Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries

Unofficial Olympic Mascots: From Kapa to Fatso the Wombat (and a Pierogi Plush)

Before there were official olympic sanctioned mascots for every olympic games, there were unofficial mascots.  Sometimes they were already the mascot of an existing sporting event, or sometimes they were just a piece of merchandise that took on a life of its own, and sometimes they were a smirking Wombat with an impossibly fat ass and some really cool tennis shoes.   

Were Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Books the First interactive Novels?

In this episode of Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries, Host Austin delves deep into the origins and cultural impact of Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books.  While they are commonly credited with popularizing interactive fiction, were they REALLY the first?  Is Wikipedia wrong about where this entire genre of fiction comes from?  How could wikipedia be wrong?  Why must we live in an unjust world?    

What Really Caused the Closure of Disney World's First Water Park, River Country?

Join hosts Austin and Brenda as they navigate sinus infections and the sometimes baffling, sometimes tragic history of Disney's River Country, the first themed water park in the United States. Come along on a thrilling deep dive into a lesser-known chapter of Disney's past, won't you?

4Kids Entertainment: The Early Years

In this episode of 'Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries, hosts Austin and Brenda explore the origins and the early years of 4Kids Entertainment.

Journey into Imagination, Disney's Forgotten Dark Ride

This episode of SHONM delves into the history of Epcot’s beloved "Journey into Imagination" ride and its mascot, Figment the dragon. Host Brenda discusses the ride's origins, its intricate design by Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter, and how it became a fan favorite...only to be gone a decade later.