Semi-educational and organically funny, “Well, I Laughed” is a podcast for listeners who find themselves in search of a good laugh and their next strange story to tell at parties. Each week one of our hosts shares what they have learned on topics ranging from the Unabomber to Frankenstein. Join Grant, a public school teacher, and Maia, an engineer, as they find the humor in the mundane. Well, I Laughed, and we think you will too. New episodes every Wednesday.
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1766 W 46th Ave
PO Box 11383
Denver, CO 80211
Grant survived growing up in Nebraska to accomplish every Midwest kid’s dream - moving away after paying in-state tuition for college. After a year in California, he landed in Denver in the summer of 2016. He is a public school teacher, and has grown accustomed to a semi-willing audience.
Recently (and proudly) 30, Grant lives on Denver’s westside. Famously pet averse and fortunately single, he parents several plants. He hikes, hosts dinner parties, and once met Dave Franco. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Education in 2015. 6 feet tall if it matters…
Maia is originally from the suburbs of Denver, CO and will take any and every opportunity to remind everyone that she is a rare “Colorado Born and Raised” 🙄. Having ADHD and a love of having approximate knowledge of many things as led her into many serendipitous adventures - starting this podcast being one of them. If you’ve ever gone down an internet search rabbit hole, you’ll love the stories she shares.
Outside of the podcast (because once you have a podcast it becomes your whole personality, right?) she lives with her fiancé, Casey, and two dogs, Monet and Bowser. She has a BS in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering and works as a Project Engineer for an Engineering Consulting firm (don't ask her what she does for work - she still doesn't know how to define "consultant").
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Drag is art, drag is exciting, drag is… old? This week, Maia explores the history of drag. From drag in Ancient Greece and Rome and male only casts, to more contemporary artist like the work of Julian Eltinge. Maia shares the life of William Dorsey Swann, who was America’s first drag queen, or at least one of them. Taking us to the Drag Balls of Harlem during the Harlem Renaissance and the extravagant homes of DC that first held drag gatherings. Swann’s life proves that drag has history in America. Take a swan dive in the life of “William Dorsey Swann”!
Meet the queen who started it all—corset, courage, and all. In this episode, Grant and Maia dive into the incredible true story of William Dorsey Swann, a formerly enslaved man who threw fierce drag balls in 1880s Washington, DC—decades before Stonewall and centuries before RuPaul. Swann didn’t just sashay through history; he kicked down doors, defied police raids, and claimed space for Black queer joy at a time when both his race and gender expression were criminalized. From glitter and grit to protest and pride, this episode uncovers how Swann’s radical legacy echoes through today’s culture wars, including a powerful tribute during the George Floyd protests on the very street that now bears his name. If you love history served with sass, struggle, and seriously good storytelling—this one’s for you.
00:00:00 Catch-Up
00:22:21 Swann Dive
00:39:40 Defining Drag
00:47:20 Forgotten History Uncovered
01:00:00 Queens of Freedom
01:03:30 "Cake Walk"
01:22:36 Activism’s Legal Legacy
01:41:00 Swann Street Redemption
Connect with Us
Love a good laugh? Stay in the loop with the Well, I Laughed Podcast! Hit up wellilaughed.com for all the fun, throw some love our way on Patreon at https://patreon.com/WellILaughedPodcast, and send us your wildest listener stories at wellilaughedpod@gmail.com—because let’s be real, we know you’ve got some!
Listener stories, topic ideas, or anything else you think belongs on the show—drop it all at wellilaughed.com/contact. We’re all ears—and laughs!
Follow Us On Social Media
Instagram: @wellilaughed
Tiktok: @wellilaughed
Facebook: Well, I Laughed Podcast
YouTube: Well, I laughed
Wednesday Mar 27, 2024
Wednesday Mar 27, 2024
Where did the phrase “coming out of the closet” come from? Is history gay? And if it is, why is gay history a secret? This week’s podcast episode looks at famous gay people in history. Including gay Kings of England and America’s first gay president, at least potentially. Grant and Maia also take on the controversy of learning gay history. Explore the perks of being a spinster. Before ending with a tour of modern gay history in the United States. They say he was never married, a confirmed bachelor, and famous for his dinner parties. A queer history, now out!
From weekend bar mishaps to the hidden layers of “coming out,” Grant and Maia take you on a lively ride through queer history’s best-kept secrets. They trade banter on bookstore obsessions, hyperfixation at work, and late-night escapades—then pivot to “never married” monarchs, a bachelor president, and the many ways LGBTQ+ stories slipped into the shadows. Equal parts hilarious and eye-opening, it’s a whirlwind look at how “out and about” has always meant so much more. They dig into the coded language of early gay communities, the unexpected role of spinster neighbors, and reveal how a mid-century “Lavender Scare” still echoes in today’s battles for representation. Expect comedic tangents, historical aha-moments, and fresh insight into why these hidden narratives matter.
00:00:00 Catch-Up
00:21:38 Out & About
00:34:03 Royals Rumors
00:45:10 The Only Bachelor President
01:00:00 Lavender Scare & Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
01:14:45 A Search for Gay History
01:28:00 Wrapping It Up
Connect with Us
Love a good laugh? Stay in the loop with the Well, I Laughed Podcast! Hit up wellilaughed.com for all the fun, throw some love our way on Patreon at https://patreon.com/WellILaughedPodcast, and send us your wildest listener stories at wellilaughedpod@gmail.com—because let’s be real, we know you’ve got some!
Listener stories, topic ideas, or anything else you think belongs on the show—drop it all at wellilaughed.com/contact. We’re all ears—and laughs!
Follow Us On Social Media
Instagram: @wellilaughed
Tiktok: @wellilaughed
Facebook: Well, I Laughed Podcast
YouTube: Well, I laughed
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
Stories from the Reddit AITA page. The challenge of being a new mom with a clueless new father. A family that respects their daughters wishes. A family prank that went too far. And disappointing husbands that could do more to support their spouse. A series of funny Reddit stories about people who might have taken it a little too far. Excessive force AITA!
Grant Thomas and Maia Warner take you on a no-seatbelt kind of ride through the hilarious highs and humbling lows of teaching, teenage chaos, and the unpredictable world of state tournaments. What starts as a look ahead to the Colorado State speech and debate showdown quickly unravels into real talk about the pressure students face, the sting of slipping up, and what happens when a forgotten script meets real-world consequences. Along the way, you'll hear snarky side notes about snoring roommates, wedding flower girl drama, and parenting debates that hit a little too close to home. Add in some wild campus pranks, legendary school rivalries, and sharp reflections on teacher accountability and personal growth, and you've got an episode that’s equal parts ridiculous and real. If you’re here for the laughs, the lessons, or just need to feel better about your own messy life, this one’s got it all—colorful commentary included.
00:00:00 Catch-Up
00:21:25 State of Play
00:29:00 Lesson in Accountability
00:31:00 Campus Mayhem
00:48:12 Final Reflections
Connect with Us
Love a good laugh? Stay in the loop with the Well, I Laughed Podcast! Hit up wellilaughed.com for all the fun, throw some love our way on Patreon at https://patreon.com/WellILaughedPodcast, and send us your wildest listener stories at wellilaughedpod@gmail.com—because let’s be real, we know you’ve got some!
Listener stories, topic ideas, or anything else you think belongs on the show—drop it all at wellilaughed.com/contact. We’re all ears—and laughs!
Follow Us On Social Media
Instagram: @wellilaughed
Tiktok: @wellilaughed
Facebook: Well, I Laughed Podcast
YouTube: Well, I laughed
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
A podcast on workers rights and the labor movement! Striking workers and unsafe working conditions, a uniquely American story. This week, Grant explores two historic moments in the labor rights movement. The Haymarket Riot in Chicago and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York. We learn more about Albert Parsons and Lucy Parsons, Clara Lemlich, and even get a surprise appearance from gilded age aristocrats. Discover the meaning behind May Day in today’s episode, March to May!
In this powerful episode, Grant and Maia explore the brutal labor struggles of late 19th and early 20th-century America, focusing on the Haymarket Riot of 1886 and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911. Through the stories of activists like Albert and Lucy Parsons, the hosts reveal the extraordinary courage of immigrant workers fighting against exploitative working conditions, systemic oppression, and corporate greed. The episode reaches its emotional peak with a detailed account of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which claimed 146 lives and ultimately sparked significant labor reforms in New York State. By connecting historical struggles to contemporary social justice issues, Grant and Maia offer a compelling narrative about the ongoing fight for workers' rights and the importance of understanding systemic inequalities. Tune in for the roots of May Day, nostalgic tangents about foldable furniture and Jon Stewart, plus a clear message that any “normal” built on abuse deserves rethinking.
Connect with Us
Love a good laugh? Stay in the loop with the Well, I Laughed Podcast! Hit up wellilaughed.com for all the fun, throw some love our way on Patreon at https://patreon.com/WellILaughedPodcast, and send us your wildest listener stories at wellilaughedpod@gmail.com—because let’s be real, we know you’ve got some!
Listener stories, topic ideas, or anything else you think belongs on the show—drop it all at wellilaughed.com/contact. We’re all ears—and laughs!
Follow Us On Social Media
Instagram: @wellilaughed
Tiktok: @wellilaughed
Facebook: Well, I Laughed Podcast
YouTube: Well, I laughed
00:00:00 Catch-Up
00:29:47 March to May
00:46:10 Albert and Lucy Parsons’ legacy
00:54:20 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire
01:18:00 Systemic greed & déjà‑vu
01:33:30 Modern echoes
01:52:07 Lessons in Historical Empathy
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Today’s podcast episode is about a famous school rivalry. The rivalry between Denver University and the Colorado School of Mines. Maia covers some pranks that go too far. Pranks with explosives, hostages, and lots of ways to go wrong, at least a little. It is about more than a game of football, or a big white M on the side of the mountain. An episode on school pride and smart people doing dumb things. CU vs CSU. Auburn vs Georgia Tech. Harvard vs Yale. John Evans vs History. Who's side are you on?
How do a high school debate tournament, a sketchy Quality Inn, and one very loud snorer turn into a full-blown history lesson with explosions and academic beef? In this delightfully unhinged episode, Grant and Maia kick things off with tales of chaperoning chaos, room-sharing drama, and road trip rituals—before swerving straight into the wild world of Colorado campus lore. From the tangled legacy of John Evans to dorm room antics that might technically count as terrorism (oops), they blend laugh-out-loud stories with sharp historical insight and just the right amount of heartfelt reflection. Vocabulary lessons, personal confessions, and absurd adventures collide in this episode about how the past keeps showing up—in classrooms, in college rivalries, and in the backseat of a debate van. Press play and prepare to be both entertained and strangely educated.
00:00:00 Catch-Up
00:20:54 Blast Off
00:27:17 John Evans’ Legacy
00:41:05 Campus Rivalries
01:48:00 The Big Wrap-Up
Connect with Us
Love a good laugh? Stay in the loop with the Well, I Laughed Podcast! Hit up wellilaughed.com for all the fun, throw some love our way on Patreon at https://patreon.com/WellILaughedPodcast, and send us your wildest listener stories at wellilaughedpod@gmail.com—because let’s be real, we know you’ve got some!
Listener stories, topic ideas, or anything else you think belongs on the show—drop it all at wellilaughed.com/contact. We’re all ears—and laughs!
Follow Us On Social Media
Instagram: @wellilaughed
Tiktok: @wellilaughed
Facebook: Well, I Laughed Podcast
YouTube: Well, I laughed