(This episode was recorded sneaking around on a cruise ship.) Mules are carrying mail in Arizona, and University of Minnesota crown their new Head Lettuce

How the most remote community in America gets its mail (Sarah Yager, The Atlantic)

UMN students gather for annual lettuce-eating competition (Ahmed Hassan, The Minnesota Daily)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

condensedsoup@proton.me

Inspiring stories today, whether you're a nontraditional student... or a monkey. Plus, a realization about ChatGPT queries.

Vietnam veteran, 79, graduates from college to keep ‘mind and body updated’ (Chris Williams, FOX 13)

A baboon worked for a South African railroad company in the 1880s.

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

condensedsoup@proton.me

An intense summer is coming to Tokyo, and the government is helping people stay cool. Also staying cool: Kermit in his speaker era and a gathering of 3,000 Smurfs.

Kermit the Frog to Deliver 2025 Commencement Address (Maryland Today, University of Maryland)

Tokyo to waive water fees this summer to combat extreme heat (James Chater, BBC News)

Photos: 3,000 ‘Smurfs’ — French town breaks world record (Al Jazeera)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

condensedsoup@proton.me

Hey frequent flyers -- keep your portable chargers in view! Southwest has new rules, and other airlines are sure to follow. Plus, a Pokémon exhibit you'll love, no bones about it.

Southwest Airlines tells passengers to keep chargers in plain sight as it tries to curtail lithium battery fires (Josh Funk, Fortune, AP)

Japan’s Kansai Airport World record — No Luggage Lost in 30 Years (Alex Ledsom, Forbes)

Pokémon Fossil Museum to Debut in North America at Chicago’s Field Museum (official)

Field Museum Pokémon Exhibit (official)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

condensedsoup@proton.me

When I say "let's go to the club," it better be a book club. A group in Austin is tackling Finnegan's Wake, one page at a time. Also in the Soup: a seriously romantic proposal!

This Austin book club has been reading the same book for 12 years. They’re not even close to done. (Sean Saldana, Texas Standard)

This book club finally finished 'Finnegans Wake.' It only took them 28 years by Anna Scott (Anna Scott, NPR - All Things Considered)

Move over, book clubs! The PodClub is the new way to connect, tell stories and find friends (Nicole McKenzie, The Guardian)

Silence please: how book clubs without the chat help focus the mind (Stephanie Convery, The Guardian)

Japanese man travels 4,000 miles to spell ‘marry me’ on Google Earth by Loukia Papadopoulos (Louika Papadopoulos, Interesting Engineering)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

condensedsoup@proton.me

George Clooney will be streaming his Broadway show LIVE on CNN on June 7th! Make sure you mark your calendars. And Florida... get ready for our favorite smelly seaweed, sargassum...

George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck to Be Telecast Live on CNN (Diep Tran, Playbill)

Brace for the seaweed invasion, Florida. It could be biggest ever (Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

condensedsoup@proton.me

Expressing yourself on social media can be a minefield, especially if you don't trust strangers. We chat being nice in public spaces, plus an innovative way to get out of Beijing traffic (if you trust strangers).

Futuristic! You Can Hire Someone To Rescue You From Traffic Jam in Beijing? Here’s How (News24 Online)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

condensedsoup@proton.me

This episode was recorded in a bunk bed. I'm recording from sea this week -- join me on my adventure! Plus, a great tip for a first-time cruiser.

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

condensedsoup@proton.me