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Artwork for The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong

The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong

Mark Chrisler
Anesthesia
Chicago
Marshfield
Christmas
James R. Thompson Center
Missouri
Tornado
Noah's Ark
Alcibiades
John H. Tice
Mount Ararat
J. Edgar Hoover
Helmut Jahn
Socrates
Architecture
Wallace Tillinghast
Creationism
Princess Caraboo
Electricity
Great Moon Hoax

A podcast about exactly what it says it is: examining the bad ideas, mistakes and accidents that misshaped our world.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes240Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryNatural SciencesScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong

Latest Episodes

In which, almost as an afterthought, we conclude the story of John Quincy Adams' boring book.

Check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠indeed.com/theconstant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ now to start hiringVisit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon here⁠⁠... more

How long is a podcast? Too.

Check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠indeed.com/theconstant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ now to start hiring

Visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You too can get ad-free, early episodes, st... more

The story of an oil baron's daughter, and his wife, who were the same person.

Check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠indeed.com/theconstant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ now to start hiringVisit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠... more

We've had some setbacks at The Constant HQ. So here's a remake of an episode I screwed up the first go around!

Check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠indeed.com/theconstant⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ now to start hiringVisit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon h... more

Key Facts

Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Antonio Editatto
Spokesperson of the Opera Collaboration
Opera Collaboration
Episode: Weights and Measures, Volume 2
Nicky Woolf
Podcaster and journalist known for mini-series on various topics including QAnon
Episode: The Need for Speed (w/ Nicky Woolf)
Francine Jackson
Lead astronomer for Brown University's LAD Observatory and a local history buff.
Brown University
Episode: In The Meantime
Lindsay Graham
Host of History Daily and known for American Scandal and American History Tellers
Noiser and Airship
Episode: Introducing: History Daily
Dr. Douglas Selvidge
Historian at Humboldt University in Berlin
Humboldt University
Episode: Presenting: Historical Blindness
Mel Waters
The individual who reported the existence of Mel's Hole on Coast to Coast AM.
Episode: Rock Bottomless, Part 1

Host

Mark Chrysler
Host of The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong, guiding listeners through historical missteps, misinterpretations, and methodological slips with a steady, narrative-driven style.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 2.1k ratings
  • Congrats on kid

    One of if not the best podcasts I’ve ever listened to. It’s extremely entertaining and informative and I’d like to congratulate Mark and Heather on their child.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Some girl ig
    United States25 days ago
  • Love this iconoclastic show

    The host is very funny. And insight into the mistakes, mighty mistakes is truly individual!

    You should do standup or Ted talks !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amandasatoz
    Australia2 months ago
  • It’s Awesome

    Very interesting, Great story telling

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Wesley JD
    United States3 months ago
  • Excellent show

    I hate to compliment a man but this is fantastic, entertaining and educational. Thanks for a great show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lindseydsr
    Canada6 months ago
  • A knockout.

    Funny and strange and moving and profound. Honestly, I laugh openly more often while listening to this podcast than any other, and with remarkable frequency I also cry. Outstanding and vital work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mr. Jason Mr. Jason!
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Host delivers witty, well-structured storytelling with rigorous analysis.
Listeners appreciate the blend of humour and critical thinking in every episode.
Comprehensive research and entertaining delivery make complex histories accessible.
High production quality and strong narrative arc keep listeners coming back.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#234
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#213
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#52
Finland/History
Apple Podcasts
#84
Argentina/History
Apple Podcasts
#145
Israel/History
Apple Podcasts
#178
Denmark/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Need for Speed (w/ Nicky Woolf)
Q: What was the significance of the manhole cover from the nuclear test?
It achieved a speed of approximately 125,268 miles per hour, potentially making it the fastest man-made object.
Tell Me Something I Don't Know (Episode 200!)
Q: What interesting stories do you have?
Special guests and listeners shared trivia including Abraham Lincoln's near membership in the Donner Party and the origin of the term 'rednecks'.
Rock Bottomless, Part 1
Q: Mel, what do you think could be causing these phenomena at the hole?
Mel suggests that the hole could have supernatural elements, recounting a story of a resurrected dog.
Presenting: Historical Blindness
Q: How have conspiracy theories about AIDS influenced public health responses?
These theories discouraged safe practices, leading to disastrous public health decisions, as seen in South Africa.
Presenting: Historical Blindness
Q: What historical instance showcases the politicization of a health crisis?
The AIDS crisis was politicized with conspiracy theories suggesting it was created by the U.S. government as a bioweapon.

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 This Podcast

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

Historically minded storytelling that unpacks missteps, myths, and the edge cases of science and civilization. Episodes trace how measurement standards, scientific debates, and bold but flawed ideas shaped economies, technologies, and cultures—from the rise of metric systems and epic measurement expeditions to alchemy, early epidemiology, and legendary conjectures. The host combines rigorous research with engaging narration, often weaving multiple narrative threads into a single, cohesive arc. Fans appreciate the mix of new angles on familiar topics, sharp skepticism toward sensational claims, and a human-centered lens on intellectual risk-taking. This show stands out for turning obscure or controversial histories into compelling, highly po... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Historical Blindness
2. Our Fake History
3. Useless Information Podcast
4. Ridiculous History
5. Decoder Ring

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 9 years ago and published 240 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Antonio Editatto
2. Nicky Woolf
3. Francine Jackson
4. Lindsay Graham
5. Dr. Douglas Selvidge
6. Mel Waters

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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