The Missing Chapter Podcast

Most people are well aware of what happened on December 7, 1941, the date which will live in infamy.  As we celebrate Valentine’s Day this weekend, let’s focus not so much on the tragedies of the day, but on the truly remarkable.  There are hundreds of survival stories, silver-linings, and incredible twists of fate on that day, and this episode focuses on two individuals in one of the most unbelievable stories we’ve ever come across.  Check out this story of survival, hope, and romance on this episode of the Missing Chapter.  

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Lyndhurst, New Jersey, formerly known as Kingsland, is a township of about 22,000 people in the Meadowlands. It’s what some would consider a nice, ordinary Jersey community. However, what many might not know about Lyndhurst is that it was not only home to about 22,000 people, it housed the Canadian Car and Foundry Plant, which would be used as a fairly large munitions factory. And this inconspicuous munitions factory ended up playing a fairly significant role in WWI, but the bigger story is that it became the target of one of the worst acts of foreign sabotage to ever take place on American soil. Find out what happened and who we are to blame for this explosive sabotage on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

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The internet is flooded with unfounded stories and fake news.  Many of these disguise themselves in memes or as short anecdotes on the stage of social media.  It makes it difficult – challenging – to decipher what is true and what is fiction.  You may have seen one of these claims regarding a woman by the name of Judith Love Cohen.  Her story, as it would turn out, is one that even a Hollywood set would have a tough time conjuring up.  Listen in for more on this person and a surprising twist on this Missing Chapter Short.

For more information on this episode, previous episodes, as well as professional development opportunities, go to the Missing Chapter Podcast website today!

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Many clichés have made their way through the airwaves over the years.  All starting off the same way…as a catchy, trendy slogan, then transforming into nails on a chalkboard every time you hear the same cliché over and over again.  Well, the cliché “game-changer” is not an exception to this rule, but this time, we’re actually using it in its literal sense.  On this episode of the Missing Chapter, we’re going sports history, specifically basketball.  And as the game of basketball has changed and evolved, one could argue that this idea turned rule, is what really did change the game for years to come.

Find out more information on this episode, previous episodes, and even professional development opportunities at the Missing Chapter Podcast Website!

The plane jarred violently as it climbed into the gray February night sky, but the 95 passengers onboard were not dismayed.  After being grounded an additional 3 hours for severe weather, some were already asleep, and all were excited to be leaving snowy and icy New York on their way to beautiful, sunny Miami, Florida on February 1st, 1957.

Northeast Airlines Flight 823 had taxied off the runway at LaGuardia Airport less than a minute earlier and was beginning its ascent with captain Alvin Marsh at the controls and co-pilot Basil Dixwell by his side.  The stewardesses had not yet had the chance to offer beverages from the drink cart, and the ice and wind was pelting the south-bound flight, when Dixwell suddenly screamed, “Al, ground coming up!”  But it was too late.  Flight 823, wavered like a bird with a crippled wing, before crashing violently into a patch of trees.  Less than 60 seconds after taking off, it lay, with both wings ripped off and on fire, on a small plot of land just south of the airport.  That parcel of land – was Rikers Island – home to one of the most notorious prisons in the country.  This gripping story is our focus on this Missing Chapter Short.

Everyone loves a good "rags to riches" story - but how about a "rejection to riches" story?  On this Missing Chapter Short, we tell the unknown, yet very poetic beginnings of one of the most famous authors of all-time.  Would rejection stop him?  It almost did - but a very chance encounter with a college buddy stopped him from setting his dreams ablaze.  Find out more about this story and who this person was on this Missing Chapter Short.

Have you ever wondered how far man can dig? Or maybe you have wondered how far down the Earth’s mantle is. From 1958 to 1990 there have been multiple attempts to get to the Earth’s mantle, or the closest layer to the crust. With temperatures increasing upwards of 356 degrees and thick liquid like rock wreaking havoc on equipment, this is no easy task. On this episode of the Missing Chapter podcast, we describe attempts that man has made to get to the Earth's crust, and how successful they have been.

As the Christmas season of 1938 came to Chicago, Illinois, Bob May was not feeling much in the holiday spirit and for good reason.  The 34-year old father of one, who penned ads for retail giant Montgomery Ward, was exhausted and nearly broke.  Worse yet, his wife, Evelyn, was bedridden and fighting valiantly against a cancer that had already stolen 2-years of her young life.  One night, Bob’s daughter, Barbara, asked her father: “Why isn’t my mommy like everybody else’s mommy?”  This devastated Bob May and as he struggled to answer her heart-wrenching question, he turned to his own personal experience of growing up and decided to spin a tail for Barbara that would help ease her pain and explain their family’s hardships.  Little did he know, that his tale would transform the story of Christmas forever and come to entertain the world over.

Thank you for joining us on this very special, very blessed Christmas Day.  Gather the family together, give thanks, and enjoy an episode of The Missing Chapter Podcast that will explain the origins of one of our most time-honored stories.

The Empire State Building is known throughout the world as one of the icons of freedom, democracy, and the culmination of diverse people working together to accomplish something bigger and greater than themselves. It’s a destination for tourists around the world to come visit, it’s a sight to behold for those who’ve never seen it before, and it’s the million dollar view for observers in neighboring apartment buildings and skyscrapers.  Its sheer size creates wonderment, and the speed at which it was built only expounds that amazement.  We know you probably have heard and maybe have seen the Empire State Building, but I bet you’ve never heard of a plane crashing into it in 1945.  Nope, we’re not talking about the horrifying day on 9/11 when 2 planes crashed into the World Trade Centers, we’re talking about a B-25 accidentally crashing into the Empire State Building.  Join us today as we talk about this accident and one of the most unbelievable survival story twists on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

Imagine being in a war zone, frigid temperatures, explosions happening all around you, ammo is diminishing, food is in short supply.  You scurry to get to a radio and call in air support.  You need more ammunition.  You make the call, and the call sign is given to drop as many mortar rounds as possible so we have a fighting chance against the enemy.  We hear a helicopter hover over us, and thank God, here comes more supply.  The doors open and parachuting down, pallets of 60 mm mortar ammo come into our perimeter and we open  up the boxes and to our surprise, it’s not ammo.  Find out what was inside and how this mishap saved the lives of thousands on this episode of the Missing Chapter.