Moments of Hark

May 2025

From a paintball game that went wrong, to the world's oldest rap battle star, here are this month's podcast moments to make you go "wow!"

From a paintball game that went wrong, to the world's oldest rap battle star, here are ... more

Hosted byJody Avirgan

Curated byHark Editors

21 CLIPS1 HR 44 MINS

Clip 1 of 21

How Beethoven Composed Music After Going Deaf

At the start of the 19th century, as Beethoven was the most famous composer in the world, he was also going deaf. Here’s how he managed to continue making music.

How Beethoven Composed Music After Going Deaf

Twenty Thousand Hertz

5 MINS

Clip 2 of 21

When Music Was Printed on X-Rays

Discover how 1950s Russian dissidents copied forbidden music onto discarded x-rays—turning human bones into makeshift records in an extraordinary act of cultural resistance.

Dan Snow's History Hit

4 MINS

Clip 3 of 21

Mike Drucker’s First Paintball Game

Comedian Mike Drucker agreed to take part in a paintball game in Nintendo’s old office park. But things did not go as he hoped.

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

6 MINS

Clip 4 of 21

The Leaning Tower of Niles, Illinois

Why does a village in Illinois have a half-sized version of the infamous Leaning Tower of Pisa? There’s a fascinating story behind it.

The Atlas Obscura Podcast

4 MINS

Clip 5 of 21

The Man Who Brought Ice to the Tropics

Frederick Tudor was the unsuccessful middle son of a Harvard man. But while in debtors' jail, he had the idea for an international ice trade that made him millions.

Proof

6 MINS

Clip 6 of 21

The Science of Farts

Did you know that farting every day can save our lives? 'Terrestrials' urges us not to hold them in any longer.

Radiolab for Kids

5 MINS

Clip 7 of 21

The Woman Who Invented Mother’s Day, Then Disowned It

Anna Jarvis wanted a day to celebrate her mom, so she created Mother’s Day. But she quickly became frustrated by the speed at which it became commercialized.

The Woman Who Invented Mother’s Day, Then Disowned It

This Day

5 MINS

Clip 8 of 21

How to Build the Perfect Rollercoaster

Theme park rides have moved on substantially over the last 20 years… and the newest ones are costing over $100 million. Here's how you could make a new one.

The Economics of Everyday Things

5 MINS

Clip 9 of 21

The Rise and Rise of Mexican Popsicles

Frozen treats are in the plazas of every town in Mexico. And they are starting to take over the world.

Very Special Episodes

3 MINS

Clip 10 of 21

The Broccoli-Themed Birthday Party

Luann Sims didn’t want to throw her son the same type of birthday party that other children had. That’s when she came up with the perfect vegetable-themed event…

The Moth

5 MINS

Clip 11 of 21

The Art of Sound Design

The very best sound design in movies is so good you don’t even notice it. But the genius that goes into making these sounds has to be seen to be believed.