Don't Drink the Milk – The curious history of things

What's the key to success on most trips? Hanging out with a local. Luckily for us, we had one with us for our adventures in Bulgaria last season! We invite Rayna back on the podcast to reminisce about the warm welcome from Bulgarians and a major dairy overload. She shares some useful language tips, as well as stories of out-of-this-world music and a Balkan delicacy with unexpected side effects.

Why did North Macedonia splurge on statues? And what do the locals do with strong alcohol, apart from drink it? We revisit our journey to the Balkan nation to dig up some of the oddities and delicacies we encountered in the capital, which is home to a colorful, curious mix of influences old and new, communist and capitalist, Ottoman and Roman.

When might a German grandma turn to a tiny sack of chopped onion? Rachel welcomes back Shabnam Surita to play doctor and dig into a few German health quirks. So, pour yourself a cup of bronchial tea and settle in. Disclaimer: The remedies in this episode are presented for their cultural interest, not as health advice!

We're on a season break but we didn't want to leave you hanging. So this week we're bringing you more adventure, revelation and history – this time from the Passport podcast. In this episode, they head deep underground in Helsinki, to dig into the psyche of the happiest nation on Earth and its conflict-ridden past.

Who's hungry? We've got tasty travel morsels to tide you over until Season 2. These are the tidbits, tangents and tales that didn't make it into Season 1, but might come in handy on your next trip! This week, we reminisce about our beer-fuelled London jaunt and get acquainted with desi pubs – multicultural spaces that serve up history, equality and community, along with a side of beer and curry.

The bagel is in its rainbow era, but this beloved bread's journey goes way back. We're rounding off season one with a dense, doughy episode that's both scrumptious and surprising. We trace the humble bagel's roots to medieval Poland and follow its North American makeover (are you team New York or Montreal?). A snack for queens, laborers and trendsetters – here's the real story of the bagel.

IPA – the trailblazer of craft beers – holds within it stories of empire, exploitation and evolution. We head to the pub (it's hard work, but someone's gotta do it) and explore British rule in India and its legacy today. Pour yourself a pint, because we've brewed up one ale of an episode looking at where your favorite craft beer really comes from – and everything that got exported along with it.

We're on a short break, but of course, you still need a dose of quirky history – so here's another podcast we think you'll love. The Disappearing Spoon is a topsy-turvy, science-y history podcast hosted by science writer Sam Kean. This episode tells the mysterious story of Soviet scientists who starved to death while surrounded by food during the Nazi invasion of Russia in World War II.

With so many places around the world celebrating the holiday, a lot of countries put their own very unique spin on the season's traditions. Japan, we're looking at you. Test your yuletide knowledge in our festive Christmas quiz! The team also dares to take on a fiery holiday parlor game – but are we as brave as Victorian children? Join us to find out in this especially merry episode.

Can we cure loneliness with diluted extracts of the Berlin Wall? Or COVID with diluted arsenic? This is the story of how a maverick medic from eastern Germany harnessed the placebo effect and exported it worldwide. A journey across two centuries and three continents, from doctors’ surgeries to supermarket shelves and right into government.