Who Smarted? – How did Yo-Yos become so popular?

Podcast: Who Smarted?
Host: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media
Episode Date: August 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This lively and humorous episode explores the surprising history, science, and enduring popularity of the yo-yo. Hosts Trusty Narrator and Smarty Pants—joined by enthusiastic audience kids—travel through time and across continents, tracing the journey of this simple toy from ancient Greece to its present-day global fame. Expect fast-paced banter, fun trivia, and playful demonstrations of yo-yo tricks—all designed to spark curiosity in kids (and adults!) about how a “lame, boring, old timey toy” became an international sensation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Skepticism About Yo-Yos (00:01–02:44)

• The Trusty Narrator expresses his doubts about yo-yos, calling them “a plastic circle and a string” and “pretty boring” (00:51).
• Smarty Pants and the audience defend the yo-yo:
  • Smarty Pants (01:25): “Yo-Yos are, in fact, very exciting...they’ve got a long and fascinating history, from their humble beginnings to taking the world by storm.”
• A failed attempt by the Trusty Narrator to use a yo-yo highlights its deceptively tricky nature and sets up a “teachable moment.”

2. Yo-Yos in Ancient Times (05:03–06:49)

• Magical “time travel” takes listeners to ancient Greece, where children are seen depicted on vases playing with yo-yos (05:17).
  • Smarty Pants (05:24): “The yo-yo has existed since at least 440 BCE.”
• Materials used: wood, metal, and terracotta (the latter probably decorative, not for play) (06:30).
• The hosts clarify that although ancient Greek artifacts prove early yo-yo use, the actual invention likely predated the Greeks—possibly originating in China.

3. How Yo-Yos Came to the U.S. (07:19–08:58)

• The yo-yo’s journey to America is credited to Filipino immigrant Pedro Flores.
  • Flores started a yo-yo company in California in 1928 and rapidly succeeded, growing from 12 yo-yos a year to 300,000 and employing 600 staff (08:58).

4. Origin of the Name "Yo-Yo" (07:57–08:58)

• The word “yo-yo” comes from the Ilocano language of the northern Philippines, meaning “come, come.”
  • Trusty Narrator (08:36): “Coming back is exactly what a Yo-yo does when you release it.”
• Yo-yos had already been popular in the Philippines for hundreds of years, long before their American debut.

5. Innovations & Tricks (09:22–14:43)

• Flores introduced a critical innovation: tying a loop (instead of a knot) at the axle, making tricks possible (09:41–10:15).
• Yo-yo tricks introduced:
  • The Sleeper: keeping the yo-yo spinning at the bottom of the string.
  • Walk the Dog: letting the sleeping yo-yo roll along the ground, mimicking walking a dog.
• Smarty Pants (14:21): “The sleeper is when you make the yo-yo spin for a long time at the end of the string before pulling it back up. And walking the dog is when you do the sleeper...and let the yo-yo touch the ground so it spins forward, looking like you’re walking a dog.”
• Tips: Tricks are easier to learn by watching, so check for tutorials online with an adult.

6. The Yo-Yo Boom & the Duncan Era (14:55–16:25)

• Businessman Donald Duncan bought Flores’s company and used aggressive advertising to spread yo-yo fever.
• Duncan and Flores promoted yo-yos through in-person lessons and the first yo-yo contests, enhancing the toy’s appeal and popularity.
• The name “yo-yo” was trademarked by Duncan in 1932.

7. Trademark Battles & "Yo-Yo" Enters the Lexicon (16:25–17:43)

• Competitors had to use names like “whirligig,” “twirler,” or “returning top” due to the trademark (16:25).
• By 1965, “yo-yo” had become such a commonly used term that courts ruled the trademark invalid—it had entered everyday English, like “Q-tips” or “Chapstick.”
  • Smartypants (17:36): “Exactly. From then on, they could call their whirligigs, twirlers, or returning tops a Yo-Yo.”

8. Modern Era & Competitions (17:47–18:54)

• Technological advances: Addition of ball bearings in the 1970s and ’80s allowed longer spins and more advanced tricks.
• Despite changes in materials and minor tweaks, the basic design has remained the same.
• Major competitions: The World Yo-Yo Contest (YoYoCon) is the premier global event for yo-yo enthusiasts, with participants from dozens of countries.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Smarty Pants (01:25): “Yo-Yos are, in fact, very exciting...and as you just saw me demonstrate, you can do some pretty cool tricks with them.”
• Trusty Narrator (02:44): “I think I may have been wrong about Yo-Yos.”
• Audience Kid (05:56): “Whoa,” marveling at the ancient Greek yo-yo vases.
• Trusty Narrator (08:36): “Coming back is exactly what a Yo yo does when you release it. Well, maybe not you.”
• Smarty Pants (14:21): Describes “sleeper” and “walk the dog” tricks.
• Trusty Narrator (19:01): “Nope, you were right. I was wrong. I just wish I could learn how to do it. It seems so simple. All you have to do is toss it out and...hey, I did it!”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01–02:44 – Introduction, skepticism, and first yo-yo attempt
• 05:03–06:49 – Ancient Greece and yo-yo origins
• 07:19–08:58 – Pedro Flores and early American yo-yo craze
• 09:22–10:15 – Innovation: Loop for tricks
• 14:21–14:43 – How to do yo-yo tricks (“Sleeper” and “Walk the Dog”)
• 14:55–16:25 – Duncan, advertising, & first yo-yo contests
• 16:25–17:43 – Trademark battles & yo-yo’s name
• 17:47–18:54 – Modern yo-yos, competitions, present day

Conclusion & Takeaways

By the end of the episode, the Trusty Narrator’s opinion “yo-yoed”—he’s won over and even manages to successfully use a yo-yo after all! Listeners are left with fun facts about yo-yos’ rich global history, their rise to fame, inventive spirit, and the message that all great things have their “ups and downs.”

For Kids & Parents:
Try out yo-yo tricks like “the sleeper” or “walk the dog” at home, and don’t forget to share what you learned—maybe you’ll become the next Yo-Yo Champion!