If you had to guess, I bet you’d say Thomas Edison was the inventor of motion picture cameras. But what if we told you…that’s wrong? Louis Le Prince shot the world’s first moving picture in 1888, years before Edison debuted his camera. But days before Le Prince was going to go public with his invention, he vanished. Instead, Edison got the fame and fortune. ... Show More
Nov 13
Was the Lindbergh Kidnapping an Inside Job?
Several murders have been dubbed “the crime of the century," but the Lindbergh kidnapping case of 1932 might actually deserve the title. According to some, it shaped the culture of conspiracy theories in America. Was Bruno Richard Hauptmann really guilty, or was he framed? Did he ... Show More
44m 44s
May 2025
Nikola Tesla: life of the week
Nikola Tesla is remembered as an enigmatic, eccentric genius who harnessed the power of electricity. But if we strip away some of this myth, what can we really say about the inventor's life and legacy? For this Life of the Week episode, Iwan Morus joins Ellie Cawthorne to reveal ... Show More
38m 44s
Jun 2025
The Forgotten Mentor Who Inspired Louis Armstrong
June 28, 1928. Louis Armstrong is in the studio recording what he hopes will be another hit. His career is on the rise, but he’s not a household name yet. But he’s about to lay down a track – “West End Blues” – that won’t just change his career, but the entire genre of jazz. But ... Show More
35m 6s
Feb 2025
Tesla Electrifies the World
February 24, 1893. Most homes don't have electricity. And yet, one of the technology's pioneers, Nikola Tesla, is about to give the world a glimpse into a fully electrified future.
He takes the stage at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, and begins a demonstration. He shoots ... Show More
37m 59s
Jul 2025
Henry Ford: Putting the world on wheels
Henry Ford may not have invented the car, or even the assembly line, but he perfected them. His Model T – nicknamed “Tin Lizzie” – made cars affordable for the average worker, not just the rich. He was a master tinkerer, inventor and even introduced the five-day 40-hour work week ... Show More
52m 2s
Aug 2024
Rene Magritte | The Son of Man (encore)
Rene Magritte's painting, Son of Man, is among the most famous images of the Surrealist Movement. It is one of the few artworks that transcends the museum and has become a part of pop culture. Actually, technically it isn’t even in the museums. Son of Man is privately owned and r ... Show More
9m 54s