The Battle of the Plains of Abraham: How Quebec Became British

The Battle of the Plains of Abraham: How Quebec Became British

Podcast Transcript In 1759, on a plateau outside Quebec City, two armies met in a battle that lasted less than an hour but changed the course of a continent.  The Battle determined the fate of New France, reshaped Canada’s future, and marked a turning point in the global struggle between Britain and France.  It was …

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Mitsubishi Zero: The Aircraft That Changed WWII Aviation

Mitsubishi Zero: The Aircraft That Changed WWII Aviation

Podcast Transcript In the early months of World War II, one aircraft seemed almost unstoppable.  Fast, agile, and capable of outmaneuvering almost anything in the sky, the Zero became the symbol of Japanese air power across the Pacific.  Allied pilots feared it, military planners studied it, and its strengths and weaknesses would shape the future …

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Operation Street Food – Day 1 (Food Safety)

My first day of street food went surprisingly well. I focused on grilled meat products because….well…it was easy to order. Here is how the day broke down: Breakfast – 3 pieces of chicken satay. 15 baht (US$0.45) Lunch – 3 grilled chicken wings and chopped grilled pork. 40 baht ($1.21) Dinner – Chicken with rice, …

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First Impressions of Timor Leste

To begin to explain Timor Leste (East Timor) it is probably necessary to start at the beginning and give some background to the country. It is a place that most people are probably not familiar with and as countries go, it is relatively new. If you look at a map of this part of the …

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8 Interesting Facts About South Africa

Cape of Good Hope in Cape Town, South Africa

South Africa is a country that’s hard to forget once you’ve visited. It’s a place of breathtaking beauty: miles of coastline, glittering sand dunes, towering mountains, and rich biodiversity make it a draw for tourists from all over the world. The political and cultural history adds additional nuance, making a destination that’s immensely explorable.  Although …

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The Traitorous Eight and The Birth of Silicon Valley

The Traitorous Eight and The Birth of Silicon Valley

Podcast Transcript In 1957, eight young engineers walked away from one of the most important laboratories in America and, in doing so, helped create the modern technology industry.  Their break with a Nobel Prize-winning physicist set off a chain reaction of innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship that transformed a quiet region of California into Silicon Valley.  …

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Rainbows And How They Work

Rainbows And How They Work

Podcast Transcript Few things in nature are as instantly recognizable as a rainbow.  For thousands of years, rainbows have inspired myths, religion, art, and science.  Yet behind those bands of color is an extraordinary interaction between sunlight, water, geometry, and the physics of light itself.  From double rainbows to full circular rainbows seen from aircraft, …

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The Mercury Program

The Mercury Program

Podcast Transcript In the late 1950s, the United States found itself trailing in the Space Race as the Soviet Union achieved one milestone after another.  In response, NASA launched Project Mercury, an ambitious effort to put an American into space using little more than experimental rockets, cramped capsules, and sheer determination.  Explosions, near disasters, and …

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