The 100-million-year origin story of laughter and humor
A circuitous search for meaning in an ancient Sumerian bar joke tips into the evolution of laughter and how comedy has shaped human development.
LISTEN LIVE: All Things Considered
LISTEN LIVE: All Things Considered
What makes the world’s first bar joke funny? No one knows.
A 4,000-year-old Sumerian proverb about a dog that walks into a tavern has left scholars and thousands of online commenters scratching their heads. The joke’s meaning has been lost, but finding it could reveal something unique about early human civilization and the origins of humor.
Sex work, 'normal work,' and men — as told by Alyssa
When a Reddit post about constant “locker room talk” in a male-dominated office gained traction in the r/TwoXChromosomes subreddit, Ben and Amory invite the OP to talk about the story behind her post.
Swedengate: An international social media meatball-slinging campaign... turned national reckoning
When a Redditor said he was expected to stay in his Swedish friend's bedroom while the friend ate dinner with his family, the internet exploded with hot takes. Is Sweden the most inhospitable country in the world? We talk to the individuals at the center of the Swedengate saga.
Hosts Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson dig into the internet's vast and curious ecosystem of online communities to find untold histories, unsolved mysteries, and other jaw-dropping stories online and IRL.
Got a story for us?
Get in touch!
Email: endlessthread@wbur.org
Twitter: @Endless_Thread
On Reddit: u/endless_thread
Encore: Tight Squeeze, the Claustrophobia-Inducing World Of Caving Yields Epic Rewards
There are approximately 70,000 caves in the United States alone, but the vast majority are inaccessible to the public. In this special encore episode from the archives, join the Endless Thread team as we dive into the claustrophobia-inducing world of caving.
‘Hope resides in connection’: Abortion access advocates on navigating a post-Roe world
In today’s episode, we hear from two moderators of Reddit's Auntie Network, as well as the executive directors of the Blue Ridge Abortion Fund in Virginia and the Kentucky Health Justice Network, about how abortion rights advocates — online and off — can work together in a post-Roe America.
Krakatau: The loudest sound in recorded history
Imagine if an explosion in California was so loud that it could be heard in New York City. This is the story of a real event that was just as loud — the loudest sound ever recorded in human history.
Encore: Giddyup! Riding groups tap into long history of Black cowboys
In the summer of 2020, images of Black men and women riding horses at protests went viral. But the history of Black cowboys goes all the way back to the creation of the American West. In this encore episode, the Endless Thread team digs into this history in honor of...
Lost in Translation: two tales of getting it wrong
From a seriously violent tale on Duolingo to a Reddit post about a life-changing mistake, we bring you two stories on the pitfalls of jumping to conclusions. (Grace Tatter, an Endless Thread producer, is filling in for Ben Brock Johnson as co-host for this episode.)
Can you really get tics from TikTok?
When Ben hears a rumor about kids "catching" tics from watching too many TikTok videos, we set out to investigate. We hear from neurologists and TikTok influencers to get to the bottom of this so-called "medical mystery".
Nurses on Reddit are fighting for a better health care system
With unprecedented hospital staff shortages, COVID-19 has upended the nursing profession. But the r/nursing subreddit offers an online life raft for many in the industry — a place where nurses can speak freely and anonymously about their experiences and the choices they face.
How to stop online extremism from becoming offline violence
On Endless Thread, we talk about the blurring lines between our online and offline worlds. This week, we discuss the role online platforms played in the mass shooting on May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, New York. We also ask experts how content moderation on tech platforms can be managed better...
Cyberwitches: From Zoom rituals to casting spells with emojis
Since the dawn of the internet, cyberwitches have traded in their broomsticks and cauldrons for floppy disks and smartphones. This week on Endless Thread, we go into the history of cyberwitches, attend a Zoom ritual, and talk to members of a cyber coven.
'I'm free': A former police officer on leaving law enforcement
After 15 years on the job, a former police officer wrote about his reasons for resigning in the r/OffMyChest community on Reddit. In this episode, he discusses the ethical dilemmas that led him to leave law enforcement for good.