This topic seemed almost too easy to cover, since the invention was something I think we all remember learning about in grammar school. But, as per usual with this podcast and the book, whenever I dig a little deeper, I always find out new information that wasn’t in my history books. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind the Printing Press.

Only a few more weeks until The Story Behind book is out! And one of my podcasting mentors and buddies Dave Jackson gave me the idea to do a bunch of episodes relating to books around this time to hopefully set the mood for its release. While I was looking into different topics, I found out that the week this comes out, the week from September 23-29, 2018, is Banned Books Week, so what better time to have that as a topic. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Banned Books.

School picture time is here and every time I get my daughter ready for her picture, I try not to follow current trends too much. I have this fear she’ll have the same experience I had in 1990 when my mom decided to go all out with my school picture and she teased my bangs and hair so much that I remember the photographer moving his camera back to get the full look, which inspired this episode. I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Hairspray.

I honestly didn’t think I would be as interested in the history of today’s topic when I first started reading about it. There was a lot of chemistry involved and anyone who knew me in high school knows that was the worst subject for me. But as I kept researching, what intrigued me the most was when the chemistry switched to biology and women’s studies toward the end. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Matches. TheStoryBehindPodcast.com

I love when I find out an origin story I think I knew turns out to be either a widely believed false rumor or when I find out other people learned different origin stories. That’s what this episode is about, so if you think you already know the story behind today’s subject, you may be surprised to learn there are actually multiple versions. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind the Teddy Bear.

For many like me, no summer is complete without having ridden the topic of today’s episode at least once. Although, you might be surprised to learn its origins actually began as a winter recreational activity. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Roller Coasters. Pre-order your copy of The Story Behind Book at TheStoryBehindBook.com

Warning: Some mature content (a reference to "the birds & bees") This episode will be told in layers. The tasty summer treat I’m talking about has three ingredients, and while they’re all delicious on their own, together they are incredible. And this episode will be set up similarly, with different stories smushed together into one show. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind S’mores. Pre-order the book: TheStoryBehindBook.com

Today I’m doing a collaborative show with Josh Hallmark from the podcast Our Americana, which explores unique small towns across America through the stories that impact, cultivate, and challenge community. America can feel oppressive. But, there are monuments and mementos of the past, if we just take a moment from our busy lives to look. I'm Josh Hallmark from Our Americana and I'm Emily Prokop and this is The Story Behind Roadside Attractions.

If you’re listening to this when it comes out, you may know that next week I’m going to a huge conference for podcasters known as Podcast Movement. And I thought it only appropriate to do an episode related to this. You may be using the topic of today’s episode right now and listening to this episode with it. Almost everybody has a pair or two nowadays I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Headphones.

One of my favorite things about doing this podcast is looking at things in everyday life and wondering if they still have the same purpose they did when they were invented. Yet it’s so ubiquitous and has been around for hundreds of years, showing no signs of going out of fashion, despite many men counting down the minutes until they can loosen theirs every day. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind the Necktie. www.TheStoryBehindPodcast.com

If you’ve ever read Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart,” you may hear a heartbeat as something a little creepy. Although it’s funny to note that on many sound machines for babies, a heartbeat is offered as a way to help them remember one of the sounds they heard in the womb. While listening to the heart isn’t new in the world of medicine, one of the most common tools for doing so is only a little more than 200 years old. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind The

No new episode this week, but I wanted to give a quick update on the book, since I am up against deadline right now to get it finished on time. I also wanted to thank everyone in The Story Behind Discussion Group on Facebook for their encouragement and support, and also go through some of the #TriviaTuesday posts from the past few weeks. Find out more at: www.TheStoryBehindPodcast.com/book

Earlier this week, one of the funniest exchanges on social media came about after the company known as IHOP changed out their P, which stood for Pancakes, to a B. The B stood for Burgers, something IHOP has offered on its menu in the past, but when they finally revealed what the mystery was, they also decided to change their marketing to reflect that. So, that gave me the idea for this week’s episode. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Hamburgers.

Knock at the door, One fat lady, Rugby team, Sweet sixteen, A duck and a flea, The famous street in Manhattan. No, those weren’t bloopers, although I’m sure this episode will have plenty. Those were actually number nicknames used in a particular game that’s been around for 500 years we’ll be talking about today. This isn’t your granny’s church basement version, either. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Bingo.

If you’re one of the die-hard listeners of The Story Behind who eagerly await the episode to be released, you may be wondering why it’s a few hours late. The reason is that I’m hopelessly addicted to a game on my phone called Toon Blast. But it did give me an idea for this week’s episode. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Pong. www.TheStoryBehindPodcast.com

As many of you know, The Story Behind is being turned into a book, which means I’m in the process right now of doing probably one of my favorite parts of making the podcast, which is doing a ton of research in preparation. This week’s episode will be one of the chapters in the book, but the information and the inventor was one I found hard to keep to myself until the book came out. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind the Traffic Light. www.TheStoryBehindPodcast.com

Usually, I get ideas for topics from stumbling into a piece of trivia I find fascinating during the week. However, this week, my son has been not only working on walking, but also working on his first words, and his favorite one lately kept getting a particular song stuck in my head. Want a hint? “Mama” I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

I normally don’t do interview shows, but I wanted to bring on Nick from the Epic Film Guys to talk a little bit about Livestream for the Cure. Nick is one of my oldest friends in podcasting, so I know you’ve heard me talk about him before. He’s a great friend to me and supporter of the show. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Livestream for the Cure. www.LivestreamForTheCure.com www.TheStoryBehindPodcast.com

If this is your first episode, this is a warning it’ll be a little different than past episodes, but it will also be a good way to hear what this show is about. Does that make sense? Don’t worry. It will. This might seem like a little bit of vanity episode, and you’re more than welcome to skip it, but as I’ve found with podcasts I listen to, I really love learning about the host, so I hope you’ll enjoy this! I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Emily Prokop

This episode is actually one of the first topics I ever thought to talk about when I created the show. And I weirdly kept putting it off. Whenever I tell someone what my podcast is about, I say something along the lines of it being a short history podcast about everyday things. And this particular topic has been the first thing that has popped into their minds as something I would do an episode on. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind the Paperclip.

While not scientifically proven as a reason why communication and technology fails, there was plenty of evidence in this episode to prove otherwise, including having to record three times. I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Mercury Retrograde. TheStoryBehindPodcast.com

When Win first talked to me about doing an episode in conjunction with Cerebral Palsy Awareness month, which was in March, many of the articles and stories I read were about people with Cerebral Palsy who were amazing athletes competing in the Paralympics. Through that rabbit hole, I discovered Dr. Guttmann and the BBC movie “The Best of Men,” which is an incredible feel-good movie, if you get a chance to watch it. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind The Paralympics.

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If you follow The Story Behind on Instagram, you may have seen our weekend adventure with the family to the factory where today’s sugary-sweet topic is made. Find out the history of this almost 100-year-old treat, including the outlaw in the ‘90s who sold made a Black market for the dispensers. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Pez.

If you’re listening to this on the day it comes out, beware the Ides of March! That is if you’re Julius Caesar. But in all honesty, I tried looking up the ides of March and, really, when I found out how Romans calculated dates and that they actually counted backward from certain points within the month instead of, you know, sequentially, I gave up and got a slice of today’s topic to celebrate March 14th instead. I’m your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Pi(e). TheStoryBehindPod