Podcast Transcript One of the most ubiquitous items of clothing in formal and business attire is the necktie. Yet a cursory check of paintings from several centuries ago shows that neckties have not been around forever. They are, in fact, a relatively recent invention. Over the last century, neckwear has both defined fashion and changed …
Podcast Transcript The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, better known as NASCAR, has become one of the most recognizable and uniquely American forms of motorsport. It emerged from the traditions of the rural South, shaped by the ingenuity of moonshine runners and the broader story of the American car. Over time, the sport …
Podcast Transcript Nintendo is one of the most legendary video game companies in the world. Many of you have probably owned a Nintendo system to play video games. If you are old enough, you might have even played some of their games in a video arcade. Even if you have never played a video game, …
Podcast Transcript From 1950 to 1975, the world had seen 25 years of radical change. The changes seen in the first half of the 20th century accelerated even faster. Energy, inflation, and civil rights, which had always been issues, were now front and center. Empires ended, there were social and technical revolutions, new nations were …
Podcast Transcript In the north, things are getting colder, snow is starting to fall, and the days are getting shorter. It is also the season for gift-giving. As I can’t personally give all of you a customized gift, I can do the next best thing and answer your questions. Stay tuned for the 37th installment …
Podcast Transcript The country of Panama is best known as the location of the Panama Canal, the waterway that revolutionized international sea transportation. However, there is a lot more to the country. Its history is unlike any other nation in the Americas, and its path to independence was unusual to say the least. Given its …
Podcast Transcript Fascism is one of the most notorious political ideologies of the 20th century. Fascism is typically only thought of in tandem with Nazi Germany, but it wasn’t the only country that adhered to the ideology, and, in fact, they weren’t even the first. It originated in Italy. Despite many similarities between fascist Italy …
Podcast Transcript For well over a century, people have enjoyed the thrill of visiting an amusement park and riding roller coasters. The very first thing we can point to and call a proto-roller coaster had neither rollers nor did it coast. It was more of a slide. Over time, Roller coasters have evolved into massive …
Podcast Transcript One of the most important empires in history was the Ottoman Empire. It wasn’t the biggest empire, but it had an outsized impact on the world due to its strategic location and its moment in history. The Ottomans shocked the world by capturing the city of Constantinople and later almost conquered much of …