Note: Hi friends. We had to say goodbye to our sweet, 17-year-old cat, Boo, this week, so we’re releasing this episode from our Patreon. We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming next week. Teri Horton didn’t mince words. The $5 thrift store painting she’d picked up for a friend was ugly. Very ugly. It wasn’t even what she’d call art. It looked like blobs and sprays of paint flung willy-nilly on a massive canvas. So, when Teri’s friend didn’t want the painting, Teri wasn’t offended. B...
Nov 06, 2024•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 30
Frances Perkins wasn’t just the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet. She was also America’s longest serving Secretary of Labor. The only thing that overshadows her status as a trailblazer is what she accomplished in office. She’s the reason we have Social Security. She led the fight to end child labor, to establish a minimum wage and to create the 40-hour work week. She tried to establish universal health care… but hey, she was only human. Ready for the sad part? She did all of that w...
Oct 30, 2024•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 29
Frances Perkins was the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet. She’s the reason we have Social Security. She led the fight to end child labor, to establish a minimum wage and to create the 40-hour work week. In this episode, we find out how this remarkable woman got her start. Did it help that her birth name was Fanny??? Possibly! Bad names build character! Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Kristin pulled from: The documentary, “Summoned: Frances ...
Oct 23, 2024•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 28
Walter Jackson Freeman wanted to do something *big.* As a neurologist for the nation’s largest psychiatric hospital, he saw patients who desperately needed help. But, absent any major medical breakthroughs, Walter was powerless to do much of anything. So he spent years searching for *the thing* that separated people with mental illnesses from the normies. He studied brains. He measured them. He compared. In the end, he came up with nothing. He was devastated by his lack of progress. Then, in 193...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 27
America’s first Olympic games were bad. But just how bad were they??? The 1904 St. Louis Olympics were part of a World’s Fair that featured human zoos, a display of premature babies, a racist athletic event called “Anthropology Days,” and more! The actual Olympic competitions were disorganized and featured mostly American athletes. And for the turd on this poo sundae - a marathon event that almost killed competitors. But despite all this, some historians feel the 1904 St. Louis Olympics have bee...
Oct 09, 2024•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 26
Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin was embarrassed. He had just revived the Ancient Olympic Games on a global scale. But the 1900 Games in his hometown of Paris, France were a disaster. They were a sideshow at the World’s Fair! Many competitors weren’t even aware they were participating in the Olympics! Next time around, Coubertin vowed to find a host nation that would appreciate the Olympics. And that’s when a colleague suggested the United States should play host. But which city? Unfortunately, mak...
Oct 02, 2024•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 25
Wolfgang von Kempelen was unimpressed. Empress Maria Theresa had invited him to attend a magic show, hoping he’d tell her how the tricks worked. Instead, he told her – and everyone else in her court – that the tricks just plain sucked. He claimed he could do better. Stunned, Maria gave him six months off work to create something that would dazzle her court. So, six months later, Wolfgang von Kempelen showed up with what he claimed was an automaton chess playing machine. It would soon become know...
Sep 25, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 24
Picture it! 1932. Western Australia. Emus were taking over. They were gobbling up and trampling farmers’ wheat, and in turn, destroying their livelihoods. Something had to be done. So, the Australian government came up with a *novel* solution. They’d arm three members of the Royal Australian Artillery with machine guns. They figured those tall, flightless birds would be easy prey. They were wrong. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: Brisban...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 23
Lonnie Johnson was a smart guy — a very smart guy. As a NASA engineer, he spent his days coming up with solutions to complex problems. But when he went home, Lonnie’s brain kept whirring. So, he invented. He tinkered. He imagined. The vast majority of his creations had scientific, practical purposes. But his idea for a pressurized water gun? Well, that was just pure fun. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: Adams, Susan. “The Inventor Of The...
Sep 11, 2024•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 22
In the finale of our Mount Rushmore series, Mount Rushmore National Memorial gets finished. But the final product isn’t quite what Gutzon Borglum envisioned. The presidents aren’t sculpted down to their waists. There is no entablature. There is no true hall of records. There isn’t a message, written in three languages, in the hope that it’ll one day become Rosetta Stone 2: Electric Boogaloo. And yet? It’s there! Despite the odds, four 60-foot tall faces of iconic American presidents are carved i...
Sep 04, 2024•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 21
There are so many reasons why Mount Rushmore National Monument *shouldn’t* exist. Right from the start, there was opposition. Environmentalists called the proposed monument a desecration. Native Americans rightly asserted that the Black Hills — and specifically the Six Grandfathers Mountain (aka Mount Rushmore) — was their property. But that didn’t stop Gutzon Borglum, or his circle of high-powered supporters. Together, they pushed forward. They even manipulated a president! Thanks to a mix of h...
Aug 28, 2024•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 20
Before he set his sights on Mount Rushmore, sculptor Gutzon Borglum had a vision for a massive monument to the Confederacy. He figured that Stone Mountain, located just outside of Atlanta, would be the perfect spot for his magnum opus. The United Daughters of the Confederacy agreed. So did their BFFs, the KKK. For years, the project seemed to be going well. It ended in disaster. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Kristin pulled from: The book, “The Carving ...
Aug 21, 2024•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 19
In this series, we’re talking about something… pretty weird! It’s the fact that, roughly 100 years ago, a handful of people thought it’d be a really good idea to carve four gigantic faces into the side of a mountain. But why did they do it? Whose idea was it?? And finally, they were so busy asking if they could… DID THEY EVEN THINK TO ASK IF THEY SHOULD??? In this episode, we take a look at the man who designed Mount Rushmore, Gutzon Borglum. We look at his childhood, his early career, his weird...
Aug 14, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 18
In the History Channel’s “Hunting Hitler,” a group of experts embark on a disingenuous investigation into what became of Adolf Hitler. They consult unreliable witnesses. They make something out of nothing. They cherry pick evidence, and occasionally, they outright lie. Throughout the show, they ignore the forensic evidence, eyewitness accounts, and thorough investigations that showed what we already know — that Adolf Hitler died in the effing bunker! “Hunting Hitler” might become Norm’s villain ...
Aug 07, 2024•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 17
Put on your tin foil hats, kids! It’s time for “Hunting Hitler.” In previous episodes of this series, Norm covered Hitler’s final days, his suicide, and the subsequent investigations into his death. But the fine folks from the History Channel’s “Hunting Hitler” program want you to believe that Adolf Hitler truly might have escaped the bunker, unscathed. In this episode, we don our finest tin foil hats while debunking that BS. If you feel inspired, share a photo wearing your classiest tin foil ha...
Jul 31, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 16
Reports of Adolf Hitler’s death filled newspapers around the globe, but was he *really* dead? Like, for real?? Misinformation from the Soviet Union left people all over the world fearing that Hitler might have escaped the bunker. Soon, British and American intelligence stepped in to conduct their own investigations. Over time, the truth emerged. (But Hitler didn’t, because he was super dead.) Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: Daly-Groves,...
Jul 24, 2024•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 15
In his final days, Adolf Hitler wallowed in self pity, sent children into war, and held tea parties into the wee hours of the morning. He also threw himself a birthday party. The guest list was a real who’s who of Most Evil Humans! Ultimately, Hitler decided to take his ball and go home. (And by that, we of course mean that he shot himself and went to hell.) Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: Daly-Groves, Luke. Hitler’s Death: The Case aga...
Jul 17, 2024•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 14
The History Channel’s “Hunting Hitler” poses really stupid, already answered questions about the death of Adolf Hitler. Normie C is having none of it! In this series, Norm will cover Adolf Hitler’s final days, his suicide, and finally, Norm will address the conspiracy theories that Hitler made it out of that bunker alive. In this episode, we learn about Hitler’s smorgasbord of medications, his legendary farts, and his firm belief that everyone thought he was super hot. Remember, kids, history ho...
Jul 10, 2024•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 13
As Lucille Ball grew older, she struggled to keep her career going. She got back into movies. She started another sitcom. But critics were cruel. In addition to critiquing her work, they critiqued her – for looking her age. By the mid-80s, she found herself on the receiving end of countless accolades and lifetime achievement awards. But Lucy wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Kristin pulled from: “Love, Lucy,” by...
Jul 03, 2024•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 12
After nearly 20 years of marriage, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz called it quits. Their divorce was quick, but it wasn’t simple. They’d grown Desilu into a major Hollywood studio, on par with MGM, Warner Brothers and Twentieth Century Fox. In order to keep the business going, they had to work together. And when that didn’t work out, Lucy had to figure out how to be the boss. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Kristin pulled from: “Love, Lucy,” by Lucille Ball...
Jun 26, 2024•2 hr 23 min•Ep. 11
Lucille Ball had everything she’d ever wanted. She had the #1 show on television. She had a family. She had money. But Lucy was waiting for the other shoe to drop. And in the spring of 1952, it did. FBI agents showed up at her door, wanting to know about her relationship to the communist party. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Kristin pulled from: “Love, Lucy,” by Lucille Ball “The Plot Thickens” podcast from Turner Classic Movies “The Life of Lucille Bal...
Jun 19, 2024•2 hr 19 min•Ep. 10
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had a goal – to star in a TV show as husband and wife. But there were about a million obstacles in their way. For one thing, CBS didn’t want to buy a TV show that featured an interracial couple. Major companies didn’t want to sponsor the show for that same reason. There was even a battle over where to film the show. In these negotiations, Desi proved himself to be a savvy negotiator and a shrewd businessman. He knew when to be tough. He knew when to flatter. And he kn...
Jun 12, 2024•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 9
Lucille Ball wanted it all. She wanted to become an A-list actress. She wanted to have children. She wanted a happy marriage. But if the 1940s taught her anything, it was that she wasn’t in control. Her husband, Desi Arnaz, cheated on her constantly. They wanted children together, but suffered several miscarriages. By the end of the decade, Lucy’s only unequivocal professional success was a comedy radio show called “My Favorite Husband.” The network wanted to rework the show for a new thing call...
Jun 05, 2024•2 hr 4 min•Ep. 8
Lucille Ball arrived in Hollywood ready to work. She honed her craft. She made powerful friends. She got bigger and bigger roles. Soon, she became known as the queen of the b’s. As in, queen of b-movies. Critics spotted her talent, but noted that poorly written scripts and low budget films were holding her back. Nevertheless, Lucy persisted. And then, one day on set, Lucy met a handsome young musician named Desi Arnaz. Their chemistry was undeniable, but no one thought their romance stood a chan...
May 29, 2024•2 hr 16 min•Ep. 7
Lucille Ball was a legendary comedian. She was a studio executive. Together with her real-life husband, Lucy created the modern sitcom. …but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. In this episode, we’ll focus on Lucy’s tumultuous childhood and the years she spent struggling to get into showbusiness. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Kristin pulled from: The book, “Lucille: The Life of Lucille Ball” by Kathleen Brady “The Plot Thickens” podcast from turner class...
May 22, 2024•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 6
He led a massacre. He led a raid. And now, in the final episode of this series, anti-slavery crusader John Brown goes on trial. His trial had everything – peanut shells, a cozy cot, and not a speck of justice in sight. In John Brown’s final act, he became a martyr. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: “Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War” by Tony Horwitz “To Purge This Land With Blood: A Biography of John Brow...
May 15, 2024•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 5
In part three of Norm’s coverage of John Brown, shit *officially* hits the fan. After years of planning, John Brown leads his men in a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Things quickly go awry. They shoot an innocent man. They get outnumbered. But John Brown refuses to back down. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: “Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War” by Tony Horwitz “To Purge This Land W...
May 08, 2024•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 4
Welcome back to part two of Norm’s coverage of famed anti-slavery crusader, John Brown. In this episode, John and his squad prepare for their infamous raid on Harpers Ferry. In the leadup to the attack, John dodges saboteurs, refuses to compromise, and bores the ever-loving shit out of Frederick Douglass. Plus, he comes up with a cool new invention - a knife on a stick! Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: “Midnight Rising: John Brown and th...
May 01, 2024•2 hr 25 min•Ep. 3
Good history hoes probably think they know about Carry Nation. She was the woman who busted into saloons with a hatchet and smashed everything to booze-soaked bits! In fact, she liked smashing up bars so much that she did it again. And again! And again!! People called her crazy! And ugly! And tall! …which we all can agree is equally bad!(?) In this episode, Kristin posits that Carry A. Nation deserves more respect than she has been given. Then again, in this episode, Kristin also tries to sell y...
Apr 24, 2024•2 hr 46 min•Ep. 2
Clear everything off your calendar — this episode is a MEATY BOY! Norm kicks off our first episode by introducing himself as my lover/husband, then launches into a veeerrry deep dive into famed anti-slavery crusader, John Brown. You’ll laugh! You’ll get uncomfy! You might even get a lil’ turned on, imagining John Brown on the cover of Threatening Boyz magazine! And if you want to learn more about John Brown, you’re in luck. This episode is just about the rise of John Brown. Norm will cover John ...
Apr 23, 2024•3 hr 27 min•Ep. 1
