Something You Should Know: Where Superstitions Come From & What You Never Knew About Paul Revere
Host: Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media
Release Date: July 17, 2025

In this enlightening episode of Something You Should Know, host Mike Carruthers delves into the intriguing origins of common superstitions and unpacks the lesser-known truths behind Paul Revere's famed midnight ride. Featuring expert insights from Kostya Kennedy, author of Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America, the episode offers listeners a blend of historical facts and cultural analysis that challenges what we think we know.

1. The Fate of TSA Surrendered Items

Timestamp: 00:49 - 06:26

Mike Carruthers opens the episode by addressing a practical concern for frequent travelers: What happens to items surrendered by the TSA at airports? Drawing from official guidelines, Carruthers explains that surrendered items are managed under strict government protocols. While illegal items are handed over to law enforcement, everyday prohibited items like shampoos and gels are typically disposed of immediately. However, other surrendered belongings may be sold, destroyed, or donated to charity. For those interested in retrieving such items, Carruthers mentions initiatives like GovDeals, though he notes the challenges and limitations involved.

Notable Quote:
“There is a difference. You don’t have to give them to them. You could give those items to someone else at the airport... But once those items are surrendered, the government has strict rules it has to follow for disposing of surrendered property.” ([00:49])

2. The Origins and Persistence of Common Superstitions

Timestamp: 06:26 - 26:38

Transitioning to the main topic, Mike Carruthers introduces Kostya Kennedy to discuss the deep-seated nature of superstitions in modern society. Kennedy, with his background in writing and academia, provides a comprehensive overview of how various superstitions originated and why they continue to hold sway over human behavior.

a. Knocking on Wood

Kennedy traces the superstition back to ancient Celtic beliefs, where trees were considered the abodes of fairies. Knocking on wood was a way to acknowledge these spirits and seek their protection. With the spread of Christianity, the act symbolized knocking on the Cross of Jesus, thus retaining its good luck connotations.

Notable Quote:
“In ancient times... knocking on the wood, you were telling these fairies, these sort of forest spirits, that you were acknowledging their existence... And so knocking on wood became synonymous with good luck.” ([09:43])

b. The Number 13 and Its Unlucky Reputation

Kennedy explores the Norse mythology origins where Loki, the trickster god, being the uninvited 13th guest at a divine party, led to chaos and tragedy. This tale was further reinforced by Christian narratives, such as Judas being the 13th guest at the Last Supper, cementing the number 13’s association with bad luck.

Notable Quote:
“That’s Another reason why 13 became synonymous with unlucky.” ([11:41])

c. Rabbit's Foot for Good Luck

The belief in rabbit’s feet as lucky charms stems from various cultures attributing mystical significance to rabbits due to their burrowing habits and quick reactions. However, Kennedy highlights the ethical shift away from such practices as society becomes more sensitive to animal welfare.

Notable Quote:
“Rabbits are a perfect example... cultures in Europe, in Africa, in Asia, thought that rabbit's feet were specifically lucky.” ([11:48])

d. Breaking Mirrors and Seven Years of Bad Luck

Originating from ancient Roman beliefs, breaking a mirror was thought to damage one's soul. The notion of seven years of bad luck aligns with the Roman view of life as segmented into seven-year intervals.

Notable Quote:
“It actually started in ancient Rome, because the idea was that if you look into a mirror, you're looking at part of your soul... your life is measured in seven year increments.” ([19:09])

e. Walking Under a Ladder

Kennedy traces this superstition back to ancient Egypt, where the triangle formed by a ladder against a wall symbolized sacred pyramidal shapes. Disrespecting this form by walking under a ladder was deemed unlucky. Christianity later infused the act with new significance related to the Holy Trinity.

Notable Quote:
“Because the number three has great significance in Christianity because of the Holy Trinity. So that's why it's thought to be, to be bad luck.” ([20:02])

f. Throwing Salt Over Your Shoulder

Salt, valued for its preservative properties in ancient times, garnered mystical importance. Spilling salt was seen as wasteful and unlucky, while throwing a pinch over the left shoulder was believed to blind lurking demons, thereby warding off bad luck.

Notable Quote:
“...it would blind whatever monster was hiding there, whatever demon, and that would be good luck for you.” ([21:23])

g. Moon-Related Superstitions

Despite scientific explanations debunking many moon-related myths, Kennedy notes that a significant percentage of mental health professionals still believe in the moon’s influence on human behavior, potentially due to effects on sleep patterns.

Notable Quote:
“...the seven years bad luck has somehow still survived. So I find that kind of fascinating.” ([19:56])

3. The Truth Behind Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride

Timestamp: 28:58 - 49:08

In the latter half of the episode, Kostya Kennedy shifts focus to a historical deep dive into Paul Revere's midnight ride, challenging the popularized version immortalized by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem.

a. Historical Context and Revere’s Background

Kennedy paints a detailed portrait of Paul Revere as a multifaceted individual—a silversmith, self-taught dentist, engraver, and industrialist deeply involved in the American resistance against British rule. Unlike other revolutionary leaders, Revere lacked formal education from elite institutions, underscoring his everyman appeal.

Notable Quote:
“...he was a self trained dentist, not the kind of dentist I would particularly want to go to, but in those days you took what you could get.” ([30:55])

b. The Midnight Ride: Fact vs. Fiction

While Longfellow’s poem dramatizes the event, Kennedy confirms that Revere’s ride was largely accurate in its essence. Revere’s mission was to alert the colonial militia of the approaching British forces, thereby facilitating the crucial early engagements at Lexington and Concord.

Notable Quote:
“The Longfellow poem... it is by and large accurate. There's definitely some inaccuracies in the timing and exactly the positioning, but the idea that Paul Revere went out and in seven hours basically transformed America's chances... is absolutely true.” ([30:03])

c. The Network of Riders and Intelligence Gathering

Kennedy elaborates on the network of express riders established by Samuel Adams, with Revere being the most prominent. He highlights the collaborative efforts and the risks involved, including the espionage activities that informed Revere of the British movements—potentially aided by figures like Thomas Gage's wife, Margaret Kemble Gage.

Notable Quote:
“There were spies... possibly Margaret Kemble Gage who gave this information to Samuel Adams, who was then in Lexington, and he helped get the information out.” ([33:55])

d. Impact and Legacy

The successful dissemination of the warning led to widespread militia mobilization, which proved pivotal in the early battles of the Revolutionary War. Kennedy emphasizes that without Revere’s efforts, the colonists might have faced a demoralizing defeat, highlighting the ride’s strategic importance.

Notable Quote:
“They showed up in their clothes and their household gun and did the best they could. And that is part of what makes it so remarkable.” ([46:30])

e. Post-Ride Life and Historical Memory

After his heroic ride, Revere continued to contribute to American industry, notably in bell making and copper rolling. Kennedy notes that Revere’s lasting fame is largely due to Longfellow’s poem, which, while not entirely accurate, captured the public imagination and immortalized Revere’s legacy.

Notable Quote:
“But the general public would not have known him if not for that incredible popularity of that poem by the most popular poet in America at the time.” ([48:34])

4. The Science Behind Building the Perfect Fire

Timestamp: 49:08 - 50:40

Concluding the episode, Mike Carruthers touches upon the timeless human mastery of fire building. Referencing insights from a Duke University mechanical engineering professor, Carruthers explains that the universally adopted cone or pyramid shape of fires maximizes efficiency in air and heat flow—a design perfected through millennia.

Notable Quote:
“Well, this shape is the most efficient for air and heat flow. Human beings success in building fires has made it possible for us to migrate and spread across the globe.” ([50:08])

Conclusion

Something You Should Know masterfully intertwines practical information with cultural and historical exploration. By dissecting the origins of superstitions and reevaluating historical narratives like Paul Revere’s ride, Mike Carruthers and Kostya Kennedy provide listeners with a deeper understanding of the beliefs and events that shape our world today.

Resources Mentioned:

• Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America by Kostya Kennedy
• Encyclopedia of Curious Rituals by Ari Kaplan

Stay Tuned: For more fascinating insights and expert interviews, subscribe to Something You Should Know on your preferred podcast platform.