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Kathryn is the co-host of Coolest Stuff on the Planet podcast and editor of a wide array of articles at HowStuffWorks.com She loves to travel and can't get enough of it. Last trip was to South Africa, next one will hopefully be the Greek Isles. She has a Communications degree from Cornell University and was previously a magazine editor and an editorial supervisor at PR Newswire. She is most often asked, "Where is that accent from?" Answer: Jamaica, man!
Most Recent: Kathryn Whitbourne Postings
Traveling on the Orient Express
by Kathryn Whitbourne | February 10, 2012
Something about trains conjures up glamour, romance and mystery and even though there are many quicker and cheaper ways of getting around, I’ve always wanted to experience a luxury train trip — maybe I’ve read too many of those classic English crime novels.
The Colors of the Running of the Bulls
by Kathryn Whitbourne | February 6, 2012
Viewing our podcast of the Running of the Bulls, in Pamplona, Spain, you can’t help but notice the official uniform of the event: white pants, white T-shirt, red sash and red neckerchief. So that got me wondering if there was any significance to the outfit.
The Painted Beauties of Bucovina
by Kathryn Whitbourne | January 20, 2012
This is a group of 48 monasteries whose walls are painted with biblical themes in very vivid colors. The most famous is the Voronet, which is referred to as the Sistine Chapel of the East. But unlike that religious edifice in Italy, this one has maintained its brilliant colors throughout the years.
Of Tigers and Devils in Tasmania
by Kathryn Whitbourne | January 13, 2012
I’ll confess that the first thing I thought of when we started researching our Tasmania episode was the Tasmanian devil — and I mean the one in the Bugs Bunny cartoons. The cartoon creator based this “dimwitted carnivore with the notoriously short temper” on the real Tasmanian devil, insofar as its voracious appetite and hostile demeanor.
Walking on the Craters of Moon, Idaho
by Kathryn Whitbourne | January 6, 2012
It’s the 1800s and you’re a pioneer on the Oregon Trail heading west from Missouri to Oregon. There’s shortcut from Arco to Fort Boise, Idaho that takes you away from attacking Indians and shortens the journey. But here’s what you see:
Hopefully you’ve finished your Christmas shopping by now. If not, you’ll have to get your hustle on. And maybe next year, plan ahead and visit one of the Christmas markets held traditionally in Germany but found all over the world, including Toronto, Paris, England, Chicago and Georgetown, Colorado. Fulfill all your holiday fantasies at one [...]
Do Panama hats have anything to do with Panama? Not on your life. They actually come from Ecuador and have been around since the 1600s. They got the name when workers on the Panama Canal (and President Theodore Roosevelt) wore them as stylish protection against the heat. That was one surprise we got when researching [...]
Coffee and Ice Cream in Vienna
by Kathryn Whitbourne | December 9, 2011
This podcast was partially inspired by Rachel and my love of coffee. And Vienna is world-famous for its coffee houses, where intellectuals gathered in the days before home central heating, to discuss the ideas of the day (and still do). While in the U.S., we tend to think of Viennese coffee as very specifically prepared [...]
Stereotypes — Canadian and Otherwise
by Kathryn Whitbourne | December 3, 2011
We have a viewer in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in the Canadian prairies to thank for this week’s podcast. Laurie brought her quirky little town to our radar and we thought it deserved wider notice. Who knew that tunnel ran directly from Moose Jaw to Chicago during Prohibition? There are actually two tours of the tunnels: [...]
Music Video from Montserrat
by Kathryn Whitbourne | November 18, 2011
Hope you enjoyed our podcast on Montserrat in Spain. Escalonia de Montserrat has posted a nice video on Youtube showcasing the choir and some nice shots of the monastery. Enjoy:
Recent Postings by Category
BrainStuff
- Thank You and Best Wishes to Marshall Brain
- Contest – Design a $300 house and win $25,000
- How the Philtrum works – the place under your nose where your face comes together
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
- Sailing, Takes Me Away…To The Seychelles
- Cute Animal Tuesday: Black Vulture
- Traveling on the Orient Express
Keep Asking
- Why can a 5 foot 8 inch man dunk a basketball on a 10 foot rim while some people of taller stature can’t?
- What happens to our sun once it runs out of fuel?
- How do we know the age of the universe?
Stuff Mom Never Told You
- Who invented the Christmas card?
- How the Kinsey Report Fueled Whiskey Sales
- How to Get Your Wedding Announcement into The New York Times
Stuff to Blow Your Mind
- The Seven Deadlies: Pride Cometh Before the Brain
- Warhammer 40K: 25 Years of Orks in Space
- A Visit to the Tellus Science Museum
Stuff You Should Know
- The Southern Death Cult, the Maya and Georgia
- Deformed Baby Spider Brains
- Amazing Medical Conditions: Maple Syrup Urine Disorder
The Stuff of Genius
CarStuff
- Was Chrysler’s “It’s Halftime in America” Super Bowl commercial a little too political?
- Why is NASA studying car safety?
- Tips for in-car Navigation Systems
How-to Stuff
- How to Make the Most of a Gallery Crawl (When You’re on a Shoestring Budget)
- How to Swim with Dolphins (When Deep Water Terrifies You)
- How to Cure a Homemade Cookie Craving Without Turning on the Oven
PopStuff
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 43: Drag Queens: You Better Work!
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 42: Road Trip!
- PopStuff Show Notes: Episode 41: Celebrity Couples
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Stuff to Change the World
- Who will own the Arctic?
- Obesity: The New Global Crisis
- Bill Gates Makes For A Pretty Decent Cartoon
Stuff You Missed in History Class
- Butch Cassidy: Should we read between the lines?
- Are we rooting for D.B. Cooper?
- Party Time: A Look at Unconventional Politics
