In April 1954, a group of first graders lined up in the gymnasium of an elementary school in McLean, Virginia for the start of the Salk polio vaccine trials. In an era before widespread federal government involvement in public health, the National Institute of Infantile Paralysis executed an unprecedented experiment involving nearly 2 million children and te ... Show More
Jan 28
Conquering Polio | There Is No Patent | 4
In the early 1950s, Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin were in a race to develop a vaccine against polio. While Salk’s killed-virus vaccine was the first to be distributed, Sabin continued working to perfect his own approach. In the end, Sabin’s oral polio vaccine—made from a weakened l ... Show More
36m 17s
Feb 4
St. Valentines Day Massacre | The Land of Bilk and Money | 1
In 1920, a young Al Capone arrived in Chicago looking for a fresh start, and his timing couldn’t have been better. That same year, Prohibition outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcohol, turning America’s thirst into a criminal gold rush. Chicago quickly became the epicenter of ... Show More
39m 8s
Apr 2025
The Whole Foods Rebellion | Tiny Acorns, Mighty Oaks | 2
<p>CEO John Mackey is on a mission to take Whole Foods national. But he is about to run into major opposition. And to succeed in his quest, he must face down rebellious employees, ambitious rivals, animal rights activists and his own father.</p><p>Be the first to know about Wonde ... Show More
45m 1s
Jul 2025
ENCORE Watergate | The Smoking Gun | 5
<p>President Nixon fights the release of his secret tapes. But with the country thrust into a constitutional crisis, Nixon has to make a gut-wrenching decision.</p><p>Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at <a href=" ... Show More
43m 59s
Jul 2025
Murder in Mississippi: The Medgar Evers Assassination Case
For decades, justice for civil rights leader Medgar Evers remained out of reach. Assassinated in his own driveway in 1963, his killer walked free after two all-white juries refused to convict him. But the story didn’t end there. Nearly 30 years later, long-hidden government docum ... Show More
37m 3s
Mar 2025
Muhammad Ali vs. The Draft | The Final Round | 3
<p>By 1969, Muhammad Ali is at a crossroads, his career and freedom hanging in the balance as his draft evasion case reaches the Supreme Court. Behind closed doors, justices clash over his fate, and an unexpected voice shapes the final decision. </p><p>Be the first to know a ... Show More
40m 56s
Jan 2025
The Black Panther Plot
On a cold night in December 1969, Fred Hampton, the 21-year-old leader of the Chicago Black Panther Party, lay asleep beside his pregnant partner, Deborah Johnson. Without warning, their home was raided by the police, who shot hundreds of rounds into their building. But what at f ... Show More
41m 14s