Everyone loves to complain about it — but preparing a meal that tastes good at 35,000 feet is harder than you might think. Zachary Crockett will have the fish. SOURCES:Molly Brandt, innovation chef for North America at Gategroup.Chris Kinsella, chief commercial officer for North America at Gategroup.Guillaume de Syon, professor of history at Albright College. RESOURCES:"No Thanks, Grandma, I’m Saving Room for Airplane Food," by Christine Chung (New York Times, 2023)."The Golden Age of airplane food is over. The future: Snacks and sustainability." by Natalie Comptom (The Washington Post, 2019)."Why does food taste different on planes?" by Katia Moskvitch (BBC, 2015)."And to Penny-Pinching Wizardry," by Claudia Deutsch (New York Times, 2001)."The Pioneering Years: Commercial Aviation 1920–1930," by Rich Freeman (U.S. Centennial of Flight).
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20:04
94. Fireworks Shows
Every year, America celebrates its independence with millions of dollars worth of explosives imported from China. Zachary Crockett lights a fuse and backs away quickly. SOURCES:JJ Brau, fireworks coordinator for J&M Displays.Mark Johnson, vice president of J&M Displays. RESOURCES:"The explosive history of fireworks, from ancient China to Revolutionary America," by Joe Hernandez (NPR, 2024)."July 4 fireworks fiasco solved – technically," by Jonathan Horn (The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2016)."The Fireworks King," by Damian Paletta and Emily Rauhala (The Washington Post, 2018)."Exploding The Mystery Of Blue Fireworks," by Short Wave (2013)."How Do Fireworks Make Shapes?" by Natalie Wolchover (Live Science, 2011). EXTRAS:"Agreement Between The City of Rapid City and J&M Displays, Inc. for Annual Fireworks Displays" (2023).
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21:25
93. Pearls
These glistening round gemstones have come a long way since your grandmother's time, but procuring them is still a lot of work. The world is Zachary Crockett’s oyster. SOURCES:Jeremy Shepherd, C.E.O. of Pearl Paradise.James Brown, owner of Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm. RESOURCES:"Pearls Have Acquired a New Luster Among Young Designers," by Victoria Gomelsky (New York Times, 2024)."The Value of Pearls: A Historical Review and Current Trends," by Akitsugu Sato and Laurent Cartier (GemGuide, 2022)."From Single Source to Global Free Market: The Transformation of The Cultured Pearl Industry," by Russell Shor (Gems & Geology, 2007).
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Little League (Replay)
Youth baseball — long a widely accessible American pastime — has become overrun by $10,000-per-year, for-profit travel leagues. Zachary Crockett peers inside the dugout. SOURCES:Linda Flanagan, author.Nick Mackenzie, future New York Yankees shortstop.R.J. Mackenzie, physical education teacher and baseball dad.John Miller, journalist and baseball coach. RESOURCES:"The Cost of Youth Baseball Is Getting Absurd," by Adam Minter (Bloomberg, 2024)."Perfect Game Sees Prosperity Thanks To New Investments In Youth Sports," by Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr. (Forbes, 2024)."How America Sold Out Little League Baseball," by John W. Miller (America Magazine, 2022)."In Youth Sports, Talent Helps but Money Rules," by Roman Stubbs (The Washington Post, 2022).Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids Sports and Why It Matters, by Linda Flanagan (2022)."State of Youth Sports: Parents, Policymakers Better Appreciate Physical Activity, Face Barriers to Help Kids Play," by Jon Solomon (The Aspen Institute, 2022). EXTRA:Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids Sports and Why It Matters, by Linda Flanagan (2022).
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92. Data Centers
Where is “the cloud,” anyway? It’s in a bunch of nondescript warehouses all over the country. Zachary Crockett serves up the story. SOURCES: Chris Kimm, senior vice president of global customer care and customer experience at Equinix.Raul Martynek, C.E.O. of DataBank.Clayton Rosati, associate professor of geography at Bowling Green State University. RESOURCES:"How Data Center Alley Is Changing Northern Virginia," by Mac Carey (Oxford American, 2025)."Noisy, Hungry Data Centers Are Catching Communities by Surprise," by Sean Patrick Cooper (The New York Times, 2024)."As Data Centers for AI Strain the Power Grid, Bills Rise for Everyday Customers," by Evan Halper and Caroline O'Donovan (The Washington Post, 2024)."Data Plantation: Northern Virginia and the Territorialization of Digital Civilization in 'The Internet Capital of the World'," by Clayton Rosati, Aju James, and Kathryne Metcalf (Online Media and Global Communication, 2023)."A New Front in the Water Wars: Your Internet Use," by Shannon Osaka (The Washington Post, 2023). EXTRAS:"Why Is It So Hard (and Expensive) to Build Anything in America?" by Freakonomics Radio (2023).Data Center Map.
Who decides which snacks are in your office’s vending machine? How much is a suburban elm tree worth, and to whom? How did Girl Scout Cookies become a billion-dollar business? In bite-sized episodes, journalist Zachary Crockett looks at quotidian things and finds amazing stories.
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