Who was the real Neil Armstrong? Beyond the astronaut suit and the moon landing, there's a fascinating story of a complex man. Join us as we delve into the life and legacy of this American hero. We'll explore his triumphs, his challenges, and the incredible journey that led him to become the first person to walk on the moon. But don't worry, space helmets optional! Dirt Nap City is packed with fun facts, surprising anecdotes, and a healthy dose of modern-day perspective about the man who's small step was a giant leap for us all!

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Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
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Someday we'll all live in Dirt Nap City, so you should probably go ahead and meet the neighbors!

From the 1970's to the mid 1980's, citizen's band or "CB" radios were all the rage with professional truck drivers and the public in general. They inspired movies and songs - and truck drivers became the new outlaws of the open roads in the United States. In this episode, Alex and Kelly talk about what made CB's a special part of the the American cultural landscape. 10-4 Good Buddy! We hope you enjoy this episode!

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Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
Subscribe and listen to learn about people you've heard of, but don't know much about.
Someday we'll all live in Dirt Nap City, so you should probably go ahead and meet the neighbors!

In this episode of Dirt Nap City, we dive into the enigma that is Andy Kaufman. This episode unravels the life and career of the comedic genius who blurred the lines between performance and reality. From his outrageous characters like Latka Gravas to his legendary wrestling battles with Jerry Lawler, we explore the tactics that made him a legend...and sometimes, a villain. Was he a brilliant provocateur or a hilarious troll? We separate fact from fiction, with a special guest, Jarret Berenstein, a writer, comedian, and producer was a featured performer on Fox television's standup show Laughs. Jarret hosted the radio show Famous Dead People on Radio Free Brooklyn.
He performed improv with the legendary Magnet Theater house team Junior Varsity for twelve years.

Find out what a real comedian thinks about the ground breaking Andy Kaufman!

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Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
Subscribe and listen to learn about people you've heard of, but don't know much about.
Someday we'll all live in Dirt Nap City, so you should probably go ahead and meet the neighbors!

Cursive writing, once a cornerstone of education, has seen a dramatic decline in recent decades. The elegant loops and flowing connections that adorned historical documents are increasingly a relic of the past. But what factors led to this shift?
The rise of technology is a major culprit. Typewriters, introduced in the early 20th century, offered a faster and more efficient way to produce written documents. Later, computers and digital communication further cemented the dominance of keyboarding. As a result, schools began to prioritize keyboarding skills over the time-consuming practice of cursive.
However, the decline of cursive isn't without debate. Some argue that the fine motor skills developed through cursive writing benefit children in other areas, like reading comprehension. Additionally, the ability to read historical documents written in cursive remains valuable for research and understanding the past.

Despite these arguments, the practical advantages of keyboarding and the evolving nature of communication make a compelling case. While the beauty and historical significance of cursive may be undeniable, its widespread use seems unlikely to return. The future of written communication appears firmly rooted in the click-clack of keyboards and the rapid swipe of touchscreens.

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Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
Subscribe and listen to learn about people you've heard of, but don't know much about.
Someday we'll all live in Dirt Nap City, so you should probably go ahead and meet the neighbors!

After George Washington, Benjamin Franklin is considered one of the most important figures during the early days of the United States of America. He was a scholar, a writer, an inventor and a statesman. But did you know that he also tried to invent a new alphabet that eliminated "useless letters" and added new ones? And he also famously wrote an essay about flatulence...among many essays that he wrote - both under his own name and under pseudonyms.
Ben Franklin is often called "the first American" because he longed to unite the colonies and eventually break free from the English crown. He played a very significant role in the early US and is still seen everywhere today - on currency - in books -and often referenced in popular culture. 
In this episode, Kelly and Alex dive into what made Ben Franklin a man of country, science, and even music. There is much more to Benjamin Franklin than most people know, so come along and see why the bald eagle (and not the turkey) is our national symbol!

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Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
Subscribe and listen to learn about people you've heard of, but don't know much about.
Someday we'll all live in Dirt Nap City, so you should probably go ahead and meet the neighbors!

Did you know that you don't pronounce the name of the famous synthesizer "Moog" with a "moo" (like a cow)? It's "Moog" with a long "o" like "mode". In this episode of Dirt Nap City Dead Ends, Alex and Kelly explore the heyday of synthesizers, the 1980's, and which music could rock the synth and which were just trying too hard. If you like 70's, 80's, and even 90's synth music...or even if you hate it...check out this podcast. It's sure to get you tapping your toes and singing along to "...take on meeeee....take me onnnn..."

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Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
Subscribe and listen to learn about people you've heard of, but don't know much about.
Someday we'll all live in Dirt Nap City, so you should probably go ahead and meet the neighbors!

He's the name synonymous with seduction, a legend whispered in bedrooms for centuries. But Giacomo Casanova was far more than just a notorious lover. Get ready to delve into the life of this 18th-century adventurer, writer, and self-proclaimed genius.Casanova was a man of many hats - a violinist, a clergyman, a mathematician, even a librarian! We'll explore his intellectual pursuits and the fascinating world he inhabited. From dodging imprisonment in the Doge's Palace to gambling sprees that left him penniless, Casanova's life was a whirlwind of adventure - often fueled by his own wit, cunning and folly,

How did a man notorious for his love life become a cultural icon? We'll discuss his impact on literature and the enduring image of the ultimate charmer. Join us as we peel back the layers of Casanova's life and discover the fascinating, complex man behind the legend.

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Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
Subscribe and listen to learn about people you've heard of, but don't know much about.
Someday we'll all live in Dirt Nap City, so you should probably go ahead and meet the neighbors!

Flagpole sitting is exactly what it sounds like: a person climbing on top of a towering pole, usually in the middle of a city, and testing their endurance by sitting atop it for as long as their body holds up. It began in Hollywood in January 1924, when a former sailor, boxer, steelworker, and stuntman named Alvin “Shipwreck” Kelly was hired by a local theater to sit on a pole outside of the building for as long as possible to drum up publicity for a new movie.
But why did this fad come into fashion? What's the longest time spent on a flagpole? And how did they go to the bathroom? In this episode, Kelly and Alex explore the trend of flagpole sitting in the 1920's and beyond.

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Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
Subscribe and listen to learn about people you've heard of, but don't know much about.
Someday we'll all live in Dirt Nap City, so you should probably go ahead and meet the neighbors!

William Mathias Scholl, also known as Dr. Scholl,  was born in Indiana as one of 13 children. He studied medicine at Loyola University Chicago. During his studies, while working in a shoe store in the evenings, he became interested in podiatry. Dr. Scholl saw the lack of attention the medical and wellness community paid to people's feet and was able to build a business based on maladies and care of people's feet, which was very unique at that time.
Dr. Scholl's business became a pioneer in not only care of the feet, but modern sales and marketing techniques. But there is some debate as to whether Bill Scholl ever actually completed medical school, and in fact, his company could not be called "Dr. Scholl's" in the UK and parts of Europe. 
Join Alex and Kelly as they jump feet first into the world of podiatry and the mysteries of the human foot as discovered by Dr. Scholl and his team!

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Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
Subscribe and listen to learn about people you've heard of, but don't know much about.
Someday we'll all live in Dirt Nap City, so you should probably go ahead and meet the neighbors!

If you remember the early days of television, then you surely remember the variety show! From Ed Sullivan in the 1950's to Donny and Marie Osmond in the 1970's all the way up to Pink Lady and Jeff in the 1980's, variety shows had something for everyone in the family. Some were silly, some were serious, and some were just stupid - but if you ever hummed along to the singers on Hee Haw, you remember what fun variety shows could be. Join us as we take a look at brief history of the variety show and ponder if the genre could ever make a come back. 
Dirt Nap City Variety Hour anyone? You never know!

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Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
Subscribe and listen to learn about people you've heard of, but don't know much about.
Someday we'll all live in Dirt Nap City, so you should probably go ahead and meet the neighbors!