Today, we’re going back to June 19, 1865. We’re in Galveston, Texas. The Civil War is over. The Confederacy has collapsed. But here, on this island city, thousands of enslaved people still don’t know they’re free. Two years after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. But that changes today, a day that would later be known as Juneteenth.

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On May 28, 2016, a child fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo—and within minutes, Harambe, a 17-year-old silverback gorilla, was shot and killed. What followed was a cultural explosion: public outrage, an avalanche of memes, political satire, and a surreal wave of digital mourning that turned Harambe into a global symbol. 

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On May 20, 1873, a tailor named Jacob Davis and a dry goods wholesaler named Levi Strauss received a U.S. patent for a pair of rivet-reinforced work pants. Originally built to withstand the grit of frontier life, blue jeans would go on to become a symbol of rebellion, resilience, and global fashion. From railroads to runways, this is the story of how practicality became iconic.

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On May 12, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot in front of thousands in St. Peter’s Square. Against all odds, he survived. In today’s episode, we unravel the story behind the bullets—the gunman, the Cold War suspicions, and the extraordinary grace that followed.

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On April 28, 1789, a group of British sailors staged one of the most famous mutinies in history aboard the HMS Bounty. It’s a story of leadership under pressure, paradise that proved too tempting, and choices that echoed for centuries. Today, we trace the path from discipline to defiance—and uncover what became of the men who chose to disappear.

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On May 5, 1862, a scrappy group of Mexican defenders pulled off the unthinkable—defeating the mighty French army at the Battle of Puebla. But is Cinco de Mayo really Mexican Independence Day? Today, we bust the myths, tell the real story behind the celebration, and uncover how this gritty battlefield moment turned into a cultural phenomenon north of the border.

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On April 21, 753 BCE, Rome was founded—at least, that’s how the story goes. But behind the myths of twin brothers, a wolf, and a murder, lies a tale about how people shape their past to define their future. Today, we’re heading to the banks of the Tiber to find out how the Eternal City began—with blood, legend, and a bit of divine chaos.

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In April 1971, a simple game of table tennis unexpectedly thawed decades of icy relations between the United States and China. This episode dives into the fascinating story of Ping Pong Diplomacy, how it paved the way for a historic presidential visit, and why it still matters today.

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On April 1, 2001, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, setting a precedent for LGBTQ+ rights worldwide. Join us as we explore the journey that led to this historic moment, from early activism to the groundbreaking midnight wedding ceremonies officiated by Amsterdam’s mayor. We’ll also examine the ripple effect this decision had on the global fight for marriage equality and why this milestone still matters today.

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On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker struck a reef off the coast of Alaska, unleashing one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history. Join us as we explore what went wrong, the devastating impact on wildlife, and how the spill changed the way we think about oil transportation and environmental protection.

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