The Nutcracker

Charles Goodyear's work is important to so many things we have in the 21st century. But his life and his work to create a stable rubber was full of problems -- many of them caused by Goodyear himself. Research: Britannica Editors. "Charles Goodyear". Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 D ... Show More

This 2022 episode covers the development of penicillin, which started – but definitely did not end – with the chance discovery of some mold in a petri dish. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

Tracy shares stories of her time in London. There is also a discussion of Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin’s marriage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

The decorative holiday nutcracker has become a staple of holiday decor and it also constitutes a specialized tool, so in this Christmas themed invention episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the gadget’s European history, its analogs in other cultures and the ... Show More

The decorative holiday nutcracker has become a staple of holiday decor and it also constitutes a specialized tool, so in this Christmas themed invention episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the gadget’s European history, its analogs in other cultures and the ... Show More

The premiere of Tchaikovsky’s seminal ballet ‘The Nutcracker’, on 18th December, 1892, at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre, Saint Petersburg. It was NOT a hit. The composer, who thought the Alexander Dumas source material was slight and childish, only agreed to write the piece if i ... Show More

A look at the origins of some of the most popular songs of Christmastime. 

This week, it is the insane original story behind the popular holiday ballet. In this story for children, we'll get some contradictory lessons for the kids. Getting into a van with a stranger offering candy? Bad. Getting into a silver carriage with a man offering a whole magical ... Show More

On this episode of Our American Stories, from its humble beginnings in an Austrian chapel in 1818, 'Silent Night' has become one of the most popular Christmas hymns ever. Here’s the History Guy with the story of the song. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donat ... Show More

A Christmas Miracle!!! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

As the western world gears up for its biggest holiday, the guys dive into the strange story of Krampus: a pre-Christian, pagan entity that somehow not only survived the arrival of Christianity -- but thrived, first as a side character in Central European holiday celebrations, the ... Show More

Songs include: Here Comes Santa Claus by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters, Jingle Bells by Les Paul, Oh Come All Ye Faithful by Kate Smith, Boogie Woogie Santa Claus by Patti Smith, the Russian Dance from the Nutcracker by Herbert von Karajan and the 12 Days of Christmas by Fr ... Show More