The Colorful Life of Carmen Miranda

Joseph Pulitzer is one of those pivotal figures in history, and his influence continues right on through today. Part one of this two-parter covers his early life, right up through his rivalry with Wil...

2 Jan 202337min

This 2019 episode covers the story of vodka, which is closely tied to cultural identity for several countries. Where did it originate, and how did it evolve over time? We'll talk a bit about how vodka...

31 Dec 202231min

Tracy and Holly talk about the movie "White Christmas" and how it has aged. They also discuss collectible sheet music and the idea of there being no definitive version of a song recording. See omnystu...

30 Dec 202216min

This second part of the story of Irving Berlin’s life picks up after WWI, and covers his family life, his rise to fame, and the controversies that were part of his career. Research: Bergreen, Laurenc...

28 Dec 202239min

The immeasurably famous Irving Berlin seems like the perfect example of a U.S. immigrant success story. But reality is complicated and imperfect, and so was Berlin’s music-filled life. Research: Berg...

26 Dec 202236min

This 2012 episode from prior hosts covers King Wenceslas. He's known from a Christmas carol, but was a 10th-century Bohemian prince, known for his kindness to children and promotion of Christianity. B...

24 Dec 202218min

Holly and Tracy discuss the disruptive French Republican calendar, banana dishes, the Universal Chopper, and other kitchen implements. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 Dec 202215min

This eponymous foods episode only has two foods in it – and they couldn’t be more different! One is a flaming dessert, and one is a meat patty.  Research: Salisbury, James Henry. “The Relation of Ali...

21 Dec 202240min