Patented Podcast: Invention Meets Innovation

The history podcast, Patented, is noteworthy for several reasons we will discuss in this article. First, it’s a history podcast that ran from early 2022 until September 2023 and released an impressive 158 episodes in that short time span. Why would Ear Worthy review and recommend a podcast that is no longer active? Because podcasts — especially independent podcasts — come and go with nary a peep from media, social media, or the podcast industry. Thousands of independent podcasts are no longer active and are still ear-worthy and a hidden sonic treasure.

The Patented podcast is a superb indie history podcast. I’m still upset that there are no more new episodes. It seems like the host, actor Dallas Campbell, moved on to a new In-Orbit podcast series, which looks at how new space technologies are wildly re-shaping our world.

The second reason to review this show is that the podcast was part of the History Hit network. This TV and podcast network focuses exclusively on history shows, which begs this question. Why can’t independent podcasts organize by genre into a podcast network.

For example, Salad With A Side Of Fries with Jenn Trepeck could be the lead show for a consolidated network of indie health and wellness shows. Or, Every Single Sci-Fi Film Ever could be part of a movie podcast network, along with What Went Wrong, Bad Movies Rule, and Hollywood Africans, Black on Black Cinema.

In short, independent podcasts should not be segregated from mainstream podcast infrastructure.

Finally, let’s review Patented. The show was marketed this way: “This podcast investigates the curious history of invention and innovation. Did Thomas Edison take credit for things he didn’t actually invent? What everyday items have surprising origins? And would man have ever got to the moon without… the bra?”

As I mentioned, the show was part of the History Hit Network, which brings viewers and listeners the stories that “shaped the world through our award-winning podcast network and an online history channel.”

Each episode of Patented, hosted by Dallas Campbell, dives into stories of fluky discoveries, erased individuals, and murky marketing ploys with the help of experts, scientists, and historians.

As the show asserts: “Dallas is on a mission to take science and technology out of the lab and into people’s lives!”

The podcast has a standard format, with host Campbell welcoming a guest expert each episode. Two factors raise the level of this show. First, the topics are wildly eccentric and fascinating. Examples include chewing gum (did you know that people chewed as far back as almost 2,000 years ago?) to the wheeled suitcase (Why did that take so long to invent) and the sports bra. There are more conventional inventions covered, from batteries to agriculture, and concrete to the telegraph.

The second factor that highlights the show is the host, actor Dallas Campbell. He is an actor of note in the U.K., and sprinkles his cheekiness, ironic sarcasm, and raw intelligence into the show. The American equivalent of Campbell is probably Alan Alda.

Anyway, Campbell is the face of some of TV’s highest-profile factual programs, including Science of Stupid, Bang Goes the Theory, The Gadget Show, Stargazing Live, The Sky at Night, Supersized Earth, Time Scanners, City in the Sky, Egypt’s Lost Cities, The Treasure Hunters, and Britain Beneath Your Feet.

As a passionate STEM ambassador, Dallas Campbell is involved with many science outreach initiatives, including TeenTech, inspiring young minds to think creatively about technology. He regularly lends his expertise to the British Council’s FameLab project, helping academics sharpen their communication skills.

His book Ad Astra: An Illustrated Guide to Leaving the Planet explores the amazing history of human spaceflight. He has also contributed to the book Aliens: Is There Anyone Out There? edited by Jim Al Khalili, and his writing has graced the pages of many esteemed publications like the BBC’s Sky At Night and Science Focus magazines, and The Observer/Guardian newspaper.

In 2017 Dallas Campbell received the prestigious Sir Arthur Clarke Award for his work in popularizing space science, history and education to a wide audience. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the British Science Association.

Considering the numerous vacuous actors hosting podcasts, who believe STEM is the inedible part of an apple, Dallas Campbell is a revelation. He brings every Patented episode to life with his boundless curiosity and sharp-eyed wit.

My favorite episodes include Medieval Swords, where we learn that not every man carried a sword in the medieval times, only the nobles, and typically a servant carried it for them.

The ongoing series on James Bond — gadgets, cars, the real Q — is funny and informative.

Even though the show has ended, its archives of 158 episodes can keep your ears occupied for months.

Check out Patented.