There was a time when William Shakespeare was just another little seven-year-old in school. Classes in his day were demanding — and all in Latin. A new book argues that this rigorous curriculum actually nurtured the creativity that later flourished in Shakespeare’s writing. Plus, why do we refer to an unpredictable person as a loose cannon? The answer lies i ... Show More
May 19
Bean Counting - 19 May 2025
In the 1920’s, Americans were warned of a new danger sweeping across the country. This menace that harmed people’s health, ruined minds, and threatened marriages. The culprit? The national obsession with a new form of entertainment: crossword puzzles. Plus: why are accountants re ... Show More
53m 45s
Aug 2024
163: The Show (Boat) Must Go On: Broadway and the American Musical
“Miller, Lyles, and I were standing near the exit door . . . Blake stuck out there in front, leading the orchestra—his bald head would get the brunt of the tomatoes and rotten eggs.” This is the story of American musical theater and the dawn of modern Broadway. Popular entertainm ... Show More
1h 1m
Feb 2025
⭐ Feature: The Story of Dr. Seuss ("The Father of Children's Literature")
On March 2, we celebrate Read Across America Day, a time when schools across the U.S. encourage kids to dive into the magical world of books. But why March 2? Well, it’s no coincidence—that’s the birthday of a man whose impact on children’s literature is nothing short of legendar ... Show More
41m 18s
Nov 2024
Alebrijes, Tonales, y Animales Fantásticos - Alebrijes, Tonales, and Fantastic Animals
Have you ever wondered about the colorful alebrijes featured in Mexican culture or how they connect to myths like nahuales and tonales? In this episode, we share the story of how alebrijes originated from a fever dream, their transformation from papier-mâché to wood carvings in O ... Show More
24m 30s
Jun 2024
EP20 - Star and Star Lover | Sidney, Astrophil and Stella
Sir Philip Sidney, Astrophil and Stella. Over the course of the sixteenth century English poets experimented with the sonnet form invented by their Italian neighbours, and the Petrarchan conventions that came with it. The goal was a long sequence of many short poems which chron ... Show More
1h 21m
Jul 10
Operation Mincemeat Revisited | Episode + Bonus Interview with Natasha Hodgson
When we first aired "Operation Mincemeat" back in 2020, it was a daring WWII thriller that felt almost too wild to be true. Now, it’s not just history — it’s a hit Broadway musical. This week, we're revisiting our original episode about the ingenious Allied ruse that helped turn ... Show More
54m 46s
Aug 2024
Eggcorns, Malapropismos, y la Etimología Popular - Eggcorns, Malapropisms and Popular Etymology
Join us as we share a lighthearted conversation about eggcorns, malapropisms, and folk etymology. We explore how linguistic slip-ups—like confusing "Alzheimer's disease" with "old-timers disease" or "in one fell swoop" with "in one foul swoop"—become part of everyday languag ... Show More
28m 34s
Jul 2024
El Dorado: Mitos y Leyendas de la Ciudad que Nunca Fue - El Dorado: Myths and Legends of the City that Never Was
Discover the true story behind the legend of El Dorado, a tale that has fascinated explorers and treasure hunters for centuries. We'll discuss the Muisca people's golden rituals, how the Spanish conquistadors embellished the myth, and the cultural misunderstandings that ... Show More
31 m
Sep 2024
The Story of the Rosetta Stone (Words, Words, Words 25)
The name "Rosetta Stone" has great brand recognition, but how much do you really know about Ptolemy V's royal decree? When you get right down to it, it's one of the wildest little corners of world history, stretching from the conquests of Alexander the Great to the defeat of Napo ... Show More
31m 58s