Did That Really Happen?!

Buckle up, history enthusiasts! Today on Did That Really Happen?, we're taking a plunge into the murky depths of medieval sanitation – literally – to explore the Erfurt Latrine Disaster of 1184. This unbelievable event is equal parts shocking, tragic, comical, and a testament to the precariousness of life in the Middle Ages.

While dancing may seem commonplace these days, it’s actually caused quite a bit of controversy through the ages. From some religious groups seeing it as a vulgar display of human depravity, to wild and uncontrollable dancing hitting towns and villages like a plague. In fact, such a “dancing plague” allegedly hit Europe in 1518. But did it really happen? Let’s find out!

The Olympic Games are considered the greatest display of athleticism in the world, reaching back to the time of the ancient Greeks. But there was one year when an Olympic event almost turned deadly for multiple athletes. Did people almost die in the men’s Olympic Marathon back in 1904? Let’s find out!

Military might is one major factor that greatly influences global politics, but did you know that there are some claims that Pepsi once had the world’s 6th largest navy? And it was all thanks to one country’s obsession with the North Carolina-born soda. But did it really happen? Let’s find out!

Did Xerxes I actually punish the sea for destroying a bridge? Let's find out!

The Roman Empire is known for its size, politics, and military might. But did the mighty Romans leave many of their important decisions to religiously significant chickens? Let’s find out!

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about the legend of Rose Greenhow: a DC socialite who used her charm and connections to spy for the Confederacy during the US Civil War. Did a young widow become one of the most important spies for the Confederacy? Let’s find out!

In today’s episode, we’ll discuss how a small rebellion in Western North Carolina almost ended with the 14th state in the union being named after Benjamin Franklin. Did the mountain folk in a portion of Western North Carolina form a rebellion that almost got them their own state? Let’s find out!

Greetings, listeners, and welcome to Season 2, Episode 5 of Did That Really Happen, where we explore strange, interesting, and vague moments in history in an effort to separate fact from fiction! In today’s episode, we’re tackling the issue of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. Was the 16th president actually born in Western North Carolina instead of his family’s log cabin in Kentucky? Let’s find out!