Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! HTDE: Motivation, Secret Messages, and Stealing Your Thunder
6 snips
Oct 29, 2025 
This week, Theo Gehrin, a producer for TED Radio Hour, shares his insights on the unusual surge of teen comments on old podcast episodes, hinting at a new trend in using comment sections as chat rooms. Meanwhile, lexicographer Susie Dent dives into the intriguing history of the phrase 'steal your thunder,' tracing it back to a 1709 incident involving playwright John Dennis, whose thunder machine inspired the saying. Their discussions reveal surprising connections between modern communication and historical language.
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Use Painful Stakes To Beat Procrastination
- Use an extreme, personal consequence to force completion of a stalled project.
- Make the consequence public by telling friends so social pressure helps keep you accountable.
A $1,000 Check Got Her To Finish
- Alice Wu wrote a $1,000 check to the NRA and gave it to her best friend as a penalty.
- Publicizing the deadline and penalty to friends created pressure and she finished the draft.
Old Podcast Comments As Teen Chat Rooms
- Teenagers are repurposing old podcast comment sections as private chat rooms or dead drops.
- This repurposing exploits overlooked, low-moderation spaces to communicate without mainstream social apps.
