No Fooling! Forever Ago is back April 9th!

Summary

Forever Ago: "No Fooling! Forever Ago is back April 9th!"

Release Date: April 1, 2025
Host: Joy Dolo
Co-Host: Mikayla from Oak Park, Illinois
Production: American Public Media

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Introduction: A Day of Pranks [00:00 - 03:26]

The episode kicks off with host Joy Dolo immersing listeners in her playful April Fool's Day spirit. Joy humorously details her day filled with classic pranks: "I've dropped banana peels all over the floor, swapped the whipped cream for shaving cream, and put whoopee cushions on all the chairs and brains on Universe HQ. I'm pranked out" (00:00). These antics set a whimsical tone, highlighting the episode's theme centered around pranks and April Fool's Day.

Joy introduces her co-host, Mikayla, who is immediately amused and baffled by the prank-filled studio: "Wow, it's so spiffy in here. Fancy microphones, big cushy headphones, banana peels all over the floor. Wait, why are there banana peels all over the floor?" (01:21). The playful banter emphasizes the lighthearted nature of the show.

Deep Dive into April Fool's Day [03:26 - 09:19]

Joy announces the main topic: April Fool's Day, deemed "the prankiest day of the year" (03:26). Despite being aired in October, Joy quips, "Why be a prankster for one day when you could prank all year round?" (03:44), setting up an engaging exploration of the holiday's origins and cultural significance.

Theories on the Origin of April Fool's Day:

1. Ancient Rome's Hilaria Festival (06:34): Joy suggests a connection to Hilaria, a joyful Roman festival celebrating spring with games and imitations. She humorously dismisses it with, "Guess this one" (07:09), acknowledging its obviousness but still presenting it as a possible origin.

2. Iranian New Year – Sizzdah Bedar (07:09): Another theory links April Fool's to Sizzdah Bedar, marking the end of the Iranian New Year with picnics and playful pranks. Mikayla enthusiastically responds, "Picnics and pranks. Sign me up." (07:40).

3. France's Calendar Switch (07:43): Joy narrates the story of France's 1500s calendar change, moving New Year's Day from spring to January 1st. The delayed news spread led some to continue celebrating in April, dubbing them "fools": "Now, Zoot, a whole new calendar. What's next?" (08:39).

Mikayla summarizes, "So many different cultures throughout history have had spring celebrations that are about laughter or pranks." (09:13), highlighting the universal nature of pranking traditions tied to springtime festivities.

Interactive Segment: Prank Toys Through History [09:19 - 24:28]

Joy introduces an engaging game titled "First Things First," where she and Mikayla explore the chronological invention of prank toys: snakes in a can, whoopee cushions, and hand buzzers (09:19).

Mikayla's Guesses:

• Snakes in a Can: First
• Whoopee Cushions: Second
• Hand Buzzers: Last (10:10)

Joy probes Mikayla's reasoning, leading to a discussion on the technological complexity and simplicity of each prank device. The segment is interactive and educational, allowing listeners to ponder the evolution of pranks.

Future Jobs and Listener Engagement [11:36 - 13:53]

Shifting gears, Joy and Mikayla brainstorm future jobs that don't exist today. Mikayla suggests a "pet designer home person," sparking excitement: "Comfortable homes for pets. I love this idea because I have three pets." (11:51). Joy encourages listener participation by inviting them to submit their ideas: "Send it to [e-mail] contact" (12:35).

Promotional Interlude: Brains on Universe [12:35 - 13:50]

A brief promotion for the Brains on Universe network showcases related podcasts like Brains on Smash and Brains on Brains On, emphasizing the family-friendly, educational content available to listeners.

Historical Pranks and Media's Role [13:50 - 23:29]

Returning to April Fool's Day, Joy and Mikayla delve deeper into various pranks and their societal impacts. They discuss classic pranks, such as:

• BBC's Spaghetti Tree Hoax (1957): Presented as a legitimate news segment, it tricked many into believing spaghetti grows on trees: "Isn't only in Britain that spring this year has taken everyone by surprise." (17:58).

• Modern Pranks by Corporations:

  • Krispy Kreme (2024): Advertised glazing any item (e.g., pizza, watermelon) (15:08).
  • 7-Eleven's Hot Dog-Flavored Sparkling Water: A whimsical concept that highlights the playful nature of corporate pranks (15:23).

Molly Bloom's Critique:

Molly Bloom, host of another Brains on Universe podcast, interjects with a critical perspective on the overuse of pranks, especially by media outlets: "April Fool's has gotten out of hand, and I just wanted to get up on my literal and metaphorical soapbox to say so." (15:51). She argues that media-driven pranks can erode trust: "If they're posting fake information even as a lighthearted prank, people might start to trust them less." (21:17).

Molly passionately defends traditional, in-person pranks over digital misinformation, stating, "Pranks are fun, but fake stories online? We don't need them. I say let's take April Fools off our screens and back into real life where pranks belong." (21:17).

Conclusion and Interactive Answers [24:16 - End]

As the episode nears its end, there is recognition of the production team and a segue back to the interactive game.

Revealing the Answers:

Joy unveils the historical order of the prank toys:

1. Snakes in a Can (1915): Invented by Soren Sorensen Adams, these deceptive cans were a hit in 1915.
2. Hand Buzzers (1928): Also an Adams invention, these devices gave a surprising jolt when shaking hands.
3. Whoopee Cushions (Early 1930s): Developed by GE, originally called "Poo Poo cushions" with a gross green color (24:28).

Mikayla reflects on her surprise: "The most surprising was probably snakes in a can. I didn't really think I would get that right." (26:57) and expresses her intent to prank her dad with a snake in a can (27:03).

Joy wraps up by teasing the next episode about Gladiators and thanking listeners: "Join us next week for a new episode, all About Gladiators." (27:12).

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Notable Quotes

• Joy Dolo:

  • "I'm pranked out." (00:00)
  • "Slipping on banana peels isn't everyone's cup of tea." (02:16)
  • "April Fool's Day has brought mischief for centuries." (14:09)

• Mikayla:

  • "Picnics and pranks. Sign me up." (07:40)
  • "Sparkling hot dog water. That's a good prank." (15:23)
  • "So when people see it later, they might not be on the lookout for pranks and they might just think it's real." (21:11)

• Molly Bloom:

  • "April Fool's has gotten out of hand, and I just wanted to get up on my literal and metaphorical soapbox to say so." (15:51)
  • "Pranks are fun, but fake stories online? We don't need them." (21:17)

Key Takeaways

• Origins of April Fool's Day: Multiple theories link the holiday to ancient Roman festivals, Iranian New Year traditions, and France's calendar changes.

• Evolution of Pranks: From simple tricks like snakes in a can to corporate-led jokes in modern media, pranks have evolved but carry different social implications.

• Media Responsibility: While traditional pranks foster laughter and camaraderie, media-driven misinformation can undermine trust and lead to unintended consequences.

• Interactive Learning: The episode engages listeners with interactive segments, encouraging participation and creative thinking about both historical pranks and future societal roles.

Conclusion

"No Fooling! Forever Ago is back April 9th!" masterfully balances humor, history, and critical discussion. Through playful pranks in the studio, a deep dive into April Fool's Day's origins, interactive games, and thoughtful critiques from guest Molly Bloom, the episode offers a comprehensive exploration of pranks' cultural and historical significance. Listeners are left with both amusement and reflection on the impact of pranking in society.

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Stay Tuned:
Subscribe to Forever Ago and join Joy and Mikayla as they unravel more intriguing histories. Don’t forget to share your own prank ideas and future job concepts by contacting [e-mail].

Transcript

[Joy Dolo]

Hey, Forever Ago friends, Host of history and lady of mystery, Joy Dolo here. Happy April Fool's Day. So far today, I've dropped banana peels all over the floor, swapped the whipped cream for shaving cream, and put whoopee cushions on all the chairs and brains on Universe hq. I'm pranked out. So now I can tell you absolutely 100% truthfully, no fooling, that Forever Ago is coming back next week. Starting April 9th, we've got tons of awesome new episodes, from the history of fireworks to Girl Scouts to my mortal enemy, Mayo. In the meantime, I wanted to share this episode we made last year, all about the history of April Fool's Day. Prank on. And that's the last time I trust Gumpy to make cheesecake. I know. He's just a pile of gum that magically came to life Frosty the Snowman style. But that's no excuse. That cheesecake he made was terrible.

[Mikayla]

I know, Joy. I can't believe he just frosted an entire wheel of Parmesan cheese.

[Joy Dolo]

He really should have used mozzarella. Anywho, we're here. Mikayla. Welcome to the Forever Ago studio.

[Mikayla]

Wow, it's so spiffy in here. Fancy microphones, big cushy headphones, banana peels all over the floor. Wait, why are there banana peels all over the floor?

[Joy Dolo]

Oh, my goodness. Who would ever leave all these banana peels here? I really hope I don't slip on one and fall. That was so much fun. I gotta try that again.

[Mikayla]

Joy, did you leave all these banana peels here?

[Joy Dolo]

Maybe. Definitely. I'm really into pranks right now. Specifically pranking myself, which is kind of hard to do, but I'm trying to keep myself on my toes or off my toes.

[Mikayla]

Love this for you. I'm just gonna tiptoe around these.

[Joy Dolo]

Fair enough. Slipping on banana peels isn't everyone's cup of tea. What a day. Time to take a load off.

[Mikayla]

Is your chair made from whoopee cushions?

[Joy Dolo]

Is Darren Hayes my favorite member of the hit 90s pop band Savage Garden? Yes. I love him. Look, my whoopee cushion chairs even recline.

[Mikayla]

Ooh, nice.

[Joy Dolo]

But wait, there's more. It's also a massage. Whoopee cushion chair. See? Oh, so relaxing.

[Mikayla]

Okay, this is ridiculous and awesome.

[Joy Dolo]

Everybody needs a little R and R, rest and relaxation. Ridiculousness and relaxation. You're listening to Forever Ago from APM Studios. I'm your host, Joy Dolo, and I'm here today with my co host, Mikayla from Oak Park, Illinois.

[Mikayla]

Hi, Joy.

[Joy Dolo]

And today we're talking about pranks. And specifically the prankiest day of the year. April Fool's Day.

[Mikayla]

Joy, it's October.

[Joy Dolo]

Yes.

[Mikayla]

And April Fool's Day is in April. April 1st, to be exact.

[Joy Dolo]

Why be a prankster for one day when you could prank all year round? Plus, if we talked about April Fool's Day on April Fool's Day, people might think it's a joke. And I'm so serious right now.

[Mikayla]

You're literally sitting in a chair made of whoopee cushions surrounded by banana peels.

[Joy Dolo]

Yes. And don't worry, that was the chair. Mikayla. Excuse me. Mikayla, what do you think of April Fool's Day?

[Mikayla]

Um, I like it. My parents always are the ones that prank me, though.

[Joy Dolo]

Oh, yeah? What kind of pranks do they do? Do you have a favorite?

[Mikayla]

Um, the only one they ever do is wake me up and say it's snowing outside.

[Joy Dolo]

That's so mean. Do you like pranks?

[Mikayla]

Uh, yes, Even though I've never really done one before.

[Joy Dolo]

Do you have, like, one in mind that you might think about doing? Like, there's the classic whoopee cushion. There's the good old banana peels. Like, I've just.

[Mikayla]

I have thought about doing a slime bucket.

[Joy Dolo]

Okay, so we have a slime bucket. So would we. Were we thinking of doing it on mom or on dad?

[Mikayla]

Probably my dad.

[Joy Dolo]

Oh, yeah, he could handle a slime bucket. Okay, this is what we gotta do. Mikayla. We gotta get a bucket. And then we can just get some, like, water and, like, cornstarch and mix it up. Put some food coloring in there. You can just tape the bucket, like, on top of the doorway. And when he's walking through you one of those nerf guns. And when he walks through, shoot the nerf gun at the bucket.

[Rick Astley]

Boom.

[Joy Dolo]

On his head. Prank next. What do we do to Mom? I'm just kidding. That's a good plan, right?

[Mikayla]

Yes, definitely.

[Joy Dolo]

Well, if you ever need help with pranks, I can definitely help you. Slime is a good way to go. And pranking parents is really fun.

[Mikayla]

Yes.

[Joy Dolo]

Well, to prank somebody means to do a trick on them.

[Mikayla]

Usually the prank is lighthearted and fun.

[Joy Dolo]

Like putting a whoopee cushion on someone's chair or putting a slime bucket in the doorway of your dad. Or replacing all of your family photos with pictures of Darren Hayes from the hit 90s pop duo Savage Garden.

[Mikayla]

Or like this. Hey, Joy, I just sent you the cutest TikTok of a corgi making croissants.

[Joy Dolo]

A croissant corgi I gotta see this. Wait. This Is Never Gonna Give youe Up by Rick Ast Kayla, did you just rickroll me?

[Mikayla]

Prank.

[Joy Dolo]

Prank? More like thanks, because I love being pranked. The word prank might have come from an old Dutch word meaning to strut or to show off.

[Mikayla]

That makes sense. Pranks are like little performances. But what about April Fool's Day? Where did that come from?

[Joy Dolo]

We don't know exactly where the prankiest day of the year came from, but we have a few ideas. One theory is that April Fools is connected to ancient Rome. Back in the times of horse drawn carriages, chariots and togas, the ancient Romans celebrated the holiday Hilaria, which is Latin for joyful. It was basically a big festival at the end of March to celebrate the coming of spring and warmer weather. People would play games, dress up, and even do imitations. Okay, okay, okay. Guess this one.

[Molly Bloom]

I came, I saw, and I totally conquered.

[Unknown]

That's a great Caesar impression.

[Joy Dolo]

Duke Cleopatra. Next. So that's one possible inspiration for April Fools. Another idea is that April Fool's Day is connected to Sizzdah Badar. That's a special celebration which marks the last day of the Iranian New Year, around the end of March and beginning of April. People have been celebrating for thousands of years by having picnics outside and pulling small pranks on each other.

[Mikayla]

Picnics and pranks. Sign me up.

[Joy Dolo]

Right. Another theory is that April Fool's Day is linked to something that happened a long time ago in France. It was the 1500s. This is the era of William Shakespeare and big frilly collars. Back then, France celebrated the new year at the end of March, which would.

[Mikayla]

Have lined up with the end of winter and the beginning of spring. New flowers, New year makes sense.

[Joy Dolo]

But soon a new calendar came along. And in that calendar, the new year began on January 1st.

[Mikayla]

So France decided to start using this new calendar, which meant they started celebrating New Year's in January too.

[Joy Dolo]

But news of the calendar switcheroo was slow to travel, so there were still some people who celebrated the new year in the spring, in April. And as the story goes, these folks were called fools. April Fools. Happy New Year. Woo.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, Francois, you're such a fool. Haven't you heard? New year's is on January 1st.

[Joy Dolo]

Now, Zoot, a whole new calendar. What's next? Are frilly callers going out of style? So those are just a few ideas of where April Fool's Day might have come from. From ancient Rome or Iran or fr. Like a lot of history, it's murky but not dark, scary Murky. Fun, exciting. Murky.

[Mikayla]

Yeah. So many different cultures throughout history have had spring celebrations that are about laughter or pranks.

[Joy Dolo]

It's just like they say, spring into your step and whoopee in your cushion.

[Mikayla]

Uh, who exactly says that?

[Joy Dolo]

Me. Now, just wait until you hear about some of the most epic April Fool's pranks ever. But first, it's time to play. Hey, first things first. So this is the game where we take three things from history and try to put them in order of which came first, second, and most recent in time. Today's three things are practical joke toys. We've got my favorite, whoopee cushions. Those air cushions that make farting noises. Hand buzzers. That's a little device that gives someone else a little buzz when they shake your hand. And snakes in a can, which were cans that looked like nuts or chips, but when you opened them, a fake snake popped out. Which do you think came first, which came second, and which came most recently in history?

[Mikayla]

I think snakes in a can came first.

[Joy Dolo]

Okay.

[Mikayla]

Whoopee cushions came second, and hand buzzers came last.

[Joy Dolo]

Hmm, that's interesting. So walk me through your thought process. So we have snake in a can first as the oldest. Why do you think that one's the oldest?

[Mikayla]

I don't know. It just doesn't sound like it has a lot of technology involved.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah, all you need is a can and some snakes. Yes, fake snakes. If it was real snakes, that would be a mean joke. Okay, so we have the snake in the can first, and then whoopee cushion second. Is there a reason why you planted that one right in the middle?

[Mikayla]

It's kind of easy to make. I don't know how it's easy to make. It just sounds like one of the easy ones.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah, that makes sense. Like, actually, it reminds me of, like, a balloon, you know? Have you ever done that with a balloon where you hold the tip of it and it makes that kind of fart noise?

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah. So somebody must have just thought of making that into a whoopee cushion. And then hand buzzers to you seem like they're probably the most recent. Huh.

[Mikayla]

I don't really know why. It just kind of, like, the most. Has the most kind of, like, energy, like, technical stuff.

[Joy Dolo]

Mm. Yeah. It might even need, like, a battery or something. So that would be something more technologically advanced, I guess. Well, those are some great guesses. And we'll hear the answers at the end of the episode right after the.

[Mikayla]

Credits, so stick around.

[Joy Dolo]

We're working on an episode all about jobs that used to exist in the past but don't exist anymore today. But we want to know what jobs do you think will exist in the future that don't exist today? Mikayla, what do you think? Any ideas about jobs of the future?

[Mikayla]

I think like a pet designer home person. Like a person that designs homes for pets. Like comfortable homes.

[Joy Dolo]

Comfortable homes for pets. I love this idea because I have three pets. That's such a great idea. Listeners, record yourself describing what job you think will exist in the future and send it to [e-mail] contact and while you're there, you can send us episode ideas, questions and drawings. Like maybe you want to draw a picture of a whoopee cushion with my face on it. Exciting. Or maybe you want to draw a picture of a pet designer house. Like what would your pet design house look like? Send it to [e-mail] contact.

[Unknown]

Brains on universe is a family of podcasts for kids and their adults. Since you're a fan of Forever Ago, we know you'll love the other shows in our universe. Come on, let's explore.

Here we are in Brains on Universe, home to my favorite podcasts, Brains on Smash. Boom. Best Forever Ago I found one. Brains on Brains On, a science podcast for kids and families.

[Molly Bloom]

Let's start with our pal, the Sun. Did somebody call their favorite star?

[Joy Dolo]

It's me, the Sun.

[Molly Bloom]

The sun is made up of very, very hot elect.

[Unknown]

Ah, what a great show. Need more Brains On. Now.

Listen to Brains On Wherever you get your podcast.

[Joy Dolo]

You'Re listening to Forever Ago. I'm Joy.

[Mikayla]

And I'm Mikayla.

[Joy Dolo]

And today we're talking about pranks and the prankiest of days, April Fool's Day.

[Mikayla]

There are lots of ideas from around the world about how April Fool's Day started.

[Joy Dolo]

It might be linked to spring celebrations in ancient Rome or the Iranian New Year.

[Mikayla]

Others think it comes from the French switching their calendars about 500 years ago.

[Joy Dolo]

No matter how it got started, April Fool's Day has brought mischief for centuries. On this day, people often pull pranks.

[Mikayla]

Like putting a rubber snake in someone's bed.

[Molly Bloom]

Ooh.

[Joy Dolo]

Or stuffing cotton balls into the toes of somebody's shoes so they think their feet grew.

[Mikayla]

Or swapping the frosting in a cookie with mayonnaise.

[Joy Dolo]

Oh no, that's not a prank. That's an act of culinary violence.

[Mikayla]

Oops, sorry, Joy. I forgot about your never ending and totally one sided feud with Mayo.

[Joy Dolo]

You are forgiven. Sometimes news organizations even publish made up stories on april fools. In 1878, a newspaper published a fake story Reporting that Thomas Edison, who invented the light bulb, made a new machine that could turn dirt into food.

[Mikayla]

And in the age of the Internet, some people post fake pictures, articles, or advertisements online.

[Joy Dolo]

On April 1st in 2024, Krispy Kreme doughnuts advertised that they'd glaze anything you brought in. Pizza, watermelon, a cheeseburger, you name it. And 711 said it was releasing hot dog flavored sparkling water.

[Mikayla]

Sparkling hot dog water. That's a good prank.

[Molly Bloom]

Did someone say prank?

[Joy Dolo]

Oh, it's my pal and brains on host, Molly Bloom. Come on in. Oh, wait. Watch out for the.

[Molly Bloom]

The 37 banana peels on the floor. Or those whoopee cushion chairs. Way ahead of you. I'm always on the lookout for potential pranks.

[Joy Dolo]

Good eye, Molly.

[Mikayla]

What's in your hands? Is that a crate?

[Molly Bloom]

It's actually my soapbox.

[Joy Dolo]

Molly is an avid soap collector.

[Molly Bloom]

Bergamot lavender is my favorite. I couldn't help but overhear you talking about April Fool's Day. And let me just say, I come here with a warning. April Fool's has gotten out of hand, and I just wanted to get up on my literal and metaphorical soapbox to say so.

[Mikayla]

So that's why you brought the soapbox.

[Molly Bloom]

All the better to pontificate from. Especially about April Fools.

[Joy Dolo]

What? But you love pranks. Remember how last week you put my stapler in Jell O? It was awesome.

[Molly Bloom]

It's true. I love pranks. But April Fool's Day? Not so much. In my humble opinion, it's become an irresponsible holiday.

[Mikayla]

Well, since you're up on your soapbox, the floor is yours.

[Molly Bloom]

Thank you. You see, there have been lots and lots of different April Fool's pranks throughout history. The French stick paper fishes on each other's backs, and in Scotland, they pin tails on one another. You might send somebody across town to deliver a letter. Except there's nothing written on the letter that's called a fool's errand.

[Joy Dolo]

Paper fishes, tails. Fake errands.

[Mikayla]

Joy, are you taking notes?

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah. These are great ideas for future ways to prank myself.

[Molly Bloom]

But it's not just everyday pranksters pulling pranks. You see, as April Fools grew in popularity, our ability to spread pranks grew, too. We had newspapers, then radio, and eventually TV came along. And this is where the problems really started. One of the first April Fool's pranks that appeared on television was from the United kingdom back in 1957. Back in the 1950s, televisions were still pretty new technology. But more and more people had them in their Homes. They were mostly in black and white. This is when the British Broadcast Company, also known as the BBC, aired a TV report from a small town in Switzerland. Here's an actual recording of.

[Rick Astley]

Isn't only in Britain that spring this year has taken everyone by surprise. Here in the Ticino, on the borders of Switzerland and Italy, the slopes overlooking Lake Lugano have already burst into flood flower at least a fortnight earlier than usual.

[Molly Bloom]

See, it seems like a regular TV news story. Just some footage of a cute small Swiss village and lots of flowering trees. Pretty normal stuff. But then it gets pranky.

[Rick Astley]

But what, you may ask, has the early and welcome arrival of bees and blossom to do with food? Well, it's simply that the past winter, one of the mildest in living memory, has had its effect in other ways as well. Most important of all, it's resulted in an exceptionally heavy spaghetti crop.

[Mikayla]

Spaghetti crop? Like spaghetti noodles just growing on trees.

[Rick Astley]

Yep, the last two weeks of March are an anxious time for the spaghetti farmer. There's always the chance of a late frost, which, while not entirely ruining the crop, generally impairs the flavour and makes it difficult for him to obtain top prices in world markets. But now these dangers are over and the spaghetti harvest goes forward.

[Joy Dolo]

In the fake TV news story, there's these trees and bushes that just have long strands of spaghetti noodles hanging off.

[Mikayla]

Of them and people are picking the noodles and putting them in baskets.

[Molly Bloom]

Now, to some people, this might seem a bit far fetched. Clearly a joke. Spaghetti on trees. Get out of here. Spaghetti is made by grinding wheat, making flour and forming it into long strands. But it's important to remember, at the time, many people outside of Italy didn't know much about spaghetti and they weren't familiar with Italian food in general.

[Mikayla]

So did people think this was real?

[Molly Bloom]

Some did. The BBC aired this segment as part of its regular programming with its regular announcer, just like any other news programming would. So some viewers in the UK thought it was real.

[Joy Dolo]

Look, look. They're growing spaghetti on trees. Spaghetti on trees. I want a Swiss spaghetti plant of my own. I gotta call up the BBC and see how I can grow my very own spaghetti crop.

[Molly Bloom]

Other people were not as amused. This is a disgrace.

[Joy Dolo]

The British Broadcast Company is a serious news program.

[Molly Bloom]

They have a responsibility to be factual, not foolish.

[Joy Dolo]

Okay, that's a bummer. Some people missed out on a joke. But it was all in good fun, right? There's so many funny examples. Like when a public radio news show ran a fake story that untapped maple syrup trees in the US were Exploding from too much SAP. An untapped tree is a time bomb ready to go off. Untapped maple trees can explode like gushers. Or when Burger King joked they would start making left handed burgers for all the lefties of the world.

[Molly Bloom]

I agree those stories can be fun. But especially with the Internet, things get tricky. Just because we Post Something on April 1st doesn't mean that's when people find it. They might see it the next day, a week later, maybe even months later.

[Mikayla]

So when people see it later, they might not be on the lookout for pranks and they might just think it's real.

[Molly Bloom]

Right. People turn to news organizations for facts and accurate information. So if they're posting fake information even as a lighthearted prank, people might start to trust them less.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah, that's not a good look. Tricking people into believing a fake story can feel mean.

[Mikayla]

Or like you're the butt of the joke if you don't get it.

[Molly Bloom]

Exactly. Pranks are fun, but fake stories online? We don't need them. I say let's take April Fools off our screens and back into real life where pranks belong.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah, there's plenty of pranks we can do. Irl. Speaking of, Molly, I think you have something on your back. Let me just.

[Molly Bloom]

Not so fast, Joy. You're totally gonna stick that paper fish on my back. I saw you cutting it out earlier.

[Joy Dolo]

Wow, you're a pro, Bloom.

[Molly Bloom]

I told you I'm always looking out for pranks. Now, if you could excuse me, me and my soapbox have an appointment with Mark and Sandon. I have very strong opinions on dill pickles that need to be heard.

[Mikayla]

Thanks for joining us, Molly.

[Molly Bloom]

Thank you. And don't forget to watch your back. Especially you, Joy.

[Joy Dolo]

Watch my back? Hmm. My back. Molly, did you pin this tail on my back? I love it. I love nothing more but to be pranked. Thank you, Molly.

[Molly Bloom]

Molly. Be out.

[Joy Dolo]

The word prank means to trick or show off.

[Mikayla]

Nobody knows exactly how April fool started, but it could be connected to many traditions around the beginning of spring.

[Joy Dolo]

April Fools has been celebrated around the world for centuries. From sticking paper fishes on people's backs to posting fake advertisements.

[Mikayla]

Sometimes even news organizations join in. Like when the BBC aired a made up TV news story about spaghetti growing on trees.

[Joy Dolo]

Pranks can be fun, but spreading misinformation online can give people trust issues. It can also trick people long after April 1, when they aren't watching out for pranks.

[Mikayla]

So stay mindful.

[Joy Dolo]

This episode was written by Ruby Guthrie. Production Help and fact checking by Nico Gonzalez Whistler Our editors are Shayla Farzan and Sandon Totten. Audio engineering help from Robert Marshall and Josh Savagel. Sound design by Rachel Breese. Original theme music by Mark Sanchez. We had additional production help from the rest of the Brains on Universe team.

[Molly Bloom]

Molly Bloom, Rosie Dupont, Anna Goldfield, Lauren.

[Mikayla]

Humpert, Joshua Wright, Mark Sanchez, Charlotte Traver.

[Joy Dolo]

Anna Wegel and Aron Woldesilassi. Beth Pearlman is our executive producer, and the executives in charge of APM Studios are Chandra Kavadi and Joanne Griffith. Special thanks to Sean Balman, Claire Barliant, Chad Kloepfer and Shruti Acharya.

[Mikayla]

And if you want access to ad free episodes and special bonus content, subscribe to our Smarty pass.

[Joy Dolo]

Okay, Mikaela, it's time. Are you ready to hear the answers for First Things First?

[Mikayla]

Yes.

[Joy Dolo]

Yes. Okay, as a reminder, we're putting these three items in order of when they were invented. Whoopee cushions, hand buzzers, and snakes in a can. And you said that first it was snake in a can and then whoopee cushions and then hand buzzers. Yeah.

[Mikayla]

Yes.

[Joy Dolo]

Great. Drum roll, please. You did really great, Makayla. Guess what number one was.

[Mikayla]

Snakes in a can.

[Joy Dolo]

Snakes in a can. You got it. No longer are they in a plane, now they are in a can of nuts. Yeah. You did it. So the snake nut can was invented in 1915 by Soren Sorensen Adams, who owned the S.S. adams Company, a company famous for making prank devices. There weren't even any nuts on site. What is that about? So what looked like an unsuspecting can of nuts actually held a coiled spring that looked like a snake and would shoot out at whoever opened the can. Adams was inspired when he observed his wife struggling to open a jam jar. Can you get a visual now of what that looks like, Mikayla?

[Mikayla]

Yes.

[Joy Dolo]

Can you imagine somebody trying to open a can of, like, pickles or something and then like.

[Mikayla]

Yeah.

[Joy Dolo]

So second is actually the hand buzzer, which is also called the joy buzzer. And the buzzer was invented in 1928, and it was another SS Adams product. The buzzer was a little metal bell that vibrated. Contrary to popular belief, the device didn't shock people. It just might have felt like a shock when the little bell jingled really fast. Last, but certainly not least, is the whoopee cushion. And that was invented in the early 1930s. So the official whoopee cushion was invented by the GE. The company was experimenting with scrap pieces of rubber and invented a hilarious tooting machine. At first they were called poo Poo cushions and Boop Boopa doops.

[Mikayla]

What?

[Joy Dolo]

And the original cushions were green, not pink.

[Mikayla]

That sounds disgusting. Those names and the color.

[Joy Dolo]

Poop. Poop. Could you imagine having a poo poo cushion that was green?

[Mikayla]

It. No, it just.

[Joy Dolo]

It's gross. It's so gross. Okay, so out of these three, what was the most surprising and which one would you like to do on someone?

[Mikayla]

The most surprising was probably snakes in a can. I didn't really think I would get that right.

[Joy Dolo]

Yeah.

[Mikayla]

And then I would probably pull snakes in a can. I'm my dad.

[Joy Dolo]

Join us next week for a new episode, all About Gladiators.

[Mikayla]

Thanks for listening.