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No Such Thing As A Fish
No Such Thing As A Fish

Little Fish: Gary Scrabble

February 15, 2026 • 28m

Summary

⏱️ 7 min read

Overview

A fun-filled episode of No Such Thing As A Fish where the hosts share fascinating facts about everything from linguistic oddities in Kiribati to Jack Daniels boycotts in Canada, Disney's musical runway, and the challenges of funeral logistics in Victorian England. The episode features listener-submitted facts, trivia competitions with whiskey prizes, and historical curiosities ranging from novel reading as a medical condition to Kenny G's cultural influence in China.

Language Origins and Animal Names

The discussion begins with an amusing linguistic fact about Kiribati, where the word for dog comes from English sailors calling "come here" to their animals. This leads to a broader conversation about the islands themselves, their naming history, and the peculiar ways languages evolve through cultural contact and misunderstandings.

  • The word for dog in Kiribati is 'kamea,' derived from English speakers saying 'come here' to dogs
  • Kiribati was formerly known as the Gilbert Islands and also as the Kings Mill Islands

Hot Wheels Spiders and Toy History

Dan shares a delightful fact about scientific nomenclature meeting pop culture - a Chinese spider species named after the Hot Wheels toy brand. This sparks a conversation about the origins of Hot Wheels, revealing connections to Barbie's creator and the fascinating history of iconic American toys from the mid-20th century.

  • A Chinese ground spider species is officially named Hot Wheels Sisyphus
  • Hot Wheels was invented by Elliot Handler, husband of Barbie creator Ruth Handler
  • The Handler family also created Creepy Crawlers and Chatty Kathy dolls
" Imagine if Sisyphus had to push his boulder around and loop the loop. That was probably level two, if he ever got to it, which he never did. "

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