Jon Mayer

Joined: Aug 21, 2019

Jonathan Mayer is a writer, producer, director and editor, and the Managing Producer at Mental Floss video. His work has been produced by Upworthy and Hatched, and has been written about by Splitsider/Vulture, Jezebel, the Frisky, and Laughspin. His most recent digital series, Aliens, was chosen for screening in SeriesFest and the Catlyst Story Institute Festival.

Don't worry, this really is the Japanese flag.

Misconceptions About Japan

Secret societies capture the public's imagination.

The Real Stories Behind 8 Secret Societies

A small sampling of our 50+ regional dish selections

One Beloved Dish From Each U.S. State

19 Odd Facts About Animal Sex

A bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich (on a controversial bread).

A Delicious History of the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich

'The New York Times' restaurant critic Pete Wells once said the humble bacon, egg, and cheese was “designed to satisfy practical needs rather than voluptuary desires." But is that selling the sandwich short?

DEET might not exist without military research.

9 Inventions That Came From the Military

From bug spray to Epipens, you might be surprised to learn just how many items taking up shelf space in your home were originally developed for the front lines.

Ballerinas are not considered a mythical creature

The Origins of 13 Mythical Creatures

Our latest episode of The List Show gets into some illuminating stories, from merpeople (or is that manatees?) to 'pontianak.'

A Bewitching History of Magic

As host Justin Dodd discusses in this episode of The History of Fun, magic has transformed from a little-respected sideshow to a multimillion-dollar industry.

11 Facts About the Animals of Chernobyl

Researchers thought the site of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster was unable to support life. But a bunch of wolves, deer, wild boars, bears, and foxes disagreed.

The history of pizza isn’t as straightforward as you may think.

A Brief History of Pizza

We take a bite out of pizza’s past in the latest episode of Food History.

6 Misconceptions About the 1990s

In the latest episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd debunks myths from the last decade of the 20th century, from fraudulent Furby fears to some misinformation around the era’s most famous trial.

Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton was taller than Michael Jordan

100 “WTF” Facts

In this episode of The List Show, we cover 100 facts about everything from business to biology that'll make you say, “huh?”

Tom Cruise did not, in fact, engage in a "war of the worlds"

13 Lies Movies Taught Us

In this episode of The List Show, Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy traces some of the most common myths we've gotten from movies.

The World’s Largest Pistachio, New Mexico.

The Coolest Offbeat Attraction in Each U.S. State

In the latest episode of The List Show, host Justin Dodd takes an off-kilter roadtrip through the United States, with stops at a self-flushing latrine, a collection of human brains, and much more.

A Brief History of SPAM

From Monty Python to Minnesota's SPAM Museum, this little packaged luncheon meat has a big cultural footprint.

“Weird Al” Yankovic’s Weird, Wonderful Career

In this episode of Throwback, Mental Floss Editor-in-Chief Erin McCarthy traces Weird Al’s unique path to stardom.