Who’s to blame for The Great Railroad Strike of 1877? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with actor and writer Ali Vingiano about the events leading up to The Great Railroad Strike of 1877. A Union rep for the WGA herself, Ali knows all about the importance of organizing. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Was this another byproduct of The Gilded Age or did the Financial Panic of 1873 have something to do with it? Up on the board: Pinkerton...
Aug 23, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 161
New Mailbag Episode! Hey Alarmy! You’ve sent us some mail and boy do we love hearing from you. Our mailbag runneth over! Tune in and listen as The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith), Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early sort through your insightful comments, suggestions and thoughts on our most recent episodes. Plus, you’ll get to hear what has The Alarmist crew alarmed these days. Haven’t written a review yet? Write in and tell us what’s been alarming YOU! We have merch! Join our D...
Aug 18, 2022•31 min
Who’s to blame for Grey Gardens? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) welcomes back Kristen Meinzer and her podcasting partner Jolenta Greenberg to discuss the tragic tale of the infamous Grey Gardens Estate and the colorful characters who once owned it. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Were Big Edie and Little Edie trapped in a codependent relationship? Could The Kennedy Curse have something to do with it? Or were they yet another victim of The A...
Aug 16, 2022•59 min•Season 1Ep. 160
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Sarah Barringer Gordon about the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Sally, as she’s more commonly known, is a Professor of Constitutional Law and History at the University of Pennsylvania. Having recently published an award winning article about the Mountain Meadows Massacre in the Journal of the Early Republic with co-author Jan Shipps, Sally explains the context and helps us understand the unique moment in American history leading up to t...
Aug 11, 2022•49 min
Who’s to blame for the Mountain Meadows Massacre? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) keeps it all in the family to discuss the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Could this tragedy be the result of religious persecution or religious radicalism? Or perhaps both? Associate Producer & Researcher Alex Paul stops by to lend her expertise on the subject as someone who was raised in the Mormon Church. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Up on the board: Mormo...
Aug 09, 2022•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 159
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Phyllis Chesler about the women's movement of the 60’s & 70’s and how the writings of Valerie Solanas and her attempted assassination of Andy Warhol fit into the legacy of the American feminist movement. Dr. Phyllis is a pioneer of Second Wave Feminism and a best-selling author of over 20 books, including the landmark feminist class Women and Madness . Afterward, Producer Clayton Early stops by to debrief and revisit the ver...
Aug 04, 2022•37 min
Who’s to blame for the attempted assassination of Andy Warhol? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with fellow podcaster Anna Stoecklein Lau about Valerie Solanas and her attempted assassination of Andy Warhol. Host of the podcast The Story of Woman , Anna is the perfect guest to help explore the broader context of this incident. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Valerie Solanas: villain or victim of the times? Up on the board: Mental Healt...
Aug 02, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 158
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Granby, CO resident Patrick Bower about the destructive bulldozer rampage by Marvin Heemeyer on June 4, 2004. Former editor and publisher of The Sky-Hi News and author of Killdozer: The True Story of the Colorado Bulldozer Rampage , Patrick knew Marvin from his early days in Granby and shares first hand information about the reality of this tragic moment in the town's history. Afterward, Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton...
Jul 28, 2022•52 min
Who’s to blame for Marvin Heemeyer’s Bulldozer Rampage? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with friend and special guest Jason Mayland about Marvin Heemeyer’s destructive rampage through the small mountain town of Granby, CO on June 4, 2004. They’re joined by Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Alex Paul. It might be a small town, but they still had some big problems. Was this a militant revenge fantasy or were people simply not being neighborly? Tune in and find ou...
Jul 26, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 157
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with professor and historian Dr. Kealani Cook about the dense history of Hawaii and its monarchy before its eventual annexation in 1898. Author of Return to Kahiki: Native Hawaiians in Oceania, Dr. Cook lends some much needed context to the many moving parts around this unique moment in history. Afterward, Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith stop by to unpack it all with Rebecca and revisit the verdict. We have merc...
Jul 21, 2022•49 min
Who’s to blame for the Overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith about America’s 50th state, Hawaii. More specifically, they discuss the topics which are a little less popular in the history books, the events around its annexation in 1898 and the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. What’s The Committee of Safety and who are the members of The “Hawaiian League?” Will “Protecting America’s Inter...
Jul 19, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 156
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with the producer of the HBOMax docuseries The Way Down , Gina Scarlata. Gina details the somewhat elusive hierarchy of the Fellowships leadership, describes her experience working with former members of the church, and lends her insight into what might be the future of the Remnant Fellowship. Afterward, producer Clayton Early stops by to revisit the verdict with Rebecca. Did they get it right? Say a little prayer and find out! We have m...
Jul 14, 2022•26 min
When a car bomb kills Daphne Caruana Galizia on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Malta, the hunt for her killers exposes secrets with consequences that go far beyond its shores. In the aftermath of her death an international team of journalists comes together to continue her work. Along the way they start to uncover clues that might lead to her killers. From Wondery, comes a new story about power, corruption and one woman’s fight for the truth. Hosted by investigative reporter Stephen Grey....
Jul 12, 2022•6 min
Who’s to blame for the Gwen Shamblin Lara Diet Cult? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with the Emmy and Latin Grammy Award winning writer and performer Alisha Gaddis about the notorious Gwen Shamblin and who’s to blame for her diet turned cult. They’re joined by Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith. Who knew God and food were so intertwined? Why are we so devout about our fatphobia? And what’s the Remnant Fellowship and why was it formed? Tune in to hear all ...
Jul 12, 2022•54 min•Season 1Ep. 155
New Guest Expert! For this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca digs a little deeper into the Aberfan Mine Disaster with Professor Iain McLean. Iain is Professor of Politics at Oxford University and co-author of the book Aberfan: Government and Disasters. He helps us understand the culture and dynamics playing out in these mining villages at the time and reiterates the blatant denial and negligence by those in positions of authority. Afterward, Producer Clayton Early stops by to see if the verdict holds up...
Jul 07, 2022•29 min
Who’s to blame for the Aberfan Mine Disaster? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with comedian, writer and podcaster Chris Mancini about the tragic Aberfan Mine disaster. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Could poor foresight be to blame? Or was it the fault of chummy regulators neglecting their duties? Find out what else is on the board. And if you’re left feeling a bit anxious after this one, Chris Mancini might be able to help! Ch...
Jul 05, 2022•49 min•Season 1Ep. 154
Firework Safety PSA! Hey Alarmy! This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) is bringing you a special safety reminder for the upcoming 4th of July holiday weekend. She’s joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Learn about the origin and history of fireworks. Listen to some important safety precautions you can take if you’re purchasing LEGAL fireworks. And most importantly, have a safe and happy holiday! We have merch! Join our Discord! Tell us who you think is t...
Jun 30, 2022•25 min
Who’s to blame for the South LA Firework Explosion? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith about the South LA Firework Explosion in June of 2021 and who’s to blame for this major miscalculation. What’s our obsession with fireworks and homemade bombs? Could the National Anthem have something to do with it? And was detonating the confiscated fireworks in the middle of a densely populated neighborhood really the only option? A...
Jun 28, 2022•55 min•Season 1Ep. 153
New Guest Expert! For this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. Eduardo Fabbro about who’s to blame for the War of the Bucket. Author of Warfare and the Making of Early Medieval Italy (568–652), Eduardo does an incredible job of helping us understand this ancient grudge with a modern point of view. This little bucket represents some big themes! After, Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early stop by to revisit the verdict. Will Tribalism remain in The Alarmist Jail? We have merch...
Jun 23, 2022•33 min
Who’s to blame for the War of the Bucket? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with good friend James Bladon about who’s to blame for the War of the Bucket. Not only is James well versed on this medieval nightmare, he’s actually been to Modena and seen The Bucket! They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Could poor neighborly etiquette be at fault for this one? Were the Papacy and The Church to blame? Or will a simple little Bucket actually take th...
Jun 21, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 152
On May 4, 2001, Bonny Lee Bakley was found fatally shot in a car on a dark North Hollywood street. The prime suspect was her husband, famed actor Robert Blake. But Bonny, a longtime con artist, had plenty of enemies. She left behind a trail of men she’d scammed, and she had a volatile relationship with Christian Brando, the troubled son of movie star Marlon Brando. Not since the O.J. Simpson case had the eyes of the nation been so fixated on a homicide. The search for Bonny’s killer took detecti...
Jun 20, 2022•6 min
New Mailbag! On this episode, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) catches up on some Alarmy mail with Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Hear about a guitarist on a sinking cruise liner who was forced to take responsibility for hundreds of passengers onboard. Click here to see what happened. And if you’ve ever wanted to see Rebecca in action on the silver screen, check out the premiere of Gordita Chronicles on HBO Max on June 23rd! Here’s the trailer ! We have merch! Joi...
Jun 16, 2022•35 min
Written and narrated by award-winning author and Professor of African American Studies at Princeton University, Dr. Eddie S. Glaude, “History is US” is a 6-part audio documentary produced and developed by C13Originals that asks questions about who we are as a nation, and what race might reveal about our current crisis. Through the voices of distinguished historians and scholars, this limited series gives listeners the background and education to understand how we got here and how we can all use ...
Jun 15, 2022•4 min
Who’s to blame for the Sinking of General Slocum? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with old friend Ptolemy Slocum about who’s to blame for the tragic sinking of General Slocum. Ptolemy may know plenty about this event given his namesake. But the question remains: given the magnitude of this horrible accident, why don’t more people know about it? Especially New Yorkers! Could the media’s coverage of immigrant communities be to blame? Or is this the result of old fashioned ca...
Jun 14, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 151
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dr. J Stephan Edwards about the death (and life!) of Lady Jane Grey. Dr. Edwards Ph.D. in early modern European history, with an emphasis on Tudor-Stuart England, has led to a great fascination with the infamous Nine Day Queen. And his extensive research highlights some of the ways in which the history books might not be telling the full story. With new information to consider, Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early sto...
Jun 09, 2022•40 min
Introducing the true crime podcast Persona: The French Deception— the story of Gilbert Chikli, one of the greatest con artists of all time. What does it feel like to pick up the phone and scam someone out of $50 million? Host and award-winning journalist, Evan Ratliff, investigates how Chikli successfully duped some of the world’s most powerful people into handing over their fortunes. He explores how Chikli evaded the law for years and became a Robin Hood-like hero. More than just a tale of crim...
Jun 07, 2022•5 min
Who’s to blame for the death of Lady Jane Grey? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with Tod Perry and Alison Rosen, co-hosts of the podcast Upworthy Weekly, about who's to blame for the untimely death of Lady Jane Grey. They’re joined by Fact Checker Chris Smith and Producer Clayton Early. Did Lady Jane Grey’s intellect make her a target? Could a religious power struggle be to blame? Or was this the result of power hunger men pulling the strings behind the scenes? Tune in and...
Jun 07, 2022•57 min•Season 1Ep. 150
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Dave Casker about the Johnstown, PA Flood of 1889. Not only is Dave a current resident of Johnstown, but he’s also a member and longtime tour guide at the Johnstown Flood Museum. With new details about the construction of the dam and the days and months that followed the actual flooding, there’s more to consider about the verdict. After, Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith stop by to discuss. We have merch! Joi...
Jun 02, 2022•35 min
Who’s to blame for the Johnstown, PA Flood? This week, The Alarmist (Rebecca Delgado Smith) speaks with Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith about the tragic Johnstown, PA Flood of 1889. With residents aware of the poor state of the dam and often wondering, “when their worst fears would be transcended by the horror of the actual occurrence,” it begs the question: why was nothing done?! Were they the victims of their own apathy or were there other factors at play? We have mer...
May 31, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 149
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca speaks with Rick Pulos about the Philippines Pepsi Number Fever fiasco. Rick is an artist, an educator, and current doctoral student at Texas A&M. He shares some new information about Pepsi’s poor handling of this disaster and reiterates the personal effects this had on the lives of so many Filipino families. After, Producer Clayton Early and Fact Checker Chris Smith stop by to reflect. We have merch! Join our Discord! Tell us who you...
May 26, 2022•35 min
