Podcast Episodes

Short – The Canberra Air Disaster Mystery

Season 9 Episode 71

In August 1940, an RAAF Hudson bomber crashed in Canberra, killing four of Australia's top wartime leaders — along with six other men. It was a tragedy that'd lead to the downfall of one Prime Minist…

Published on 3 hours ago

This Week in 1957: Part Two – Keep Watching the Skies

Season 9 Episode 70

Space dog Laika and Sputnik II were the green light for the Cold War missile and space races to accelerate at warp speed. With the Russians out in front, the Americans were hellbent on catching up, u…

Published on 6 days, 23 hours ago

This Week in 1957: Part One – Dogs In Space

Season 9 Episode 68

The world would never be the same after the Russians launched Sputnik II into space and its cosmonaut canine Laika became the first animal to orbit the Earth. Aussies would have to keep their eyes on…

Published on 1 week, 3 days ago

This Week in 1932: 32 Rabbit Holes – Part Three

Season 9 Episode 67

In 1932, horror movies are on the rise, reflecting fears of an uncertain age – and fair enough, too, because, in addition to the woes of the Great Depression, the rise of fascism and Nazism, and the …

Published on 1 week, 5 days ago

This Week in 1932: 32 Rabbit Holes – Part Two

Season 9 Episode 66

While Hitler’s rise to power In Germany seems unstoppable and Mussolini celebrates ten years of fascism in Italy, Australia's homegrown New Guard numbskulls have already become irrelevant – and escap…

Published on 2 weeks ago

This Week in 1932: 32 Rabbit Holes – Part One

Season 9 Episode 65

From robots and rockets, to mad scientists, anti-democratic techbros and narcissistic fascist strongmen, a lot of what was making news this week in the Great Depression sounds, well, familiar.

But at…

Published on 2 weeks, 2 days ago

This Week in 1907: All Quacked Up

Season 9 Episode 64

Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills, Freeman’s Chlorodyne, Hearn’s Bronchitis Cure, Dr Morse’s Indian Root Pills – what was in these and other patent medicines and how much good and harm did they do? These …

Published on 3 weeks, 2 days ago

Short – The Coastwatcher’s Lonely War

Season 9 Episode 63

In July 1942, as Australia’s armed forces were about to begin what would become the legendary battle for the Kokoda Track, in another occupied part of New Guinea, the brave Aussie coastwatcher Con Pa…

Published on 4 weeks, 1 day ago

Short – The Ballad of Australia’s Forgotten Boxing Champion

Season 9 Episode 62

In July 1919, tiny-statured but huge-hearted youngster George Mendies won the Australian Flyweight Title. This was a crown he'd defend successfully again and again – until fate dealt him a cruel blow…

Published on 1 month ago

Short – One Man, Two Mining Disasters

Season 9 Episode 61

Australia suffered what is still our worst industrial disaster when an explosion ripped through the Mount Kembla mine on 31 July 1902. Strikingly, lead rescuer Henry MacCabe had 15 years earlier been…

Published on 1 month ago