Mary Had a Little Typhoid
And everywhere that Mary went, the typhoid was sure to go. The story of Mary Mallon (AKA Typhoid Mary) is one we're living every day to a small degree: the balance between public safety and personal l...
8 Apr 48min
The Constitution vs. Authoritarianism
It can be scary to learn how much our democracy relies on norms and convention when the rule of law is put to the test. But, at least our Founding Fathers had an excellent understanding of authoritari...
1 Apr 33min
How Did Hollywood Survive the Great Depression?
During the Great Depression, millions of Americans were out of work, but they still managed to make it to the movies. In fact, Hollywood didn't just survive one of our country's greatest economic down...
25 Mar 34min
Sybil Ludington: 16-Year-Old Hero of the American Revolution
She was just 16 years old when she rode nearly 40 miles through the night rallying the militia as the British attacked during the American Revolution. Bob calls up Karen Romano Young (Sybil Ludington:...
18 Mar 40min
What Happened to Aaron Burr After He Killed Alexander Hamilton?
In 1804, Vice President Aaron Burr shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in the most infamous duel in American history. But what happened next? Did Burr face murder charges? Was he convicted? And why did...
11 Mar 45min
Why Do We Spring Forward?
No, Benjamin Franklin did not invent Daylight Saving Time. But he did muse about its practicality in a 1784 essay. So, if Franklin didn't invent DST, where did all this springing forward come from? ...
4 Mar 29min
Was Disney's Balto a True Story?
Was the Disney movie Balto actually based on a true story? A listener wants to know if this heroic snow dog was real—or just a Hollywood invention. To get answers, Bob calls up Dr. Nicole Burt of the...
25 Feb 30min
Did Willy Wonka's Creator Spy on America?
Roald Dahl is a beloved children's author. Turns out, he was also a British spy during WWII! So how does one transition from seducing prominent Americans' wives to writing Matilda? Well, we're glad y...
18 Feb 50min
