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Artwork for Secretly Incredibly Fascinating

Secretly Incredibly Fascinating

Alex Schmidt
Machetes
Crabs
Caffeine
Canada Geese
Coal
Windmills
Katie
Credit Unions
The Great Wave Off Kanagawa
Hokusai
Sugarcane
Déjà Vu
Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road
Social Contracts In Banking
Frankenstein
Japanese Woodblock Printing
UK Knife Crime
Katie, Oklahoma
Catherine
Computer Cursors

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.)

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes309Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureComedy

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Artwork for Secretly Incredibly Fascinating

Latest Episodes

Please enjoy this treat from Alex and Katie! It's two SIF bonus shows about bison, never before released to the general public. We hope this lets everyone enjoy a curated bison podcasting experience like never before. (And to hear more than 280 other... more

Alex had his baby! And everybody's doing great. :-D

ICYMI: Katie also had her baby!

Thanks for all your kindness in this special time. And see you in a few weeks for new SIF.

Please enjoy this treat from Alex and Katie! It's the first episode of Alex's special miniseries about creating the bison emoji.

You can hear all the episodes (including Katie guesting on episode #3 out of 4) at the miniseries's website: www... more

Please enjoy this treat from Alex and Katie! It's a past episode of Katie's animal science podcast, featuring Alex as the guest and butts as the topic.

Hear all the episodes of Creature Feature here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creature-fe... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

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
David Bell
Co-host of Fox Mulder is a Maniac and writer/producer
Gamefully Unemployed
Episode: The Color Yellow
Tom Reimann
Writer and producer known for various shows
Gamefully Unemployed
Episode: The Color Yellow
Ellen Weatherford
Co-host of Just the Zoo of Us
Maximum Fun
Episode: Garlic
Dan Hopper
Comedy writer and host of the sports podcast Thrill of Defeat
Thrill of Defeat
Episode: Escalators
Lydia Bugg
An amazing comedy writer and author known for her work with Trailer Park Boys and a columnist at 1900hotdog.com.
1900hotdog.com
Episode: Sunscreen
Dennard Dayle
Comedy writer and author of How to Dodge a Cannonball
1900hotdog.com
Episode: Rock Paper Scissors

Hosts

Alex Schmidt
Host of the show; longtime, humor-infused explainer with a focus on history, science, and culture.
Katie Goldin
Co-host known for bubbly, energetic delivery and curiosity-driven conversations on a wide range of topics.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • Luv it

    Chef’s kiss 💋

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hüsker Lü
    Canada2 months ago
  • You should do an episode on genocides!

    Unsubscribed because of Katie’s casual blood libel. Being “half Jewish” doesn’t absolve you, sorry.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ItsOkToSaySorry
    United States5 months ago
  • Secretly incredibly wholesome

    Just a couple of sweeties goofin’ around, gabbin’ about neat stuff. 10/10.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Papa.Wheelie3
    Canada7 months ago
  • The finally did it!!!

    I just opened this app to check out the new episodes for this week and I saw the Rootbeer episode and my life became complete

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    monkeyblaster05
    United States8 months ago
  • Best podcast ever

    Both Katie and Alex are the best human beings whomsoever existed on this planet… don’t know about aliens, there maybe really good podcasters on Io or whatever, but I haven’t met them. Love the food episodes! Ciao!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jonnytruant89
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some criticism notes inconsistency in topics or jokes that may not land for younger audiences.
Listeners praise the hosts' energy and the mix of facts and humor.
Guests and topics are frequently described as engaging and diverse.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Caffeine
Q: Why is caffeine seen as addictive?
Caffeine is a psychoactive drug that alters how we think and feel and can create dependency, but it's generally considered less severe than other drug dependencies.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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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 lively, curiosity-driven show that blends history, science, and quirky trivia with humor and banter between two regular hosts. Episodes cover a wide range of topics—from ancient history and Native representation to everyday objects and cultural myths—often featuring expert guests to provide context. The format emphasizes accessible storytelling, rapid topic shifts, and lighthearted laughs, making complex ideas approachable without sacrificing depth. Noteworthy: hosts' dynamic, penchant for surprising tangents, and periodic guest episodes that broaden the show's scope while keeping a playful, informative vibe.

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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. Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
3. Gamefully Unemployed
4. Judge John Hodgman
5. The Daily Zeitgeist

How many episodes of Secretly Incredibly Fascinating are there?

Secretly Incredibly Fascinating launched 6 years ago and published 309 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. Mark Bramhill
2. Alex Schmidt
3. Andrew Ti
4. David Bell
5. Tom Reimann
6. Ellen Weatherford
7. Dan Hopper
8. Lydia Bugg

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