<![CDATA[Roz's Random Ramblings]]> https://rss.com/podcasts/roz-s-random-ramblings I am a linguist and professional researcher who loves doing all kinds of research, especially about history. People sometimes ask me questions about language or history or various other things, and if I don't already know the answer, I do the research for them and explain it to them later. I decided to make a podcast out of some of the questions people have asked me, because if one person asked, then there must be a few more who asked or who would at least be interested. Right?

Join me as I dive into a wide variety of topics, focusing mainly on the history and language related to those items, from word origins to people's origins (genealogy) to art, science, culture, food, literature, animals... almost anything is fair game for me to ramble about.

]]> RSS.com 2026.428.112250 Sun, 07 Jun 2026 16:30:52 GMT en 900ddb50-2679-5d1e-94ac-0ba194ab3b2b https://media.rss.com/roz-s-random-ramblings/podcast_cover_20260601_030643_3d628b24e5321d6c8368f71b5d36bc84.png Roz's Random Ramblings https://rss.com/podcasts/roz-s-random-ramblings no Roz Hirch Roz Hirch Roz Hirch false episodic podcast false <![CDATA[What’s the deal with Iowa?]]> This episode looks at the answers to two questions: How did Madrid, Iowa, get its name? and How did Kossuth, Humboldt, and Webster counties get their shapes? Both have entertaining answers about how the wild west... well, maybe madcap midwest is more accurate... was settled, and some of the characters that left their mark on history. No shootouts or wagon trains or anything like that, but adventurous nonetheless.

]]> https://rss.com/podcasts/roz-s-random-ramblings/2874552 e49fa63a-10b0-424e-82fe-955634d6e3c2 1032 full 1 1 7 7 false Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:11:09 GMT false <![CDATA[Why is Korean food so spicy?]]> If you've ever had Korean food, one thing you know is that they like their spice. But why do Koreans love spicy food? This episode looks at the history of gochu, a distinctly Korean spice, including theories about where it came from and why Koreans love it so much. My usual humorous approach to the topic, including several fun anecdotes from my own personal experiences with Koreans and spicy food. Spicy!

]]> https://rss.com/podcasts/roz-s-random-ramblings/2874525 0cbab97c-eba6-4f6f-9bba-3d9097379c1c 1272 full 1 1 6 6 false Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:11:07 GMT false <![CDATA[Where do cookies come from?]]> Where do cookies come from? The answer may surprise you. This episode is a wild and crazy ride through the history of cookies, discussing where they come from and how they got their name.

]]> https://rss.com/podcasts/roz-s-random-ramblings/2874537 6ff0b6bd-7915-46ca-b357-84766a0da088 1159 full 1 1 5 5 false Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:11:03 GMT false <![CDATA[Who were my ancestors? Randy's ancestors, round 1]]> This episode changes things up a bit - got to be random! - by looking at a couple of generations from my brother-in-law's family tree. Specifically, his 14th and 15th great grandparents, who hung out in the court of the notorious King Henry VIII. Think Henry's life and romances were crazy? Well, they were, but the Staffords, Nevilles, and Howards did their best to keep up with him. Take a closer look at the lives of a few nobles in the court of King Henry VIII, who also happen to be my brother-in-law Randy's ancestors.

]]> https://rss.com/podcasts/roz-s-random-ramblings/2874518 5d5a45b8-a4c7-419b-b8a7-3fc3efa8d193 1013 full 1 1 4 4 false Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:11:00 GMT false <![CDATA[How can green simultaneously refer to something good and bad?]]> Have you ever noticed that green often represents both good things and bad? Green likely makes you think of foliage and new growth, but it is also the color used to represent poisons and witches' brews and people getting sick. How did that happen? This episode looks at the history of the word green, focusing on how and why it has developed these dual meanings. Look forward to feeling fresh, followed by feeling sick, in this revealing look at the color green.

]]> https://rss.com/podcasts/roz-s-random-ramblings/2874511 62c85b8b-3fc5-4881-9307-f42a5475b8e2 1097 full 1 1 3 3 false Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:10:57 GMT <![CDATA[Why does everyone have lawns?]]> In this episode, I try to answer the question: Why does everyone have lawns? Which isn't true - some people don't - but there are certainly a lot of them. This episode looks at the etymology and history of lawns from a somewhat humorous angle to explore the popularity of lawns, both yesterday and today.

]]> https://rss.com/podcasts/roz-s-random-ramblings/2874505 2e0e5788-d240-4246-bb8f-9ea05234d20c 1115 full 1 1 2 2 false Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:10:54 GMT false <![CDATA[What's up with two, to, and too?]]> Ever wonder why "two, to, and too" sound the same, even though they're spelled differently and mean different things? This episode offers a somewhat whimsical look at an answer to the question with a deep dive into the history and phonology of the three function words. Hopefully as entertaining as it is informative.

]]> https://rss.com/podcasts/roz-s-random-ramblings/2874490 3cf3a25a-a409-40f3-9c34-3c6c7ac8b1a4 1174 full 1 1 false Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:10:48 GMT false