1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:01,080 Speaker 1: Guess what, mango? 2 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:01,640 Speaker 2: What's that? 3 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:01,880 Speaker 3: Will? 4 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 4: So have you heard that mothers and babies can actually 5 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 4: synchronize their heartbeats just by smiling. 6 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:07,520 Speaker 1: At each other? 7 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 2: Mm hmm. 8 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 4: This is from Gizmoto. But apparently and they were researchers 9 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 4: in Israel, and they were looking at mothers and their children, 10 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 4: and they had the mothers interact with their three month 11 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,440 Speaker 4: olds in various ways. So they were monitoring their cardiac 12 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 4: output as they did this, and when they gazed at 13 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 4: each other and smiled, they quote coordinated their heart rhythms 14 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 4: within lags of one second. 15 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: Isn't that wild? That's insane. 16 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 4: I mean, you know, other animals can do this through contact, 17 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 4: but humans, and specifically mothers and infants, seem to be 18 00:00:36,520 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 4: the only ones who can sync up just by looking 19 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 4: at each other affectionately. But today's Nine Things is a 20 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 4: Mother's Day tribute, including a few of history's best moms, 21 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 4: why we love them so much, and what makes them 22 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 4: so special? 23 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 1: So let's dig in. 24 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 4: Hey, their podcast listeners, welcome to Part Time Genius. I'm 25 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 4: Will Pearson and as always I'm joined by my good 26 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 4: friend Mangesh hot Ticketter and sitting behind the soundproof glass 27 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:22,040 Speaker 4: reading his copy of Yo Mama's So Extraordinary, A Treasury 28 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 4: of Yomama Compliments. That's our friend and producer Tristan McNeil. Now, 29 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 4: i'd not seen this book before, Mango. 30 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 1: Have you seen this? 31 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a pretty great and he was actually reading 32 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 3: some earlier and they are way better than Yo Mama 33 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 3: jokes actually really yeah, because they're all compliments. But it's 34 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 3: all like your mama is so extraordinary, right right. The 35 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 3: only joke about moms that I ever really remember isn't 36 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 3: like a standard joke, but one that our old boss, 37 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:52,280 Speaker 3: Felix Dennis made and he both loved and was terrified 38 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 3: of his mom. And when he was describing her to us, 39 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 3: I don't know if you remember this, but he said 40 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 3: she looks and acts like Margaret Thatcher without any of 41 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 3: the soft bits. 42 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 1: I just tried to remember that. 43 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 3: Ye. Yeah, But today's show is obviously a celebration of moms, 44 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 3: and I know that we used to say that when 45 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 3: we first started Metal Floss the only people who subscribed 46 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 3: were your mom, my mom, and two hundred of our 47 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 3: mom's friends. 48 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 2: And it sounded like a joke, but it wasn't really 49 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 2: a joke. 50 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 1: It wasn't at all. 51 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 3: And we obviously have so much to thank our own 52 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 3: moms Paula and Lalita for well. 53 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 4: And of course we have wives who are wonderful mothers 54 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 4: as well, So lots of moms and our lives to 55 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 4: be grateful for. 56 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: But let's kick this off. 57 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,559 Speaker 4: So I started the show with a quick fact about heartbeats. 58 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 1: So where do you want to take it from there? 59 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,519 Speaker 3: Sticking with the science theme, here's the fact I learned 60 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 3: from Sithsonian about teenage drivers. Now, apparently kids drive much 61 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 3: safer when their moms are nearby, which I guess makes sense. 62 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 3: And basically, the test was set up so that kids 63 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 3: would be on this simulation and then they'd drive up 64 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 3: to a yellow light, and when their moms were around, 65 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 3: they tend to stop for the red, but if they 66 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 3: were alone, they'd punch the accelerator and race through. But 67 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 3: what's interesting about the experiment is how their brains were 68 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 3: rewarding them for their driving. So when they were alone, 69 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 3: scans shown that the brain's reward center actually lit up 70 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 3: when they ran the yellow light, but when they were 71 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 3: with their moms, the same thing happened if they hit 72 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 3: the brakes. 73 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: Oh wow, that's pretty interesting. 74 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 4: Well, you know, our brains are actually rewarding us when 75 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,080 Speaker 4: we listen to our moms or do the things we 76 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 4: think will impress them. Well, since we're talking so much 77 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 4: about the science of moms, here's one fact that comes 78 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,959 Speaker 4: from The Guardian, and it covers the scientific reason why 79 00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 4: moms hear their babies cry before others do. 80 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:29,639 Speaker 3: So. I don't know if this is where you're going 81 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:31,399 Speaker 3: with us, but my wife and I used to fight 82 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 3: about this when Henry and Ruby were babies, because I'm. 83 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 2: Actually not a very heavy sleeper. 84 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 3: But when our kids were infants, Lizzy used to accuse 85 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 3: me of like never getting up or never hearing the 86 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 3: babies like little muse, especially when they were tiny. 87 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 2: Maybe that was true. 88 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 3: I was also surprised, like I couldn't hear them as well, 89 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 3: because she's not. 90 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:50,600 Speaker 2: That light a sleeper. 91 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:52,839 Speaker 3: But I'm excited to go home and settle some long 92 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 3: simmering arguments if your science is in my favors, so 93 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 3: I'm going to let you go on. 94 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 4: Well, as you've probably read, ox level spike in a 95 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 4: mother's brain after she gives birth, but studies from NYU 96 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 4: show that this actually affects the way the brain processes 97 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 4: and interprets auditory signals and will make a mom much 98 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 4: more sensitive to a baby's cries. 99 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 2: That's pretty fascinating. 100 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 3: So does oxytocin give you like superheroing if you inject 101 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 3: some into a mail as well? 102 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 4: Yeah, I'm not sure about that. But the scientist did 103 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 4: inject the oxytocin into virgin mice, and they saw their 104 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:27,679 Speaker 4: mothering instincts kick in. Not only did they respond quickly 105 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 4: to baby mice squeals, but they had an urge to 106 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 4: help them, often carrying them to their nest on their backs. 107 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 3: Well I like that, and let's move off science for 108 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 3: a second and talk about Mother's Day itself. Now, you 109 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 3: might know that Mother's Day was launched in America at 110 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 3: least by Anna Jarvis. And you might have also heard 111 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 3: that by the end of her life she hated Mother's 112 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 3: Day and had turned against it. But I actually didn't 113 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 3: remember the details about this, so here are a few of them. Basically, 114 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 3: Anna's mom, an was a Civil War nurse, and she 115 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 3: cared for soldiers on both sides of the divide, and 116 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 3: she even tried to orchestrate this peace day between moms 117 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 3: of soldiers. It was called Mother's Friendship Day, and so 118 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 3: it was supposed to unite people from the Union and 119 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 3: the Confederate side. But when she passed, Anna was struck 120 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:12,600 Speaker 3: by the number of cards and notes she got about 121 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 3: her mom, and she actually decided to celebrate her mom 122 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,360 Speaker 3: and all moms by creating a day for them Mother's Day. 123 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 3: But what's interesting is sort of the derision she got 124 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 3: from senators and all this pushback, and this is according 125 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 3: to Jonathan Mullnix's research. But one Colorado senator, this guy 126 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 3: named Henry Moore Teller, he called the day puerile, absolutely absurd, 127 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 3: and he declared, every day with me is a Mother's Day. 128 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 3: So he was annoyed by this, and then he actually 129 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:43,799 Speaker 3: had support from this New Hampshire senator who was also 130 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 3: insulted by the day, and he complained as though the 131 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 3: memory of my late mother could only be kept green 132 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 3: by some outward demonstration on Sunday May tenth. 133 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 4: Goodness, I mean, obviously there was a lot of resistance. 134 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:57,159 Speaker 4: So how did she make Mother's Day a thing? 135 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 3: Basically, she got florists on her side. She also had 136 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 3: the backing of Sunday schools and other organizations too. So 137 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 3: the resolution finally swept through Congress when I went through 138 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 3: in nineteen fourteen, but she was sort of in the 139 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,919 Speaker 3: pocket of Big Flower, and they ran with it, like 140 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 3: not only did they have her talk at conventions and 141 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 3: on a speaking tour, but they actually started marketing white 142 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 3: carnations as a tribute to mom's who'd passed away, and colorful, 143 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,039 Speaker 3: bright ones for your mom if she's alive. But you know, 144 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 3: as the day became more and more commercialized and less 145 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 3: about this respectful and also reflective day for thinking about 146 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 3: your mom, Anna Jarvis got more and more incensed, and 147 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 3: eventually she wished she could take the day back. In fact, 148 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 3: there's this one great scene where she's at Wanamaker's department 149 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 3: store in Philly and she ordered a Mother's Day salad 150 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:44,599 Speaker 3: because she saw it on the menu and it was 151 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 3: just like a typical salad. When she got it, she 152 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 3: was so angry. She stood up, she dumped it on 153 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 3: the floor, threw her money down, and then huffed out. 154 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 3: And wow, it was like any little commercial use of 155 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 3: Mother's Day, especially the dumb ones like a Mother's Day salad, 156 00:06:58,920 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 3: would just set her off for. 157 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: The I just love a good Mother's Day salad. 158 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 4: You know, I can't tell if she would have liked 159 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 4: or hated Tristan's Yomama So extraordinary book. I'm guessing she 160 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 4: probably would have hated it. But you know what's funny, 161 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 4: I didn't realize there are so many other Mother's Days 162 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 4: around the world, Like not everyone celebrates it on the 163 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 4: same day, let alone the same month. 164 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 2: That is pretty interesting. So do you have any favorites? 165 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 4: You know, maybe Bolivia's because it has such an unusual origin. Apparently, 166 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 4: when Bolivia fought for independence in the early nineteenth century, 167 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 4: all the men were caught in the fighting. You know, 168 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 4: many were dying or injured on the battlefields. But in 169 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 4: coach Obamba, the moms wanted to do something. So on 170 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:43,040 Speaker 4: May twenty seventh they united to fight on Cornea Hill. 171 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 4: And while hundreds of them died in battle, that day 172 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 4: that the heroines of Cornea took on the Spanish army 173 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 4: is known in Bolivia as Mother's Day. 174 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 3: So here's a mom I wouldn't trust, but who I'm 175 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 3: sure made her boy proud, and that's Jesse James's mom, Zerelda. 176 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 3: So after James passed away, all these travelers used to 177 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,720 Speaker 3: come to at the outlaws grave, and often they'd give 178 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:06,960 Speaker 3: condolences to Jesse James's mom, and that's where she smelled opportunity. 179 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 3: So Zerelda would pretend to be so touched by their actions, 180 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 3: like they're coming all this way to pay their respects, 181 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 3: that she'd offer to sell them Jesse's gun along with 182 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 3: a note of authenticity. And of course this was a 183 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 3: huge scam, like she used to get these neighborhood boys 184 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:23,760 Speaker 3: to scavenge and steal guns for her, and then she'd 185 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 3: just resell them. But as legend of the scam grew, 186 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 3: the fake guns got their own reputation and they were 187 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 3: called Zerelda's and now they're highly prized collectibles in their 188 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 3: own right. 189 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 4: All right, Well, here's the fact I thought was interesting, 190 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 4: and especially in light of Prince Harry's getting married. But 191 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 4: Princess Diana once took the boys to Disney World and 192 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 4: actually made them stand in lines. 193 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 1: Can you imagine this? 194 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 4: So she really tried to instill a sense of normalcy 195 00:08:48,679 --> 00:08:51,559 Speaker 4: in their lives, and reportedly she'd take them for burgers 196 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 4: and McDonald's, let their kids wear jeans and baseball hats. 197 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 4: And this all tends to break protocol with what's allowed 198 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 4: for a young prince uruse. What's less reported is that 199 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,040 Speaker 4: when they were at Disney, they rented out the entire 200 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 4: tenth floor of the Grand Floridian and had to use 201 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 4: the underground tunnels at Disney to get around because. 202 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: They'd get mobbed by the paparazzi, you. 203 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:12,680 Speaker 4: Know, kind of like when we go and we have 204 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:16,120 Speaker 4: to reach the whole tenth floor. But anyway, Diana's making 205 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:18,199 Speaker 4: her kids wait in line for the roller coasters and 206 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 4: rides was really part of her attempt to keep her 207 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:21,360 Speaker 4: kids grounded. 208 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 2: That's pretty amazing. 209 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 3: Well, we still got a few more facts for you, 210 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 3: but first a quick break. Welcome back to Part Time Genius, 211 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 3: where we're talking about moms, So Will. There are obviously 212 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 3: so many great stories and facts about moms. Mister Rogers' 213 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 3: mom knit all the sweaters on the show that he 214 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:51,080 Speaker 3: used to wear, which is just, you know, the most 215 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 3: Mister Rogers fact ever. And supposedly bonobo moms will shake 216 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 3: their heads no at their baby chimps when the baby 217 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,280 Speaker 3: chimps play with their food. But I do want to 218 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 3: know what's your last mom fact that you're going to 219 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 3: lay on us. 220 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,640 Speaker 4: Well, I want to share this fact about Nancy Edison, 221 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 4: who was Thomas Edison's mom, And there's this wonderful story 222 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 4: that Thomas came home with a letter one day when 223 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 4: he was seven, and this was from a teacher saying 224 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:18,360 Speaker 4: that he was aduled and wasn't bright enough. But when 225 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 4: his mom read the letter, she instead said out loud 226 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 4: that Thomas was a genius and the school was too 227 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 4: small for his intellect and that he'd have to be 228 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 4: homeschooled instead. And then the story goes on that Thomas 229 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:32,079 Speaker 4: grew up believing that and only found out the real 230 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,439 Speaker 4: contents of the letter when he was an adult after 231 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,559 Speaker 4: his mom had passed away. Now the truth is a 232 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 4: little less glamorous. Thomas Edison was in fact dyslexic and 233 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:43,839 Speaker 4: getting in trouble at school, and the teacher used a 234 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 4: leather belt for discipline, and Thomas might have been on 235 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 4: the wrong end of it a few times. But when 236 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,680 Speaker 4: his mom realized the school wasn't right for him and 237 00:10:51,720 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 4: that he had a learning disability, she pulled him from 238 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 4: the school and educated him herself. As he put it, 239 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 4: my mother was the making of me. She was so true, 240 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 4: so sure of me, and I felt I had something 241 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 4: to live for someone I must not disappoint. 242 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 3: And then he went on to make the first cat 243 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 3: boxing video, right. 244 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 4: And the light Bulb BANNGO had a million other things. 245 00:11:15,320 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: So, anyway, what's your last? 246 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:17,839 Speaker 2: Pat Well? 247 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 3: I like that Nancy Edison stood up for her son, 248 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 3: but I don't think anyone stood up for their children 249 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 3: the way Isaiah Thomas's mom, Mary has so. In nineteen 250 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:28,960 Speaker 3: sixty six, Mary was a single mom and mother of 251 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:31,600 Speaker 3: nine and she was at her home in Chicago when 252 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 3: the Vice Lords, who is this notorious gang, came up 253 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 3: to her front door and told her they were recruiting 254 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,800 Speaker 3: her sons. And this is according to the New York Times. 255 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 3: The leader said, we want your boys. They can't be 256 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 3: walking around here and not being a gang. And Mary Thomas, 257 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 3: who was five to four and one hundred and ten 258 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,360 Speaker 3: pounds so she's like a tiny woman, she just faced 259 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:52,679 Speaker 3: off against this guy and said there's only one gang 260 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 3: here and that's the Thomas Gang. And I lead that. 261 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 3: It's just amazing, right, And then when they didn't leave, 262 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 3: she went to their back of her high got a 263 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 3: shotgun and said, get off my portrait. I'll blow you 264 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 3: across the expressway. 265 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: No way, it's nuts, and. 266 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,480 Speaker 3: For some reason they stopped their recruiting efforts. But by 267 00:12:10,559 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 3: all accounts, she was a really tough woman, and when 268 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 3: people would tell her that gangs were facing off, she'd 269 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,679 Speaker 3: actually just walk in between them and settle the disputes. 270 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,600 Speaker 3: Apparently she was the only mom Bobby Knight was ever 271 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 3: afraid of. But all her kids actually graduated school as well, 272 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 3: which in itself was amazing. I was reading about Isaiah 273 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,000 Speaker 3: and that he actually had to ride ninety minutes to 274 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 3: school every day. He had to take two transfers on 275 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 3: trains and buses just to get to high school, and 276 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 3: she made sure he was there always. 277 00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 2: And she also made him. 278 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 3: Sign a contract that he'd finished his college degree, and 279 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 3: even though he left early for the NBA, he honored 280 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 3: that and secretly went back to school just to make 281 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 3: her happy. 282 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 2: So she's just kind of a remarkable woman. 283 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think i'd actually heard they refer to 284 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 4: their mom as deer, right, which was short for mother deer. 285 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean, there's tons of praise for Isaiah Thomas' mom, 286 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 3: But who do you think she'd win this week's Nine Things? 287 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,080 Speaker 4: You know what, I want to make sure both of 288 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 4: our moms stay proud and happy. So I think maybe 289 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:06,120 Speaker 4: both of us should get it. What do you think, 290 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 4: or Tristan or do you know what Tristan? And is 291 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,080 Speaker 4: your mom's jokes, So maybe we'll give it to Tristan. 292 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 4: I think our moms will understand. But a happy Mother's 293 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:18,640 Speaker 4: Day to our moms, to our sisters, to our grandmoms, 294 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 4: to all the other moms out there, and of course 295 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:31,959 Speaker 4: the other mother figures out there.