Useless Information

Fascinating True Stories From the Flip Side of History

On the Web Since 1994

Podcasting Since January 2008

Marty, the Marijuana Mouse – Podcast #190

Published on February 2, 2023

Posted in: Animals & Pets, Bizarre & Oddities, Crime & Punishment, Humor, Podcast

The crazy true story of Marty, a mouse who was stealing marijuana and other drugs from the evidence room of the San Jose police department in 1974.

Click to Read More...

Retrocast #14 – Podcast #189

Published on January 19, 2023

Posted in: Podcast, Retrocasts

A man claims his wife snores in Morse code, a man hitchhikes after his car is stolen and is picked up by his own vehicle, the AMA recommends those over 40 not do the Twist, and much more!

Click to Read More...

The Newburyport Anti-Inflation Plan – Podcast #188

Published on January 9, 2023

Posted in: Money & Financial, Podcast

Inflation in the US hit 20% shortly after WW II. The government couldn’t get it under control, so the businessmen of Newburyport came up with a plan. Did it work?

Click to Read More...

Christmas Retrocast – Podcast #187

Published on December 20, 2022

Posted in: Footnotes to History, Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast, Retrocasts

A special holiday Retrocast featuring 10 true stories from Christmas past, plus a holiday song recorded in 1913.

Click to Read More...

Bad Apples #5 – The Bishop’s Wife – Podcast #186

Published on December 15, 2022

Posted in: Bad Apples Movie Review, Podcast

A review of the 1947 classic Christmas movie "The Bishop’s Wife," starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven. Is it as good as “It’s a Wonderful Life?”

Click to Read More...

200 Years of Twas the Night – Podcast #185

Published on December 5, 2022

Posted in: Holidays & Celebrations, Podcast

Author Pamela McColl discusses the origins of the poem, the debate over who truly wrote it, and how it has gone on to be the most published and most often recited poem in the library of English literature.

Click to Read More...

The Cryptanalyst (Part 3) – Podcast #184

Published on November 18, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Podcast

In this final installment, Marvin Lautzenhesier discusses leaving the FBI, his patents, and the giant theater organ that he installed in his house.

Click to Read More...

The Cryptanalyst (Part 2) – Podcast #183

Published on November 3, 2022

Posted in: Fraud & Deception, Law & Order, Podcast

In this second installment, 93-year-old Marvin Lautzenheiser discusses his time as an FBI field agent, how his team finally deciphered the hollow nickel message, and offers up his opinion on the Steven Spielberg movie Bridge of Spies.

Click to Read More...

The Cryptanalyst (Part 1) – Podcast #182

Published on October 21, 2022

Posted in: Crime & Punishment, Law & Order, Podcast

An interview with 93-year-old Marvin Lautzenheiser, who was the lead cryptanalyst for the FBI team that deciphered the microfilm message contained in the Hollow Nickel (Podcast #168).

Click to Read More...

The Great Los Angeles Air Raid – Podcast #181

Published on October 7, 2022

Posted in: Forgotten History, Podcast

The long-forgotten story of a battle that took place over Los Angeles just a few months after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. The US used all its might to shoot down the enemy planes detected overhead.

Click to Read More...

YesterCast #1 – November 22, 1963 – Podcast #180

Published on September 22, 2022

Posted in: Podcast, Yestercast

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy was a tragic day. But what else was happening that day? This episode of the podcast discusses the offbeat, quirky, and bizarre stories of November 22, 1963.

Click to Read More...

Bad Apples #4 – Gaslight – Podcast #179

Published on September 7, 2022

Posted in: Bad Apples Movie Review, Podcast

A review of the 1944 psychological thriller "Gaslight," starring Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer, and Joseph Cotton. It is from this movie that the term "gaslighting" is derived.

Click to Read More...

Russell Sage: The Meanest Miser in the Land – Podcast #178

Published on August 15, 2022

Posted in: Death and Murder, Money & Financial, Podcast

Russell Sage was once one of the world's wealthiest men. After his death, his wife Olivia got even by gave his fortune away to the causes that Sage despised. Historian Kathy Sheehan joins me tell the true story of Russell Sage.

Click to Read More...

Retrocast #12 – Podcast #177

Published on August 1, 2022

Posted in: Podcast, Retrocasts

A man elopes with another man's wife and blames it on her cake, a dead woman sits up in her coffin, smog changes the color of a California man’s tie, and much more! Tim Harford of Cautionary Tales cohosts.

Click to Read More...

The Rise & Fall of the Celestial Comet – Podcast #176

Published on July 19, 2022

Posted in: Bizarre & Oddities, Hoaxes, Podcast, Sports

In 1941, the Plainfield Teachers College football team was unstoppable. That was until a reporter exposed a shocking secret about the team and their storybook season was brought to a grinding halt.

Click to Read More...

Language

Follow the Podcast

Over 6 Million Downloads!

Recent Podcast Episodes

Retrocast #20 – Podcast #204
September 20, 2023
Boxed for a Better Life – Podcast #203
September 11, 2023
Retrocast #19 – Podcast #202
August 15, 2023
Back Into the Woods – Podcast #201
August 2, 2023
Mississippi Bans Sesame Street – Podcast #200
July 17, 2023
Bonus Episode: I Am a Guest on the Off Exit 10 Podcast
July 5, 2023
Retrocast #18 – Podcast #199
June 21, 2023
The Kid Is Not My Son – Podcast #198
June 7, 2023
Dubious Advice – Podcast #197
May 18, 2023
Frasier, the Sensuous Lion – Podcast #196
May 3, 2023

╳