Decoder Ring - Preview: Decoder Rings Back Duck, Duck, Jeep

Earlier this year we debuted Decoder Rings Back, our new feature exclusively for Decoder Ring Plus subscribers. In each installment, Willa gets a listener on the phone and tries her best to answer their question about a cultural mystery. We have been having a blast making these episodes, and if you haven’t heard them, we think you’re missing out. So in the hopes of instilling some FOMO that motivates you to support the work we do here by becoming a Decoder Ring Plus subscriber, here’s a sneak peek at the latest installment. This time, we hear from Julia Latino in Massachusetts who’s been baffled for years by a strange sight: dozens of tiny rubber duckies riding on the dashboard of Jeeps. What started this craze, and why Jeeps of all cars? Get more of Decoder Ring with Slate Plus! Join for exclusive bonus episodes of Decoder Ring and ad-free listening on all your favorite Slate podcasts.

You can listen to Decoder Ring - Preview: Decoder Rings Back Duck, Duck, Jeep online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Decoder Ring - Preview: Decoder Rings Back Duck, Duck, Jeep is an episode from Slate Culture.

This episode is 10:09 long.

This episode was published on May 27, 2026.

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