Stacy Conradt

Des Moines

Freelance Writer, Copy Editor and Researcher at Mental Floss

Writer, Cyclone, Haunted Mansion enthusiast

Articles

10 Discontinued Disney Parks Foods

3 weeks ago | mentalfloss.com | Stacy Conradt

As fans know all too well, Disney giveth and Disney taketh away. (Remember the Disney Vault?) Not even food at Disney Parks is exempt: While some foodie favorites like churros and Mickey ice cream bars have been staples for years, other beloved treats have been unceremoniously yanked from menus. Check out these 10 treats you can no longer find at Disney Parks. 1.
10 Facts About St. Peter's Basilica

2 months ago | flipboard.com | Stacy Conradt

1 hour agoThe New Far-Right Coalition That’s Out to Destroy American Democracy“Money, Lies, and God” argues that the failed January 6 insurrection didn’t discourage those who want to dismantle the republic.
10 Facts About St. Peter’s Basilica

2 months ago | mentalfloss.com | Stacy Conradt

It’s no longer the largest church in Christendom, but St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is still the most fabulous. Whether you’re Catholic or not, it’s hard to argue with the fact that St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome is an amazing feat of architecture and art. The cornerstone for this sanctified structure was laid on April 18, 1506, and it remains the scene of papal pomp and pageantry today. Here are a few facts about the house that Peter built (according to Catholic tradition, anyway).
7 Cases of Alleged Spontaneous Human Combustion

2 months ago | mentalfloss.com | Stacy Conradt

Can people really explode into flames without warning? The cause of death in these mysterious cases has, at one time or another, been reported as spontaneous human combustion—but there was often a more realistic explanation. “Four feet distance from the bed there was a heap of ashes, two legs untouch’d, from the foot to the knee, with their stockings on,” wrote Paul Rolli, a fellow of the British Royal Society, describing the mysterious 1731 death of Countess Cornelia Bandi.
7 of the Most Bizarre Discontinued Ben & Jerry’s Flavors

Mar 14, 2025 | mentalfloss.com | Stacy Conradt

Ice cream flavors come and go, but the memory of some of these picks from Ben & Jerry’s can still make your taste buds melt. For some folks, it can be tough to choose a favorite ice cream flavor. The answer gets even harder to come by when you’re considering which Ben & Jerry’s flavor outdoes the rest.
10 Pop Culture Classics That Originally Got Bad Reviews

Mar 14, 2025 | mentalfloss.com | Stacy Conradt

There’s no accounting for taste when it comes to critics’ misguided impressions of cultural classics, from mini-skirts to ‘Moby-Dick.’Works that we consider classics—or, at the very least, valuable contributions to society—haven't always been seen as such. Sometimes it takes a little time and perspective for us to understand the true value of something. Here are a few examples of things that really tanked whey they were first released, but are now considered pretty important.
The Quick 9: Nine Capitals of the United States

Feb 20, 2025 | mentalfloss.com | Stacy Conradt

Washington, D.C., hasn't always been the political center of the United States. In fact, nine different cities across the country have served as the nation's capital at one point or another, even if only for a day (and technically, some of them can't be called capitals of the United States, but the capital of the colonies). Here they are:3. Lancaster, Pa., has the distinction of being capital for merely a day.
101 Things We Learned in 2024

Dec 31, 2024 | mentalfloss.com | Stacy Conradt

Let’s celebrate another year in the books with a look back at how our knowledge grew over the past 12 months. Bymentalfloss .com, Stacy Conradt|It’s been another amazing year for fun facts about history, science, animals, Parmesan cheese, and everything in between.
The Original Reviews of 10 Classic Christmas Movies

Dec 10, 2024 | mentalfloss.com | Stacy Conradt

Whether you’re a fan of Buddy the Elf or prefer the retro allure of Bedford Falls, there are certain movies that just make the holidays complete—but not all of them were always so popular. Here’s what the critics originally thought of 10 classic Christmas movies. 1. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)It seems that the Jimmy Stewart-Donna Reed classic was beloved from the start.
12 Festive Facts About ‘A Christmas Story’

Nov 30, 2024 | mentalfloss.com | Stacy Conradt

Because Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the 24-hour marathon on TBS. By Stacy Conradt|Nov 19, 2024Which Oscar-winning star wanted to play Ralphie Parker’s dad? Which actor went on to have a seedy career in the adult film industry? Can you really get your tongue stuck to a metal pole? On the 35th anniversary of A Christmas Story’s debut, here are a few tidbits about the holiday classic to tide you over until TBS and TNT’s 24-hour Christmas marathon.