The Geography of Spain

The Geography of Spain

Podcast Transcript Spain, like most countries, has a unitary national government but also has a series of subnational jurisdictions.  In most countries, these might be known as states or provinces; however, in Spain, they do things a little differently.  The political divisions in Spain aren’t arbitrary lines on a map. The divisions are usually based …

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Domestication of the Horse

Domestication of the Horse

Podcast Transcript Sometime around 5,500 years ago, an event took place on the Eurasian steppes that fundamentally changed the world.  We don’t know who did it or exactly when it took place, but it was one of the single greatest moments in all of human history.  It ushered in revolutions in agriculture, transportation, and warfare, …

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Prohibition

Prohibition

Podcast Transcript On January 16, 1919, the 18th Amendment to the US Constitution was passed. It banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol.  The path to the 18th Amendment was something that was almost a century in the making, and once it was passed, it was widely ignored both illegally and through numerous legal …

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The Legend of Babe Ruth

The Legend of Babe Ruth

Podcast Transcript In 1941, a minor league baseball team in Baltimore, Maryland, signed a young player from the St. Mary’s Industrial School for Boys—a school for delinquent boys and orphans.  Unbeknownst to them, the wayward boy would go on to completely transform the game of baseball and become one of the most famous people in …

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President Tyler’s Grandsons

President Tyler's Grandsons

President John Tyler was the 10th president of the United States. He was born in 1790 and is widely considered one of the lesser presidents in American history. If you’ve never heard of him before, don’t worry, as you aren’t missing much.  This episode isn’t about him, however. This is about his two grandsons. His …

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The Two-Hour Marathon

The Two-Hour Marathon

Transcript Eliud Kipchoge is unquestionably the greatest marathon runner in history. He’s won an Olympic Gold Medal, holds the world’s record, and has won 12 of the 13 marathons he has ever entered. However, there was one accomplishment that had been out of reach for Kipchoge and every other marathoner: The 2-hour marathon. On October …

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This History of Lead

This History of Lead

Podcast Transcript Sometime around eight to nine thousand years ago, ancient people in Asia Minor found a very dull grey metal that turned out to be easy to manipulate when it was heated.  For thousands of years, it was used for a variety of purposes, including as a food additive.  With the advent of the …

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Cahokia: The Largest Indigenous Settlement in North America

Cahokia: The Largest Settlement in North America

Podcast Transcript You are probably familiar with, or have at least heard of, several of the great pre-Columbian cities in the Americas. Places like Tikal, Guatemala, Copan, Honduras, and Tenochtitlan, Mexico are some of the great legacies of the civilizations that came before.  However, all of these population centers were located Mesoamerica. Most of the …

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Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

The Grand Canyon is one of the greatest natural attractions on Earth. It’s a vast and visually powerful landscape with plunging cliffs and variegated colors slashing across the ancient rocks. Known for its multihued toned, the colors of the rocks change color through the course of the day, culminating in a spectacular sunset. It also …

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