Myths
Forging America: a Continental History
“Forging America” speaks to both the complexities of historical experience and the meanings of the past for our present-day lives. Warning against the assumption of preordained outcomes, Pulitzer-Prize-winning historian Steve Hahn focuses the reader’s attention on those moments when historical change occurs. He weaves a history that is continental and transnational, a history of the…
Read MoreUnknown Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King did so much more for American society, and wanted so much more from the US government and US elites, than most people realize. Popular history has airbrushed out far too much about his life and work. Professor Phil Nash reminds us of the importance of King’s work, especially during the forgotten period…
Read MoreAmerica’s Origin Stories and Myths
Dr. Brian Regal joins us to discuss some of the stories and myths about who “discovered” America, and what the continued popularity of those myths tell us about American culture. From Irish saints to marauding Vikings to Chinese admirals to African explorers, people from almost every culture on earth have been credited with discovering America.…
Read MoreAmerica: What’s in a Name?
2024 is going to be a doozy of a year, politically speaking. The fireworks started at the end of last year when the Colorado Supreme Court kicked Donald Trump off the ballot for the presidential election, and then, just as I was sitting down to write this script, the state of Maine removed Trump from…
Read MoreNew Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day – Encore!
There aren’t many myths about New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebrations, Buzzkillers. But most of us don’t give any thought to how the standard Western calendar came about, and how we ended up with those celebrations. So I thought we could end the year, and look forward to next year, with a little…
Read MoreAuld Lang Syne: an Appreciation
It’s that time of year, Buzzkillers, when we ring out the old and ring in the new. This is the end of another year of busting myths and taking names. We couldn’t be more pleased with the way the old show has developed, and we couldn’t be more stoked about the new things we’ve got…
Read MoreThe 12 Days of Christmas – a Secret Coded Song? Encore!
Many of you Buzzkillers already know that most Christian churches celebrate Christmas over a period of 12 days. Depending upon the denomination, it lasts from December 25th to January 5th, or December 26th to January 6th. There are lots of theological reasons for celebrating the 12 days of Christmas, but we’re here to talk about…
Read More“It’s a Wonderful Life” Myths and Urban Legends: 2023 Encore!
Imagine being tortured by wartime memories. Explosions, death, mutilated bodies (some of them friends of yours), all the screaming. Now, imagine them coming from a very confined and dangerous place. I’ve always thought that being in a warplane or submarine would add the extra stress of being trapped, and not even being able to contemplate…
Read MoreThe Best Years of Our Lives: the Greatest Film You Haven’t Seen!
Released in 1946, The Best Years of Our Lives became an immediate success. Life magazine called it “the first big, good movie of the post-war era” to tackle the “veterans problem.” Today we call that problem PTSD, but in the initial aftermath of World War II, the modern language of war trauma did not exist.…
Read MorePearl Harbor 2023 Encore
Did FDR know about the attack ahead of time? And who was the attack more devastating for – the United States or Japan? Professor Phil Nash joins us to explain the myths and misconceptions about the December 7th, 1941 attack, as well as the complexities of the cultural importance of the attack since then. You’ll…
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