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Educate a Mate

Ryan & Richard

Welcome to Educate a Mate

Educate a Mate is the podcast where one mate researches something fascinating and then attempts to explain it to the other. History, science, mysteries, animals and whatever rabbit hole we've fallen into this week. Come for the facts. Stay for two idiots getting distracted.

Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes and do not replace professional advice where applicable.

Listener discretion is advised.

Thanks for tuning in to Educate a Mate — learn something, share something, educate a mate.

Contact - educateamatepodcast@gmail.com -

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20 episodes
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Avg 41 min
English

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S1 · E34
Yesterday · 41 min
The Periodic Table: 118 Ways to Build (or Destroy) the World
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! The Periodic Table: 118 Elements, Explosive Metals & a Bit of Chemistry Chaos! 🧪💥 Everything you've ever touched, eaten, breathed or accidentally set on fire is made from elements. But how much do we actually know about the building blocks of our universe? This week on Educate a Mate, Richard takes Ryan on a chaotic journey through the periodic table, exploring the 118 elements that make up everything around us. From metals that explode when they touch water to radioactive discoveries, bizarre scientific experiments and the unsung heroes that changed human history, we're digging into the fascinating, dangerous and occasionally ridiculous world of chemistry. We'll also discover how the periodic table actually works, why some elements are incredibly useful, and why others are best left well alone. 118 elements. Two questionable scientists. One educational disaster waiting to happen. 🎵 Music Credit: "The Elements" — written and performed by Tom Lehrer. Used in accordance with Tom Lehrer's 2022 public-domain copyright declaration, through which he generously made his musical works freely available for public use. Original song: https://tomlehrersongs.com/the-elements/ Copyright declaration: https://tomlehrer.music/disclaimer/index.html ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast contains strong language, questionable humour and two blokes doing their best to make science entertaining. 🎙️ Educate a Mate — Because learning something new shouldn't have to be boring.
S1 · E33
November 1 · 40 min
Unlucky for Some: Humanity's Weirdest Superstitions
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! 🍀 Why Are We So Bloody Superstitious? | Curses, Luck & Strange Beliefs Why does breaking a mirror mean seven years of bad luck? What's so unlucky about Friday the 13th? And why have black cats spent centuries getting blamed for absolutely everything? In this episode of Educate a Mate, Richard and Ryan dive into the bizarre history of superstitions, exploring the ancient beliefs, folklore and strange traditions that still influence our everyday lives. From touching wood and throwing salt over your shoulder to walking under ladders, unlucky numbers and mysterious curses, we uncover where these beliefs came from and why they've managed to survive for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years. Are superstitions simply harmless traditions, or is there something fascinating about the way our brains connect luck, fear and coincidence? Expect strange historical facts, questionable logic, plenty of laughs, and the occasional moment where you realise you've been doing something ridiculous your entire life. 🎧 Listen now, and remember: it's only bad luck if you believe in it... probably. ⚠️ Contains strong language and adult humour. #EducateAMate #Superstitions #Folklore #History #WeirdHistory #Podcast #FridayThe13th #FunFacts
S1 · E32
October 26 · 37 min
Britain vs Mother Nature – When the Weather Turns Deadly
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Britain is famous for its terrible weather. But sometimes, a bit of wind and rain turns into something far more terrifying. From the devastating Great Storm of 1987 to the destruction caused by Storm Arwen, Britain has experienced some truly extraordinary weather events. Roofs ripped from buildings, entire communities flooded, millions of trees flattened, and weather forecasts that didn't quite go according to plan. In this episode of Educate a Mate, we're diving headfirst into the wild world of British storms. 🌪️ What actually causes a storm, and why does Britain get so many? ⚠️ What's the difference between yellow, amber, and red weather warnings? 🌀 Why do we name storms, and who gets to choose the names? 🌊 Which storms have caused the most destruction in British history? 🇬🇧 And just how badly can Mother Nature batter our little island? Expect fascinating facts, historical disasters, questionable British optimism, and the occasional reminder that putting the bins out during a storm is basically an extreme sport. Whether you're a weather enthusiast or just someone who enjoys watching the neighbour's trampoline make a break for freedom, there's something here for you. 🎧 Enjoyed the episode? Follow Educate a Mate, leave us a review, and share it with someone who insists the weather was worse when they were younger. Because there's bad weather... and then there's British weather.
S1 · E31
October 19 · 39 min
The Diesel Crisis: Why Everything Is About to Get More Expensive
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! 🚛 What happens when the fuel that keeps the world moving becomes a problem? From supermarket shelves to delivery lorries, farms to factories, diesel plays a much bigger role in our everyday lives than most of us realise. In this episode of Educate a Mate, Richard and Ryan dive into the diesel crisis, exploring why diesel is so important, what's putting pressure on supplies and prices, and how the consequences could reach far beyond the petrol pump. We explore the industries that depend on diesel, the knock-on effects for ordinary people, and why a problem at the pump can quickly become a problem for your wallet. 💡 Because when the cost of moving everything goes up, who ends up paying? Spoiler: probably us. Expect interesting facts, questionable humour and another attempt to make sense of a world that seems determined to make absolutely everything more expensive. 🎧 Enjoyed the episode? Follow Educate a Mate, leave us a review and share it with someone who loves learning something new! Disclaimer: Contains adult language, humour and occasional questionable opinions.
S1 · E30
October 14 · 40 min
129 Men Vanished. What Happened Next Was Horrifying
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! The Franklin Expedition: 129 Men Entered the Arctic. Not One Came Back. 129 men. Two ships. A frozen wasteland. And a horrifying secret buried beneath the ice. In 1845, two Royal Navy ships sailed into the Arctic in pursuit of one of the world's greatest geographical prizes. They were never seen again by Europeans. What followed was a nightmare of starvation, disease, desperation and ultimately… cannibalism. In this episode of Educate a Mate, we uncover the terrifying story of the Franklin Expedition. From ships imprisoned in Arctic ice to disturbing discoveries made decades later, we explore how one of Britain's most ambitious voyages became one of history's greatest maritime disasters. What happened in those final desperate months? How far did the men go to survive? And what secrets are still waiting beneath the ice? Grab a brew, wrap up warm, and prepare for a journey into one of history's darkest mysteries. 🎧 Enjoyed the episode? Follow Educate a Mate, leave a review and share it with someone who loves a historical mystery! #EducateAMate #FranklinExpedition #DarkHistory #HistoryPodcast #ArcticMystery #MaritimeDisaster #TrueHistory
S1 · E29
October 4 · 47 min
Britain Goes Offline: Could You Survive 5 Days?
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Could You Survive 5 Days? Britain Without Power, Water or Wi-Fi What happens when the lights go out… and don't come back on? In this episode of Educate a Mate, we're looking at what it would actually take to survive five days of major disruption in the UK — without disappearing into the woods wearing camouflage and calling yourself "The Warden." We're talking realistic emergency preparedness: how much food and water you'd need, keeping warm without power, cooking, lighting, communications, first aid, useful equipment and what happens when the mobile network and internet stop working. We also look at why emergency preparedness is being taken seriously in the UK, from extreme weather and flooding to cyber attacks, infrastructure failures and the potential consequences of international conflict. And, naturally, we ask the important questions: How long before everyone panic-buys toilet roll? Can you actually survive on tins for five days? And how many people have stockpiled emergency food without remembering to buy a fucking tin opener? Listener Notice: This episode may contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, authenticity or emphasis and may not be suitable for all audiences. Views and opinions are shared for discussion and educational purposes and should not replace official emergency guidance. Thanks for listening to Educate a Mate. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E28
September 27 · 45 min
Your Brain Has a Happiness Problem
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Welcome to Educate A Mate — where we take interesting ideas, pull them apart, get slightly distracted, and somehow learn something along the way. Your Brain Is Lying About What Makes You Happy What actually makes you happy? Money? Love? Success? Food? Holidays? Buying something you absolutely did not need because “I deserve it”? In this episode, we dive into the surprisingly weird science of happiness — from dopamine, serotonin and the chemistry happening inside your brain, to why humans are spectacularly bad at predicting what will make them happy. We look at real experiments, strange findings, the things that genuinely seem to improve happiness and why even getting exactly what you wanted can eventually leave your brain saying: “Cool… what’s next?” 🧠 Listener Notice: This episode contains strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, emphasis and general Educate A Mate nonsense. Topics are discussed for entertainment and educational purposes and should not be considered professional advice. Thanks for listening to Educate A Mate — learn something, share something, educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E27
September 21 · 56 min
You’re Not Actually in Control
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! You’re Not Actually in Control — An Introduction to Psychology How much of what you do is actually your decision? Your brain is constantly making choices, taking shortcuts, forming habits and influencing your behaviour — often before you’ve even realised it. In this episode of Educate a Mate, we dive into the wonderfully weird world of psychology and explore some of the forces quietly pulling the strings behind human behaviour. We get into cognitive biases, decision-making, conformity, memory, perception, subconscious behaviour and some of the classic psychological experiments that revealed just how easily the human mind can be influenced. Why do we follow the crowd? Can you actually trust your own memories? Why does your brain take shortcuts? And how much control do you really have over the person you think you are? Basically, your brain is incredibly clever. It's also a bit of a liar. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into science, history, psychology, mysteries and whatever else sends us down a rabbit hole. Listener Notice: This episode may contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, emphasis and natural conversation. Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes and do not replace professional advice where applicable. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E26
September 14 · 36 min
9/11: The Day That Changed Everything
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! 9/11: The Day That Changed Everything On the morning of 11 September 2001, thousands of people went to work, boarded flights and started their day as normal. Within hours, the world had changed. In this episode of Educate a Mate, we take a closer look at the September 11 attacks — what happened, how the events unfolded and the enormous consequences that followed. We explore the timeline of that morning, the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the passengers and crew of Flight 93, the emergency response, and the human impact of a day witnessed by millions around the world. But 9/11 didn't end on September 11th. We also look at how the attacks reshaped airport security, international relations, military action, intelligence and counterterrorism, and why their effects can still be seen more than two decades later. This is the story of one day — and the world that came after it. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into history, science, psychology, mysteries and the stories that shaped our world. Listener Notice: This episode discusses terrorism, mass casualty events and loss of life, and may contain strong language and informal expressions. Some listeners may find the subject matter distressing. Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E25
September 6 · 41 min
Didgeridoo You Know?
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Didgeridoo You Know? — Exploring Aboriginal Australian Cultures Australia's story didn't begin with Captain Cook. Not even close. For tens of thousands of years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have developed incredibly diverse cultures, languages, traditions and ways of understanding the natural world. In this episode of Educate a Mate, we explore some of the fascinating history and traditions of Aboriginal Australian cultures — from storytelling, art and music to connections with Country, kinship, traditional knowledge and the cultural significance of the didgeridoo. We also look at the impact of European colonisation, the treatment of Indigenous Australians, the Stolen Generations and how Aboriginal cultures and communities continue to survive, adapt and thrive today. How old are Australia's Indigenous cultures? What is the significance of Dreaming traditions? Why is Country about far more than simply owning land? And yes... what's actually going on with the didgeridoo? Turns out, there's an enormous amount we weren't taught in school. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into history, science, cultures, mysteries and the wonderfully weird corners of human knowledge. Listener Notice: This episode may contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, emphasis and natural conversation. It also discusses colonisation, discrimination and historical mistreatment of Indigenous peoples. Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E24
August 31 · 39 min
Engine 101: Because Apparently Cars Need Engines
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Full Throttle — Engines 101 You put fuel in. You turn the key. There are some explosions. And somehow... the car moves. But what is actually happening under the bonnet? In this episode of Educate a Mate, we're going back to basics with Engines 101 — breaking down how an internal combustion engine works without requiring an engineering degree to understand it. We get into pistons, cylinders, crankshafts, valves, spark plugs, fuel, air and combustion, and follow the journey from a tiny controlled explosion inside an engine to your wheels actually turning. We'll tackle the four-stroke cycle, the differences between petrol and diesel engines, why engines need cooling and lubrication, and some of the clever engineering that stops the whole thing from immediately turning itself into expensive scrap metal. What actually is horsepower? Why do engines have different numbers of cylinders? What's a turbo actually doing? And why does setting fire to dinosaur juice make your car go forward? Whether you're into cars or couldn't identify a crankshaft if someone slapped you with one, this is your introduction to the noisy lump of metal hiding under the bonnet. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into science, history, technology, psychology and all the other stuff you've probably wondered about but never bothered Googling. Listener Notice: This episode may contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, emphasis and natural conversation. Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes and do not replace professional or mechanical advice where applicable. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E23
August 24 · 48 min
The House Always Wins
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! The House Always Wins — Gambling Someone has to win the jackpot. So... why not you? Because unfortunately, mathematics has entered the chat. In this episode of Educate a Mate, we're diving into the strange, fascinating and sometimes destructive world of gambling — from casinos and slot machines to lotteries, sports betting and the psychology that keeps us coming back for just one more go. We explore probability, odds and the house edge, looking at how gambling companies make money even when they're handing out enormous wins. But the maths is only half the story. We'll also get inside the brain to explore dopamine, risk, reward, near misses, the gambler's fallacy and variable reinforcement — including some of the clever psychological tricks that can make gambling incredibly difficult to walk away from. Why do near misses make us want to try again? Are some casino games genuinely better bets than others? Why do humans see patterns in completely random events? And if somebody wins millions on the lottery... where did that money actually come from? From ancient gambling to billion-pound betting companies, this is the science, psychology and mathematics behind humanity's long-running obsession with risking something for the chance of getting more. Spoiler: there's a reason they call it the house edge. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into psychology, science, history and the wonderfully weird ways humans behave. Listener Notice: This episode contains discussion of gambling and gambling-related harm and may contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, emphasis and natural conversation. Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes and do not replace professional advice. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone you know, consider seeking support from an appropriate gambling-support service. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E22
August 17 · 43 min
Your Parents Lied to You
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Your Parents Lied to You — Myths Whilst Growing Up Don't sit too close to the TV — you'll get square eyes. Don't swallow chewing gum — it'll stay in your stomach for seven years. And for God's sake, don't turn that light on in the car because apparently Dad will immediately be arrested. We all grew up being told things that sounded completely reasonable when we were six... and considerably less convincing once we became adults. In this episode of Educate a Mate, we're investigating the myths, warnings and outright lies our parents told us growing up — and finding out whether there was ever any truth behind them. Does cracking your knuckles really cause arthritis? Do you actually need to wait after eating before swimming? Will swallowed chewing gum haunt your digestive system for seven years? Does shaving make hair grow back thicker? And seriously... what was everyone's problem with the light inside the car? Along the way, we'll look at where some of these myths came from, the science behind them and why completely untrue ideas can survive for generations. Some were misunderstandings. Some contained a tiny grain of truth. And some were clearly invented because our parents wanted five minutes of peace. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into science, history, psychology, bizarre facts and the questions you didn't realise you needed answering. Listener Notice: This episode may contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, emphasis and natural conversation. Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes and do not replace professional advice where applicable. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E21
August 12 · 43 min
Would You Kill a Rhino for £50,000?
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! 🦏 Would You Kill a Rhino for £50,000? — The South African Rhino Poaching Trade Would you kill a rhino for £50,000? Easy answer, right? But what if that amount of money could completely transform the life of you and your family? In this episode of Educate a Mate, we dive into the brutal and complicated world of rhino poaching in South Africa — looking beyond the headlines to understand why the illegal trade exists, who profits from it and why stopping it isn't as simple as catching the person holding the gun. We explore the demand for rhino horn, the international illegal wildlife trade, organised criminal networks, anti-poaching operations and the extraordinary lengths conservationists go to in an attempt to protect the animals. But we also look at the human side. What happens when extreme poverty exists alongside wildlife worth enormous sums on the black market? Who actually makes the money from a poached rhino? Why does demand for rhino horn continue? And can conservation succeed without the support of the communities living alongside these animals? It's a story involving wildlife conservation, money, inequality, organised crime and human behaviour — with a prehistoric-looking animal stuck right in the middle of it. The question might start with “Would you kill a rhino for £50,000?” By the end, you might realise the real problem is much bigger than that. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into wildlife, conservation, science, history and the complicated stories hiding behind the headlines. Listener Notice: This episode discusses wildlife poaching, animal death, organised crime and other themes some listeners may find upsetting. It may also contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for emphasis and natural conversation. Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes and do not replace professional advice where applicable. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E20
August 3 · 40 min
The one question NASA absolutely hates
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! 👽 The One Question NASA Absolutely Hates — The Fermi Paradox The universe contains hundreds of billions of galaxies. Our galaxy alone contains hundreds of billions of stars. Planets appear to be everywhere. So... Where the hell is everybody? In this episode of Educate a Mate, we're diving headfirst into one of the biggest unanswered questions in science: the Fermi Paradox. If intelligent alien life has had billions of years to evolve, expand and potentially spread across the galaxy, why haven't we found convincing evidence of anyone else? We explore the enormous numbers behind the search for extraterrestrial life, the Drake Equation, potentially habitable planets and the mind-bending distances involved in exploring our galaxy. Then things get weird. Maybe intelligent life is incredibly rare. Maybe civilisations destroy themselves before reaching the stars. Maybe we're simply too early. Maybe aliens are deliberately avoiding us. Or perhaps there's something out there that means advanced civilisations don't survive for very long at all... Welcome to the Great Filter, the Zoo Hypothesis, technological extinction, interstellar travel and some of the strangest possible solutions to humanity's biggest cosmic mystery. Because statistically, it feels like somebody should be out there. And yet... Silence. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into science, space, history, psychology, mysteries and questions capable of causing a mild existential crisis. Listener Notice: This episode may contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, emphasis and natural conversation. Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes and do not replace professional advice where applicable. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E19
July 27 · 45 min
Timeless Remedies and Traditional Medicine
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Timeless Remedies & Traditional Medicine Before pharmacies, antibiotics and modern hospitals, humanity still had one fairly significant problem: We kept getting ill. So for thousands of years, cultures around the world experimented with plants, minerals, foods, rituals and occasionally some genuinely questionable substances in an attempt to keep people alive. And here's the interesting bit... Some of it actually worked. In this episode of Educate a Mate, we're exploring the fascinating world of traditional medicine and ancient remedies — separating treatments that contained some surprisingly solid science from those that probably did considerably more harm than good. We look at medicinal plants, herbal remedies and traditional healing practices from around the world, alongside the discoveries that eventually helped shape modern medicine and pharmacology. Why has willow been used for pain relief for centuries? Why was honey put onto wounds? Which traditional medicines eventually inspired modern drugs? How did people figure any of this out without laboratories? And which historical treatments make you wonder how humanity survived long enough to invent antibiotics? From genuinely impressive knowledge passed down through generations to remedies involving a worrying amount of blood, bodily fluids and misplaced confidence, this is the strange history of humans trying desperately not to die. Sometimes our ancestors knew exactly what they were doing. Sometimes... They really, really didn't. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into science, history, medicine, psychology and humanity's wonderfully questionable decision-making. Listener Notice: This episode discusses historical and traditional medical practices and may contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, emphasis and natural conversation. The information discussed is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Traditional or historical remedies should not be used as substitutes for appropriate professional healthcare. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E18
July 20 · 30 min
How to lose a ship and influence people
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! How to Lose a Ship and Influence People — Ernest Shackleton Imagine announcing you're going to cross Antarctica on foot. You assemble a crew. Buy a ship. Sail towards the most hostile continent on Earth. And then... Your ship gets stuck in the ice before you've even started. In this episode of Educate a Mate, we're telling the extraordinary story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition — one of history's greatest survival stories and quite possibly the worst journey anyone has ever accidentally turned into a team-building exercise. In 1915, Shackleton's ship Endurance became trapped in Antarctic pack ice. Months later, the pressure of the ice crushed the ship and sent it beneath the surface. Now Shackleton and his crew had a slightly bigger problem than crossing Antarctica: Getting home alive. What followed was an astonishing fight for survival involving drifting ice, freezing temperatures, dwindling supplies, lifeboats, one of the most dangerous ocean crossings ever attempted and a desperate journey across the mountains of South Georgia to find help. We explore the expedition itself, what happened to Endurance, how the crew survived and why Shackleton's approach to leadership, morale and decision-making under pressure is still studied today. He didn't cross Antarctica. He lost his ship. The expedition was, by its original objective, a complete failure. And somehow Ernest Shackleton became one of the most celebrated explorers in history. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into history, exploration, science, disasters and stories that make your Monday morning seem considerably less stressful. Listener Notice: This episode may contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, emphasis and natural conversation. Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E17
July 13 · 40 min
Jeff Bezos, but better and a pirate
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! 🏴‍☠️ Jeff Bezos, But Better and a Pirate — Black Bart Imagine becoming one of the most successful pirates in history. You command a fleet. Capture hundreds of ships. Build a reputation across the Atlantic. And apparently do it while being better dressed than almost everyone you rob. Meet Bartholomew Roberts — better known as Black Bart. In this episode of Educate a Mate, we're heading into the Golden Age of Piracy to meet a man who turned piracy into something disturbingly close to a well-run multinational business. During a remarkably short career, Roberts captured hundreds of vessels, operated across enormous stretches of the Atlantic and became one of the most successful pirates of his era. But Black Bart wasn't quite the drunken, chaotic pirate stereotype. His crews operated under a pirate code with rules covering behaviour, compensation, voting and discipline. There were systems for dividing treasure, expectations for the crew and even compensation for pirates injured on the job. Basically... HR, but with cannons. So who was Black Bart? How did someone become a pirate captain? Were pirate crews surprisingly democratic? How much money could a successful pirate actually make? And how did one Welshman become an absolute nightmare for Atlantic shipping? From enormous hauls and heavily armed ships to pirate democracy, flamboyant fashion and a spectacular amount of stolen property, this is the story of Black Bart — the pirate who treated the Atlantic like his own personal business empire. Jeff Bezos built Amazon. Black Bart just took your delivery. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into history, science, psychology, bizarre people and stories that are far too ridiculous not to be true. Listener Notice: This episode discusses piracy, violence and historical criminal activity and may contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, emphasis and natural conversation. Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E16
July 6 · 30 min
Hollywood Lied to You About Ninjas & Samurai
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Ninja & Samurai Black-clad assassins disappearing in clouds of smoke. Honour-bound warriors fighting to the death with perfectly folded katanas. Japan was absolutely mental... apparently. Except there's one small problem: A lot of what we think we know about ninjas and samurai comes from centuries of stories, theatre, films, games and some extremely enthusiastic historical myth-making. In this episode of Educate a Mate, we're heading into feudal Japan to separate the history from the Hollywood. Who actually were the samurai? What did Bushidō really mean? Was the katana genuinely the ultimate weapon? Did ninjas actually wear black? What exactly was a shinobi? And could anyone genuinely disappear using a smoke bomb, or have we all just played too much Assassin's Creed? We explore the rise of the samurai warrior class, their weapons, armour, warfare and changing role in Japanese society, before turning to the mysterious world of the shinobi — espionage, infiltration, sabotage and the people who eventually became the legendary ninja of popular culture. Along the way, we'll tackle some of the biggest myths surrounding both groups and discover that the real history is often far more interesting than the version we were given in films. There will be swords. There will be assassins. There will be absolutely no Naruto running. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into history, science, cultures, mysteries and all the weird stuff we probably should have learned about years ago. Listener Notice: This episode discusses warfare, violence and historical conflict and may contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, emphasis and natural conversation. Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com
S1 · E15
June 29 · 34 min
The Dylatov Pass Incident - Evidence of Bigfoot?
Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! 🏔️ They Cut Their Way Out of the Tent — The Dyatlov Pass Incident Nine experienced hikers. A tent found abandoned on the side of a frozen mountain. Their equipment, clothes and supplies still inside. And the tent had apparently been cut open from within. Something made them leave. But what? In this episode of Educate a Mate, we're heading into the frozen Ural Mountains to investigate one of the 20th century's most enduring mysteries: the Dyatlov Pass Incident. In February 1959, a group of experienced Soviet hikers led by Igor Dyatlov disappeared during an expedition through the northern Urals. When search teams eventually discovered their camp, they found something deeply strange. Their tent remained on the mountainside, but the hikers were gone. Their bodies would eventually be discovered scattered across the surrounding landscape — some inadequately dressed for the extreme cold, others suffering significant injuries. And that's where decades of speculation began. Avalanche? Hurricane-force winds? Military testing? Infrasound? A fight within the group? Something stranger? We piece together the timeline, evidence, injuries, weather conditions and investigations to separate what we actually know from the myths that have grown around the case. Because beneath decades of conspiracy theories is a much more interesting question: What could frighten nine experienced hikers enough to abandon their shelter in deadly conditions? The answer might be less supernatural than the legends suggest. But that doesn't make the story any less unsettling. 🎧 Follow/subscribe to Educate a Mate for more deep dives into mysteries, history, science, psychology and the stories that keep people arguing decades later. Listener Notice: This episode discusses death, injuries and potentially distressing circumstances surrounding the deaths of the Dyatlov group. It may also contain strong language, swearing and informal expressions used for humour, emphasis and natural conversation. Views and opinions shared by hosts or guests are for discussion and educational purposes. Learn something. Share something. Educate a mate. 📧 Contact: educateamatepodcast@gmail.com

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