<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>What starts as a casual joke about where we’re “from” steers into one of the strangest corporate chapters of the Cold War: the day Pepsi traded soft drink syrup for decommissioned Soviet warships. We rewind to the 1959 cultural exhibitions and the Kitchen Debate, where a single glass of Pepsi handed to Khrushchev set the stage for the brand to enter the USSR in 1972. Because rubles couldn’t convert, Pepsi took payment in Stolichnaya, selling vodka in Western markets to make the math work—until sanctions squeezed that channel shut. As the Soviet system cracked and a major contract came due in 1989, cash was scarce and policy walls were high. The workaround? Assets, not currency. Pepsi accepted a bundle of naval vessels—submarines, a cruiser, a frigate, a destroyer—then sold the lot for scrap to Sweden. It wasn’t a private navy so much as steel turned into liquidity, but on paper it briefly vaulted a soda company into the ranks of mid-tier sea powers. Along the way, we explore why barter resurfaces when money fails, how sanctions redirect trade into goods-for-goods swaps, and what this says about corporate flexibility under geopolitical stress. We also trace modern echoes: companies trading planes for rice, nations swapping energy for staples, and local barter emerging under hyperinflation. The through line is simple and unsettling—when traditional finance jams, value finds another rail. This story isn’t just a quirky footnote; it’s a playbook for navigating shocks with creativity, pragmatism, and a stomach for odd optics. If a cola can become scrap metal to keep markets open, what could your business convert when rules change? If you enjoyed the ride, follow the show, share this episode with a friend who loves Cold War oddities, and leave a quick review telling us the wildest barter you’ve ever heard of.<a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support">Support the show</a><a href='https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support'>https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support</a> Support the Show!!!

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What starts as a casual joke about where we’re “from” steers into one of the strangest corporate chapters of the Cold War: the day Pepsi traded soft drink syrup for decommissioned Soviet warships. We rewind to the 1959 cultural exhibitions and the Kitchen Debate, where a single glass of Pepsi handed to Khrushchev set the stage for the brand to enter the USSR in 1972. Because rubles couldn’t convert, Pepsi took payment in Stolichnaya, selling vodka in Western markets to make the math work—until sanctions squeezed that channel shut.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;As the Soviet system cracked and a major contract came due in 1989, cash was scarce and policy walls were high. The workaround? Assets, not currency. Pepsi accepted a bundle of naval vessels—submarines, a cruiser, a frigate, a destroyer—then sold the lot for scrap to Sweden. It wasn’t a private navy so much as steel turned into liquidity, but on paper it briefly vaulted a soda company into the ranks of mid-tier sea powers. Along the way, we explore why barter resurfaces when money fails, how sanctions redirect trade into goods-for-goods swaps, and what this says about corporate flexibility under geopolitical stress.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We also trace modern echoes: companies trading planes for rice, nations swapping energy for staples, and local barter emerging under hyperinflation. The through line is simple and unsettling—when traditional finance jams, value finds another rail. This story isn’t just a quirky footnote; it’s a playbook for navigating shocks with creativity, pragmatism, and a stomach for odd optics. If a cola can become scrap metal to keep markets open, what could your business convert when rules change?&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If you enjoyed the ride, follow the show, share this episode with a friend who loves Cold War oddities, and leave a quick review telling us the wildest barter you’ve ever heard of.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support'&gt;https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Support the Show!!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail What starts as a casual joke about where we’re “from” steers into one of the strangest corporate chapters of the Cold War: the day Pepsi traded soft drink syrup for decommissioned Soviet warships. We rewind to the 1959 cultural exhibitions and the Kitchen Debate, where a single glass of Pepsi handed to Khrushchev set the stage for the brand to enter the USSR in 1972. Because rubles couldn’t convert, Pepsi took payment in Stolichnaya, selling vodka in Western markets to make t...

To Pepsi From Russia: Love is Fleeting 

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>You hear “vampire bat” and think Dracula, capes, and midnight horror. We chased the myth and found something far weirder: a tiny mammal that lives in tight-knit colonies, feeds with surgical precision, and is quietly shaping medical research with enzymes in its saliva. We dig into the recent finding of human DNA in bat feces in Brazil, what it actually suggests about changing behavior, and how habitat shifts and livestock access may be nudging bats toward new targets. We break down how vampire bats really feed—no sucking, just a razor-slice and a chemical assist that numbs skin and keeps blood flowing. That leads to the big questions: how common are bites on people, where does rabies risk sit, and what prevents tragedies when colonies overlap with farms and towns? From colonies of a hundred to a thousand to that startling stat about consuming half their body weight in blood, we put numbers to the fear and map out what matters for public health. Along the way, we separate the three vampire species by diet, unpack their ground-running agility, and debunk the “blind as a bat” cliché with the truth about sharp vision plus echolocation. Zooming out, we shine a light on bat diversity: more than 1,400 species worldwide pollinating forests, dispersing seeds, and devouring insects. The same traits that make vampires seem terrifying are fueling real breakthroughs, including anticoagulant-inspired stroke research. It’s a story about adaptation, not monsters—how wildlife responds to the landscapes we build, and how smart management can lower risks without stoking panic. If you’ve ever wondered where the horror ends and biology begins, this is your deep dive. If this gave you a fresh take on bats—vampires and beyond—follow the show, share it with a friend, and drop us a review with the wildest bat fact you learned today.<a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support">Support the show</a><a href='https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support'>https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support</a> Support the Show!!!

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You hear “vampire bat” and think Dracula, capes, and midnight horror. We chased the myth and found something far weirder: a tiny mammal that lives in tight-knit colonies, feeds with surgical precision, and is quietly shaping medical research with enzymes in its saliva. We dig into the recent finding of human DNA in bat feces in Brazil, what it actually suggests about changing behavior, and how habitat shifts and livestock access may be nudging bats toward new targets.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We break down how vampire bats really feed—no sucking, just a razor-slice and a chemical assist that numbs skin and keeps blood flowing. That leads to the big questions: how common are bites on people, where does rabies risk sit, and what prevents tragedies when colonies overlap with farms and towns? From colonies of a hundred to a thousand to that startling stat about consuming half their body weight in blood, we put numbers to the fear and map out what matters for public health. Along the way, we separate the three vampire species by diet, unpack their ground-running agility, and debunk the “blind as a bat” cliché with the truth about sharp vision plus echolocation.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Zooming out, we shine a light on bat diversity: more than 1,400 species worldwide pollinating forests, dispersing seeds, and devouring insects. The same traits that make vampires seem terrifying are fueling real breakthroughs, including anticoagulant-inspired stroke research. It’s a story about adaptation, not monsters—how wildlife responds to the landscapes we build, and how smart management can lower risks without stoking panic. If you’ve ever wondered where the horror ends and biology begins, this is your deep dive.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;If this gave you a fresh take on bats—vampires and beyond—follow the show, share it with a friend, and drop us a review with the wildest bat fact you learned today.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support'&gt;https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Support the Show!!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail You hear “vampire bat” and think Dracula, capes, and midnight horror. We chased the myth and found something far weirder: a tiny mammal that lives in tight-knit colonies, feeds with surgical precision, and is quietly shaping medical research with enzymes in its saliva. We dig into the recent finding of human DNA in bat feces in Brazil, what it actually suggests about changing behavior, and how habitat shifts and livestock access may be nudging bats toward new targets.  We bre...

Vampire Bats: Ha What a Bunch of Suckers

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a>Ever notice you stand a little taller first thing in the morning? That small, strange truth opens a fast-moving tour through facts that are too good to ignore—and too human to forget. We swap Simpsons hellos, dust off Reader’s Digest gems, and follow the breadcrumbs from biology to pop culture with the kind of curiosity that makes trivia feel like travel. We start with the body: spinal discs decompress overnight, making you slightly taller at sunrise. Then we jump the border to Tijuana, where Caesar Cardini improvised the Caesar salad during the prohibition rush, a perfect snapshot of how scarcity sparks invention. From there, it’s a detour to a $2,700 New York pizza draped in gold leaf, foie gras, Stilton, and truffles—a conversation about taste, status, and why some dishes exist mostly to be posted. Balance that with a 43-year-old goldfish named Tish, a record that makes us laugh, question, and appreciate what institutions like Guinness actually certify. History gets delightfully weird: a bear serving with the Polish army, promoted and put to work hauling ammunition in Italy; red lipstick worn across Allied countries as a quiet rebuke to Hitler’s preferences; Scotland’s choice of the unicorn to face down England’s lion, turning myth into a national emblem. Even snack aisles get a passport stamp when Cool Ranch Doritos become “Cool American” in Sweden, a reminder that branding is its own dialect. We round things out with Paris syndrome, where expectation outruns reality hard enough to make you dizzy, and a Minnesota town with a dog for a mayor, because communities sometimes choose joy on purpose. We also talk candidly about our recent tech hiccups, the workaround that got us back on track, and what we’re building next without overhyping. If you love sharp turns, odd history, food lore, and the kind of facts you can’t wait to retell, you’re in the right place. If this episode made you smile, learned you something, or both, tap follow, share it with a friend who collects trivia, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. What’s the weirdest true fact you swear by?<a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support">Support the show</a><a href='https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support'>https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support</a> Support the Show!!!

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ever notice you stand a little taller first thing in the morning? That small, strange truth opens a fast-moving tour through facts that are too good to ignore—and too human to forget. We swap Simpsons hellos, dust off Reader’s Digest gems, and follow the breadcrumbs from biology to pop culture with the kind of curiosity that makes trivia feel like travel.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We start with the body: spinal discs decompress overnight, making you slightly taller at sunrise. Then we jump the border to Tijuana, where Caesar Cardini improvised the Caesar salad during the prohibition rush, a perfect snapshot of how scarcity sparks invention. From there, it’s a detour to a $2,700 New York pizza draped in gold leaf, foie gras, Stilton, and truffles—a conversation about taste, status, and why some dishes exist mostly to be posted. Balance that with a 43-year-old goldfish named Tish, a record that makes us laugh, question, and appreciate what institutions like Guinness actually certify.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;History gets delightfully weird: a bear serving with the Polish army, promoted and put to work hauling ammunition in Italy; red lipstick worn across Allied countries as a quiet rebuke to Hitler’s preferences; Scotland’s choice of the unicorn to face down England’s lion, turning myth into a national emblem. Even snack aisles get a passport stamp when Cool Ranch Doritos become “Cool American” in Sweden, a reminder that branding is its own dialect. We round things out with Paris syndrome, where expectation outruns reality hard enough to make you dizzy, and a Minnesota town with a dog for a mayor, because communities sometimes choose joy on purpose.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;We also talk candidly about our recent tech hiccups, the workaround that got us back on track, and what we’re building next without overhyping. If you love sharp turns, odd history, food lore, and the kind of facts you can’t wait to retell, you’re in the right place. If this episode made you smile, learned you something, or both, tap follow, share it with a friend who collects trivia, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. What’s the weirdest true fact you swear by?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support'&gt;https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Support the Show!!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail Ever notice you stand a little taller first thing in the morning? That small, strange truth opens a fast-moving tour through facts that are too good to ignore—and too human to forget. We swap Simpsons hellos, dust off Reader’s Digest gems, and follow the breadcrumbs from biology to pop culture with the kind of curiosity that makes trivia feel like travel.  We start with the body: spinal discs decompress overnight, making you slightly taller at sunrise. Then we jump the border...

#Facts: Unicorns Hate Lions

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/fan_mail/new">Send us Fan Mail</a><a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support">Support the show</a><a href='https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support'>https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support</a> Support the Show!!!

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/fan_mail/new"&gt;Send us Fan Mail&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a rel="payment" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support"&gt;Support the show&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support'&gt;https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;Support the Show!!!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Send us Fan Mail Support the show https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support Support the Show!!! 

Killer Meals: Straight from Death Row

Spooky Dude: Robert the Devil

I Tell Stories Podcast covers a wide range of topics discussed by Colt Draine and Owen "The Mic" McMichael. From the scourge on humanity of violent business hippies and Scott Baio to peculiar Serbian Mother's Day traditions,the boys offer their unique perspective. Revolutionary artists,legends of folklore and bizzare following of fast food items are just a few of the subjects touched on. I Tell Stories aims to bring attention to individuals and occerrences that are too interesting to be forgotten. Two long time friends who keep each other laughing give listeners their take on the world. Everyone has a story, these are ours and those of many others. Support The Show 👇🏻 <a href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support">https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035680/support</a>

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