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Shipwrecked
When someone close to you dies, it can be a struggle to feel normal again – and to have people TREAT you normally again. When T.J.’s long-time partner died suddenly in 2017, she found a sense of normalcy and healing from strangers in the r/Widowers community on Reddit.
Infectious, Part 5: Talk To Me
At the end of the day, our species only survives if we can communicate. In our fifth and final episode of "Infectious," we hear from those whose lives have been irrevocably altered by vaccines and learn about a radically simple solution to the current controversy – one which has already...
Infectious, Part 4: Anatomy Of An Outbreak
With reporting from the ground in Washington and Oregon, Endless Thread traces the societal pathogens, identifies the symptoms, and tries to prescribe a solution to what some are calling a “canary in the coal mine” for a near future of eroding herd immunity and increasing threats of outbreak for all...
Infectious, Part 3: Going Viral
You can’t tell the story of today’s anti-vaccine — or “vaccine hesitant”— movement without telling a story of technology and social media. Part 3 of our "Infectious" series looks at the spread of anti-vaccine messaging online and how the Internet and social media have made it possible for vaccine-related misinformation...
Infectious, Part 2: The Flintstone Dilemma
There was a time when the measles were common enough to be a source of comedy on TV shows like "The Flintstones." So how did we go from joking about the measles to reports on the news about a growing international measles emergency?
Infectious, Part 1: Scabs, Pus, And Puritans
The problem with being healthy is that you completely forget what it feels like to be sick. In the first episode of our special series, 'Infectious,' we explore this recurring cycle and how it echoes still in 2019.
Endless Thread Presents...'Infectious'
Endless Thread presents Infectious: The Strange Past and Surprising Present of Vaccines – and Anti-Vaxxers.
Bonus: Jon Favreau, Live At CitySpace
T-minus one week until Endless Thread returns with new episodes! In the meantime, let's talk politics -- because Ben recently interviewed Jon Favreau, co-host of "Pod Save America" and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama, live onstage at WBUR's CitySpace. In this bonus episode, we all have a front-row seat...
Bonus: Endless Thrones
In advance of the season 8 premiere of HBO's "Game of Thrones," we talk to one of the head moderators of r/gameofthrones and to a couple of in-house GOT nerds to hear some of their fan theories and predictions for the show's final season.
Hosted by Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson, Endless Thread, a podcast from WBUR and Reddit, delves into Reddit’s vast communities to explore some of the most compelling stories the Internet has to offer, including revelations about our shared experience and powerful, personal stories. Also, cat videos. This is a show for Reddit connoisseurs, skeptics, and even the uninitiated.
More…
Four Love Stories From The Wild World Of Reddit
In honor of Valentine's Day, four love stories all found on Reddit.
And... It's Good!: A Look Into Football On Reddit
Hey football fans, ever heard of the Chicago Bears Principle? How about Winter Magic? Or the UFL? In this Super Bowl-themed episode, Redditors educate us on the stats, the halftime history books, and tackle football on wheels.
Harvard Astronomer On Why Aliens Aren't Science Fiction
Superstar astronomer Avi Loeb discusses mysteries surrounding the interstellar space object known as 'Oumuamua, why it could be a probe sent by an alien civilization, and how the scientific community should be more willing to acknowledge and embrace uncertainty.
Stuck Between The Rock And Deep Space
News of a mysterious interstellar object flying through our solar system inspired Redditors to collaboratively pen a perfectly cheesy sci-fi action movie. And now, we bring that movie to life as an audio drama. Presenting... "Stuck Between The Rock and Deep Space."
Cupcake
Chris and Kim have been married for 13 years and things have been going really, really well. So well, in fact, that they wondered... what's next? Their answer: consensual non-monogamy. They think of their additional sexual partners as "cupcakes," sweet additions to the healthy, hearty "meal" that is their marriage.
Get Motivated
Jared Wells was ready to accept death just one year ago. But a year in the gym with a bodybuilding legend has totally changed his perspective on life... and his body, of course. Plus, Ben and Amory share their 2019 resolutions and recruit Redditors to help them accomplish their goals.
Something Wicked
"Our landlord isn't letting me talk to you, but it's important we do." This text was written on one of several creepy post-it notes that mysteriously appeared in Redditor u/RBradbury1920's apartment. Who wrote them? Why? And how were they getting there? We get to the bottom of this famous Reddit...
The 'Most Ambitious' Species Restoration Project In The World
One of the nuttiest stories of near extinction and resurrection ever seen in the United States. It involves genetic engineering, warring factions of tree enthusiasts, and a mysterious, destructive power that started at the Bronx Zoo.
A Celebration Of 'Humans Being Bros'
A Santa who went above and beyond. A surprising invention that warms the heart... and body. We celebrate the season of giving by highlighting some of the kindness shared on Reddit -- including the story that inspired the creation of Endless Thread!
All You Can Eat
Chicken patrol. Tiny plates. Purses lined with plastic bags. We peek behind the curtain of the strange world of all-you-can-eat buffets, from the strategies buffet owners use to protect their profits to the hungry customers who try to game the system.
The Deadly Double Dice Game: Pearl Harbor Conspiracy? Or All In Good Fun?
A Redditor finds a mysterious dice game in his grandparents’ basement. It reads “The Deadly Double: A Game to Play at Your Own Risk.” The Endless Thread team helps him investigate the game and finds surprising connections to Pearl Harbor, the FBI and The New Yorker.
Grateful Doe
An unidentified man died in a car crash in 1995 with Grateful Dead ticket stubs in his pocket. Twenty years later, Reddit sleuths helped solve the case of the “Grateful Doe.”
Encore: The GOAT
The Italian cyclist Gino Bartali could rightfully be called "the GOAT" -- the Greatest of All Time -- for his athletic achievements alone. But in this episode, we tip our hats to him as a humanitarian. During World War II, Bartali was living a double life. It involved the Catholic...
Dear Anon
What do Bill Gates, finding your soul mate, and charting a new life path have in common? Reddit Gifts! The world's largest anonymous gift exchange has led to some unexpected outcomes.
Brain Melt
Redditor Stephanie Graham started feeling a bit off in the third trimester of her pregnancy. Then, things got weird. Really weird.
The Greatest Squirt Gun Ever Built
One of the bestselling toys of all-time, the Super Soaker, was invented by a rocket scientist nicknamed "The Professor." This is the story of the man, the legend: Lonnie Johnson.
Bonus: Magic Mushrooms With Michael Pollan
Author Michael Pollan talks about all things magic mushrooms, including their potential for upending the brain's hierarchy and helping people cope with death.
Screamtime: Zombie Fungus
Imagine a fungus that could infiltrate your whole body, turn you into a puppet, and grow right out of the top of your head. Actually, you don't have to imagine it -- IT'S REAL. It's called Cordyceps, and fortunately, it only has this effect on insects... for now.
Screamtime: Roof Man
Paranormal activity has haunted Darcy throughout her life. But it wasn’t until a nighttime ritual with her daughter turned spooky that she wondered what else might be at play.
Bonus: Australian Scientist Offers First-Hand Account Of Steve Irwin's Tragic Death
Australian scientist Jamie Seymour was friends with the famous "Crocodile Hunter," Steve Irwin. He was even there when Irwin was fatally stung by a stingray in 2006. He sat down with Ben to talk about that experience and Irwin's legacy.
Screamtime: Doom Jelly
Imagine sitting in a hospital room for 24 consecutive hours in the most agonizing pain you can possibly imagine. You feel a sense of impending doom. You having a feeling this won’t end well. Then, the pain subsides and you walk away.
Screamtime: Haunted House, Holy Water
When Alex was in high school, he and his best friend used to break into abandoned houses. But Alex was a tough guy, giving people hell. Until one night, in one of those abandoned houses... hell gave him something back.
Turning Hate On The Internet Into Humor
An elite unit of trolls is engaged in an existential battle against hate speech on the internet. This is their story.
Snacktime: 'Last Seen' Edition
We’re popping into your feed to share a project we think you’ll love. It’s a new podcast called “Last Seen,” about the largest unsolved art heist in history -- the theft of 13 irreplaceable pieces of art from Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
The Great Mattress Conspiracy
Why are there so many Mattress Firm stores? How did they end up catty-corner across intersections and in the same shopping centers? Reddit users start to dig deeper into these Mattress Firm conspiracy theories, and we team up with Business Insider's "Household Name" to conduct an investigation of our own.
Rome Sweet Rome
Could a unit of Marines destroy the entire Roman Empire if they traveled back in time? That is the question that inspired the now-legendary Reddit thread that turned James Erwin from an anonymous commenter, into a Hollywood screenwriter. His once-in-a-lifetime opportunity did not go exactly as planned.
Tim From Texas
Tim Rose was driving home in February 2015 when he got into a car accident. He was mostly fine, though he went to the hospital just to be safe. That's where things took a turn. He turned to Reddit for help and his life hasn't been the same since.
The Cursed Manuscript
A 17th century monk using a nom de plume pens what could have been the blockbuster of its time: a teenage boy embarking on an epic voyage to the Americas. But, due to a series of bizarre circumstances, it was never published... until now.
The Ulysses Bucket List
A Reddit comment about a chance encounter on a train inspires thousands to participate in something called the Ulysses Bucket List Challenge. Endless Thread hosts Ben and Amory join in on the action, leading to Ben getting hypnotized and Amory performing stand-up comedy at an open mic.
The Test Of Time
In this episode, we feature two extraordinary stories about relationships that have withstood the test of time.
The Original Most Interesting Man In The World
King David Kalākaua was the last king of Hawaii. But he was much more than that -- he was a traveler, a dreamer, a tech nerd. Or maybe he was fond of drinking, reveling and gambling. It depends on who you ask. But one thing he was not: Boring.
Season 2: First Listen
The Endless Thread team has been hard at work on a new season of episodes. Don't believe us? We have proof! Take a listen to our trailer for Season 2.
A Lookback At Endless Thread's First Season: The Archive And The Gallery
We look back on Endless Thread's first season of episodes and a gallery of the original redditor artwork we've featured on the show thus far. Season 2 begins August 10. Get ready...
Snacktime: Cake, Camels And Catfish
It's snacktime! Some more of our favorite quick-hits from Reddit.
Snacktime: A Trade Of Their Own
In this "Snacktime" episode, we chow down on two stories that were sent to us by listeners. The first, a look at how baseball fans on Reddit honor Major League Baseball's annual July trade deadline -- with a trade of their own.
Snacktime: Steak And Potatoes
Two of Amory and Ben's favorite Reddit posts, both of which have to do with food.
A Reddit Sampler
This week's episode is pretty short and sweet -- Amory and producer Josh Swartz talk about their favorite Reddit posts.
Call Of The Void
When you’re in a high place, peering over a ledge or a drop off, do you ever get that super weird feeling that you should just...jump? This is a real scientific phenomenon. It has a name: The call of the void.
Axeman's Jazz
A serial killer dubbed "The Axeman" terrorized New Orleans in 1918-1919. One day, the local paper published a letter he'd written saying that he would strike again on a particular night. The only thing that would spare you... was listening to jazz. We dive into this popular TIL story from...
Still Breaking
Why the battle for Net Neutrality isn't ending anytime soon.
The Rest... Is History
Every relationship has a story. Samantha and Laura's is extraordinary. In recognition of Pride month, we bring you a story of love in transition.
I, Ken Bone
We talk to the man, the meme, the legend: Ken Bone. What happens to a meme deterred? We find out.
In Memoriam
Death: It comes for all of us, eventually. This week we bring you two tales from Reddit about the Grim Reaper himself. One involves gravestones; the other, a "natural" way to think about burial.
Rice Bunny
How Chinese #MeToo activists are keeping the movement alive, despite government censorship.
Kickin' It
More than 115 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. Alex from Brockport, New York, is determined not to be one of them. He's currently 5 months clean, after using heroin for 5 years, and Reddit is one of several resources that helped him get there.
Bonus: Yanny Vs. Laurel... Vs. Yaley?
We bring you a bonus episode that takes on the "Yanny vs. Laurel" debate that's dividing the Internet.
Schooled
It's May, which means most of the kids in school right now are thinking about the summer. And to celebrate, we've got two stories about some rather unfortunate school mishaps.
Hail Corporate
A man makes a terrible sculpture of his girlfriend...out of Soylent. (Guess what..."they are now separate.") He then makes a flyer to try to give that sculpture away. The flyer goes viral. Why-oh-why did he do it? We find out.
That Old Chestnut
One of the nuttiest stories of near extinction and resurrection ever seen in the United States. It involves genetic engineering, warring factions of tree enthusiasts, and a mysterious, destructive power that started at the Bronx Zoo.
Busted
Weed, dope, kush, reefer -- whatever you call it, marijuana is quickly becoming legal across the country. It's also bringing people together, on Reddit.
Mission: Improbable
What do you do when you're about to fly home from Japan and you realize you've left your passport in your hotel 300 miles away? Or when you're looking for pals to run with you from England to Italy? Post to Reddit, of course.
Fun Guy
A lab at the University of Oklahoma wants your dirt -- really. A viral post on Reddit brought awareness to this fascinating program, which studies fungi from soil samples from around the country with the hopes of discovering new disease-curing medicines.
Pitch Perfect
With spring finally here and the MLB's opening day upon us, we're talkin' baseball. We talk to the Redditor who calculated the odds of the infamous 2001 Randy Johnson mourning dove incident occurring, and to a young dad who received a memorable gift from the Seattle Mariners via Reddit.
Drinking The Hader-ade
Funnyman Bill Hader has a new show, "Barry," about a depressed hitman who heads to Los Angeles for a job, and ends up taking acting classes. He talks about his career as a comedian and how his stage fright helped inspire the world behind "Barry."
Dirty 6th
Ben and Amory do a live AMA at SXSW, where they talk about what they've learned making Endless Thread, and what it's like meeting Redditors IRL. They also sit down with Reddit CEO Steve Huffman for a conversation about the history and future of the platform.
Something Wicked
"Our landlord isn't letting me talk to you, but it's important we do." This text was written on one of several creepy post-it notes that mysteriously appeared in Redditor RBradbury1920's apartment. Who wrote them? Why? And how were they getting there? We get to the bottom of this famous Reddit...
There Was An Attempt
A small village in upstate New York faced a lot of criticism about its official seal. They decided to change it, but did it really make a difference? You might say... there was an attempt.
The GOAT
The Italian cyclist Gino Bartali could rightfully be called "the GOAT" -- the Greatest of All Time -- for his athletic achievements alone. But in this episode, we tip our hats to him as a humanitarian.
Three Stories Of Love, On Reddit
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Endless Thread brings you three love stories brought to you straight from Reddit. You’re not crying, your eyes are just sweating.
And... It's Good!: A Look Into Football On Reddit
Hey football fans, ever heard of the Chicago Bears Principle? How about Winter Magic? Or the UFL? In this Super Bowl-themed episode, Redditors educate us on the stats, the halftime history books, and tackle football on wheels.
The Vault
We're going underground into what might be the most important vault in the world. What's inside? A treasure that originates with a Russian scientist during WWII.
Getting Home
When there was chaos in his life, Shane Correia had one constant -- his folder.
Endless Thread’s Debut Episode: No No No No Yes
In the first episode of Endless Thread, we bring you two stories of two incredible near-misses.
A First Listen
This audio trailer offers you a preview of the upcoming season of "Endless Thread," a new podcast by WBUR and Reddit.
'The Front Page Of The Internet' Is About To Make Some Noise
We're delving into Reddit's vast ecosystem of communities to bring you original stories. Don't quite get Reddit? Here's why you don't have to be an expert Redditor to enjoy this podcast.
Endless Thread's First AMA
We kicked off our new podcast with Reddit with our first AMA.