Origins in Five
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Podcast Overview
<p>Origins in Five is a short podcast for curious minds. Each episode explores the origin of a single word — where it came from, how its meaning evolved, and what history it carries today. These five-minute stories reveal the hidden history of everyday language.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
3/22/2026
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Recent Episodes
June 10, 2026
Influenza and the Flu: How the Stars Named a Disease
Why do we call it influenza—and how did the flu get a name connected to the stars? In this episode of Origins in Five, we trace the word from medieval Latin and Italian belief in celestial “influence” to the modern illness we know today. Questions? Comments? Email us at originsinfive@gmail.com.
June 8, 2026
Sabotage: The Wooden Shoe Myth
Did sabotage really come from French workers throwing wooden shoes into factory machines? In this episode of Origins in Five, we unpack the famous story, why it’s probably a myth, and the more revealing origin behind a word that began with clumsy work, slowdowns, and deliberate resistance. Questions? Comments? Email us at originsinfive@gmail.com.
June 3, 2026
From Reverence to Insult: The Story of Awful
In this episode of Origins in Five, we trace the surprising history of the word awful. Once a word of reverence and fear—closely related to awesome—it slowly drifted from sacred praise to everyday insult. Questions? Comments? Email us at originsinfive@gmail.com.
31 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Origins in Five?
<p>Origins in Five is a short podcast for curious minds. Each episode explores the origin of a single word — where it came from, how its meaning evolved, and what history it carries today. These five-minute stories reveal the hidden history of everyday language.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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