logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2024
12m 11s

The Plastic That Changed The World

The Retrospectors
About this episode
On this day in 1909 Leo Baekeland announced his invention of Bakelite to the American Chemical Society. Having already earned a fortune selling his photographic patent to Kodak, the Belgian-born chemist had opened his own lab in Yonkers, experimenting with formaldehyde and phenol. The resulting material, which he called Bakelite, could be used in everything ... Show More
Up next
Jan 16
Shooting 'Dr. No'
It had a budget of just $1 million, a lead actor wearing a toupee, and the baddie in the first draft of the script was a monkey. But the first James Bond film, ‘Dr. No’, which began shooting in Jamaica on 16th January, 1962, kicked off a phenomenally successful franchise that’s s ... Show More
11m 58s
Jan 15
Death By Molasses
A roaring wave of syrup swept through the North End of Boston on 15th January, 1919, in an event that claimed 21 lives, including 2 children, and came to be known as the “Great Molasses Flood”. At the heart of the disaster was a rushed, badly built industrial tank: the steel was ... Show More
13m 6s
Jan 14
New York meets Snow White
Disney’s long-awaited feature ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ was rapturously received at Radio City, New York, inspiring three-hour queues for tickets. The reviews that America woke up to on 14th January 1938 were euphoric: a masterpiece had landed. “It is a classic as importa ... Show More
12m 6s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2023
Barbie x Petro-Capitalism
<p>We had to talk about Barbie! This episode is all about Barbie dolls and way they took over the toy industry in the 90s. We've since recorded an episode about the movie which will be available on our Patreon in the coming weeks.</p><br><p>For now, please enjoy this episode that ... Show More
1h 5m
Feb 2024
The Aftermath: The 1931 China Floods
New Guest Expert! On this week’s Aftermath, Rebecca revisits the devastating 1931 Central China Floods with history professor Dr. Zhigou Ye. In her work, Dr. Ye touches on the transformation of China from an agricultural empire into a modernized society and the hazards that came ... Show More
38m 32s
Jan 2024
106: Building Blocks of Civilization: How the World Really Works
"Modern economies will always be tied to massive material flows, whether those of ammonia-based fertilizers to feed the still-growing global population; plastics, steel, and cement needed for new tools, machines, structures, and infrastructures; or new inputs required to produce ... Show More
1h 18m
Nov 2023
Milli Vanilli Unsynced w/Luke & Patrick - Just Shoot It 399
tail spinning
1h 5m
Jan 2024
Exploring Sustainable Technologies and Green Chemicals with Eric Bober of NexantECA - Ep 148
Driven by both consumer demand and government policies, the shift towards sustainability in the chemical industry is creating a landscape ripe for innovation and growth. Eric Bober, VP at NexantECA joins host Victoria Meyer on The Chemical Show this week to explore the world of s ... Show More
28m 30s
Jun 2023
More Than You Ever Really Wanted to Know About Sewers (Encore)
Sometimes the most important things are things we don’t even want to think about let alone talk about.  The issue of handling and removing human waste and dirty water is one such problem that has confronted humans since the dawn of time.  The elimination of waste and excess water ... Show More
11m 15s
Jul 2023
'The O.C.' 20th Anniversary: Season 1, Episodes 2 and 3
Bill, Jo, and Juliet continue the 'O.C.’ Hall of Fame tribute by immediately diving into their favorite scenes and overly dated nitpicks for the show’s second episode, "The Model Home." They quickly pivot to its iconic follow-up, "The Gamble," which ignites a discussion about the ... Show More
44m 15s