History and Culture
The human past, language, religion, philosophy, arts, media, and food.
#274: The Operating System of Global Order
Discover the invisible rules of global power. Herman and Corn explore how flag placement and seating charts keep the world running smoothly.
#273: How AI Stylometry Lets Authors Vanish
Can you truly hide behind a pen name? Herman and Corn explore the history of pseudonyms and how AI is revolutionizing the art of staying anonymous.
#261: The 70-Year Overnight Success: How AI Finally Arrived
Think AI was an overnight success? Join Herman and Corn as they trace the 70-year journey from rigid logic rules to modern deep learning.
#260: Digital Archeology: The Primitive Power of GPT-1
Revisit the 2018 model that started it all. Herman and Corn dive into GPT-1's romance-novel roots and its 117-million-parameter legacy.
#237: Beyond the 404: Building a Permanent Web with IPFS
Tired of 404 errors? Explore how IPFS and content addressing are solving the internet's link rot problem to preserve digital history.
#224: Designing a Home Network for the Next Blackout
Keep your internet alive for 24 hours. Learn the math of UPS systems, the "inverter tax," and why fiber optics are a digital survival superpower.
#215: Why Your Headphones Don't Play a Stranger's Music
Ever wonder why your headphones don't pick up a stranger's music at a busy airport? Herman and Corn dive into the magic of frequency hopping.
#203: The Power of the SOP: Why Even Experts Need a Checklist
Discover why the world's best pilots and surgeons never "wing it" and how simple checklists can transform your personal and professional life.
#202: The Disposable Organ: A History of Gallbladder Removal
Explore the history of cholecystectomy and why "post-cholecystectomy syndrome" is changing how we view this common surgery.
#177: Current Chaos: Why Global Electricity is So Fragmented
Why does the US use 110V while Europe uses 230V? Herman and Corn explore the chaotic history of power grids and the "perfect" plug we never used.
#146: The Feedback Loop of Inequality and Polarization
Herman and Corn explore why rising income inequality is fueling political polarization and how we can rebuild the social contract in 2026.
#128: AI’s Dial-Up Era: Looking Back from 2036
Herman and Corn explore why today's AI prompts and latency will look like "dial-up modems" to our future selves in 2036.
#125: New Year's Special: Meet Herman and Corn
Herman and Corn finally tell their origin stories as 2025 comes to a close.
#100: AI as a Mirror: Mapping Your Philosophical Identity
Can AI help you discover who you are? Herman and Corn explore how LLMs can map your personal philosophy and offer curated reading lists.
#77: The Universal Plug That Isn't
Herman and Corn debate if USB-C is a universal dream or a technical nightmare. Is the "one-cable" future finally here?
#32: When Night Vanished: Light's Impact on Human Sleep
Before electric light, our ancestors slept differently. Discover how perpetual illumination changed our biology and social structures forever.
#13: AI: Not an Overnight Success Story
AI's "overnight success" is a myth. Unravel the true story behind its rise, from humble beginnings to today's innovations.