When Margaret Sanger opened her birth control clinic in 1916, she knew she was breaking the law. Distributing contraceptives, or even literature about birth control, was a jailable offense. But she didn’t care. As a nurse, Sanger had sworn to devote herself to the welfare of those in her community. And in the early 1900s, that meant doing something about the ... Show More
Jul 2019
Innovation Fails: DeLorean | Driven to Succeed | S14-E1
Normally on American Innovations, we look at the history of the science and technology that transformed the world we live in. These stories teach us about the vision, grit, competition, and teamwork required to conquer new frontiers and forge new pathways to the future. But equal ... Show More
40m 24s
Aug 2019
The Heimlich Maneuver | S15-E1
In the 1960s, choking was a national epidemic. In the United States alone, close to 4,000 people were dying from choking every year. Lobster, ham, and hamburger were common culprits. But steak was by far the greatest offender. Coroners called for a solution to these “Cafe Coronar ... Show More
43m 45s
Aug 2019
Corn Flakes | The Brothers of Battle Creek | S16-E1
For the first 150 years of American history, American citizens were plagued by gastrointestinal issues. Diarrhea, gastritis and dysentery were pretty much a way of life. Indigestion was such an immense problem, the poet Walt Whitman called it “the Great American Evil.” All these ... Show More
40m 36s
Jul 2021
5: Let's Talk About The Dark History Of Birth Control. Buckle In.
Birth Control is in medicine cabinets all over the world, used by millions of women. But few know its scandalous history involves mass sterilizations of Puerto Rican women, an American business tycoon, and an activist who dabbled in eugenics. What’s eugenics? You’ll find out. And ... Show More
42m 33s
Jul 2023
How the Birth Control Pill Got Over the Counter
<p>Last week, for the first time in U.S. history, federal regulators approved the sale of a birth control pill without a prescription.</p><p>Pam Belluck, a health and science correspondent for The Times, explains why, after decades of brutal battles over contraception, this decis ... Show More
29m 28s