Myths
Christopher Columbus Myths Large and Small!
Sebastian Major, the producer and host of the “Our Fake History” podcast, explains the myths about Christopher Columbus, who “discovered” the New World. Sebastian schools Professor Buzzkill about where the myths came from and about their larger significance for American history. You will learn dozens of new things about the history of Columbus, and about…
Read MoreHands of Time: a Watchmaker’s History
Dr. Rebecca Struthers, an academic expert on horology and an award-winning watchmaker, guides us through the fascinating history of wristwatches, and their importance to social history. These seemingly mundane and utilitarian objects can tell us a fascinating story about our changing attitudes toward keeping track of time. From Elizabethan fashion, to World War I battlefields,…
Read MoreHeather Cox Richardson on Saving Democracy – Wisdom Wednesday!
Listen to “Heather Cox Richardson on Saving Democracy – Wisdom Wednesday!” on Spreaker. When it comes to the crush of the American daily news cycle, Heather Cox Richardson has always taken the long view. The New England-based historian gained wide popularity writing casual, history-informed summaries of the news — a perspective millions of readers were…
Read MoreMcCarthy and McCarthyism: American Demagoguery During the Cold War
Senator Joseph McCarthy was one of the most notorious politicians in American history. He made wild accusations, ruined the lives and careers of countless people, and stained American politics with investigative tactics similar to those in Stalin’s Soviet Union. Just as important, however, was McCarthyism. Professor Philip Nash explains all in this gripping episode that…
Read MoreNaming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues and Heroes Behind New York’s Place Names
Why are New York’s roads, bridges, buildings, and institutions named after certain people? Who were those people and why did they matter so much? Professor Rebecca Bratspies explains all in this fascinating romp through not only New York history, but also the history of the practice of naming things after individuals, and the complex specifics…
Read MoreCoffee with Hitler: Civilized Diplomacy?
“How might the British have handled Hitler differently?” remains one of history’s greatest “what ifs.” Dr. Charles Spicer tells us the astounding story of how a handful of amateur British intelligence agents wined, dined, and befriended the leading Nazis between the wars. With support from royalty, aristocracy, politicians, and businessmen, they hoped to use the…
Read MoreAnarcha: One of the Mothers of Gynecology
Anarcha was a young enslaved woman who was operated on by J. Marion Sims, the now-discredited 19th-century “father of modern gynecology.” Author J.C. Hallman has made many important discoveries about the life of Anarcha and the malpractice of Sims. His “Say Anarcha” excavates history, deconstructs the biographical smoke screen of a surgeon who has falsely…
Read MoreGun Carnage in the United States
Dr. Thomas Gabor shatters the many myths that help keep American gun culture alive. His strong evidence-based research shows that the many slogans and claims repeated incessantly by the gun lobby and its surrogates are completely false. The real evidence about guns is almost completely ignored in American society and politics today. Please listen, and…
Read MoreTitanic Myths Smashed!
Kate Messner, the author of the wonderful “History Smashers” series, enlightens us about the innumerable myths surrounding the famous ship, The Titanic, and its sinking in 1912. Everything from the myth of it being proclaimed “unsinkable” to the myth of the last song played by the ship’s band as it slipped under! You’ll learn whether…
Read MoreUndelivered Speeches and What They Can Tell Us About History
For almost every delivered speech, there exists an undelivered opposite. These “second speeches” provide alternative histories of what could have been if not for schedule changes, changes of heart, or momentous turns of events. Listen as political speechwriter and analyst Jeff Nussbaum explains why studying these speeches is so vital in helping understand what actually…
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