Berbice Rebellion

Guest: Marjoleine Kars, Associate Professor, History, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and author, “Blood on the River: A Chronicle of Mutiny and Freedom on the Wild Coast”

In 1763, in the midst of a pandemic, slaves in modern-day Guyana rebelled against harsh working conditions. The founders of the rebellion conscripted other wary slaves and set up their own government, led by Governor Coffij, a charismatic enslaved man who set about negotiating with the Dutch colonialists. The rebels were successful for a while, and their efforts foreshadowed revolutionary movements throughout the Western world.

The Reverse Underground Railroad

Guest: Richard Bell, Associate Professor, History, University of Maryland, and author, "Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped Into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home"

The early 1800s were a dangerous time for free African-Americans. Although Pennsylvania was a free state, kidnappers wandered the streets of Philadelphia, snatching people to be sold into slavery in the South. Author and historian Richard Bell tells the story of five free boys captured to be sold into slavery and their incredible journey home.

Berbice Rebellion

Guest: Marjoleine Kars, Associate Professor, History, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and author, “Blood on the River: A Chronicle of Mutiny and Freedom on the Wild Coast”

In 1763, in the midst of a pandemic, slaves in modern-day Guyana rebelled against harsh working conditions. The founders of the rebellion conscripted other wary slaves and set up their own government, led by Governor Coffij, a charismatic enslaved man who set about negotiating with the Dutch colonialists. The rebels were successful for a while, and their efforts foreshadowed revolutionary movements throughout the Western world.

 

The Reverse Underground Railroad

Guest: Richard Bell, Associate Professor, History, University of Maryland, and author, "Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped Into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home"

The early 1800s were a dangerous time for free African-Americans. Although Pennsylvania was a free state, kidnappers wandered the streets of Philadelphia, snatching people to be sold into slavery in the South. Author and historian Richard Bell tells the story of five free boys captured to be sold into slavery and their incredible journey home.

Ruling Life on the Track

Guest: Devoney Looser, Professor of English at Arizona State University, editor of “The Daily Jane Austen: A Year of Quotes,” and member of the Arizona Derby Dames—a team on which she skates as “Stone Cold Jane Austen”

Knee pads, helmets, nicknames, and punching. That may be what comes to mind when you picture roller derby. Devoney Looser, aka “Stone Cold Jane Austen” gives us the scoop on what life is like on the track, including how Covid-19 is affecting the sport. 

 

It’s Like Hockey, But at the Bottom of a Pool

Guest: Tyera Eulberg, USA Women's Elite Underwater Hockey Team

Ice hockey. Field hockey. Underwater hockey? This lesser-known sport has been around since the 1950s, and it is one of the most intense sports out there, since you have to do it holding your breath. 

Learn more about underwater hockey here. 

 

Race Walking

Guests: Jeff Salvage, race-walking coach, founder, racewalk.com, and former international competitor; Miranda Melville, Olympian race walker

Race walking is a serious sport for serious athletes. It is distinguished from running by keeping one foot on the ground at all times. Fastidious form is paramount, and it's helpful for everyone to learn how to do it as they age. Marcus Smith wonders if it's a sport he should take up.

Ruling Life on the Track

Guest: Devoney Looser, Professor of English at Arizona State University, editor of “The Daily Jane Austen: A Year of Quotes,” and member of the Arizona Derby Dames—a team on which she skates as “Stone Cold Jane Austen”

Knee pads, helmets, nicknames, and punching. That may be what comes to mind when you picture roller derby. Devoney Looser, aka “Stone Cold Jane Austen” gives us the scoop on what life is like on the track, including how Covid-19 is affecting the sport. 

It’s Like Hockey, But at the Bottom of a Pool

Guest: Tyera Eulberg, USA Women's Elite Underwater Hockey Team

Ice hockey. Field hockey. Underwater hockey? This lesser-known sport has been around since the 1950s, and it is one of the most intense sports out there, since you have to do it holding your breath. 

Learn more about underwater hockey here. 

Race Walking

Guests: Jeff Salvage, race-walking coach, founder, racewalk.com, and former international competitor; Miranda Melville, Olympian race walker

Race walking is a serious sport for serious athletes. It is distinguished from running by keeping one foot on the ground at all times. Fastidious form is paramount, and it's helpful for everyone to learn how to do it as they age. Marcus Smith wonders if it's a sport he should take up.

Around the World in 80 Trees

Guest: Jonathan Drori, author, “Around the World in 80 Trees”

From latex to aspirin, people have turned to trees for products which have changed the world. Trees have led to border disputes in England and entire farming systems in Portugal. Jonathan Drori offers us a world history through the lens of the forest. 

Tending Trees

Guest: William Bryant Logan, faculty, New York Botanical Gardens, and author, "Sprout Lands: Tending the Endless Gift of Trees"

Pollarding and other types of pruning used to allow us to make living fences, diversify our forests and feed our families while preserving a living resource. It's time to relearn these lost arts.

Around the World in 80 Trees

Guest: Jonathan Drori, author, “Around the World in 80 Trees”

From latex to aspirin, people have turned to trees for products which have changed the world. Trees have led to border disputes in England and entire farming systems in Portugal. Jonathan Drori offers us a world history through the lens of the forest. 

 

Tending Trees

Guest: William Bryant Logan, faculty, New York Botanical Gardens, and author, "Sprout Lands: Tending the Endless Gift of Trees"

Pollarding and other types of pruning used to allow us to make living fences, diversify our forests and feed our families while preserving a living resource. It's time to relearn these lost arts.

The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend

Guest: Tom Clavin, journalist and co-author, "The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend"

Native American leader Red Cloud accomplished what no Native American had before—defeating the US Army. He was feted in Washington, but then his fame dwindled. Here's his story. 

How the Civil War Affected the American West

Guest: Megan Kate Nelson, author, "The Three-Cornered War: The Union, the Confederacy, and Native Peoples in the Fight for the West" 

The Civil War didn't just impact the East—it also affected the development of the Western United States. People often forget that before the Civil War, the US was engaged in a massive effort to expand its borders. The Union and the Confederacy competed for control of the Western territories during the Civil War. 

How the Bicycle Changed American History

Guest: Margaret Guroff, author, “The Mechanical Horse: How the Bicycle Reshaped American Life”

Two hundred years ago, in 1819, the precursor to the modern bicycle first arrived in America. And doctors warned that they were hazardous to human health.

The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend

Guest: Tom Clavin, journalist and co-author, "The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend"

Native American leader Red Cloud accomplished what no Native American had before—defeating the US Army. He was feted in Washington, but then his fame dwindled. Here's his story. 

 

How the Civil War Affected the American West

Guest: Megan Kate Nelson, author, "The Three-Cornered War: The Union, the Confederacy, and Native Peoples in the Fight for the West" 

The Civil War didn't just impact the East—it also affected the development of the Western United States. People often forget that before the Civil War, the US was engaged in a massive effort to expand its borders. The Union and the Confederacy competed for control of the Western territories during the Civil War. 

 

How the Bicycle Changed American History

Guest: Margaret Guroff, author, “The Mechanical Horse: How the Bicycle Reshaped American Life”

Two hundred years ago, in 1819, the precursor to the modern bicycle first arrived in America. And doctors warned that they were hazardous to human health.

We Came in With a Bang, But How Are We Going Out?

Guest: Katie Mack, Assistant Professor, Physics, North Carolina State University, and author, “The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking)”

Some say the universe will end with a big crunch—all the planets and galaxies being pulled together in a kind of hot and sweaty reverse-Big-Bang. Most astrophysicists, however, think it’s going to be much colder than that. Colder and darker. Katie Mack joins us to talk about the ways the universe could end.

How to Die in Space

Guest: Paul Sutter, author, “How to Die in Space: A Journey through Dangerous Astrophysical Phenomena”; astrophysicist at Stony Brook University and The Flatiron Institute; and host, “Ask a Spaceman!” podcast

If you find yourself outside your space ship, cosmic forces can lead to spaghettification of the human body (and yes, it's as gruesome as it sounds). But investigating ways to die in space is really a tongue-in-cheek introduction to the fantastic power of the cosmos.

We Came in With a Bang, But How Are We Going Out?

Guest: Katie Mack, Assistant Professor, Physics, North Carolina State University, and author, “The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking)”

Some say the universe will end with a big crunch—all the planets and galaxies being pulled together in a kind of hot and sweaty reverse-Big-Bang. Most astrophysicists, however, think it’s going to be much colder than that. Colder and darker. Katie Mack joins us to talk about the ways the universe could end.

 

How to Die in Space

Guest: Paul Sutter, author, “How to Die in Space: A Journey through Dangerous Astrophysical Phenomena”; astrophysicist at Stony Brook University and The Flatiron Institute; and host, “Ask a Spaceman!” podcast

If you find yourself outside your space ship, cosmic forces can lead to spaghettification of the human body (and yes, it's as gruesome as it sounds). But investigating ways to die in space is really a tongue-in-cheek introduction to the fantastic power of the cosmos.