History Loves Company

Take a look in your pockets, dear listeners. Do you have any spare change? Perhaps a nickel, a dime, or a penny? Of these, the penny isn't worth that much. Just one cent in American currency, these copper coins bearing the likeness of our 16th president (Abraham Lincoln) are the most commonly found coins on the ground while out and about. And yet, it was a humble penny, albeit far older than the Lincoln Cent, that created quite a stir when it was unearthed at a Native American archaeological site in the state of Maine in the 1950s, one that brought up the biggest question since both the United States and Canada were founded: Who discovered North America? Tune in to this week's brief episode about the so-named "Maine Penny" to learn more!

If you've attended a university in either the United States or Canada, chances are you or someone you know was part of a fraternity or sorority. These exclusive student-led clubs offer a sense of camaraderie and community and, some would say, enhance and exemplify the college experience. But there was a time before such organizations existed and were even regarded with scorn by university faculty. You'll want to rush or pledge this week's episode, underclassmen, all about the history of fraternities and sororities!

"Do yeh fear that dark abyss?" So asks Davy Jones, the main antagonist of the second film in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise: 'Dead Man's Chest.' For context, he was referring to death, but his words could just as easily apply to the sea itself. The ocean is vast, unforgiving, and holds many secrets. One such secret is the disappearance of a Danish ship almost a century ago--the København--in which she and her entire crew vanished without a trace. Join me, if you dare, for this week's chilling episode.

Our species is obsessed with immortality. Given our limited time on this Earth, who can blame us? As such, many great men and women throughout history have sought to halt or postpone death through both supernatural and scientific means. But of them, perhaps none did so quite as intensely as the first emperor of China. Join me this week for a tale of political intrigue, assassination attempts, and paranoia and how one of the most powerful figures in history sought the recipe for the elixir of eternal life!

Baseball is America's pastime. So how did it end up in one of the remotest places on Earth? Just in time for the World Baseball Classic (starting March 5th), join me as we explore the history of the sport in Bhutan and how a tiny part of the Himalayas became a bastion for baseball.

As there's currently a revolution taking place in Iran, it seemed high time that the 'History Loves Company' podcast traveled to this historically and culturally rich land to explore its ancient past. If you've attended any of the pro-democracy demonstrations in Persian communities throughout the world, then you've seen images of heard tell of a man known as Kurosh, better known in the West as Cyrus the Great. The first king of a unified Persia, he'd go on to forge what was the largest empire in the world at the time. But just who was this man? Where did he come from? And was he indeed responsible for the first known human rights policy in history? Find out in this week's episode and tremble before the might of the great "Shahanshah" ("king of kings")!

About 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Los Angeles is a natural rock formation known as Vásquez Rocks. Formed around 25 million years ago, they dominate the sparse landscape, their bright reddish hues telling the story of the area's seismic and geological history. But our focus this week isn't on the formation, but the man whose name now graces it. Few figures in the days of California's Wild West cast as big a shadow as Tiburcio Vásquez. You'll definitely want to hear his story, as it's almost too crazy to be true!

Many of us grew up with Paddington, the adorable, lovable bear who somehow finds himself transplanted on British soil from his homeland of "darkest Peru." While the subjects of today's episode are a bit less endearing (to say nothing of a geographical reversal of this), their story is nonetheless captivating. How did a vibrant community of Welsh people end up in one of the wildest regions of South America? How did they shape the land they came to inherit? And are there any still left today? "Croeso", dear listeners ("welcome" in Welsh), to discover the answers to these and other questions this week on the 'History Loves Company' podcast!

Much like life, history has a way of going its own way, usually in a direction one least expects. After becoming part of Italy, South Tyrol enjoyed some autonomy and was allowed to retain its culture and practices. But then, a little thing called fascism assumed control of Italy in what can best be described as a coup d'état and the South Tyroleans found their entire world turned upside-down. Find out how it all turned out, in the second part of South Tyrol's story, this week on the History Loves Company podcast.

Ah, Italy! Known the world over for its natural beauty, picturesque towns, and delicious cuisine, to walk or drive its roads is to follow in the footsteps of great men and women or else great civilizations and disparate peoples such as the Etruscans, Romans, or...Austrians?! You read that right, dear listeners. Indeed, Italy shares a border with Austria, but how did some 150000 Austrians become Italian citizens virtually overnight? Tune in this week to find out in Part One of South Tyrol's fascinating history!