Grandpa Is Him

The digital age promised revolutionary new tools for espionage, but as the CIA discovered through catastrophic failure, technology can betray as easily as it can conceal. At the heart of this shocking intelligence disaster sits an unlikely protagonist: StarWarsWebNet, a seemingly innocent fan site that secretly served as a communication channel between CIA handlers and their informants behind enemy lines. Across hundreds of such innocuous-looking websites, the CIA built what they believed wa...

We explore the hidden tunnels beneath Milan's Sforza Castle, designed by Leonardo da Vinci and only recently discovered in 2025 using ground-penetrating radar technology. While working as a military engineer for Ludovico Sforza, da Vinci created secret passageways connecting important Renaissance landmarks that remained hidden for over 500 years. • Leonardo applied to work for Ludovico Sforza primarily as a military engineer, listing artistic abilities as almost an afterthought • The Sforza ...

The digital music industry is rife with fraud and manipulation, from AI-generated song scams to playlist payola, all at the expense of real artists who struggle to earn sustainable income from streaming. • North Carolina man Michael Smith stole $10 million using AI to create fake songs and bots to stream them • Spotify paid $10 billion in royalties last year, but only 4% of artists earn sustainable income • Playlist placement is often pay-to-play, with curators charging up to $5,000 monthly ...

Weird college courses have become legendary in our cultural mythology—but how strange do they really get? Grandpa Is Him takes you on a bewildering tour through academia's most eyebrow-raising offerings, from "The Philosophy of Star Trek" to "Thinking About Toilet Paper." After sharing his own unconventional education story—graduating college in 2020 alongside his oldest son due to COVID—Grandpa Is Him reveals a carefully curated list of 25 actual university courses that will make you questi...

What do a singing plastic fish, a rock in a box, and a blanket with sleeves have in common? They all made their creators millions of dollars despite seemingly ridiculous premises. In this fascinating exploration of unlikely product success stories, we take you through 25 bizarre inventions that defied all logic yet struck gold in the marketplace. From Big Mouth Billy Bass (the animatronic singing fish) to Gary Dahl's Pet Rock that earned $15 million in just six months by literally selling or...

There wee some audio problems with the original release so here is release 2. Ever wondered why we say "paint the town red"? Step back in time to 1837 and join us as we unravel the thrilling escapade of the Marquis of Waterford, whose mischievous antics gave birth to this colorful expression. From wild night stories to hangover cures, we explore the quirky history of idioms like "hair of the dog," offering a humorous glimpse into how old remedies play into modern-day life. My grandson Blake...

This interview with Ben Dimick dives into the world of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), presenting it as an interactive storytelling experience rather than just a game. Ben defines the roles of players and the Dungeon Master (DM), emphasizing the importance of player agency and collaboration over competition. He shares personal anecdotes about overcoming challenges like metagaming while maintaining player engagement. Practical tips include fostering character development and creatin...

In this episode we dig into the investigative tools used to search for suspects for the January 6th riots. We uncover some concerning tools, identify some serious concerns, and help you decide if this is a real concern or another conspiracy. Keywords microcast, policing, January 6th, surveillance technology, privacy, facial recognition, Clearview AI, geolocation, geofencing, law enforcement Summary In this episode of 'Grandpa is Him', host Lynn Dimick discusses the implications of surveillan...

In this episode of Grandpa is Him, I delve into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on podcasting. I share my experiences using tools like ChatGPT for idea generation and content creation, discussing both their benefits and limitations. A conversation with Max Foster, an AI avatar, reveals AI's influence across sectors and ethical concerns, particularly for younger audiences. I stress the importance of critical thinking when engaging with AI-generated content and sh...

This is a quick sample of what Grandpa Is Him will sound like. It is fun and family friendly. In this episode Lilly and Rozy share their part in naming this podcast. Send us Fan Mail