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Artwork for Forever Ago
Smarty Pass
Brains On
Sesame Street
Forever Ago
April Fool's Day
Thanksgiving
Fortune Cookies
Banjos
Toilets
Bubble Gum
Olympic Games
Wampanoag Tribe
Mesoamerican Ball Game
Rhiannon Giddens
Beyoncé
Black Friday
Minstrel Shows
Bluegrass Music
Bagels
Sewer Systems

Brains On Universe 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 to think critically about history.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes129Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryEducation for KidsKids & Family

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Artwork for Forever Ago

Latest Episodes

Here’s a wild fact: there are more cellphones on the planet than there are people. That’s a lot of phones! But believe it or not, phones you can use on the go are pretty new. Today, Joy and co-host Sebastian explore the history of these pocket-sized ... more

YouTube

Today we learn about Qin Shi Huang, a man who did a lot of big things. He was the first emperor of China, he started the Great Wall and he had thousands of life sized statues built. But his dream was to do something even bigger: to live forever! Join... more

YouTube

Trick or treating is a fun time. You go around ringing door bells, dressed in a costume, and you get candy! But how did this sweet tradition get started? Turns out it has roots that go back hundreds of years! Join Joy and co-host Veronica as they tra... more

YouTube

Molly Bloom as a debater? It’s true! This is a sneak peek at a bonus episode we just shared in our Smarty Pass feed. Molly debates Sanden in a Smash Boom Best showdown between Cheetahs and Sloths. To hear the full, ad-free episode, ⁠join Smarty Pass⁠... more

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Recent Guests

Kenny Curtis
Host of History Snacks and Greeking Out
History Snacks
Episode: The emperor who tried to live forever
Molly Bloom
Brains On host and Smash Boom Best debater
Brains On Universe
Episode: Sneak Peek: Molly debates Sanden in Sloths vs Cheetahs!
Sanden Totten
Science journalist, Brains On producer and editor
Brains On Universe
Episode: Sneak Peek: Molly debates Sanden in Sloths vs Cheetahs!
Maite Gomez-Rejon
Writer, cook, and historian who teaches about food and culture
Hungry For History (podcast)
Episode: What's the history of chocolate?
Dr. Robyn Le Blanc
Archaeologist who studies Ancient Rome
Archaeology (Ancient Rome)
Episode: Day in the Life: Ancient Rome
Billy Coleman
Associate Director of the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy at the University of Missouri; researcher of early American music and politics
University of Missouri
Episode: Why did it take so long for the U.S. to pick its national anthem?
America the Beautiful (as a character)
Anthropomorphized anthem contributing to the discussion
Historical song
Episode: Why did it take so long for the U.S. to pick its national anthem?
Ross Mumford
Researcher, historian, and educator who oversees Titanic artifacts exhibits
Titanic artifacts exhibits program
Episode: The Titanic was called unsinkable, so why did it sink?
Ajael Wade
Toy historian and toy designer; founder of The Toy Coach
The Toy Coach
Episode: First Things First Spectacular

Host

Joy Dolo
Host of Forever Ago and key educator-guide, involved in historical storytelling and context delivery

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 10.8k ratings
  • Good podcast!

    Ok I don’t really know what’s happening here but lemme just say this. I’m not taking sides, or trying to start another war. But here’s this: why do we care? The first war was over whether this podcast is good or bad. But the thing is, it doesn’t matter what some random person on the internet thinks. If you think this pod is good that’s great. If you think it’s bad then that is also great. Now, you’re going to argue about what this review section should be used for. But the thing is, again, it do... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jack🚡
    United States13 days ago
  • Listen to the pod

    I love this podcast thank you so much Joy for helping me learn in a fun way!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JoGal7611
    United States13 days ago
  • Joy dolo

    I’m Timmy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Add a pool
    United States14 days ago
  • The best

    I am speech lees soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good unbelievable ok make some more interest I don’t want to make you sad but your resent ones haven’t been great I can’t stop listening to the electric cars and the ones about the weekends sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooogood

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Superduperduckman ultra
    United Kingdom14 days ago
  • Amazing

    I hate history, but this made history awesome. Definitely recommend.

    Arthur Morgan deleted all of their reviews

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ARTicUNO's left wing 🪽❄️
    United States14 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Positive audience engagement with listener questions and participatory segments.
Great for kids learning history, with engaging hosts and guests.
Bright, educational tone that families appreciate.
Lively, family-friendly history that makes complex ideas accessible.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#54
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#42
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#154
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#64
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#185
Germany/History
Apple Podcasts
#15
South Korea/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The emperor who tried to live forever
Q: What did Qin Shi Huang do to try to live forever?
He consumed substances including cinnabar, a mercury source, and sent an expedition to search for a legendary island where immortals supposedly lived. He also built a vast tomb to preserve his legacy.
What's the history of chocolate?
Q: Why was chocolate called the food of the gods?
Because it was sacred, used in religious ceremonies, believed to come from the first tree, and thought to have medicinal properties; it held immense cultural and spiritual significance.
What's the history of chocolate?
Q: What was the first Mayan chocolate drink like?
It was bitter, water-based, not sweet, and valued for its foam, with vanilla, chiles, honey, and spices sometimes added to create a frothy, ceremonial beverage.
Toy Time! What’s the history behind yo-yos, hula hoops and slime?
Q: How did slime become a cultural phenomenon?
Slime began in the 1970s with Mattel and neon packaging, surged on Nickelodeon in the 1980s, and later exploded online with slime influencers in the 2010s.
Toy Time! What’s the history behind yo-yos, hula hoops and slime?
Q: When were hula hoops invented and who popularized them?
Modern hula hoops emerged in the 1950s, and Joan Anderson helped popularize them after bringing a hoop from Australia to the U.S. and introducing the name Hula Hoop to Wham-O.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Forever Ago

What is Forever Ago about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Forever Ago delivers family-friendly historical storytelling focused on everyday things—food, toys, music, games, and cultural trends—told through lively hosts, expert guests, and listener participation. Episodes mix playful narratives with accessible explanations, quick cuts of expert commentary, and audience questions, making history tangible for kids and their grown-ups. Noteworthy elements include ambitious cross-era arcs, character-driven storytelling, and a strong emphasis on critical thinking about sources and evidence, all wrapped in a warm, educational tone that invites family participation.

Where can I find podcast stats for Forever Ago?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Forever Ago. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Forever Ago and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Forever Ago get?

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What are the audience demographics for Forever Ago?

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How many subscribers and views does Forever Ago have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Forever Ago has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Forever Ago are there?

Forever Ago launched 8 years ago and published 129 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Forever Ago?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Forever Ago?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Forever Ago from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Forever Ago?

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What guests have appeared on Forever Ago?

Recent guests on Forever Ago include:

1. Kenny Curtis
2. Molly Bloom
3. Sanden Totten
4. Maite Gomez-Rejon
5. Dr. Robyn Le Blanc
6. Billy Coleman
7. America the Beautiful (as a character)
8. Ross Mumford

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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