History For Weirdos

Latest Episodes:

Episode 74: The Pig War of 1859 Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

In 1859, the United States & Great Britain were on the brink of war. This conflict arose after an American farmer, Lyman Cutlar, shot a pig belonging to an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company, a British-owned business, which was grazing on his property. This event escalated into a full-blown military standoff between American and British forces, with both sides sending troops to the islands. Crazily enough, this insane incident was ended all thanks to the efforts of...the Kaiser of the German Empire? Listen now to hear the full story!

History For Weirdos Feature!

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Episode 73: Yes, Jack Black's Mom Saved Astronauts Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

Judith Love Cohen was an American aerospace engineer, ballet dancer, author, publisher, and mother to computer scientist Neil Siegel and to a reasonably well-known actor – Jack Black. Her work was crucial to bringing home the Apollo 13 astronauts when disaster struck.

In addition to being a big deal in the field of aeronautics, she was also a professionally trained ballet dancer! An all-around genius, her work has been instrumental in furthering the cause of humanity. Listen now to hear the full story!

History For Weirdos Feature!

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Email: historyforweirdos@gmail.com

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Episode 72: Hedy Lamarr, the "Mother of WiFi" Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian-American Hollywood Actress from the Golden Age of cinema, yet was a technological pioneer. She began her acting career in her native Austria before emigrating to the United States in the 1930s. She appeared in numerous films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, including the controversial film "Ecstasy". Lamarr was also known for her beauty, and was voted the "most beautiful woman in films" by the Hollywood Film Industry Guild in 1940.

In addition to her acting career, Lamarr was also an inventor. During World War II, she and composer George Antheil developed a secret communication system to help the Allies fight the Nazis. Their invention, a frequency-hopping system, used a piano roll to randomly change the radio frequencies of torpedoes, making them harder to detect and jam. The technology was ahead of its time and was not used during the war, but it forms the basis of modern wireless communication technologies such as Bluetooth and WiFi. In 2014, Lamarr and Antheil were posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

But that's not all, tune in now to hear the full story of the amazing, Hedy Lamarr.

History For Weirdos Feature!

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Episode 71: The Mysterious Murder of Jane Stanford Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

Leland & Jane Stanford created a legacy of higher learning and of patronizing the arts...funded through illicit activity.

When Jane Stanford died everyone believed she died of natural causes, but about 100 years later the truth finally came out: Jane Stanford was murdered.

But who did it? Why did they do it? Listen to Steff share the details and decide for yourself!

History For Weirdos Feature!

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Email: historyforweirdos@gmail.com

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Episode 70: The 1919 Christmas Whiskey Massacre Dec 26, 2022

Show notes

We have something to cheer you guys up to keep you in the festive mood...a massacre that took place over Christmas about a century ago!

Ok but in all seriousness, this week explores what has been colloquially known as the 1919 Christmas Day Massacre. It involves mobsters / the mafia, whiskey and the deaths of over 100 people. This bit of weird history often goes untold but was an important event in the United States right before the onset of Prohibition.

And speaking of which, we included a bonus part at the end detailing how the US government poisoned innocent people during the 1920's & 30's. And yes, this was real and NOT a conspiracy theory. Listen now to hear the full details!

Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating, reviewing, subscribing and sharing it today.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: historyforweirdos@gmail.com

IG: @historyforweirdos

Website: historyforweirdos.com

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Episode 69: Boudica - the Celtic Warrior Queen Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

Our "Weirdo" spotlight this week is on a woman who did something that most of her male contemporaries would never dream of doing!

During the first century AD, the Celtic "Warrior Queen" Boudica dared to rebel against one of the mightiest empires the world had ever seen: the Roman Empire. Fueled by vengeance, her campaigns would leave a mark on not only Roman history in Britannia, but on the entirety of English & British history as well.

Listen now to hear all about her courageous defiance.

Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating, reviewing, subscribing and sharing it today.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: historyforweirdos@gmail.com

Website: historyforweirdos.com

IG: @historyforweirdos

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Episode 68: Olga of Kiev - Saint or Sinner? Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

The "femme fatale" trope gets cranked up a notch in this week's episode. Our subject, Olga of Kiev, was a Kievan Rus' leader during the 10th century who made her enemies pay the ultimate price. Born of Viking (Varangian) blood, she would not only strike fear into her opponents...but would eventually become a saint? Listen now to hear her stranger than fiction life story.

Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating, reviewing, subscribing and sharing it today.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: historyforweirdos@gmail.com

Website: www.historyforweirdos.com

IG: @historyforweirdos

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Episode 67: The Nuremberg Celestial Phenomenon Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

On the day of April 14, 1561, strange phenomenon took place over the skies of Nuremberg, Germany that have puzzled onlookers, astronomers and historians for centuries. But the stranger thing was this event was not isolated. Did unidentified flying objects (UFOs) visit the city or were these non-supernatural astrophysical phenomena? You be the judge.

Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating, reviewing, subscribing and sharing it today.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: historyforweirdos@gmail.com

Website: www.historyforweirdos.com

IG: @historyforweirdos

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Episode 66: The Mystery at Roanoke Island Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

The infamous, ill-fated English colony of Roanoke has gone down into historical lore. Before even Jamestown, the English attempted to create its first permanent colony in the Americas. But it was not meant to be. Your hosts take a deep dive into the history of the colony, the disappearance of the colonists and even possibly what fate awaited them. Tune in now to hear the full story!

Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating, reviewing, subscribing and sharing it today.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: historyforweirdos@gmail.com

Website: www.historyforweirdos.com

IG: @historyforweirdos

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Episode 65: Ona Judge & Her Journey to Freedom Nov 14, 2022

Show notes

This week, Stephanie dives into the story of Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who was "owned" by none other than the 1st President of the United States, George Washington. She escapes from the household of the most powerful man in the country to gain her freedom. But her journey would be far from easy. Listen now to hear the full story!

Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating, reviewing, subscribing and sharing it today.

Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇

Email: historyforweirdos@gmail.com

Website: www.historyforweirdos.com

IG: @historyforweirdos

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