logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2018
30m 14s

Victorian Orchidelirium

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Orchids date back millions of years. But in the 1800s, the plants became a status symbol and the cornerstone of a high-dollar industry. Collecting the plants involved adventure and excitement -- and a high death rate. 

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
Behind the Scenes Minis: Pens and Dog Radios
Tracy and Holly talk about their favorite pens, and Tracy describes a unique radio she had as a child.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
20m 27s
Jul 9
Edwin Howard Armstrong
Edwin Howard Armstrong isn’t exactly a well-known inventor, but his work in radio literally changed communications around the globe. But his most famous invention – FM radio – became a source of constant frustration after he developed it. Research: Armstrong, Edwin H. “Frequency ... Show More
33m 22s
Jul 7
The Humble Ballpoint Pen
Before the ballpoint pen, people used their hands, reeds, bamboo, brushes, quills, and eventually nibs to write or draw. But how did things evolve from there to get to things like the fountain pen, and eventually, a ballpoint? Research: "pen." Britannica Library, Encyclopædia Bri ... Show More
35m 35s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2022
Picture Perfect
Ancient history might be far in the past, but the wonderful gems it contains are as timeless and delightful as ever. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
9m 9s
Dec 2021
Palm Trees: Technically, Giant Plants
Palm trees. You see them all over the world and for good reason. There are more than 2,500 varieties. Learn all about these giant plants today.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
52m 19s
Oct 2019
The Marquise and Her Poisons
The Marquise de Brinvilliers is a subject of operas and stories, a larger-than-life villainess who murdered her family with poison and almost got away with it. Almost. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ... Show More
31m 45s
Sep 2021
Lost Daylight
Royalty has undoubtedly provided historians with a lot of work over the centuries. But it's also given us quick a lot of items to add to the Cabinet of Curiosities. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf ... Show More
9m 29s
Feb 2020
SYSK Selects: How Bonsai Works
For thousands of years people have been taking normal trees and forcing them into miniature. Learn all about the history and art of this strangely engrossing pastime in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.co ... Show More
56m 3s
Feb 2022
That Time Victorians Treated Seaweed like Pokemon
Europe's Victorian Era was, in many ways, a study in contradiction. While society in general championed independent scientific research, institutions of the day rejected women as members. Seaweed collections became a way for these scientists to circumvent the dumb ideas of their ... Show More
51m 11s
Mar 2016
The International Harvester Story
The International Harvester Company was incredibly influential in the advent of modern farming technology. Join Scott and Ben as they take a deep-dive into the company's rich history. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/liste ... Show More
1h 17m
Aug 2019
The Butcher Baronet
An Australian man comes to England claiming to be a long-lost heir thought dead in a shipwreck. What happened next sparked a trial lasting 188 days—one of the longest in English history—and a scandal that captivated the Victorian public. Learn more about your ad-choices at https: ... Show More
27m 41s
Aug 2017
Queen Victoria behind closed doors
Historian and author Professor Jane Ridley reveals some lesser-known aspects of the 19th-century monarch’s life in a talk that she delivered at our Victorians Day earlier this year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi ... Show More
45m 42s
Jun 2020
Hedwig’s Lost Van Gogh
An escape from war-torn Germany. Lavish dinners with Hollywood royalty. A Swedish baron and a dime-store heiress: we explore the long journey of a Van Gogh still life — and what it says about the real value of the things we treasure.Get Revisionist History updates first by signin ... Show More
39m 47s