Every word and every language has an origin story. What originally started out as a way to describe a specific type of tree, is now what we call a book. In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we explore how languages change with Research Linguist Dr. Daniel Hieber. We talk how new languages are created, why the meaning of words changes and the chaos unleashed by the Great Vowell Shift. 00:00 Introducing Dr. Daniel Hieber 01:07 How We Learn Language 05:51 The Very First Language 08:44 Words that Don't Change 12:11 How Long it Takes for Languages to Change 14:57 The Great Vowel Shift 19:18 The Hardest and Easiest Languages to Learn 20:43 The Most Unique Language 23:41 The Best Curse Word 26: 29 Language Misconceptions Contact the Show Dr. Daniel Hieber Website Dr. Daniel Hieber Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Treasure Hunter Brent Brisben has found over $4.5 million dollars worth of buried treasure, now he's on the hunt for more. But what does it take to be one of the world's best treasure hunters? In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we go inside the search for buried treasure. We talk finding sunken ship wrecks, black market treasure dealers and the secret to finding buried treasure. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, we countdown the Top 5 Meats. Contact the Show Brent Brisben Website 1715 Treasure Fleet 00:00 Introducing Brent Brisben 01:09 How Treasure Hunters Search for Buried Treasure 03:09 The Most I Ever Found 04:35 Can You Keep Buried Treasure 06:37 The Treasure Hunting Industry 08:13 Black Market Treasure Hunting 12:57 The Cost of Treasure Hunting 15:17 The Biggest Treasure Ever Found 19:14 Pointless 39:11 Candle of the Month 47:47 Top 5 Meats Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Designing and piloting a drone show is no easy task. It takes hundreds of hours of preparation to control thousands of drones that all need to move in pattern so precise, it comes down to the centimeter. Drone Show Designer Grant Reichardt has worked on some of the world’s biggest drone shows. We talk how drone shows are designed, spending million of dollars on drones and what it takes to create a hologram in the sky. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, it’s Sparklers and Black Cats vs. Bottle Rockets and Roman Candles as we countdown the Top 5 Types of Fireworks. 00:00 Introducing Drone Show Designer Grant Reichardt 01:04 Designing a Drone Show 02:56 A Very Special Type of Drone 06:56 When Something Goes Wrong 10:49 The Future of Drone Shows 15:15 Pointless 39:12 The Top 5 Types of Fireworks Contact the Show Aerial Illuminations Website Aerial Illuminations YouTube Aerial Illuminations Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fireworks explode in an instant of blinding light and thunderous sound. But designing a fireworks show takes months of preparation and years of training. From the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks show to Burning Man, Pyrotechnician Steven Yoss has been behind the scenes at some of the world’s biggest fireworks shows. In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we talk the art of designing fireworks shows, the science of making fireworks and what happens when things go wrong. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, we countdown the Top 5 Actors and Actresses You Know but Can’t Name. 00:00 Introducing Pyrotechnician Steve Yoss 0:59 Designing Fireworks Shows 04:32 How Fireworks are Made 07:41 Fireworks Dangers 09:37 The Best and Worst Fireworks 11:51 Fireworks Colors 13:51 Fireworks Injuries 15:51 The Best Fireworks Shows 19:49 The Future of Fireworks Shows 20:51 Pointless 46:51 Top 5 Actors You Know But Can’t Name Contact the Show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What makes the perfect song of the summer? Professor Devon Powers studies summer songs. She says every great summer songs usually has three things: a memorable chorus, a beat that makes you feel good and lyrics anyone can sing. In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we look a the last 25 years of Songs of the Summer. We talk making the perfect summer song, the behind the scenes marketing that turn ordinary songs into massive hits and why we sometimes don’t have a song of the summer. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, we countdown the Top 5 Summer Songs. 00:00 Introducing Professor Devon Powers 00:58 What Makes a Good Summer Song 06:62 A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey 09:23 Despacito by Daddy Yankee 10:19 Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke 11:55 Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jespen 15:38 The Simple Complexity of Summer Song 18:04 Old Town Road by Lil Nas X 19:30 Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO 21:21 The Best Song of the Summer 22:19 The Worst Song of the Summer 24:20 Timing the Song of the Summer 26:26 2026’s Song of the Summer 27:37 Pointless 46:18 The Top 5 Summer Songs Contact the Show Devon Powers’ Book on Trend Forecasting Devon Powers’ Book on the Birth of Rock Criticism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As an Aquaphiliac Raven Lynette loves the water. But this isn't about just swimming around. In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we explore Aquaphilia. We talk why people are attracted to water, the kinds of things Aquaphiliacs like to do in the water and her most interesting requests. 00:00 Introducing Raven Lynette 01;06 What is Aquaphilia 03:08 What Aquaphiliacs are Looking For 05:26 When Water is Sexy 08:20 Why the Type of Water Matters 09:41 How Popular is Aquaphilia 12:20 Aquaphilia and Mermaids 14:28 Most Interesting Requests 16:52 Pointless 37:01 Candle of the Month 42:22 The Top 5 Batteries Contact the Show Raven Lynette Website Raven Lynette TikTok Raven Lynette Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

They were born more than 13 billion years ago but ancient stars are still shaping our Universe today. And without them, we wouldn’t be here. Astrophysicist and Stellar Archaeologist Dr. Anna Frebel has discovered some of the Universe’s oldest stars. We talk how ancient stars created life as we know it, the chaotic conditions of the early Universe and what the next generation of stars will look like. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, it’s Just Do It and Where’s the Beef vs. Got Milk and I’m Loving It as we countdown the Top 5 Company Slogans. 00:00 Introducing Astrophysicist Dr. Anna Frebel 01:25 What Ancient Stars Tell Us About the Universe 03:37 How Ancient Stars Created the Universe as We Know It 06:43 The Odds All This Would Happen 07:56 First Generation Stars 10:00 Our Sun 12:16 10,000 Generations of Stars 15:41 The Best Star in the Universe 17:39 What Every Astrophysicist is Trying to Find 21:21 Pointless 42:47 The Top 5 Company Slogans Contact the Show Dr. Anna Frebel Website Searching for the Oldest Stars Dr. Anna Frebel TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sociologist Dr. Linuz Peitz studies the psychology that drives Soccer (Football) Hooligans. He says the rising tide of soccer violence is all about one thing, territory. In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we take an indepth look at Soccer (Football) Hooligans. We talk the psychology behind hooliganism, the most dangerous Firms/Ultras, places that aren't safe to go and how Hooligans will impact the World Cup. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, we countdown the Top 5 Life Lessons We Learned the Hard Way 00:00 Introducing Soccer Violence Researcher Dr. Linus Petiz 01:11 What Drives Soccer (Football) Hooligans 04:08 Hooligans and Soccer Violence 07:33 Soccer (Football) Hooligans and Organized Crime 10:16 The Most Dangerous Soccer (Football) Firms / Ultras 11:14 Joining a Firm / Ultra 12:34 Where Soccer Violence is the Worst 13:25 Soccer Hooligans and the World Cup 14:41 Pointless 35:26 Top 5 Life Lessons We Learned the Hard Way Contact the Show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it take to get into the United States’ best sororities. And why would you want to. As the world’s first Rush Consultant, Trisha Addicks literally wrote the book on getting into sororities. We talk the secret to sorority rush, why sororities are exploding in popularity, the influence of “Rush Tok” and her new book “The Rush Bible”. Then, its the roar of the crowd vs. the crack of the bat as we countdown the Top 5 Sports Sounds. 00:00 Introducing Rush Consultant Trisha Addicks 01:28 Why Do Women Join Sororities 02:18 What Top Sororities are Looking For 04:11 When Women Don’t Get In 06:13 Preparing for Sorority Rush 09:04 Three Big Things Sororities are Looking For 10:06 Dealing with Parents 15:23 How Rush is Different Now 16:30 The Influence of Rush Tok 19:18 The Secret Score 21:34 Fraternity Rush Consultant 23:45 Being a Legacy 26:38 Pointless 44:41 The Top 5 Sports Sounds Contact the Show The Rush Bible Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world. But the action on the pitch still pales in comparison to the business going on behind the scenes. Sports Economist Dr. Victor Matheson has studied the economic impact of the World Cup for more than thirty years. In this episode of Profoundly Pointless we talk the business behind the World Cup, the corruption inside FIFA and if any of the money generated by the World Cup will trickle down to you. Then, in the Pointless part of the show, we unveil a new Candle of the Month and countdown the Top 5 Summer Foods. 00:00 Introducing Dr. Victor Matheson 01:38 The Economic Impact of the World Cup 03:59 FIFA and Corruption 06:36 Will the World Cup Benefit Host Cities 16:17 World Cup Host Cities that Will Lose Money 17:50 How the United States’ Reputation is Hurting the World Cup 24:09 Pointless 40:26 Candle of the Month 49:17 Top 5 Summer Foods Contact the Show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices