No Such Thing As A Fish No Such Thing As Magical Fox Phishing
35 snips
Feb 19, 2026 Ray O'Leary, New Zealand comedian known for deadpan wit, joins the conversation. They jump from Merv Griffin's surprising royalty windfalls to Japan's meticulous phone-answering championships. Lively threads on Rousseau's contradictions, manta and mobula ray reproductive oddities, and bizarre reception stories keep the pace brisk and quirky.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Jeopardy Theme Made Its Writer Rich
- Ray O'Leary recounts that the Jeopardy theme lullaby has earned over $70 million because its creator, Merv Griffin, wrote and was paid royalties each airing.
- The tune's ubiquity across hundreds of episodes yearly made Griffin wealthy from his self-composed short theme.
Ceremonial Phone Politeness In Japan
- Japan runs an annual All Japan Phone Answering Championship judging receptionists on politeness, clarity, silence and final impression over three-minute calls.
- The contest shows how phone etiquette is institutionalised and culturally prized in Japanese business life.
Why Japanese Say 'Moshi Moshi'
- The hosts discuss that Japanese callers answer 'moshi moshi' which historically signalled 'I am going to talk' rather than a plain hello.
- A folklorist adds a playful origin: magic foxes can't say 'moshi moshi', so humans use it as a shibboleth.