Podcast Episodes
Back to Search
How Orkney Became Scottish
Episode 1070
On 20 February, 1472, Orkney and Shetland officially became part of Scotland having been offered up as security for the dowry of the daughter of King…
1 year, 5 months ago
Mexico's 45 Minute President
Episode 1069
Pedro Lascuráin set an unbeatable record in presidential speedrunning—serving as Mexico’s president for a paltry 45 minutes on 19th February, 1913. H…
1 year, 5 months ago
I Discovered Pluto
Episode 1068
Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto - 84 years after star-spotters first began their hunt for a ninth planet in our solar system, the elusive ‘Planet X’ …
1 year, 5 months ago
Britain Goes To School
Episode 1067
The 1870 Education Act was the first to deal specifically with the provision of British schools. Speaking in the House of Commons, William Edward For…
1 year, 5 months ago
The Night of 206 Stars
Episode 1064
The Rockettes kicked off a celebrity line-up including Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minelli, Jimmy Stewart, Al Pacino and Miss Piggy at ‘The Night of 100 S…
1 year, 5 months ago
The 500,000 Year-Old Spark Plug
Episode 1064
The Coso Artifact - a man-made, cylindrical object apparently encased in a geode - was discovered by Wallace Lane, Virginia Maxey and Mike Mikesell w…
1 year, 5 months ago
The Forbidden City's Final Emperor
Episode 1063
Henry Puyi, the six-year old Emperor of China, abdicated the throne on 12th February, 1912 —but of course it was his adoptive mother, Empress Dowager…
1 year, 5 months ago
The Monstrous Gerrymander
Episode 1062
Elbridge Gerry, a founding father and governor of Massachusetts, rearranged the electoral districts of a map in order to give his Democratic Republic…
1 year, 5 months ago
Trouble at the Tavern
Episode 1061
Violent ‘town versus gown’ confrontations have been part of Oxford life ever since the University was founded - but reached an ignominious peak on 10…
1 year, 5 months ago
Preventing Technological Surprise
Episode 1059
Inventing the internet and pioneering satellite navigation, U.S. government agency DARPA has had an illustrious history since being founded by Presid…
1 year, 5 months ago