Cold or hot....SPAM hits the spot. 

Sources:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/food/how-spam-went-canned-necessity-american-icon-180963916/

https://www.eater.com/2014/7/9/6191681/a-brief-history-of-spam-an-american-meat-icon

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

In 1775, as the American Colonies began their revolt against the British Crown, General Washington's biggest battle would be against disease not redcoats.

Sources:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/623428/george-washington-won-american-revolution-with-smallpox-vaccine

https://www.history.com/news/smallpox-george-washington-revolutionary-war

https://www.history.com/news/the-rise-and-fall-of-smallpox?li_source=LI&li_medium=m2m-rcw-history

Music: www.purple-planet.com

Pigeons save lives. 

Sources:

https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-01/geologist-has-probably-figured-out-how-homing-pigeons-find-their-way-home/

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-20749632

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2226203/Skeleton-hero-World-War-II-carrier-pigeon-chimney-secret-coded-message-attached-leg.html

https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_425415#:~:text=Cher%20Ami%20was%20later%20inducted,service%20during%20World%20War%20I.

https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2018/01/08/unsung-heroes-of-world-war-i-the-carrier-pigeons/

Music: www.purple-planet.com

Communism. Chaos. Cannibals 

This episode does have some explicit descriptions of cannibalism and may not be suited for all listeners. 

Sources:

https://allthatsinteresting.com/cannibal-island?fbclid=IwAR10gLfpQ73c6VwCPSrzTf9RKRrkSOSiPU9XGKNZlIW8kk6gDxqZSZiF0-o

https://www.rferl.org/a/cannibal-island-in-1933-nearly-5-000-died-in-one-of-stalin-s-most-horrific-labor-camps/29341167.html

Music: purple-planet.com

The Legend of Stingy Jack. Apologies for the nasal factor on this one. Happy Halloween!! 

Sources:

https://www.history.com/news/history-of-the-jack-o-lantern-irish-origins

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/12865/whats-origin-jack-o-lanterns

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com/

John Snow (not that John Snow) and the cholera map that saved London and changed the way we view pandemics forever. 

Sources:

https://www.ranker.com/list/john-snow-cholera-map/genevieve-carlton

https://www.healthline.com/health/worst-disease-outbreaks-history#cholera

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com/

Ever want to be President for a day?  This guy was.

Sources:

https://www.history.com/news/the-24-hour-president

Music: purple-planet.com

How a rocket scientist invented a squirt gun that is out of this world. 

Sources:

https://www.toyhalloffame.org/toys/super-soaker

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/28991/wet-and-wild-history-super-soaker

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/accidental-invention-super-soaker-180972428/

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com/

Everything you never knew about your favorite toaster accessory. 

Sources:

https://www.mashed.com/117295/untold-truth-pop-tarts/

https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/pop-tarts-brief-history

https://www.thrillist.com/lifestyle/nation/6-skills-you-should-master-this-summer

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/best-selling-poptarts-flavors_n_5836520

Music: purple-planet.com

All you need to know about West Virginia 1.0.

Sources:

https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/857

http://www.virginiaplaces.org/settleland/vandalia.html

http://www.wvculture.org/history/journal_wvh/wvh40-4.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=031vKBPk5eA