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The Killer Fog: London's Great Smog of 1952
In December 1952, a thick blanket of fog descended upon London. At first, it seemed like a familiar winter nuisance. But this was no ordinary fog. Mi…
4 months, 1 week ago
How a Teenage Chemist's Failed Experiment Launched a Modern Industry
In 1856, an eighteen-year-old chemistry student set out to accomplish something ambitious: create an artificial cure for malaria. He failed completel…
4 months, 1 week ago
Life Lessons from the Lost Greek Plays, w/ James Romm
In this episode of Friday Conversations, host Peter Zablocki welcomes acclaimed classicist James Romm to discuss his latest book, Since You're Mortal…
4 months, 1 week ago
The Man Who Stopped WWIII
In October 1962, the world stood on the brink of nuclear war. The Cuban Missile Crisis had pushed the United States and the Soviet Union closer to ca…
4 months, 1 week ago
Philadelphia's Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793
In the summer of 1793, the nation's capital became a city of fear. As a mysterious disease swept through Philadelphia, thousands fled, businesses clo…
4 months, 1 week ago
The Story Behind TR's Man in the Arena Speech
Few speeches have endured like The Man in the Arena. Its most famous lines have been quoted by presidents, athletes, soldiers, and entrepreneurs for …
4 months, 1 week ago
France's SS and the Men Who Fought for Hitler
In the final months of World War II, as Nazi Germany collapsed on all fronts, one of the last units defending Berlin carried a surprising distinction…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
How Roman Military Logistics Conquered the Ancient World
The Roman legions are remembered for their swords, shields, and battlefield victories. Yet behind every conquest stood something far less glamorous—b…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
How the Blizzard of 1888 Built the New York Subway
In March 1888, one of the most devastating storms in American history slammed into the Northeast. The Great Blizzard of 1888 buried New York City und…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
A Day in the Life of a Gladiator, w/ Harry Sidebottom
In this episode of Friday Conversations, host Peter Zablocki sits down with Oxford historian and bestselling novelist Harry Sidebottom to explore his…
4 months, 2 weeks ago