The History of World Fairs

How World Fairs Shaped History

Podcast Transcript A world’s fair used to be a very big deal. They would draw tens of millions of visitors and they would showcase some of the most cutting edge advancements in science and technology. They were also responsible for the creation of some of the most iconic structures in the world. Nowadays…..eh….not so much.  …

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The Wives of Henry VIII

The Wives of Henry VIII

Podcast Transcript Henry, Eighth of his name, King of England, Ireland, and Wales, and head of the House of Tudor, was one of the most significant monarchs in British history.  One of the things which made his reign so noteworthy was the controversy surrounding his wives.  His marriages completely changed the course of England and …

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A Human History of Ice

A Human History of Ice

Podcast Transcript Humans have been aware of ice for as long as there have been humans and ice. However, using ice outside of winter has always been a huge challenge, but that didn’t stop people from trying to harness and use ice even when it was well out of season.  It wasn’t until relatively recently, …

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Plutonium

Plutonium

Podcast Transcript In 1939, the last naturally occurring element on Earth, Francium, was discovered. However, the periodic table of elements still wasn’t full.  The next year, a non-natural element was discovered: Plutonium.  This new element had fascinating properties which made it incredibly useful and incredibly dangerous.  Learn more about plutonium, how it is made, and …

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How Accounting Changed The World

How Accounting Changed The World

Podcast Transcript There are some subjects that are perceived to be mind-numbingly dull and boring. One such subject is accounting.  Yet, believe it or not, accounting and bookkeeping have not only have been around since the dawn of human civilization, but they also had a hand in shaping it.  Without it, the world would be …

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What Happened on December 8, 1941?

What Happened on December 7 & 8, 1941?

Podcast Transcript Most people are probably aware of the events which took place on December 7, 1941. As Franklin Roosevelt said, “it was a day that would live in infamy.” However, the events of December 7 weren’t limited to Hawaii, and they weren’t even limited to December 7. It was part of a much larger …

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The Legend of Saint Nicholas

The Legend of Saint Nicholas

Podcast Transcript On December 6 every year, countries all across Europe celebrate Saint Nicholas Day.  The way they celebrate can vary dramatically from place to place, but what they all have in common is honoring a man with a long white beard who gives presents to children. If all that sounds familiar, it should. Learn …

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The Legend of Pope Joan

The Legend of Pope Joan

Podcast Transcript According to the records of the Catholic Church, there have been 266 men who have been pope.  However, for centuries it was thought that there was another pope not on the list that was different from all of the others. What made this pope different is that the pope was a woman. Learn …

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All About the Internal Combustion Engine

All About the Internal Combustion Engine

Podcast Transcript One of the technologies which helped make the modern world is the internal combustion engine. Without it, the world would be a very different place today.  Yet it wasn’t a technology that appeared fully formed. It was developed incrementally over a century. To get it to a point where it was viable for …

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