When Teachers Waged War Against Calculators
In the 1970s, a tiny electronic device sparked one of the most unexpected battles in education. It wasn't over politics, funding, or curriculum. It was over whether students should be allowed to use c...
18 Jul 15min
The Dark WWII History of Paris's Hotel Lutetia, w/ Jane Rogoyska
I'm delighted to be joined by acclaimed historian and author Jane Rogoyska. In her powerful new book, Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War, Jane tells the extraordinary true story of one iconic Par...
17 Jul 26min
The Resolute Desk's Ghost Ship Past
One of the most famous pieces of furniture in the world wasn't built for a president. It was built from the timbers of a ship that refused to die. In this episode of History Shorts, we uncover the rem...
16 Jul 13min
Poinsettismo: The Christmas Flower's Forgotten Diplomatic Disaster
Every December, millions of bright red poinsettias decorate homes, churches, and holiday tables around the world. Few people realize that the beloved Christmas plant is named after an American diploma...
15 Jul 12min
Marcus Garvey's Fleet of Dreams
In the years after World War I, millions of people of African descent dreamed of a future free from colonialism, discrimination, and racial oppression. No one embodied that dream more boldly than Marc...
14 Jul 14min
The Last Stands of Custer, Crazy Horse, & Sitting Bull, w/ Tom Clavin
In this timely episode, we sit down with #1 New York Times bestselling author Tom Clavin to discuss his gripping new book Vengeance: The Last Stands of Custer, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull. Marking t...
13 Jul 18min
Merrill's Marauders
Hollywood remembers Merrill's Marauders as fearless jungle fighters. The reality was far harsher. In this episode of History Shorts, we follow the elite American unit that marched roughly 750 miles be...
12 Jul 12min
Stalin's Cannibal Island
In the spring of 1933, thousands of Soviet citizens were dumped onto a small island in Siberia with virtually nothing—no food, no tools, no shelter, and no realistic chance of survival. In this episod...
11 Jul 13min
