Things I Learned Last Night

Winchester Mystery House | She Built a House to TRAP Ghosts

Was the Winchester Mystery House a ghost-trapping labyrinth or a feat of architectural genius? We uncover the truth behind the Winchester legend. In this episode, we dive deep into the mysterious history of the Winchester Mystery House, one of the most famous haunted attractions in America. Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester repeating rifle fortune, spent decades building a massive, sprawling mansion in San Jose that is filled with architectural oddities, from staircases leading to nowhere to doors opening into empty space. While folklore claims she built this bizarre maze to trap restless spirits haunted by her family's guns, the truth is far more complex. We analyze her life, the tragic loss of her family, and how rheumatoid arthritis may have driven her unconventional home designs. We also debunk the myths surrounding her supposed occult practices and explore how the mansion was turned into a commercialized tourist attraction. Whether you are interested in historical mysteries, architectural wonders, or the power of storytelling and marketing, this breakdown offers a fresh look at one of the world's most debated homes and its enduring, eerie legacy. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today! Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tilln.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode link: https://tilln.com/winchester Support TILLN & Join The Mailing List: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/tillnpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch this next: Latitude Society → https://youtu.be/jZbk5Nh5eNk?si=BDr9U5lmG7nNW2iC Text TILLN to 66866 to become a patron and gain access to ad-free episodes, the exclusive discord, and earn discounts on TILLN Merch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Teen Wolf Of Wall Street

Discover the wild true story of Barry Minko, the teenage entrepreneur who built a $600 million corporate empire on a foundation of pure fraud. Dive into one of history’s most audacious Ponzi schemes. In this episode, we break down the incredible life of Barry Minko, a man whose ambition at age thirteen spiraled into a nationwide criminal enterprise. Starting with a modest carpet cleaning business in the early 80s, Minko evolved into a master of deception, orchestrating elaborate insurance fraud, check kiting schemes, and corporate manipulation that eventually landed his company, ZZZZ Best, on the NASDAQ. We explore how he used extreme charisma to dupe bankers, the mob, and investors alike before his $600 million house of cards came crashing down. This deep dive covers the mechanics of his Ponzi scheme, his unusual relationship with a neo-Nazi associate, and his bizarre attempts at redemption. Whether you are interested in true crime, financial history, or the psychology of a grifter, this breakdown uncovers the meticulous planning and the inevitable downfall of a legendary con artist. Join us as we unpack the timeline of his crimes, his prison stints, and the lessons learned from one of the most unbelievable white-collar crime stories in American history. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today! Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tilln.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode link: https://tilln.com/barryminkow Support TILLN & Join The Mailing List: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/tillnpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch this next: McDonalds Monopoly → https://youtu.be/EnL8N8BhiSM?si=JP8A8bFHfctUvA4J Text TILLN to 66866 to become a patron and gain access to ad-free episodes, the exclusive discord, and earn discounts on TILLN Merch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MacKenzie-Childs | She Paid $5.5 Million to Erase Them Completely

What happens when massive talent meets an absolute business nightmare? Discover the wild story behind the iconic MacKenzie-Childs brand. In this episode of Things I Learned Last Night, we dive deep into the fascinating and chaotic history of MacKenzie-Childs. From a modest start as a husband-and-wife pottery duo in rural New York to a globally recognized brand fueled by maximalist aesthetics, their journey is nothing short of a roller coaster. We break down how their commitment to the artisan Magelica technique—while revolutionary—left them vulnerable to the harsh realities of scaling and finance. This video explores the intersection of creative brilliance and corporate survival, highlighting the pivotal moments, including the devastating fire and the calculated takeover by Pleasant Roland, owner of American Girl. Whether you are a business enthusiast, a fan of home decor, or just love a good story of high stakes and high drama, you will gain insights into how the wrong business moves can turn a multimillion-dollar empire into a cautionary tale. Learn why scaling a creative business requires more than just passion and beautiful designs. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today! Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tilln.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode link: https://tilln.com/mackenziechilds Support TILLN & Join The Mailing List: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/tillnpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch this next: Nolan Bushnell → https://youtu.be/TptWgh8mzO8?si=Axb6Ls0HUFR9lN-O Text TILLN to 66866 to become a patron and gain access to ad-free episodes, the exclusive discord, and earn discounts on TILLN Merch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Luddites | 200 Years Ago, Workers Watched Machines Take Their Jobs.

Discover the true story behind the Luddites, the 19th-century workers who rebelled against industrialization to save their livelihoods. Were they just anti-tech Luddites, or was it something more? In this deep dive into the history of the Industrial Revolution, we unpack the misunderstood legacy of the Luddites. While today the term 'Luddite' is often used as a pejorative for anyone skeptical of technology, the reality of the movement was far more nuanced. We explore the 1700s, the rise of factory-based textile production, and the subsequent displacement of skilled workers. Learn about the mythical figure of Ned Ludd, the 'General' who supposedly led the charges, and the desperate economic struggle that fueled the group's actions. We analyze how displaced stockingers fought back against factory owners by destroying machines, and draw parallels between this historical labor movement and modern concerns regarding AI, automation, and privacy technology. Join us for a fascinating historical exploration that questions who really controls the tools of production and why the 'Luddite' label persists in our modern surveillance-driven economy. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in labor history, the unintended consequences of industrial progress, and the ongoing tension between workers and the evolving technological landscape. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today! Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tilln.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode link: https://tilln.com/luddites Support TILLN & Join The Mailing List: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/tillnpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch this next: Carrie Nation → https://youtu.be/kr4m4Cq7wvw?si=RxjBU_PJ_7KuFQDG Text TILLN to 66866 to become a patron and gain access to ad-free episodes, the exclusive discord, and earn discounts on TILLN Merch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Robert Chesebrough | The Nasty Goo Made Him Rich

Ever wondered how Vaseline, a byproduct of oil drilling, became a global household name? Discover the wild, true origin of petroleum jelly today. In this episode of Things I Learned Last Night, we dive deep into the fascinating and slightly unnerving history of Robert Cheesebrough, the man behind Vaseline. You might know it as a simple skincare staple, but the story of how it was discovered in the 1800s involves oil wells, 'magic earth goop,' and some of the most unconventional marketing tactics ever documented. We explore how an obsolete oil chemist turned a discarded industrial byproduct into a multi-million dollar medical sensation through sheer salesmanship and questionable 'scientific' demonstrations. Whether you’re interested in entrepreneurial history, bizarre medical trends of the past, or just love a good deep dive into how ordinary products have extraordinary origins, this video covers it all. We break down the truth behind the marketing, the evolution of the petroleum jelly industry, and why historical figures like Cheesebrough would go to such extreme lengths—including eating it—to prove the efficacy of their products. Join us for a humorous look at curiosity, branding, and the strange path to success. Things I Learned Last Night is an educational comedy podcast where best friends Jaron Myers and Tim Stone talk about random topics and have fun all along the way. If you like learning, and laughing a whole lot while you do, then you’ll love TILLN. Watch or listen to this episode today! Become a Patron and Get Early Access to Ad-Free Episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tilln.com/support⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Episode link: https://tilln.com/robertchesebrough Support TILLN & Join The Mailing List: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/tillnpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch this next: Painless Parker → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZznFw6GwlI Text TILLN to 66866 to become a patron and gain access to ad-free episodes, the exclusive discord, and earn discounts on TILLN Merch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices