No Such Thing As A Fish No Such Thing As The God of Snooze Buttons
20 snips
Apr 9, 2026 
Anne Miller, children's author and former QI producer, stops by to chat. She dives into obscure Greek bean deities and rituals. The conversation hops to comic strip rescue, Popeye and Mario origins. They also explore naked mole-rat social roles and strange myths like Tantalus and Lew Wallace's snooze-button rumor.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Ben-Hur Dedication Mistake Sparked Unintended Obituaries
- Lew Wallace's wife Susan accidentally made Ben-Hur's dedication read like she was dead, causing condolence letters and marriage proposals to Wallace.
- Wallace later 'fixed' it to emphasize she still 'abides with me,' and the mishap became a lasting literary anecdote tied to the book's fame.
Greek Religion Gave Everyday Things Their Own Gods
- The ancient Greeks had many minor specialized deities like Kaimites, god of beans, reflecting how crucial items gained their own divine patrons.
- Beans were tied to death rituals and Demeter's cult, explaining Pythagoras's bean aversion and minor god status.
Eurycleia Became A Perfect Hedge Fund Name
- Thomas Fedorek highlighted Uriclea Partners named after Eurycleia, the servant who recognized Odysseus by his scar, making it a witty choice for a financial firm.
- Andrew praised the name as perfect because Eurycleia's insight equates to recognizing valuable opportunities.
