Horace Wells and the Gas War
Dentist Horace Wells set up shop in Hartford in 1836, before the discovery of anasthesia. At an exhibition in 1844 he became certain that nitrous oxide could revolutionize medicine. He tried to demons...
30 Apr 201229min
Who was the real Professor Moriarty? Part 1
Professor Moriarty was based on a real man: Adam Worth. After being falsely reported as dead during the Civil War, Worth began a life of crime. When Worth moved to London he began his Moriarty phase, ...
25 Apr 201224min
Four Flights of Female Aviators
Amelia Earhart is the most well-known female aviator, but there were several notable female aviation pioneers. This episode talks about Raymonde de Laroche, Harriet Quimby, Jacqueline Cochran and Amy ...
23 Apr 201229min
Ferdinand Waldo Demara: Who was the Great Imposter?
Ferdinand Demara took on several bogus personas throughout his imposter career -- everything from a professor to a monk. Demara stole the identities of regular people, and often performed their job du...
18 Apr 201225min
Who was the real Indiana Jones?
Although Lucas and Spielberg claim Indiana Jones was only inspired by adventure movies and pulp fiction, people have still suggested real-life inspirations. Tune in to learn more about several contend...
16 Apr 201227min
Westward Bound: Beryl Markham's Transatlantic Flight
Beryl Markham was Africa's first female licensed racehorse trainer, but by the 1920s she'd found a new passion: flying. She went on to become Kenya's first female commercial pilot, and by 1936 she was...
11 Apr 201233min
The Heiress Explorer: Louise Boyd and the Arctic
When gold mine heiress Louise Boyd staged her first Arctic expedition in the 1920s, she hunted polar bears with aristocrats. Yet she also met other explorers who encouraged her in more scientific purs...
9 Apr 201226min
George Arents: Hobbies and the Heathenish Weed
How did advice from his great uncle inspire tobacco businessman George Arents to become one of the great contemporary bibliophiles? Listen in as Sarah and Deblina interview Michael Inman, the curator ...
4 Apr 201232min
