Less than a hundred years ago, wheelchairs were big clunky wooden chairs that couldn’t even fit through most doorways. But in the 1930s, a pair of engineers dreamed up a new kind of wheelchair that would change the lives of wheelchair-users dramatically. In fact, some of them invented a new sport that would become a worldwide sensation: wheelchair basketba ... Show More
Yesterday
How pizza took over the world
Pizza is a food loved around the world. It started as a local dish served by street vendors in Naples, Italy. Not everyone loved it right away. But over time, pizza changed, and the world fell in love. Join Joy and co-host Zsa Zsa as they learn the fascinating history of this fan ... Show More
29m 4s
Aug 19
Toy Time! What’s the history behind yo-yos, hula hoops and slime?
For as long as there have been humans, there have been toys! But do you know the history behind some of your favorites? Join Joy and Evette as they tackle the history of three top toys: the yo-yo, the hula-hoop and slime. They’ll answer questions like “where did the name yo-yo co ... Show More
30m 35s
Feb 2016
The Yin and Yang of Basketball
<p>In 1891, a physical education teacher in Springfield, Massachusetts invented the game we would come to know as basketball. In setting the height of the baskets, he inadvertently created a design problem that would not be resolved for decades to come. The … <a href="http://99pe ... Show More
19m 17s
Nov 2020
Disability History special
<p>We look back at the fight for disability rights in the UK and India in the 1990s, plus the remarkable life of Helen Keller as told by her great niece, how a Rwandan Paralympic volleyball team made history, and the invention of the iconic disability vehicle, the Invacar. And w ... Show More
50m 24s
Mar 2024
The History of Human Mobility: The Story of the Inventions That Changed the Way We Move
On this episode of Our American Stories, Miles C. Collier – founder of the Revs Institute – tells the story of inventions that took us from our own legs to wheels, horses, bikes and cars. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: https://www.ou ... Show More
38m 16s
Feb 2022
The life-changing power of assistive technologies | Jane Velkovski
"This chair is my legs -- this chair is my life," says accessibility champion Jane Velkovski, who uses a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). With clarity and poise, he shares how his first motorized wheelchair empowered him with independence and a ... Show More
13m 46s
Dec 2021
The life-changing power of assistive technologies | Jane Velkovski
"This chair is my legs -- this chair is my life," says accessibility champion Jane Velkovski, who uses a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). With clarity and poise, he shares how his first motorized wheelchair empowered him with independence and a ... Show More
13m 23s
Sep 2023
The Road to Modern Basketball, Part Two: How Dribbling Became A Thing
As James Naismith's new sport became increasingly popular, more and more people looked for ways to evolve, adjust, or flat-out change Naismith's original rules. In the second part of this series, Ben, Noel and Max explore how basketball continued to change over time -- and how so ... Show More
50m 19s
Mar 2022
The life-changing power of assistive technologies | Jane Velkovski
"This chair is my legs -- this chair is my life," says accessibility champion Jane Velkovski, who uses a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). With clarity and poise, he shares how his first motorized wheelchair empowered him with independence and a ... Show More
13m 46s