Shows / Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Two friends, Austin and Brenda, delve into the rich history of secret nerd mysteries near and dear to their hearts in their own loose, light-hearted way. If you've ever wondered "Why Saturday morning for cartoons?" or "How come Chuck E. Cheese cares so much about other people's birthdays?", this is the show for you!
Episodes
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Turkish Cinema, Turkish Star Wars, and Turkish Spider-Man
In the wake of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Turkish citizens found a new way to make their voices heard: Cinema. Despite extreme poverty in a nation…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Short Life of Roboduck
We've still got ducks on the brain it seems. This week, Host Brenda tells the long story of Duck, or Donald, or Puddles, the Oregon University Mascot. It has…
Secret Histories of Nerd MysteriesHow the Anaheim Mighty Ducks got their Quack
Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmysteries
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
What happened to the Tween Sitcom?
The tween sitcom is something that came and went in the blink of an eye. But how did this genre get started, and what happened to it? Help support this show…
Secret Histories of Nerd MysteriesRerun - Action Park: Looping Waterslides, Drunk Teens, and No Rules
Michigan was experiencing some of the worst air quality in the world this week, so here is a rerun of a classic SHONM episode for your enjoyment! In 1976…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
CLAMP - How one of the Greatest Manga Creators got their Start
CLAMP is an absolutely legendary group of all female Manga creators known for classics such as Cardcaptor Sakura, Chobits and xxxHolic. But how did this group…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Product Placement and E.T.
In the modern day, we're so used to being advertised to, that an ad in our favorite films doesn't even phase us anymore. However, the history of product…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Student Rebellion, the New Left and Ashita no Joe
What if I told you that there was a manga in Japan that not only revolutionized the genre of sports manga, but inspired a plane Hijacking? Today, Host Austin…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
How Disneyland Paris almost Ruined Everything
When the Walt Disney company set out to open a new international theme park under their umbrella, they had no idea that they were entering into a venture that…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Is Betty Boop Black?
Betty Boop is one of the oldest animated characters in existence, and yet she is really only known as a face on t-shirts and purses. How did she come into…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Mr. Blobby and Blobbymania
In 1992, the UK unleashed a force so terrible, so annoying, that the world would never be the same. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Small Soldiers - Who is this movie even for?
Before Dreamworks released the box office hit, Shrek, they were a small studio trying to find their footing with ambitions of becoming larger than Disney. In…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Zoog Disney - The Dawn of the Disney Channel Star
It's hard to believe that there was a time before Hannah Montana, before That's so Raven, before Even Stevens, when The Disney Channel was a much different…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Salute Your Shorts - A Nickelodeon Classic
Before Drake and Josh. Before Ned's Declassified. Before Pete and Pete, there was "Salute Your Shorts" a kid sitcom about the highs and lows of middle school…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Were Furbys Really Banned from the Pentagon?
Welcome to a special episode of Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries! Not only is this episode the first of the 2026 Max Fun Drive, but it's also the very first…
Secret Histories of Nerd MysteriesCasters on Casters: John Moe and Brenda Snell
It's MaxFunDrive. And here, for the first time, we give you an exclusive look (well, listen) at the craft of podcasting: presenting Casters on Casters. In this…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
SHONM Goes to the Movies - Joker 2
As requested by our lovely subscriber's as part of 2025's Max Fun Drive, Host Austin and Host Brenda are here to review Joker 2, a movie that wastes everyone's…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Bottoms Up and the Devil Laughs - The History of Monster Energy Drink
Back before there were dozens of different energy drinks to choose from, back before soda game in plastic bottles, there was a humble little juice company…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Is Filmmaker James Cameron Trying To Drown Someone?
In this episode, Host Brenda delves into the mad world of James Cameron, who seems to have an obsession about filming people in giant tanks of water. Whether…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Unexpected Consequences of Light Gun Arcade Games
Since the dawn of time, mankind has been playing around with guns, and that drive even extended to video games. Right at the very beginning of video game…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Tumultuous Production of Little Nemo In Slumberland
This week Host Brenda dives into the chaotic production history of 1989’s Little Nemo in Slumberland, a Japanese/American animated film based on Windsor…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
"Steel" The Movie Walked so "Black Panther" Could Run
In an era where superhero movies are few and far between, famed music producer Quincy Jones sets out to adapt the story of the recently introduced superhero…
- 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…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
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…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
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…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
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. Help support…
Secret Histories of Nerd MysteriesJourney 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…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Yu-Gi-Oh Card Game
Hosts Austin and Brenda delve into the fascinating history of the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game. They discuss the origins of Yu-Gi-Oh! as a manga by Kazuki Takahashi and…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Did McGruff the Crime Dog Really Take a Bite out of Crime?
In the 60's and 70's, violent crime rates were an all-time high in the United States. Can a trenchcoat-wearing bloodhound find a way to empower the people and…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
A Brief History of Queer Christmas Movies
In this year's Christmas special Host Austin details the history of queer Christmas films. Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Many Failures of Atari
Atari is a company who exists nowadays through graphic t-shirts and dubai hotels, however, there was a time when they dominated the US video game console…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Lost Fantastic Four Movie
Before Spider-Man, before Blade, before X-men, the Fantastic Four almost made it to the silver screen in 1994. The movie was finished. The premiere was…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Theme Park Publicity Stunts
This summary is going to be short, Host Brenda forgot to write one and the episode is supposed to be up. This entire episode was an excuse to talk about Fabio…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Dance Dance Revolution
It's a staple of every mid 2000's school lock-in. It's Host Brenda's favorite form of exercise. It's Dance Dance Revolution, the rhythm game that changed…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Is the Michigan Dog Man Real?
These days, the michigan dogman is treated just like any other cryptid, however, its origins are more recent than you might think! Help support this show and…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The first Halloween Special on TV
Google's AI would have you believe that "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" was the first halloween special on television, but it actually goes back further than…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Haunted Theme Parks Part 3
Host Brenda is back to share more hair raising stories of haunted theme parks. From Alfred Hitchcock's offices, to Dogpatch USA, which was a real themepark at…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Are you Afraid of the Dark?
Welcome to spooky season mystorians! We're bringing you four spooky themed episodes this month, starting with the nickelodeon horror anthology series, Are you…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Disney Store
It's the Disney Store Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmysteries
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
What were some early controversial video games? Death Race, Custer's Revenge, and Leisure Suit Larry
We've talked about Night Trap. We've talked about Mortal Kombat. But what were some of the other games that led up to the creation of the ESRB? If you wish to…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Why is Brenda doing an episode about a horse? - Haru Urara
Yes, you read the title right. Host Brenda is doing an episode on the history of a Japanese racehorse. Is this nerd history? Surprisingly yes. Haru Urara was a…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Ong's Hat: How did the First ARG Spiral out of Control?
For a long time, Ong's Hat, an abandoned ghost town in New Jersey, has been the subject of many urban legends and local folk tales, but it was also the…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Do Dodonpa - Why did this Rollercoaster Start Breaking Bones?
For several decades, the launch coaster Dononpa was Japan's most iconic rollercoaster, drawing people in from all over the world to see. However, in 2020…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Who founded the first Renaissance Faire?
It's the end of summer, which means thousands of nerds are descending upon fairgrounds around the country dressed in their finest medieval garb. But how did…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Thief and the Cobbler Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheThiefArchive Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joinmysteries
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Thief and the Cobbler Part 1
In 1964 award winning animator Richard Williams set out with a simple goal: to make an animated feature film that showed off everything the medium of animation…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Why do Books Come out on Tuesdays? feat. Reading Glasses
Today in this special episode of Secret Histories, Host Austin welcomes Brea Grant and Mallory O'Meara from the hit podcasts Reading Glasses and Reading Smut…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Action Park: Looping Waterslides, Drunk Teens, and No Rules
In 1976, disgraced wallstreet investor Eugene Mullvihill opened the infamous Action Park in Vernon New Jersey. It would turn out to be a lawless place full of…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Dawn of Podcasting
If you're reading this, chances are, you know what a podcast is. But, do you know how podcasting got started? What is considered the first podcast? Where did…
Secret Histories of Nerd MysteriesHomes of the Future Attractions
Before a lot of our modern tech was mainstream, homes of the future walkthroughs were there to show us a glimpse into a supposedly better and brighter future…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Life With Mikey: Michael J. Fox's Forgotten Flop
In the 90's, summer family comedy Life with Mikey released in theaters...and was a terrible flop. Despite having a star studded cast like Michael J. Fox, Cyndi…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Follies of Six Flags: Movieland Wax Museum, Auto World, and the Power Plant
Despite being one of the leading chains of theme parks in the united states, Six Flags has sure made some awful business decisions over the years. From running…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Disneyfication of Studio Ghibli
Studio Ghibli films had a rough start to being distributed in the west, with early dubs that made a lot of changes, the inclusion of pop songs, and cats that…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Rerun - King of the Hill
Note: The decision to rerun this episode was made several days before the unfortunate passing of actor Johnathan Joss. It’s Austin’s week to pick a topic, and…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
The Evolution of the Themed Restaurant
What's better than getting food at a nice restaurant? How about getting food inside the rainforest? Or in the stands of a medieval arena? Or how about...a…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Dating Sims
Dating sims are a often forgotten genre of video game in the west, predominantly because of its lewd origins. However some of the most hard hitting people in…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
More Amusement Park Ghosts
Host Brenda is back at it again with more spooky scary ghost stories from your favorite amusement parks. What ghosts lurk in America's oldest theme park, and…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Kid's Programming Blocks: Kids WB, One Saturday Morning and More!
While Saturday morning cartoons have been around for decades, the concept of the kid's programming block is a fairly recent invention of the 90's. Starting…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
Blind Box Figures; Sonny Angels, Smiskis, and Labubus
Blind boxes are the sensation that has taken over the world. This episode touches on the potential origins of these tiny little collectables, as well as the…
- Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries
How "The N" Block Taught Teens
As Millennials reached teenhood in the early 2000's, it became apparent that there was a serious hole in the market when it came to creating educational…