The Incredible Life of Nellie Bly

The Incredible Life of Nellie Bly

Podcast Transcript In 1864, Elizabeth Jane Cochran was born in Cochran Mills, Pennsylvania.  At the age of 18, she began a career as a journalist writing under a pen name. During her career, she became a pioneer in both investigative journalism and travel writing.  She later became a novelist, ran an industrial factory, and was …

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Maximillian I of Mexico

Maximillian I of Mexico

Podcast Transcript In 1864, Maximilian, the son of Archduke Franz Karl of Austria and a member of the Hapsburg dynasty, arrived in Mexico. He had never been to Mexico before, but it was a good first trip, considering that when he arrived, within days, he was crowned the emperor of Mexico.  Unfortunately, his rule over …

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Operation Market Garden

Operation Market Garden

Podcast Transcript After the Allied landing in Normandy in World War II, the Allies made progress pushing back the Germans. However, by September, things had slowed down. One allied commander devised a plan that he thought would end the war in one fell swoop. The plan was bold, audacious, and highly risky, and in the …

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All About Paella

All About Paella

Podcast Transcript Every country has a national dish, and Spain is no exception. The dish that most people associate with Spain is the rice dish known as paella.  Paella is, on the one hand, very simple, and on the other hand, very complex and confusing.  It also has a surprising history touching on almost every …

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The Big Year

The Big Year

Podcast Transcript Many people have hobbies—pastimes that they enjoy and maybe even spend a lot of money on.  However, there are some people whose hobbies become an obsession.  This is particularly true in the world of birdwatching. Some birders have spent their entire lives trying to view and count as many species of birds as …

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The Northwest Passage

The Northwest Passage

Podcast Transcript When European explorers set off from Europe, many of them chased things that didn’t exist. The Fountain of Youth, the City of El Dorado, and Prester John were all things they pursued but came up empty-handed.  However, there was one thing that these European explorers searched for that actually did exist, but not …

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Peggy Guggenheim

Peggy Guggenheim

Podcast Transcript In the 20th century, there was one woman who put herself in the center of the world of modern art.  She didn’t just collect art. She befriended starving artists, she discovered many unknown artists, and she had affairs with many other artists.  Her obsession with modern art resulted in one of the greatest …

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All About Delhi and New Delhi

All About Delhi and New Delhi

Podcast Transcript Located in India is one of the largest cities in the world, Delhi.  Delhi has a history that dates back over 2,000 years, and it has been the seat of power for multiple emperors and kings.  However, in addition to being an ancient city, Delhi is also a modern city that serves as …

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The Know Nothing Party

The Know Nothing Party

Podcast Transcript In the mid-19th century, the United States began to change. The country had initially been settled by people from England, Scotland, and the Netherlands, the vast majority of whom were Protestant.  However, in the 1840s, there began a dramatic change in the composition of immigrants to the United States. A large number of …

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