Dead Air Time

The year is 1778. General Washington is trying to rally and strategize the best he can with an army full of inexperienced, yet passionate soldiers. If they are to succeed in gaining independence from England, the American forces will need to be aware of the movements and plans of the British. Washington has assigned Major Benjamin Tallmadge to set up some informants within New York, the area that the British have conquered and claimed for their headquarters. But what risks would these everyday spies have to take? Would they be able to take the pressure? Join in as we take a breath of dead air with the Culper Ring.

Sources:

Kilmeade, Brian, and Don Yaeger. George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spies Who Saved America. Puffin Books, 2020.

“The Culper Spy Ring.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 28 May 2025, www.history.com/articles/culper-spy-ring.

Williams, Victoria. “Culper Spy Ring.” George Washington’s Mount Vernon, www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/culper-spy-ring. Accessed June 2025. 

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/man-of-war

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Olive held her breath as the group could finally see Fort Lamy. French soldiers were hustling about them, as the French hold of parts of Africa was breaking further and further each day. Ushered into a large, European-inspired house surrounded by all of the luxuries one could find, the river flowing nearby, it was such a picturesque scene. Surrounded by all of the beauty, soldiers told the travelers of the deadly battles between the French and the Africans - desperation, injury, and loss - her heart still clung to the hope that amidst all of this, Boyd would be alive, waiting for her. Was he alive? Was he injured? Was he truly murdered? How, why, when? Then her answer walked into the room.

Sources -

“Olive the Lionheart” by Brad Ricca

https://www.grida.no/resources/5593 

https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/attack-el-fasher-would-endanger-hundreds-thousands-children-warns-unicef 

https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2024/06/the-woman-who-crossed-africa-in-1910-to-visit-her-fiances-grave-and-is-buried-in-granada/

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/locran/cant-sleep

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A young woman from a wealthy and noble background has left for Africa. She knows little of where she is heading, the culture she is going to be surrounded by, the language which the people there will speak, and, most of all, where and how her finacee, Mr. Boyd Alexander, had been murdered. In search of answers, she has begun to acquire the skills needed to survive and investigate with the help of a young couple named Mr. and Mrs. Talbot. While staying in a house in the deep of Africa belonging to Governor Temple, who has alluded that they must not venture out to where Mr. Alexander was killed, she learns she has a knack for shooting and begins to hone her skill.  She is ready for her first real excursion. However, we learned that she had broken off her engagement with the very man she is there in Africa for before leaving her home in Scotland.  Torn between two possible suitors, one a long-time friend who she had only recently learned loved her, whose friends and family insist she must say yes to or his career, and life, are over, she felt she must say no to this exciting and warming new possibility she had found in Mr. Alexander.  And yet… she did care for Mr. Boyd Alexander.  She thought of him often.  She was drawn to him.  So she had written him more letters, unknowing if he had left for Africa or would even care to respond to her letters. So… just why is she there? Join us as we take a second breath of dead air with Olive McLeod in part two of her story.

Sources -

"Olive the Lionheart" by Brad Ricca

Music -

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/benjamin-botkin/enigma

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As you wander through the vast halls of Dunvegan Castle, you catch a glimpse of the green rolling hills of Scotland through the arched window.  Your breath catches as the drizzling rain outside deepens the rich hues of emerald outside, coating everything in a glistening blanket. Stepping up the stairs, portraits on the walls around you seem to watch and encourage you to move forward, see more.  Who are you to deny them? Paintings, decorative rugs, wood railings, and… a locked shelf.  Little known to you, but within that shelf would lie the story of a woman whose story lay hidden in her diaries for almost a hundred years. Her life was one filled with adventure, danger, daring, and trouble. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with Olive MacLeod. Welcome to Dead Air Time.

Sources

https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2024/06/the-woman-who-crossed-africa-in-1910-to-visit-her-fiances-grave-and-is-buried-in-granada/

“Olive the Lionheart” by Brad Ricca

Satisfaction guaranteed, Rollback prices, and the yellow smiley face stickers- these are all famous icons of the Walmart store. But how did this prevalent company get its start? Today we’ll take a breath of dead air with Walmart’s founder and long-time president, Sam Walton.

Sources

Blumenthal, Karen. Mr. Sam: How Sam Walton Built Walmart and Became America’s Richest Man. Viking Books for Young Readers, 2011. 

Taylor, Cameron C. Does Your Bag Have Holes?: 24 Truths That Lead to Financial and Spiritual Freedom. Mount Lanai Publishing, 2007.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/locran/little-utopia

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She stepped into the shop, perfume bottles and cosmetic cases glittering in the dim light.  Stepping forward, she approached the counter where behind an older woman accompanied by her young lady assistants worked.  Whispering in hushed tones while trying to appear at ease, money was exchanged for a small vial of liquid - uncolored, having no scent, and having no taste.  For all one unknowing could tell, it was a small vial of water. Slipping it into her pocket sleeve, she hustled out of the unassuming shop.  Within the week, her husband would be dead, and she would be a free woman. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with the alleged serial poisoner, Giulia Tofana.

Sources -

Have you ever used Morse Code, written a hidden message in a note to a friend, or even spoken pig latin to keep a secret from some young kids? No matter the method, we all have information that we’d like to keep private. Today banking, tech security, and even text messaging all involve encryption. Oftentimes computers are needed to “hack” into or break through these extra measures. But how was this done before computers? Join us as we take a breath of dead air with William and Elizebeth Friedman, who broke codes in the service of their country long before the digital age.

Sources

Clark, Ronald. The Man Who Broke Purple. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2011. 

Fagone, Jason. The Woman Who Smashed Codes. Harper Collins, 2017. 

Greenfield, Amy Butler. The Woman All Spies Fear: Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life. Books on Tape- Listening Library, 2021. 

Mundy, Liza. Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II. Hachette Audio, 2017. 

“William F. Friedman Collection of Official Papers.” National Security Agency/Central Security Service, www.nsa.gov/Helpful-Links/NSA-FOIA/Declassification-Transparency-Initiatives/Historical-Releases/Friedman-Documents/. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Imagine you are at the base of a mountain.  It’s impressive rocks covered with a blanket of lush, green grass and peppered with tall, proud pines, oaks, maybe even sequoias. You take a deep inhale, savoring the fresh air surrounding you, feeding you.  Burbling creeks trickle down from the snow-capped mountain top, the beginning of spring bringing a promise of filling lakes and falls. The music of birds fills your ears, all chirping a part of the symphony of nature you are now a part of. You pause, savor all of the beauty and wonder around you. Then you take a step forward, your boots crunching the hiking trail beneath you, and begin your journey through this paradise. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with the environmentalist and writer, John Muir.

Sources -

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/1906calif/18april/casualties.php

Have you ever experienced a moment in which doing something absolutely terrified you and yet you knew that you just had to do it anyway? During a time when women were typically thought to have very little power to change their circumstances, a courageous woman did something nerve-wracking in order to stop a genocide,. This woman and her story are now honored each year through the observance of Purim. So join us as we discuss the history of this holiday and take a breath of dead air with Queen Esther.

Sources -

“Esther.” Sefaria, www.sefaria.org/Esther.1.1?ven=english%7CTanakh%3A_The_Holy_Scriptures%2C_published_by_JPS&lang=bi. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. 

Feinberg, Danielle. “What Are Hamantaschen?” My Jewish Learning, 6 Mar. 2025, www.myjewishlearning.com/the-nosher/what-are-hamantaschen/. 

“Purim.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/holidays/purim. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.

Reich, Aaron. “What Is the Story, Customs of the Jewish Festival of Purim?” The Jerusalem Post | JPost.Com, 21 Mar. 2024, www.jpost.com/judaism/jewish-holidays/article-793088. 

“The Amazing Name Hadassah: Meaning and Etymology.” Abarim Publications, Abarim Publications, www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Hadassah.html. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025. 

“What Is Purim?” IFCJ, www.ifcj.org/learn/jewish-holidays/what-is-purim. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025. 

What Is Purim? - Chabad.Org, www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/645309/jewish/What-Is-Purim.htm. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.

“Why Wear Purim Costumes? - On Dressing up and Wearing Masks on the Holiday of Purim.” Chabad.Org, www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/1456808/jewish/Why-Wear-Purim-Costumes.htm. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.