De Koven, Weidmann, and Public Execution in France (Pt. 1)

This 2019 episode the tale of an elaborate hoax. It starts with the Scythians and how their artifacts became highly prized in 19th century Europe, and ends with an artist who came into fame as a resul...

1 Huhti 202329min

Holly and Tracy talk about their relationship to trees, and how humankind's understanding of climate science has changed over the years. They also talk about the continuing relevance of Jennie June's ...

31 Maalis 202322min

Earl Lind, Ralph Werther, and Jennie June were all pseudonyms of the same person, who wrote what are sometimes described as the first autobiographies of a transgender person ever published in the West...

29 Maalis 202339min

Holly is joined by John Perlin, author of "A Forest Journey: The Role of Trees in the Fate of Civilization,” to talk about the ways that human development and survival depends on the health of the pla...

27 Maalis 202347min

The 2015 episode covers a volcano eruption in Sumbawa, Indonesia in 1816, that combined with several other factors to create an unusual -- and catastrophic -- series of weather events. See omnystudio....

25 Maalis 202326min

Holly and Tracy dig into the role of Augustin Daly's brother in his life, including a legal battle over Augustin's will. Then they talk about roller coaster experiences and the idea of fear as enterta...

24 Maalis 202323min

The French word for “roller coaster” is “montagnes russes” or “Russian mountains.” Since the origin of roller coasters, inventors have been improving the early designs that came from Russia to create ...

22 Maalis 202338min

Augustin Daly is often described as a foundational figure of the U.S. theater. He wrote, adapted, and produced dozens of plays in the 19th century, and he created a theater company that produced many ...

20 Maalis 202335min