Erin McCarthy

Joined: Nov 21, 2012

Erin is the Editor-in-Chief of MentalFloss.com, host of The List Show and Throwback on YouTube, editor of Mental Floss's book The Curious Reader, and the creator, executive producer, and host of the History Vs. podcast. She joined Mental Floss in 2012. Previously, she covered everything from natural disasters to bridge engineering to the science behind sci-fi movies for Popular Mechanics magazine. Her work has appeared in O: The Oprah Magazine, Town and Country, Parents, and Esquire. When she's not editing or writing, you can find her karaoking, reading, or hanging out with her cats, Oliver and Pearl. She lives in New York.

What Does the Phrase ‘Talk Turkey’ Mean—And Where Did it Come From?

Snoopy floats above the 2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

47 Fun Facts About the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

35 Old-Timey Slang Terms for Informants

Why Are Elections Held on Tuesdays?

12 Novels Inspired by Real Events

Novelists have used everything from real killers to newsworthy hostage situations to literal white whales to craft their fiction.

A Brief History of the Ouija Board

The Ouija board has terrified countless slumber party children and served as a plot vehicle in a number of Hollywood films. Here’s where it came from.

The United States is host to a number of wild and weird urban legends.

The Spookiest Urban Legend in All 50 States

From classics like the vanishing hitchhiker to creepy cryptids, ghostly vehicles, deadly curses, and some stuff you’ve probably seen on Facebook.

The not-so-commonly-worn poodle skirt and saddle shoes combo. / Michele Quattrin / Getty

10 Misconceptions About the 1950s

The ‘50s weren't all nuclear families with white picket fences and questionable Jell-o recipes.

30 Fascinating Facts About ‘Unsolved Mysteries’

Join me. Perhaps you will learn some things you didn't know about the wonderfully spooky 'Unsolved Mysteries,' which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year.

Kate Beckinsale stars in 'Underworld' (2003).

20 Fascinating Facts About ‘Underworld’

The movie, which hit theaters September 19, 2003, was a surprise hit: It was made for $22 million but grossed nearly $96 million, kicking off a film franchise that brought in nearly $550 million. Here’s what you should know.

10 Facts About Guinea Worm Disease

Original production cel from Rikki-Tikki-Tavi on its key matching background.

How Chuck Jones Animated the Mongoose in Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

When Chuck Jones decided to make the short film “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” he faced a challenge: How could he imbue the cobra-killing mongoose with a sense of personality, all without taking away from the fact that it was an animal?

19 Fascinating Facts About ‘The Crow’

Alex Proyas's 'The Crow' was marred by tragedy when its star, Brandon Lee, was killed in an on-set accident just days before filming wrapped.

77 Delightful Victorian Slang Terms You Should Be Using

We don’t know how these Victorian slang terms ever fell out of fashion, but we propose bringing them back, as soon as possible.

Bison grazing in Grand Teton National Park.

What’s the Difference Between Bison and Buffalo?

In the U.S., the terms ‘bison’ and ‘buffalo’ are used interchangeably—but they’re actually two different animals. Here’s how to tell them apart.

Sailors in the early days of exploration may have believed that manatees were mermaids.

The Origins of 13 Mythical Creatures

Unicorns, mermaids, vampires, and leprechauns are some of the most widely known mythical creatures, but where did these legendary beings come from?