Forever Ago

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 how scientist Roger Payne changed the course of history for whales by releasing a record of their songs.

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.

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.”

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 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.

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!

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.

Tune in for a super special election day episode from our friends at The Ten News!

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!

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!

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.

Joy’s ready for some Halloweeny fun, but her jack-o’-lantern pal Lionel wants to skip the whole thing. Lucky for Lionel, Joy and co-host Baron are ready to explain the twisty history of jack-o’-lanterns!

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?

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!