Anyone who has been a kid before knows that there are few joys in life like finding a really cool stick.

That is the basis of Official Stick Reviews, a viral account on Instagram that has amassed 2.5 million followers in just a year and a half.

But what is it about sticks that inspires this universal enthusiasm? In this episode, Amory and Ben join producer Frannie Monahan for a walk in the woods to look for answers, and some sticks of their own.

Show notes:

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/officialstickreviews/?hl=en">Official Stick Reviews</a> (@officialstickreviews)

<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/02/style/sticks-instagram-boone-hogg-logan-jugler.html">Sticks. And the People Who Love Them.</a> (NYT)

<a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/earliest-evidence-of-wooden-construction-uncovered/#:~:text=The%20surprising%20find%20suggests%20that,to%20work%20with%20tree%20trunks.">Earliest Evidence of Wooden Construction Uncovered</a> (Scientific American)

Credits: This episode was produced by Frannie Monahan. Mix and sound design by Paul Vaitkus. It was hosted by Frannie Monahan, Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson.

The Internet Does Its Thing with Luigi Mangione

Untold histories, unsolved mysteries, and other jaw-dropping stories online and IRL. Hosted by Ben Brock Johnson & Amory Sivertson.