Fun facts and sidetracks

Exploring the Wonders of Japan & Diving into Iconic Pop Culture Memories
In this engaging episode of Fun Facts and Sidetracks, Marty and Al  discuss Marty's recent trip to Japan. They  celebrate their podcast's ninth birthday and delve into nostalgic pop culture, recalling old shows like HR PufnStuf and Banana Splits. They discuss the Mandela Effect, revealing misremembered movie quotes, and share fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from the Rocky franchise's music selection. The episode wraps up with an entertaining story of a bar incident involving undercover cops and a detailed retelling of the legendary 'Rumble in the Jungle' fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.
00:00 Welcome to Fun Facts and Sidetracks
00:31 Mart's Adventures in Japan
02:06 Podcast Milestone: Ninth Birthday
02:23 Listener Feedback and Nostalgia
05:14 The Mandela Effect Explained
09:21 Rocky and the Eye of the Tiger
14:48 A Crazy Bar Story
20:12 Unbelievable Coincidences
21:00 Listener Requests: Muhammad Ali
21:27 The Legend of Muhammad Ali
23:34 Ali's Iconic Fights
25:31 Ali's Legacy and Personal Life
36:14 Debbie Harry's Surprising Shopping Trip
37:49 Wrapping Up and Listener Engagement
If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: [email protected] or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.


The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.

Music regrets and a gig to forget: From Court Cases to Space Elevators
In this episode of 'Fun Facts and Sidetracks,' hosts Marty and Al explore the controversial world of music plagiarism, discussing famous cases such as George Harrison's 'My Sweet Lord' vs. The Chiffons' 'He's So Fine', Vanilla Ice vs. Queen and David Bowie, and many others. The episode delves into the nuances of creativity, subconscious influences, and some downright weird aspects of music litigation.
The boys then shift to share fascinating facts about the history of flight, from the first hot air balloons to the rapid progression from the Wright brothers' first flight to the moon landing, and even talk about future concepts like Japan's space elevator. As usual Mart has a hilarious stories about a gig he’d rather forget and the  lively English-style pub parties at his home in suburban Brisbane.  
00:00 Welcome to Fun Facts and Sidetracks
00:27 Exploring Famous Plagiarism Cases in Music
01:07 The George Harrison vs. The Chiffons Case
04:09 Vanilla Ice and the Under Pressure Controversy
04:46 John Fogarty Sued for Sounding Like Himself
05:40 Blurred Lines and Marvin Gaye's Legacy
06:58 The Rolling Stones vs. The Verve
07:52 Ghostbusters and Huey Lewis
09:43 The Beatles and Chuck Berry
11:38 A Regrettable Job Experience
17:57 Fun Facts About Flight
19:42 Man Lands on the Moon: A Giant Leap in 66 Years
20:32 The International Space Station: Orbiting Every 90 Minutes
21:28 NASA's Countdown: Inspired by a Silent Movie
22:29 Bert Hinkler Museum: A Tribute to Aviation
26:25 Space Elevator: The Future of Space Travel
30:26 Growing Up as a 10 Pound Pom in Australia
32:26 Building Bars and Boxing Day Parties
37:15 Conclusion 
If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: [email protected] or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.


The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.

Fun Facts and Sidetracks: The Ones That Got Away, Surprising Celebrity Babysitters and Stolen Inventions
In this episode of 'Fun Facts and Sidetracks,' Al and Marty discuss famous songs that were initially intended for other artists, including tracks by The Supremes, Kylie Minogue, Seal, and Kenny Loggins. They delve into amusing and surprising stories about celebrity babysitters such as Alice Cooper babysitting Keanu Reeves and Cher babysitting Anthony from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Additionally, the episode explores intriguing facts about famous buildings like the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China, and uncovers the true origins of well-known inventions, revealing famous figures like Thomas Edison who capitalized on others' innovations. The hosts wrap up with a discussion on LEGO and other noteworthy inventions.
00:00 Introduction and Greetings
00:55 The Ones That Got Away: Iconic Songs Rejected by Artists
09:12 Celebrity Babysitters: Unexpected Connections
15:56 Hollywood Connections: Keifer Sutherland and Gwyneth Paltrow
16:57 Builder's Journey: From Music to Construction
18:07 Famous Buildings Around the World
22:38 Lego: The Ultimate Building Block
25:32 Famous Inventions and Their True Origins
32:06 Wrapping Up: From Supremes to Eiffel Tower
If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: [email protected] or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.


The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.

If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: [email protected] or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.


The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.

If you have a fun fact you’d like us to share, send us an email to: [email protected] or leave us a comment online at our social pages on Facebook or Instagram Thanks for listening and never be afraid to get sidetracked.


The boring disclaimer: We do try to double-check all of the facts we talk about. If something isn’t quite correct, we humbly apologise. Credit to our many sources including, A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, Tim from Kicking Harold, Mental Floss, Wikipedia and so many more.