FACTORALY
Two Voices Productions
Two British voiceover artists chat about random facts. New episodes every Thursday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E76 HOLES
Holes are a part of our lives. Our bodies are full of them, as is the universe around us. This episode explores some of the lesser-known aspects of holes. If you want to go down a hole of your own, click on the pics for a whole lot more hole fac Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E75 PRISONS
Prison isn't fun. but we thought it worthy of a Factoraly Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E74 BUSES
The bus was first invented as a service to transport a few people from Nantes to a Spa/Mill. Now 604 million people all over the world take the bus. What's the story behind this successful form of public transport? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E73 HORNS
The horn is synonymous with celebration. Whether it's for sounding the appearance of brave Vikings or drinking a toast to their return, horns get everywhere. From Egyptian gods to Toad of Toad Hall, the horn is a symbol of knowledge and reckless speed! Dive into this horn of plenty - it gets pretty noisy, though. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E72 TROUSERS
From ancient origins to modern styles, from practical purpose to cultural significance, trousers offer a fascinating lens through which to view history, social change, and even language itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E71 - SPECTACLES
This episode explores the history of eyeglasses, from their 13th-century Italian origins to the modern-day dominance of Luxottica. We detail the evolution of lens technology, examining both the science behind vision correction and the social impact of increased screen usage. It also highlights the cultural significance of spectacles through iconic wearers and quirky innovations, while discussing the business side of the industry and its potential monopolies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva
E70 CARPET
Carpets and rugs have been around for some time. From floors covered with rushes to modern deep-pile luxury, we've always enjoyed walking on something soft and lush. As always, clic on the pics for more information and fun facts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
CHRISTMAS: DAY 12 - MUSIC
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CHRISTMAS: DAY 11 - FILMS
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CHRISTMAS: DAY 10 - DECORATIONS
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CHRISTMAS: DAY 9 - THE NATIVITY
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CHRISTMAS: DAY 8 - RADIO TIMES
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CHRISTMAS: DAY 7 - PRESENTS
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CHRISTMAS: DAY 6 - DINNER
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CHRISTMAS: DAY 5 - CRACKERS
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CHRISTMAS: DAY 4 - TREES
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CHRISTMAS: DAY 3 - CARDS
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CHRISTMAS: DAY 2 - SANTA
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CHRISTMAS: DAY 1 - REINDEER
!2 days of Christmas - 12 mini Factoralys. Today, Reindeer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E69 GUINEA PIGS
They're cute, fluffy, fun, and, in some parts of the world, delicious, too. This time, we're investigating Guinea Pigs. As always, click on the pictures to go down a Guinea Pig Warren. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E68 JELLY
Jelly used to the the sole preserve of meats (well, along with salt, but that's another episode). Nowadays, apart from the occasional pate and pie, it's mostly used to make delicious trembley desserts. This episode goes deep into jelly and comes out a bit sticky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E67 THEFT
Nicking things is bad, but we're discussing how things are stolen and what's stolen this week on Factoraly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E66 ELEPHANTS
Elephants are outstanding animals. Apart from their sheer size and weight, they make a massive impression on us whenever we see one. And they have proper skills, too. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E65 CHEESE
Cheese is a staple in diets all over the world. But how did it start? What can you do with it (apart from eating it)? And what makes it so damned special? Factoraly answers some of these questions, and more can be found right here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E64 LAUGHTER
Laughter is something we do instinctively. One of the first noises that babies make is laughter. But why do we laugh? What is Laughter? And what makes us laugh? This episode covers some of that... and here you can find out more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E63 CHICKENS
Simon lays it on the line. Bruce pecks away at the facts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E62 HALLOWEEN
Halloween is a holiday that kids love, but it used to be more of a grown-up holiday. Find out all about the spookiest festival in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E61 FERRETS
These fascinating creatures have been keeping us company for quite some time - and since they don't eat grain, they've been keeping our stores rodent-free for thousands of years, too. Find out more here. And remember to click on the pics to go ferret-like down the rabbit holes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E60 ONIONS
Simon knows his. Bruce chops his. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E59 DOLLS
Dolls are ubiquitous. Wherever there are children, you'll find dolls. They are playmates who never argue, friends who always agree with you, and companions you can take everywhere with you.This week's episode is all about them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E58 Balloons
Everyone loves a balloon, right? Well, most people, anyway. This inflated story of the party favourite is floating about and popping with facts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E57 CAKE
Bruce has his. Simon eats his Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E56 WINDOWS
Where would we be without windows? We wouldn't know, because we wouldn't be able to see out and work out where we were! From humble beginnings as holes in the wall, windows have come a long way, with whole buildings now seemingly being made from one enormous window! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E55 BELLS
Ding Dong - as Leslie Philips used to say. This one is all about the sonic metal . Bells have been around for a while, and we hear them every day—on the bus, at home, in the street, walking into shops, at cash registers—bells are everywhere. In this one, we delve into the history of the bell and work out what makes them so special. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E54 COLOURS
Nothing is more ubiquitous than colour. It's everywhere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E53 HAIRDRESSING
Hairdressing is an ancient art, but never has it been more popular as a profession. Barbers and hairdressers are popping up on an almost daily basis. What's their origin? And what makes us so loyal? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E52 BIRTHDAYS
Everyone has a birthday. And almost everyone celebrates it. This is our 52nd week of Factoraly which means that we've been going for a year! So we're celebrating with this episode on birthdays. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E51 PERFUME
Simon is on the scent of facts. Bruce is a bit whiffy. Perfume has existed since the first chemists in Ancient Egypt. In this episode, we examine its constituents, uses, celebrity endorsements, and the reason why perfumes smell different on different people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E50 PIPES
Pipes are everywhere. You're probably never more than a few metres from one. In this episode, we explore the ins and outs of pipes of all kinds. From ones that make music, through ones that deliver substances and materials, to ones that make you cough. Pipes have been around for a very long time and continue to deliver. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E49 WASPS
Not many people like wasps, and when you learn more about them, their reproduction can be a bit gross. But they're every bit as useful as bees. And there are ways to avoid being annoyed by them. Go to the blog to find out how. https://www.factoraly.com/blog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E48 SMELLS
We take our sense of smell for granted until it's taken away from us by, oh, I don't know... a global pandemic? Smell is very important, not just for us but for every animal with an olfactory bowl. This episode goes into some detail on the weirder side of a sniff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E47 POLICE
Even if we never engage with the Police personally, we see their exploits and results in the news and all over TV in fiction. And we inevitably hear their sirens when going about our business. This episode is all about the boys and girls in blue (or black these days), their history and their time travelling boxes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E46 BATHTUBS
Bathtubs aren't something that most of us spend a lot of time thinking about. Unless you're remodelling a home, you probably don't even think about the noble bath. But it's hard to beat a tub as a place for winding down, cleaning up, and generally finding a sense of well-being. This time, we go into the history of the tub, its use over the ages, and why you would want to spend vast amounts of money on one. As always, click on the pics to go down inescapable plugholes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.
E45 CAMELS
Camels are the most amazing creatures. Designed for their habitat, they store water in their blood, fat in their hump (so they don't sweat much), and can carry large loads and run like the wind. This episode explores the beauty (literally in one case) of the design of the camel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E44 SECRETS
We almost made it to 30 minutes, but it's a fascinating subject and worth the extra six minutes! Secrets have been around forever, and we barely scratch the surface in this episode. However, as we scratch, we uncover a whole realm of subcutaneous facts that will surprise and delight you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E43 PIRATES
Being a pirate seems so romantic. Someone who refuses to follow the well-beaten shipping lanes and goes their own way. And that's kind of true. Except for the death and destruction... This episode looks at the body that clothes the Jolly Roger (see the episode on Flags) and what happens beyond the parrot and eyepatch. (Sounds like a pub!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E42 HATS
Hats have been around for a while. Egyptians and Romans wore them, and so do food delivery riders today. This one's all about this ubiquitous headgear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
41 SHEEP
Sheep are part of our heritage. We have worn woollen clothing forever, we have walked on woollen carpets from Axminster. We have work sheepskin in fighter planes and in used car lots. There's more to sheep than black or white. Click on the pics, as always, for shaggy stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E40 TELEGRAPH
The telegraph revolutionised communication for peace, war and finance, not to mention birthdays and weddings. Simon's feeling poorly this time, so our friend Greg Dwyer stands in for him and telegraphs an excellent performance (as usual). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E39 FANS
Fans have been keeping us cool for centuries, from huge ones that cool a whole room to small ones that flutter and send messages. We hope this episode makes you one of our biggest fans. If only... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E38 MISTAKES
We all make mistakes. Sometimes they make things better, sometimes, they make things worse, and sometimes they end up creating whole new industries and products! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E37 LEGO
Hats have been around for a while. Egyptians and Romans wore them, and so do food delivery riders today. This one's all about this ubiquitous headgear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E36 POISON
Poison is popular in crime fiction and around everywhere in, usually, in safe quantities, unless you live in Australia!This time, we go deep into venom and poison and come out with a healthy respect for toxins - but not the sort you need to flush out after a bit of exercise! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E35 RABBITS
Trivia is, by its nature, a rabbit hole. This time, we've decided to take a look at the animals that make the holes. Rabbits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E34 NASA
NASA is so well known that it's synonymous with space exploration. This time, the rabbit holes you'll enter by clicking the pics are more like wormholes! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E33 CURRY
There's no such thing as a curry. Well, there is, but it's not called that. So when you go for a curry, there can't be any calories in it because it doesn't exist. And anyway, it's very good for your health. So, tuck into this lot below! And click the pics to find out more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E32 CIRCUS
This time, we're running away to join the circus. From the Circus Maximus to the painting of clown faces on eggshells, this episode contains all the fun of the circus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E31 DIETS
Eating. Everone does it, but not everyone - or everything - eats the same things. This episode tackles the specifics of what we beat and why we eat it. And why we don't. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E30 FISHING
Fishing, or rather, angling, is still the UK's most popular pastime. We'll look at fishing techniques - including the weird world of Catfishing (no, not that catfishing) - and lures. from vast collections to the vastly expensive million dollar one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E29 DENTISTS
Dentistry. Science? Craft? Artform? Torture? Or all of these? In this episode, we look at the history of dentistry, what dentists have invented, and lots more shiny stuff. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E28 NORFOLK
East Anglia is hard to get to from London, which is probably why it's been allowed to keep so much of its unique character! And Norfolk is even further away than Suffolk, so it's special in all kinds of ways. This episode looks at just some of the character and characters that make up this distinctive county. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E27 NUTS
Nuts are some of the best and healthiest foods there are - even if they're not always technically nuts! This episode goes into the different types of foodstuff that we call nuts, and explains why some of them aren't nuts at all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E26 MONEY
It makes the world go around... but how much do you actually know about its history? In this episode, we go from bartering to Bitcoin and from cocoa beans to million-pound coins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E25 BREAKFAST
According to nutritionists, this time it's the most important meal of the day. There won't be much nutrition in sugary cereals, but you might feel better for a Bircher. Find out all about the breaking of the fast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E24 RUBBISH
Rubbish isn't always waste. Sometimes it can be really useful. Find out more in this rubbish episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E23 VIKINGS
From days of the week to 'Things' in long houses, the Vikings wandered the world, and left their mark, their art and their language everywhere they went. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E22 BICYCLES
This time it's life on two wheels as Simon and Bruce investigate the history and tragedy (sorry, MAMILs) and the general story of the bicycle. From its bone-shaking beginnings to the oddest tandem, you'll discover much more about the bike than you ever wanted to know! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E21 GLUE
Glue has been used for so long for so much that it's become integral to our lives from top (hair products) to toe (shoe soles) and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E20 PAPER ART
This time we discuss how pretty paper can be. Whether it's folded, cut, curled, or mashed, paper is immensely versatile. Come in and listen to a little 'Silhouetta' of two men! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E19 NEW YEAR'S
Are you sad that you didn't have all these New Year's facts at your fingertips before New Year? Well, we imagine your friends are very grateful that we released this episode AFTER New Year's Eve!Next year... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E18 PHOTOGRAPHY
In this longer-than-usual episode, you'll learn how obsessed the world has become with taking images, where it all started, and how many pictures it takes to capture a nuclear explosion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E17 SHOES
This week, it's footwear. We find out how clogs messed up machinery and learn to tell our right foot from our left. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E16 PREDICTIONS
This week, Simon and Bruce check out the future - or at least the various ways of predicting it. From the Soothsayers to the Simpsons, there are so many ways of knowing what's to come. Think of a number between 1 and 10. And, the number you thought of was... 7. Spooky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E15 FLAGS
Flags. You probably see at least one every day. But where do they come from? What do they mean? And why do flagpoles sometimes wear cravats? All this and more this week on Factoraly. Check out the show notes on the blog at Factoraly.com, comment on Facebook, or better yet, give this episode and all of Factoraly a five-star review in your podcast player! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E14 TREES
Another subject that just gets bigger and bigger - a bit like a tree, really. Trees have always been, and continue to be, one of the most important organisms in the life of humans. And yet, we take them for granted most of the time. This episode highlights just how vital (literally) trees are to us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E13 BOTTLES
In this episode, you'll discover how long glass bottles have been around (longer than you may think), and how to open a bottle of Champagne with a sabre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E12 TOILETS
It's a fact of life. When you've got to go, you've got to go, and the best place to go is always to the Factoraly podcast! This one is full of toilet humour. And Toilet facts. More than you ever wanted to know about, as Kermode and Mayo call it, 'Trying hard'. We're looking to get to number 1, but we'd be happy with number 2 in the charts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E11 TYPE AND PRINTING
Bruce's background in Art and Advertising means he's a proper type nerd. Simon sits back and takes it all in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E10 PLUGS
This show looks at plugs of all sorts. From bath plugs to electrical plugs... and beyond. If you can guess what sort of alternative plugs might be mentioned, then you might be in tune with Bruce... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E9 POTATOES
Spuds. Dull or what? Well, or what, actually. It turns out there's a lot more to the humble potato than you'd expect. The duo totter towards a tater with a lot of tittle-tattle surrounding the Central American tuber. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E8 CLEANING
No soft soaping on this one... Everything you never needed to know about getting rid of dirt, all in one half an hour of good clean fun. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E7 CARS
This week's subject isn't as boring as normal - especially in Bruce's eyes. A committed petrolhead, Bruce mashes the throttle to the floor whilst Simon cruises the mean city streets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E6 DOGS
As an ex-postman, Simon has had bad experiences with dogs. Bruce having had them all his life, feels quite differently. If your best friend is hairy, you're in for a wufferly time and you'll be sure to... SQUIRRELS! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E5 CONFECTION
Caution. This episode is full of sugar. Those with Type 2 may wish to listen in short bursts. Simon gets his rock off and Bruce luxuriates in chocolates. If you've ever had even the faintest of sweet tooths, you're going to enjoy this episode Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E4 FISH
One of our favourite fellow podcasts is not about fish, even though it's named after them. This differs in one particular aspect in that it's all about fish. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E1 CUCUMBERS
Who would have thought so much could be said about something as simple as a cucumber? This week, Simon and Bruce get under the skin of this underrated vegetable and discover it's more versatile than you would ever have thought possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E3 CODES
Do you know any Morse code (apart from if you need help at sea)? Actually, you do - you just don't know that you do. And there are loads of other codes, too. Once again, Bruce and Simon take the mundane and make a mountain out of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
E2 TOOLS
Another week. Another dull subject - that turns out to be anything but. Hitting the nail on the head this time when it comes to tools. From prehistoric stones to modern tech, man's use of tools is what inspired a man in a gorilla suit to throw a space station into the air in an iconic 1968 film. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.