Think New Year’s Day is all fireworks and fresh starts? Think again. On this episode of "The Story Of... Extra Credit Edition," we’re diving into the gut-wrenching, heartbreaking history of New Year’s during slavery—a day once known as “Hiring Day” or, more brutally, “Heartbreak Day.”

We’re exposing the truths you won’t find in your sanitized history books: families ripped apart, lives auctioned off, and the reverberations we still feel today. We’ll tackle the half-measures of the Emancipation Proclamation, call out the modern rise of white supremacy, and unpack why facing history isn’t “woke” but just being human.

It’s raw, it’s real, and yeah—it’s gonna piss you off. But trust me, it’s a story you need to hear. Tune in to "Heartbreak Day: The Dark History of New Year’s in America." Available now wherever you get your podcasts

In this episode of The Story of..., Smith, Mike, and Camp tackle the immune system’s ultimate cheat code: vaccines. Ever wonder how your body learns to fight disease without signing up for the full-blown plague experience? Spoiler alert: it involves a lot of clever trickery and zero cow kissing (looking at you, Edward Jenner).

The gang also dives into the dramatic history of anti-vaccine movements, including 19th-century skeptics who thought vaccines would turn you into a human-cow hybrid (sadly, no super moo-powers). It’s science, history, and just the right amount of sarcasm—all delivered straight to your ears. Get ready to laugh and learn!

In this Extra Credit episode, Joe Camp takes you through the amazing history of the Calutron girls- young women hired to do critical work on a secret project and help contribute the war effort in the 1940's. Listen to find out more.

Why do numbers play such a significant role in our lives and cultures? Do they actually hold meaning, or do we just assign them meaning because we’re scared? What’s good, 3 or 7? What’s bad, 4 or 13? Why do angels get triple repeat numbers, but not triple 6’s? Why does Satan get the good one? Join Smith, Mike and Camp as we journey into our favorite numbers, our life paths, and our birthdates on the 3rd episode of the season, recorded on the 3rd of the month, and released on the following 3rd… spooky.  

What if I told you that the Thanksgiving story we all grew up with—the Pilgrims, the feast, the peaceful gathering—was a lie?

No, not just a little fib. We’re talking revisionist history with a side of cranberry sauce.

On this extra credit episode Thanksgiving: The Turkey, the Lies, and the Leftovers of History, we’re serving up the raw, unfiltered truth behind America’s most celebrated feast. It’s a story of survival, betrayal, stolen land, and… propaganda.

From the mass devastation of Indigenous populations to the shady deals that landed the Pilgrims in Plymouth, this isn’t the Thanksgiving tale your textbooks wanted you to know

Welcome to The Story of... Extra Credit, where Smith dives into bite-sized tales of the weird, absurd, and downright spooky.

This episode tackles Tamerlane's curse—a chilling legend linking the Soviet Union’s opening of the conqueror’s tomb in 1941 to the catastrophic Nazi invasion just two days later.

With plenty of laughs and a touch of "WTF," Smith leaves listeners pondering the mysteries of history and the power of a good old-fashioned curse. Perfect for fans of strange stories who love a side of skepticism and sarcasm!

In this thought-provoking episode, hosts Smith, Joe, and Mike dive deep into the fascinating realms of the Akashic Records, the concept of determinism, and the age-old question of whether or not humans can access universal knowledge...

We're finally back for Season 4!

And what a way to start it off... Brandon from FDRsWheelchair joins us as we discuss various Cults throughout history. Why do people join cults? What kinds of stuff do they believe? Can it really be THAT bad? Well, it gets horribly terrifying apparently. Join us as we give you The Story Of CULTS

*Listener discretion advised, this one gets pretty graphic*

*Season 3 Finale* Operation Paperclip (aka Project Paperclip) was a program run by the US military to allow high ranking Nazi scientists to work in America after the fall of the Third Reich. None of these scientists (who contributed to slave labor, the holocaust, and human experimentation) were ever brought up on War Crimes charges. In fact, most were given a comfortable and lucrative life working in the US. On the other hand, the United States developed into the most technologically advanced society in the world, due in part to the work of these scientists. Looking for a moral/ethical conundrum? Here ya go...

Join us for our Season 3 Finale with very special guest Noah Kinsey as we discuss the lasting effects of this dark time in US history.

This week the guys are joined by a legend in the Long Island Hardcore scene, former front man for Mind over Matter and Day in the Life...George Reynolds. George takes us back to the beginning of the legendary Long Island Hardcore scene of the early 90's and talks about what it was like helping to create such an amazing time in music. If you were a part of this scene, you'll love this episode, if you weren't then you'll be introduced to some amazing music.

George's Podcast: If I ruled the world podcast

Mind Over Matter on Spotify

DayInTheLife... on Spotify

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