January 27, 1925. Musher “Wild Bill” Shannon and his team of sled dogs race off into the frigid Alaskan night. He’s carrying a package of life-saving serum, wrapped in fur to keep it from freezing. There’s no time to waste: nearly 700 miles away, in the snowed-in town of Nome, children are dying of diphtheria. Twenty mushers and hundreds of dogs are about to ... Show More
Jan 26
The Dogs Who Saved Nome, Alaska
On January 5, 2026, Jirdes Winther Baxter passed away at 101 years old — the last known survivor of the 1925 diphtheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska. A few years ago, we told the story of the Serum Run: the desperate relay of mushers and sled dogs who carried a life-saving antitoxin ... Show More
37m 21s
Jan 22
From Hitler to Hippies: The Surprising Origins of the VW Beetle | Presenting Business History
How did the VW Beetle go from Hitler’s dream car to beloved hippie icon? Today, we’re sharing an episode from a new podcast, Business History. Hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith bring to life the greatest innovations, the boldest entrepreneurs and the craziest mavericks in th ... Show More
38m 26s
Jan 19
Houdini Defies Death
January 25, 1908. Harry Houdini is the most famous magician in America. He’s known for his escapes – from handcuffs, boxes, jail cells, even a giant football. But the escape act is getting old, and ticket sales aren’t what they used to be. And on this day, an under-capacity audie ... Show More
28m 54s
Nov 2019
Balto and Togo Pt. 1: A Life-Saving Delivery
In 1925, a deadly diphtheria outbreak gripped the town of Nome, Alaska. Togo, a 12-year old Siberian Husky, was chosen to run a 674-mile relay to transport a vital case of medicine across the Alaskan interior. He’d find help in the form of an unremarkable 6-year old Husky named B ... Show More
44m 11s
Apr 2022
EP263: Life Beyond My Wildest Dreams: Professional Dog Walker and One Black Troop's Trip to Buchenwald
On this episode of Our American Stories, Ryan Stewart shares his story of how canines have helped him get through life's adversities. Rona Simmons, author of The Other Veterans Of World War II, Stories from Behind the Front Lines, tells the story of Bill Scott, an African America ... Show More
38m 13s