

Omnibus
Omnibus
Every week, Ken Jennings and John Roderick add a new entry to the OMNIBUS, an encyclopedic reference work of strange-but-true stories that they are compiling as a time capsule for future generations.
Episodes
Mentioned books

16 snips
Feb 6, 2025 • 1h 26min
Balloon Man (Entry 094.DE1501)
In which a Disneyland-trained dreamer invents a new art form with the help of a cookie entrepreneur and a jellybean innovator, and Ken has a theory about the worst balloon vendors. Certificate #32691.

18 snips
Jan 30, 2025 • 1h 31min
The EGOT (Entry 398.AC2810)
In which an inescapable awards-season acronym is jump-started twenty-five years earlier by an eccentric TV cop actor and a pop reference book, and John's family would like to kick in hotel room doors. Certificate #42952.

Jan 23, 2025 • 1h 9min
Martin Luther King, Sr. (Entry 688.PR1301)
An Atlanta pastor ignites a civil rights dynasty after a transformative trip to Germany. The discussion humorously navigates the complexities of holiday greetings tied to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Personal anecdotes reveal the impact of heritage and family dynamics on identity, particularly for King and his lineage. The formative years of Martin Luther King Sr. are examined, showcasing his activism and name change. The legacy of the King family and the role of Black churches in societal shifts receive insightful exploration, alongside a lighthearted take on memorabilia.

Jan 16, 2025 • 1h 19min
Spontaneous Combustion (Entry 1206.PR0627)
In which scientists and paranormal investigators puzzle over a string of mysterious deaths beginning with a "dull and heavy" Italian countess, and John learns about the peat of the Maldives. Certificate #40714.

12 snips
Jan 9, 2025 • 1h 24min
Canal Mania (Entry 178.PR0516)
In which British investors power the Industrial Revolution with arguably too many waterways for the nation's barges, and Ken thinks escalators are not cheating. Certificate #27217.

9 snips
Jan 2, 2025 • 1h 7min
The Carrington Event (Entry 189.2P0312)
In which a solar storm in 1859 leads to eye-popping auroras and a harboring of technological doom, and John compares gold pan and pizza sizes. Certificate #54094.

11 snips
Dec 26, 2024 • 1h 14min
Elf on the Shelf (Entry 404.PR1503)
In which the childhood Christmas tradition of two Georgia twins becomes a cultural tug-of-war over surveillance psychology, and Ken is going to buy a light blue tree. Certificate #45509.

14 snips
Dec 19, 2024 • 1h 8min
Space Contraband (Entry 1194.JB1312)
In which astronauts and cosmonauts smuggle sandwiches, golf clubs, harmonicas, collectibles, and ashes into orbit, and John wants to blow bubbles on the Moon. Certificate #54825.

Dec 12, 2024 • 1h 6min
Lazy Susans (Entry 706.LK1237)
In which a Cantonese restaurant in San Franciscos's Chinatown spreads American revolving-table technology worldwide, and Ken wonders how long it takes to get sick of a musician in your spare bedroom. Certificate #43576.

9 snips
Dec 5, 2024 • 1h 16min
The Tooth Fairy (Entry 1317.SS0606)
In which ancient sorcery, changeling myths, and Edwardian fads combine to create America's only homegrown childhood rite of passage, and John's dentist turns teeth into boats. Certificate #19230.