The Missing Chapter Podcast

High up in the Himalayas, in the rugged mountainside, in the shadows of Mount Everest, is the small Nepalese village of Pangboche. At an altitude of 13,074 feet, Pangboche is nestled in the Imja Khole valley, and serves as a base camp for the surrounding peaks and for the climbers who trek the Himalayas for their unparalleled views.  This small hamlet is also renowned for another reason – a Buddhist monastery, shrouded in mystery and intrigue, and the peculiar relic that it possesses. A relic that the monks who guard it… are more than happy to show you if you are fortunate enough to visit the temple someday.

This is the story of that relic and the expedition determined to obtain it, test it, and determine its authenticity. If it sounds like a fictionalized plot conjured up in the backstages of a Hollywood production studio, you’re not too far off, in fact, one of the most famous actors of the day and one of the most iconic film performers in history – makes a cameo appearance.

In this episode of The Missing Chapter podcast, we ask the question… do you believe in cryptids – the legends, myths, and folklore that make up our imagination?  We delve into the unknown, the mysterious, the bizarre - as we look to add another chapter to the history textbooks.

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The most historic book in history, according to the Smithsonian and National Geographic, isn’t what you might expect.  When you consider all of the documents, artifacts, and books written throughout history, what do you think is the most historically accurate?  Well, before we give you the answer, consider this…this book isn’t only the most accurate by historian’s standards, there’s also mathematical proof of its divine authorship - the Bible.  Wait, I thought the Bible was a religious text - the written word of God and lifeline for Christians throughout the world?  It is, but there’s one individual, whose conversion to this faith rested upon his goal of disproving the Bible’s authenticity, and in his attempt to do so, he noticed something so mathematically impossible, the only conclusion he could come to was that it was divinely inspired.  What were some of those “mathematical coincidences” and how did he discover them?  Find out today on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

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One of the worst examples of the sins of human nature in history is of course what the Nazis did to the Jews in the Holocaust.  And I’m sure we have all heard of some unbelievably heroic and courageous stories of people from all walks of life liberating Jews during this horrific nightmare in world history.  Stories of undercover rescues and secret, underground paths to freedom, or neighbors keeping their Jewish friends silent while Nazis go door to door.  You may even be thinking of the 1993 film Schindler’s List and for today’s episode, you’re not far off - because there is a man nicknamed “The Polish Schindler” who saved countless Jewish lives by using a weapon that I don’t think anyone would ever guess or expect - a virus.  Oh you heard me right, a brilliant-minded man used a virus to scare off the Germans from their Jewish targets and in doing so, saved thousands of lives.  Find out who this man is and how he was able to use a virus to fight of the Nazis in this episode of the Missing Chapter.

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Perspective on time is a key component in life and in history.  The Battle of Gettysburg, the turning point in the American Civil War, played out over 3 days. The Cuban Missile Crisis, and the height of nuclear tension in the Cold War… 13 days in 1962. The first Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991, where coalition forces freed Kuwait from Saddam Hussein was a mere 42 days. Olympic athletes train their entire lives for races that take less than 10 seconds.

Time. A concept that defines our lives and that perspective puts a unique stamp on in history.  While this story centers around time, it’s more appropriately a story that revolves around survival…and determination. Lost in the South Atlantic, alone, on a make-shift raft… a young sailor is adrift, with no way to navigate and no way to signal for help. He must endure nature, the elements, and his own internal struggles.

On this episode of the missing chapter, a real life castaway and his harrowing tale of survival… Lost at Sea.

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What would you say is the most popular song in the English language?  Of the millions, billions of songs, could Rolling Stone or Billboard ever compile such an accomplishment?  Well, maybe not, because even though this particular song has been recorded, its lyrics and melody have been used more than any other song in the English language…the Happy Birthday song.  It’s bigger than the Beatles, Bach, and Beethoven. It’s beloved by children, often reviled by adults, and has been translated into nearly 20 languages. So really, what’s the issue, why are we talking about this?  Well, there controversy in everything these days, and the most popular song of all time is no exception.  Find out the story behind the Happy Birthday song on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

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For those of you who are regular listeners to our podcast, you know how much we love our movies, and how much we love our sports.  You can only imagine what happens to our inner enjoyment when those two things are combined…enter in sports movies!  And one of the first sports movies that come to my mind isn’t actually just one film, it’s many…The Rocky series.  I’ve gone way more than 15 rounds with these movies easily, but there’s one film in this series that actually has some unknown historic origins.  I’m sure you’re thinking of Rocky 4 when Rocky fought Ivan Drago during the Cold War, but that’s not what I’m referencing.  It has to do with the 2006 film Rocky Balboa and it’s odd, but actually historic premise behind the plot of the film.  Find out what historic context this contains and how this impacted not one but 2 boxing legends on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

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Did we get your attention with the title of this podcast?

We’ve talked about some serious topics over the last year and a half.  Today… we begin with a confession.  The most kissed girl in the world?  I apologize to my wife and to all of my family members listening, but yes… I have kissed her – multiple times.  Ready for this? Phil Schoff and I share a lot in common and believe it or not… this can now be added to our list because shockingly enough… he too has kissed her.  In fact, the most astonishing part to this story?… many of you listening at home… have also kissed this girl.  

Would you believe that?  How is that possible?  Find out today on this episode of the Missing Chapter!

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We love our history, but we love our sports too.  And in this episode, we look at what’s in a nickname.  I think we can all discern where the nicknames of the most popular programs around the country come from…the Yankees, the 49ers, the Oilers, the 76ers…most of these are pretty easy to figure out, right?  Well, there’s one nickname that has a cloud of mystery around it with no distinct answer.  But today, we’re going to talk about the most credible historical reason behind one of the most iconic sports nicknames…the Hoosiers.  Find out its origins, some mysteries that surround it, and the twists that go along with it on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

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When someone says “dream vacation” - what’s the first thing that comes to mind - warm, sandy beach, crashing waves, private island, nighttime entertainment, great food.  Well, maybe you’re a history buff like we are and want to go somewhere with all of those dream-vacation characteristics with some history mixed in.  That’s the best of both worlds, right?  Well then, the next time your family wants to venture out onto a private island vacation, why not shoot for the Neft Dashlari, in Russia.  This grand, floating city spectacle is filled with all the amenities…a movie theater, soccer fields, lemonade factory, tree-dotted park…oh, and one other part I forgot to mention, it just so happens to be a Soviet-era floating Oil Rig under Joseph Stalin.  So it may not be your top vacation choice, but it’s the topic of discussion on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

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From an early age, Theodore Alvin Hall, had shown an astonishing mind for mathematics and physics.  In 1940, Hall had scored some of the highest marks ever on the entrance examination at Columbia University.  Due to extenuating circumstances, however, he was not allowed to enroll. Hall was not deterred.  He went on to attend Queen’s College in New York and would transfer 2 years later to Harvard, where his professors were so impressed with his grades, he was allowed to bypass the first year of his course.

While at Harvard, Hall immersed himself in relativity and quantum mechanics and even received a special scholarship for his groundbreaking work.  He became the star pupil of Professor John Van Vleck, one of America’s leading experts in quantum theory.

By 1942, Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany were expanding throughout mainland Europe will relative ease and unbeknownst to Hall, Van Vleck had been secretly recruited by the U.S. government to help with the most sensitive undertaking in the country’s history; a project so important, the future of the free world hung in the balance.  Van Vleck would look to ultimately sway the momentum of the war in favor of the Allied forces by adding his star pupil to his team, while at the time, Theodore Alvin Hall was only 18 years old.

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