Don’t Be a Schmo Yo, Try a Yoyo!

Summary

---

Ridiculous History

Episode: Don’t Be a Schmo Yo, Try a Yo-Yo!

Hosts: Ben Bowlin, Noel Brown
Date: March 26, 2026
Duration: ~55 min

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ben and Noel take a deep dive into the surprisingly rich and often absurd history of the yo-yo. Traversing ancient origins, debunked legends, and modern competitive yo-yoing, they unpack how a simple toy became both a cultural touchstone and a vehicle for clever marketing, with stops along the way for wild myths and notable figures.

---

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Personal Connections & Yo-Yo Terms

[00:00–02:33]

• The hosts reminisce about their childhood fascination with yo-yos, comparing it to stage magic.
• Introduction to classic yo-yo tricks: “walking the dog” and “rocking the baby.”
• Noel jokes about yo-yos coming back into the zeitgeist, with new generations making the toy “cool again.”

Quote:

"Whether you yourself cut your teeth walking the dog... or rocking the baby ... the history of the humble yo-yo is littered, riddled... with celebrity endorsements and very spectacular displays of yo-yo prowess." — Noel Brown (01:46)

---

2. Ancient & Global Origins

[07:45–12:13]

• Murky and debated origins: Carvings and frescoes resembling yo-yos date as far back as 400–500 BCE in Greece.
• Parallel development: Many cultures created variations of spinning or tethered toys.
• Possible Asian roots around 1000 BCE, but no direct record; discussion shifts to the diabolo, or Chinese yo-yo, described as “pulling bell” or “pulling ring.”
• Diabolo is compared to spinning tops (devil sticks), with vivid analogies to modern toys.

Quote:

"A lot of countries have claimed to have invented this thing. And there, as we often see in history, seems to be a lot of parallel thinking..." — Noel Brown (08:44)

---

3. European Adoption and Early Popularity

[12:13–16:19]

• Late 18th-century France: Yo-yo-like toys crafted from glass or ivory (“Juju de Normandie”) and depicted in paintings of nobility, including King Louis XVII.
• Used as a diversion during stressful times (e.g., French Revolution).
• Britain: Called the “bandalore” or “quiz”; adopted by aristocracy and fashionable circles.
• Early yo-yo tricks and their physics explained, particularly “around the world” and centripetal force.

Memorable Exchange:

"Not everybody can own a full working guillotine. So you gotta...have something to do with your hands." — Ben Bowlin (13:26)

---

4. The Yo-Yo Arrives in America & The Patent Era

[17:07–21:02]

• 1866: The first U.S. yo-yo patent by James L. Haven & Charles Hettrick (Cincinnati, Ohio).
• Patent details include the innovation of “rim weighting” and the yo-yo as a “flywheel.”
• Emphasis on design and the beginning of mass manufacture.

---

5. Persistent Myths: The Yo-Yo as Weapon or Hunting Tool

[21:02–32:08]

• The oft-repeated narrative of the yo-yo as an ancient hunting weapon, especially in the Philippines.
• Dr. Lucky Meisenheimer (yo-yo historian) debunks popular myths: the story was likely invented and perpetuated as a marketing gimmick by the Duncan company.
• Evidence exists of yo-yos as potential weapons (e.g., garrote-like use, thick leather cords), but little to support the hunting legend.
• Notably, a letter from Filipino hero Dr. Jose Rizal mentions using a yo-yo as a “weapon of attack,” probably tongue-in-cheek.

Quote:

"It would seem...the hunting origin is pure fantasy. It was a memorable story and helped to sell yo-yos." — (paraphrasing Dr. Lucky Meisenheimer, 28:14)

---

6. The Flores-Duncan Revolution & Massive Marketing

[32:08–38:17]

• 1928: Donald F. Duncan sees Pedro Flores demonstrate yo-yo in San Francisco. Flores, a Filipino immigrant, is manufacturing and marketing the toy as “yo-yo” (Tagalog: “come-come”).
• Duncan acquires Flores’ business and trademark, then launches national marketing via celebrity endorsements, demonstration teams, and pivotal partnership with William Randolph Hearst’s newspapers (requiring kids to sell newspaper subscriptions to enter yo-yo competitions).
• The “Duncan Professionals” demonstrate tricks and foster yo-yo communities nationwide.

Quote:

"He assembles a crack team of yo-yo masters to demonstrate some basic tricks and get people on board with this toy." — Noel Brown (34:10)

---

7. Celebrity Endorsements & The Trademark Struggle

[44:39–46:57]

• Duncan leverages pop culture, getting stars such as Lou Gehrig and Hollywood icons photographed with yo-yos for promotion.
• Over four decades, “yo-yo” becomes synonymous with the toy itself, diluting the brand; after prolonged legal battle, Duncan loses the trademark in 1965—the term becomes generic in the U.S. (though not in all countries).

Quote:

"Duncan may have ruined themselves in their own effective marketing because their success...made the word yo-yo a household name, almost more than the association with Duncan." — Lucky Meisenheimer, as read by Noel Brown (45:57)

---

8. Modern Yo-Yo Evolution & Competitive Scene

[47:10–54:38]

• The 1960s: Decline in yo-yo popularity; resurgence in the 1980s due to plastic and ball-bearing axle innovations (allowing longer “sleeps”—a yo-yo spinning in place at the string’s end).
• Major sleep-time records:
  • 1991: Fixed axle record—51 seconds (Dale Oliver)
  • 2001: 13 minutes, 5 seconds (Rick Wyatt)
• Modern yo-yos reach up to 8,000 RPM, made from advanced metals.
• Yo-yoing gains sub-culture status (connection to musicians like Faye Webster); National and World Championships grow, with Chico, California as a U.S. hub.
• The “freestyle” revolution: Counterweight yo-yos, not attached to the finger, enabling highly complex tricks.
• Modern trick names riff on skateboarding and magic: Mach 5, Popping Fresh, Trapeze, Buddha’s Revenge, Skin the Gerbil, Gyroscopic Flop, and more.

Quote:

"If you have [kids] and you want them to have something kinetic ... forego the nunchucks and get the yo-yo." — Ben Bowlin (51:10)

---

Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Don’t be a schmo yo. Try a yo-yo.” — Episode title, recurring refrain (07:45, 54:53)
• "There are other countries like Canada where the word yo-yo is still under trademark protection." — Noel Brown (47:11)
• (Discussing Napoleon yo-yoing before Waterloo) "What a flex to walk around before you go into Waterloo." — Ben Bowlin (13:55)
• "The reason all of this works is because of centripetal force and gravity." — Noel Brown (16:19)
• (On yo-yo tricks): "We're talking about things like the elevator, the brain twister. These all sound like roller coasters." — Noel Brown (51:45)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–02:33 – Hosts’ yo-yo memories and introduction
• 07:45–12:13 – Ancient origins and Asian variations
• 12:13–16:19 – European yo-yo mania
• 17:07–21:02 – U.S. patent, early American history
• 21:02–32:08 – Debunking the yo-yo weapon myth; Dr. Jose Rizal’s letter
• 32:08–38:17 – Pedro Flores, Duncan, and American commercialization
• 44:39–46:57 – Celebrity promotions, trademark battles
• 47:10–54:38 – Modern advancements, competitive yo-yoing, trick evolution

---

Conclusion

Ben and Noel wrap up by celebrating the yo-yo’s uncanny resilience—a toy that, while simple, carries a hefty load of history, mystique, and marketing genius. They encourage listeners to pick up a yo-yo and give it a spin, emphasizing the fun, nostalgia, and even artistry involved in mastering its tricks.

Final Quote:

"So don’t be a schmo yo. Get out there and try yourself a yo-yo." — Noel Brown (54:53)

---

Recommended for:
Fans of quirky history, toys, pop culture, or anyone surprised to learn that yo-yos have been pitched as hunting weapons, aristocratic amusements, and countercultural performance art.

---

Transcript

[Ben Bullen]

Ridiculous History is a production of iHeartradio. Yo Yo. Yo Yo. Welcome back to the show, fellow ridiculous historians. Thank you as always, so much for tuning in. Let's hear it for the man, the myth, the legend. I'm going to pull a random one here, Noel. Max Plastic Whip Williams.

[Noel Brown]

Whoa. The man, the myth, the mystery, Max Schmoyo. Yo Yo Williams.

[Ben Bullen]

Now that is none other than the legendary Noel Brown. They call me Ben Bullen in this neck of the woods. We teased this episode a few weeks back. We were talking about pong, which led us to exploring ping pong.

[Noel Brown]

Analog ping pong. Right, right, right, right, right.

[Ben Bullen]

And now, Noel, you are our research associate for this episode. And thank you so much, man. It turns out we're both pretty into yo yos. Did you have that phase as a child?

[Noel Brown]

I was never any good at it. Always fascinated by it. Definitely have owned a yo yo or two in my day, but I never really could. And it was kind of similar to my fascination with stage magic. You know, it's. I don't know. I like a trick, Ben. I like a trick.

[Ben Bullen]

That's very hip hop of you.

[Noel Brown]

Well, your intro is very hip hop. And lest you think we're talking about hip hop, though, yo yoing has become cool again, it would seem. And there's some very zeitgeisty figures that are into yo yos that are these days and they're bringing it back. But that's not really anything new because the history of the humble yo yo is littered, riddled. Dare I say to take a page out of the stuff they don't want you to know intro. With celebrity endorsements and very spectacular displays of yo yo prowess. So whether you yourself cut your teeth walking the dog in the yo yo parlance, or rocking the baby, also in the yo yo parlance, I might be getting that a little bit mixed up.

[Ben Bullen]

Yeah, I think you're right. That's the one where you hold it up and you have the string.

[Noel Brown]

There's a swing. Yes, A little triangle like a pendulum. You could also maybe rock the dog or walk the baby, depending. Or you might even have incorrectly learned that the yo yo was used as an ancient hunting weapon for like, clubbing seals or something, the humble yo yo has likely crossed your radar in one fashion or another. But the history of the yo yo, as we often come around to in topics we discuss on ridiculous history and stuff they don't want you to know, is the. The story of genius marketing as much as it is one of invention. And some pretty rad tricks. So today we bring you the ridiculous history of the Yo Yo. Or don't be a schmo yo, try a Yo yo.

[Okta Advertiser]

These days it seems like AI agents are just about everywhere you turn every field and every function. But without identity, you can't trust they'll serve your business instead of jeopardizing it. Fortunately, Okta helps you get identity right by securing your AI agents identities, giving you a single layer of control, a single standard of trust. So whether an AI agent supports a single user or your entire enterprise, with Okta you'll turn risk into opportunity. Secure every agent, Secure any agent. Okta secures AI Running a business is hard enough.

[Noel Brown]

Don't make it harder with a dozen

[Okta Advertiser]

apps that don't talk to each other. One for sales, another for inventory, a separate one for accounting. That's software overload.

[Noel Brown]

Odoo is the all in one platform that replaces them all. CRM, accounting, inventory, E Commerce, hr. Fully integrated, easy to use and built to grow with your business.

[Okta Advertiser]

Thousands have already made the switch. Why not you try Odoo for [e-mail]

[Rob Gronkowski]

that's odoo.com this is Rob Gronkowski from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Jules Based on hundreds of millions of real world tests, the experts of Ookla speed tests have spoken T Mobile Mobile is the best mobile network in America with the most advanced 5G, the most towers and the largest satellite to mobile network. T Mobile keeps you connected almost anywhere. If you're ready to stay connected wherever life takes you, head over to your local store or t mobile.com to switch to the best network. T Mobile has the best mobile Network in the US based on analysis by Ookla of speed test intelligence data 2H20T satellite available with compatible device in most outdoor areas in the US where you can see the sky. Included with experience beyond or $10 per month auto renews monthly cancel anytime.

[Public Investing Advertiser]

Support for the show comes from public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI it all with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete Disclosures available at public.comDisclosures Are you

[Orderly Meds Advertiser]

trying to get weight loss support through telehealth? But it feels overwhelming and rushed? Check out orderlymeds.com now. Orderlymeds.com was built to be different. Here you connect with real doctors who take the time to understand your goals, review your eligibility, and guide you through a plan that's right for you. Orderly Meds provides access to proven GLP1 medications like semaglutide and Tirzepatide, including both name brand options and personalized compound versions when appropriate. So you have choices backed by clinical oversight, not guesswork. It's a simpler, more supportive telehealth experience designed around people who want clarity, care and confidence in their weight loss journey. And your medication is delivered directly to your home in discreet packaging. So you're excited. Experience stays private from start to finish. Do your research, ask the right questions, then visit orderlymeds.com podcast for an exclusive offer. Again, that's orderlymeds.com podcast. Individual results may vary. Not medical advice, eligibility required. See Cite for details.

[Ben Bullen]

Before we go on, I really like the title of this and I I'm a fan of giving people flowers while they're still around to get the flowers. This title is awesome. Can you say it one more time?

[Noel Brown]

Oh, don't be a schmo yo. Try a Yo Yo. Okay, Got a comma in there. Just to make sure Schmoyo isn't one where I also I've been rewatching a lot of Curb lately and he loves he calls people a schmoyo sometimes, if I'm not mistaken. So let's just jump right in to the origins of the Yo Yo. We're not quite sure. Historians differ and there's a lot of misinfo out there that may also itself be the product of some marketing Marketing spin. Not quite sure how far the yo yo dates back. What we do know is that there were as far back as 400 and 500 BC Greece images depicted in various frescoes and the like depicting the use of something resembling the yo yo.

[Ben Bullen]

Okay, so we're looking at carvings, right? Not written descriptions.

[Noel Brown]

We're looking at carvings, images, frescoes. You know, not cave paintings, but visual depictions. Visual depictions.

[Ben Bullen]

So a circle and a line.

[Noel Brown]

Something along those lines. That's right. Something along those circles and lines. Yo yos do exist in the Metropolitan museum of art's Fletcher fund collection from this period, But a lot of countries have claimed to have invented this thing. And there, as we often see in history, seems to be a lot of parallel thinking around a little circular thing with an axle in the middle and a string attached to it that you can fling around in various ways. Some historians argue you about multiple sites of origin, like I was just saying. Currently, however, the most accepted theory is that it originated in Asia around 1000 BCE although there aren't any records of the yo yo in Asia during this period. The yo yo as we know it today, There is something called the diabolo, the Chinese yo yo as it is known in English. And you're our Chinese expert here, Ben. Maybe you can help with these pronunciations. It goes by two different names.

[Ben Bullen]

I am definitely not an expert. This is definitely Chinese. We can confirm that the two different names would be xi lig and kong

[Noel Brown]

shi Go, my man. Both of these terms refer to the same object and can be interchangeable depending on the region. So it literally does translate to pulling bell or pulling ring, which is very descriptive of the action of pulling the string to make this object spin. So this is maybe a little more. Ben, you've probably seen these, like, a top where you sort of wind it up and rip the cord, and then the thing spins on its end. I'm thinking that's right about the diabolo. Okay.

[Ben Bullen]

Yeah, yeah. For the pulley beller, the shetling. That's. That seems accurate. It reminds me a little bit of those toys that may have been before your time, the ring fighter things. I can't remember the name, but you. You pulled the string or you pulled, like, a plastic tab, and they rol around in a little arena.

[Noel Brown]

Yeah, that's right. I think those are. Gosh, hold on a second. There's some Matt likes. Matt's kid liked those. Or there was a more modern version that was like, I think out of Japan, and it had a lot of trading cards associated with it and a lot of culture. Now I'm totally spacing on the name, and I know people out there are screaming at their podcast device.

[Ben Bullen]

It's okay. You don't have to scream, folks. We'll figure it Out. We also know the second meaning that you alluded to for diabolo, which is empty bamboo.

[Noel Brown]

Empty bamboo, which likely refers to the hollow nature of the object. And this is coming to us from a really great blog post by Lingoace, all about Chinese yo yo traditions, history and tricks. And so when we see folks demonstrating what the diabolo would have been, it typically is more like two sticks with strings attached to it looped around a large item which has got the rounded shape on either side. Side that tapers in the middle. And then you kind of use it to make the thing dance across the street.

[Ben Bullen]

Oh, this is like a rave.

[Noel Brown]

It's a little devil sticks coated. It is a little devil sticks coated.

[Ben Bullen]

That's what I was trying to think about.

[Noel Brown]

I'm not gonna.

[Ben Bullen]

Hacky sack.

[Noel Brown]

Yeah, well, hacky sack adjacent. I think the yo yo we can all argue definitely falls squarely into that camp.

[Ben Bullen]

But during the late parallel thinking.

[Noel Brown]

Parallel thinking to be sure, Ben. But during the late 18th century, we start to see examples of this popping up in France. Of course, as they do in France, they had fancify it. So these versions were made out of glass or ivory and were called the Juju de Normandie. We've got some citations from Britannica on that one. And Duncan Toys you may know as kind of the king of the yo yo or at least the popularizer of the Yo Yo. And they've definitely come back into their own as far as the modern types and spin, no pun intended, on the Yo Yo. But they have a great section on their website talking about the history of the yo yo. And they talk about a picture of king Louis the XVII. What's that one been? Is that 13th? 12th. 14th. You know, me and them Roman nums.

[Ben Bullen]

17.

[Noel Brown]

17. Thanks, buddy.

[Ben Bullen]

17th.

[Noel Brown]

I appreciate it. So he wasn't the Sun King. He was a couple kings later shows him playing with a Yo yo as a child. We also have historical documents showing the yo yo was popular to pass the time during the French Revolution. Like they needed something to do to pass the time, I guess in between stormings. Right, right.

[Ben Bullen]

Well, not everybody can own a full working guillotine. So you gotta. You gotta have something to do with your hands. Right?

[Noel Brown]

Gotta have something to do with your hands while you still got em. You did start to see depictions of this in paintings into the 1800s. And I believe our buddy who was scared of rabbits, Napoleon, was seen tossing around a Yo yo before the battle of Waterloo. I guess he wasn't scared of rabbits, he was just sort of mobbed by rabbits.

[Ben Bullen]

He was unprepared. He was unprepared historically on many levels, but also he wasn't a dumb guy. And what a flex to walk around before you go into Waterloo.

[Noel Brown]

I know you just have a yo yo.

[Ben Bullen]

I know that's an intimidation.

[Noel Brown]

I think it's a bit of a power move, Ben. In England, according to Britannica, it was referred to as the bandalore, or I love this one because it just kind of makes. It's like an onomatopoeia, a quiz.

[Ben Bullen]

Okay. So you would say, oh, let me have my quiz.

[Noel Brown]

I love that. It's so English. And I think Jonathan Strickland, AKA the Quizzter, would approve. An illustration depicted the Prince of Wales, later, George IV got that one right, playing with his yo yo. And so it became a hit with the jet setting. I guess they didn't have jets, but you know what I mean? Fashionistas of the time, the popularity of the toy, a lot like, I guess, lawn tennis, which preceded table table tennis or ping pong, started to enter the ranks of the nobility, leading to a lot of references during this period. A lot of them in political cartoons showing this as a bit of a pastime of the swells.

[Ben Bullen]

Now, in your research here, no. You've included some drawings of the times, some political cartoons, and I think we love to describe them. One of the first is.

[Noel Brown]

I love it.

[Ben Bullen]

Unfortunate situation with an older school mom type. And she's being assailed.

[Noel Brown]

She's being menaced.

[Ben Bullen]

Two boys. She's being menaced. Assailed by two boys. Children throwing yo yos. And it's called the. The caption reads, the sensation Ball.

[Noel Brown]

Wow. The latest pleasantry in the public streets. Yo yo as the rage in the 60s. Rude boys perhaps, doing round the world. I think that's 18 sisters. Pretty basic. That's right, the 18s. Pretty basic trick a lot of people might be familiar with where you take the thing, you fling it out and then you pull it. You kind of do a loop de loop with it and then you pull it back into your hand. We would be remiss if we did not point out that the reason all of this works is because of centripetal force and gravity.

[Ben Bullen]

Ah, yes, gravity. Our old nemesis.

[Noel Brown]

An energy which can neither be created nor destroyed. And it's basically, if I'm not mistaken, Ben, it's kind of preserved in the motion of the yo yo. And when you kind of yank it, that energy allows it to travel back up the string.

[Ben Bullen]

Nailed it. Hola. One just so I mean, if we walk the dog out here, though, I've got a question for you, Noel. It sounds like, like parallel thinking teaches us that the Mediterranean and parts of East Asia discover the yo yo, discovered that centripetal force on their own, and then it became popularized in Europe. But how did it get to the United States?

[Noel Brown]

Yeah, it's a good question, Ben. And we do have a couple other fun images kind of showing these very bougie French folks playing with their toys. And it's funny, the article that I referenced earlier, or actually let me reference this one specifically, I haven't yet. Doc Lucky's history of the yo yo. Lucky Meisenheimer, M.D. who wrote a book called Lucky's Collector's Guide to 20th Century Histories and Values. He's also the former chairman of the American Yo Yo Association's History and Collecting Committee. So he knows a thing or two about the Yo Yo. And he points out that a lot of these images from the period that we're talking about here in Europe depicted adults playing with this. And it sort of trickled down to the kids because you mentioned the one with the young whippersnappers or the rude boys messing around with this older lady. But most of the images did show old folks, older folks, adults playing with these as a sign of kind of like this was a pastime of the well to do who were able to exercise their leisure time in this way.

[Ben Bullen]

Now you're too worried about the war, my friend. You should do what I do. Take a slow constitutional in the afternoon, go to the orangerarium and witness your rented pineapple and dangle your quiz. Dangle your quiz. Perfect. We got there.

[Noel Brown]

So you asked about how it kind of got to what we know Today, November of 1866, we've got James L. Haven and Charles Hittrick of Cincinnati, Ohio, who get the first patent for a Yo yo in the United States. And it was described. It described the patent, a Yo yo as coupled together or as being coupled together at their centers by means, means of a clutch. It was also the first time a method called rim weighting was mentioned in the patent. And it specifically said it will be observed that the marginal swell C, the C being the exhibit in the patent imagery exercises the function of a flywheel. Flywheel being kind of like a pulley system of ropes and gears that you would use to maybe operate scenes in a scenery, in a play or part curtains and things like that.

[Ben Bullen]

Right on. So what we're saying here, folks, is that for thousands of years, various civilizations came up with Something like this. But the rubber hits the road, right? Or the string hits the yo when we talk about the idea of patenting a design.

[Noel Brown]

And the Yo Yo Museum has a piece titled the Brief History, A Brief History of the yo yo and got some really fun info from that one as well. They point out that the real importance of the patent is that it suggests the very first use of patents to protect design improvements from what we know more as the historical version of the yo yo in the manufacturing of a Yo Yo. So that's pretty neat. We start to see the aforementioned Haven and Hetrick really entering into the business of mass producing Yo Yos.

[Ben Bullen]

So for thousands of years, different civilizations figured out something like a Yo yo and then later it gets patented and enters mass manufacture. I think a lot of us listening tonight are going to be wondering if the Yo Yos of the past were like the fidget spinners or the rosaries of today.

[Noel Brown]

Right. We've also often asked the question about, like, how come there's not one person credited with like the fidget spinner? We do know that patents can expire as well and get entered into the public domain as well as as trademarks. It's a question for another day, but I think you're getting at something. We also tease this idea of Was this thing used as a hunting implement?

[Ben Bullen]

Right. That's something we alluded to at the top. I say we dive in because Noel, I don't know much about this. I remember vaguely hearing stuff about Southeast Asia.

[Noel Brown]

That's right. The Philippines in particular. A famous. This is a really. I'm gonna pull a lot from. Or we're gonna pull a lot from Lucky's history of the Yo Yo' cause this guy really is, I would argue, probably the preeminent yo yo scholar.

[Ben Bullen]

He's on the committee.

[Noel Brown]

He's on the committee. And he also points out that he himself is responsible for spreading some of the misinformation that we're talking about. He owns up to that. I would go ahead and just find this whole article and read Lucky Meisenheimer, Maryland's piece where he goes into a lot of these various conflicting histories of the yo yo and the way he himself have contributed to some of that. But he points out that the claim that the Yo Yo I'm just gonna quote directly from his writing was used as a weapon in the Philippines isn't new. The story has been the subject of much debate over the last several decades. The Duncan Yo Yo Company also used the weapon narrative as a promotional gimmick. But behind the scenes, they themselves recognized that this was likely not true. We're gonna get into Duncan in a little bit, but I just thought we'd get this part out of the way cause it's a lot of fun. One early yo yo demonstrator for the Duncan Company claimed that he was the one who made up the story in the first place. However, there is good evidence to support that the yo yo was a weapon in the Philippines. However, not necessarily used in the way you might think.

[Ben Bullen]

This episode of Ridiculous history is brought to you by Pesit Noel. You and I have been on the road a lot. Lot.

[Noel Brown]

It's true, Ben. And in one of these aforementioned road trips, I returned to find some creepy crawlies invading my kitchen space. And I didn't like that none too well. Ben. So super happy that I also had waiting on me an incredible package from our pals at Pesty.

[Ben Bullen]

Yeah, other pest control companies will charge hundreds of dollars, but with Pesti you can get started at just $35 per treatment with a customized plan based on your location, your bugs and your climate.

[Noel Brown]

Yeah, Pesti gets rid of over 100 types of bugs, from spiders to the ants that I saw to roaches and scorpions. Pesti is also kid and pet friendly. The pesticides they ship are fully registered and have been used in hospitals and schools all over the country.

[Ben Bullen]

Bugs Hate to see you coming with Pesti.

[Noel Brown]

Go to pesti.comhistory for an extra 10% off your order.

[Ben Bullen]

That's P-E-S-T-I-E.comhistory for an extra 10 percent off off.

[Okta Advertiser]

These days it seems like AI agents are just about everywhere you turn, every field and every function. But without identity, you can't trust they'll serve your business instead of jeopardizing it. Fortunately, Okta helps you get identity right by securing your AI agents identities, giving you a single layer of control, a single standard of trust. So whether an AI agent supports a single user or your entire enterprise, with Okta you'll turn risk into to opportunity. Secure every agent. Secure any agent. Okta secures AI.

[Rob Gronkowski]

This is Rob Gronkowski from Dudes on Dudes With Gronk and Jules four years, everyone thought Verizon had the best network. Want to know why? Because they did. But guess what? Those days are over. The data says it all. Based on hundreds of millions of real world tests, the experts at OOKLA speed tests have spoken Token T Mobile is the best mobile network in America. T Mobile's network has the most advanced 5G, the most towers and their signal reaches farther than ever. And don't forget the largest satellite to mobile network. Basically, with T Mobile's network you're connected, well, pretty much wherever T Mobile's way ahead today and they will be for years to come. So if you're ready to stay connected connected wherever life takes you, head over to your local store or t mobile.com to switch to the best network T Mobile has the best mobile network in the U S Based on analysis by Ookla of speed test intelligence data 2H 2025 T satellite available with compatible device in most outdoor areas in the US where you can see the sky. Included with experience beyond or $10 per month auto renews monthly cancel anytime.

[Public Investing Advertiser]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI it all starts with your prompt. From renewal renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures this

[Jacob Goldstein]

is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? Business software is expensive and when you buy software from lots of different companies, it's not only expensive, it gets confusing. Slow to use, hard to integrate. Odoo solves that because all Odoo software is connected on a single affordable platform. Save money without missing out on the features you need. Odoo has no hidden costs and no limit on features or data. Odoo has over 60 apps available for any needs your business might have, all at no additional charge. Everything from websites to sales to inventory to account counting all linked and talking to each other. Check out Odoo at o d o o.com that's O-O-O.com.

[Noel Brown]

So the story as it goes, the idea of this being a centuries old Filipino hunting device describes a hunter finding a refuge or a secret spot in a tree, fortifying himself so he can kind of hide from his target, holding a heavy, oversized yo y waiting for his prey to pass below. And at the critical moment, the yo yo would be flung and hurled and bonk the animal right on the head, presumably killing it or knocking it out and then allowing it to return to the hunter, especially if he missed and needed a second shot.

[Ben Bullen]

A boomerang on a string.

[Noel Brown]

Bit of that. However, Meisenheimer points out that the physics of the yo yo make this pretty improbable that that would work. However, there is no question that something like a Yo yo existed in the Philippines for quite a long time. There isn't any documented evidence that it was used as a hunting tool in this exact way. There is, however, evidence that the Duncan Company popularized this themselves as a bit of a gimmick. In promoting the yo yo. It would seem, Meisenheimer says that the hunting origin is pure fantasy. It was a memorable story and helped to sell yo Yos. The hunting origin of the toy was printed so often, as is often the case, that it has become an urban legend. However. However, he also points out that there is evidence that it was used as a weapon in some fashion, though not the way we might think or the way that was just described. Ben. Think of it as a way to, like, hide a string like a garrotte. Remember those where you, like, you got the creepy assassin coming up behind you and strangling you with piano wire after,

[Ben Bullen]

like, hey, might be a great guy, you know, it's true. Not all assassins are creepy.

[Noel Brown]

No, it's true.

[Ben Bullen]

You just get in situations and not

[Noel Brown]

all creeps are assassins.

[Jacob Goldstein]

Max.

[Noel Brown]

What?

[Ben Bullen]

You.

[Rob Gronkowski]

You got to jump in here.

[Noel Brown]

I'm not sure if you can get a Yo yo, but in the Hitman series, the video game where you, you

[Public Investing Advertiser]

know, play as an assassin.

[Ben Bullen]

Oh, I love that one.

[Noel Brown]

You can get very. You can get a garage, obviously it

[Public Investing Advertiser]

comes like, pretty standard, but you can get like, you know, like earbud cables and stuff like that that you can use for that.

[Ben Bullen]

I don't know if you can get

[Rob Gronkowski]

a Yo yo though.

[Noel Brown]

Okay.

[Ben Bullen]

All right, well, we have some notes for you creators of Hitman. We also know, again, it goes back to what you're saying about parallel thinking, right? And about corporations wanting to sell stuff. When I'm hearing this myth perpetrated by Duncan, which, as you said, we'll get into in a moment. It reminds me of those back pages of old school comic books and Boy Scout type magazines where they would say, we'll sell you a pair of nunchucks and we'll train you in the ancient art. And right next to that. I sound elderly now, but right next to that, sometimes there would be an ad for the Filipino art of the Yo Yo.

[Noel Brown]

Sure. Well, and speaking of that, Ben, or to that point, I had mentioned that our expert here pointed out that there is written evidence that it was used as some kind of weapon. And that comes from an 1888 letter by Dr. Jose Rizal, a Filipino national hero, who wrote of his transatlantic voyage from America to England, quote, I embarked for Europe aboard the city of Rome, said to be the second largest steamer on Earth. At the end of the voyage, a periodical is printed on board. I met many people here, and as I had with me a Yo yo, the Europeans and Americans were astonished to see how I used it as a weapon of attack.

[Ben Bullen]

I think he's being cute.

[Noel Brown]

I think he may well be, Ben. But it is evidence we can point to. Meisenheimer goes on. So unless you want to dispute one of the most famous Filipino historical figures writing, the question becomes not was the yo yo used as a weapon in the Philippines, but how was it used? So this is a point of much spec. I think we pointed out one possible use. Another would be the thick leather cord of a particular design of yo yo, perhaps used like a sarong in martial arts, which is sort of that garrote kind of situation. And the suggestion that this mechanism allowed it to be concealed. And there also appears to be a kind of sartorial version of this, where the thick leather cord of a particular design of yoyo might have been used to, like, wrap a robe or sort of a stand in for underwear of some kind. Dr. Rizal had training in martial arts, and it suggested that this is the mechanism he used the yo yo as a weapon. It's basically a concealed weapon.

[Ben Bullen]

Okay. I also think Rizal, who is a national hero of the Philippines, I also think he was being a bit diplomatic when he was on this transatlantic voyage. And maybe he was conversationally disarming people.

[Noel Brown]

I think you're right, Ben. I do think you're right. But I did think it was worth mentioning. So now, as we've already teased, Ben, we've got Mr. Duncan entering the chat, which is, I think, a name inextricably linked for all time to the Yo Yo.

[Ben Bullen]

Yes. Yeah. If you had a Yo yo in The United States. You probably had one from Donald F. Duncan, Chicago businessman who ran into his first yo yo on a business trip to San Francisco in 1928. And the person he saw using the yo yo was a guy named Pedro Flores, recently arrived from the Philippines.

[Noel Brown]

For sure, he had already begun selling a toy labeled with the name yo yo, meaning come come, in the native language of the Philippines, which I guess that Tagalog. I think that's right, Ben. I'm not 100% sure. I do have another source from the Smithsonian, and they just refer to the native language of the Philippines, so there may well be more than one. But Tagalog, many languages, for sure. For sure. Yo yo does what I know of Tagalog. That does kind of track.

[Ben Bullen]

Okay, yeah, that makes sense. That makes sense. So in. It's 1929. We're in the early days of that year, and Flores has, as you said, he's created this company, Yo Yo Come, come. He gets his financing, he gets his investors, his backers, and he makes. Correct me here, Noel, he makes more than 100,000 of these toys.

[Noel Brown]

Yep. Carved out of wood. He trademarks the name Yo Yo. And then he realizes a real kicker, that this definitely becomes part of the Duncan market. I think we all know this. It is not something that is intuitively easy to do. Well, playing with the yo yo, it's tricky. You gotta kind of know what you're doing. You gotta have practice, and you first of all, have to be shown how to do it. So he assembles a crack team of yo yo masters to demonstrate some basic tricks and get people on board with this toy.

[Ben Bullen]

You, too, can walk the dog. And this is where our buddy Duncan comes into play. All right, so we've seen this out on. On the West Coast. He is a marketer, he is an entrepreneur, and get this. He is already a manufacturer of wooden novelty items and toys. So he has the infrastructure to make this happen.

[Noel Brown]

Yeah. It just reminds me of the movie the Hudsucker Proxy about these sort of, like, fanciful version of the introduction of the hula Hoop. And they keep saying, you know, for kids, but they have a real hard time in the movie figuring out out how to sell the thing. It's basically just a hoop. And it takes this one kid on the street picking it up and starting to shimmy it around his hips before all the other kids see him do it. And then they gotta do it too. They gotta figure out how to do it. They gotta get one. That's what kicks off the craze so demonstration is key here. And he, Duncan raises 5,000 bucks, which is a lot of money at that time. Gosh, we should probably do an inflation calculator and a boob. A boop Boop boop boop. $5,000 in 1932. Money is around $118,705.11 roughly today.

[Ben Bullen]

And with this windfall, Duncan, as we have it here in the notes, secures Flores remaining assets sets he also acquires that trademark yo yo. The trademark will not expire until decades and decades later in 1965. And competing plastic yo yos begin to outsell the wooden ones. That's what happens in the mid-1960s. But for decades, Duncan was the monopoly man of yo yos. And they were mostly wooden and they mostly came. Came from this one guy's company. Yep.

[Noel Brown]

And he took Flores's lead and did the very same thing in terms of assembling these demonstration crews who would go to schools, who would hang out in Times. Not Times square, but like public parks and maybe Times Square, various places in New York City as well. Main streets as well as on the west coast. Exactly, Ben. But the real marketing genius comes when he approaches a guy you might have heard of, Mr. William Randolph Hearst, the owner of the country's largest chain of newspapers. And he decides to offer kind of a trade, sort of put his money where his mouth is in a way. Or at the very least, say, I've got an idea for you, Mr. Hearst, how we can do some. We can help each other out. He comes up with the idea to launch the yo yo and feature them in newspaper ads. Advertising yo yo competitions. He proposed to Mr. Hearst that if Hearst gave him free advertising space, he could help increase the paper's circulations through these advertisements. Because he had the genius idea of having it be a caveat of entering or a prerequisite for entering the contest that kids had to sell two to three subscriptions to the newspaper.

[Ben Bullen]

Amazing. And we also have to shout out. It just hit me now, reading through your research here, it just hit me. That's why yo yos became such a trope in later political cartoons.

[Noel Brown]

Absolutely.

[Ben Bullen]

Because you would have a yo yo competition entirely tied in with the empire of William Randolph Hearst. Oh, that's brilliant. Oh, I feel so cold.

[Noel Brown]

It's pretty chilly, for sure.

[Ben Bullen]

This episode of Ridiculous History is brought to you by Pesti Noel. You and I have been on the road a lot.

[Noel Brown]

It's true, Ben. And in one of these aforementioned road trips, I returned to find some creepy crawlies invading my kitchen space and I didn't like that none too well. Ben. So super happy that I also had waiting on me an incredible pack package from our pals at Pesti.

[Ben Bullen]

Yeah, other pest control companies will charge hundreds of dollars, but with Pesti you can get started at just $35 per treatment with a customized plan based on your location, your bugs and your climate.

[Noel Brown]

Yeah, Pesti gets rid of over 100 types of bugs, from spiders to the ants that I saw to roaches and scorpions. Pesti is also kid and pet friendly. The pesticides they ship are fully registered and have been used in hospital hospitals and schools all over the country.

[Ben Bullen]

Bugs hate to see you coming with Pesti.

[Noel Brown]

Go to pesti.comhistory for an extra 10 off your order.

[Ben Bullen]

That's P-E-S-T-I-E.comhistory for an extra 10% off

[Okta Advertiser]

these days it seems like AI agents are just about everywhere you turn every field and every function. But without identity, you can't trust they'll serve your business instead of jeopardizing it. Fortunately, fortunately, Okta helps you get identity right by securing your AI agents identities, giving you a single layer of control, a single standard of trust. So whether an AI agent supports a single user or your entire enterprise, with Okta you'll turn risk into opportunity. Secure every agent. Secure any agent. Okta secures AI.

[Rob Gronkowski]

This is Rob Gronkowski from Dudes on Dudes with Gronk and Juuls. For years everyone thought Verizon had the best network. Want to know why? Because they did. But guess what? Those days are over. The data says it all. Based on hundreds of millions of real world tests, the experts at OOKLA Speed Test have spoken. T Mobile is the best mobile network in America. T Mobile's network has the most advanced 5G, the most towers and their signal reaches farther than ever.

[Noel Brown]

Ever.

[Rob Gronkowski]

And don't forget the largest satellite to mobile network. Basically, with T Mobile's network you're connected. Well, pretty much wherever T Mobile is way ahead today. And they will be for years to come. So if you're ready to stay connected, wherever life takes you, head over to your local store or t mobile.com to switch to the best network. T Mobile has the best mobile network in the US. US based on analysis by Oklahoma of speed test intelligence data 2H 2025 T satellite available with compatible device in most outdoor areas in the US where you can see the sky. Included with experience beyond or $10 per month. Auto renews monthly cancel anytime.

[Public Investing Advertiser]

Support for the show comes from public. The investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index. With AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generate rated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory services by Public Advisors llc, SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at Public

[Ben Bullen]

this is

[Jacob Goldstein]

Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? Business software is expensive and when you buy software from lots of different companies, it's not only expensive, it gets confusing. Slow to use, hard to integrate. Odoo solves that because all Odoo software is connected on a single affordable platform. Save money without missing out on the features you need. Odoo has no hidden costs and no limit on features data. Odoo has over 60 apps available for any needs your business might have, all at no additional charge. Everything from websites to sales to inventory to accounting, all linked and talking to each other. Check out Odoo at O D O o dot com. That's O D O o dot com.

[Noel Brown]

Hurst is a little bit on the fence about this, so he decides to test it in a little bit of a pilot experiment just using his Chicag newspaper. And in six weeks, the popularity of the yo yo in these competitions sold him 50,000 new subscriptions, which gave him the confidence he needed to give Duncan free ad space in his papers all around the nation.

[Ben Bullen]

And then we see some more tremendous marketing by Mr. Duncan. The patriarch of the yo yo now says sends a bunch of street teams out, professional yo yo demonstrators, city to city schoolyard near your own. It's kind of like the brilliant thing that Oscar Meyer would later do by having wiener mobiles.

[Noel Brown]

Yeah, for sure.

[Ben Bullen]

Yeah. So they basically they said the yo yo version of Wienermobiles across the United States, across the land, and they promote these local content. Kids learn tricks, they get very invested, they create their own grassroots, independent communities. And now Duncan is like the Willy Wonka of yo yos 100%.

[Noel Brown]

And there's actually a name that they were using for these demonstrators. They called them Duncan professionals. And a lot of these folks actually went on to start some companies that would give Duncan a run for their money once they that trademark ran out. We'll get a little more into that. But what Duncan also was really good at was tapping into name recognition and celebrities. We had folks like Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford. These are names that maybe won't ring as much of a bell to a modern ear. Baseball hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, who you probably have heard of, Hack Wilson. All of these folks were photographed using their Yo Yos and would participate in paid promotions with movie icons like, what is it, our gang? Isn't that the little rapper Rascals? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ben Bullen]

Yep. And they were promoting specific brands of Yo Yos at different times, all owned by Duncan, by the way. Things like Gold Seal and oh boy Yo Yos. If a town did not have a visible local celebrity, then you just got the police commissioner or the mayor or another high ranking public affair to be in a photograph holding a Yo yo.

[Noel Brown]

And I just gotta read this directly from our Expert, Lucky Meisenheimer, M.D. cause he puts it so beautifully, this idea that Duncan may have ruined themselves in their own effective marketing because their success with promoting the toy over four decades made the word Yo Yo a household name almost more than the association with Duncan. In some ways, once the trademark ran out, you started to see challenges to Duncan Soulwright to use that name made by folks like Joe Radivan of the royal Yo Yo Company. And to our previous point, Radivan was one of those early Duncan professionals who himself was from the Philippines. So it's very full circle. In 1937, he left Duncan and formed his own company. And in 1965, after a lengthy court battle, Duncan was stripped of that trial, trademark protection by the courts, which determined that the word yo yo had at this point, Ben. Become generic.

[Ben Bullen]

Yes. Yeah. Now, because you can't own the word paper. Right? You can't own the concept of wind or hats or. What's another one?

[Noel Brown]

Shoe feet. No.

[Rob Gronkowski]

Wow.

[Ben Bullen]

Yeah.

[Noel Brown]

However, though, that's not the case in other countries, because as Meisenheimer points out, there are other countries like Canada, where the word yo yo is still under trademark protection. The 60s saw a little bit of a wane in the popularity of yo yos as new toys and gadgets and things made it start to feel a little bit old hat, a little bit antiquated. But in the 80s, the yo yo experienced a massive resurgence with a new modern design. The new yoyos were made of plastic and had a ball bearing axle that made them a lot zippier. Allowed the to perform even longer sleeps or spin times right where you hold it at the bottom. It's called making it sleep. And even more complex tricks. That's when we see the American Yo yo association clocking the world sleep record for a fixed axle yo yo in 1991 by Dale Oliver at 51 seconds.

[Ben Bullen]

And as recently as 2001 we see that that record has been dwarfed. The American Yo YO Association's World 2021 for Sleep was 13 minutes and five seconds set by the legendary Rick Wyatt.

[Noel Brown]

100% Ben. I wouldn't be surprised if it's been further dwarfed by now because yo yoing is, is, you know, you could argue it's niche. It's not like a Olympic sport or anything. It doesn't quite have the same cachet as say X games type sports. But it's getting there because there's a lot of like pretty cool people that are into yo yoing. Like our very own Faye Webster, who is a fantastic musician from here in, who has a lot of connections to the hip hop community here. Started off her career as a photographer, hanging out with folks like Lil Yachty and various other rappers from the scene. Her music isn't really in that vein at all. It's much more kind of awesome, croony, very delightful, Billie Holiday esque kind of music, vocal music. Gosh, I sound like a grandpa myself. But she actually is a huge yo yo aficionado and I believe she's doing a Yo yo invitational right here in Atlanta. So it's really cool to see that connection right here in our hometown. The modern national yo yo championships were first held in Chico, California in 1993. Pretty recent, pretty recent. Under the direction of a guy named Bob Maloney, who later became the director of the National Yo Yo Museum in Chico. And this is again coming from Lucky Weisenheimer, MD. They changed though, however drastically in 1996, just the landscape of competitive yo yoing when a guy named Alex Garcia won the very first freestyle competition. Now that's what we're talking about. And what makes it freestyle is the type of yo yo where the yo yo is no longer attached to your finger, but it's attached to a Counterweight that's held in your hand, which allows you to do tricks that completely disconnect the yo yo from your body and the actual yo yo from the string. You can, like, pop it off and then roll it back on. There's all kinds of really, really, really magic, cool tricks that you can do with this freehand style of yo yoing. I would just really encourage anyone out there to just google or do some YouTube searches of some of the top yo yoers across the country and around the world, because there's some stuff that's going to blow your mind.

[Ben Bullen]

Yeah. And we know this is still. Look, it's not the halcyon days of the 1960s, but the YO yo is a cool idea. It's a lot of fun. It's a popular toy. If you have and you want them to have something kinetic to play with that's not going to hurt too many people, then forego the nunchucks and get the yo yo.

[Noel Brown]

Get them a yo yo. Competitive yo yos today can spin at up to 8,000 RPM. They're typically made of aluminum, titanium, or steel, and they are produced with extremely exacting machining standards.

[Ben Bullen]

I want. You know what? I want a comic book adaptation of a superhero that uses a yo Yo. Like, you know, the way daredevil uses the sticks or the way Batman uses the batarangs. It'd be cool to have a yo yo superhero.

[Noel Brown]

I completely agree, Ben. And there's no doubt that that yo yo superhero would be able to do most of, if not all of some of the modern tricks that we're just going to rattle off for you real quick as we wrap up this epis. Not no longer the humble walk the dog or rock the baby, rock the cradle, whatever you want to call it. We're talking about things like the elevator, the brain twister. These all sound like roller coasters. The Mach 5 personal favorite here. The popping fresh.

[Ben Bullen]

And I've got some personal favorites as well. I love that there is potential for combos in these moves. Trapeze, trapeze, and brother trapeze and brother slack. And then, of course, double or nothing. Oh, of course.

[Noel Brown]

We got the zipper, the split box, bottom mount, the revolution, and the reverse to your previous list, Ben Slack trapeze.

[Ben Bullen]

Why is that one in all caps?

[Noel Brown]

I don't know, man. It just seems really extra. It's very intense. Sad to get the point across. We've got various whips, Ben. The jade, the iron, the plastic, the rejection.

[Ben Bullen]

The kamikaze mount is interesting. And then there's Whip to Kamikaze. And then there's. There's the Houdini mount. But not spelled the way you think.

[Noel Brown]

It's not spelled the way you think. It could be a typo in this thing, but it might not as well. I think the mount is when you like. It's one of those ones where I think that the yo yo disconnects from the string and then you pop it back on. If I'm not mistaken, I've seen some videos where the titles of the tricks were listed underneath it, and it's ringing a bell.

[Ben Bullen]

I love Buddhist.

[Noel Brown]

Buddhist revenge, dude. I love it, dude. The cold Fusion. The spiritual successor to Walk the Dog Skin the gerbil.

[Ben Bullen]

Oh, come on. That's egregious, you guys.

[Noel Brown]

Do you hate gerbils? No, I like gerbils. They're cute. I got no problem with gerbils. I didn't invent the name the gyroscopic flop, which sounds like a bad trip to the doctor. No, that's an endoscopic flop. That's different. Hey, the ping pong.

[Ben Bullen]

Yeah, Check out our earlier episode on the evolution of table tennis or ping pong. We have so many other names. Tricks, hooks, all kinds of sides. We got a gunslinger, we got a grind. I don't know what the 1.5 Eli Hopp is, but I hope it's named after a guy.

[Noel Brown]

I do, too. And a lot of these start to take on names very closely resembling skateboard tricks. And it really is at that level of cool to a certain degree now where people are making really cool videos of doing yo yo tricks. Also, like, another thing that I enjoy is something called cardistry where people are manipulating and doing crazy tricks with playing cards. Not magic tricks, but just manipulating them and, you know, doing crazy riffle shots.

[Ben Bullen]

Making them roll like water.

[Noel Brown]

Making them roll like water. And this is another kind of spiritual successor to that. And there's tons of content out there if you want to check it out. So that's it for Yo Yos, man. So don't be a schmoyo. Get out there and try yourself a Yo Yo.

[Ben Bullen]

Don't be a schmoyo. Wonderful, wonderful title, wonderful story. This makes me want to grab a Yo yo myself. We can't wait to hear your stories. No, we're probably going to get some feedback on this one from people who send us cool clips of them doing yo yo tricks. Big thanks to our super producer, Mr. Max Williams. Big thanks to our research associate for this episode. None other than Mr. Noel Brown.

[Noel Brown]

Oh, thank you kindly, Ben. Thanks to Alex Williams who composed our theme Christopher ODIs and Eve's JeffCoatsk here in spirit.

[Ben Bullen]

And thanks to our heist colleagues Ridiculous Crime. If you dig us, you'll love them. Big thanks, of course, to AJ Bahamas Jacobs, Dr. Rachel Big Spinach Lance, and a polite how do you do? To Jonathan Strickland, AKA the Quter.

[Noel Brown]

Yes, fine. How do you do indeed to you, sir. We'll see you next time, folks. Foreign for more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[Ben Bullen]

T Mobile has the best Plan on

[Rob Gronkowski]

the Best Network Just ask Kevin Bacon

[Noel Brown]

Today, business happens virtually everywhere. That's why you need Super Mobile from

[Ben Bullen]

T Mobile the best plan on the best network, letting you run your business

[Okta Advertiser]

from your phone like never before. In moments, moments of high demand, T

[Ben Bullen]

Mobile's network adapts to put your business connection first.

[Rob Gronkowski]

Discover [e-mail] best business plan based on

[Noel Brown]

combination of advanced network performance, coverage layers and security features. Best network based on analysis by Uber speed test intelligence data 1H 2025 Google trademarks user license and reprinted with permission

[Okta Advertiser]

these days, it seems like AI agents are just about everywhere you turn, every field and every function. But without identity, you can't trust they'll serve your business instead of jeopardizing it. Fortunately, Oculus Okta helps you get identity right by securing your AI agents identities, giving you a single layer of control, a single standard of trust. So whether an AI agent supports a single user or your entire enterprise, with Okta you'll turn risk into opportunity. Secure every agent. Secure any agent. Okta secures AI this is Jacob Goldstein

[Jacob Goldstein]

from what's yous Problem? When you buy business software from lots of vendors, the costs add up and it gets complicated and and confusing. Odoo solves this. It's a single company that sells a suite of enterprise apps that handles everything from accounting to inventory to sales. Odoo is all connected on a single platform in a simple and affordable way. You can save money without missing out on the features you need. Check out [e-mail] that's o-com at CVS.

[Orderly Meds Advertiser]

It matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it. It matters that we're here for when you need us, day or night, and we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded. It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and yeah, healthy snack at cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit [e-mail] or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location. Busy work weeks can leave you feeling drained. Prolon's five day Fasting Mimicking Diet works at the cellular level to rejuvenate you from the inside out, providing real results that include fat focused, sustainable weight loss with no injection needed. Next Gen builds on the original prolong with 100% organic soups and teas, a richer taste, and ready to eat meals. Developed at USC's Longevity Institute and backed by top medical centers, Prolon supports biological age reduction, metabolic health, skin appearance, fat loss and energy. Get 15% off plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe at prolonlife.com iheart that's prolonlife.com iheart this is an iheart podcast. Guaranteed human.