Summary
Overview
Tom Scott hosts the Lateral podcast with guests from 'Here's What You Do' - James Smales, Johnny Robbins, and John Cantrell. The episode features a series of lateral thinking puzzles covering topics from prohibition-era sandwich eating to Lady Gaga's meat dress, with each guest bringing their own question to challenge the group. The format combines historical trivia with wordplay and clever misdirection.
The 13 Sandwiches Mystery - Prohibition Era Cover Story
The episode opens with a fascinating prohibition-era puzzle about a Chicago bar patron who suddenly ordered and ate 13 sandwiches in 1928. The guests work through the clues about bootlegging and gangsters before discovering the patron was trying to hide illegal alcohol money from authorities. Despite his creative sandwich-based alibi, agents still searched the bar anyway, leaving him disappointed without his drink.
- In 1928 Chicago, a patron ordered and ate 13 sandwiches then left disappointed
- The year 1928 places this during prohibition when alcohol was illegal
- Patrons needed plausible reasons for having money on the counter if authorities arrived
- The patron had placed two dollar bills intending to buy alcohol when agents entered
- He quickly ordered sandwiches to maintain his cover story and ate all 13 of them
" I think this will hold me until supper. "
The Italian Fart Muffler - Renaissance Civility Device
James Smales presents a question about an Italian idiom 'parlare a vanvera' that refers to a 17th century leather pouch. After much speculation about money, weapons, and spices, the guests discover this device was worn under clothing to muffle flatulence sounds during social situations. The phrase now means 'to talk nonsense' or 'speak without thinking,' evolving from its origins as a device for bodily function discretion.
- The vanvera was a small leather pouch worn against the body in 17th century Italy
- It was designed to muffle sounds and contain smells of flatulence during social situations
- Once the wearer had privacy, the pouch could be emptied
- The phrase 'parlare a vanvera' now means to talk nonsense or speak without thinking
" Is it literally a muffler for your bottom? "
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