Finest Hours

What would you do if your employer asked you to infiltrate an insane aslym, live among the patients there, and report on the conditions in the asylum? For Nellie Bly, a charming Pennsylvania girl, this was the opportunity that she had been starving for. In the 19th century, it was highly unpopular for women to have careers, but Nellie Bly (born Elizabeth Cochran) dedicated herself to improving the social well-being of the disenfranchised.

In this special episode of Finest Hours, Skylar, Brayden, and Hayden each pick an influential African American hero to discuss. Learn how a man took a newspaper to help disenfranchised African Americans find jobs and housing, how a southern boy embarassed Adolf Hitler on the global stage, and a high-school dropout became one of the greatest boxers in the 20th century

The victim of a freak electrical accident, Eduardo Garcia lost his left arm, a large percent of his muscle mass, suffered 3rd degree burns, and discovered on the hospital bed that he had testicular cancer, but that did not stop him from pursuing his love of cooking and the outdoors. In this episode, learn how Eduardo Garcia overcame a life-changing injury and used it to better the lives of those around him.

Bobby Fischer, a hot-headed prodigy and Cold War hero was one of the most interesting people in the world of chess. In the height of the Cold War, Bobby was set to play the Soviet Union's won Borris Spassky, the reigning world champion. Bars across the country showed the game on TV, it was one of the most tense matches in history. Listen to learn how it turned out.

Christopher Clayton Hutton, a British MI9 intellgence officer developed an ingenious plan to rescue POW's from German camps using Monopoly board games. Learn how he pulled off this amazing feat and slipped escape tools into POW's hands right under German's noses.

Daniel Inouye, the son of Japanese-American immagrants, or Nisei, was a brave soldier and leader during the 2nd world war. He was originaly denied the opportunity to serve in the U.S. military due to his race, but it was a good thing they admitted him into the military. Listen to learn more about Daniel Inouye's courageous military service.

Alexandre Dumas is one of the most accomplished authors of all time, but his works extend far beyond that of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers. Learn more of Alexandre Dumas in episode 10

Lopez Lomong was only 6 years old when he was kidnapped by Sudanese rebel soldiers. He escaped his captors and ran for 3 days and nights in the African desert. Learn how he ran from captivity to the olympic games.

In West Africa, in a region known as the Slave Coast, a militaristic society strikes fear into the hearts of their enemy. Dahomey, also reknown as "Black Sparta" is guarded by some of the fiercest soldiers in the world, all of which are female.

On this special episode of Finest Hours, we share 3 stories of 3 different women who've had a profound impact on the world. Listen to learn how a sculptor, a scientist, and an athlete made a major influence in the world.

Anna Coleman Ladd, an American sculptor founds a studio in Paris where she makes masks for disfigured WW1 soldiers

Marie Goeppert Mayer, the 2nd woman to earn the Nobel Prize in physics

Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the boston marathon - facing threats all along the way