History Dispatches

On Dec. 5, 1952, a thick layer of smog settled over the city of London - which was not an unusual thing. But due to cold weather, windless conditions and collected airborne pollutants - this fog remained until Dec. 9. The result was England’s worst Air Pollution disaster ever - with more than 10,000 people dying from respiratory issues. This is the story of the Great Smog of London. Sources https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/london-stories/the-great-smog-of-1952/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Smog_of_London The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In late 1788, an Austrian army on the march came across some people selling large quantities of alcohol. When the cavalry started buying the liquor, the infantry wanted in on the action. But some people don’t like to share, and when shots were fired, the melee descended into one of the worst friendly fire incidents in history. This is the story of the Battle of Karánsebes. Sources "The Brassey's Book of Military Blunders" by Geoffrey Regan Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kar%C3%A1nsebes Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:II._Jozsef_es_katonai_1787-ben.JPG The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Teddy bears are cute and cuddly. Children cling to them for comfort. They have inspired countless books and stories and songs. They are the backbone of a $12 billion industry. Most of us probably know the Teddy Bear is named after a beloved US President - but beyond that - what do we really know? This is the story of the Teddy Bear. Sources https://corporate.steiff.com/en/steiff-teddy/history/ https://www.nps.gov/thrb/learn/historyculture/storyofteddybear.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy_bear Image @ Matt Breen The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Silverman from the Useless Information Podcast joins us to tell the story of a gruesome and unusual murder. In Denver, Colorado, 1941, a man was found murdered in his own home. The weird part - all the doors and windows were locked from the inside. The question - how was the killer able to make his getaway. This is the story of the Denver Spiderman. Steve Silverman, Useless Information Podcast - https://uselessinformation.org Image: https://www.pexels.com/photo/low-angle-view-of-man-standing-at-night-316681/ The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Dec. 6, 1917, the French cargo ship SS Mont-Blanc collided with a Norwegian vessel in the harbor of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Mont-Blanc, loaded with high explosives, caught fire and exploded, devastating the Richmond district of Halifax. Nearly 1800 people were killed, and 9,000 injured. The blast was the largest human-made explosion at the time. Sources The Canadian Encyclopedia - https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/halifax-explosion Maritime Museum of the Atlantic - https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Halifax_Explosion_-_harbour_view_-_restored.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Liberty Bell is one of the most iconic pieces of American symbolism. Despite a crack that has rendered it useless for over a century, it still represents American liberty and freedom. But why? This is the story of the Liberty Bell. Sources National Park Service - https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/stories-libertybell.htm US History.org - https://www.ushistory.org/libertybell/ Image by William Zhang: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Liberty_Bell_2017a.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On September 19, 1803, Irishman Robert Emmet was convicted of treason for his role in a failed uprising earlier that year. Accordingly, Emmet was executed - another in a long line of Irish rebels. Except Robert Emmet did one thing that would bring him lasting fame. At his trial, he gave an impassioned speech - one of the finest - that would inspire Irish nationalists to this day. This is the story of Robert Emmet and his famed Speech from the Dock. Sources Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Emmet Speech from the Dock: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Speech_from_the_Dock_(Emmet) Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RobertEmmetWatercolor.png The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1911, a man disguised as a maintenance worked walked into the Louvre right before it opened. He proceeded to steal the Mona Lisa, and go uncaught for two years. The theft turned the painting from well-known, to the most famous work of art in history. This is the story of the theft of the Mona Lisa. Sources "The Thefts of the Mona Lisa" by Noah Charney Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa#/media/File:Mona_Lisa,_by_Leonardo_da_Vinci,_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On June 30, 1945, the USS Indianapolis was returning from a secret mission - the delivery of the nuclear bomb that would ultimately be dropped on Hiroshima. In the early morning hours the cruiser was struck by two torpedoes. The ship sank in 12 minutes. Nearly 1200 men went into the ocean. Only 316 came out alive. This is the story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. Sources "The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis Triggered the Worst Shark Attack in History - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/sinking-uss-indianapolis-triggered-worst-shark-attack-history-25715092/ Surviving the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis - https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/surviving-sinking-uss-indianapolis Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Indianapolis_(CA-35)" Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Indianapolis_(CA-35)_underway_in_1944_(stbd).jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before 1860 to send a letter from the east to west coast would take months. However, in April of 1860 the Pony Express was created, and riders on horseback could cross the American frontier in just 10 days. This extreme feat would become ever enshrined in the American West. This is the story of the Pony Express. Sources "The Saga of the Pony Express" by Joseph J. Di Certo Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pony_Express#/media/File:Pony_Express_Poster.jpg just the top portion The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Ark of the Covenant was one of the most sacred objects to the Israelites. It represented God's presence on Earth. Yet most people’s knowledge of the ark comes from a movie - Raiders of the Lost Ark. So what exactly was the fabled Ark of the Covenant? Sources "What is the Ark of the Covenant? - https://www.livescience.com/64932-the-ark-of-the-covenant.html Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant" Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Benjamin_West_-_Joshua_passing_the_River_Jordan_with_the_Ark_of_the_Covenant_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2011-2012, a gang of thieves orchestrated the theft of 3000 tons of maple syrup - valued at nearly $19m Canadian dollars - from a storage facility in Quebec. Adjusted for inflation, it is the biggest theft in Canadian history. This is the story of the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. Sources The Sweetest Heist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adCQ9cwYA8o Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Canadian_Maple_Syrup_Heist ‘The Sticky’ true story: Inside the real Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist - https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/the-sticky-true-story-canadian-maple-syrup-heist-rcna182982 The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Catherine of Aragon and Henry the VIII have one of the most important marriages, and divorces in history. But why did it take Henry separating England from the Catholic Church to do something as simple as a divorce? Turns out Cathrine was a shrewd and feisty woman that did everything to protect her position. This is the story of the divorce of Cathrine of Aragon. Sources "Catherine of Aragon: The Spanish Queen of Henry VIII" by Giles Tremlett Katherine of Aragon: https://www.hrp.org.uk/hampton-court-palace/history-and-stories/katherine-of-aragon/#gs.ln8ows Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catherine_of_Aragon_(1485-1536).jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the night of June 30, 1520, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes and his troops attempted to escape from Tenochtitlan. The Spanish loaded themselves down with eight tons of treasure. However, their escape didn't go well. The result was what the Spanish called La Noche Triste - the Night of Sorrows. At least half of Cortes’ men were killed - and all the loot was gone. This is the story of Moctezuma’s Gold. Sources Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Sad_Night_(Noche_Triste)_(Conquest_of_Mexico)_Painting.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

October 8, 1871, the same night as the Chicago Fire, a massive blaze was spreading a few hundred miles north. It would level millions of acres, and claim more than 1200 lives, making it history's deadliest wildfire. This is the story of the Peshtigo Fire. Sources "The Great Peshtigo Fire; An Eyewitness Account" by Peter Pernin Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peshtigo_fire Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Peshtigo_Fire_showing_people_seeking_refuge_in_the_Peshtigo_River.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On October 8, 1871, the city of Chicago was mired in a drought with only one inch of rain over the past three months. And it was in these dry, parched and windy conditions that a fire started. It would rage for two full days, killing more than 300 people, consuming 17,500 buildings and homes, and cause more than $220 million in damage. This is the story of the Great Chicago Fire. Sources The Great Chicago Fire and the Web of Memory: https://greatchicagofire.org Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chicago_Fire Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chicago_in_Flames_by_Currier_%26_Ives,_1871_(cropped).jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 404 BC, democracy was in tatters. Athens was under the control of tyrants and hope was draining. But one man, Thrasybulus, would defy the odds, return from exile, and restore democracy to Athens. Sources "Thrasybulus and the Athenian Democracy: the Life of an Athenian Statesman" by R J Buck Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrasybulus Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bust_of_%22Thrasybulus_Athenienses%22_1935_-_1080x1350.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From 1938-1942, Glenn Miller and his Orchestra had 16 number one records and 69 top 10 hits. He was one of the most popular musicians of the era. And then, in December of 1944, Miller boarded a plane in England bound for Paris. He was never seen again. This is the story of the death of band leader Glenn Miller. Sources National Museum of the United States Air Force: https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196150/maj-glenn-miller-army-air-force-band/ NPR: 80 years later, Glenn Miller's sudden disappearance remains unsolved - https://www.npr.org/2024/12/13/nx-s1-5206680/glenn-miller-disappearance-unsolved-80-years-later Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Miller Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glenn_Miller_Billboard.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first decade of the 1800s the South China Sea became a hotbed for piracy, with the largest pirate fleet ever assembled defeating the Chinese and Portuguese navy. This fleet was led by an unlikely admiral - the prostitute turned pirate queen Zheng Yi Sao. Sources "Pirates of the South China Coast, 1790–1810", by Dian Murray Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E9%84%AD%E4%B8%80%E5%AB%82.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On August 27, 1883, the volcanic island of Krakatoa exploded. It was a blast heard more than 3,000 miles away. 70% of the island and its surrounding archipelago were destroyed. More than 36,000 people died. It is one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history. This is the 1883 Eruption of Krakatoa. Sources The Atlantic: The Volcanic Eruption of Krakatoa: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1884/09/the-volcanic-eruption-of-krakatoa/376174/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1883_eruption_of_Krakatoa Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:De_uitbarsting_van_de_Krakatau,_KITLV_5888.tiff?page=1 The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1887, Pleasant Valley, Arizona, became the battlefield for the bloodiest feud in American history. It would leave dozens dead, and slaughter two entire families. This is the Pleasant Valley War. Sources "Pleasant Valley War" by Jinx Pyle Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleasant_Valley_War#/media/File:Grabill_-_The_Cow_Boy.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Throughout history there has only been one woman to rule the Chinese empire. This was Wu Zetian - who rose from the rank of imperial concubine - to that of emperor of China. Her rise to power was a very bloody trip. Sources "Empress Wu Zetian: the only woman to rule China, and who would be hated for it" - https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/empress-wu-zetian-china-rule-life-reputation/ "Wu Zhao: Ruler of Tang Dynasty China" - https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/wu-zhao-ruler-of-tang-dynasty-china/" Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Zetian The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the mid-1850's a young man named Joshua Glover was a slave in Missouri. He would escape, and settle in Wisconsin - only to be recaptured, freed by an abolitionist mob, and escape again to Canada once and for all. His story caused a clash between federal and state courts, and helped spark the establishment of the Republican Party - who main goal was to end slavery in America. Sources "Finding Freedom: The Untold Story of Joshua Glover, Runaway Slave" by Walter T. McDonald, Ruby West JacksonFile:Prison_Break_of_Fugitive_Slave_Joshua_Glover.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On July 10, 1985, in the harbor of Auckland, New Zealand, a bomb planted on the Greenpeace ship - the Rainbow Warrior - went off - opening a hole in her hull. A few minutes later, another bomb exploded. The ship sank within minutes - and one person was dead. So who was behind the bombing? Extremists of some kind? Political enemies? The answer would shock the world. Sources "The Bombing of the Rainbow Warrior" - https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/about/our-history/bombing-of-the-rainbow-warrior/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinking_of_the_Rainbow_Warrior Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schip_Rainbow_Warrior_van_Greenpeace_in_Scheveningen,_Bestanddeelnr_930-2632.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1419, Jan Žižka would help lead the Hussite Revolution. He led armies of peasants against professional knights using amazing tactics, and gunpowder, cementing himself as one of history's greatest military commanders. Sources "Warrior of God: Jan Zizka and the Hussite Revolution" by Victor Verney Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_%C5%BDi%C5%BEka#/media/File:Zizka_tabor_statue.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In August, 1945, the Japanese government was on the verge of surrendering to Allied forces - and ending WWII. But on the night of August 14-15, a group of Japanese officers went into action. Their plan was to take the emperor hostage, and scuttle peace talks - and thus continue the war - which would have likely cost the Allies hundreds of thousands of lives - and the Japanese - millions. Sources The Kyujo Incident: The Coup that Almost Kept Japan in WWII - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUM2ccfQJMc Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyūjō_incident Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Major_Kenji_Hatanaka.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the 1950s through the 1970s, a David and Goliath story would play out across the North Atlantic. The United Kingdom and Iceland engaged in a viscous dispute over fishing rights. And the winner may surprise you. This is the story of the Cod Wars. Sources "How Iceland Beat the British in the Four Cod Wars" - https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-were-cod-wars "The Cod Wars explained: The conflict between Iceland and Britain" - https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-cod-wars-explained-the-conflict-between-iceland-and-britain "Cod wars and how to lose them" by Andrew Gilchrist Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scylla-Odinn.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On an April morning in Boston in 1966, despite being told she was physically incapable of running 20+ miles, Bobbi Gibb slipped into the crowd of 500 runners. Three hours and 21 minutes later, she became the first woman to ever run the fabled Boston Marathon. Sources Bobbi Gibb Marathon Pioneer: https://www.sportsmuseum.org/curators-corner/bobbi-gibb-marathon-pioneer/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobbi_Gibb "A Run of One's Own" by Roberta 'Bobbi' Gibb: http://www.runningpast.com/gibb_story.htm The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1917, Germany was desperate to keep the United States out of World War I - even as they prepared to launch unrestricted submarine warfare on all shipping in the European theater. To that end, German officials sent a telegram to the Mexican government, proposing they declare war of the United States - tying up American resources. The only problem was the message was intercepted and the plot exposed - causing the plan to completely backfire. Sources "Documents that changed the way we live" by Joseph Janes Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimmermann_telegram Image: File:Zimmermann_Telegram_as_Received_by_the_German_Ambassador_to_Mexico_-_NARA_-_302025.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1855, an American newspaperman, lawyer and doctor, William Walker, led a small, private army to Central America, and within a year, was recognized as the President of Nicaragua. Walker’s actions would unite people from five nations to rise up against him. This is the story of the Filibuster War. Sources "William Walker's Wars" by Scott Martelle Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Walker_(filibuster) Image - Library of Congress: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Walker_by_Brady.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over 4,000 years ago, the high priestess Enheduanna put pen to clay and wrote the Exaltation of Inanna, making her the earliest known named author in world history. Sources "Documents that changed the way we live" by Joseph Janes Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enheduanna Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Disk_of_Enheduanna.JPG The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the early 2000's, Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour took to the skies piloting a Cobra heliocopter, defying the odds of everyone saying she can't. This is the story of Captain Vernice Armour, the first African-American female combat pilot. Sources https://www.unsungheroeseducation.com/Transcripts/Vernice%20Armour%20Interviews.pdf Image (cropped from original): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USMC-120518-M-HF911-372.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In May of 1527, 20,000 mutinous soldiers of Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire descended on Rome. What would follow was the absolute devastation of the city and its population, the gutting of the power of the Papacy, and the end of the High Renaissance era. Sources Medievalists.net: https://www.medievalists.net/2022/06/sack-rome-1527/ Smart History: https://smarthistory.org/sack-of-rome/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Rome_(1527) Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Sack_of_Rome.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first months of WWII, millions of Polish citizens and soldiers were deported to the Soviet Union. As prisoners of war, hundreds of thousands perished from cold, starvation and execution. But after the German invasion of Russia, these exiles and prisoners were crafted into an army to fight the Nazis. The man to lead them was Wladyslaw Anders. This is the tale of Ander’s exiled Polish army. Sources "An Army in Exile: The Story of the Second Polish Corps" by Władysław Anders Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C5%82adys%C5%82aw_Anders Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Władysław_Anders.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sidi Mubarak Bombay grew up a slave - taken from his home in Africa to India. But that didn't stop him from being one of the most accomplished explorers and travelers of Central Africa. Over a period of 20 years, Bombay traveled = with the most famous African explorers, including Richard Francis Burton, Henry Morton Stanley, David Livingston, and Richard Speke. Sources Black Past: https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/sidi-mubarak-bombay-a-k-a-mbarak-mombee-1820-1885/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidi_Mubarak_Bombay Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/66/Sidi_Mubarak_Bombay._Across_Africa_%281877%29.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The year was 865 AD, and the largest viking army ever assembled landed on the shores of England. What ensued was 20 years of pillage and conquest that was only stopped by the young king of Wessex, Alfred the Great. Sources "Alfred the Great" by David J. Sturdy Image: Author and @Steve Daniels - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_of_King_Alfred_in_Wantage_Market_Square.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On July 15, 1799, French soldiers discovered a large stone slab along the Nile Delta. They knew it was something special. But no one at the time realized it was the key to opening up the vast history of ancient Egypt. This is the story of the Rosetta Stone. Sources British Museum: https://www.britishmuseum.org/blog/everything-you-ever-wanted-know-about-rosetta-stone "The Rosetta Stone: Unlocking the Ancient Egyptian Language" - https://arce.org/resource/rosetta-stone-unlocking-ancient-egyptian-language/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_Stone Image: @Hans Hillewaert - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosetta_Stone.JPG The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For five decades John Chapman wandered the American frontier, from Pennsylvania to Illinois, planting thousands of apple trees and changing the American frontier. In the process, he established himself as one of America’s most foundational myths. This is the story of Johnny Appleseed. Sources "Johnny Appleseed: the man, the myth, the American story," by Howard Means Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=637870 The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the evening of Nov. 4, 1605, a man in a cloak, hat and riding boots was discovered in a small storage room - called an undercroft - directly under Westminster Palace in London. Hidden in the room were 36 barrels of gunpowder. The man was Guy Fawkes. His plan was to blow up Parliament. This is the story of the Gunpowder Plot. Sources "Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot" - https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/guy-fawkes-and-the-gunpowder-plot/#gs.lflwi2 Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot Image: Photo by Gary Rogers - https://www.mildenhall.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000438892/ The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

West Virginia, 1921, saw 10,000 miners begin a march to push for better pay and conditions, as well as recognized unions. They would be stopped on the slopes of Blair Mountain - but not until after several days of bitter fighting. It was the largest armed uprising in the United States since the Civil War. This is the story of the Battle of Blair Mountain. Sources "The battle of Blair Mountain: the story of America's largest labor uprising," by Robert Shogan Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blair-miner.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On July 6, 1907, at Dublin Castle, in Dublin, Ireland, Sir Arthur Vicars, the Ulster King of Arms, opened up his safe in his office library. In doing so, he revealed the theft of Jewels of the Order of St. Patrick - more commonly known at the Irish Crown Jewels. The theft of the jewels - which today would be worth in the millions - has never been solved. Sources "Royal Raid: The curious case of the Irish Crown Jewels" - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-62924392 "The Theft of the Irish Crown Jewels" - https://dublincastle.ie/the-theft-of-the-irish-crown-jewels/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Crown_Jewels Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Irish_Crown_Jewels.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1950's, Alberta, Canada, was under attack. By Rats! In response to an invasion of rats, the government of Alberta embarked on one of the most successful pest control campaigns in history. Sources "History of rat control in Alberta" - https://www.alberta.ca/history-of-rat-control-in-alberta Image: Poster released by the Alberta Department of Public Health circa 1948. (A17202b/Provincial Archives of Alberta) The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1898, Olof Ohman, a Swedish immigrant, was clearing some land in Minnesota, and came upon a large stone slab with some intricate runes - the kind used by Norse Vikings centuries earlier. After the runes were deciphered, it was determined that the runestone dated back to 1362, and marked the furthest western exploration of the legendary Viking explorers. This is the story of the Kensington Runestone. Sources "The Kensington Runestone Hoax" - https://ahotcupofjoe.net/2023/07/the-kensington-rune-stone-hoax/ Wikepedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensington_Runestone Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KensingtonStone.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the final days of the Second World War, one of the conflict's strangest battles took place. A group of French politicians, German soldiers, and American tankers teamed up to defend a castle from an attack by the SS. This is the story of the Battle of Castle Itter. Sources "The Last Battle: When U.S. and German Soldiers Joined Forces in the Waning Hours of World War II in Europe" by Stephen Harding The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On June 15, 1921, Texas-born Bessie Coleman took to the sky in her airplane - and in the process, became the first black woman and first Native American to earn a pilot's license in the United States. In this episode, we look at this aviation pioneer. Sources Cradle of Aviation Museum: https://www.cradleofaviation.org/history/history/women-in-aviation/bessie-coleman.html Saturday Evening Post: https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2025/02/the-high-flying-feats-of-bessie-coleman/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Coleman Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bessie_Coleman_in_1923.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former president Ulysses S Grant was penniless and dying. He was racing against the clock in order to complete his memoirs - and ensure the financial security of his family. The result would be one of the greatest pieces of non-fiction ever written. This is the story of U.S. Grant's memoirs. Sources "The Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant," by Ulysses S. Grant "The Complete Annotated Edition by Ulysses S. Grant," Edited by David S. Nolen, John F. Marszalek, Louie P. Gallo Image: https://www.loc.gov/item/2002736661/ The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1866, a Swedish chemist came up with a concoction that went boom. And it would change the world - in ways no one could imagine. This is the story of Alfred Nobel and the creation of dynamite. Sources Nobel Prize Website: https://www.nobelprize.org/alfred-nobel/alfred-nobels-life-and-work/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Nobel" Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AlfredNobel2.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On June 28, 1969, in New York City, a known gay bar called the Stonewall Inn was the site of a police raid - a common occurrence at that time. But this time, it backfired. Police lost control of the situation when anger turned to fury and soon, a multi-day riot broke out. The end result was the beginning of the gay liberation movement in the United States. Sources "The Stonewall Riots" by Laurie Collier Hillstrom Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stonewall_Inn_raid_sign_pride_weekend_2016.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monopoly is a game of crushing your opponents. You ruthlessly gobble up properties, drive your foes into bankruptcy, and emerge as a victorious real estate mogul. But the popular game actually has deeper roots - all the way back to 1902. And what’s amazing is that it was actually created as an anti-capitalist learning tool. Sources "Lizzie Magie and the history of Monopoly" - https://blogs.bl.uk/business/2023/03/lizzie-magie-and-the-history-of-monopoly-1.html "The secret history of Monopoly: the capitalist board game’s leftwing origins" -https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/apr/11/secret-history-monopoly-capitalist-game-leftwing-origins Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Monopoly Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Monopoly-board.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine trying to rob a stagecoach. Now try to do it 29 times - with nothing but an unloaded shotgun, a flour sack mask, and your wits. Then do it without firing a single shot, and maintaining the highest level of decorum you can imagine. That is the story of Black Bart, the Wild West’s gentlemen bandit. Sources "Gentleman Bandit: The True Story of Black Bart, the Old West's Most Infamous Stagecoach Robber" by John Boessenecker Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_Bowles_aka_Black_Bart.jpg The Explorers Podcast is part of the Airwave Media Network: www.airwavemedia.com Interested in advertising on the Explorers Podcast? Email us at [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices