It’s the first anniversary of Meet Your Heroes, so to celebrate we’re answering some of your questions, reflecting on our favorite episodes, sharing lessons we’ve learned, and even playing a rapid-fire game of “Who do you hate more?”

Ready to ruin Christmas by unwrapping a sleigh-full of surprises about St. Nicholas? The real St. Nicholas seemed cool as hell, but his transformation into Santa Claus has been...less than ideal. Want to know more? Well, then this is the episode for you.

You may think you know the real Colonel Sanders, but behind the white three-piece-suits and buckets of chicken, his life was more bizarre than you can imagine.

Perhaps one of the 20th century’s most well know performers, Frank Sinatra’s dark side has been well hidden for decades.

In our first-ever non-human hero episode, we talk almost exclusively about…humans. This week’s episode is all about the pilgrims, fleas, disease, and violence that arrived in America via the Mayflower.



If you’re looking for a podcast you can use to ruin Thanksgiving, this is the one. Play it on Zoom, connect to your family’s Bluetooth speakers, or simply share in your cousins' group chat and insist they listen.

One way to take action: In our ongoing efforts to provide reparations for the harm caused and systems of privilege from which we benefit, we have committed a recurring monthly donation to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and we encourage all our followers to research and contribute to indigenous tribes and land back movements happening across the country.

At the request of a listener, this week’s episode is all about one of the 20th century’s most notable artists: Salvador Dali.

His meticulously curated persona and exaggerated mustache hide the fact he was a deeply insecure narcissist who praised fascism and engaged in violence against multiple women.

Turns out, the first actor to play James Bond was just as misogynistic, angry, sad, isolated, racist, and abusive as 007 himself.

Among a number of other horrible deeds, this week’s hero, Sean Connery, openly advocated for hitting women “if they merit it” -- not once, not twice, but on at least three VERY public occasions.

He created one of the most successful comic strips of all time, but behind the scenes, Charles Schulz’s life wasn’t as fun-filled. Contrary to his public persona as a family man, Schulz was often-times a melancholic, disengaged workaholic who worried endlessly about being liked and in the process, distanced himself from the people who loved him the most.

Best known as a master of the psychological thriller, Alfred Hitchcock’s terror reigned far beyond the silver screen. At once a creative genius and a horror in real life, Hitchcock’s legacy lives on in film and in real life.

Vote for Meet Your Heroes to be Discover Pod's Best History Podcast of 2020 here: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5978795/2020-Discover-Pods-Awards-Finalists

Did he invent the lightbulb? No. But did he treat his employees and children with love and respect? Also, no.

However, he DID publicly electrocute animals.

Check out this week’s episode to learn more about America’s most notorious inventor, Thomas Edison.