Unessential

They’re Putting Toilets in Car Seats

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Join us and guest Katy Tullos as we talk about celebrities and influencers who were homeschooled, how many people actually grow up to do what they dreamed of as kids, and some of the surprisingly strange technology that may be coming sooner than we think.

When Nostalgia Was Considered a Disease

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Tue, 19 May 2026 02:00:00 -0500

Join us and guest Zac Morgan as we talk about how nostalgia was once considered a disease, what the Titanic can teach us about the everyday decisions that shape our lives, and the surprisingly interesting meanings behind surnames.

Eliminating Distractions in the 1930s

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Tue, 12 May 2026 02:00:00 -0500

Join us and guest Austin Tullos as we talk about a 1930s invention designed to eliminate distractions, the idea of tipping points and exponential growth, and the story behind Eric Clapton’s famous guitar “Blackie.”

TV Moms vs. Real Moms

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Tue, 05 May 2026 02:00:00 -0500

Join us and guests Faith and Lesley for a special Mother's Day Unessential. We talk about some of our favorite TV moms, and then dive into the real-life experiences of motherhood and what it’s actually like, what it teaches you, and what makes it so meaningful.

It Looked Like Chaos... But It's Knot

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Join us and guest Faith Morgan as we talk about the Artemis II mission and its trip around the moon, why what looks like chaos in the world is actually carefully designed, and fun facts about The Golden Girls and what they showed us about being a friend.

A Social Experiment That Had to Be Shut Down

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Join us and guest Lesley Hamilton as we talk about social experiments that went too far, the brain chemistry behind helping others, and the wild world of lightning strike survivors (yes, there’s a convention).

The CIA Tried to Turn Cats Into Spies

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Join us and guest Taylor Wade as we talk about Michael Jordan and the rise of Air Jordans, the CIA’s failed attempt to turn cats into spies, and the surprisingly real world of mermaiding. It’s weird, it’s fun, and it’s exactly what you’d expect from Unessential.

She Was Declared Dead… Then Knocked

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0500

Join us and guest Jen Jilani as we talk about a woman declared dead… then knocking from inside the casket, a (very questionable) world flags quiz, and fun facts about Seinfeld. It’s random, it’s entertaining, and it’s exactly what you’d expect from Unessential.

A Very Special Star-Spangled Episode

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:28:54 -0500

In this special Independence Day episode, we’re talking all things freedom and fireworks—like the most “independenty” Independence Day movie ever, fun (and weird) facts about America’s birthday, and the foods that make this holiday so delicious to celebrate. Plus, hear the story of one clergyman who fought to keep virtue at the heart of America when it was just getting started. So grab a hot dog, kick back, and celebrate with us!

Dunder Mifflin, Extravagant activists, and Summer colds

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 16 May 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss The Office, an activist who sailed a juice-box boat to France, and myths we all thought were facts.

Parental guidance, Cinema flops, and Twisters

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 09 May 2025 17:25:56 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss quackery parents used to receive, the top ten biggest movie busts of all time, wild whirlwind facts, and the chicken without a head that became a celebrity.

Dino handbags, Impossible missions, and Scientific Suds

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 02 May 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss the man who lived in a French airport for almost two decades, how dinosaur leather is being recreated for commercial use, 30 years of Mission Impossible movies, and the science behind how soap makes things clean.

AI sycophancy, Synaptic pruning, and Aquagenic Urticaria

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Join us this week as we delve into the issues of AI brown-nosing, the brain's 'delete' button, the Emperor of the United States, and real allergies that are just peculiar.

Government goats, Good samaritans, and Celestial cemeteries

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss animals that have been elected into government positions, kind people being kind, the new trend of being buried in space, and fun facts about Easter.

Email, iPods, and Uber's lost & found

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss anxiety over unread messages, mind-bending historical crossovers, the national Uber lost and found, and amazing facts about Jim and Elizabeth Elliot's team of missionaries.

Emu warfare, Leering lambs, and Bent noses

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss the Great Emu War of Australia, mainstream jobs that don't exist anymore, the most stolen painting in history, and Mike's board of verbal flubs.

Candies, Coincidences, and Corrections

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we discuss popular treats with medicinal origins, historic coincidences that will bend your brain, how wrong we've been about the scale of global icons, and why running on empty isn't running on empty after all.

Artificial incompetence, Radioactive diets, and Spielberg crossovers

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss public embarrassments for AI, the black fungus that's thriving at Chernoble, legends in the arena of competitive eating, and fun connections between the Steven Spielberg movies we all love.

African Elvis, Golden Arm, and Yada Yada Yada

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0600

Join us this week as we dive into the unbelievable story of Sixto Rodriguez, the history behind Daylight Saving Time, why James Harrison was known as "The Man with the Golden Arm," and the catch phrases we all know and love.

Spies, Shopping Malls, and Superheroes

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 12:00:00 -0600

Join us this week as we jump into favorite pizza toppings ranked by state, the fascinating link between broccoli and 007, why shopping malls are having a moment, and some little-known facts about the Man of Steel.

Salty superstitions, Holy guacamatrimony, and Malodorous millions

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:11:13 -0600

Join us this week as we explore the history behind some well-known superstitions, learn how people can now tie the knot at Taco Bell, discover hidden meanings in famous logos, and discover how one man threw a billion dollars into the garbage.

Cupids, Vampires, and Donkeys

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:19:24 -0600

Join us this week as we explore the history of Valentine's Day, popular songs with surprising backstories, why people have less to say than ever before, and weird laws that still exist.

Kal-El, Club Applebee's, and Staton Island Chuck

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:15:20 -0600

Join us this week as we explore the wild names of celebrities' kids, the romantic side of Applebee's, a prison break fueled by true love, and the weather-predicting groundhog who gets it wrong more often than right.

Rocket Man, Oregon Trail, and AI afterlife

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 08:00:00 -0600

Join us this week as we discuss the eccentricities of Elton Hercules John, what laughter is, historical facts that will bend your mind, and why we need to protect our digital legacy.

Superhuman scribbles, White House renos, and Mop-top mania

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 14:18:21 -0600

Join us this week as we discuss the demise and comeback of cursive handwriting, world records that seem to come out of nowhere, flipping the White House, and fun facts you never knew about The Beatles.

Winged beavers, Falling lizards, and Robot sloths

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:35:56 -0600

Join us this week as we dive into wacky high school mascots, Iguanas falling form the sky, fun facts about the humble armadillo, and some of the most highly anticipated new tech of 2025.

It's a very Unessential Christmas!

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0600

This week we discuss bad habits of holiday guests, fun festive movie trivia, why the colors red and green brand the Yuletide season, and quirky Christmas traditions from around the globe.

Toy stories, Psychedelic reindeer, and Grocery stores of the apocalypse

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0600

This week we discuss the origins of some of our favorite toys, why we started saying "hello" when we answer the phone, animals with bizarre super-powers, and why some think bar code readers will end the world.

Killer fashions, Black Fridays, and Segway fails

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 12:33:05 -0600

This week we break down Orca fashion trends sweeping the abyss, origins of commonly used phrases, Japan's 300+ mile-long conveyer belt, and some game-changing inventions that flopped.

Turkey trots, Photo bombs, and the Plumber's worst nightmare

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:04:47 -0600

In this episode we discuss the finer points of the majestic turkey, why it was one popular not to smile in photos, fun facts about a popular sci-fi franchise, and the extreme calorie count we'll all be ingesting over the holidays.

Gobbles, Wobbles, and Grammys... oh my

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 10:35:28 -0600

This week we dig in to the all-time greats of Thanksgiving food, fun facts about upcoming T-Day treats, which artists are buzzing this Grammy season, and why peer pressure has no age restrictions.

Civc swag, Ginger pride, and the Nepo Baby Association

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 13:13:01 -0600

This week we discuss some anticipated food trends of 2025, the rise of the iconic "I Voted" sticker, what makes people with red hair so special, and professional athletes who've played on the same team as their kids.

Snuggle restrictions, Satan's raccoons, and Swifty-nomics

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:32:03 -0500

Join us this week as we look at the airport that's limiting goodbye hugs, give possums a second hearing, learn how a.i. might be more like us than we thought, and discuss how it might feel when T. Swift spends some of that cash.

Magic kingdoms, Scary therapy, and AI Pet personalities

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 11:56:35 -0500

Join us this week as we peek behind the curtain of the most magical place on Earth, descuss the health benefits of being scared, the WNBA player who's changing the game, and the new collar that allows your pet's personality to come alive.

PETA fight club, Space spoilers, and Just dumb luck

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 10:21:06 -0500

Join us this week as we rate the worst halloween candies ever, deliberate over which animals we could take in a fight, discuss fun facts about space, and press our luck about... luck.

Spooky threads, Spirit snafues, and Hollywood mashups

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 18:48:51 -0500

Join us this week as we overview the most popular Halloween costumes over the decades, search for the silver lining of flying Spirit, discuss this year's new words, and imagine different actors in iconic movie and television roles.

Charlie Hustle, Postcard mania, and Live from Saturday night

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 12:49:01 -0500

Join us this week as we reminisce about baseball legends, social media before it was social media, what has made SNL so great for so long, and the finer points of The Antique Roadshow.

Posh peaches, Tupperware tears, and Stick... just Stick

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 11:45:45 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss the most expensive fruit money can buy, the history behind the burp that locks in freshness, the toys that shaped our childhood, and why big corporate is heading back into the office.

Brain chunkiness, the Bluey effect, and Bizarre political history

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 11:03:52 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss the science behind why we forget things, the kids show that's taken the world by storm, unlikely Nobel Prize recipients, and unbelievable stories from America's past election years.

Bodega buyouts, TSA trends, and Cosmic kerfuffles

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 18:12:26 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss giant mini-mall takeovers, social media's newest TSA aesthetics trend, the spaceship that returned without it's crew, and iconic companies that were almost named something else.

Cereal hierarchy, Baby name remorse, and Free-birding... whatever that is

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 11:22:35 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss the kings and queens of cereal, why it took so long for college football to adopt a playoff system, the upsurge in baby name regret, and why the Surgeon General is warning us about the stress today's parents are facing .

Billionaire weddings, Hollywood all-stars, and Replacing your brain

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss the most expensive wedding in human history, who made Hollywood's greatest actors' list, the finer points of Doomscrolling, and how some scientists have dedicated their lives to helping us cheat death.

Gold medals, Mayonnaise cologne, and Cheetos economics

Josh Morgan & Wes Hamilton — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 19:46:41 -0500

Join us this week as we discuss this day in history, the finer points of the Paris Olympics, Hellmann's new venture in perfumes, and why economists look to Cheetos for helpful insight.