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CLASSIC: Teddy Roosevelt May Just Have Saved Modern (American) Football
In recent years the public has become increasingly aware of the long-term dangers posed by sports injuries -- but at the turn of the 20th century thi…
2 months, 1 week ago
Eurovision, Chapter Two: Pop Music as Problematic Diplomacy
Now, we know this is going to sound weird, but... it turns out one of the world's most popular pop music contests is also one of the world's best exa…
2 months, 1 week ago
Eurovision, Chapter One: A Ridiculous Origin Story -- and A Smash Success
The Eurovision Song Contest is one of the most popular talent shows on the planet, with multiple countries showcasing their culture through pop music…
2 months, 1 week ago
CLASSIC: Prohibition, Prescriptions and the Rise of 'Medicinal' Booze
From 1920 to 1933, the United States was, technically speaking, a dry country. The National Prohibition Act made the manufacture, transport and sale …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Fort Sauerkraut: North Dakota’s Strange, Ill-Planned Origin Story
As the gang gets ever closer to finally completing their mission to do an episode on every state in the United States, they arrive at North Dakota. W…
2 months, 2 weeks ago
The Bizarre Tale of the 1909 Catnip Riot
Here's one for the cat lovers: Does your feline friend absolutely love catnip? If you have a cat with the right sensitivities, this stuff completely …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
CLASSIC: Did Robert E. Lee hate Confederate Memorials?
In this week's Classic episode, the guys return to a strange, oft-overlooked aspect of the Civil War. From 1861 to 1865, the United States of America…
2 months, 3 weeks ago
IQ Tests are (Kind of) Dumb
Have you ever taken an IQ test? Originally envisioned as a way to determine which French children should be locked in asylums, Alfred Binet's attempt…
2 months, 3 weeks ago
Did Lead Lead to the Fall of the Roman Empire?
Don't do lead, kids! Nowadays everyone knows the dangers this substance poses to humans -- especially children in their formative years -- but back i…
2 months, 3 weeks ago
CLASSIC: California Schoolchildren and the Great Squirrel War
In this week's Classic episode: In 1918, as the planet was consumed by World War I, the government of California found itself combating an unexpected…
2 months, 4 weeks ago