Hang Your Hat wants 2019 to be the year you get your finances in order. In this episode I discuss budgeting philosophies, reducing expenses, and how the way we spend money has changed over the years.

Hang Your Hat

Episode 32: Household Budgets

On today’s special Christmas Episode of Hang Your Hat I am discussing the 12 Days of Christmas. In this episode I will explore the history behind the song, how it has changed over the years, and why there so many birds in the song.

Episode 31: The 12 Days of Christmas

Even though it is autumn now, down here in Florida it can still get pretty hot, and I was reminded just how hot it can get when Hurricane Michael struck my region. Hurricane Michael left me and thousands of others without electricity and therefore without air conditioning. It made me wonder, how did people stay cool before air conditioning existed? It turns out that ancient people didn’t just sweat it out. They actually came up with some really ingenious ways to keep their cool. On Episode 30 of Hang Your Hat, I explore some of the ways that ancient people stayed cool, even in the hottest climates, and what we can do today to stay cool without electricity.

Episode 30: Ancient Air Conditioning

There is a good chance you have heard the story about the inventor of the microwave standing in front of radar and noticing that the chocolate bar in his pocket had melted.  You probably haven't heard that the event that story was based on occurred more than 70 years ago, or that it wasn't actually a chocolate bar, or that despite growing up in poverty and having almost no formal education the invention of the microwave was among the least important contributions that the inventor of the microwave left to mankind.  Learn the real story on this week's episode of Hang Your Hat.

Episode 29: RadaRange

Here in the US when we think about Hygge, we usually think about cozying up with blankets next to the fire, but hygge can be a part of our lives all year round.  In this episode, I discuss the ways that we can bring some hygge into our lives this Spring, and why hygge is scientifically a good thing.

Episode 28: The Science of Springtime Hygge

Whether you are traveling for Spring Break, Easter, or the Christmas Holidays, Hang Your Hat has you covered.  On this week's show, I interview world traveler Doctor Aaron Davis, and he shares his favorite travel tips.

Episode 27: On the Road Again

Toilets in the US haven't changed much since the 1930's but change is on the horizon. Advancements in toilet technology will make us healthier, reduce the amount of time we spend cleaning, and even make deep space exploration possible.  Find out how on this week's episode of Hang Your Hat.  

Episode 26: The Future of Toilets

What is the most important invention ever?  If you base your answer on the number of lives saved then it is the toilet.  Toilets have reduced disease, improved child mortality rates, and made it possible for humans to live in close quarters.  In this episode, I explore the long history of the toilet from Neolithic drainage to today's porcelain wonders.

Episode 25: The Throne

Seventeen years ago the National Dairy Council put out a commercial about a little girl feeding Santa cheese instead of cookies.  Now, I have kids of my own, and we leave cookies for Santa every year, but I wonder if there is a better alternative, something Santa would like better than cookies and milk, like cheese.  On this episode of Hang Your Hat I explore the foods kids leave for Santa all around the world and hint, it isn't all cookies and milk.

Episode 24: Santa Food

The basic Thanksgiving dinner is pretty consistent throughout the US - turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and sides, however, there are significant differences in the ingredients and cooking methods used throughout the different regions in the country.  Most of those differences live in peaceful harmony, but there is one dish that has prompted more dinner table debates than any other - stuffing, also known as dressing. In this week's episode, we finally settle the debate.

Episode 23: Stuffing vs Dressing

No Halloween display is complete without a grinning Jack-o-lantern, but the Jack-o-lantern's origin story is not a happy tale. It is a tale of deceit and trickery and a murderous wondering soul. This week's episode is a modern retelling of the tale of Stingy Jack, the man behind the Jack-o-lantern.

Episode 22: The Tale of Stingy Jack

One of the best things to do in the world is cozying up to a big book for some marathon reading, but a bad reading spot can spoil the day. On this episode of Hang Your Hat learn how to create a reading spot that perfectly suits you.

Episode 21: Read 'em and Weep

Wallpaper used to be a lot more like regular paper than the easy clean scrubbable stuff we know today, and in the industrial era, it got really dirty.  It turns out that the beloved kid's toy Play-doh was originally made as a wallpaper cleaner.  In this episode learn about Play-doh's long journey from cleaning supply to worldwide toy sensation.

Episode 20: Wonderwall

It is time to officially make the transition to fall, and that starts with the Equinox.  In this week's episode we will explore what the equinox is and how it occurs, ways to celebrate the equinox, including several variations on harvest festivals, and how your work in the garden is not over even when the harvest is done.

Episode 19: Meet me on the Equinox

Work, clubs, sporting events, parent teacher meetings, doctor’s appointments, sometimes there is so much family business to keep track of it is a wonder we remember any of it. In this episode I am going to discuss some of the ways I have found that help me keep track of everything that is going on in my life, and why you are better off doing one thing at a time despite the pressure to multitask.

Episode 18: The Plan

The Hang Your Hat podcast is about the history, science, and culture of the home, as well as home design, DIY, and life in general.

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