Idiots Talk History

Idiots Talk History

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Idiots Talk History episodes

  • 60 Unsolved Mysteries I: The Lost Colony of Roanoke

    In the first of a series of episodes focused on mysteries, Matt reports on the Lost Colony of Roanoke. British settlers in North America disappeared in the late sixteenth century, leaving no trace of their settlement behind. For the past 400 years historians have tried to deduce what happened to the colony, and yet the answer remains elusive. Matt and Lorna finally figure it out! (They don’t.)

    There’s a lot of getting distracted this week, from Sir Walter Rally-Car to mentions of Cluedo murders, and a couple of Matt’s terrible jokes for good measure.

    Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

    Facebook: @IdiotsTalkHistory    Instagram: @IdiotsTalkHistory

    Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

    57 min
  • 59 Civil War: Genpei War / America's Secret War in Laos

    This week we focus on two Civil Wars that took place in Asia. Firstly, Lorna talks us through the Genpei War of the 12th Century. In late-Heian period Japan, two clans, the Taira and the Minamoto, fought for power.

    And second, Matt reports on the Secret War. During the Vietnam War, the US was secretly involved in a war in neighbouring Laos too. The impact of this war was devastating to the people of Laos, and is still felt today. The USA’s involvement in Laos would stay a secret for over twenty years.  

    Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

    Facebook: @IdiotsTalkHistory    Instagram: @IdiotsTalkHistory

    Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

    42 min
  • 59 Civil War: Genpei War / America’s Secret War in Laos

    This week we focus on two Civil Wars that took place in Asia. Firstly, Lorna talks us through the Genpei War of the 12th Century. In late-Heian period Japan, two clans, the Taira and the Minamoto, fought for power.


    And second, Matt reports on the Secret War. During the Vietnam War, the US was secretly involved in a war in neighbouring Laos too. The impact of this war was devastating to the people of Laos, and is still felt today. The USA’s involvement in Laos would stay a secret for over twenty years.  


    Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod


    Facebook: @IdiotsTalkHistory    Instagram: @IdiotsTalkHistory


    Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

    42 min
  • 58 Space: First Space Station / Soyuz 11 / Russian Space Traditions

    This week we take a look at space! (Look out a window it’s there!)

    Matt focuses on the Space Race between the USA and the Soviet Union. Over the course of twenty years the two superpowers battled over dominance of space, leading to a ton of new and impressive firsts. We look at the First Space Station, the Salyut 1, as well as the tragic Soviet mission, Soyuz 11.
    We finish with some fascinating pre-launch cosmonaut traditions!

    Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

    Facebook: @IdiotsTalkHistory    Instagram: @IdiotsTalkHistory

    Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

    53 min
  • 57 Photography II: Salvador Dali / Migrant Mother

    We follow on from last week with another dissection of famous photographs and the stories behind them.

    Lorna reports on the unique image of Salvador Dali known as Dali Atomicus which has inspired millions of people to jump in photos (perhaps not). The photographer Philippe Halsman behind the image also had a fascinating life!

    Then Matt reports on the Migrant Mother, one of the most powerful images of the twentieth century. The photo of a mother and her children living in Depression-era America became a symbol of the hardship of the American people in the 1930s.

    We also have quite a serious conversation for once! This time about the motivations behind documentary photography and filmmaking.  

    Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

    Facebook: @IdiotsTalkHistory    Instagram: @IdiotsTalkHistory

    Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

     

     

    53 min
  • 56 Photography I: Alberto Korda's Che Guevara / Tank Man

    This week we report on two of the most famous photos of all time. Matt delves into the story behind a photo of the Revolutionary Che Guevara. Photographer Alberto Korda saw little reward for his now iconic shot of Che throughout much of his life. The photo is now recognised the world over and we discuss how the constant reproduction of the image may have meant the message is now lost.


    Lorna reports on Tank Man. Captured by at least five different photographers, Tank Man depicts a brave man who put his life on the line by confronting a line of tanks in China in 1989.

    Look out for a follow up episode next week as we discuss more of the stories behind famous photos!

    Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

    Facebook: @IdiotsTalkHistory    Instagram: @IdiotsTalkHistory

    Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

    54 min
  • 56 Photography I: Alberto Korda’s Che Guevara / Tank Man

    This week we report on two of the most famous photos of all time. Matt delves into the story behind a photo of the Revolutionary Che Guevara. Photographer Alberto Korda saw little reward for his now iconic shot of Che throughout much of his life. The photo is now recognised the world over and we discuss how the constant reproduction of the image may have meant the message is now lost.

    Lorna reports on Tank Man. Captured by at least five different photographers, Tank Man depicts a brave man who put his life on the line by confronting a line of tanks in China in 1989.


    Look out for a follow up episode next week as we discuss more of the stories behind famous photos!


    Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod


    Facebook: @IdiotsTalkHistory    Instagram: @IdiotsTalkHistory


    Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

    54 min
  • 55 Disney: First Female Artists / Disney World Trivia

    Lorna reports on the lives of four of the first female Disney artists. They had a significant influence on the early Disney films impacting the course of the company’s history.

    Matt weaves in fascinating facts about the history of the Disney World Theme Park. Elsewhere we try to figure out where the best place is to put a bin in a theme park.

    Check out our new Facebook page and Instagram to keep up to date with all our news and exciting updates. The links are below!

    Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

    Facebook: @IdiotsTalkHistory    Instagram: @IdiotsTalkHistory

    Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

    52 min
  • 54 Running: Kathrine Switzer / Bobbi Gibb

    The focus this week is on two pioneers of running. Both Kathrine Switzer and Bobbi Gibb took part in the Boston Marathon in the 1960s changing the future of women’s long distance running forever. In between reports, Lorna provides us with a whole bunch of fascinating facts about the history of running.

    Matt also shares his story about getting sunburnt during a race, whilst Lorna talks about how she swims at the same pace at all times to the exasperation of her parents.

    Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

    Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

    57 min
  • 53 Presidents: Edith Wilson / Fidel Castro

     

    It's the first episode of the second year of Idiots Talk History! And with that anniversary we have decided to make use of a new beginning. Now instead of a long report on a single topic, we will each report on a topic linked by a key word. 

    This first episode focuses on Presidents.

    Lorna is up first, reporting on Edith Wilson. Many believe that when her husband President Woodrow Wilson fell ill, Edith took charge of the White House and the country, becoming the unofficial first female President of the USA.

    Matt chooses to focus on Cuba, where Fidel Castro was first Prime Minister then President. Castro survived an alleged 634 attempts on his life by various outside forces (mainly the CIA), and Matt rattles off some of the most ridiculous.

    There's talk of hated secretaries, molluscs and even Guinness World Records this week!

    Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

    Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

    47 min

About Idiots Talk History

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A weekly history based podcast where we discuss lesser known moments from the past, or shine a new light on famous events, in our own distinctive British way.