DayStrider: This Day in History

Think you know the Mayflower story? Forget the version you learned in school.

Today’s story climbs aboard a cramped little ship that dropped anchor hundreds of miles off course, carrying a few surprises: a man who went overboard and lived to tell about it, two babies with names a little too clever to be real, and one of the reasons the Pilgrims never made it to Virginia... beer.

Fun (but a little bit nerdy) links from today’s story — these links worked in October 2026, not sure how long they’ll be available:

The beer story, straight from the Pilgrims’ own writing: Did the Pilgrims land at Plymouth because they ran out of beer?

See the only surviving handwritten copy of the Mayflower Compact, in William Bradford’s manuscript

Text me your favorite time travel movie!!!

~~~  DayStrider Fun ~~~

Do you want to be mentioned here in the podcast? Or do you want me to do a shout-out for a loved one? All you need to do is send me an e-mail: [email protected]

Better yet, you can record your own shout-out by leaving me a voice message using this SpeakPipe link

Do you have a story that you wish to share?  Join me as a guest and let’s tell the world together!  Once again, just send me an e-mail or find me here on Facebook: Truman Pastworthy

If you had as much fun listening as I did creating this episode, please click "follow" in your favorite podcast platform . . . oh . . . and even better - why not share it with a friend (or three)!  I’m betting you know just the perfect person who would enjoy today’s stories!

If you feel adventurous, how 'bout writing a great review? :-)

If I told you a man cracked his head on his bathroom sink and woke up having invented time travel — would you believe me? Well, November 5th is the day it "happened" — and the true story behind it is even stranger than the fiction.

Today's story dives into the flux capacitor from Back to the Future — the fictional invention that's since earned a dictionary entry, a real part number at O'Reilly Auto Parts, and even a shoutout from a sitting U.S. President. Along the way, you'll hear how the movie itself was rejected by nearly every studio in Hollywood, how its star nearly wrecked his own body to make it happen, and how a bankrupt car company became one of the most iconic vehicles in film history.

Fun links from today's story (these links worked in late-2026 — not sure how long the links will be available):

• Doc Brown hanging off the tower, waiting for the lightning strike
• Marty's Enchantment Under the Sea performance
• Reagan's 1986 State of the Union: the actual moment he quotes the movie - did you want Doc Brown’s original quote?

Text me your favorite time travel movie!!!

~~~  DayStrider Fun ~~~

Do you want to be mentioned here in the podcast? Or do you want me to do a shout-out for a loved one? All you need to do is send me an e-mail: [email protected]

Better yet, you can record your own shout-out by leaving me a voice message using this SpeakPipe link

Do you have a story that you wish to share?  Join me as a guest and let’s tell the world together!  Once again, just send me an e-mail or find me here on Facebook: Truman Pastworthy

If you had as much fun listening as I did creating this episode, please click "follow" in your favorite podcast platform . . . oh . . . and even better - why not share it with a friend (or three)!  I’m betting you know just the perfect person who would enjoy today’s stories!

If you feel adventurous, how 'bout writing a great review? :-)

If I told you someone survived a terrorist bombing and a six mile fall without a parachute - would you believe me?  Well, January 26th is full of stories that shouldn't have worked - but actually did!   

• In 1979, CBS took a gamble on a show about moonshine-running cousins in an orange car with a Confederate flag. Critics hated it, but 40 million viewers disagreed. The Dukes of Hazzard became a cultural phenomenon where the real star got 35,000 fan letters a month—and it wasn't even human.. 
• In 1972, Vesna Vulović wasn't supposed to be on Flight 367. A scheduling mix-up put her on a plane that would explode at 33,000 feet. While 27 people died, she survived the longest fall without a parachute in history. 
• Today is Peanut Brittle Day - and the origin story is lost to history.  Many suggest it was invented by accident.  Here’s my guess:  1891, Georgia, a woman desperate to belong grabbed the wrong ingredient in a moment of panic.  Check out this fun little origin story and see for yourself how the Ladies Auxiliary reacted.  

If it's a special day for you or for someone you care about, why not learn a little more about today by listening to some wild, engaging tales about unlikely heroes, impossible survivals, and accidental masterpieces? You'll walk away rethinking what's actually possible when everything goes wrong. 

Fun links from today's stories (these links worked in early-2026 - not sure how long the links will be available):

• 11 minutes of the General Lee jumping gullies, cars, trucks and Rosco P. Coltrain over and over!
• What the OG Lotus 1-2-3 looked like!

Gift ideas for folks who celebrate January 26th:

Watch all 7 seasons of The Dukes of Hazzard or show off the General Lee.  Including that fun car horn!

Check out Vesna’s life story when her DC-9 exploded.

Celebrate Peanut Brittle Day.

Posters & movies of today’s famous folks:  Ellen Degeneres, Eddie Van Halen, Wayne Gretzky and Bessie Coleman.

Fun gift options to celebrate today’s holidays: Green Juice Day, Lotus 1-2-3 Day.  

Text me your favorite time travel movie!!!

~~~  DayStrider Fun ~~~

Do you want to be mentioned here in the podcast? Or do you want me to do a shout-out for a loved one? All you need to do is send me an e-mail: [email protected]

Better yet, you can record your own shout-out by leaving me a voice message using this SpeakPipe link

Do you have a story that you wish to share?  Join me as a guest and let’s tell the world together!  Once again, just send me an e-mail or find me here on Facebook: Truman Pastworthy

If you had as much fun listening as I did creating this episode, please click "follow" in your favorite podcast platform . . . oh . . . and even better - why not share it with a friend (or three)!  I’m betting you know just the perfect person who would enjoy today’s stories!

If you feel adventurous, how 'bout writing a great review? :-)

What if the craziest bet you could make turned out to be the smartest move ever? October 26th is packed with gambles that seemed absolutely insane at the time - but changed everything forever. From a nobody director making an illegal guerrilla film with a bodybuilder who could barely speak English to a struggling shoe company betting half a million on a rookie who didn't even want to be there - today’s crazy ideas paid off big time!

• I’ll Be Back! This famous movie quote transcended Arnold’s acting career just like the Terminator movie franchise as transformed from a sci-fi action thriller terrifying audiences into a documentary about what AI autonomation is actually capable of 40 years later. 
• They just needed some Air!  In 1984, Nike was struggling, while Michael Jordan couldn’t get the endorsement deal he wanted.  Pair the two together, add a “dash of Delores”, and you have the makings of the greatest shoe line ever - the Air Jordan created billionaires all around!
• Stonehenge was actually a computer.  Today, I unveil a few of the secrets people have been asking for centuries about this unusual rock formation.  What they were used for, how they got where they are today and more.

If it's a special day for you or for someone you care about, why not learn a little more about today by listening to some wild, engaging tales about billion-dollar gambles and ancient mysteries? You'll find yourself thinking differently about "crazy ideas" AND have some incredible stories to share at next week’s halloween party. If you need some great gift ideas, we have those too (along with links to where you can find them on Amazon).

Fun links from today's stories (these links worked in late-2025 - not sure how long the links will be available):

Text me your favorite time travel movie!!!

~~~  DayStrider Fun ~~~

Do you want to be mentioned here in the podcast? Or do you want me to do a shout-out for a loved one? All you need to do is send me an e-mail: [email protected]

Better yet, you can record your own shout-out by leaving me a voice message using this SpeakPipe link

Do you have a story that you wish to share?  Join me as a guest and let’s tell the world together!  Once again, just send me an e-mail or find me here on Facebook: Truman Pastworthy

If you had as much fun listening as I did creating this episode, please click "follow" in your favorite podcast platform . . . oh . . . and even better - why not share it with a friend (or three)!  I’m betting you know just the perfect person who would enjoy today’s stories!

If you feel adventurous, how 'bout writing a great review? :-)

If you love AC/DC, then you've come to the right place!  Today's episode departs from the normal DayStriding journey to focus all three segments on the best selling rock band of all time!  Today's episode celebrates the day Back in Black was released on this day 1980.  You also can experience TWO Truman Pastworthy originals:

• My world premier of Thunderstruck on the PVC pipes, and
• My list of  "10 AC/DC Songs You Should Add to Your Playlist".

If it's a special day for you or for someone you care about, why not learn a little more about today by listening to some fun, engaging tales that are all about AC/DC?  You’ll find yourself in a much better mood AND have some great stories you can tell at your next summer cookout.  If you need some great gift ideas, we have those too (along with links to where you can find them on Amazon).

Fun links from today’s stories (these links worked in early-2025 - not sure how long the links will be available):

• Link to the Two Cellos video performing Thunderstruck
• Link to the Baby Ryan video and the Thunderstruck remix
• Link to a video with Whole Lotta Rosie riding a runaway train

The rest is under construction!

Text me your favorite time travel movie!!!

~~~  DayStrider Fun ~~~

Do you want to be mentioned here in the podcast? Or do you want me to do a shout-out for a loved one? All you need to do is send me an e-mail: [email protected]

Better yet, you can record your own shout-out by leaving me a voice message using this SpeakPipe link

Do you have a story that you wish to share?  Join me as a guest and let’s tell the world together!  Once again, just send me an e-mail or find me here on Facebook: Truman Pastworthy

If you had as much fun listening as I did creating this episode, please click "follow" in your favorite podcast platform . . . oh . . . and even better - why not share it with a friend (or three)!  I’m betting you know just the perfect person who would enjoy today’s stories!

If you feel adventurous, how 'bout writing a great review? :-)

History's most celebrated playwright isn't who you think he is. 

Forget the stuffy portrait of Shakespeare you suffered through in high school - turns out the Bard was tracking audience reactions like a Netflix algorithm, surviving political dangers that got his colleagues executed, and running Renaissance London's most savvy multimedia enterprise. Welcome to "Shakespeare 360°" – where what you learned in English class was just 37° of the full picture (that's one degree for each of his plays).

In this academic deep dive (that's actually fun!), distinguished Shakespeare scholar Professor Gary Taylor takes us backstage to reveal:

• The most important day in Shakespeare’s career - one that changed it’s trajectory entirely
• Why Shakespeare meticulously tracked audience laughter like a proto-Silicon Valley product manager (and how it made him rich)
• The character name change that literally saved Shakespeare's head when his colleagues weren't so lucky
• How AI and algorithms are helping to study every word to make sense of them all
• The bizarre train scheduling conspiracy still trapping Shakespeare fans in Stratford-upon-Avon overnight (400 years later!)

Whether you're a literary buff, business strategist, or just someone who remembers dozing through Romeo and Juliet in 10th grade, this episode reveals why Shakespeare's works still captivate us centuries later. As Professor Taylor puts it, Shakespeare shows us that "the universe is bigger than we are... and so we'll never get bored with it."

This bonus episode features the full interview that was highlighted in the April 23rd DayStrider episode:  A Midsummer Night Mistake, with additional insights and stories that didn't make the original cut. Perfect for sharing with students, colleagues, or anyone who appreciates a deeper look at creative genius.

Links:

• Professor Gary Taylor at Florida State University
• Various works written and/or edited by Gary Taylor

Text me your favorite time travel movie!!!

~~~  DayStrider Fun ~~~

Do you want to be mentioned here in the podcast? Or do you want me to do a shout-out for a loved one? All you need to do is send me an e-mail: [email protected]

Better yet, you can record your own shout-out by leaving me a voice message using this SpeakPipe link

Do you have a story that you wish to share?  Join me as a guest and let’s tell the world together!  Once again, just send me an e-mail or find me here on Facebook: Truman Pastworthy

If you had as much fun listening as I did creating this episode, please click "follow" in your favorite podcast platform . . . oh . . . and even better - why not share it with a friend (or three)!  I’m betting you know just the perfect person who would enjoy today’s stories!

If you feel adventurous, how 'bout writing a great review? :-)

How long would it take to watch every video on YouTube? (Spoiler: it's mind-boggling!) Our digital landscape, beverage choices, and literary understanding would look dramatically different without the plot twists of April 23rd. Join us for three tales of pivots, blunders, and centuries-old mysteries that prove sometimes the most brilliant successes start with spectacular failures!

• YouTube turns 20 today! Follow the incredible journey from a failed Valentine's Day dating site to a half-trillion dollar empire that's revolutionized how we learn, parent, and entertain ourselves. 

• New Coke's spectacular 1985 crash-and-burn wasn't just a marketing disaster—it accidentally became Coca-Cola's greatest triumph. Discover why Americans stockpiled original formula, poured New Coke down sewers, and sent angry executives scrambling to restore the classic recipe after just 79 days!

• Shakespeare may be history's greatest literary genius...or perhaps its most elaborate front man. Dive into the delicious 400-year-old mystery that has scholars questioning how a grammar school kid from nowhere gained intimate knowledge of royal courts, Italian geography, and advanced legal concepts.

If it's a special day for you or someone you care about, why not learn a little more about today by listening to some fun, engaging tales of the past? You'll find yourself a little smarter and have some great stories you can share while waiting for Mr. Beast’s next mega-video. If you need some great gift ideas, we have those too (along with links to where you can find them on Amazon).

Fun links from today’s stories (these links worked in mid-2025 - not sure how long the links will be available):

• Link to the very first You-Tube video ever
• Link to the Gary Taylor’s bio page at FSU

The rest is under construction!

Text me your favorite time travel movie!!!

~~~  DayStrider Fun ~~~

Do you want to be mentioned here in the podcast? Or do you want me to do a shout-out for a loved one? All you need to do is send me an e-mail: [email protected]

Better yet, you can record your own shout-out by leaving me a voice message using this SpeakPipe link

Do you have a story that you wish to share?  Join me as a guest and let’s tell the world together!  Once again, just send me an e-mail or find me here on Facebook: Truman Pastworthy

If you had as much fun listening as I did creating this episode, please click "follow" in your favorite podcast platform . . . oh . . . and even better - why not share it with a friend (or three)!  I’m betting you know just the perfect person who would enjoy today’s stories!

If you feel adventurous, how 'bout writing a great review? :-)

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes!  Some hold communities together when tragedy strikes - while others flex their 24 inch biceps!  Either way, our world would be a whole lot different without the heroics that took place on March 27th.  Today’s stories prove that strength and staying power come from the most unexpected places!

• When North America’s biggest earthquake struck, Genie Chance transformed from a part-time radio reporter into Alaska's beating heart during chaos and uncertainty.
• Would you believe that the infamous sleeper hold is actually real?  And that it was used by one of Professional Wrestling’s biggest heroes to actually knock a TV host unconscious - live on air! 
• Finally, we’ll help you solve this fun little riddle:

I'm needed at the ends but not in the middle, Solving my purpose isn't much of a riddle.

I'm handled each day, yet ignored in plain sight. Without me a simple act becomes quite a fight.

Kings had me made of gold to flaunt royal flair, But I’m usually quite plain and paired with a pair.

When I’m broken or missing, things start to fray, and I’m called by a word that you never did say.

If it's a special day for you or for someone you care about, why not learn a little more about today by listening to some fun, engaging tales of the past.  You’ll find yourself a little smarter and have some great stories you can tell while waiting for that sunrise service to finally get going.  If you need some great gift ideas, we have those too (along with links to where you can find them on Amazon).

Fun links from today’s stories (these links worked in early-2025 - not sure how long the links will be available):

• Link to the Thunderlips scene from the Rocky III movie
• Link to the Sleeper Hold scene from the Richard Belzer show

The rest is under construction!

Text me your favorite time travel movie!!!

~~~  DayStrider Fun ~~~

Do you want to be mentioned here in the podcast? Or do you want me to do a shout-out for a loved one? All you need to do is send me an e-mail: [email protected]

Better yet, you can record your own shout-out by leaving me a voice message using this SpeakPipe link

Do you have a story that you wish to share?  Join me as a guest and let’s tell the world together!  Once again, just send me an e-mail or find me here on Facebook: Truman Pastworthy

If you had as much fun listening as I did creating this episode, please click "follow" in your favorite podcast platform . . . oh . . . and even better - why not share it with a friend (or three)!  I’m betting you know just the perfect person who would enjoy today’s stories!

If you feel adventurous, how 'bout writing a great review? :-)

Stubbornness has a funny way of changing history!  Our world would look - and taste -  a lot different without the sweet successes of March 3rd.  Get ready for a triple dose of determination as today’s heroes turn 'no way' into 'my way' as they reveal how failure, family feuds, and frostbite became unexpected pathways to sweet success!

• The Iditarod dog sled race is a showcase of determined mushers and their four-legged athletes.  Current musher Bailey Vitello shares why losing 45 pounds during his rookie run is just part of the adventure.
• Then we'll unwrap the deliciously bitter origin story of M&M's, where Forrest Mars turned family exile into sweet revenge. 
• Finally, we’ll raise our copper mugs to the beautiful collision of three epic failures that created cocktail history.

If it's a special day for you or for someone you care about, why not learn a little more about today by listening to some fun, engaging tales of the past.  You’ll find yourself a little smarter and have some great stories you can tell while standing in the ever longer self-serve check-out lines at the grocery store.  If you need some great gift ideas, we have those too (along with links to where you can find them on Amazon).

Important links from today’s stories (these links worked in early-2025 - not sure how long the links will be available):

• Link to Team Bailey’s dog sponsor page
• Link to the Ickey Shuffle video at the deli counter

The rest is under construction!

Text me your favorite time travel movie!!!

~~~  DayStrider Fun ~~~

Do you want to be mentioned here in the podcast? Or do you want me to do a shout-out for a loved one? All you need to do is send me an e-mail: [email protected]

Better yet, you can record your own shout-out by leaving me a voice message using this SpeakPipe link

Do you have a story that you wish to share?  Join me as a guest and let’s tell the world together!  Once again, just send me an e-mail or find me here on Facebook: Truman Pastworthy

If you had as much fun listening as I did creating this episode, please click "follow" in your favorite podcast platform . . . oh . . . and even better - why not share it with a friend (or three)!  I’m betting you know just the perfect person who would enjoy today’s stories!

If you feel adventurous, how 'bout writing a great review? :-)

What happens when you combine 16 high-energy dogs, a sleep-deprived human, and 1,000 miles of Alaskan wilderness? Hallucinated rock concerts, near-death ice rescues, and a man who lost 45 pounds in 11 days while chasing the ultimate mushing dream. Meet Bailey Vitello, who's been commanding dog teams since age two and now tackles the legendary Iditarod with nothing but determination, his canine family, and—shockingly—zero caffeine.

In this episode, we dive headfirst into the wild world of competitive dog sledding with a musher who:

• Hallucinates Maroon 5 concerts in the Alaskan wilderness (sleep deprivation is a trip!)
• Rolls soaking wet dogs in snow to dry them (it actually works!)
• Shares his chili with his lead dog while sleeping in -10°F temperatures
• Lost a shocking 45 pounds during his rookie Iditarod run

Meet the canine characters in Bailey's 16-dog dream team – from Senator (the teacher's pet) to Wyoming (a loveable wrecking ball) to Tuckerman (the class clown who steals everyone's toys) to YoYa (his sleeping bag heater when needed).

Whether you're a dog lover, adventure seeker, or just curious about what drives someone to race across Alaska in conditions that would make most of us question our life choices, Bailey's story proves that sometimes the craziest dreams are the ones worth freezing for.

Listen now and discover why, as Bailey puts it, "Dogs honestly are just truly the answer to everything."

Links:

• Team Bailey USA: www.teambaileyusa.com
• Sponsor a dog or help pack Bailey's drop bags
• Follow Bailey's 2025 Iditarod journey
• The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Official Site

Text me your favorite time travel movie!!!

~~~  DayStrider Fun ~~~

Do you want to be mentioned here in the podcast? Or do you want me to do a shout-out for a loved one? All you need to do is send me an e-mail: [email protected]

Better yet, you can record your own shout-out by leaving me a voice message using this SpeakPipe link

Do you have a story that you wish to share?  Join me as a guest and let’s tell the world together!  Once again, just send me an e-mail or find me here on Facebook: Truman Pastworthy

If you had as much fun listening as I did creating this episode, please click "follow" in your favorite podcast platform . . . oh . . . and even better - why not share it with a friend (or three)!  I’m betting you know just the perfect person who would enjoy today’s stories!

If you feel adventurous, how 'bout writing a great review? :-)