socks-market [https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/socks-market] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH7AW8xUGD0 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH7AW8xUGD0] https://thesocksource.com/blog-title-5/ [https://thesocksource.com/blog-title-5/] https://www.ransomspares.co.uk/blog/news/history-of-the-tumble-dryer.htm [https://www.ransomspares.co.uk/blog/news/history-of-the-tumble-dryer.htm] https://news.samsung.com/global/sock-horror-mystery-of-missing-socks-is-solved-scientists-reveal-why-socks-go-missing-in-the-wash-and-how-likely-it-is-to-happen [https://news.samsung.com/global/sock-horror-mystery-of-missing-socks-is-solved-scientists-reveal-why-socks-go-missing-in-the-wash-and-how-likely-it-is-to-happen] https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/05/06/spells-curses-and-ways-to-see-the-future/ [https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/05/06/spells-curses-and-ways-to-see-the-future/] https://news.gallup.com/poll/692738/paranormal-phenomena-met-skepticism.aspx [https://news.gallup.com/poll/692738/paranormal-phenomena-met-skepticism.aspx] https://www.britannica.com/event/Black-Sox-Scandal [https://www.britannica.com/event/Black-Sox-Scandal] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shoeless-Joe-Jackson [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Shoeless-Joe-Jackson] https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/jackson-joseph-jefferson-wofford/ [https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/jackson-joseph-jefferson-wofford/] https://www.omnicalculator.com/everyday-life/socks-loss-index [https://www.omnicalculator.com/everyday-life/socks-loss-index] Song Credits / Music * Dancin in the Tub — Family Kush * Investigation — Max H * The Worrisome Winding Path — Quinten Coblentz * Burning the Silence — Role Shpigler * Moonrise — Piotr Hummel There are 52 weeks in a year. How are you celebrating this one? Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday and follow on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.Join Matt and Akshay for weird stories, bad jokes, and unique celebrations every week.

Is it the shoes...? | Two Different Colored Shoes Day

Two Shoes, One Risk: The stories behind our biggest chances Every day is full of tiny risks, just waiting for you to step out into them. This week, Matt and Akshay celebrate National Two Different Colored Shoes Day, a holiday dedicated to one simple act of courage: wearing mismatched shoes as a reminder that you’re capable of taking on risks of any size. Along the way, they share some of the biggest risks they’ve taken in their own lives and the challenges they’re still working up the courage to face. Are you ready to feel slightly motivated… and maybe slightly judged by your own comfort zone? This episode might be exactly what you need. Also, fair warning: brace yourself for an overwhelming amount of soul-lifting background music. We regret nothing. Sources / References https://www.nationaltwodifferentcoloredshoesday.com/founder [https://www.nationaltwodifferentcoloredshoesday.com/founder] Song Credits / Music * Dancin in the Tub — Family Kush * Signs of Life - Zac Nelson * Fall - Naski * The Obscure Truth - Alon Ohana * infinite dreams - Out of Flux There are 52 weeks in a year. How are you celebrating this one? Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday and follow on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast app.Join Matt and Akshay for weird stories, bad jokes, and unique celebrations every week.