July 7, 2007. In a dramatic ceremony featuring pop stars, fireworks, and smoke cannons, the Colosseum is named one of the seven new wonders of the world. It’s an appropriately over-the-top blowout for an arena which, centuries before, was home to its own lavish events. How did spectacles once unfold on the floor of this ancient arena? And how did the Romans ... Show More
Jun 23
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
39m 6s
Jun 16
The Mutiny of Henry Hudson
June 22, 1611. It’s been a long, cold winter. Henry Hudson and his crew have been stranded in the Canadian Arctic for months, living on the ice in wooden shacks - starving, sick, and ready to go home. And yet, Hudson wants to carry on and search for the Northwest Passage, a theor ... Show More
38m 1s
Sep 2024
How Rome Unified Italy
On today's episode, we explore how Rome dealt with the so-called "barbarians" who shaped its rise.
From the Greek idea that anyone outside their polis was a barbarian (bar, bar, bar...), to Rome's practical alliances with these tribes, we dive into the myths, wars, and politics t ... Show More
1h 22m
Jul 2024
The Roman Conquest of Italy
At the beginning of the 4th century BC, Rome was still not the dominant force in Latium, the small region surrounding the city; by the end of that century, Rome was the dominant power in all of Italy. How did that happen? The answer lies not so much in conquest as cooperation.Pat ... Show More
42m 6s
Dec 2024
The Roman Caesars' Guide to Ruling
The Roman caesars were the rulers of the Roman Empire, beginning in 27 BC with Julius Caesar’s heir Augustus, from whom subsequent caesars took their name, and lasting until around the fall of the Western Empire in 476 AD. The caesars transitioned the Roman Republic to autocratic ... Show More
57m 14s