00:00 The podcast episode titled "How Castles Work" discusses the childhood toy Castle Grayskull and the desire to educate one's younger self about castles and the dangers of smoking.

03:43 Castles originated from ancient walled cities and evolved to include features such as moats, watch towers, and fortified gates, with the main purpose of protecting against invaders during the high Middle Ages.

07:16 Castles had moats filled with sewage, outer walls filled with rubble, and overhangs with arrow loops and murder holes for defense and protection.

10:35 Castles were designed with crenellations, clockwise staircases, and inner courtyards, and were originally used for military purposes but later became more for the kings and noblemen, with residential apartments and spaces for festivals and fairs.

14:09 Castles had chapels, great halls, storage, and heated rooms, as well as self-sufficient water supplies, including wells and cisterns, in order to survive sieges that could last for months or years.

17:28 During a siege, the invading army would often surround the castle and wait it out, sometimes negotiating the surrender of the castle, while the people inside would use flaming arrows and catapults to prevent the invading army from getting supplies; another method of attack was using scaling ladders or siege towers to gain entry into the castle.

20:55 During a siege, the invading army would use battering rams covered in shields, shoot flaming arrows into the door, and dig tunnels under the castle walls to weaken and collapse them; however, the invention of the cannon made castles obsolete and they were replaced by colonial forts made of earthen walls and wood.

24:17 The hosts discuss various castles and castle-like structures, including a medieval fortress in Arkansas, Hearst Castle, and a castle in Oakhurst.

27:44 The hosts discuss various unrelated topics, including special powers, music taste, and email signatures, before ending with ads for Discover and Capital One.