Intellectual Potluck
Ever wondered about the stories history class skipped over? Or had a question so odd you weren’t sure who to ask? We are serving up a feast of fascinating deep dives and expert interviews, exploring the weird, wonderful, and sometimes overlooked corners of history, science, and beyond. Each episode is a potluck of curiosity—sometimes a gripping historical mystery, other times a conversation with someone who has the answers to questions you didn’t even know you had. From the forgotten moments that shaped the world to the surprising insights hiding in plain sight, we’re here to uncover the stories that make you say, “Wait, why didn’t I learn this in school?” If you love unexpected discoveries, fresh perspectives, and the thrill of learning something new, pull up a chair. There’s always something interesting on the table at Intellectual Potluck.
Episodes
As AI becomes more integrated into everyday life, the big question on everyone's mind is: Will AI replace teachers?
In this episode, we look at the role of AI in education - using AI as a teaching tool, what it can and can’t do, and the ethical concerns surrounding its use in classrooms. From personalised learning apps to automated grading systems, AI is already helping teachers - but could it one day take over entirely?
We al...
What do ancient fertility rituals, medieval village dances, Puritan crackdowns, and labour strikes have in common? May Day.
In this episode, we trace the surprising journey of May 1st — from its pagan roots in Beltane and bonfires, to the colourful folk traditions of Maypole dancing, to its radical reinvention as International Workers’ Day. Along the way, we’ll meet Puritans who tried to ban it, revolutionaries who turned ...
Why does it feel like fun costs more than ever — and yet, we’re more willing to pay for it?
In this episode, we dive into how the price of leisure has skyrocketed over the generations, from concerts and theme parks to streaming subscriptions and brunch. While big milestones like home ownership and retirement feel increasingly out of reach, many people are turning to smaller luxuries to fill the gap.
We’ll unpack the lipstick effect...
In this episode, we take a dive into the life, work, and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We explore his pivotal role in the civil rights movement, the intense resistance he faced from the FBI, white supremacists, and political critics, and the tragic events surrounding his assassination in Memphis. We also examine the conspiracies and the fight to uncover the truth behind his death.
But most importantly, we look at h...
In this episode, we dive deep into Nikita Khrushchev's pivotal Secret Speech, where he publicly denounced Stalin's regime and began reshaping Soviet politics.
We learn how Stalin built his ruthless personality cult—using propaganda, political purges, and fear—and why his reign instilled obedience from both party members and citizens. Then, learn how Khrushchev’s speech exposed these dark truths, setting the stag...
Why is running so hard—mentally??
In this episode, we dive into the biggest mental barriers that stop people from running (or sticking with it). From motivation struggles to the mind games of endurance, we chat about what makes running feel impossible some days and effortless on others.
Grant is my opposite in this, he doesn't ever seem to struggle for motivation! So we're exchanging tips on pushing pa...
To kick off the new season of this podcast we're exploring one of the pivotal events from history that took place on this date.
On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, a moment that would change history forever. But how did a radical extremist, once dismissed as a political outsider, rise to power within the democratic system?
In this episode, we explore the crisis-ridden years ...
We've all heard the great debate around university. If everyone has a degree do they become meaningless? And can we ever really justify the cost?
Each to their own of course, but with so many of us having degrees we don't use, we have to ask if the time, cost and effort was really worth it.
Join us to hear our takes on it and see if we can get to the bottom of this debate!
Find us on socials
Instagram...
Are MLMs really cults? And how do people get caught up in them? Join me as I dive into how people can end up in these situations, and the problematic side to girlbossing your way through life.
Chapters
Intro: 00:00
What is Multi-Level Marketing: 01:31
My story: 02:48
Are MLMs cults: 12:39
Funny stories: 17:43
MLM creators
Hannah Alonso: https://www.youtube.com/@HannahAlonzo
CC Suarez: h...
This episode Sam and Megs are diving into whether one person can really make a difference. Whether that's to charitable causes, politics, or even the power of influencers.
Can one person really make a difference, or are we being delusional?
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
01:45 - Does helping really help
08:32 - Doing it for the clout
14:56 - The sceptic
25:05 - The power of TikTok
33:15 - T...
This week Grant and Sam are exploring their unpopular Halloween opinions - diving into the r/unpopularopinion subreddit to uncover and debate the internet's opinions on the spooky season.
Relevant links:
- r/unpopularopinion: https://www.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/
- Opinion 1: Jump scares don't count as horror: https://www.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/comments/13vv464/jump_scares_dont_count_as_horror/
- Opinion 2...
Once again we're deviating slightly away from our Unpopular opinions for this week to talk about a topic close to Sam and Mel's hearts, hidden disabilities.
Covering everything from what a hidden disability is, our personal experiences and cool things that are now available like the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower!
Relevant links:
- Hidden Disabilities Sunflower: https://hdsunflower.com/au/
- List of hidden ...
We're deviating slightly away from our Unpopular opinions for this week and just embracing the awesomeness of our childhood joys. Join Sam and her brother in law James as they chat all things video games, cartoons and anything else we love that may be considered "childish".
Join us as we chat through the joys and psychology of nerd culture - as well as a debate over some of our favourite franchises.
Find us ...
ur first ever episode which was all around Gender Equity - but this time I've brought in someone who knows what she's talking about! Join Urmi and I as we chat not just about gender equity, but all the ways that women can empower themselves.
Gender Equity episode 1: https://youtu.be/0nCjPDWIM0c
Our socials:
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/intellectualpotluck/
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@...
We're diving back into our Unpopular opinions, and this week host Sam is joined by her sister Mel to debate whether or not we ever grow up from High School.
Whether your high school experience was great or terrible, it's a time where our brains are so squishy and malleable that the lessons and experiences from that time can really stay with us. So Mel, using her experience as a teacher, and Sam being haphazardly ...
To kick off this brand new podcast, Intellectual Potluck host Sam is focusing on Unpopular Opinions, whether that's from Sam or her guest for the episode! This episode Sam is joined once again by her partner Grant to talk about the second love of his life: Nickelback!
Nickelback have had a lot of hate over the years - they've even made a documentary about it. But Grant is an avid Nickelback fan (and some of his f...
To kick off this brand new podcast, Intellectual Potluck host Sam is focusing on Unpopular Opinions, whether that's from Sam or her guest for the episode! This episode Sam is joined by her friend Steph to explore our latest topic. We're focusing dissect the perception of Landlords, and whether they deserve the hate that they get.
We chat about Steph's experiences as both a Landlord and a renter, understandin...
To kick off this brand new podcast, Intellectual Potluck host Sam is focusing on Unpopular Opinions, whether that's from Sam or her guest for the episode! To start Sam is joined by her partner Grant as they explore gender biases in the post-Barbie world!
We look at the cultural impact of Barbie, an the subsequent award shows, before diving in to some deeper topics, covering the gender pay gap and exploring the differe...
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