The Story Behind

Latest Episodes:

Gunpowder | 'Cause Baby You're a Firework (TSB004) Nov 03, 2016

Show notes

There's a lot of talk about the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms, this election season. Gun control has been a hot-button topic in politics for many years, and has seemed to increase in being discussed, as well as what the Founding Fathers could have meant when they wrote that amendment back before there were such things as assault weapons and nuclear bombs.

But we're going way back before all that in this episode -- starting with trying to find the Elixir of Life to the creation of fireworks to weaponry of the middle ages and how a plot to overthrow the King became a holiday still celebrated today. I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Gunpowder.

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

The role of Guy Fawkes was played by Paul from the podcast, Rick and Paul Heal the World.

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

Music for Makers

Sources:

http://www.history.com/shows/mankind-the-story-of-all-of-us/videos/mankind-the-story-of-all-of-us-gunpowder-to-guns

http://kaleidoscope.cultural-china.com/en/10Kaleidoscope8482.html

http://www.livescience.com/7476-gunpowder-changed-world.html

https://epicfireworks.com/history-of-gunpowder

http://www.history.com/topics/gunpowder-plot

http://www.potw.org/archive/potw405.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/bonfire-night-why-do-we-celebrate-with-firework-displays-who-was/

Sugar Skulls | A Sweet Mexican Tradition (TSB003) Oct 31, 2016

Show notes

If you were a child growing up in the U.S., you likely remember the feeling of waking up with a sugar hangover on November 1st, after walking all night to fill up your bucket with Halloween candy and eating too many, only to have a sugar rush that night, followed by a major crash. The last thing you'll want to do that day is look at any more sugar. Unless you happen to visit Mexico, Latin America or live in one of the South-West states that celebrates Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, with traditional sugar skulls.

In this episode, we'll be talking about the significance of skulls in remembering those who have died, combining ancient religious celebrations with traditions of early settlers, and the sweet happenstance of using sugar as a means of decoration. I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is the story behind Sugar Skulls.

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

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

"Pueblo Duerme" by La Barca de Sua

"Los Besos De Mi Negra" by Lydia Mendoza

"Nova Zemja" by Ansambl Mastika

Sources: http://www.encyclopedia.com/social-sciences-and-law/sociology-and-social-reform/sociology-general-terms-and-concepts/memento http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/support/dodhistory.html http://nationalgeographic.org/media/dia-de-los-muertos/ http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/day-of-the-dead-sweets-and-treats http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/support/faqs.html http://www.art-is-fun.com/mexican-sugar-skull/ http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/holidays/day-of-the-dead/2014/09/24/day-of-the-dead-history/16174911/

Dry Ice | Science We Didn't Know What To Do With (TSB002) Oct 31, 2016

Show notes

Dry ice. The name, itself, seems like an oxymoron. Ice is made of water, and for the most part, there should be a wet mess left behind when it melts, right? Maybe you saw it for the first time in middle school in a science class -- depending on your age, maybe you were even allowed to handle it. I doubt nowadays, with all the lawsuits, kids would have the glory of hearing that faint sizzle while envisioning themselves as the greatest sorcerer who ever lived.

In this episode, we'll be talking about how a product exists that has the potential for such danger has become so ubiquitous as to be used in fire extinguishers, Halloween decorations and haunted graveyard attractions, water bottle bombs at Disney and even cause a crying Sorority girl to go viral. I'm your host, Emily Prokop, and this is The Story Behind Dry Ice.

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

Click here to support this podcast on Patreon.

Media:

MusicForMakers.com

Sources:

http://www.dryicecorp.com/many-uses-of-dry-ice/the-history-of-dry-ice/

http://dryiceinfo.com/history.htm

http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/science-questions/question264.htm

http://science.howstuffworks.com/touched-dry-ice.htm

http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/i-just-wanted-to-make-it-snow

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/nov/04/local/la-me-ln-disneyland-dry-ice-bombs-guilty-20131104

Extras Oct 17, 2016

Show notes

The Story Behind Spotify Playlist

A playlist of some of the songs and/or artists mentioned in The Story Behind, you know, just in case you wanted a playlist that included both the Star Trek theme song (The Story Behind the Theremin) and Judas Priest (The Story Behind We Didn't Start the Fire: 1964-1989, Part 2).

The Story Behind Gear Page

Show off your Trivia Buff status with official gear from The Story Behind from our TeePublic Store or at TheStoryBehindPodcast.com/Gear! Get T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, onesies or even a Trivia Buff notebook to record all the cool trivia you pick up during the day.

**Keep checking back for more extras!**

About/Contact Oct 16, 2016

Show notes

About the show

The Story Behind™ focuses on the extraordinary history of the ordinary. Each episode is usually less than 10 minutes long and explores the origins and evolution of an item, person or idea you may know today. The stories are told as accurately as possible, sourced from books and articles about that particular topic. There's a story behind everything, and once you learn that story, you just may appreciate your world a bit more.

About the host

Emily Prokop holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and has worked in newspapers, magazines, and publishing, and has always loved trivia, fun facts and useless knowledge. In 2015, she and her friend James decided to use their penchant for collecting trivia by hosting the Classy Little Podcast. When that show ended a year later, the trivia started building up in her brain again, not to mention countless time spent falling down Google rabbit holes. With that, plus a lot of coaxing from Nick from the Epic Film Guys podcast, she got behind the mic again and The Story Behind was born.

Contact

Twitter: @StoryBehindPod

Facebook: @StoryBehindPod

Instagram: storybehindpod

Email: TheStoryBehindPod@gmail.com

Appearances

Hear some of the other podcasts Emily has been a guest on. LIST OF APPEARANCES

The Story Behind Media Kit

Subscribe to The Story Behind Oct 16, 2016

Show notes

You can find The Story Behind on whatever app you use to listen to podcasts, or click the buttons below to subscribe.

Sorry The Story Behind is no longer available on Spotify as of January 2022.

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The Story Behind Book is HERE! Oct 14, 2016

Show notes

Love the podcast, but wish you could read along? Grab your copy of The Story Behind book!

The Story Behind book has 30 chapters that were also episodes of the show, and 20 chapters you WON'T hear on the podcast!

The Story Behind book brings the podcast onto your bookshelf (or in your bathroom — don't worry, I made sure to mention this is a great bathroom book in the Introduction 😉).

But you're welcome to take it along as a traveling companion. The Story Behind is quite lightweight and travels easily. It also doesn't require much food or water. (Caution: Dark cover. May get hot if reading in direct sunlight.)

Places you can bring your copy of The Story Behind:

Coffeeshop
Train station
Airport
Mechanic
Doctors offices
On the bus
Seriously, where oh where can The Story Behind book NOT go?!

If you do plan on bringing The Story Behind book on your next trip, be sure to take a picture of you and the book and tag The Story Behind on social media!

Twitter: @StoryBehindPod

Instagram: @StoryBehindPod

Get your copy today!

I would love it if you would spread the word about the book, and if you use Amazon Associates, feel free to make an affiliate link for yourself!

Support Oct 13, 2016

Show notes

The best way you can support the show is by telling others about it.

"Who should I tell?"

Trivia nerds
History buffs
Podcast lovers
Friends
Family
Coworkers
Your barista
Your mailman
Your hairdresser
People on Twitter
People on Facebook
People on whatever social media is currently used by all the cool kids like you

"Nah, I don't want to socialize."

Fair enough. Just subscribing and enjoying is support enough, and you're awesome in my book. :)

I also have a Patreon page for those who would like to contribute to recording equipment, hosting fees, and all that other behind-the-scenes stuff that goes into a podcast.

Just a note: I love this hobby, I'm not looking to make a living off of it so I never want to give off the impression that the only reason I'm doing this podcast is to make money (I sincerely dislike those types of podcasters, in fact).

If you contribute, I am eternally grateful and will think of you warmly every night as I drift to sleep. But I am also eternally grateful to anyone who gives this a listen and learns something new from it -- and I'd love to hear how you've used that knowledge! Please contact me through Twitter or email or anything else on the Contact Page to let me know. :)

Thanks!

Binge Oct 13, 2016

Show notes

Want to listen to all the episodes of The Story Behind? This is the place! Listen from your browser to any and all episodes by pressing play, ordered from most recent -- don't worry, there's not really an order to episodes, aside from the occasional two-parter.

Check out the full #ForrestGumpFebruary Series http://thestorybehindpodcast.com/forrest-gump-february-series-2017

Check out the full Luck & Superstitions Series: http://thestorybehindpodcast.com/luck-superstitions-series

Check out the full We Didn't Start the Fire Series: http://thestorybehindpodcast.com/we-didnt-start-the-fire-series

Gear Oct 12, 2016

Show notes

Show off your Trivia Buff status with official gear from The Story Behind from our TeePublic Store! Get T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, onesies or even a Trivia Buff notebook to record all the cool trivia you pick up during the day.

The Story Behind Cover Art Shirt *Additional Colors and Styles Available* - $20

The Story Behind Trivia Buff Shirt *Additional Colors and Styles Available* - $20

The Story Behind Trivia Buff Title Shirt *Additional Colors and Styles Available* - $20

The Story Behind Trivia Buff Mug - $15

The Story Behind Trivia Buff Title Mug - $15

The Story Behind Trivia Buff Notebook *Additional Styles Available* - $12

Stickers - $2.50 Brown Title Sticker / Blue Title Sticker