The Great Pyramid Scheme of Giza

Episode Description: When Aunt Murgatroyd reveals a fractured Time Radio crystal is the cause behind Max’s missing soccer cleats, Molly’s misplaced drumsticks and a poorly timed time travel – the Problem Solvers are sent back to the Centennial International Exhibition in 1876 Philadelphia to get answers. While there, they uncover a secret POG message in the Statue of Liberty’s torch (which is on display). But just as they start to decode it, a familiar enemy appears with an unexpected twist. Math Concepts: Volume of a rhombic prism: V = ((D1 × D2) ÷ 2) × L; Breaking multiplication into parts for easier mental math; Multiplying and dividing decimals;Understanding and calculating angle sums (360° total; opposite angles equal); Basic principles of codebreaking and sequencing History/Geography Concepts: Centennial International Exhibition (Philadelphia, 1876); Construction and oxidation of the Statue of Liberty; Timeline of electrical invention (gas lamps vs. Edison's light bulb); 19th-century American coinage (Seated Liberty vs. modern quarters); U.S. cultural exports: ketchup, root beer, popcorn

Episode Description: As Max and Molly dive into Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ they discover just how dangerous misinformation can be—both on stage and in real life. Their mission sends them to India in 1930, where they meet Mahatma Gandhi in prison and attempt to calculate a daring jailbreak. But Gandhi isn’t looking to escape. Instead, he shares powerful lessons about resistance, strategy, and the threat posed by the Power-Hungry POGs – and how sometimes the best way to move forward is by staying put.  Math Concepts: Calculating volume of a rectangular prism (V = length × width × height); Unit conversions (cubic inches to pounds using weight per cubic inch); Introduction to force and momentum (mass × velocity); Dividing by powers of tenHistory/Geography Concepts: Mahatma Gandhi and his 1930 imprisonment during British colonial rule; The use of nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience as protest; British colonization of India; The philosophy and global influence of Gandhi’s peaceful strategies; Introduction to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and iambic pentameter

Episode Description:  Max is unhappy that his new soccer Coach is making him play defense until – a surprise mission sends him and Molly into the middle of the Battle for Rhodes in 305 BCE! There, they encounter the colossal Helepolis Siege Tower, built to lay waste to defending armies. Armed only with Math, teamwork, and quick thinking, they must escape capture and uncover the POGs’ latest plot before it's too late. Can The Problem Solvers survive one of History’s most epic standoffs? Math Concepts: Multiplying decimals & converting to fractions; Dividing and multiplying by powers of ten; The Area and Volume of a trapezoidal prism: V = ½(a + b) × h × lHistory/Geography Concepts: The Siege of Rhodes in 305 BCE; Ancient warfare strategy & city defense; Macedonian political conflicts after Alexander the Great’s death

Episode Description: Max and Molly must travel back in time to ancient Korea to take on a master of Baduk, a legendary game of strategy known today as “Go.” If they win they’ll secure a cryptic scroll containing a list of POG moles. But how do you beat a master at a game you’ve never even played before? Can our Problem Solvers use clever tactics, teamwork, and a touch of flattery to outwit a boastful opponent? You’ll have to listen to find out! Math Concepts: Area and multiplication (e.g., 19 × 19 = 361 possible moves on a Go board); Exponential thinking; Logical reasoning and pattern recognition.History/Geography Concepts: The History of Go/Baduk, originating in ancient China and played across Korea and Asia; The Koguryo Kingdom (475 CE), one of Korea’s ancient Three Kingdoms; The Samguk Sagi, Korea’s oldest surviving historical record

When Molly’s drumsticks mysteriously vanish, she and Max uncover a musical mystery leading them back to Ancient Egypt. Tasked with intercepting a secret message hidden in the Great Pyramid of Giza, they must use Math, musical scales and historical knowledge to crack an ancient code. But can they solve the puzzle before the Power-Hungry POGS get the upper hand? Math Concepts: Subtraction & Estimating; Percentages; Division with large numbers and simplifying using place value; Order of Operations; Musical Math History/Geography Concepts: The construction/evolution of the Great Pyramid of Giza; Ancient Egypt in 2625 BCE; Ancient Greek and modern interpretations of Egyptian engineering; Musical Modes named by the Greeks but used globally

Max and Molly arrive for the first day at their new school named after H.G. Wells—only to discover things may not be what they seem. A mysterious new classmate and a message from Aunt Murgatroyd kick off a new mission involving time travel and an undercover threat. Their assignment: travel back to 1842 to meet Ada Lovelace and stop a shadowy group (The Power-Hunger P.O.G.S.) from misusing the first computer algorithm. Math Concepts: Percentages and proportions (e.g., identifying .083% of students as possible spies); Exponents and squaring numbers (e.g., 2×2, 4×4, 16×16); Logical thinking and conditional statements (If/Then logic) Algorithm basics; Pattern recognition History/Geography Concepts: Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine; The origins of computer programming in 19th-century London; The idea of "moles" (spies) infiltrating organizations; H.G. Wells as a historical figure and author of The Time Machine

Max and Molly are graduating out of the First Level of Problem Solvers -- however the ceremony is interrupted when the lights go out. When the lights come back on —their gold Problem Solving medals are missing! From here, a riddle leads them to ancient inventions, hotel kitchens, and scientific methods to unmask a Mole (AKA a spy) and uncover a plot by their new, more powerful nemesis – the Power Hungry P.O.G.S.! MATH Concepts: Multiplication and multi-step equations; Averages; Volume and displacement; The formula for Density (D = M/V); Pythagorean Theorem HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY Concepts: Archimedes and the Archimedes Screw (ancient Egypt and Greece); Archimedes' principles of density and water displacement; Geography references: Constantinople/Istanbul, Nile River, Greece, Egypt; Spycraft and the metaphor of a “mole.”

The wait is over! The brand new season of Mysteries About True Histories is starting on Thursday 5/15!Max and Molly are back to use Math, History, Geography and Logic to take on a new, even more devious enemy -- THE POWER HUNGRY P.O.G.S.!Join Max and Molly on their time-traveling missions to stop the Power Hungry P.O.G.S from rewriting history!But be on the lookout for Moles and Spies hiding and lurking anywhere and everywhere -- including in plain sight! Can Max & Molly trust their new teachers, coaches, band leader or new friends?It’s up to Max, Molly, Aunt Murgatroyd and Friends New and Old to once again save the day by using their Problem Solving skills!New episodes begin 5/15/2025 with new episodes dropping every Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Hey Problem Solvers! Thanks for making season 1 of Mysteries About True Histories so much fun! Max, Molly, Aunt M, and the whole gang are taking a little break. In the meantime, be sure to listen to any episodes you missed and re-listen to your favorites! You can even share the show with your friends, family, classmates, teachers and have a Mysteries About True Histories listening party! Make sure you stay subscribed so you don’t miss out when Season 2 starts up again in a few months this this same feed. See you soon!

Aunt Murgatroyd is back to challenge potential problem solvers with more riddles, puzzles and problems!  This time you’ll need to put some basic Math skills to work in order to stop the Troublemaking Trolls from sabotaging the Transcontinental Railroad (the first railway to span the entire United States) in 1869! Grown-Ups, learn more about ReMarkable here: https://bit.ly/4aexdk5