Forever Ago
by Brains On Universe
From the publisher
Brains On Universe presents Forever Ago®, a history show for the whole family! Every episode looks into the surprising and fascinating history of things we think are ordinary, but they’re not -- like ice cream flavors, video games, baths and more.
Why we recommend it
History that starts with the everyday — pizza, sneakers, the high five — and traces where it came from. From the Brains On team.
What Forever Ago is recognised for
Most reviewed
At least 400 written parent reviews. These are the shows with the deepest body of first-hand experience behind them.
Every distinction here is either computed from the whole catalogue or picked by us and labelled as such. How each one is decided
What parents actually say
High confidence · 175 detailed reviewsPlenty of detailed reviews to work from, so these patterns are pretty dependable. We summarise the 175 reviews long enough to describe the show, out of 403 in total — one-line raves don't tell you much.
Why parents put it on
The moments it actually gets used for.
- Works at bedtimeTop5
See what they saidHide
- “Decide from that it’s nice to listen to to go to sleep entertain you.”
- “My son listens to this podcast every night to fall asleep.”
What it's about
What comes up when parents describe it.
- History & mythologyTop47
See what they saidHide
- “Can you please do an episode on the history of acting?”
- “🙏 do one on the Pokémon cards like why is the moonbreon card is so rare and why is the history of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team my favorite football team and I wanna…”
- Humor & silliness14
See what they saidHide
- “This podcast is so funny, Informative, and fun.”
- “You are a both funny and kind podcast host and person, and as a kid who loves both history and humor I give this five stars when I really mean 10,000.”
- Feelings & empathy4
See what they saidHide
- “I listen to this every night on my Alexa, and it it has always calmed me when I am worried and sometimes it helps me sleep, not saying that in a bad way but I’m just saying I lo…”
- “(Also not saying that your comment was offensive in any way, just trying to make a point.) Also, I would like to emphasize that I was not trying to be rude, but instead having a…”
- Original songs & music4
See what they saidHide
- “This podcast is so good I love and listen to every day but can you pls do an episode on Dolly Parton or one of her songs rip 🪦 dolly”
- “I like this podcast but I'm sorry to say。。。 I LOVE MAYO。。。sorry Joy😅😅☺️and in the gum episode joys singing is peak literally go.”
What it feels like
The mood parents describe.
- EducationalTop19
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- “This podcast is so funny, Informative, and fun.”
- “Hi joy I love your work but please do a episode on black face I think it’s important for us kids to learn about it amazing stuff bye 😘”
- Funny12
See what they saidHide
- “This podcast is so funny, Informative, and fun.”
- “You are a both funny and kind podcast host and person, and as a kid who loves both history and humor I give this five stars when I really mean 10,000.”
Who's actually listening
From the 4 reviews that name a child's age.
- Teens (13+)3
- Early elementary (6-8)1
- Tweens (9-12)1
How to read this: each number is how many reviews raised that topic in their own words — not a percentage or a score. Bars compare topics within a box only, so the longest bar is whatever came up most here, marked Top. The dots above show how much evidence we have, not how good the show is.
This summarises what reviewers said. It isn't our verdict, and we don't write reviews ourselves. See exactly how every number is calculated.
About Forever Ago
In the publisher's own words, as they describe the show on its feed.
Brains On Universe presents Forever Ago®, a history show for the whole family! Every episode looks into the surprising and fascinating history of things we think are ordinary, but they’re not -- like ice cream flavors, video games, baths and more. We make learning about the past fun while teaching listeners to think critically about history. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/
Parent reviews (403)
Real reviews from real parents — the ones we gather from public sources link back to where they were written, and the ones written here are marked as such.
Listened to Forever Ago?
Tell other parents what you thought. It takes a minute and genuinely helps.
Hi Hello83793 it’s you again
🍏🍊🍉🍈🥭🥝🥑🥒🍎🍋🍇🍒🍍🍅🥦🌶🍐🍌🍓🍑🥥🍆🥬🌽🥕🥔🍠🥐🥯🍞🥖🥨🧀🥚🍳🥞🥓🥩🍗🍖🦴🌭🍔🍟🍕🥪🥙🌮🌯🥗🥘🥫🍝🍜🍲🍛🍣🍱🥟🍤🍙🍚🍘🍥🥠🥮🍢🍡🍧🍨🍦🥧🧁🍰🎂🍮🍭🍬🍫🍿🍩🍪🌰🥜🍯🥛🍼☕️🍵🥤🍶🍺🍻🥂🍷🥃🍸🍹🍾FOOOOOD!!!! This podcast is ok
#Moonlark · Oct 2026
Bed
I listen to this every night on my Alexa, and it it has always calmed me when I am worried and sometimes it helps me sleep, not saying that in a bad way but I’m just saying I love this pod
Cake is good 1234 · Oct 2026
I love forever ago and I am a forever ago fan🍬 very sweet podcast🧁🍿🍪🍬🎂🍦🍨🍰🍰🍭🍩🍯🫘
Hi, I am Sophia and I am seven. I am from Australia I love you guys. Can you please do an episode on the history of acting? Great job and smash boom best watermelon versus cotton candy. You smashed him
💜🛼🦋🩷🩵Sof · Oct 2026
🙏 please do one on Pokémon cards
🙏 do one on the Pokémon cards like why is the moonbreon card is so rare and why is the history of the Minnesota Vikings NFL football team my favorite football team and I wanna know their history especially on that one defense purple people eaters they’re really good. I wanna know the history of them especially so if you do this.THANK YOU!!!!
Beomosemo · Oct 2026
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Most awesome podcast❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
grace ,7,canada · Sep 2026
OMG!!!❤️
I love the new Olivia Rodrigo album! Also, I know Spanish, and a word that I use that's in Spanish is Ayiyi ( Ay- i-i )( I don't know how to spell it. I use it to mean oh my god or you're crazy.
📖I love Hermione🪄 · Sep 2026
.
amazing slay alpha
TheRealAlpha67 · Sep 2026
Forever Ago
I love this podcast. I also love Smash Boom Best plus Brains On
Sunlight sis · Sep 2026
Showing the 120 most recent of 403 reviews we analysed. The summaries above use all of them.
Questions parents ask
What age is Forever Ago for?
Forever Ago is aimed at ages 6–12. In their reviews, parents most often mention teens (13+) and early elementary (6-8).
How long are Forever Ago episodes?
Most episodes run about 29 minutes, so an episode fits comfortably into a school run or a bedtime routine.
Is Forever Ago any good?
It holds 4.5 out of 5 from 6,939 ratings, with 403 written parent reviews, which works out to an A- on our scale.
Is Forever Ago appropriate for kids?
Forever Ago is marked clean, with no explicit content flag. Parents describe it as educational, funny.
Where can I listen to Forever Ago?
Forever Ago is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Amazon Music and other podcast apps. It's free to listen to.
Why do parents recommend Forever Ago?
The point that comes up most is "works at bedtime" — mentioned in 5 of the 175 reviews we analysed.
Episodes
60 to play, newest first
Sneak peek: The history of pineapple pizza
Oct 5, 2026 · 9 min
This is a sneak peak of a bonus episode available to Smarty Pass members. It’s a follow up to our Forever Ago episode on the history of pizza. In this one, we look at the man who made pineapple on pizza a thing. Plus, we tell the story of how pineapple pizza created drama between two nations. To hear the whole, ad-free episode, sign up for Smarty Pass at smartypass.org.
More slang words: Aura, OK and glitch
Sep 30, 2026 · 34 min
This week Joy and co-host Xenia are back with another slang episode that’s the pig’s elbow (trust us, it’s a good thing). Learn about how “aura” went from meaning a cool breeze, to getting cool points– and how one of our most common slang words started as a typo joke in a newspaper. And don’t forget, a swaggy new First Things First!Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
Wizard of Oz mystery: Who stole the ruby slippers?
Sep 23, 2026 · 33 min
We’re not done with Wizard of Oz history yet! Today it’s the tale of Dorothy’s famous ruby red slippers. A pair of these famous movie props went missing years back, and it took the FBI and local authorities working together to get them back. Join Joy and co-host Sky as they investigate this case, and play a game of First Things First.Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
What's the history of the Wizard of Oz?
Sep 16, 2026 · 31 min
The Wizard of Oz is one of the most influential stories around. What started as a children’s book went on to inspire countless other books, movies and musicals. Join Joy and co-host Sky as they wiggle down the Jell-O brick road and meet a sassy witch who knows the 411 on all things Oz. Together, they’ll learn more about how this iconic story got its start over 100 years ago, plus hear more about Judy Garland and of course, how the Wicked movies came to be. All that and a dazzling new First Things First. There’s no place like Forever Ago!Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
The rise and fall of fancy men
Sep 9, 2026 · 30 min
We can learn a lot about what a culture thinks is important through its fashion. These days, most men don't wear makeup to work, or lace collars, or powdered wigs, but that wasn't always the case! Joy and co-host Max go on a journey to the history spa, where they get a 1770s makeover from Frank, the macaroni maven. (What's a macaroni? Not just a noodle!) Listen as they learn about the ancient history of makeup (we're talking Egypt here) and why being a fancy man eventually fell out of style. Plus, there's a new First Things First! Do you think neon clothes, baseball caps, or bellbottom pants came first in history?Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
How pizza took over the world
Sep 2, 2026 · 29 min
Pizza is a food loved around the world. It started as a local dish served by street vendors in Naples, Italy. Not everyone loved it right away. But over time, pizza changed, and the world fell in love. Join Joy and co-host Zsa Zsa as they learn the fascinating history of this fantastic food. Plus we hear your slogans for pizza and play First Things First.Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
How did air travel first take off?
Aug 26, 2026 · 30 min
Hundreds of thousands of flights take off each and every day. Airplanes make it possible for us to connect with people around the world and see all different parts of our beautiful planet. But how did we figure out how to get humans up in the air in the first place? This week Joy and Trip learn about the different flying machines that led to the first airplane and how two brothers worked together to take a historic first flight. Plus, how airlines throughout history went from having no windshields, to serving lobster dinner. Plus, a travel-friendly new First Things First!Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
Toy Time! What’s the history behind yo-yos, hula hoops and slime?
Aug 19, 2026 · 31 min
For as long as there have been humans, there have been toys! But do you know the history behind some of your favorites? Join Joy and Evette as they tackle the history of three top toys: the yo-yo, the hula-hoop and slime. They’ll answer questions like “where did the name yo-yo come from?” and “Is the hula hoop from Hawaii?” and “What is the green Nickelodeon slime made from?” All that plus a new First Things First featuring three other classic toys. Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
Sneak peek: Hoax Hunters explain the Pokemon Shock
Aug 14, 2026 · 7 min
This is a sneak peek of a bonus episode available to Smarty Pass subscribers. It’s a follow up to the Forever Ago episode about the history of Pokemon. This time, Marc and Sanden are back as the Hoax Hunters to investigate a phenomenon known as the Pokemon Shock. It was an event where a TV show apparently made thousands of people feel sick. To hear the full episode, sign up for Smarty Pass and support the Brains On Universe.
Day in the Life: Ancient Rome
Aug 12, 2026 · 36 min
The Ancient Roman empire thrived over 2,000 years ago. You may have heard about gladiators, the Coliseum or leaders like Alexander the Great. But what was everyday life like for most people? Join Joy and co-host Charlie as they take a look back at life in Ancient Rome, from public bathhouses, to ordering take out. They’ll also talk to archaeologist Dr. Robyn Le Blanc about how historians know what life looked like thousands of years ago. Plus, a new First Things First about very ancient leaders. Featured Expert: Dr. Robyn Le Blanc is an archeologist and professor at University of North Carolina Greensboro. She studies Roman archaeology and coinage. Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
Who invented Pokémon?
Aug 5, 2026 · 32 min
Pokémon is a mega-smash hit around the world. There are TV shows, movies, card games, toys, and of course, video games. It all started with a boy who loved collecting bugs and playing video games. Join Joy and co-host Romil as they explore the history behind the series. Learn how it almost flopped, and how one special Pokémon (not Pikachu) helped save the franchise early on. Plus, a Japan-themed First Things First.Click here to read a transcript of this episode. Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!
Forever Ago Season 9 starts August 5th!
Jul 31, 2026 · 3 min
Get ready to start historymaxxing because Forever Ago's latest season is back Wednesday, August 5th! We've got terrific new topics from Pizza, to Wizard of Oz-- even Pokémon. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Can't wait to explore the before with you! Want to support the show? Join Smarty Pass to listen to ad-free episodes or donate!