Believe It or Not! — Amazing True Stories for Curious Kids

For centuries people dreamed of connecting England and France with a tunnel beneath the sea.
Most people believed it was impossible.
But in 1994, the Channel Tunnel finally opened — linking the two countries with a 31-mile rail tunnel beneath the English Channel.
In Episode 134 of Believe It or Not!, Bryan tells the incredible story of how engineers built one of the greatest infrastructure projects in modern history.
Learn about:
• The history of the Channel Tunnel idea
• How tunnel boring machines dug beneath the seabed
• The moment British and French workers met underground
• Why the project took nearly 200 years to complete
Perfect for curious listeners, students, and anyone fascinated by engineering marvels.
Follow Believe It or Not! for more surprising true stories from history.
Because sometimes the truth is weirder than fiction.

Before Play-Doh became a colorful childhood staple, it was used to clean soot off wallpaper.
In this episode of Believe It or Not!, Bryan explores the incredible accidental invention story behind one of the world’s most beloved creative toys.
From struggling soap company to global toy sensation, this episode covers:
• The history of wallpaper cleaner in the 1930s
• How a classroom discovery saved a company
• The 1956 toy launch
• Why Play-Doh’s scent is trademarked
• How billions of cans have shaped childhood creativity
If you enjoy fun history, surprising origin stories, and family-friendly storytelling, follow Believe It or Not! for weekly episodes.
Because sometimes the truth is weirder than fiction.

What if your Everest journey started at your front door?
In 1995, Swedish adventurer Göran Kropp bicycled nearly 8,000 miles from Sweden to Nepal before climbing Mount Everest — solo and without bottled oxygen.
Then he rode his bike home.
In Episode 132 of Believe It or Not!, Bryan explores one of the most extreme endurance feats in mountaineering history.
This episode covers:
• Extreme adventure history
• The 1996 Everest climbing season
• Solo climbing without oxygen
• Mental toughness and long-distance cycling
• The philosophy behind doing things the hard way
If you love real-life adventure stories and incredible feats of human endurance, this episode will leave you amazed.
Follow Believe It or Not! for weekly true stories that sound impossible — but aren’t.

Nearly 100 years ago, a simple campfire recipe appeared in a Girl Scout guidebook — and it changed dessert history forever.
In Episode 131 of Believe It or Not!, Bryan tells the surprising origin story of s’mores, first printed in 1927 in Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.
Discover how marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers came together to create one of America’s most beloved traditions — and why the original name was “Some Mores.”
This episode blends:
• Food history
• American culture
• Girl Scout traditions
• Fun facts and family-friendly storytelling
Perfect for car rides, classrooms, and curious minds of all ages.
Follow Believe It or Not! for new episodes every week — because sometimes the truth is weirder than fiction.

What would you do if your bungee cord snapped mid-jump?
In this episode of Believe It or Not, we tell the incredible true survival story of Erin Langworthy, a 22-year-old student who fell 365 feet from Victoria Falls Bridge after her bungee cord broke — and survived.
She hit the Zambezi River.
She was tangled in rope.
She had a broken collarbone.
And she had to swim to safety in crocodile territory.
Learn:
• How fast a 365-foot fall really is
• Why water can feel like concrete at high speeds
• The science of impact survival
• How staying calm can save your life
• And the unbelievable reason she says she would bungee jump again
Plus:
Amazing Believe It or Not facts you didn’t hear in the main story
A hilarious podcast joke
And a preview of the delicious origin story of the s’more from the 1927 Girl Scout guidebook Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.
Perfect for curious kids, families, teachers, homeschoolers, and anyone who loves unbelievable true stories.
Because sometimes… the truth is weirder than fiction.