The Story Behind

Latest Episodes:

We Didn't Start the Fire 1951-1952: Rosenbergs through Santayana Goodbye (TSB053) Apr 20, 2017

Show notes

If you're hearing this episode around the time it comes out, it means I'm taking some time off after the birth of my son. I've recorded these ahead of time and most likely will not be available on social media for the next few weeks, but you'll still get The Story Behind twice a week if you're subscribed to the podcast. Consider this series to be like a substitute teacher. We won't go as in-depth as in previous episodes, but we'll briefly touch of a number of different topics in each episode. This series focuses on Billy Joel's song "We Didn't Start the Fire" and the headline-making events and people he mentions. Some content may not be suitable for all listeners. I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind We Didn't Start The Fire: 1951-1952.

In this episode:

Rosenbergs
H-Bomb
Sugar Ray
Panmunjom
Brando
The King And I
(and) The Catcher In The Rye
Eisenhower
Vaccine
England's got a new queen
Marciano
Liberace
Santayana goodbye

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Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

Music for Makers

We Didn't Start the Fire 1949-1950: Harry Truman through Marilyn Monroe (TSB052) Apr 17, 2017

Show notes

Consider this series to be like a substitute teacher. We won't go as in-depth as in previous episodes, but we'll briefly touch of a number of different topics in each episode. This series focuses on Billy Joel's song "We Didn't Start the Fire" and the headline-making events and people he mentions. Some content may not be suitable for all listeners.

I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind We Didn't Start The Fire: 1949-1950.

In this episode:

Harry Truman
Doris Day
Red China
Johnnie Ray
South Pacific
Walter Winchell
Joe DiMaggio
Joe McCarthy
Richard Nixon
Studebaker
Television
North Korea/South Korea
Marilyn Monroe

Follow The Story Behind: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website

Check out #PodernFamily on Twitter to find other great indie podcasts like this one.

If you enjoy podcasts about history, literature, archeology, and the arts, check out the hashtag #HumanitiesPodcasts on Twitter to find more podcasts like this one.

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

Music for Makers

We Didn't Start the Fire | Introduction (WDSTF Series, TSB051) Apr 13, 2017

Show notes

If you're hearing this episode around the time it comes out, it means I've gone into labor and, quite possibly, have already had the baby that's been using me as a human punching bag for the last few months.

I've recorded these ahead of time and most likely will not be available on social media for the next few weeks, but you'll still get The Story Behind twice a week if you're subscribed to the podcast.

Consider this series to be like a substitute teacher. We won't go as in-depth as in previous episodes, but we'll briefly touch of a number of different topics in each episode.

As much as certain history teachers have gotten me excited about learning about history (and, really, it was only two from high school, Mr. Cehovsky and Mr. Patrick) -- it was a singer-songwriter's lyrics that made me become interested in learning the history behind a number of different topics to have a working knowledge of them -- even if it was just so I knew what I was talking about when I sang a certain song by this musician. And that musician was Billy Joel.

I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind: The Introduction to the We Didn't Start The Fire Series.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE FULL SERIES

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Check out #PodernFamily on Twitter to find other great indie podcasts like this one.

If you enjoy podcasts about history, literature, archeology, and the arts, check out the hashtag #HumanitiesPodcasts on Twitter to find more podcasts like this one.

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

Music for Makers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx3T8pbDcms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g

(Ryan Started the Fire) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lueRaOwFK0Q

EXTRA:

"The Office" Ryan Started the Fire Extended Cut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPcuwZlJShE

Sources:

http://www.school-for-champions.com/history/start_fire_facts.htm#.WEgmuPn491l

https://www.billyjoel.com/biography/

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KC4n_R-eGLawJNZPvVFvgIgK7qkukPq0GWvuAdeWqD0/edit

http://www.billboard.com/artist/284376/billy-joel/chart

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Joel_discography

The Stanley Cup | Lord Stanley, NHL Play-Offs, New York Rangers (TSB050) Apr 10, 2017

Show notes

When I planned on taking a baby break, I planned on doing my two tech week podcasts last week and then scheduling my upcoming series, but then my husband reminded me I had the idea a while back to do this episode as the NHL play-offs are about to start.

In this episode, I'll be talking about the history of the oldest trophy in professional sports, its origins and evolutions, and what the winners have since done with the trophy.

I'm your host, Emily Prokop, with my husband, Mark, and this is The Story Behind The Stanley Cup

Enjoy the bloopers at the end!

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Check out #PodernFamily on Twitter to find other great indie podcasts like this one.

If you enjoy podcasts about history, literature, archeology, and the arts, check out the hashtag #HumanitiesPodcasts on Twitter to find more podcasts like this one.

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

Music for Makers

Sources:

http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1902111,00.html

https://www.nhl.com/news/stanley-cup-timeline-from-1892-to-today/c-660570

http://mentalfloss.com/article/51140/22-things-you-might-not-know-about-stanley-cup

https://twitter.com/keeperofthecup

https://www.hhof.com/htmlSTCjournal/exSCJ_main.shtml

https://www.hhof.com/htmlSilverware/silver_splashstanleycup.shtml

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-stanley-cup-championship-played

https://www.nhl.com/news/some-stanley-cup-celebrations-lead-to-trouble/c-660572

https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2017/03/17/getting-to-know-the-stanley-cup-better.html

https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/stanley-cup-1994-rangers-strippers-bivalves-rock-and-roll

Mechanical Keyboards | From Typewriters to PC Gaming (TSB049) Apr 06, 2017

Show notes

You know how people are fond of a certain pen? Like, I happen to have a preference for the Pilot Precise V5s, while my husband always buys the Pilot G-2 07.

Well, when I asked him for gadget ideas for my collaboration with Home Gadget Geeks back in February, the first thing that popped into his mind was the topic for this episode. He's a bit of a gamer and, like we have our preferences for pens, apparently, in the PC gaming world, there are enthusiasts who love finding just the right clickiness factor.

In this episode, we'll look at the progression from typewriters to computers and how this common link between them has evolved over time.

I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Mechanical Keyboards.

Listen to the episode of Home Gadget Geeks I was a guest on with Jim Collison for more information on Voice Recognition and Mechanical Keyboards!

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Check out #PodernFamily on Twitter to find other great indie podcasts like this one.

If you enjoy podcasts about history, literature, archeology, and the arts, check out the hashtag #HumanitiesPodcasts on Twitter to find more podcasts like this one.

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

Music for Makers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Typing_-_Model_F_122_1984.ogg

Sources:

http://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/736-history-of-mechanical-keyboards.html#s2

http://www.mechtype.com/buckling-spring-origin-of-mechanical-keyboards/

http://www.mechtype.com/the-history-of-mechanical-keyboards/

http://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-history.html

http://mashable.com/2012/09/18/qwerty-keyboard/#hdFxpris6gqZ

http://www.etypewriters.com/history.htm

http://www.rtty.com/CODECARD/codecrd1.htm

Voice Recognition | Basic Computers, Creepy '80s Dolls, Moviefone and More (TSB048) Apr 03, 2017

Show notes

Welcome to Tech Week! This is one of the last weeks of The Story Behind before I officially go on Baby Break, but this week was planned way back in January when Jim Collison from Home Gadget Geeks reached out and wanted to do a collaboration of his show and mine. Here's the link to the episode of Home Gadget Geeks from Thursday, February 9th.

In this episode, I'll be talking about … well, actually, let me have Siri tell you what I'll be talking about.

Siri: Emily will be talking about my history. Starting with my ancestors, computers that would take up whole rooms with the function of being able to recognize a handful of spoken words, through the technology we know today.

Here is your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Voice Recognition

Follow The Story Behind: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website

Check out #PodernFamily on Twitter to find other great indie podcasts like this one.

If you enjoy podcasts about history, literature, archeology, and the arts, check out the hashtag #HumanitiesPodcasts on Twitter to find more podcasts like this one.

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

Music for Makers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyXegCueV88

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/moviefone-company-launches-search-replace-iconic-voice-23586976

Sources:

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/high-tech-gadgets/speech-recognition1.htm

http://www.pcworld.com/article/243060/speech_recognition_through_the_decades_how_we_ended_up_with_siri.html?page=2

https://astaspeaks.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/audrey-the-first-speech-recognition-system/

http://www.itbusiness.ca/news/history-of-voice-recognition-from-audrey-to-siri/15008

http://www.ece.ucsb.edu/Faculty/Rabiner/ece259/Reprints/354_LALI-ASRHistory-final-10-8.pdf

https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/the-history-of-voice-recognition

https://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/specialprod1/specialprod1_7.html

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/BELLSOUTH+TESTS+NEW+VOICE+RECOGNITION+SERVICE+IN+TWO+FLORIDA+MARKETS-a018444708

https://www.automatedliving.com/

http://beebom.com/amazon-echo-alternatives/

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/21/tech/innovation/female-computer-voices/

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/04/tech/mobile/bennett-siri-iphone-voice/index.html

April Fool's Day | Special Mini-Sode Apr 01, 2017

Show notes

If you're a podcaster or an aspiring podcaster, I can't recommend Libsyn enough for hosting. And when Elsie Escobar, from Libsyn's The Feed and She Podcasts, reached out and suggested I do an episode on this topic, of course I jumped at the chance. Plus, her question piqued my own curiosity in the quasi-holiday we celebrate today.

Because I'm releasing this episode separate from my regular episode schedule, this is a reminder to subscribe to The Story Behind on your favorite podcast app so when I do release special episodes, you'll be sure to get them as soon as they come out.

I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind April Fool's Day.

Check out #PodernFamily on Twitter to find other great indie podcasts like this one.

If you enjoy podcasts about history, literature, archeology, and the arts, check out the hashtag #HumanitiesPodcasts on Twitter to find more podcasts like this one.

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

Music for Makers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVo_wkxH9dU

Sources:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-fools-tradition-popularized

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Hilaria

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/aprilfools/origins.asp

http://hoaxes.org/aprilfool/

Wedding Luck & Superstitions | Wearing White, Bridesmaids, Rings, Rice, Cake and More (TSB047) Mar 30, 2017

Show notes

Ever wonder why brides wear white or why they wear veils? Or maybe what the point of bridesmaids were and why they're dressed alike? There are tons of wedding traditions you probably dismissed as being just that -- traditions, but in fact, many of them stemmed from superstitions.

It was hard to stick to just a few for this episode. So we're going to touch on a bunch.

For the month of March, I'll be looking at the stories behind common superstitions and symbols of luck.

I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Wedding Luck and Superstitions

This episode is dedicated to my friend Tracy and her soon-to-be husband Chris who are getting married in a few short weeks. (I have yet to consult Emily Post to see if dedicating a podcast episode is considered a good wedding present, though.)

Love this series? GET THE CD! The entire Luck & Superstitions series is available on CD -- the perfect gift for people who love trivia but aren't into podcasts (yet). http://kunaki.com/sales.asp?PID=PX00ZI65G5

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Like this series? BUY THE CD of the entire Luck & Superstition Series!

Got a favorite podcast? Use the hashtag #TryPod to let others know about it through the month of March.

Check out #PodernFamily on Twitter to find other great indie podcasts like this one.

If you enjoy podcasts about history, literature, archeology, and the arts, check out the hashtag #HumanitiesPodcasts on Twitter to find more podcasts like this one.

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

Music for Makers

Sources:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/queen-victoria-sparked-white-wedding-dress-trend-1840-180953550/

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/06/living/matrimony-superstitions/

http://superstitiondictionary.com/wedding-superstitions-good-and-bad-luck/

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/advice/a4572/ridiculous-wedding-superstitions/

http://www.snopes.com/weddings/customs/dress.asp

http://www.snopes.com/weddings/customs/notsee.asp

http://www.snopes.com/weddings/customs/bridesmaid.asp

http://www.snopes.com/weddings/customs/ring.asp

http://www.snopes.com/weddings/customs/cake.asp

http://mentalfloss.com/article/57821/21-historical-roles-and-responsibilities-wedding-party

http://www.brides.com/story/wedding-superstitions-what-they-mean

http://mentalfloss.com/article/18915/bizarre-origins-8-wedding-traditions

http://people.howstuffworks.com/groom-carry-bride1.htm

Luck in the Home | Opening an Umbrella Indoors, Breaking a Mirror, Walking Under a Ladder, Horseshoes (TSB046) Mar 27, 2017

Show notes

Ever wonder why it's bad luck to open an umbrella indoors? Or why breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck? Or why you shouldn't walk under a ladder? Or maybe you've always wondered why horseshoes are said to bring luck.

For the month of March, I'll be looking at the stories behind common superstitions and symbols of luck.

I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Luck in the Home.

Follow The Story Behind: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website

Got a favorite podcast? Use the hashtag #TryPod to let others know about it through the month of March.

Check out #PodernFamily on Twitter to find other great indie podcasts like this one.

If you enjoy podcasts about history, literature, archeology, and the arts, check out the hashtag #HumanitiesPodcasts on Twitter to find more podcasts like this one.

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

Music for Makers

Sources:

http://www.snopes.com/luck/superstition/breakmirror.asp

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/is-it-bad-luck-to-open-an-umbrella-indoors-2

http://people.howstuffworks.com/open-umbrella-indoors.htm

http://www.livescience.com/33179-does-human-body-replace-cells-seven-years.html

http://www.brainjet.com/random/1182/how-9-famous-superstitions-came-to-be/

http://www.mirrorhistory.com/mirror-facts/broken-mirror/

http://psychiclibrary.com/beyondBooks/ladder-superstition/

http://people.howstuffworks.com/why-is-walking-under-ladder-unlucky.htm

http://goodlucksymbols.com/good-luck-horseshoe/

http://www.csicop.org/superstition/library/horseshoes

http://www.livescience.com/33116-lucky-horseshoes.html

Lucky Food | Throwing Salt Over the Shoulder, Protective Garlic, the Incredible Egg (TSB045) Mar 23, 2017

Show notes

Ever wonder why you're supposed to throw salt over your shoulder if you spill some? Or why garlic is said to be protection against vampires? Or just how many superstitions are linked to the egg?

For the month of March, I'll be looking at the stories behind common superstitions and symbols of luck.

I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Lucky Food.

The role of Aristotle was played by Ryan from Kuldrin's Krypt.

Follow The Story Behind: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Website

Got a favorite podcast? Use the hashtag #TryPod to let others know about it through the month of March.

Check out #PodernFamily on Twitter to find other great indie podcasts like this one.

If you enjoy podcasts about history, literature, archeology, and the arts, check out the hashtag #HumanitiesPodcasts on Twitter to find more podcasts like this one.

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

Music for Makers

Sources:

https://www.thoughtco.com/salt-folklore-and-magic-2562502

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/worth-ones-salt.html

http://www.cracked.com/article_21686_5-awesome-technologies-created-by-ancient-civilizations.html

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/bible-stories/2/lots-wife/

http://people.howstuffworks.com/why-do-people-throw-salt-over-shoulders.htm

http://listverse.com/2009/03/25/10-odd-superstitions-about-food/

http://www.rd.com/health/beauty/13-surprising-benefits-of-garlic/

https://books.google.com/books?id=YHCCX5B77MYC&pg=PA20&lpg=PA20&dq=Mohammedan+garden+of+eden+garlic+onion&source=bl&ots=R0P6IOC-Sd&sig=QdA5O8K43GwoeOH7XDOxak5Oeds&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjV5cLNjcrSAhVBVmMKHYGED9UQ6AEIOjAC#v=onepage&q=Mohammedan%20garden%20of%20eden%20garlic%20onion&f=false