Matt reports this week on two pioneers of early aviation history. First up is Otto Lilienthal, a man who popularised the art of flight through 2000 tests. As these were watched by the masses he became known as the Glider King. Soon after a man named Franz Reichelt decided he was going to create a new, safer parachute. His subsequent trials and errors ensured his name as a mainstay in history books forever more. He was the famous Flying Tailor.

Elsewhere, Lorna gives us a lesson on the film series Madagascar as we get waylaid.

This is a new start for the Idiots, as we move into Year 2 of Idiots Talk History!!

Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

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Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

The video of Otto Lilienthal flying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLuIiwmu3OE

In 1966 Paddy Roy Bates and his family took to an old army fort in the middle of the North Sea, and the next year decided to declare it as a nation, called the Principality of Sealand. This is a challenge for Matt who constantly mixes it up with Seaworld, however this has nothing to do with the marine parks and instead Sealand has a history you won’t believe.

Whilst discussing Sealand’s bizarre history Matt also has a personal connection to a member of Sealand’s football team. And we finish by looking into becoming a lord and lady of Sealand.

Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

Email: [email protected]

Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

It’s our 50th birthday this week!! To celebrate Matt brings us a fantastic report on a moment from history 50 years ago. The focus is on Paris in 1968 and its period of civil unrest. Listen out for Matt’s attempts at French when reciting a famous saying of the time and also his bad ‘bless you’ joke.  

Also another exciting moment this week is Matt’s Movie History corner, a development from previous movie corners when we learn about the closing of the Cannes Film Festival!

Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

Email: [email protected]

Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

This week its Lorna’s turn to report, and she focuses on James Holman, who at the time of his death was arguably the most travelled man in the world. He zig zagged across the globe, all this despite the fact that he went blind early in his life. James Holman also went on to write travel books, and as a result we attempt to shorten the name of his first novel (it was such a long one!).

A seamless edit in the middle of the episode hides a McDonald’s trip and some car issues.

Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

Email: [email protected]

Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

This week its Lorna’s turn to report, and she focuses on James Holman, who at the time of his death was arguably the most travelled man in the world. He zig zagged across the globe, all this despite the fact that he went blind early in his life. James Holman also went on to write travel books, and as a result we attempt to shorten the name of his first novel (it was such a long one!).

A seamless edit in the middle of the episode hides a McDonald’s trip and some car issues.
And finally, in Lorna’s movie corner we discuss James Holman the New Zealand director.

Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

Email: [email protected]

Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

Matt reports this week on the poet and author of the first novel, Murasaki Shikibu. She lived in 10th Century Japan, and today she holds an incredible legacy.

Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

Email: [email protected]

Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

Lorna tells us all about our hometown, Oldham, in WWII. It was struck by the Last Flying Bomb of the war and was also home to the Prisoner of War Camp named Glen Mill.

Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

Email: [email protected]

Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

Lorna reports on the author Zelda Fitzgerald, an iconic figure of the Roaring Twenties in America and in Europe. Not only did she write but she also painted and was an accomplished ballet dancer.

Zelda was one half of the first celebrity couple, with her partner being Lost Generation writer, and author of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald. To say the two had a turbulent relationship would be an understatement. Famously Scott stole writing from Zelda’s diaries for his own works!

For once Matt actually knows a bit about the topic and almost ruins the whole story at the start!

Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

Email: [email protected]

Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

Lorna begins by detailing in quick fashion her disastrous day. Then Matt jumps in to his tragedy-ridden report on the Kennedy Family Curse. Throughout the 20th Century numerous members of the famous family died in horrific ways.  

For this week’s Big Question Matt runs through some out-there conspiracy theories about the assassination of JFK.

Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

Email: [email protected]

Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy

This week Lorna reports on 3 incredible peace walks that took place in the second half of the twentieth century. It encompasses the creation of the peace symbol, and two men giving teabags to world leaders on the brink of nuclear war.

Twitter: @IdiotHistoryPod

Email: [email protected]

Individual Twitters: @MattSingleton17  @lornabarryy