Caffeine is the most widely-used drug and for generations, people have consumed coffee to fuel creative ideas, and even revolutions. In this piece for Backstory, Larry Potash looks at how coffee starts, and how it’s evolved from muddy swill to gourmet beverage.

Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Researching your family tree can help you understand where you’ve come from but it’s just a chart full of names. What about the faces that go along with those names? They can be hard to find. In this piece for Backstory, Larry Potash tells the story of one man’s mission to bring people closer to their ancestors.

Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The history of the Chicago mob is largely dominated by men. Imagine growing up in Chicago and one day finding out your grandmother was a key player for The Outfit. In this segment for Backstory, Larry Potash meets the Nitto family, who’s ancestor, the late Annette Nitto, was a crucial figure in the Capone-era and beyond.

Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1921 the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma was the site of a nothing less than a race massacre. African-Americans were murdered, their homes and business burned down. Why was this tale largely lost to history for both Blacks and whites? Larry Potash traveled to Oklahoma to meet a small group of people searching for justice, a century later.

Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Throughout the 20th century the FBI amassed a large trove of surveillance on Americans famous, forgotten, and everyone in between, resulting in numerous Americans having an “FBI file.” In this segment for Backstory, Larry Potash takes a peek at what’s in some famous Chicagoans FBI files, and the scrutiny the agency is facing regarding past intelligence collection efforts. Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For years, a reign of terror rips through a community of the Osage tribe, 50 miles north of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Native Americans died under suspicious circumstances. Larry Potash traveled to Oklahoma and uncovers the backstory of this tale of murder, greed, and oil Backstory airs Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday nights at 11 on WGN-TV and on the WGN+ app, available on Amazon, Roku, Apple TV, and any smart TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1913, a new highway connects one coast to the other, and it comes to connect a little-known aspiring address to adoring fans. Larry Potash has the backstory on Anita King, AKA the Paramount Girl, and her pioneering feet involving the Lincoln Highway. Backstory airs Saturday nights at 6 on WGN-TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, iTunes, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 In this Backstory piece, Larry Potash cracks open his baseball card collection and looks at the rise, fall, and rise again of these cardboard keepsakes. How did baseball cards get started as a thing? Where does the hobby stand in the digital age? And most importantly – is Larry’s collection of ‘70s baseball heroes worth anything? Backstory airs Saturday nights at 6 on WGN-TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, iTunes, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicagoan Joe Rauen’s approach to music is a little weird, because, well, the instruments he plays are weird. Learn what drove this Berklee-trained musician to embrace the odd, including a suitcase bass, a tennis racquet banjo, and an electric shovel guitar in this Backstory segment from Larry Potash. Backstory airs Saturday nights at 6 on WGN-TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, iTunes, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this Backstory piece, Larry Potash looks at the search for answers to that age-old question: Are we alone? Meet some of the people looking for answers, learn about the technology letting us see more of the stars, and the problems that come along with progress. Backstory airs Saturday nights at 6 on WGN-TV. Check out the Backstory podcast at WGNtv.com/Backstory via Stitcher, iTunes, Google Play, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.