Episode notes
We’re back! We’ve officially moved into our new headquarters! Come unpack with us and get a tour while we fill you in on some big news. Plus, new episodes of Brains On coming later this month and new Smash Boom and Forever Ago after that. If you want to support the show or drop us a line, head to brainson.org. The best way to keep us going is to join Smarty Pass or donate here: https://brainson.supercast.com. Thank you! See Smash Boom Best LIVE in Princeton, NJ! Join us at the McCarter Theatre for a live, in-person version of Smash Boom Best, an award winning podcast for kids and families!…
Forever Ago
by Brains On Universe · English · Kids & Family
Brains On Universe presents Forever Ago®, a history show for the whole family! Every episode looks into the surprising and fascinating history of things we think are ordinary, but they’re not -- like ice cream flavors, video games, baths and more. We make learning about the past fun while teaching l
More from Forever Ago
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S8 · E1 · 11 Mar 2026 · 38 min
First Things First Spectacular
We’re so thrilled to be back that we’re celebrating with a very special episode. It’s a First Things First Spectacular! We’ll be playing three different rounds of the game where we put things in the order they came in history. We’ve brought in three history experts and three kid co-hosts to help. So strap on your history hats and get ready for a fact-tastic time!Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S8 · 4 Mar 2026 · 1 min
Forever Ago Season 8 is coming!!!
Get ready to explore the before... some more! That's right, a brand new season of Forever Ago is around the corner. Tell your friends! Let your enemies know by sending them a cryptic message 🎧🕰️ ⒻⒶ🔙🔜 🕰️🎧 Leak it to the press! The first episode drops March 11, and it's a doozy - an all First Things First episode. Make sure you're subscribed, so you won't miss a thing. Want to listen to Forever Ago without the ads? Sign up for Smarty Pass, and you'll get ad-free versions of Forever Ago, Brains On, Smash Boom Best and more! As an independent podcast, we count on subscriptions to keep our…
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4 Dec 2025 · 1 min
Forever Ago is coming back and we want your help
Woooohooooo and historical HUZZAH! We are coming back next spring and can't wait for you to hear all that we have planned. Now that Forever Ago and the entire Brains On Universe are independent, we need your support more than ever. We make the show for you, and we can't make it without you. Help us make this the best season yet, and subscribe to Smarty Pass. You get ad-free versions of Forever Ago, Brains On, Smash Boom Best and Moment of Um. There are also discounts on live events and merch, plus hangouts with the show creators. Do you want a personalized message from a mayonaise-hating,…
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11 Jun 2025 · 4 min
A big update about Forever Ago and the Brains On Universe
We're moving the Brains On Universe Headquarters, and that means we have to stop putting out new episodes until we get settled. We know: not cool. But, our new home is going to be bigger and better and the absolute BEST. We can't wait until it's ready for you to visit. In the meantime, we still have some live shows planned this fall. Brains On Live will be in Dallas, TX on September 13. And Smash Boom Best will bring the debate heat to Princeton, NJ on October 26. Head over to brainson.org/events to get tickets. We can't wait to high five you all in person! And, if you want to be the first…
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10 Jun 2025 · 35 min
Where did school uniforms come from?
Our world is filled with uniforms. From mail carriers, to sports teams to students! This week, Joy, cohost Hannah and Articles of Interest’s Avery Trufelman trace the history of school uniforms, from their start 800 years ago in England, to their popularization in America by immigrants. We’ll also dive into the pros and cons of uniforms and hear from listeners about their thoughts. Plus, a fashionable First Things First!Avery Trufelman hosts Articles of Interest, a podcast about what we wear. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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4 Jun 2025 · 34 min
Josephine Baker: Diva and WWII spy!
Joy and co-host Obasi are so obsessed with historical spycraft that they become top secret spies! Their mission, should they choose to accept it: investigate the life of superstar Josephine Baker.Josephine danced and sang on the biggest stages of Europe in 1920s and 30s — and fell in love with France. In fact, she loved the people of France so much that she was willing to risk her life as a spy during World War II. Her story has everything: coded messages written in invisible ink, dangerous missions and even a pet cheetah! All that, plus a new First Things First! Featured experts: Hanna…
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7 Oct 2026 · 39 min
What's the history of chocolate?
Chocolate. You know it. You love it. You can’t get enough of it. Today, we think of chocolate as a sweet treat, but for most of human history, it was actually a bitter drink. This week Joy and co-host Camila go coo-coo for cocoa history and learn how indigenous people in Mesoamerica were the first to create the chocolate craze. All that and an extra chocolatey First Things First. Break me off a piece of that sweet sweet history!Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
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5 Oct 2026 · 9 min
Sneak peek: The history of pineapple pizza
This is a sneak peak of a bonus episode available to Smarty Pass members. It’s a follow up to our Forever Ago episode on the history of pizza. In this one, we look at the man who made pineapple on pizza a thing. Plus, we tell the story of how pineapple pizza created drama between two nations. To hear the whole, ad-free episode, sign up for Smarty Pass at smartypass.org.
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30 Sep 2026 · 34 min
More slang words: Aura, OK and glitch
This week Joy and co-host Xenia are back with another slang episode that’s the pig’s elbow (trust us, it’s a good thing). Learn about how “aura” went from meaning a cool breeze, to getting cool points– and how one of our most common slang words started as a typo joke in a newspaper. And don’t forget, a swaggy new First Things First!Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
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23 Sep 2026 · 33 min
Wizard of Oz mystery: Who stole the ruby slippers?
We’re not done with Wizard of Oz history yet! Today it’s the tale of Dorothy’s famous ruby red slippers. A pair of these famous movie props went missing years back, and it took the FBI and local authorities working together to get them back. Join Joy and co-host Sky as they investigate this case, and play a game of First Things First.Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
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