The Iran Contra Affair was the biggest scandal of Ronald Reagan’s presidency. A group of rogue staffers from president’s own National Security Council were selling Iran - a so declared state sponsor of terrorism - despite a U.S. led embargo, in exchange for hostages. Then, giving the profits to the right wing Contra rebels in Nicaragua to hide their actions.

Sources:

Mayer, Jane, and Doyle McManus. Landslide. HarperCollins, 1 Jan. 1988.

PBS. “The Iran-Contra Affair .” Pbs.org, PBS, 2019, www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/reagan-iran/.

Webb, Gary. Dark Alliance : The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion. Tiverton, Devon, Old Street, 2015.

Frida Kahlo’s short life came to a tragic and painful end. She painted until her dying day and her legend has grown ever since. Joining us again for the conclusion of this series, our friend Amy!

Sources:

Herrera, Hayden, and Frida Kahlo. Frida Kahlo. New York, N.Y., Rizzoli, 1992.

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Kahlo, Frida. The Letters of Frida Kahlo. Chronicle Books (CA), 1995.

In part 2, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera begin their tempestuous relationship and Frida paints some of her most iconic works. Joining us again is our special guest, Amy!

Sources:

Herrera, Hayden, and Frida Kahlo. Frida Kahlo. New York, N.Y., Rizzoli, 1992.

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Kahlo, Frida. The Letters of Frida Kahlo. Chronicle Books (CA), 1995.

Frida Kahlo is now the most famous painter that Mexico has ever produced and has since become a legend in the art world for painting some of the most recognizable, beautiful, and often disturbing images in the art lexicon. This episode will examine her early life and the catastrophic event that would influence her entire life and art going forward.

Special guest, artist Amy Ashton! Look for her work at @straycatseattle on instagram and on Etsy!

Sources:

Herrera, Hayden, and Frida Kahlo. Frida Kahlo. New York, N.Y., Rizzoli, 1992.

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Kahlo, Frida. The Letters of Frida Kahlo. Chronicle Books (CA), 1995.

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That time incompetent and bizarre leadership of one man led to a chain of chaotic events that culminated in civil war.

It’s funnier than it sounds!

Sources:

Gibbon, Edward. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; Wentworth Press, 3 Apr. 2019.

‌Cassius Dio Cocceianus, et al. Dio’s Roman History. Books LXVIII-LXXVII. Cambridge, Mass. ; London, Harvard University Press, 1989.

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Grace O’Malley has become a legend as a swashbuckling Irish pirate that had terrorized, and then terrorized on behalf of, Queen Elizabeth I. The truth is much more complex. Join us for the Pirate Queen herself!

Sources:

Cook, Judith. PIRATE QUEEN : The Life of Grace O’malley. S.L., Birlinn Ltd, 2021.

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“Grace O’Malley.” Celtic Junction Arts Center, celticjunction.org/library/grace-omalley/.

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Marshal Bass Reeves was a legend of the Wild West. What sets him apart from the usual lexicon of Wild West legends wasn’t that he was black or a black law man, it’s because he was the real deal. Joining us is the incomparable Beau Binek from the How the West Was F#cked podcast!

Sources:

Burton, Arthur T. Black Gun, Silver Star : The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves. Lincoln, Neb., University Of Nebraska Press ; Chesham, 2008.

In the early days of profession wrestling, a sport already rife with conmen and circus tricks, there would be one rivalry that would make, and simultaneously threaten to break, the sport across the globe. Two worlds collided with the rough and tumble American, Frank Gotch, and the first world heavyweight champion of the world, The Russian Lion, George Hackenschmidt. Joining us is Taylor, the host of the Wild Mouse podcast and a co-host of the Grave Plot Podcast!

Sources:

Jr, Ken Zimmerman. Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt: The Matches That Made and Destroyed Legitimate American Professional Wrestling. Independently Published, 28 Aug. 2018.

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Langmead, Jon. Ballyhoo! University of Missouri Press, 29 Jan. 2024.

In part 2, Joseph is among the leaders who guided the Nez Perce during the subsequent war and harrowing retreat across some of the roughest terrain that North America has to offer. Joining us again is Will from How the West Was F#cked!

Sources:

Nerburn, Kent. Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce : The Untold Story of an American Tragedy. New York, NY, Harpersanfrancicso, 2005.

Sharfstein, Daniel J. Thunder in the Mountains : Chief Joseph, Oliver Otis Howard, and the Nez Perce War. New York, W.W. Norton & Company, 2018.

Chief Joseph was a leader of a Wallowa band of Nez Perce that became a legend and myth in his own time. Joining us is Will from How the West Was F#cked!

Sources:

Nerburn, Kent. Chief Joseph & the Flight of the Nez Perce : The Untold Story of an American Tragedy. New York, NY, Harpersanfrancicso, 2005.

Sharfstein, Daniel J. Thunder in the Mountains : Chief Joseph, Oliver Otis Howard, and the Nez Perce War. New York, W.W. Norton & Company, 2018.

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