The Phoebus Cartel

The Phoebus Cartel

Podcast Transcript Companies that sell products to the public have to follow a fine line.  On the one hand, they need to sell stuff to make money, and the way they do that is by making a good product.  However, if their product is too good, then people might not need to buy it again, …

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Swiss Neutrality

Swiss Neutrality

Podcast Transcript There are several rules that should be followed when going to war: There is also one other rule that should be added to that list: Don’t count on Switzerland as an ally. For over two centuries, Switzerland has remained staunchly neutral, even when wars were being fought just over its borders.  Learn more …

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The Hollow Nickel Case

The Hollow Nickel Case

Podcast Transcript In 1953, a newspaper delivery boy in Brooklyn, New York, made an odd discovery. One of his customers gave him a nickel that seemed lighter than the others.  When he dropped it, it popped open, exposing a small piece of microfilm. It was the bizarre beginning of the exposure and discovery of a …

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The V1 and V2 Rockets

The V1 and V2 Rockets

Podcast transcript The Second World War saw the development of many new weapons. Perhaps none was more terrifying than the development of long-range strategic rockets.  Rockets had been used in combat for centuries, dating back to their development in ancient China; however, the rockets developed by Germany were a different matter altogether.  They terrorized civilians …

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Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton

Podcast Transcript Alexander Hamilton was an American founding father who has recently gained popularity due to the popular musical Hamilton. Hamilton was the first U.S Secretary of the Treasury and was foundational in the formation of American financial and government policies, many of which remain in place to this day.  He is featured on the …

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The Fra Mauro Medieval World Map

The Fra Mauro Medieval World Map

Podcast Transcript Sometime around the year 1450, a monk living just outside of Venice created one of the greatest maps of the medieval world.  It was an enormous map, even by modern standards, and it had a level of detail that had never been seen before.  It took years to make and was a major …

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Borobudur

Borobudur

Podcast Transcript Located in Central Java, outside of the modern city of Yogyakarta, lies the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur.  Borobudur doesn’t get as much attention as other great monuments in the world, but it should certainly be included among them.  Unlike other great monuments, Borobudur has a distinction that no other monument has. It …

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A History of LEGO

A History of LEGO

Podcast Transcript Lego is one of the best-known toy brands in the world.  Known for its fun and complex building process, the small plastic bricks encourage creativity and playability, and have become a staple in most households with kids. However, they aren’t just free-form toys for children. They have also graduated into high-end items for …

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The History of Dubai

The History of Dubai

Podcast Transcript Just 60 years ago, Dubai was a sandy, sparsely populated port on a minor creek emptying into the Persian Gulf.  Today, it is one of the most important cities in the world. It is a global center for trade, finance, and transportation.  How did a random sandy outpost location in the Middle East …

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