Kendall Guillemette on So Many Questions

Why Christmas Lights Are Actually An Ancient Survival Mechanism

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:04:00 -0700

Transcript:

Have you ever noticed how every December we collectively decide it’s time to wrap our homes, our streets, sometimes even entire cities in tiny glowing lights? Dome of these traditions come from religious practices, but even if you strip all of that away, humans would still be doing this. Because the real story behind winter lights is much older and much more human.

In winter, most of the world is dark. Really dark. Humans evolved environments where light meant safety. You could see predators, see each other. So when the days grew short, ancient communities didn’t just complain about it. They responded. They created rituals of light. Long before electricity and long before any modern holiday existed, people lit fires and candles during the darkest part of the year. Not because it looked cute on social media, because it was symbolic. Light was a reminder that the darkness wouldn’t last forever. Across cultures, you see the same instinct. Lanterns, bonfires, candles placed in windows, torches carried through villages, all saying the same thing.

What does long in the tooth mean?

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 14:04:00 -0700

Transcript:

I have a question… When someone says that something is long in the tooth, what does that mean?

It means that it’s getting old, but that sure paints a strange picture. Where does it come from? The short answer is horses. The longer answer is a tour through horse trading, Victorian novels, and a tiny groove that fooled a lot of people for a long time. Let’s get into it. If you were buying a horse and you couldn’t get your hands on the Carfax report and it didn’t come with a certified pre-owned warranty, you looked in its mouth.

Why do we clink glasses when we toast?

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:05:00 -0700

Transcript:

I have a question…

Why do we clink glasses when we toast?

Clinking glasses has been a tradition that I’ve experienced my entire life, starting with clinking glasses around my grandparents’ dinner table, to experiencing the Czech tradition of clinking beer mugs, touching them to the table and saying, “Na zdraví” which means “to your health”. Clinking glasses is woven throughout our cultural experiences, and I wanted to know where it came from. Here’s what I found. You’ve probably heard the story that people used to clean glasses to spill a little liquid into each other’s drink.

Why are school buses yellow?

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:05:00 -0700

Transcript:

I have a question…

Why are school buses yellow?

It’s not random. The answer takes us back to a weeklong meeting in 1939 that helped shape the safest mass transit system in America.

That year, a man named Frank Cyr, a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, organized a national conference. He brought together school transportation officials from all 48 states to Columbia University in New York City. The General Education Board, created by John D. Rockefeller Sr., funded the event with a $5,000 grant, which is about $115,000 in today’s dollars. The goal? Improve student transportation safety.

Episode 0.9: Trailer

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 19:43:50 -0700

Transcript:

I’m Kendall and this is the trailer for my new podcast, So Many Questions. This show is all about curiosity, connection, and getting to know people beyond what they do. I’ll be talking with guests I find interesting, asking hopefully thoughtful questions to understand who they are, what guides them, and how they see the world. Diverse perspectives make us all better. This show will never platform bigotry. No racists, no homophobes. No Nazis, or anyone else who seeks to divide us.