This 2018 episode covers Henry Every, who carried out what's been described as the most profitable and brutal pirate raid in history. It became a massive international incident. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tracy talks about how she was particularly fascinated by Dean Mahomed's entrepreneurial efforts. She and Holly also marvel at the many career pivots Mahomed made. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After Dean Mahomed sailed to Cork in January of 1784, he continued to work for Godfrey Evan Baker. But after Baker's death, Mahomed became an entrepreneur. Research: Bartlett, James. “Dean Mahomet: travel writer, curry entrepreneur and shampooer to the king.” History Ireland. Issue 5. September/October 2007. https://www.historyireland.com/dean-mahomet-travel-writer-curry-entrepreneur-and-shampooer-to-the-king/ Carpenter, Gerald. “The Travels of Dean Mahomet, The Travels of Dean Mahomet, a Native...
Dean Mahomed was in northeastern India in 1759, and he had a life of unique experiences, starting with becoming part of the entourage of Anglo-Irish soldier Godfrey Evan Baker. Research: Bartlett, James. “Dean Mahomet: travel writer, curry entrepreneur and shampooer to the king.” History Ireland. Issue 5. September/October 2007. https://www.historyireland.com/dean-mahomet-travel-writer-curry-entrepreneur-and-shampooer-to-the-king/ Carpenter, Gerald. “The Travels of Dean Mahomet, The Travels of D...
This 2018 episode focuses on the adult life of Mary, Queen of Scots – especially the conspiracy that ultimately led to her execution in 1587. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Holly and Tracy discuss the appeal of secret societies and the unity that people sometimes find in vilifying an outcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
When William Morgan's manuscript "Illustrations of Masonry" was finally published, it was really kind of boring. So why were people so eager to suppress it, and what truly happened to him after his abduction? Research: “An Old Story Revived.” New York Times. July 9, 1881. https://www.newspapers.com/image/20379152/?terms=%22william%20morgan%22&match=1 “Another Morgan Story.” New York Times. July 22, 1881. https://www.newspapers.com/image/20381332/?terms=%22william%20morgan%22&match=1 “Bla...
In 1826, William Morgan, who lived in Batavia, New York, advertised that he was writing a book that would expose the secrets of the Freemasons. And then he vanished. Research: “An Old Story Revived.” New York Times. July 9, 1881. https://www.newspapers.com/image/20379152/?terms=%22william%20morgan%22&match=1 “Another Morgan Story.” New York Times. July 22, 1881. https://www.newspapers.com/image/20381332/?terms=%22william%20morgan%22&match=1 “Black Rock – Thursday Evening, October 5.” Bla...
This 2019 episode covers Benjamin Lay, a Quaker and a radical abolitionist who lived in the period between when the Religious Society of Friends began and when it started formally banning slave ownership among its members. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tracy discusses her love of medieval history, and how much Licoricia's story surprised her. She and Holly then both discuss the importance of proper sunscreen application. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People around the globe have protected their skin using a variety of substances throughout history. In the 19th and 20th centuries, deeper understanding of sunlight and the way it affects skin led to more protective sunscreen formulations. Research: Aldahan AS, Shah VV, Mlacker S, Nouri K. “The History of Sunscreen.” JAMA Dermatol. 2015;151(12):1316. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2015.3011 Belmont, Trixie. “Suntans With Pay Off.” The Baltimore Sun. June 13, 1967. https://www.newspapers.com/image/3771...
Licoricia of Winchester was a Jewish woman who was a major financier in medieval England. There were Jewish settlements in England for only a brief window during the Middle Ages, marked with anti-Semitic violence and hostility. Research: Abrams, Rebecca. “Licoricia of Winchester.” Jewish Heritage in Southern England. Jewish Renaissance. Via YouTube. 6/8/2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC6hitEgiEc Abrams, Rebecca. “Licoricia of Winchester: Power and Prejudice in Medieval England.” 2022. Bro...
This 2020 episode about Leicester Hemingway reveals a life very much lived in the shadow of his famous brother. But after Ernest Hemingway’s death, Leicester made some bold and surprising moves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tracy talks about how Muriel Rukeyser being the entry point for the Hawk's Tunnel Disaster episode. Holly talks about Billie Burke's writing about her husband, Flo Ziegfeld, Jr., and unfair comparisons to other performers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Billie Burke is known today for one iconic movie role, but in the early 20th century, she was incredibly successful and very famous. Her life and marriage are as fascinating and dramatic as any play or film she starred in. Research: “Billie Burke.” Playbill. https://www.playbill.com/person/billie-burke-vault-0000023585 “Billie Burke and Burkeley Crest.” Hastings Historical Society. Sept. 14, 2009. https://hastingshistoricalsociety.org/2009/09/14/billie-burke-and-burkeley-crest/ “Billie Burke Dea...
The Hawk’s Nest Tunnel Disaster involved thousands of workers being exposed to silica dust, and many continued to get sick and die for years after the tunnel was finished. The project was run with total disregard for workers’ lives and safety. Research: Investigation Relating to Health Conditions of Workers Employed in the Construction and Maintenance of Public Utilities : hearings before the United States House Committee on Labor, Seventy-Fourth Congress, second session, on Jan. 16, 17, 20-22, ...
The 2018 episode covers the day the last known Carolina parakeet died at the Cincinnati Zoo, as well as the stories of two other endlings, to see how abundant species can quickly become extinct. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tracy talks about the lengthy articles in law review journals that she read regarding the Insular Cases. Holly discusses why there are flavored sparkling waters even though that seems counter to the definition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The desire to replicate natural effervescence led a lot of people to try to figure out how to carbonate water. But Jacob Schweppe was able to achieve brand recognition and establish a company that has endured despite early setbacks. Research: Burros, Marian. “Carbonated Water: More Than a Matter of Taste.” New York Times. April 27, 1983. https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/27/garden/carbonated-water-more-than-a-matter-of-taste.html Donovan, Tristan. “Fizz: How Soda Shook Up the World.” Chicago Revie...
The Insular Cases are SCOTUS cases regarding rights of people in U.S. territories. They’re considered U.S. citizens from birth, but they don’t have the same constitutional rights or representation as citizens who live in one of the 50 states. Research: Armstrong v. United States, 182 U.S. 243 (1901). https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/182/243/ Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Sanford Ballard Dole". Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Jun. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sanf...
This 2018 episode covers Buddy Bolden, often referred to as the first jazz performer. But his life story, cluttered by lack of documentation and misinformation, played out tragically after his ascension to the apex of the New Orleans music scene. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Holly and Tracy talk about the furor over Ming the clam, and why it's irrational for most people. Tracy continues the discussion of the problems with the sourcing of Anna's story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It took a while to figure out the cause of milk sickness. One woman often gets credit for solving the mystery, but does that story hold up? Research: Allen, John W. “It Happened in Southern Illinois: The Legend of Dr. Anna Bigsby.” The Daily Register. Harrisburg, IL. 1957. Allen, John W. “It Happened in Southern Illinois.” Southern Illinois University. 1968. “Disease in Ohio, Ascribed to Some Deleterious Quality in Milk of Cows.” The Medical Repository May-July 1811: Vol 3. Daly, Walter J. “’The...
These animals have been marking time largely unaware of all the ups and downs and intrigues of humanity. And stories about them often have more to do with the way people perceive them than the animals themselves. Research: Butler, Paul G. et al. “Variability of marine climate on the North Icelandic Shelf in a 1357-year proxy archive based on growth increments in the bivalve Arctica islandica.” Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. Volume 373, 2013. Pages 141-151. https://doi.org/10....
Having trouble sleeping? Join Yoga and meditation teacher Kathryn Nicolai for bedtime stories where nothing much happens to help you relax and sleep peacefully. The stories are a soft-landing spot for your mind. Rather than letting your brain race through the same thoughts you’ve been chasing all day, we are taking a detour to a calm and comfy place. We tell the story twice and go a bit slower the second time. Listen to Nothing Much Happens: Bedtime stories to help you sleep on the iHeartRadio A...
This 2016 episode touches on the establishment of a submarine telegraph cable to connect North America and Europe. It took ingenuity, but more than anything else, it required tenacity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Holly and Tracy talk about how the 1904 marathoners were abused by race organizers, and discuss lighter stories related to one of the runners. Tracy discusses John Singer Sargent's childhood drawings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This episode is about two women related to John Singer Sargent: Judith Sargent Murray was a writer and an advocate for women’s rights. Emily Sargent was a prolific artist whose work was largely thought to be lost. Research: Cape Ann Slavery & Abolition. “Enslaved persons of record on Cape Ann.” https://capeannslavery.org/enslaved-persons-of-record-on-cape-ann/# Cascone, Sarah. “Emily Sargent, Not Just a Sister to John, Was a Serious Painter in Her Own Right. Her Watercolor Landscapes are Fin...
In 1904, the U.S. hosted its first Olympics. It had a host of problems. But the event that was the most dangerous for athletes was the marathon. Research: Abbott, Karen. “The 1904 Olympic Marathon May Have Been the Strangest Ever.” Smithsonian. Aug. 7, 2012. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-1904-olympic-marathon-may-have-been-the-strangest-ever-14910747/ “Amateur Athletic Union Suspends Member for Life.” The Brunswick News. Sept. 4, 1904. https://www.newspapers.com/image/897913415/?ter...
This 2017 episode covers Annette Kellerman, who gets a lot of the credit for developing the women's one-piece bathing suit. But she was also a competitive swimmer, as well as a vaudeville and film star who designed her own mermaid costumes. Annette Kellerman collection at the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences https://collection.maas.museum/search?q=Annette_Kellerman+Costume See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
