Forever Ago
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Forever Ago
Brains On presents Forever Ago®, a history show for the whole family! Every episode looks into the surprising and fascinating history of things we think are ordinary, but they’re not -- like ice cream flavors, video games, baths and more. We make learning about the past fun while teaching listeners...
Episoade Recente
98 episoade
We’re back! Brains On Universe has a new headquarters
We’re back! We’ve officially moved into our new headquarters! Come unpack with us and get a tour while we fill you in on some big news. Plus, new epis...

A big update about Forever Ago and the Brains On Universe
We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. We know: not cool. But...
Where did school uniforms come from?
Our world is filled with uniforms. From mail carriers, to sports teams to students! This week, Joy, cohost Hannah and Articles of Interest’s Avery Tru...
Josephine Baker: Diva and WWII spy!
Joy and co-host Obasi are so obsessed with historical spycraft that they become top secret spies! Their mission, should they choose to accept it: inve...
Play ball! The first team sport
Today, sports are popular all over the world! But have you ever wondered what the first team sport was? This week, Joy and cohost Xenia learn all ab...

Smarty Pass Bonus: First Things For Shizzle
Joy is a real cool customer. How cool? Well, let’s just say she regularly sleeps in feline PJs, aka the cat’s pajamas. Cat’s pajamas are slang for som...
How did the Girl Scouts get started?
Joy is so excited to be going on her first big camping trip, but she needs help – STAT! How do you put up a tent, anyway? And how do you make perfect,...
Where does maple syrup come from?
Today’s episode is all about the best breakfast topping, the sap that slaps…maple syrup! If you’ve ever had maple syrup on your pancakes or waffles, y...
Forever Ago is on Spring Break this week! Enjoy this saucy showdown from our friends at Smash Boom Best!
Forever Ago is on Spring Break this week! We’ll be back next week with a brand new episode all about the magic of maple syrup. In the meantime, enjo...
OOO, AHHHH! The history of fireworks
Fireworks dazzle us on special holidays, at flashy concerts and during some big public events (National Mr. Potatohead Day anyone?). But did you know...
How teens invented the Native Youth Olympics
Forever ago is back with a brand new episode all about the Native Youth Olympics! Join Joy and cohost Ali to learn all about how a group of students...
The birth of Bollywood movies
Millions of people around the world love to watch the magical, musical, dance-filled films from India. The industry is nicknamed Bollywood. And its ro...
The history and mystery of mayonnaise
Host Joy Dolo loves the listeners of Forever Ago – but does she love them enough to do an episode about her nemesis MAYONNAISE??? Yes, yes she does. J...
No Fooling! Forever Ago is back April 9th!
Hey Forever Ago friends! Happy April Fools Day! We’re so excited to be back in your ears with brand new episodes next week, on April 9th! No foolin...
Songs of the Humpback Whale: How one record helped save the whales
We have a real whale of a story for you this week! It’s a FIN-tastic classic. Joy and cohost Mina meet up with Hugh the humpback whale to hear the sto...
Hip-Hop History: How teenagers invented rap music
Rap music is one of the most popular genres of music in the world today. But where did it all begin? Join hosts Joy and Savion as they go back to the...
Jobs that don’t exist anymore
As times change, so do jobs, and careers that once were common can go extinct! Join Joy and co-host Amirah as they head to the world famous “This Used...
How Sesame Street tried to change the world
You probably know Sesame Street as a fun, fast-paced show full of talking puppets, like Elmo and Big Bird. But it actually started as a huge experimen...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Black Friday Special
It’s the holiday season, which for Forever Ago host Joy Dolo means one thing: DEALS! Help her check off her holiday shopping list with a game of Firs...
What’s the history of Black Friday?
Black Friday is a huge shopping holiday in the U.S. that happens the day after Thanksgiving. There are tons of sales and sometimes people even wait fo...
Who were the gladiators?
Gladiators were professional fighters who lived thousands of years ago in ancient Rome. But they weren't just fighters, they were also influencers who...

The Ten News: Election Day Kid Takeover
Tune in for a super special election day episode from our friends at The Ten News!
🗳️ It’s Election Day and Pamela is driving Ryan to the polls<...
Gotcha! The history of April Fool’s Day
Happy April Fool’s Day! Just kidding, we know it’s October. But that doesn’t stop Joy from celebrating April Fool’s Day all year round — especially wi...

Smarty Pass Presents: Truth or Truth
Usually, bonus episodes like this are exclusively for Smarty Pass subscribers but this month we’re sharing them with all our listeners. If you like th...
Who was the first Black woman to run for president?
2024 is an election year, where Americans will vote for a new president. Join Joy and co-host to Em as they learn all about what it takes to be Presid...
Why do we carve pumpkins on Halloween?
Joy’s ready for some Halloweeny fun, but her jack-o’-lantern pal Lionel wants to skip the whole thing. He doesn’t understand why carving pumpkins is s...
How did we send messages before cell phones?
Joy has a top secret message to deliver. There’s just one problem– she’s locked outside without her computer or phone! How will she send her VERY impo...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Ragin’ road trip
Joy and Anna are amped to go on a fun road trip! And with a garage full of transportation options nothing is gonna stop them from hitting the road. Gr...

Banjos Pt. 2: Bluegrass, Beyoncé and Beyond
We’re back with part two of our string-tastic story of the banjo! In the last episode, musician Rhiannon Giddens helped tell the origin story of the b...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Olympic History
This summer it’s the 2024 Olympic games! In honor of this sporty season, Forever Ago host Joy Dolo quizzes producers Rosie duPont and Anna Weggel all...

Banjos Pt. 1: From Gourds to Grammys
Today’s episode has a lot of pluck! It’s all about the banjo. For over 100 years, the banjo has been associated with country and bluegrass music, two...

The flower hunters: how tropical orchids fueled a craze
Uh oh! Joy picked up a free plant from a Buy Nothing group that can speak sign language and perform tricks. The bad news? It’s creating a jungle insid...

Don't steal my thunder! The history of idioms
The cat's out of the bag! We’re back with a brand new episode, and we didn’t cut any corners! This one is all about idioms, those funny expressions...

Who invented wheelchair basketball?
Less than a hundred years ago, wheelchairs were big clunky wooden chairs that couldn’t even fit through most doorways. But in the 1930s, a pair of en...

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Movie Forever Ago
Joy is building a movie theater in the basement of Brains On! Headquarters. She’s got the popcorn, air conditioning, and comfy seats but is overwhelme...
Smash Boom Best: Bubble Gum Vs. Gummy Bears
This week, we’ve got a very special episode from our besties at Smash Boom Best!
This debate is a tasty tussle between a chewy champion a...

Why do we eat popcorn at the movies?
Popcorn is a buttery, tasty treat. You can find it everywhere, from circuses to sports games. But it’s probably best known for its starring role as a...

Hole in One: History of the bagel
Today, bagels are a classic American breakfast food. But less than 100 years ago, most people in the U.S. had never heard of them! Join Joy, co-host A...

Terrific Toilets: how humans solved the potty problem
It’s easy to take toilets for granted, but these porcelain thrones are nothing short of marvelous. In this episode, Joy and co-host Caleb find out how...

How guide dogs came to lead the way
Dogs have served as human’s loyal companions for thousands of years. They’ve also been trained to do some pretty cool jobs! In today’s episode, Joy an...