You Might Enjoy: The Best Idea Yet

Summary

Podcast Summary: New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce Episode: You Might Enjoy: The Best Idea Yet Release Date: April 29, 2025

In this engaging episode of New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce, the Kelce brothers delve into the intriguing realm of product origin stories through a featured segment on Wondery's The Best Idea Yet. This collaboration offers listeners a captivating exploration of how some of the most beloved and iconic products in American culture came to be.

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Introduction to The Best Idea Yet

The episode kicks off with the host introducing The Best Idea Yet, a new podcast dedicated to uncovering the fascinating backstories of popular products. The host shares an enthusiastic endorsement, highlighting the show's ability to reveal unexpected and wild origin tales.

• Host (00:00): "If you've ever wondered how Reese's Peanut Butter Cups came to exist... There's a new show that you might enjoy."

Highlighting Iconic Products

The conversation seamlessly transitions to discussing various products featured on The Best Idea Yet. From Reese's Peanut Butter Cups to Air Jordans and Super Mario Brothers, the podcast promises in-depth stories that pique curiosity and provide new insights.

• Host (01:48): "We're talking Air Jordans, Levi 501 Jeans, Super Mario Brothers... If there's a product you're obsessed with, there's probably an episode about it."

Humorous Dialogue on Perfect Combinations

Jason and Travis engage in a lighthearted dialogue about unlikely yet perfect combinations, using peanut butter and chocolate as a prime example. This segment adds a personal and relatable touch, showcasing the brothers' chemistry and humor.

• Jack (01:48): "Don't knock it till you try it."
• Nick (02:02): "I don't get either of those ideas."
• Nick (02:25): "The most perfect, surprising, perfect combination is peanut butter and chocolate."

Deep Dive into Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Origin

The episode takes a deeper dive into the origin story of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, narrating the journey of HB Reese, the elusive inventor. Listeners are introduced to HB Reese's struggles and his eventual breakthrough, which led to the creation of one of the most popular candies in America.

• Jack (03:04): "Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the most popular choice of Halloween candy for kids."
• Nick (03:07): "Reese's Peanut Butter cup was actually invented nearly 100 years ago in 1928."

Narrative of HB Reese's Journey

A compelling narrative unfolds, detailing HB Reese's varied job experiences, family pressures, and his pivotal moment of applying for a job at Milton Hershey's chocolate company. This segment humanizes the inventor, providing listeners with a heartfelt story of perseverance and success.

• Nick (04:17): "In 1916, money is tight. But HB doesn't let that bring him down."
• Jack (05:39): "HB finds a moment to himself to mail off his application for this promising new job."

Conclusion and Call to Action

As the episode wraps up, the host encourages listeners to tune into The Best Idea Yet for more enthralling product origin stories. By highlighting the unique and often surprising tales behind everyday items, the episode leaves the audience eager to explore more episodes of the featured podcast.

• Host (06:05): "Follow the Best Idea yet wherever you get your podcast to hear the rest of the episodes."

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Key Takeaways

• Engaging Content: The collaboration between New Heights and The Best Idea Yet offers a rich blend of sports insights and fascinating product histories.
• Human Stories: HB Reese's journey exemplifies resilience and creativity, inspiring listeners with his story.
• Humor and Relatability: The Kelce brothers' playful banter adds warmth and relatability to the episode.

Notable Quotes

• "Reese's Peanut Butter cup was actually invented nearly 100 years ago in 1928." — Nick (03:07)
• "The most perfect, surprising, perfect combination is peanut butter and chocolate." — Nick (02:25)
• "Follow the Best Idea yet wherever you get your podcast to hear the rest of the episodes." — Host (06:05)

This episode of New Heights not only entertains but also educates listeners about the hidden stories behind the products they love, making it a must-listen for sports enthusiasts and curious minds alike.

Transcript

[Host]

Let me take a second to talk to you about a new show that's coming out. If you know me, you know that I love learning. I love expanding my mind and finding out information that I didn't know about. And whether it's finding out how things are made history, I don't know. Little dumb factoids that for some reason I hang on to. If you are similarly wired, there's a new show that you might enjoy. If you've ever wondered how Reese's Peanut Butter Cups came to exist. What's the origin story of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, One of the most iconic candies to ever exist in the American culture. They've been a proud sponsor of our show because we have pub them before they even gave us money. I've actually never known how they came to exist, and I would love if there was a show out there that could tell me how they were created and came to exist. So did you know that it involved a former frog salesman? That's right, a frog salesman. F R O G the animal. That's right. But anyways, if you like stories like this, I highly recommend you check out the podcast from Wondery called the Best Idea Yet. Every week, the hosts of the Best Idea yet are going to bring you incredible origin stories from some of the most beloved, successful products in the world. Not just Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. We're Talking Air Jordans, Levi 501 Jeans, Super Mario Brothers. Who doesn't want to know where that Italian cartoonish video game character comes from? Sriracha Sauce, the Super Soaker. If there's a product you're obsessed with, there's probably an episode about it. And the stories are going to be wild. I'm going to play this short clip, and if you're into it, click the link in the episode notes or go listen and follow the Best Idea yet wherever you get your podcast to hear the rest of the episode.

[Jack]

Don't knock it till you try it, Jack.

[Nick]

Don't knock what?

[Jack]

Don't knock it till you try it.

[Nick]

What are you talking about?

[Jack]

Olive oil on ice cream? Because once you do olive oil and ice cream, you're gonna start putting olive oil on your yogurt and then breakfast and dessert are covered.

[Nick]

I don't get either of those ideas.

[Jack]

I was in Bangkok once. I had mango and rice. Have you had mango and rice? It's a good combo.

[Nick]

Are we talking about perfect combinations?

[Jack]

Surprisingly perfect combinations, Jack.

[Nick]

Okay, can I just go like regular over here and say scrambled eggs and ketchup? What about that?

[Jack]

You're not gonna win any Michelin stars for this stuff, but I see where you're going with this. Jack.

[Nick]

Chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk.

[Jack]

All right, Bobby Filet, I know what we're talking about.

[Nick]

How about corduroy with cashmere? Well, the most perfect, surprising, perfect combination is peanut butter and chocolate.

[Jack]

Peanut butter and chocolate yetis. Whenever Jack and I get an unexpected combo, we call it a Reese's moment.

[Nick]

And of course, when we say Reese's, we're talking about Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

[Jack]

That perfect blend of chocolate and peanut butter that actually comes from a very specific and very secret way of roasting the peanuts. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the most popular choice of Halloween candy for kids. And they're the second top selling candy for adults, right behind M&M's.

[Nick]

Is it chocolate with peanut butter or is it peanut butter with chocolate?

[Jack]

We should point out, Jack, that the Reese's Peanut Butter cup was actually invented nearly 100 years ago in 1928. But it wasn't even invented by Hershey's. Today we'll tell you the true inventor of the Reese's Peanut Butter cup, who went from a down on his luck frog salesman to a real life Willy Wonka. Oh, you hear that? Yep, that's it. That's the shrill whistle that signals the end of another long shift at Summers Canning Company in the town of New Freedom, Pennsylvania. Among the workers streaming out the doors of this cavernous cannery is a tired looking man named Harry Burnett. HB Reese.

[Nick]

HB has worked every kind of odd job at this point, from fishery manager to dairy farmer. He even did a stint raising frogs and selling those frogs to local restaurants.

[Jack]

I gotta ask, what are the lily pad numbers? Do the frogs know about this whole operation?

[Nick]

But at this point in his life, HB just can't catch a break. It was all looking so good when he married his wife Blanche Edna, who came from a well to do family. But now the pressure is on. HB and Blanche have nine kids, plus.

[Jack]

His mom and his aunt. They live with them too, making it 13 mouths to feed. So HB's in laws, they can only help so much. And you can't rely on amphibians to feed a family of 11. I think we learned that in business school.

[Nick]

So right now, in 1916, money is tight. But HB doesn't let that bring him down. He hasn't found his perfect gig yet, but he's always gained to try new things and reinvent himself another time.

[Jack]

So here's what Our man HP does. He hauls his tired body up the steps of his porch. He pushes open the door to the this cramped two bedroom house. And the poor guy, he's been working all day. He wants just five minutes to himself, to scour the paper for job opportunities before he just gets a little bit of shut eye. But as soon as he walks in the door, his kids jump on him. Robbie wants a piggyback. Clara demands he read her a story. John and Anna, they're fighting over in the corner. And a searing pain shoots up HP's leg. Oh yeah. Little Ralph just jabbed him in the thigh with a pencil. And there's probably a toad loose in the living room on top of all of that. So Jack. It is pandemonium in the re house. Hb, he finally battles his way over to the dining table, finding his newspaper and scanning the job section. And one item grabs his eye. It's a help wanted ad for dairy farm workers in a town called Hershey.

[Nick]

By this point, Milton Hershey's chocolate making operation is in full swing. The town of Hershey is thriving, sales are soaring, and the company recently launched a hit new product, the Hershey's Kiss.

[Jack]

Now, funny thing, Yetis HB himself. He has a little family history when it comes to the chocolate trade because his mother used to make chocolate covered almonds and raisins. And maybe it's a sign that chocolate is actually in his future.

[Nick]

So HB finds a moment to himself to mail off his application for this promising new job. A few weeks later, he receives an envelope with a Hershey Pennsylvania postmark. He's got an interview.

[Jack]

And when he steps off the train, HB is stunned by what he sees. Because what he's looking at is this town that Hershey invented out of nowhere. They got grand buildings.

[Nick]

Hershey.

[Jack]

It is the Babylon of bon bons.

[Nick]

But Nick, he's here to get a job. He can't be distracted by all those fancy Hershey perks, so he focuses. He nails the interview. And he gets that job.

[Host]

Follow the Best Idea yet wherever you get your podcast to hear the rest of the episodes. You can listen to new episodes of the Best Idea yet early and ad free right now by joining Wondery Plus. Start your free trial in the Wondery app, Apple podcasts, or on Spotify.