Startseite Podcasts Don't Drink the Milk – The curious history of things

Don't Drink the Milk – The curious history of things

DW 26 Folgen Okt 7, 2026

We trace the unexpected backstories of everyday things that have traveled the world by force, chance, or choice. The show explores how an item or idea changes as it moves through different cultures and eras. It asks what surprising truths those journeys reveal about our world today.

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New DW Podcast: Call Sign Condor Okt 7, 2026 250 Why would someone risk their life for a country that's not their own? From LA Times Studios, DW, and Futuro Studios, this is a show about the thousands of Latin American soldiers who are fighting in Ukraine, for Ukraine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: Delayland – Germany and the Missing Magic Nov 20, 2025 142 Once dubbed an "economic miracle”, things don't run like they used to in Germany. This new DW original podcast endeavors to find out how Germany lost its magic and who’s got it now? Traveling beyond Germany — to India, France, Switzerland, and Denmark — the show explores how others are getting things right, and what Europe's former Wunderkind might learn from them. Whe

Prisons: Why can’t we break free? Dez 3, 2024 2662 Lock 'em up and throw away the key. Turns out that concept has been controversial from the beginning. There have always been cracks in the concept of incarceration, but have we let the system grow beyond our control? Journeying from prisons’ beginnings to now, and from the US to a small European country, we ask: who is prison actually serving?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invisible Work: Women strike back Nov 19, 2024 2739 Women around the world and across generations are connected by this familiar thing that you can't actually see: invisible labor. The mountain of tasks that go unseen and undervalued, and which fall mainly on the shoulders of women. From Icelandic grandmothers to Escape the Corset and 4B activists in South Korea, here's what happens when women push back.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor

Reality TV: Our ancient thirst for drama Nov 5, 2024 2151 The gladiator's heart is beating hard as he dons his armor. The gates open and the crowd goes wild. He steps forward and finds himself in... the Bachelor Mansion?! Get ready for a trip from Ancient Rome to Laguna Beach as we track down the roots of reality TV and ask: Why are we so drawn to drama? Who really holds the power? And are we closer to the action than we realize?See omnystudio.com/listen

The Missionary Position: Preaching, power and getting pregnant Okt 23, 2024 2224 Weird name for a sex position, right? Well, the story behind it is just as strange - involving the Church, the full moon (or was it campfires?), and some mixed messages. But what can unravelling the mysterious backstory of this most rudimentary of sex positions tell us about sex, shame and evangelizing around the world - even today?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: The Secret Life of Canada | Was the plot to assassinate Lincoln hatched in Canada? Okt 8, 2024 1598 The Secret Life of Canada from CBC Podcasts is a podcast about the country you know and the stories you don't. Join hosts Leah-Simone Bowen and Falen Johnson as they reveal the beautiful, terrible and weird histories of this land. More episodes of The Secret Life of Canada are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/E8i4Tn2T?maca=en-podcast_dont_drink_the_milk-35517-xml-mrssSee omnystudio.com/listene

Lawns: Is yours giving sun king or pink flamingo? Sep 24, 2024 2038 "Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are," said an English poet. What can a well-manicured lawn reveal about social status, our relationship to the Earth and the American Dream? A surprising amount. From fancy French palace gardens to suburban America, come along for the garden party as we mow over the history of the lawn – and ask if its time is up.See omnystudio.com/listener for pr

ZIP codes: Delivering more than you bargained for Sep 10, 2024 2014 Psst, your ZIP code is telling all your secrets. In fact, so much is hidden in that short string of digits at the end of your address – we're talking pride, discrimination and marketing gold. Starting with a bulging wartime mail sack and ending with a cup of tea down an Irish country road – this is the winding journey of the postal code.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opioids: Old high, new low Aug 27, 2024 2155 The opioid crisis is unfolding around us in real time. But it isn’t just a problem in the US. Following the trail of a new outbreak in addiction leads us across continents and eventually full circle to where one of history’s most addictive drugs was first concocted. Pain relief, dependency and life-destroying consequences – this is how opioids entered the pharmaceutical market and keep us hooked.S

Witch hunts: The medieval conspiracy that just won't die Aug 13, 2024 2569 When did you last hear the phrase "witch hunt"? Thanks to powerful figures like Donald Trump, chances are you see it in the headlines pretty often. Whispers of witchcraft go way back, but the conspiracy really took hold in medieval Europe — with deadly consequences. So how come it's still around, and how has the power shifted? Our adventure reveals why this chapter of history is far from closed.Se

Don't Drink the Milk Season 2 is coming soon! Jun 4, 2024 78 Join us as we hit the road again to uncover the weird and wonderful backstories of familiar things and how they made their way around the world. This season we're delving into sex positions, drug epidemics, reality TV, mowing the lawn and much more. How do these things connect us to disparate cultures and eras and what do their stories reveal about our world today? You're in for an adventure.See o

Travel Bite: Bulgarian boza for your bosom Mai 21, 2024 765 What's the key to success on most trips? Hanging out with a local. Luckily for us, we had one with us for our adventures in Bulgaria last season! We invite Rayna back on the podcast to reminisce about the warm welcome from Bulgarians and a major dairy overload. She shares some useful language tips, as well as stories of out-of-this-world music and a Balkan delicacy with unexpected side effects.See

Travel Bite: Small country, big personality - North Macedonia Mai 7, 2024 917 Why did North Macedonia splurge on statues? And what do the locals do with strong alcohol, apart from drink it? We revisit our journey to the Balkan nation to dig up some of the oddities and delicacies we encountered in the capital, which is home to a colorful, curious mix of influences old and new, communist and capitalist, Ottoman and Roman.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel Bite: German home remedies Apr 16, 2024 938 When might a German grandma turn to a tiny sack of chopped onion? Rachel welcomes back Shabnam Surita to play doctor and dig into a few German health quirks. So, pour yourself a cup of bronchial tea and settle in. Disclaimer: The remedies in this episode are presented for their cultural interest, not as health advice!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: Doomsday bunkers & the Finnish sense of humor from Passport Mär 26, 2024 2547 We're on a season break but we didn't want to leave you hanging. So this week we're bringing you more adventure, revelation and history – this time from the Passport podcast. In this episode, they head deep underground in Helsinki, to dig into the psyche of the happiest nation on Earth and its conflict-ridden past.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel Bite: Spicing up the British pub Mär 5, 2024 852 Who's hungry? We've got tasty travel morsels to tide you over until Season 2. These are the tidbits, tangents and tales that didn't make it into Season 1, but might come in handy on your next trip! This week, we reminisce about our beer-fuelled London jaunt and get acquainted with desi pubs – multicultural spaces that serve up history, equality and community, along with a side of beer and curry.Se

Bagels: Coming full circle Feb 6, 2024 1978 The bagel is in its rainbow era, but this beloved bread's journey goes way back. We're rounding off season one with a dense, doughy episode that's both scrumptious and surprising. We trace the humble bagel's roots to medieval Poland and follow its North American makeover (are you team New York or Montreal?). A snack for queens, laborers and trendsetters – here's the real story of the bagel.See omn

India Pale Ale: Hipster hype or colonial hangover? Jan 23, 2024 2879 IPA – the trailblazer of craft beers – holds within it stories of empire, exploitation and evolution. We head to the pub (it's hard work, but someone's gotta do it) and explore British rule in India and its legacy today. Pour yourself a pint, because we've brewed up one ale of an episode looking at where your favorite craft beer really comes from – and everything that got exported along with it.Se

Introducing: The Disappearing Spoon Jan 9, 2024 1344 We're on a short break, but of course, you still need a dose of quirky history – so here's another podcast we think you'll love. The Disappearing Spoon is a topsy-turvy, science-y history podcast hosted by science writer Sam Kean. This episode tells the mysterious story of Soviet scientists who starved to death while surrounded by food during the Nazi invasion of Russia in World War II.See omnystu

Christmas: Piñatas & pavlovas Dez 19, 2023 1463 With so many places around the world celebrating the holiday, a lot of countries put their own very unique spin on the season's traditions. Japan, we're looking at you. Test your yuletide knowledge in our festive Christmas quiz! The team also dares to take on a fiery holiday parlor game – but are we as brave as Victorian children? Join us to find out in this especially merry episode.See omnystudio

Homeopathy: Can sugar pills fill the holes in modern medicine? Dez 13, 2023 2498 Can we cure loneliness with diluted extracts of the Berlin Wall? Or COVID with diluted arsenic? This is the story of how a maverick medic from eastern Germany harnessed the placebo effect and exported it worldwide. A journey across two centuries and three continents, from doctors’ surgeries to supermarket shelves and right into government.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oracles: Echoes of ancient prophets in the age of AI Nov 21, 2023 2516 Humans have always wanted to look into the future – but have we lost control over it? Travel with us to the bellybutton of the world to uncover the secrets of the oracles of old and to find out what they can show us about our algorithm-driven present. It's a tale of fate and free will, from Oedipus to AI, from Greece to the Netherlands and beyond. Take your seats for an episode in three acts.See o

Milk: From mutations to mustaches Nov 7, 2023 2533 Who put the cheese in your stuffed-crust pizza? Or cows on a Caribbean island? And when more than half the world's population can't actually digest milk, is it really essential for a healthy diet? On a trip through time and taste – to dairy-obsessed Bulgaria, colonial Trinidad and Tobago and the 'Got Milk?' era – we explore humanity's millennia-long relationship with milk.See omnystudio.com/listen

Passports: Freedom for sale Okt 24, 2023 2327 The little booklets we use to cross borders and take a vacation abroad didn't always exist. So where did they come from? Stories of privilege, control and belonging are hidden in the watermarked pages of our passports. Our travels take us to a little country with a complicated past, where we find some unexpected pieces of the puzzle – from citizenship to micronations to cold hard cash.See omnystud

What's in a name? A game of Broken Telephone Okt 17, 2023 671 A brainstorming session takes an unexpected turn, leading us to the land of Jane Austen, Bridgerton and Victorian parlor games. But what's that got to do with Russian scandals, a 90s classic kids' movie and a bucket of milk? Join us for the first episode of Don't Drink the Milk to find out what's up with our quirky name.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: Don't Drink the Milk Okt 10, 2023 90 Join us as we journey across Europe and beyond, tracing the unexpected backstories of things we all think we know well. Discover how they made their way around the world – by force, by chance or by choice. No need to pack your bags. Just be sure to subscribe to Don't Drink the Milk, wherever you listen to podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.