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The Hidden History of Jewish Pirates, Part 1: Escaping Europe
During the age of European expansion, members of the Jewish diaspora traveled to Caribbean and the continents of North and South America, often escaping the intense persecution of the Inquisition. So…
Published on 5 years, 4 months ago
Ridiculous "Remedies" of the Spanish Flu: The Rise of the Lemon
Have you ever used a home remedy when under the weather? Some, like honey and lemon (and whiskey) for a sore throat, remain common today. In 2020, other treatments people once swore by seem -- I hesi…
Published on 5 years, 4 months ago
That Time Rebellious Freemasons Starting Kissing Porcelain Pug Butts
We've all heard about Freemasons -- but what about the Order of the Pug? Join the guys as they explore the strange series of events that led German Masons to create their own secret society, embodied…
Published on 5 years, 4 months ago
Clever Hans, Part 2: The Rise and Fall of Hans
Unconvinced by claims of this horse's mathematical acumen, psychologist Oskar Pfungst conducted a series of experiments to determine whether Clever Hans was actually solving problems. Pfungst discove…
Published on 5 years, 4 months ago
Clever Hans, Part 1: The Equine Mathematician
Back in the early 20th century, retired teacher Wilhelm von Osten had a dream -- to exhibit the gifts of his brilliant horse, Clever Hans, to the world. Wilhelm believed Hans was capable of solving p…
Published on 5 years, 4 months ago
Henry VIII and That English Sweat, Part 2: A Disease and a King
While history often only remembers Henry VIII as a real pill, he was also a profound hypochondriac -- and, rightly terrified of contracting the English Sweats, Henry hightailed it to a series of safe…
Published on 5 years, 5 months ago
Henry VIII and That English Sweat, Part 1: A Pandemic
Beginning in 1485, a mysterious disease swept in waves across England. No one was sure how it spread, no treatment existed, and the disease took the name of its most memorable symptom. The English sw…
Published on 5 years, 5 months ago
The Hobo King: Leon Ray Livingston, Chapter Two
As the Great Depression devastates the nation, roughly 2 million people find themselves out of home and hope, migrating toward distant promises of jobs, distant family members -- some distant idea of…
Published on 5 years, 5 months ago
The Hobo King: Leon Ray Livingston, Chapter One
Born in San Francisco, an 11-year-old ran away from home, living and writing about his travels. Hailed as a self-coronated 'Hobo King,' Livingston made his own mythology, creating tropes that survive…
Published on 5 years, 5 months ago
The Vikings Made a Fortune in the 'Unicorn' Trade
Nowadays, experts and equestrians alike largely agree: unicorns are creatures of myth. But, not too long ago, the wealthiest people in Europe would pay top dollar for everything from powdered 'unicor…
Published on 5 years, 5 months ago