Stuff You Missed in History Class

Today we’re covering a super yummy comfort food from Italy, and two dishes with debate as to their origin, one on the U.S. East Coast, and one on the West Coast. All are delicious! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Riots are a distressingly common part of human history, and the strangest events can trigger widespread violence. In this 2011 episode, previous hosts Deblina and Sarah take a closer look at one of history's strangest riots.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly and Tracy discuss the woman who Breckinridge hired to spy on Madeline Pollard, and horror of Madeline's writing being read in court. They also discuss how unicorn lore shows up in pop culture, and Tracy's disappointment at seeing a "real" unicorn.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You probably know exactly what animal we mean when we say “unicorn,” but descriptions and depictions of unicorns have shifted over the millennia. Some lore has roots in sightings of real animals that people have found difficult to describe, or that have been misinterpreted. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The story of Madeline Pollard’s relationship with Congressman William C.P. Breckinridge became a national story when it went from a romance to a bitter and dirty court battle. To some, Madeline emerged as an icon of the women’s movement. But to others, she became a cautionary tale. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This 2014 episode covers the 1925 diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska that put a community in grave danger -- without the proper supplies to fight the disease. A daring sled-dog relay was mounted to deliver needed medicine to small community and their only doctor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly and Tracy talk about the ire that comes about when examining the press coverage of the Goolds when they were murder suspects. They then discuss the artwork plundered from Benin in 1897, and how that comes with its own biases when looking at contemporary accounts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many cultural objects and works of art were taken from the Kingdom of Benin in western Africa in 1897, in what is typically described as a punitive raid or a punitive expedition by the British. In the last few years, some nations and institutions have committed to returning these pieces, but only a few have actually been returned at this point.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The violent Monte Carlo Trunk Murder is fascinating as a terrifying crime, and its connection to wealth and fame made it global news. But the way it was covered in the papers offers an unsettling glimpse into bias and privilege. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This 2015 episode delves into carousels. They're part of childhood, but they were originally billed as an entertainment for adults and children alike. And even further back than that, it's believed that they were used to train horsemen.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.