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Lateral with Tom Scott

Latest episodes

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Jan 10, 2025 • 39min

118: The wrong way wheel

Karen Kavett, a puzzle writer known for her creative projects, joins Francis Heaney, an editor and fellow puzzle enthusiast. They dive into quirky discussions about corporate coincidences and the significance of national symbols. The conversation takes a humorous turn with tales of an organist ejected for musical mischief at a baseball game. They also explore cultural spins, like reversing a giant wheel in Singapore due to feng shui, blending laughter with intriguing insights on language and tradition.
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Jan 3, 2025 • 54min

117: Dull white powder

Sophie Ward is a science communicator with a vibrant YouTube presence, while Julian Huguet co-hosts That's Absurd, Please Elaborate. They dive into quirky topics like the odd reasons behind Beyoncé's Wikipedia fandom and the whimsical science of cheese. Discover the humor in vacuum testing and the chaos of urban dog walking. The discussion also touches on the peculiarities of banned wartime songs and cultural quirks, like the significance of British hamlets and their traffic norms. It's an entertaining blend of science, culture, and laughter!
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12 snips
Dec 27, 2024 • 47min

116: 7 inches apart

Trace Dominguez, a science communicator from That's Absurd, Molly Edwards, a plant biologist with a knack for sharing scientific insights, and Lucy Rogers, an engineer and former Robot Wars judge, engage in a lively discussion. They cover the behind-the-scenes chaos of the Mexican game show Escape Perfecto, explore the quirky side of art and aviation, and share fascinating tidbits about managing diabetes and clever Scrabble strategies. Expect humor and unexpected insights as they dive into whimsical jobs and game show gambits!
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Dec 20, 2024 • 57min

115: Pants on fire [LIVE]

In this lively gathering, Bec Hill, a stand-up comedian and children's author, and comedian Stuart Goldsmith, known for tackling climate crises in his work, dive into a whirlwind of absurd topics. They share hilarious anecdotes about suspicious surgeons and quirky medical devices. The trio also discuss whimsical traditions, such as squashing beer caps on train tracks, and tackle the peculiarities of British culture with humor. Their playful banter is sprinkled with playful jest about helmets and racing culture, making for an entertaining exploration of the bizarre.
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Dec 13, 2024 • 48min

114: Lawnmowing cleaners

Joining the lively conversation are Carson Woody, a TikTok and YouTube linguist known for his insights on language, Kip Heath, a clinical scientist tackling antibiotic resistance, and returning guest Ólafur Waage, a tech innovator from the Nordics. Expect delightful banter about weird linguistics, the history of sewage management with wooden spheres, and nostalgic soccer stories. They also dive into unique concepts like a 'sourdough starter hotel' and the quirky world of robotic lawnmowers, all while ensuring plenty of laughs along the way!
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11 snips
Dec 6, 2024 • 50min

113: 'Sheep' or 'Book'?

Tom Crawford, a mathematics fellow at Oxford and Cambridge, brings his analytical flair alongside creative minds Katelyn and Evan Heling. They tackle quirky topics from hockey hat tricks to the global implications of SIM cards. The discussion humorously weaves through avocado art and the importance of meaningful gifts, while also diving into the complexities of glass bottle production. Expect playful connections between sport logos and language codes, culminating in delightful banter about the joys and challenges of modern communication.
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4 snips
Nov 29, 2024 • 48min

112: Driving in both lanes

Join fashion historian Abby Cox, broadcast engineer Matt Gray, and comedian Iszi Lawrence as they tackle quirky topics with humor. They discuss bizarre historical medicine and the cultural significance of pirates. Abby hilariously examines the design of quirky mugs, while Matt shares a thrilling eBay discovery. They also explore Indonesian driving norms, unique tailoring anecdotes, and the challenges of spacesuit design, all peppered with witty banter about exam loopholes and humorous golf mishaps.
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8 snips
Nov 22, 2024 • 46min

111: The life-changing drink

Karen Kavett, a puzzle whiz and member of a top-tier puzzle team, joins Sam Meeps, an anime maker and cosplayer, and Francis Heaney, an accomplished puzzle writer. They dive into the cultural quirks of tea and coffee drinking, blending humor with nostalgia. The trio also tackles the chaotic world of lotteries, sharing amusing personal anecdotes. They explore innovative and impractical transportation ideas, while also dissecting the ethics of advertising in a lighthearted fashion. Expect a delightful mixture of trivia, creativity, and laughs!
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4 snips
Nov 15, 2024 • 54min

110: A very 'odd' race

Ella Hubber, Caroline Roper and Tom Lum from 'Let's Learn Everything!' face questions about concealed clocks, unique units and sneaky shoplifting.BOOK OUT NOW: https://www.lateralcast.com/bookLATERAL is a comedy panel game podcast about weird questions with wonderful answers, hosted by Tom Scott. For business enquiries, contestant appearances or question submissions, visit https://lateralcast.com.HOST: Tom Scott. QUESTION PRODUCER: David Bodycombe. EDITED BY: Julie Hassett at The Podcast Studios, Dublin. MUSIC: Karl-Ola Kjellholm ('Private Detective'/'Agrumes', courtesy of epidemicsound.com). ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS: Nate, Joseph Gallear, Adam Matthews, Sam Walsh, Matthew, Martijn Pennings, Chris Shenton, Ólafur Waage, Chopin, Katie Waning, Ondrej. FORMAT: Pad 26 Limited/Labyrinth Games Ltd. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: David Bodycombe and Tom Scott. © Pad 26 Limited (https://www.pad26.com) / Labyrinth Games Ltd. 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Nov 8, 2024 • 52min

109: The blue room

Julian O’Shea, Bill Sunderland and Dani Siller face questions about astronautical activities, appliance actions and Allen's abilities.PRE-ORDER THE BOOK: https://www.lateralcast.com/bookLATERAL is a comedy panel game podcast about weird questions with wonderful answers, hosted by Tom Scott. For business enquiries, contestant appearances or question submissions, visit https://lateralcast.com.HOST: Tom Scott. QUESTION PRODUCER: David Bodycombe. EDITED BY: Julie Hassett at The Podcast Studios, Dublin. MUSIC: Karl-Ola Kjellholm ('Private Detective'/'Agrumes', courtesy of epidemicsound.com). ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS: Jovi Thorne, Dave Matthews, Jeff. FORMAT: Pad 26 Limited/Labyrinth Games Ltd. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: David Bodycombe and Tom Scott. © Pad 26 Limited (https://www.pad26.com) / Labyrinth Games Ltd. 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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