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Artwork for Secretly Incredibly Fascinating

Secretly Incredibly Fascinating

Alex Schmidt
Climate Change
Diabetes
Christianity
Insulin
Caffeine
Microsoft Excel
United Nations
Penny-Farthing
Copper
VHS Tapes
Cathode Ray Tubes
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
World War II
California
Clouds
Pistachios
Tally Marks
Maximum Fun Drive
Crabs

A weekly podcast about the history, science, lore and surprises that make everyday things secretly incredibly fascinating. Hosted by comedy writer, emoji creator, and ‘Jeopardy!‘ champion Alex Schmidt. Join Alex & his co-host Katie Goldin for a joyful deep dive into seeing the world a whole new way! (For research sources, bonus episodes, and how you can support the podcast, visit sifpod.fun.)

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes329Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureComedy

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Artwork for Secretly Incredibly Fascinating

Latest Episodes

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why the planet Mercury is secretly incredibly fascinating.

Visit sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode.

Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: discord.gg/wbR96nsGg... more

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why the element mercury is secretly incredibly fascinating.

Visit sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode.

Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: discord.gg/wbR96nsG... more

Alex Schmidt and Katie Goldin explore why ferns are secretly incredibly fascinating.

Visit sifpod.fun/ for research sources and for this week's bonus episode.

Come hang out with us on the SIF Discord: discord.gg/wbR96nsGg5

Visit htt... more

Alex Schmidt, Katie Goldin, and special guest Jamie Loftus explore why pressed pennies are secretly incredibly fascinating.

***SIF members get a special digital art poster, to celebrate 300 episodes! Find it in your BoCo: maximumfun.org/howt... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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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Recent Guests

Jamie Loftus
Comedian, podcaster, best-selling author
Bechtelcast
Episode: Pressed Pennies
Jason Pargin
Best-selling novelist; guest on episode
Author (There Are No Giant Crabs in This Novel)
Episode: Ladders
Ben Harrison
Guest, Best known for Greatest Generation, Greatest Trek
Max Fun network
Episode: 23 Skidoo
Adam Pranica
Guest, Star Trek writer/host
Max Fun network
Episode: 23 Skidoo
Christian Weatherford
Guest, from Max Function, Just the Zoo of Us
Max Function / Just the Zoo of Us
Episode: family leave week: two curated SIF bonus shows about bison
Ellen Weatherford
Guest, from Max Function, Just the Zoo of Us
Max Function / Just the Zoo of Us
Episode: family leave week: two curated SIF bonus shows about bison
Mark Bramhill
Host of Welcome To Macintosh
Welcome To Macintosh
Episode: family leave week: "1 Way To Make An Emoji (the bison emoji podcast)" Episode 1
Alex Schmidt
Host of Secretly Incredibly Fascinating appearing as a guest on Creature Feature
Secretly Incredibly Fascinating
Episode: family leave week: "Creature Feature: Think Outside The Butt"
Andrew Ti
Returning guest; co-host of Suboptimal Pods network shows such as Yo Is This Racist and Starter Track
Suboptimal Pods
Episode: Human Teeth

Hosts

Alex Schmidt
Host who introduces topics, leads conversation, and coordinates research; known for witty banter and in-depth topic exploration.
Katie Goldin
Co-host who engages with topics, responds to prompts, and adds perspective; often drives personal, enthusiastic framing of topics.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • Hosts are fairly insufferable

    If you are going to be so condescending and pompous you should at least have your facts down. I listen to so many podcasts and there are so few I bother to write a review on, but this podcasts loose use of false facts coupled with their smartest kid in the room feel was a total turn off. Ugh.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    THElisafer
    United States3 months ago
  • Love!

    Congrats on the babies!!! One of my favourite podcasts, I much prefer the episodes with just Katie and Alex but all episodes are brilliant!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    thesqueakshrine
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Alex is a shepherd of enthusiasm for learning.

    I love SIF. probably took longer to find this than it should have. this show, small beans, game fully unemployed, 1-900-hotdog. Some more news. funny edutainment is back!

    Audible
    5
    Steve L
    United States4 months ago
  • Love the Return of Guests

    Glad to see the past few recent episodes have guests again! Is there any way to have one week with special guests and then the next week with Katie? I miss the variety of guests on the show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ryouski
    United States4 months ago
  • Congrats on the baby!!!

    🎉🌺🪻✨

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sammndave
    United Kingdom5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Show has a strong, positive community and consistent delivery of entertaining yet informative content.
Listeners praise the hosts' banter and humor, noting frequent learning moments and memorable factoids.
Guests are generally well-integrated and bring fresh perspectives on diverse topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#222
Mexico/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

23 Skidoo
Q: What are the leading theories about where 23 Skidoo came from?
The hosts describe two dominant theories: one ties the phrase to the wind-blown dresses around New York's Flatiron Building, implying a perverse escape moment when police moved in; the other links the term to Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities and Irish American slang, suggesting a cultural blending that celebrated quick exits and linguistic flair.
family leave week: "Creature Feature: Think Outside The Butt"
Q: What makes comb jellies' reproductive/defecation strategy notable, compared to other jelly-like creatures?
They open a new anal pore when they need to, effectively giving them a fresh butt with each digestion cycle, which is both visually striking and biologically efficient.
family leave week: "Creature Feature: Think Outside The Butt"
Q: Why do some animals end up with multiple butts or openings, like the flatworm example?
It's an evolutionary puzzle; researchers consider benefits beyond a single exit strategy, but conclusive evidence is still scarce, so the hosts encourage seeking expert input.
Jim Thorpe
Q: Joey, what is your relationship to or opinion of Jim Thorpe?
Joey describes Thorpe as a towering native figure who looms large in Indian country, noting his multi-sport genius and the way his life and experiences illuminate Native history beyond sports.
Alex joins MFD Spring Break
Q: Thatcher, what were the circumstances of your Spring Break death?
Thatcher recounts mixing tequila, Celsius, and falling from a collapsing balcony, which led to his 14 minutes of being legally dead.

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 Secretly Incredibly Fascinating

What is Secretly Incredibly Fascinating about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A witty, information-packed show that explores the hidden histories and curiosities behind everyday things, mixing science, culture, and trivia with personable banter. Episodes range from biology and evolution to language, technology, and pop culture, often featuring expert guests who bring depth and context to offbeat topics. The format blends research-backed storytelling with playful humor, making complex ideas approachable and entertaining for curious listeners who enjoy learning through quirky, well-researched tangents. A notable unique angle is the frequent use of guests from related fields to enrich discussions, plus moments of intimate host storytelling and occasional personal updates that humanize the show for long-running fans.

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Which podcasts are similar to Secretly Incredibly Fascinating?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Secretly Incredibly Fascinating:

1. Quick Question with Soren and Daniel
2. Let's Learn Everything!
3. Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
4. Gamefully Unemployed
5. E Pluribus Motto

How many episodes of Secretly Incredibly Fascinating are there?

Secretly Incredibly Fascinating launched 6 years ago and published 329 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Secretly Incredibly Fascinating?

Recent guests on Secretly Incredibly Fascinating include:

1. Jamie Loftus
2. Jason Pargin
3. Ben Harrison
4. Adam Pranica
5. Christian Weatherford
6. Ellen Weatherford
7. Mark Bramhill
8. Alex Schmidt

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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