Deep Dive: Twelfth State, Timeless Wit, and a Surprising Alka‑Seltzer Demographic - November 21, 2025
David Mercer and Miriam Keller mark North Carolina’s 1789 ratification as the twelfth state, celebrate birthdays of Voltaire, René Magritte, and Harold Ramis, and explore a curious audience insight: Alka‑Seltzer.com’s top visitors are women aged 35–44.
In this Deep Dive episode, our hosts discuss the day's historical milestone, notable birthdays, and a curious audience statistic.
• 📜 North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1789 and became the twelfth state — a concise reflection on belonging, legal alignment with the federal framework, and the stability that ratification signified in the early Republic.
• 🎂 We celebrate the birthdays of Voltaire (1694), René Magritte (1898), and Harold Ramis (1944). The conversation highlights Voltaire’s role as an Enlightenment public intellectual who used wit, correspondence, and networks to challenge dogma and defend toleration.
• 💡 Fact of the day: Alka‑Seltzer.com has the highest number of visitors who are women aged 35–44 — a demographic concentration with implications for privacy, targeted messaging, and risk modeling in web security and content strategy.
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🎧 Subscribe for more insights.
• 📜 North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1789 and became the twelfth state — a concise reflection on belonging, legal alignment with the federal framework, and the stability that ratification signified in the early Republic.
• 🎂 We celebrate the birthdays of Voltaire (1694), René Magritte (1898), and Harold Ramis (1944). The conversation highlights Voltaire’s role as an Enlightenment public intellectual who used wit, correspondence, and networks to challenge dogma and defend toleration.
• 💡 Fact of the day: Alka‑Seltzer.com has the highest number of visitors who are women aged 35–44 — a demographic concentration with implications for privacy, targeted messaging, and risk modeling in web security and content strategy.
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🎧 Subscribe for more insights.
Creators and Guests
Producer
Chad Thompson
Chad Thompson is the producer of Neural Newscast, bringing his expertise in technology, cybersecurity, media production, DJing, music production, and radio broadcasting to deliver high-quality, engaging news content. A futurist and early adopter, Chad has a deep passion for innovation, storytelling, and automation, ensuring that Neural Newscast stays at the forefront of modern news delivery. With a background in security operations and a career leading cyber defense teams, he combines technical acumen with creative vision to produce informative and compelling broadcasts. In addition to producing the podcast, Chad creates its original music, blending his technical expertise with his creative talents to enhance the show's unique sound. Outside of Neural Newscast, Chad is a dedicated father, electronic music enthusiast, and builder of creative projects, always exploring new ways to merge technology with storytelling.
