As we research our upcoming season, we’re not going to leave you waiting at the bar. Grab your beverage of choice and enjoy these lightweight specials. Like the taste? Follow the links to each full episode for the rest of the story.

Episode 73: Pepsi, Tropicana and the Challenge of Good Design

February 28: This week marks a quirky moment in pop culture (and soft drink) history. Michael Jackson's hair caught fire back in 1984 while shooting an ad for Pepsi, which was, to put it mildly, a production challenge. In this mini-episode we talk about the origins of the original Pepsi Challenge and a foolproof way to make small children cry. Drink. It. Up.

E X T R A S :
Episode 50: The Pepsi (Logo) Challenge (Full episode)

Episode 72: Six Marines, One Photographer. The Story of Iwo Jima

February 21: This week marks the anniversary of an event that was made famous by one of the world’s most iconic photos: the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima. We talk about how the photo came to be and why it's still instantly recognizable today.

E X T R A S :
Episode 22: Bigfoot, Iwo Jima and the Backstories of Two Iconic Images (Full episode)

Episode 71: The Goodyear Blimp: More Than a Bunch of Hot Air

February 14: This week marks the anniversary of an accident. Not a normal accident. A blimp accident. The USS Macon, one of the two largest helium-filled airships ever created, crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California and sank. This reminds us of one of our favorite company icons floating over a stadium near you: The Goodyear Blimp. Float on.

E X T R A S :
Episode 09: Goodyear’s Blimp, Pixar’s Luxo Lamp and How Objects Become Company Icons (Full episode)

Episode 70: Black Cats, Fireworks and Celebrating a Logo We Love

February 7: Logos and graphics are an important part of sports. This week marks the moment back in 1988 when Michael Jordan made his signature slam dunk from the free throw line, inspiring the Air Jordan brand and, more specifically, the Jumpman logo. But there are logos we love that don’t have the same iconic status. Here's the explosive story behind one of our hard working favorites that hasn’t gotten its rightful due.

E X T R A S :
Episode 06: Voodoo Doughnuts, Black Cat Fireworks and Other Unsung Logos (Full episode)

Episode 69: KISS and their Flaming Wheel of Death

January 31: Way back in 1973, KISS played their first show at the Popcorn Club in Queens. Now, it's no secret that Todd is a member of the KISS Army, so we felt highlighting their coming out party was appropriate for this week's mini-episode where we talk about the artwork for their landmark album Rock ‘n Roll Over.

E X T R A S :
Episode 02: KISS, The Bicentennial and the Year 1976 (Full episode)

Episode 68: When the Beats Moved a Generation

January 24: This week marks an important pop culture moment when Bob Dylan arrived in New York in 1961 after dropping out of college, playing a show at Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village. His performance reminds us of the Beats, one of our favorite eras. We take a few minutes to jump into our origin story about that movement and its impact on post-WWII American culture.

E X T R A S :
Episode 41: The Beat Era: Kerouac’s On the Road and the Movement It Started (Full episode)

Episode 67: All Mascots Are Wieners in Our Eyes

January 17: It's only appropriate that we talk sports this week. Why? This was when the first Super Bowl was played in L.A. back in 1967, with the Green Bay Packers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 35–10. Speaking of Wisconsin athletics, the first thing that comes to mind four us is the Famous Racing Sausages from Milwaukee! If you haven't listened to this episode yet, it's time to ketchup.

E X T R A S :
Episode 20: Oranges in Syracuse, Sausages in Milwaukee and the Origin Stories of Sports Mascots (Full episode)

Episode 66: The Failure of Google Glass

January 10: Remember when the iPhone was first announced? Well, it happened this week back in 2007. Now, the iPhone is one of the world’s most successful products. Most tech never hits that milestone. Some comes before its time, and sometimes it goes sideways and gets creepy. Here’s an excerpt from one of our episodes about a tech product with lofty aspirations that didn’t quite make the cut: Google Glass.

E X T R A S :
Episode 15: OK Soda, Google Glass and the Stories of Two Magnificent Flops (Full episode)

Episode 65: 1979, Disco and the Opening of Studio 54

January 3: This week, way back in 1979, the double-album soundtrack to the film Saturday Night Fever reached sales of 25 million worldwide, making it the then best-selling LP in history. To honor this milestone, it’s only appropriate we highlight one of our episodes that celebrated a temple of the disco scene: Studio 54. Beautiful people, bumping tunes and an anything goes atmosphere with Andy Warhol as part of the mix. You’re about to go past the velvet rope. Welcome to the club!

E X T R A S :
Episode 61: Andy Warhol and Studio 54 (Full episode)

Happy Hour Specials: Top Shelf Selections from Our Archives