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Origins in Five

Origins in Five

By: Origins in Five
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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.

© 2026 Origins in Five Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • Influenza and the Flu: How the Stars Named a Disease

    Influenza and the Flu: How the Stars Named a Disease
    Jun 10 2026

    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.
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    5 mins
  • Sabotage: The Wooden Shoe Myth

    Sabotage: The Wooden Shoe Myth
    Jun 8 2026

    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.
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    4 mins
  • From Reverence to Insult: The Story of Awful

    From Reverence to Insult: The Story of Awful
    Jun 3 2026

    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.
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    4 mins
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