Kate and I went on a wonderful trip in early February this year. Unfortunately, we got sick when we got home. This put us way behind in our Podcast schedule, so we decided to post an episode that we recorded in November, 2023. Kate takes over the show and tells us about Tarot cards! Come and join us for History, Stirred not Shaken. We thank you for listening and supporting our show! Stay curious.

It's March 9th, Birthday of both Barbie and Kate! Join Kate and I as we chat about the history of one of the world's most popular toy phenomenon's, Barbie.

On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members aboard. The spacecraft disintegrated 46,000 feet (14 km) above the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 11:39 a.m. EST. It was the first fatal accident involving an American spacecraft while in flight and it happened as thousands of school children and millions of people around the world watched live on television.

Join us as we discuss the accident and also the Netflix series Challenger: The Final Flight.

https://www.netflix.com/title/81012137

Back in 2023 we watched HBO Max’s Chernobyl Disaster, so we decided to chat about the facts of the Disaster and the accuracy of the HBO-MAX series. We also watched several other HBO-MAX Documentaries on Chernobyl. Join us for History Shaken Not Stirred with vodka in this fun chatty episode. Below are the links to the shows mentioned. Stay curious!

The series Chernobyl Disaster

https://play.max.com/mini-series/396999a6-3fff-4af3-802b-10c46d10deff

The documentary Chernobyl the Lost Tapes

https://play.max.com/movie/f0a8654e-40fc-4d4e-8eb9-26cf826856f3

The documentary Secrets, Lies and the Untold Stories

https://play.max.com/standalone/9990a2ba-67a2-454e-b149-c94ac79ec61c

When we are not talking History, we are talking about Disney. In this episode we share stories about the attractions we miss the most, which attractions we wouldn't miss and just general Disney shenanigans. It's our holiday fun episode! Stay curious and thanks for listening.

About a year ago, I read "Three Years in Wonderland: The Disney Brothers, CV Wood and the Making of the Great American Theme Park", by Todd James Pierce. The link to this excellent book is below. It inspired me to learn a bit more about the enigmatic "Woody". His stint with Disney was a brief blip in his career. Woody went on to create Marco Engineering who helped create Magic Mountain in Colorado, Pleasure Island in Massachusetts, Freedomland USA in the Bronx, NY, and was involved in the initial planning for Six Flags Over Texas,

Wood also helped create Lake Havasu City, bringing the London Bridge to Arizona!

His initial Disneyland involvement was kept quiet by Disney for many years, but thanks to the meticulous research by Mr. Pierce, we can get a better look at Woody's contribution to Disneyland.

Enjoy the episode and stay curious!

https://www.amazon.com/Three-Years-Wonderland-Brothers-American-ebook/dp/B01BI4CR2U?ref_=ast_author_mpb

https://www.toddjamespierce.com/

Last year we re-discovered the wonderful world of the Beales of Grey Gardens! In this episode Kate and I discuss our love and respect of Big Edie and Little Edie. We discuss several of the documentaries and the HBO Movie Grey Gardens.

https://www.hbo.com/movies/grey-gardens

The original Documentary Grey Gardens

https://play.max.com/movie/1da58c29-5bfc-4198-8ac6-055f8cd0eee6

The second Documentary The Beales of Grey Gardens

https://play.max.com/movie/242aaeb0-020a-41b8-bca3-80b56d1e7ced

We also recommend checking out Fern Bernsteins podcast Grey Gardens

https://www.fernbernstein.com/my-podcasts

Plus the following books:

Jerry Torre's memoir about his time at Grey Gardens

https://www.amazon.com/Marble-Faun-Grey-Gardens-Jacqueline/dp/0999517708/ref=asc_df_0999517708/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693608195517&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8255108342373159862&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9191651&hvtargid=pla-525104625589&psc=1&mcid=2c54f19d41f53b1081bd88107fbe3954

Lois Wright's Life Story about her memories of Grey Gardens.

https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Grey-Gardens-Wrights-Improbable/dp/1081689617/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VX933P7ZTDZG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ofGzOXKrQAzzyZMVKUdEAAGttfLnRX3l6itvE8yf2AKh8ubh9NSWlQ1Yc-3_Vk0OyZh8xkxh16R0JJsZyCoWiAZTXs_YzU4zKWRAUdi9c74._Bwe-_JKE24HTYotcXD68SCy9jMkRQrdhsAsEbj1JBg&dib_tag=se&keywords=grey+gardens+lois&qid=1728315429&s=books&sprefix=grey+gardens+lois%2Cstripbooks%2C169&sr=1-1

Both books are delightful and insightful!

Remember to stay curious and join us next time for History Shaken Not Stirred.

Several months ago, I came across a book recommended in my Kindle Library called “The Confidante: The Untold Story of the Woman who helped win WWII and shape modern history”, by author Christopher C. Gorham. Of course my interest was piqued! The book was a fascinating read about a woman who was well known while alive in the 20th century, but someone whose story I believe has fallen through the cracks in the 21st century.

Here's the link to Christopher Gorham's book;

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B359W5JD/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title?ccs_id=7c19a080-fad7-4ad2-82f9-d7ba0f6caeb6

In this episode we are going to delve into Anna's fascinating story. Enjoy and stay curious.

OtherLinks:

https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/rosenberg-anna-marie-lederer

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/anna-m-rosenberg-world-war-ii

Ketel One Vodka Dirty Martini Recipe:

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Ketel one Vodka
• 1.0 oz Olive Brine
• Garnish with a green oliveEquipment
• 1 x Martini glass
• 1 x Cocktail shaker
• 1 x Good quality ice cube

Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker. Serve straight up in a martini glass. Garnish with a green olive.

Ketel One Vodka Dry Martini Recipe:

Ingredients 1.4 oz Ketel One Vodka

• 0.3 oz Dry VermouthEquipment

• 1 x Martini glass
• 1 x Mixing Glass & Strainer
• 1 x Bar Spoon
• 1 x Good quality iceStir all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass.

Flora Sandes left England to serve as a nurse in Belgrade, Serbia at the beginning of WWI. Within 3 years, she had traveled back and forth to the UK to raise funds for the Serbian Army, faced the tribulations of the great retreat of the Serbian Army through Albania, joined the Serbian Army, and returned with the Serbian forces to Monastir. She was wounded after the Serbian Army began their push north, and was ultimately awarded the rank of Senior Captain. She is to this day much beloved as a hero in Serbia!

At the onset of the Civil War, western North Carolina was notorious for having some of the bloodiest hostilities during and after the war. The area was fraught with fighting amounts Pro Union and Pro Confederate factions. The mountain war in North Carolina represented both the worst and the best of the South. This story is just one of the many tales of violence, humor, loyalty and vengeance, seen during the War Between the States.