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Eugene V Debs, Part One: Railroad Workers Fight The Power
You may not have heard of Eugene V. Debs before this podcast -- but in his day this political activist was one of the most prominent (and at-times co…
3 years, 8 months ago
The Michelin Man was an Unhinged Lunatic
Virtually every foodie is aware of the Michelin Guide -- the last word in high-end restaurant ratings -- but originally came about as a way to sell m…
3 years, 8 months ago
The Yukio Mishima Story, Part Two: Mishima's End
In his heyday, Japanese author Yukio Mishima was one of the most well-known writers in the world. But where did he come from -- and what on Earth led…
3 years, 8 months ago
The Yukio Mishima Story, Part One: Confessions of a Mask
In his heyday, Japanese author Yukio Mishima was one of the most well-known writers in the world. But where did he come from -- and what on Earth led…
3 years, 8 months ago
Wait, How Do I Know It's Funny? A Rollicking History of Laugh Tracks
We've all heard them. You're watching or hearing a show, a character says something, and -- boom! -- an invisible choir of audience members loses the…
3 years, 9 months ago
Who, exactly, were the Luddites?
Today you'll hear people described as 'Luddites' if they don't care for -- or don't understand -- some newer piece of technology, but where did this …
3 years, 9 months ago
Instant Noodles Changed The World, Part Two: Going Global
As Momofuku Ando's instant noodles take Japan by storm, he sets his sights on the global horizon. In part two of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and …
3 years, 9 months ago
Instant Noodles Changed The World, Part One: An Origin Story
Today, instant noodles are ubiquitous. You can find them in almost every grocery store, in any number of flavors sold by any number of brands -- but …
3 years, 9 months ago
The Accidental Invention of Holding Music
We've all been there -- you're calling a bank, a loan company, you name it, and boom: you're put on hold. But where does that music come from? In tod…
3 years, 9 months ago
Inventors Killed By Their Own Inventions: Flyin' or Dyin', Part Two
How far would you go to fly? It's a question many inventors have asked themselves over the ages and, tragically, for every successful breakthrough it…
3 years, 9 months ago