Podcast Transcript Australia is a unique country. By area, it’s huge. By population, however, it is dwarfed by smaller countries such as Nepal, Ghana, Yemen, and the United Kingdom. By modern standards, the nation is quite young, yet it has a history that goes back further than almost any other country. …and there is also …
Podcast Transcript May is upon us. It is the month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the month of May Day, Mother’s Day, as well as Bicycle Month and Haitian Heritage Month. However, the most important thing about May is that it provides an opportunity for your …
Podcast Transcript One of the biggest and most important industries in the world is banking. Banks control an enormous amount of money and are often the most influential economic institutions in most countries. Yet, banks are not a modern invention. Banks, in one form or another, have been around for thousands of years and have …
Podcast Transcript Our calendar and system of keeping time are rather unique. It isn’t nice and tidy like the metric system. It is a collection of odd time units, leap years, and rotating calendars. As such, many people throughout history have thought that they could do better. So they have made proposals for changing our …
Podcast Transcript After the death or resignation of a pope, but before the election of a new pope, there is a period of time at the Vatican known as Sede Vacante. The Sede Vacante doesn’t last very long, and it doesn’t happen very often, but when it does occur, it is a very busy time. …
Podcast Transcript Today, approximately 160 currencies are used worldwide. Some countries share the same currency, while others use the currency of another country. However, not all currencies are equal. One currency always tends to become the dominant currency in international affairs, known as the global reserve currency. There are benefits for the country that issues …
Podcast Transcript All living things on the planet Earth, from microbes to whales, can be categorized into a single hierarchical system. This system has been developed over the last 300 years. Layers have been added, and there have been debates as to what creatures should go where. However, it has proved an incredibly useful way …
Podcast Transcript The modern world runs on metal wires. These thin metal strands literally circle the globe and are responsible for much of the world’s electrical power and communications. It is something so basic that most people never bother to stop and think about how wires are made. It turns out wire has been made …
Podcast Transcript Of all the cities that experienced the Second World War, one of the most interesting stories is that of Paris. Paris was not the scene of major fighting like Warsaw, which was all but destroyed. It was occupied for over four years, during which time it saw acts of resistance and collaboration. When …