logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
36m 20s

General Ludd's Rage Against the Machines

Pushkin Industries
About this episode

1812. A band of "Luddites" is laying siege to a textile mill in the North of England, under cover of night. They plan to destroy the machines that are replacing their jobs. But mill owner William Cartwright is prepared: he's fortified his factory with skilled marksmen, fearsome eighteen-inch metal spikes and barrels of sulphuric acid.

Today "Luddite" is a term of mockery — a description for someone who's scared of technology. But in 1812, Luddism was no laughing matter for the likes of Cartwright. And he plans to teach the intruders a lesson.

For a full list of sources for this episode, please visit timharford.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Sep 4
Evel Knievel Faces the Abyss
Evel Knievel, the world-famous daredevil, is planning his greatest ever stunt. In 1974, he wants to leap over Snake River Canyon in Idaho. The chasm is almost a third of a mile wide, much bigger than any jump he's done before. To make it work, he'll need a custom-made rocket-powe ... Show More
40m 22s
Aug 28
Dumm und Dümmer: Hitler Invades Florida
In 1942, eight men are sent from Nazi Germany to infiltrate America. Their mission: to sabotage critical infrastructure. Their problem: they're idiots. Operation Pastorius soon devolves into one of the most baffling failures of World War II. For a list of sources, see the show no ... Show More
39m 19s
Aug 21
The DeLorean Saga: Fraud, Drugs and Marty McFly's Car - with Business History
This is a special crossover episode with Business History. John DeLorean was a visionary who wanted to create a futuristic new sports car - a stainless steel marvel with distinctive gull-wing doors. The British Government agreed to finance the project, provided he built his facto ... Show More
49m 4s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2022
Who, exactly, were the Luddites?
Today you'll hear people described as 'Luddites' if they don't care for -- or don't understand -- some newer piece of technology, but where did this phrase come from? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and guest producer Tari trace the term back to its surprising origin story ... a vi ... Show More
42m 43s
Sep 2023
Blood in the Machine
<p>Brian Merchant is a tech reporter, and he'd been covering the industry for years when he started to notice a term that kept coming up. When he wrote a story that was critical of tech, he'd be accused of being a "Luddite."</p><p>Like most people, Brian knew at least vaguely wha ... Show More
29m 4s
Oct 2019
Self-Made Man
The mysterious founder and CEO of a tech company is about to tell the world the secret of his latest product… and his past. Written by Luke Burns Performed by Richie Moriarty, Josh Perilo, Jon Cook, Daniel Hubbard, Frankie Johnson, Louis Kornfeld, Mary McDonnell, Jesse Vanden ... Show More
26m 54s
Mar 2016
6: "This isn't funny!"
It was a cold, dark night on the field of battle – and one man had the perfect plan to strike back at the enemy. 
5m 32s
Mar 2024
Part Two: All Hail King Ludd: How the Luddites Almost Saved Us
In part two, Margaret talks with Robert Evans one more time about the English rebels who threw on dresses, declared a fake person their leader, and set about fighting the Industrial Revolution.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
49m 3s
Mar 2020
"Let Those Who Would" by Genevieve Valentine
A dystopian society tackles fake news. Content advisory: violence Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. 
42m 23s
Oct 2024
The Infernal Machine
<p>The unexpected story of how Alfred Nobel’s invention of dynamite—designed to build the world—was co-opted by anarchists to bring about its destruction. From revolutionizing infrastructure to arming political radicals, dynamite shaped the rise of both terrorism and modern law e ... Show More
28m 58s
May 2023
S3 Ep146: Human – Cody Johnson
The rise of the machines. 
5m 14s