Everything Everywhere Daily: Questions and Answers – Volume 31 Release Date: June 1, 2025

Hosted by Gary Arndt of Glassbox Media, Everything Everywhere Daily brings together intellectually curious minds to explore a wide array of topics from history and geography to technology and culture. In this special episode, Questions and Answers: Volume 31, Gary delves into listener inquiries, providing insightful responses drawn from his extensive knowledge and personal experiences.

1. Good vs. Bad Emperors of Rome

Timestamp: 10:15

Alice Johnson poses a thought-provoking question about Gary’s differentiation between good and bad Roman emperors. Gary elaborates on the characteristics that distinguish the two:

• Bad Emperors: Described as "crazy, cruel, and hedonistic," these leaders often indulged in excessive personal luxuries, viewed themselves as divine or gladiatorial figures, and imposed harsh punishments for minor offenses. Notable examples include Caligula, Nero, Domitian, Commodus, and Elagabalus. "They spent an incredible amount of money on themselves, on palaces and parties," Gary notes at [10:45].

• Good Emperors: In contrast, good emperors were rational, fair, and focused on maintaining the empire's stability rather than expansion. They tended to have longer reigns and were generally well-regarded by historians for their just rule.

Insight: Gary emphasizes that the classification of emperors into 'good' or 'bad' is largely supported by historical consensus, despite the inherent subjectivity in such judgments.

2. Navigating Food and Water Safety During Travels

Timestamp: 22:30

Christian Long inquires about Gary’s experiences with food safety and allergies during his extensive travels. Gary shares his approach:

• Avoiding Risks: He rarely encountered issues by avoiding unfiltered tap water and opting for bottled beverages instead. "If you drink bottled water or beer or wine or soda, this really isn't much of a problem," Gary explains.

• Adaptive Gut Microbiome: Frequent travel may have adapted his body to different environments, reducing the likelihood of food poisoning. However, he mentions one instance in Kuala Lumpur where he experienced food poisoning after dining at a familiar chain restaurant.

Advice for Travelers: Gary advises ensuring access to safe drinking water and being cautious with street food to mitigate health risks.

3. Production and Editing Credits

Timestamp: 35:10

Chip Thomas asks about the behind-the-scenes aspects of the podcast, specifically regarding production and editing. Gary clarifies:

• Solo Production: "As of right now, I do everything on every episode and I have done so since the very first episode," Gary states, highlighting his hands-on approach.

• Support from Producers: While he acknowledges his producers, he notes that they primarily provide financial support through Patreon and do not engage in the active production process.

4. Personal Connections and Collaborations

Timestamp: 42:50

Dan explores Gary's professional and personal relationship with Chris, a fellow podcaster.

• Long-standing Friendship: Gary has known Chris for many years, collaborating on a previous podcast, This We Can Travel, for over a decade. "We met each other in person for the first time at a travel blog conference in 2009 in Chicago," Gary reminisces.

• Podcasting Hall of Fame: Recently, Gary inducted Chris into the Podcasting Hall of Fame, celebrating their enduring friendship and professional collaboration.

5. The Future of Cinema in the Streaming Era

Timestamp: 50:25

Will Raber queries Gary about the sustainability of traditional movie theaters amidst the rise of home streaming services.

• Skepticism About Theaters: Gary expresses doubt about the long-term viability of theaters, citing the increasing cost of movie tickets versus the declining prices and improving quality of home entertainment systems. "Movies have gotten more expensive, while televisions have gotten larger, cheaper, and better," he observes.

• Personal Preference: Gary prefers owning physical media to enjoy films at home, emphasizing convenience and cost-effectiveness over the theatrical experience.

Conclusion: Gary anticipates that theaters will continue to thrive primarily through blockbuster releases that benefit from large screens but may struggle as general moviegoers opt for home viewing.

6. Exploring Central America: Future Episode Plans

Timestamp: 58:40

Giselle T. asks about Gary’s experiences in El Salvador and potential future episodes on Central American countries.

• Previous Visits: Gary confirms having visited San Salvador and Sushitoto.

• Future Content: He expresses openness to featuring more countries from the Central American region in upcoming episodes.

7. Emulating Historical Travelers

Timestamp: 1:05:15

Bard, a listener from the Discord server, inquires if Gary has considered replicating the journeys of historical explorers like Ibn Battuta using only period-appropriate travel methods.

• Personal Journey Preferences: Gary politely declines, preferring to create his own travel experiences rather than recreating historical ones. "I really have never had any desire to recreate someone else's journey when I can do my own," he states.

8. Breakthrough Moments in Learning Complex Topics

Timestamp: 1:12:50

Listeners ask Gary about his "aha" moments in understanding complex subjects such as nuclear physics or chemistry.

• Trigonometry Revelation: Gary shares a pivotal moment in high school trigonometry when a college professor used the unit circle to explain trigonometric functions, transforming his rote memorization into meaningful understanding. "Everything instantly clicked," Gary recalls.

• Educational Evolution: He highlights the importance of varied teaching methods and resources like YouTube in fostering comprehension and retaining knowledge.

Takeaway: Effective teaching that connects concepts to practical applications can lead to profound understanding and lasting retention.

9. Ensuring Authenticity in the Completionist Club

Timestamp: 1:20:30

Geronimo Richardson raises a concern about the potential misuse of Spotify's feature that allows marking episodes as finished without actual listening, specifically regarding the Completionist Club membership.

• Honor System: Gary assures that the Completionist Club operates on trust and personal integrity. "I do not check, and there is no way to check if someone has actually listened to every episode," he explains.

• Minimal Incentive for Cheating: He believes that there is little motivation for individuals to falsely claim membership, as it would only undermine their own commitment to the club.

Closing Remarks

Gary concludes the episode by encouraging listeners to engage with the community through Facebook and Discord, where they can submit questions for future episodes and stay updated on upcoming content. He also extends gratitude to his Patreon supporters and the entire Everything Everywhere Daily community for their ongoing support.

Production Credits:

• Executive Producer: Charles Daniel
• Associate Producers: Austin Oakton and Cameron Kieffer

Join the Conversation: Links to the Facebook group and Discord server are available in the show notes.

Whether you're a history enthusiast, a curious traveler, or someone keen on understanding the intricacies of various cultures and sciences, this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily offers a treasure trove of knowledge and insights. Tune in to stay informed and inspired every day!