ShowEpisode 32
Lissin
The Origin of Things
The Button: Five Thousand Years of Useless Genius
How a tiny ornament became the world's most overlooked technology. The strange saga of the humble button.
The full history and science behind one everyday object nobody thinks to question — from paperclips to zippers, told by someone obsessively curious.
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Episodes
32 published
32The Button: Five Thousand Years of Useless GeniusHow a tiny ornament became the world's most overlooked technology. The strange saga of the humble button.15 minOct 10, 202631Why We Fork: The Strange Story Behind Your Table’s Most Controversial ToolFrom ancient rituals to dinner table drama, discover how the humble fork changed what it means to eat13 minOct 3, 202630The Secret Life of Everyday Things: The Umbrella's Wild JourneyWhy this humble rain shield was once a sacred crown and how it became the object you forget at the pub13 minSep 26, 202629The Toothbrush: How a Riot, a Prison Cell and a Chew Stick Changed EverythingUnraveling the secret history and science behind the toothbrush, from ancient chew sticks to a sanitation revolution15 minSep 19, 202628Who Really Lit Up the World: The Lightbulb's Wild, Forgotten OriginsDigging deep into the epic saga behind the lightbulb and the battle to invent the first true lighting system13 minSep 12, 202627Paperclip Wars: The Secret History of the Bent Wire on Your DeskUnraveling the wild, competitive world behind the humble paperclip and why its true story matters today12 minSep 5, 202626Zipped Up: The Wild, Obsessive Saga Behind the ZipperFrom failed boot clasps to fashion staple—unraveling the eccentric inventors and science that sealed the deal.11 minAug 29, 202625Unraveling the Secret Lives of Everyday Things: Obsessive Histories UnbuttonedEach week, dive deep into the wild origins and hidden science of objects you never thought to question11 minAug 22, 202624Unspooling the Secret Life of Scotch Tape: From Insult to IconA deep-dive into the wild, sticky origins of tape—told by someone who once spent three weeks on the paperclip10 minAug 15, 202623Obsessive Origins: The Pencil’s Secret Past, From Camel Hair to Graphite WarsDive deep each week into the bizarre science and forgotten history behind everyday objects you never question10 minAug 8, 202622Unbuttoning History: The Surprising Origins of Everyday ObjectsDive deep each week as our obsessive host uncovers the wild backstories and science behind the items we overlook daily.10 minAug 1, 202621Stapled Through Time: The Obsessive Origins of Everyday ObjectsUnraveling the royal beginnings and hidden science of the humble stapler, one week at a time11 minJul 25, 202620Obsessed Objects: Unraveling the Secret Lives of Everyday ThingsThis week: Ballpoint Pens—From Leather Markers to Ubiquitous Icons, the Twisted Tale of a Simple Tool12 minJul 18, 202619Twisted Origins: The Surprising History of the CorkscrewFrom Musket Tools to Wine Openers—Unpacking the Science and Stories Behind Everyday Objects11 minJul 11, 202618Unmatched Histories: The Strange Evolution of Everyday ObjectsFrom deadly matches to humble erasers, discover the wild science and secrets behind items we take for granted.11 minJul 4, 202617Erased From Memory: The Unlikely Origins of the EraserDive deep into the history, science, and serendipity behind the everyday eraser—told with obsessive enthusiasm.10 minJun 27, 202616Unraveling the Paperclip: The Secret Life of Everyday ObjectsObsessively exploring the surprising history and science behind the things you never thought to question10 minJun 20, 202615Unraveling the Fork: The Scandalous Saga of a Tabletop RevolutionEveryday objects, extraordinary origins—discover the overlooked history and science behind what’s right under your nose.14 minJun 13, 202614Unzipped Origins: The Bizarre, Bumpy History of the Everyday ZipperExplore the obsessive science and forgotten failures behind the zipper—an invention we almost never used.11 minJun 6, 202613Unraveling the Ordinary: The Hidden Histories of Everyday ObjectsObsessively exploring the overlooked science and stories behind the things you use without a second thought14 minMay 30, 202612Unraveling the Ordinary: The Obsessive Origins of Everyday ObjectsDive deep into the wild history and hidden science behind the things you never thought to question—one object at a time.13 minMay 23, 202611Bright Ideas: The Obsessive Origins of the LightbulbUnraveling the tangled, century-long history and science behind the everyday objects we never question12 minMay 16, 202610Unraveling the Ordinary: The Obsessive Origins of Everyday ObjectsDive deep into the hidden history and science behind mundane inventions, from the paperclip to the lightbulb.12 minMay 9, 20269Unbuttoned: The Surprising Origins and Science of Everyday ThingsFrom seashells to shirts—discover the hidden histories of objects you never thought to question.10 minMay 2, 20268Stapled Through Time: The Secret Life of Everyday ObjectsUncover the wild, obsessive histories and hidden science behind the tools we never think to question.10 minApr 25, 20267Unraveling the Pin: The Untold Saga of Everyday ObjectsDive deep into the quirky origins and science behind the things we never question, one obsession at a time.12 minApr 18, 20266Unbristled Truths: The Obsessive History of the ToothbrushFrom bone shards to nylon bristles, discover the wild evolution of the tool you trust with your teeth.12 minApr 11, 20265Unraveling the Ordinary: The Obsessive Origins of Everyday ObjectsFrom safety pins to paperclips, discover the wild stories and science behind the things you never question.8 minApr 6, 20264Unraveling the Paperclip: The Untold Saga of Everyday ObjectsDive deep into the quirky origins, myths, and science behind the things you never thought to question.3 minApr 2, 20263Unzipped: The Surprisingly Twisted History of the ZipperDive deep into the invention, failure, and triumph of the zipper—one everyday object you never questioned3 minApr 2, 20262Obsessive Origins: The Untold Stories of Everyday ThingsEach week, unravel the wild history and science of overlooked objects—from paperclips to zippers—with passionate, deep-dive narration.3 minApr 2, 20261The Ballpoint Pen: A Not-So-Smooth RevolutionUnraveling the wild, leaky history and science of the ballpoint pen—from disastrous debuts to everyday essential.4 minApr 2, 2026