Omnibus

An encyclopedic reference of strange-but-true stories compiled as a time capsule for future generations.

About the show

Every week, Ken Jennings and John Roderick add a new entry to the OMNIBUS, an encyclopedic reference work of strange-but-true stories that they are compiling as a time capsule for future generations.

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Episodes

  • Episode 242: Chinook Jargon (Entry 215.1C1413)

    March 19th, 2020  |  57 mins 48 secs

    In which a very old Native American trading pidgin becomes a regional language and 20th-century slang, and Ken goes to a movie theater that basically confessed to genocide. Certificate #5725.

  • Episode 241: Patagonian Giants (Entry 907.MT0627)

    March 17th, 2020  |  54 mins 44 secs

    In which the world's tallest tribe, if they even exist, are enslaved by Ferdinand Magellan and downsized by subsequent visitors, and John reminds us of the importance of good posture. Certificate #33392.

  • Episode 240: Bill W. (Entry 122.NU0603)

    March 12th, 2020  |  1 hr 29 mins

    In which one rough night for a traveling salesman in Akron, Ohio births a new spiritual approach to addiction recovery, and Ken suggests some interesting anagrams for post-human Presbyterian listeners. Certificate #19544.

  • Episode 239: Hikikomori (Entry 587.1K2225)

    March 10th, 2020  |  1 hr 8 mins

    In which a generation of traumatized Japanese young people increasingly decide never to come out of their bedrooms, whereas John insists on dying alone. Certificate #50644.

  • Episode 238: Cow Magnets (Entry 289.JL0118)

    March 5th, 2020  |  1 hr 3 mins

    In which we learn that ruminants are eating a lot more metal nowadays than they used to, and that Ken would like to have a gravel spoon at dinner. Certificate #28929

  • Episode 237: Longitudinal Film (Entry 734.PS9010)

    March 3rd, 2020  |  1 hr 19 mins

    In which British documentarians and Austin slackers alike use the movies to unveil the mysteries of aging and mortality, and John leaves a series of women waiting for him at train stations in Spain. Certificate #48149

  • Episode 236: Hands Across America (Entry 565.PR1121)

    February 27th, 2020  |  1 hr 13 mins

    In which the 1980s fad for charity pop singles inspires an ambitious geographic stunt, and Ken plans a foolproof way to assassinate Jamie Farr. Certificate #26004

  • Episode 235: Operation Just Cause (Entry 869.EZ4510)

    February 25th, 2020  |  52 mins 19 secs

    In which the bizarre 1989 American invasion of Panama kicks off our modern era of on-the-nose Pentagon naming conventions, and John is reminded of a dominatrix, as usual. Certificate #19345.

  • Episode 234: Trafalgar vs. Carmania (Entry 1325.IS2314)

    February 20th, 2020  |  1 hr 7 mins

    In which the First World War begins in an unexpected fashion, with two ocean liners blowing holes in each other off the coast of Brazil, and Ken gets gaslit into buying a tuxedo. Certificate #32056.

  • Episode 233: The Dogon (Entry 369.DE0419)

    February 18th, 2020  |  58 mins 12 secs

    In which an African tribe proves so eager to please that they convince generations of ethnographers that alien visitors from Sirius are real, and John gets annoyed that ancient astronauts never invented baseball. Certificate #26731.

  • Episode 232: Cincinnati Chili (Entry 223.2K0440)

    February 13th, 2020  |  49 mins 4 secs

    In which an early fast food boom, Greek immigration, and (of course) the World's Fair conspire to trick Ohioans into redefining "chili," and John gets justifiably upset about bananas on spaghetti. Certificate #24598.

  • Episode 231: Snow Valley, Oklahoma (Entry 1182.JB2419)

    February 11th, 2020  |  1 hr 12 mins

    In which a Vermonter with an ill-conceived dream brings skiiing very briefly to the Sooner State, and Ken attempts to secure his family some very rare Pokemon cards. Certificate #17398.