The Battle of Marathon

The Battle of Marathon

Podcast Transcript In the year 490 BC, one of the most pivotal battles in world history took place.  Just north of the City of Athens, Persian and Greek forces clashed in what was to be the first Persian attempt to invade Greece.  Despite being seriously outnumbered, the Greeks managed to win a decisive victory that …

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How Blockchains Work

How Blockchains Work

One of the biggest innovations in computing over the last several years has been the blockchain.  There have been a host of companies that have hyped products using a blockchain. Blockchains are the basis of all cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens.  Despite all the talk about blockchains, most people still aren’t totally sure what a blockchain …

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Introduction to Rocks and Minerals

Introduction to Rocks and Minerals

Podcast Transcript Under your feet and all around you are rocks and minerals.  Many times in your life, you have probably picked up a rock and looked at it. You might have climbed over rocks and mountains and never given a single thought as to what they consist of or what they even are.  Rocks …

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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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