Forever Ago

American Public Media

Brains On 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 listeners to think critically about history. read less

Our Editor's Take

Forever Ago is a family podcast that uncovers the surprising origins of everyday things. Joy Dolo, a Minnesota-based performer, teacher, and writer, hosts the show. Each week, Joy has a different guest cohost-a kid who assists her in exploring that episode's topic. The podcast is a production of American Public Media. This means listeners can be sure they're getting well-researched and accurate information.

The podcast aims to foster a love of history in children. The show does this in several ways. It uses a playful tone with lots of silly banter. The show ties in historical events and discoveries with present-day reality. It also focuses on events that children might not have heard about elsewhere. Using storytelling to make history more engaging is an old and effective trick. Forever Ago elevates it and adds its distinctive flair.

Joy and her cohost are careful to choose topics that reflect the perspectives of all Americans. They devote one episode to cornrows. They explore why the lawn is symbolic of the American dream and how that affects the environment. They learn about Cheng I Sao, a female Chinese pirate from the early 1800s who was in charge of the South China Sea. They explore the historical reasons why many African Americans dislike swimming. A guest historian often comes on to talk about a topic in more detail.

Lovers of trivia will enjoy playing along with "First Things First!" It's a segment where Joy and her cohost guess which of three items came first. What came first-neon clothes, baseball caps, or bell-bottom pants? What about cheese, juggling, or written language? Listeners will get to find out the answers.

Forever Ago is an excellent choice for kids who like to know where things come from. Parents and big kids will also appreciate learning about little-known people and events. Episodes come out once a week and each one lasts about half an hour. Fans of podcasts like Smash Boom Best may appreciate this show.

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Kids & FamilyKids & Family

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Songs of the Humpback Whale: How one record helped save the whales

Songs of the Humpback Whale: How one record helped save the whales

We have a real whale of a story for you this week! It’s a FIN-tastic classic. Joy and cohost Mina meet up with Hugh the humpback whale to hear the story of Marie Fish, a real-life biologist who used underwater microphones to show the world that life under the sea is full of sounds. Then, they’ll hear how scientist Roger Payne changed the course of history for whales by releasing a record of their songs. Don’t forget a splashy new First Things First!A huge thank you to Science Friday’s podcast “Undiscovered” for sharing a recording of their interview with Roger Payne. This episode also includes recordings from Whale.org, Ocean Alliance and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Library.Want to learn more about how and why whales make songs and clicks?Check out Brains On episode about whale communication here.This episode was sponsored by:Wondery - Follow 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast and unlock weekly Christmas mystery bonus content and listen to every episode ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Episodes

Songs of the Humpback Whale: How one record helped save the whales

Songs of the Humpback Whale: How one record helped save the whales

We have a real whale of a story for you this week! It’s a FIN-tastic classic. Joy and cohost Mina meet up with Hugh the humpback whale to hear the story of Marie Fish, a real-life biologist who used underwater microphones to show the world that life under the sea is full of sounds. Then, they’ll hear how scientist Roger Payne changed the course of history for whales by releasing a record of their songs. Don’t forget a splashy new First Things First!A huge thank you to Science Friday’s podcast “Undiscovered” for sharing a recording of their interview with Roger Payne. This episode also includes recordings from Whale.org, Ocean Alliance and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Library.Want to learn more about how and why whales make songs and clicks?Check out Brains On episode about whale communication here.This episode was sponsored by:Wondery - Follow 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast and unlock weekly Christmas mystery bonus content and listen to every episode ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Hip-Hop History: How teenagers invented rap music

Hip-Hop History: How teenagers invented rap music

Rap music is one of the most popular genres of music in the world today. But where did it all begin? Join hosts Joy and Savion as they go back to the 1970s to hear two stories about how rap music started. Learn how one teenager's back-to-school party brought together beats and rhyming to form a new style of music. And find out how a female record producer introduced rap music to the radio for the first time. All that plus a fresh First Things First. Hip hop and you don’t stop!This episode is brought to you by Wondery. Follow 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast and unlock weekly Christmas mystery bonus content and listen to every episode ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Jobs that don’t exist anymore

Jobs that don’t exist anymore

As times change, so do jobs, and careers that once were common can go extinct! Join Joy and co-host Amirah as they head to the world famous “This Used to be a Career Fair.” There, you’ll hear about knocker uppers, switchboard operators, ornamental hermits and other unique jobs that have gone away as technology and culture have changed. Plus, listeners share their ideas for new jobs that will exist in the future, and we play a brand new game of First Things First!This episode was sponsored by:Wondery - Follow 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast and unlock weekly Christmas mystery bonus content and listen to every episode ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

How Sesame Street tried to change the world

How Sesame Street tried to change the world

You probably know Sesame Street as a fun, fast-paced show full of talking puppets, like Elmo and Big Bird. But it actually started as a huge experiment to see if TV could change kids’ lives for the better! Join Joy and co-host Truman as tell the tale of how Sesame Street came to be. It’s a wild story full of big gambles, creative ideas, haters and doubters! Along the way, they’ll help a very eager actor get ready for a big audition. Plus, a new First Things First featuring three iconic Sesame Street characters! This episode brought to you by Wondery. Follow 'Tis The Grinch Holiday Podcast and unlock weekly Christmas mystery bonus content and listen to every episode ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Black Friday Special

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Black Friday Special

It’s the holiday season, which for Forever Ago host Joy Dolo means one thing: DEALS! Help her check off her holiday shopping list with a game of First Things First, where she and co-host Petra guess the order three classic toys were invented in.

What’s the history of Black Friday?

What’s the history of Black Friday?

Black Friday is a huge shopping holiday in the U.S. that happens the day after Thanksgiving. There are tons of sales and sometimes people even wait for hours outside of stores to get the best deals! But where did this mega shopping day even come from? And what’s in it for the stores?Forever Ago and Million Bazillion have teamed up to investigate! Join Joy Dolo and co-host Petra as they travel back in time to find out how Black Friday started. Then, join Million Bazillion’s hosts Bridget Bodnar and Ryan Perez at the mall to learn how stores come up with deals and what to watch out for when you’re shopping for holiday gifts. It’s an epic crossover episode you won’t want to miss!This episode was sponsored by:Greenlight - Help your kids learn to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with Greenlight, the debit card and money app for teens. Visit Greenlight.com/inclined.

Who were the gladiators?

Who were the gladiators?

Gladiators were professional fighters who lived thousands of years ago in ancient Rome. But they weren't just fighters, they were also influencers who helped sell products and were hugely popular with fans.Join Joy and co-host Juliette as they explore the history of these athletes – and learn how some of them tried to escape their lives of constant battle. They’ll hear the story of one of the most famous gladiators of all time, Spartacus, and the revolution he led. Plus, a sporty new First Things First!Featured Expert:Dr. Fiona Radford is a historian who specializes in ancient Rome. She also co-hosts The Partial Historians podcast. This episode was sponsored by:Greenlight - Help your kids learn to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with Greenlight, the debit card and money app for teens. Visit Greenlight.com/inclined.Goodie Witch Books - Combine the spirit of Halloween with the magic of giving with Goodie Witch!: Spreading the Magic of Kindness, available at Amazon.Wild Interest: Let your kids' imaginations run wild and check out the new podcast Wild Interest wherever you get your podcasts. wildinterest.com

The Ten News: Election Day Kid Takeover

The Ten News: Election Day Kid Takeover

Tune in for a super special election day episode from our friends at The Ten News!🗳️ It’s Election Day and Pamela is driving Ryan to the polls🎙️Ten’ers Tupelo and Everrett have taken over the studio!🤯 Get caught up on the key things to remember about today.⁉️ Ten’er Alonso has an important question🌐 And let’s not forget about the rest of the world. Ten News Correspondent Jamie looks at elections around the world.About The Ten News:The Ten News releases weekly 10 Things You Need to Know episodes on Thursdays and monthly Deep Dives. The episodes are packed full of news, stories, and fun for kids and their families. Follow The Ten News wherever you listen to podcasts, and visit us online at www.thetennews.com to check out past episodes, sign up for news updates, and dive deeper into the world around you!

Gotcha! The history of April Fool’s Day

Gotcha! The history of April Fool’s Day

Happy April Fool’s Day! Just kidding, we know it’s October. But that doesn’t stop Joy from celebrating April Fool’s Day all year round — especially with lots of banana peels and whoopee cushions! Join Joy and co-host Michalea as they explore how the prankiest day of the year might’ve started. They’ll hear about some of the most epic pranks throughout history, from hot dog-flavored fizzy drinks to spaghetti-growing trees. Plus, Brains On! host Molly Bloom drops by to talk about how posting fake information online is bad news. And last but not least, another mischievous game of First Things First!This episode was sponsored by:Greenlight-Help your kids learn to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with Greenlight, the debit card and money app for teens. Visit Greenlight.com/inclined.

Smarty Pass Presents: Truth or Truth

Smarty Pass Presents: Truth or Truth

Usually, bonus episodes like this are exclusively for Smarty Pass subscribers but this month we’re sharing them with all our listeners. If you like this bonus episode and want to hear fun games every month, plus ad-free episodes, sign up for Smarty Pass!Forever Ago host Joy Dolo is producing the greatest film ever made: her life story! The only problem is her friend and script editor Molly Bloom has a few questions about Joy’s story. When did Joy graduate from college? When did she get glasses? When did she start performing improv? There’s only one real way to get to the answers Molly needs and that’s with a game of First Things First!To get more bonus episodes like this every month, sign up for Smarty Pass at SmartyPass.org.

Who was the first Black woman to run for president?

Who was the first Black woman to run for president?

2024 is an election year, where Americans will vote for a new president. Join Joy and co-host to Em as they learn all about what it takes to be President, and hear about Shirley Chisholm, a trailblazer who was the first Black woman ever to run for the office. Plus, a brand new game of First Things First!This episode was sponsored by:Greenlight - Help your kids learn to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with Greenlight, the debit card and money app for teens. Visit Greenlight.com/inclined.Goodie Witch Books - Combine the spirit of Halloween with the magic of giving with Goodie Witch!: Spreading the Magic of Kindness, available at Amazon.

Why do we carve pumpkins on Halloween?

Why do we carve pumpkins on Halloween?

Joy’s ready for some Halloweeny fun, but her jack-o’-lantern pal Lionel wants to skip the whole thing. He doesn’t understand why carving pumpkins is such an important Halloween tradition! Why don’t we just paint faces on bananas and call it a day?Lucky for Lionel, Joy and co-host Baron are ready to explain the twisty history of jack-o’-lanterns! First, they’ll wade into the history of ignus fatuus, a mysterious blue light seen in bogs at night and the creepy myth it inspired! Then they’ll explore pumpkin pranks in early America and learn how carving pumpkins came to be associated with Halloween. All that, plus a sweet new First Things First featuring Halloween candy!This episode was sponsored by:Greenlight-Help your kids learn to earn, save, spend wisely, and invest with Greenlight, the debit card and money app for teens. Visit Greenlight.com/inclined.Wild Interest-Let your kids' imaginations run wild and check out the new podcast Wild Interest wherever you get your podcasts. wildinterest.com.Goodie Witch Books-Combine the spirit of Halloween with the magic of giving with Goodie Witch!: Spreading the Magic of Kindness, available at Amazon.

How did we send messages before cell phones?

How did we send messages before cell phones?

Joy has a top secret message to deliver. There’s just one problem– she’s locked outside without her computer or phone! How will she send her VERY important message?Join Joy and co-host Cassandra as they explore the different ways people sent messages in the past, from smoke signals to trained pigeons. Plus, how the U.S. Postal Service started as a secret way to smack talk the British during the American Revolution. Signed, sealed, delivered, with a fresh round of First Things First!Today’s episode is sponsored by:Wild Interest - Let your kids' imaginations run wild and check out the new podcast Wild Interest wherever you get your podcasts. wildinterest.comGoodie Witch!: Spreading the Magic of Kindness - Combine the spirit of Halloween with the magic of giving with Goodie Witch!: Spreading the Magic of Kindness, available at Amazon.

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Ragin’ road trip

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Ragin’ road trip

Joy and Anna are amped to go on a fun road trip! And with a garage full of transportation options nothing is gonna stop them from hitting the road. Grab your smarty pass to see what they use for their ragin road trip!

Banjos Pt. 2: Bluegrass, Beyoncé and Beyond

Banjos Pt. 2: Bluegrass, Beyoncé and Beyond

We’re back with part two of our string-tastic story of the banjo! In the last episode, musician Rhiannon Giddens helped tell the origin story of the banjo, an instrument many think of as American. But it actually comes from Africa. Today, we’re focusing on how the banjo went from an instrument played mostly by enslaved people to one of the most popular instruments in the United States. The reason for this was a popular form of entertainment in the mid to late 1800s called minstrel shows. Later on, the banjo helped create the genre known as bluegrass. Now it's having a resurgence thanks to artists like Beyoncé.Featured expert: Rhiannon Giddens is a Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning singer and instrumentalist. You can check out her website here!

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Olympic History

Smarty Pass Sneak Peek: Olympic History

This summer it’s the 2024 Olympic games! In honor of this sporty season, Forever Ago host Joy Dolo quizzes producers Rosie duPont and Anna Weggel all about Olympic games of the past.

Banjos Pt. 1: From Gourds to Grammys

Banjos Pt. 1: From Gourds to Grammys

Today’s episode has a lot of pluck! It’s all about the banjo. For over 100 years, the banjo has been associated with country and bluegrass music, two genres that over-index with white musicians. But, with the help of Rhiannon Giddens, we find out that this uniquely American instrument traveled from Africa. The banjo’s story is so rich, it can’t be contained in just one episode, so we decided to make two! We’re also going to string you along for an extra week to think about your answers to First Things First. The question comes in this episode, and the answer comes out in the next. No peeking!Featured expert: Rhiannon Giddens is a Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning singer and instrumentalist. You can check out her website here!Resources: REDLINING IN COUNTRY MUSIC: Representation in the Country Music Industry (2000-2020)

The flower hunters: how tropical orchids fueled a craze

The flower hunters: how tropical orchids fueled a craze

Uh oh! Joy picked up a free plant from a Buy Nothing group that can speak sign language and perform tricks. The bad news? It’s creating a jungle inside the Forever Ago studio! Join Joy and co-host Cora as they get to know their new “totally normal” plant friend and explore the history of another truly amazing plant: the orchid! Orchids are some of the most stunning flowering plants on the planet. Their blossoms come in almost every color of the rainbow and tons of different shapes, from little ballerinas to smiling monkey faces. And around 200 years ago, orchids caused a wild craze in England – full of danger, tough guys, and lots and lots of money. All that, plus a new First Things First that’s truly unbeLEAFable!

Don't steal my thunder! The history of idioms

Don't steal my thunder! The history of idioms

The cat's out of the bag! We’re back with a brand new episode, and we didn’t cut any corners! This one is all about idioms, those funny expressions that don’t make sense until you know what they’re supposed to mean, like "steal my thunder" or "it's raining cats and dogs." Join Joy and co-host Zyah to learn all about the history behind some of the most common idioms in English. Plus, a brand new game where you'll get the chance to guess the meaning of an idiom in another language!

Who invented wheelchair basketball?

Who invented wheelchair basketball?

Less than a hundred years ago, wheelchairs were big clunky wooden chairs that couldn’t even fit through most doorways. But in the 1930s, a pair of engineers dreamed up a new kind of wheelchair that would change the lives of wheelchair-users dramatically. In fact, some of them invented a new sport that would become a worldwide sensation: wheelchair basketball. Join Joy and co-host Otis as they explore the history of this amazing sport and check out Otis’ wheelchair basketball practice! Plus, an all new First Things First!Resources:If you want to read more about the history of wheelchair basketball, check out this article by David Davis. Davis also wrote a book called Wheels of Courage that explores how World War II veterans invented wheelchair sports.