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Artwork for Omnibus

Omnibus

Omnibus
World War II
Social Media
Kilroy Was Here
Chopin
Climate Change
Love Canal
Poland
Harambe
Naturism
Child Prodigies
Pornography
Heart
Spam
Comics Code Authority
Hawaii
Niagara Falls
Neopets
Comic Sans
Pickleball
Stradivarius Violins

Every week, Ken Jennings and John Roderick add a new entry to the OMNIBUS, an encyclopedic reference work of strange-but-true stories that they are compiling as a time capsule for future generations.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes701Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Artwork for Omnibus

Latest Episodes

In which Futureling Christa Dahlstrom and John enjoy a virtual taste test and discuss the lifelong trauma of discovering that what you were promised was, in fact, not chocolate. Certificate #22095.

In which Futureling Thomas Dolan-Gavitt traces how an offhand blog post gave rise to television’s greatest conspiracy theory, weaving together Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, The X-Files, and a shared universe the shared-universe craze swept Hollyw... more

In which a Yankee leaper and a long line of hucksters and daredevils take their chances over an American landmark, and John reveals he doesn't have Incognito Mode turned on in his browser. Certificate #54642

In which cartoonist and writer Emily Flake discusses chance encounters with Dan Rather, being denied entry to Turks and Caicos, and the namesake of Emily's St. Nell's Humor Writing Residency for Ladies. Certificate #863.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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The Greatest GenerationAdam Pranica, Benjamin Ahr Harrison, Uxbridge-Shimoda LLC

Recent Guests

Emily Flake
Proprietor of St. Nell's Humor Writing Residency, cartoonist/writer
St. Nell's Humor Writing Residency
Episode: Nell Gwyn (Entry 557.GE2106)
David Hyde
Public radio producer, guest on the episode
Blue City Blues
Episode: The Astor Place Riot (Entry 76.PR2817)
Nick Butler
Guest, recalls growing up loving wrestling and attending events in upstate New York
Independent listener recalling personal experiences
Episode: The Death of Mr. McMahon (Entry 319.MA0605)
Lisa Lane
Guest on Omnibus discussing doorbells and suburban life
Episode: Doorbells (Entry 372.LU0207)
Bob Crawford
Bass player, Avett Brothers
Avett Brothers
Episode: The Cabinet of Doom (Entry 171.JE0814)
Saul Henry
Comedian and guest on episode
Live Comedy Association (UK)
Episode: Worcester Sauce (Entry 1442.NU1150)
Nabil Ayers
Former drummer of The Long Winters and president of Beggar's Group.
Beggar's Group
Episode: Tama Bell Brass (Entry 1275.PR2225)
Linus Chan
Immigration lawyer and law professor at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota Law School
Episode: Second Missouri Compromise (Entry 1122.MA0624)
Jeff Tiddle
Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club
New Jersey Sierra Club
Episode: Bioplastics (Entry 124.EZ3629)

Hosts

John Roderick
Co-host of Omnibus; hosts long-running discussions on history, culture, and quirky topics.
Ken Jennings
Host of Omnibus; known for insightful, wide-ranging curiosity and history-focused banter.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 3.9k ratings
  • I miss the old format

    I’ve been Day 1 in the bunker. I have listened since Ken and John decided to start taping their lunch conversations. And I understand the need for Ken to “leave” and I think John is doing his best with all these guest hosts. But the magic isn’t there with random volunteers co-hosts. The barrier to entry might be too low or the topic selection might be too wide. But the show isn’t hitting the highs it used to bring each week.

    I was envisioning a stable of regular cohosts that have some experience... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    KamaSutraMatraCafe
    Canada3 months ago
  • Bring Ken back for good

    Great pod, but we need the band back together again

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Anthony_78
    Sweden3 months ago
  • New phase

    You’ve had a lot of good New gas, but I think the dynamic with Erin Dawson is a winner

    Oops wait they both made it weird. Again

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jimmijim
    United States4 months ago
  • Ken Jennings is my lord and savior

    I love this show and getting to hear more from Ken makes my day everyday. Very unique variety of topics!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jules Lino
    United States4 months ago
  • I love Ken Jennings and my wife hates him

    Now that he’s gone we can both enjoy!

    Sorry that was a lie, she still won’t listen with me :(

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Robberino2001
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners miss the original format but still enjoy the current variety and guest selection.
Listeners praise the show's breadth of topics and the hosts' dynamic banter.
Many appreciate the depth and humor, even when topics are dense or obscure.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#114
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#180
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#235
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#109
Mexico/History
Apple Podcasts
#120
Argentina/History
Apple Podcasts
#128
Finland/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Nell Gwyn (Entry 557.GE2106)
Q: How does Gwyn's story relate to the hosts' current projects?
Her story illustrates how bold, humorous, and collaborative approaches can build lasting communities and careers, much like the hosts' writing residency and publishing initiatives that cultivate voices and networks.
Nell Gwyn (Entry 557.GE2106)
Q: What role did Gwyn play in the court of Charles II beyond acting?
She became one of Charles II's favored mistresses, producing two sons and using connectedness and wit to sustain her influence in a court where women could negotiate power through satire and spectacle.
Nell Gwyn (Entry 557.GE2106)
Q: How did Nell Gwyn rise from an orange seller to a star of the stage?
Her climb was driven by natural wit, timing, and the social shift after the Restoration, which opened opportunities in theater for actresses, allowing her to leverage charm and talent to attract patrons and advance.
The Tommy Westphal Universe (Entry 1315.JO0714)
Q: Were there any canonical boundaries established to keep crossovers from breaking the universe's rules?
Yes, rules were created to limit crossovers, like ensuring fictional brands or items feature prominently in at least one show, and not letting real-world events automatically imply a shared universe.
The Tommy Westphal Universe (Entry 1315.JO0714)
Q: How did St. Elsewhere influence later TV storytelling techniques?
St. Elsewhere popularized serialized storytelling, callbacks, character-driven arcs, and a willingness to mix tonal shifts, which informed later prestige dramas and crossover culture.

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 Omnibus

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

Across recent episodes, the show blends deep dives into unusual historical, cultural, and technological topics with breezy banter and strong narrative storytelling. The hosts often anchor conversations in archival detail, weaving in personal anecdotes, pop culture references, and occasional guest expertise to illuminate the era, artifact, or idea at hand. A standout is the show's ability to make obscure histories feel lively and accessible, while maintaining a curiosity-driven, conversational vibe that appeals to listeners who enjoy trivia, cultural critique, and historical curiosity. The format's flexibility and generous humor set it apart, making it a compelling time-capsule-style reference for listeners who enjoy broad-ranging, encyclope... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers Omnibus 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.

Which podcasts are similar to Omnibus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Omnibus:

1. Stuff You Should Know
2. Stuff To Blow Your Mind
3. 99% Invisible
4. What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law
5. The Greatest Generation

How many episodes of Omnibus are there?

Omnibus launched 9 years ago and published 701 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 Omnibus?

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.

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

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What guests have appeared on Omnibus?

Recent guests on Omnibus include:

1. Emily Flake
2. David Hyde
3. Nick Butler
4. Lisa Lane
5. Bob Crawford
6. Saul Henry
7. Nabil Ayers
8. Linus Chan

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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