The Episodic Table of Elements

T. R. Appleton

A podcast about the fascinating true stories behind each element on the periodic table.

Listen in PodNod RSS feed Show website

98 episodes
Updated Sep 27, 2025

Episodes98

Newest first

Mar 9, 2020 · 13 min
56. Barium: Glow-Getter
When you really want to suck all the air out of a room, barium will help you out.
Feb 24, 2020 · 30 min
55. Caesium: A Brief History Of Time
We'll trace the history of the most important caesium-based technology all the way back to its original roots: a stick.
Feb 10, 2020 · 21 min
54. Xenon: Ignoble Gas
Truly strange things start to happen when you breathe this rarefied air.
Jan 27, 2020 · 24 min
53. Iodine: Purple Haze
We'll pull in our elemental haul from the sea while Lady Jane Davy spits in the ocean.
Dec 30, 2019 · 23 min
52. Tellurium: To Hell You Ride
Collecting elements can be risky business. Tellurium is one of those elements that poses a dire threat -- not to one's health, but to the element collector's reputation in polite society.
Dec 16, 2019 · 37 min
51. Antimony: Can You Return An Inheritance?
It's like an Everlasting Gobstopper, but Willy Wonka is a fratricidal German monk.
Nov 25, 2019 · 28 min
50. Tin: Your Metal Pal Who’s Fun To Be With
We've palled around with tin for thousands of years, but you should know that it's a fair-weather friend.
Nov 11, 2019 · 33 min
49. Indium: The Spectre Of Isaac
The story of indium is pretty straightforward, but its namesake is practically impossible to pin down.
Oct 28, 2019 · 18 min
48. Cadmium: Don’t You Know That You’re Toxic?
Cadmium will let you choose among a range of orange-ish hues, but it's some pretty awful news if you contract the "cadmium blues."
Oct 14, 2019 · 34 min
47. Silver: Our Own Image
Silver is more than just a precious metal. It's also a reflection of ourselves.
Sep 23, 2019 · 30 min
46. Palladium: The Old Razzle Dazzle
Those people who've been involved with palladium's history seem to harbor a dubious predilection for stretching the truth.
Sep 9, 2019 · 17 min
45. Rhodium: The Most Precious Metal
For some people, rhodium's most important aspect is its high price. For others, it's absolutely priceless.
Aug 26, 2019 · 25 min
44. Ruthenium: The Glow Cloud
Element 44 is technically not named for Russia... but perhaps it should be.
Aug 12, 2019 · 19 min
43. Technetium: Naturally Synthetic
It's only after we gave up searching for this element that we found it out in the universe.
Jul 29, 2019 · 36 min
42. Molybdenum: Conventional Weapons
Before we talk about one big gun, let's discuss 1,500 years of military technology.
Jul 15, 2019 · 19 min
41. Niobium: No More Tears
We delve into elemental etymology today, and get to investigate a chemical phenomenon.
Jul 1, 2019 · 14 min
40. Zirconium: Burning Up, Melting Down
Today, we reach the last element on the periodic table -- but only alphabetically speaking.
Jun 17, 2019 · 26 min
39. Yttrium: It’s A Quiet Village
Welcome to the sleepy Swedish town of Ytterby. I hope you like it, because we'll be spending an awful lot of time there later in the series.
Jun 3, 2019 · 14 min
38. Strontium: Little Town
Let's look past the bad reputation this element has to learn how it's an essential part of an idyllic childhood.
May 20, 2019 · 19 min
37. Rubidium: What’s Cooler Than Being Cool?
Rubidium is more explosive than the alkali metals above it on the table, but it's much more interesting when it's standing almost perfectly still.

The Episodic Table of Elements

56. Barium: Glow-Getter

55. Caesium: A Brief History Of Time

54. Xenon: Ignoble Gas

53. Iodine: Purple Haze

52. Tellurium: To Hell You Ride

51. Antimony: Can You Return An Inheritance?

50. Tin: Your Metal Pal Who’s Fun To Be With

49. Indium: The Spectre Of Isaac

48. Cadmium: Don’t You Know That You’re Toxic?

47. Silver: Our Own Image

46. Palladium: The Old Razzle Dazzle

45. Rhodium: The Most Precious Metal

44. Ruthenium: The Glow Cloud

43. Technetium: Naturally Synthetic

42. Molybdenum: Conventional Weapons

41. Niobium: No More Tears

40. Zirconium: Burning Up, Melting Down

39. Yttrium: It’s A Quiet Village

38. Strontium: Little Town

37. Rubidium: What’s Cooler Than Being Cool?