Stuff You Missed in History Class

Philippe Pinel

14. Sept. 2026 · 39:13

Pinel’s work is considered the precursor to psychiatry. In the late 18th century, he overhauled the asylum system of Paris with his groundbreaking ideas about mental health.

SYMHC Classics: Flexner Report

12. Sept. 2026 · 39:30

This 2020 episode covers the Flexner Report, which is often credited with changing the medical field and shaping what medical education looks like today. But this document negatively impacted medicine in the Black community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Paddles and The British Museum

11. Sept. 2026 · 31:02

Tracy and Holly talk about corporal punishment in schools and student loans. Tracy relays her experience at the British Museum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashurbanipal

9. Sept. 2026 · 37:30

Ashurbanipal was the ruler of the Assyrian empire in the 7th century BCE. His 38-year reign was marked by both scholarship and a terrifying brutality.

Six Impossible Episodes: Back-to-Court

7. Sept. 2026 · 41:15

This episode takes a quick look at six U.S. Supreme Court cases that all have to do with the rights of children in public primary and secondary schools.

SYMHC Classics: Olympe de Gouges

5. Sept. 2026 · 36:49

This 2021 episode covers Olympe de Gouges, known primarily for her 1791 pamphlet “Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Citizen.” But her writing and political activity went far beyond that one pamphlet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Percy Theories

4. Sept. 2026 · 16:43

Holly shares additional details of Percy Fawcett's life, including theories about his interest in spiritualism leading him to some odd conclusions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Percy Fawcett, Manuscript 512, and a Lost City in the Amazon, Pt. 2

2. Sept. 2026 · 37:11

The second part of Percy Fawcett's story delves into his fascination with a document known as Manuscript 512 and how it impacted his life. His obsession led to his disappearance; there has been endless speculation about what exactly happened.

Percy Fawcett, Manuscript 512, and a Lost City in the Amazon, Pt. 1

31. Aug. 2026 · 34:06

Fawcett’s life has invited controversy and speculation, because he was a man who did a mix of great and shady things. Part one covers his early life, marriage, military service, and early visits to South America.

SYMHC Classics: Swill Milk

29. Aug. 2026 · 39:22

This 2021 episode covers a period of time when the milk supply in New York was anything but appetizing and wholesome – it was often deadly. But efforts to address the problem were blocked by corrupt officials. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Mary, Beulah, Baby Alive

28. Aug. 2026 · 33:26

Tracy shares a story of looking for an article in the wrong historical journal. Holly reads a section of the U.S. flag code, and waxes rhapsodic about toys. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beulah Louise Henry

26. Aug. 2026 · 39:38

Beulah was such a prolific inventor in the early 20th century that the press nicknamed her Lady Edison. She was an outlier as an unmarried woman who got her foot in the door as an inventor by pounding the pavement in 1920s New York.

Mary Mallon & Typhoid Revisited

24. Aug. 2026 · 39:52

Mary Mallon became known as Typhoid Mary in the early 20th century. She has often been vilified in in modern references, though her story is actually quite complex.

SYMHC Classics: Astronaut Origins of Food Safety

22. Aug. 2026 · 36:42

This 2022 episode examines the development of a systematic approach to food safety, which didn’t happen until the 20th century. And it's tied directly to NASA trying to make sure astronauts didn’t get food poisoning in space. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Morocco and Bavaria

21. Aug. 2026 · 22:24

Tracy and Holly talk about their time visiting Chefchaouen during their Morocco trip. Holly shares her belief that secret societies don't work very well. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Weishaupt and the Bavarian Illuminati

19. Aug. 2026 · 43:04

The reality of the Bavarian Illuminati is much less dramatic than conspiracy theories would indicate. It wasn’t a mystical organization, but a protest organization formed by a rather conceited man who was frustrated with the Catholic church.

Sayyida al-Hurra, Moroccan Queen

17. Aug. 2026 · 36:29

A lot of European accounts of Sayyida al-Hurra’s life characterize her as a pirate, but that really isn't accurate. She was a a leader of a city-state and a queen of a sultanate.

SYMHC Classics: Jethro Tull

15. Aug. 2026 · 35:15

This 2021 episode covers Jethro Tull. Today, most people only know that as the name of a band, but Tull was an 18th-century gentleman farmer often credited with inventing the seed drill. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Smashing Linoleum

14. Aug. 2026 · 19:47

Tracy talks about papers about history written by economists. Holy talks about linoleum having a bad reputation because of the designs of the 1970s and '80s. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frederick Walton and the Invention of Linoleum

12. Aug. 2026 · 41:32

Frederick Walton caused a lot of financial family friction on the way to developing linoleum. And even though he believed he had revolutionized home dec, he didn't expect to be remembered.

Swing Riots

10. Aug. 2026 · 36:34

The Swing Riots took place in eastern and southern England in the years between the Luddite uprising and the Rebecca Riots. One of the hallmarks of the riots was the destruction of threshing machines – but that’s just part of the story.

SYMHC Classics: Battle of Amiens

8. Aug. 2026 · 23:51

This 2018 episode covers the Battle of Amiens, near the end of World War I. It was the start of what came to be known as the 100 Days Offensive, which was the Allies’ final push to win the war. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Air Conditioned Rabble Rouser

7. Aug. 2026 · 25:46

Tracy and Holly talk about experiences in intensely hot weather. Holly shares how moved she was by Samuel Plimsoll’s obituaries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samuel Plimsoll, the ‘Sailors’ Friend’

5. Aug. 2026 · 35:18

Samuel Plimsoll was an advocate for better working conditions for sailors, and for a lot of other things. A lot of contemporary accounts refer to him as an agitator.

Three Historic Heatwaves

3. Aug. 2026 · 35:59

Heat waves don’t get as much attention as blizzards, floods, and hurricanes, but extreme heat is one of the deadliest weather events on average.

SYMHC Classics: Libertalia

1. Aug. 2026 · 32:22

This 2018 episode covers Libertalia, which, in truth, may be completely fictional. It's called a pirate settlement, though the man who spearheaded it claimed he wasn't actually a pirate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Pirate Evolution

31. Juli 2026 · 15:31

Tracy shares the topics she considered for the recording in the Bahamas but decided against. Holly talks about her admiration for Thomas Huxley. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thomas Henry Huxley

29. Juli 2026 · 41:05

Huxley is an example of having a good attitude about publicly acknowledging errors and learning from them. He earned the nickname “Darwin’s bulldog” for his very vocal support of Darwin’s work, and he wanted to promote science and education, particularly to people that didn’t normally have access to those things.

The Flying Gang

27. Juli 2026 · 32:15

For part of its history, Nassau was a notorious hotbed of pirate activity. And it was home to a maritime criminal network known as the Flying Gang.

SYMHC Classics: Scarlet fever

25. Juli 2026 · 32:50

This 2023 episode covers scarlet fever, which is treatable with antibiotics. But in the middle of the 19th century, it was the leading cause of death in children in parts of the world, and today, there are several ongoing mysteries about the disease. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Problematized

24. Juli 2026 · 17:09

Tracy shares her irritation with word use in a recent government report. There is also discussion of strangers visiting manor houses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unearthed! In July 2026, Part 2

22. Juli 2026 · 45:21

The wrap up of things unearthed in the second quarter of 2026 includes the potpourri category, lots of books and letters, shipwrecks, and neanderthals.

Unearthed! In July 2026, Part 1

20. Juli 2026 · 41:36

Part one of the mid-year coverage of things literally and figuratively unearthed in the last quarter includes updates, more updates, animals, edibles and potables, and accidental finds.

SYMHC Classics: Raincoats

18. Juli 2026 · 39:11

This 2023 episode covers how humans have worked on ways to make garments water resistant almost since they started to wear them. But figuring out how to manufacture a raincoat using rubber was a big breakthrough that took centuries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Shoes, Shoes, Shoes!

17. Juli 2026 · 30:15

Holly and Tracy discuss how frustrating Charles Goodyear could be. Then Holly talks a lot about shoes and how much she loves them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running Through Sneaker History

15. Juli 2026 · 46:21

The evolution from leather-soled shoes of the 19th century to the sneakers people wear today started slowly, then built momentum. Many of the big names in sneakers today got their start surprisingly early in the process.

Charles Goodyear and Vulcanized Rubber

13. Juli 2026 · 48:23

Charles Goodyear's work is important to so many things we have in the 21st century. But his life and his work to create a stable rubber was full of problems -- many of them caused by Goodyear himself.

SYMHC Classics: Penicillin

11. Juli 2026 · 42:45

This 2022 episode covers the development of penicillin, which started – but definitely did not end – with the chance discovery of some mold in a petri dish. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Dorothy Everywhere

10. Juli 2026 · 20:00

Tracy shares stories of her time in London. There is also a discussion of Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin’s marriage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin’s Crystalline Chemistry, Part 2

8. Juli 2026 · 43:15

After earning her first-class degree in chemistry from Oxford, Dorothy embarked on an impressive career in the new field of X-ray crystallography. She would ultimately earn many, many accolades for her work.

Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin’s Crystalline Chemistry, Part 1

6. Juli 2026 · 38:04

Dorothy Hodgkin's career in X-ray crystallography impacted a lot of science in the 10th century. Part one of her story covers her early life and formative experiences that led her to her field of research.

SYMHC Classics: Sarah Bradlee Fulton

4. Juli 2026 · 32:29

This 2023 episode covers Sarah Bradlee Fulton, sometimes called the Mother of the Boston Tea Party. But available information about her is basically a series of anecdotes, and can’t really be corroborated. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Stairs and Trains

3. Juli 2026 · 29:26

Tracy talks about her visit to the Bunker Hill monument. She then describes a very early morning start when she went to visit Oxford on her recent trip to England. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth Blackwell's Curious Herbal

1. Juli 2026 · 34:52

Elizabeth Blackwell was born in London in the early 18th century, and was known in her lifetime for her achievements as a botanical illustrator.

The Many Meanings of the Bunker Hill Monument

29. Juni 2026 · 45:49

Very soon after it was completed in 1842, the Bunker Hill monument started to be about a lot more than just the battle that took place on June 17, 1775.

SYMHC Classics: Four Paperclippers

27. Juni 2026 · 36:24

This 2021 episode talks about several specialists – most with some involvement with the Nazi party – who entered the U.S. and became citizens through Operation Paperclip. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Pacts and Facts

26. Juni 2026 · 25:06

Holly talks about the agreement known as the Pact of the Catacombs and recent developments related to it. There's then discussion of Daguerre's Legion of Honor medal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Louis Le Prince, the Missing Inventor of Motion Pictures

24. Juni 2026 · 48:11

On September 16, 1890, Louis Le Prince vanished. He was never seen or heard from again. While that is the most well-known thing about him, he had a whole life before that which involved some very intriguing things.

Catacombs of Rome

22. Juni 2026 · 40:37

The story of the Roman catacombs is vastly different than that of the catacombs of Paris, as Rome’s are much older and were created for very different reasons.

SYMHC Classics: Operation Paperclip

20. Juni 2026 · 38:47

This 2021 episode covers Operation Paperclip, which was the U.S. effort to bring German scientists to work in the U.S. after World War II. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Unexpected Information

19. Juni 2026 · 26:35

Tracy talks about how she first became interested in Casimir Pulaski's story, and how her focus changed during research. She also talks about selecting episode topics and later learning the subject is problematic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rebecca Smith Pollard, aka Kate Harrington

17. Juni 2026 · 41:43

Rebecca Smith Pollard published a book of poems to mark the U.S. centennial in 1876, and also a novel with some questionable messages. She also developed a method to teach children to read that was ahead of its time.

The Life and Afterlife of Casimir Pulaski

15. Juni 2026 · 45:10

Pulaski is often built up into an almost mythic figure who represents patriotism, bravery, freedom, independence, and the U.S. as a melting pot. a nation of immigrants. But there’s also a very different version of his story.

SYMHC Classics: Redpath Murders

13. Juni 2026 · 32:44

This 2022 episode covers the 1901 discovery of Ada Maria Redpath and her son Jocelyn Clifford dead in their home. What exactly happened between the two of them is something we will likely never understand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Piece of Work

12. Juni 2026 · 17:49

Holly and Tracy talk about how frequently the U.S. Post Office has stopped criminals, and about E. Virgil Neal using his intellect for shady business dealings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

E. Virgil Neal: Hypnotist, Fraudster, Tycoon, Part 2

10. Juni 2026 · 41:22

In the early 20th century, Neal's company Force of Life was investigated for fraud. But somehow, Neal managed to get through the scandal and went on to found a cosmetics company that became very successful.

E. Virgil Neal: Hypnotist, Fraudster, Tycoon - Part 1

8. Juni 2026 · 35:28

E. Virgil Neal’s career started out with writing successful textbooks, but then took a turn into being a stage hypnotist and then a series of dicey mail-order businesses.

SYMHC Classics: Mancini Sisters

6. Juni 2026 · 42:22

This 2022 episode covers Hortense and Marie Mancini, who tried to make a place for themselves in 17th-century Europe, defying all kinds of conventions along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: The Apostrophe and the Rich Guy

5. Juni 2026 · 27:52

Tracy talks about a book that she didn't use for research on Viola Roseboro'. Holly talks about how wealth inequality has shaped science history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Boyle

3. Juni 2026 · 44:17

Boyle is frequently described at the first modern chemist, but his work encompassed much more than that. Among other things, he was a founding member of the Royal Society.

The Literary Life of Viola Roseboro'

1. Juni 2026 · 36:01

Viola Roseboro’ isn’t well-known today, but she played a big behind-the-scenes role in the careers of a lot of American writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, shaping what’s thought of as the American literary canon.

SYMHC Classics: Vanport Flood

30. Mai 2026 · 26:59

This 2016 episode covers the May 30, 1948 flood that destroyed Vanport, Oregon. What really makes the story more than a historical footnote is how it ties into the racial makeup of both Portland and Oregon at the time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Disease Pact

29. Mai 2026 · 22:08

Tracy talks about a strange statement in a paper she read while working on the Carlos J. Finlay episode. Holly shares her amusement at the pact Hartlib and his friends made. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samuel Hartlib and the Hartlib Circle

27. Mai 2026 · 38:05

Samuel Hartlib doesn’t exactly spring to mind when thinking about influential figures of the 17th century. But he served as a sort of conduit for information and connections among them as he sought to promote his ideas regarding theology and education.

Carlos Juan Finlay and Yellow Fever

25. Mai 2026 · 41:41

Carlos Juan Finlay was a Cuban doctor who did a lot of work to understand the spread of Yellow Fever. But Walter Reed got most of the credit.

SYMHC Classics: Deborah Sampson

23. Mai 2026 · 37:33

This 2022 episode covers Deborah Sampson, who could count William Bradford and Myles Standish in her family tree. That tree didn’t include Robert Shurtliff; that was the alias Deborah used to enlist in the Continental Army. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Art and Theme Parks

22. Mai 2026 · 21:26

Holly shares a quote from Daniela Lippi about the importance of ongoing learning in the restoration profession. There is then discussion of the nerve-racking construction of Disneyland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interview: Leslie Iwerks

20. Mai 2026 · 39:58

Disneyland's opening seemed like an impossibility throughout the construction process. Holly interviews filmmaker Leslie Iwerks about her new film "Disneyland Handcrafted," which shares the journey from an empty dirt lot to the theme park we know today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uffizi: A Painting, A Bombing, A Restoration

18. Mai 2026 · 37:37

In 1993, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy was damaged by a car bomb. But this story starts in the 16th century with painter Bartolomeo Manfredi, and reaches all the way to the 2000s with an extraordinary restoration project.

SYMHC Classics: Regulator War

16. Mai 2026 · 37:20

This 2019 episode covers the Regulator War, aka the War of the Regulation, aka the Regulator Movement. It was a North Carolina event which arose in response to unfair taxes, poor representation and corruption. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Bad Laws, Bad Cats

15. Mai 2026 · 23:33

Tracy shares why Bhagat Singh Thind rocketed to the top of her topics list. Holly shares a story of bad cat behavior. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carrington Event

13. Mai 2026 · 43:31

The Carrington Event was a massive geomagnetic storm that happened in 1859. It led to expanded understanding of solar phenomena.

United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind

11. Mai 2026 · 46:30

United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind was a 1923 case that hinged on what it meant to be white.

SYMHC Classics: Insular Cases

9. Mai 2026 · 43:15

This 2023 episode covers the Insular Cases, which are SCOTUS cases regarding rights of people in U.S. territories. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Friends and Bubble Guns

8. Mai 2026 · 22:45

Holly talks about how small the circle of London intellectuals was in John Graunt's time. Then there is discussion of disco balls in bathrooms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Modern Inventions That Are Actually Old

6. Mai 2026 · 38:59

There are so many things in our modern world that we presume are fairly recent inventions. But the three things we’re going to talk about in this instance are quite old, but they have close associations with the recent past.

John Graunt

4. Mai 2026 · 36:40

John Graunt was a shopkeeper in 17th-century London who followed his own curiosity to a rather grand result. His work gave rise to the fields of demography and epidemiology.

SYMHC Classics: Red Summer 1919

2. Mai 2026 · 32:53

This 2019 episode marked 100 years since a wave of racist violence in the U.S. that became known as Red Summer. In many ways, Red Summer was a response to (but NOT caused by) two earlier events: the Great Migration and the return of black soldiers who had fought in World War I. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Greetings and Context

1. Mai 2026 · 25:54

Holly and Tracy commiserate about sending greeting cards. Tracy talks about how she shifted away from an episode exclusively about Frances Thompson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Memphis Massacre

29. Apr. 2026 · 40:49

The Memphis Massacre was a truly horrific wave of destruction and violence, including sexual violence, against the Black community of Memphis just a year after the end of the U.S. Civil War.

Greeting Cards

27. Apr. 2026 · 35:41

Humans have been exchanging tokens of friendship since before recorded history. From calling cards to Valentines to Christmas cards, the modern greeting card industry evolved.

SYMHC Classics: The Color Blue

25. Apr. 2026 · 40:09

This 2019 episode covers the color blue, the most popular color in many parts of the world. But many ancient languages didn’t have a word for blue, and some languages still don’t. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Dicey Sources

24. Apr. 2026 · 23:06

Tracy shares struggles that she encountered pulling together this edition of Unearthed. She and Holly have a tangential discussion about AI. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unearthed! In Spring 2026, Part 2

22. Apr. 2026 · 38:48

Part one of this quarter's edition of Unearthed! includes animals, artwork, edibles and potables, shipwrecks, potpourri. Research: Abdallah, Hannah. “Analysis of charred food in pot reveals that prehistoric Europeans had surprisingly complex cuisines.” EurekAlert. 3/4/2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117763 Almeroth-Williams, Thomas. “British redcoat’s lost memoir reveals harsh realities of life as a disabled veteran.” EurekAlert. 1/14/2026. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1111595 Anderson, Sonja. “Does This Skeleton Found Beneath a Dutch Church Belong to D’Artagnan, the Man Who Inspired ‘The Three Musketeers’?” Smithsonian. 3/27/2026. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-skeleton-found-beneath-th

Unearthed! In Spring 2026, Part 1

20. Apr. 2026 · 43:14

Part one of this quarter's edition of Unearthed! features updates, medical things, books and letters, oldest known things, and smells.

SYMHC Classics: Gustave Courbet

18. Apr. 2026 · 40:52

This 2022 episode covers how Courbet was iconic even in his own lifetime. He flew in the face of artistic convention, ushered in a new movement of Realism in France, and became embroiled in the country’s political turmoil. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Oh, Kropotkin!

17. Apr. 2026 · 17:29

Tracy shares her intentions to cover Peter Kropotkin years ago, and also unpacks some of the positive and negative aspects of his life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Kropotkin's Mutual Aid, Part 2

15. Apr. 2026 · 49:58

After returning to Russia, Kropotkin was captured and imprisoned. But his life took many turns from there, and in 1902 he published his book book “Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution.”

Peter Kropotkin's Mutual Aid, Part 1

13. Apr. 2026 · 45:03

Peter Kropotkin was incredibly influential in the development of anarchism in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Part one of this subject focuses on the formative moments in his early life that contributed to his becoming an anarchist communist.

SYMHC Classics: Haymarket Riot

11. Apr. 2026 · 37:40

This 2021 episode examines the Haymarket Riot, one of the many interconnected events and people and movements that are all integral to defining the basic idea of what a full-time job is in the U.S. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Serving Lip and Ethics

10. Apr. 2026 · 26:19

Holly talks about Gladys Bentley's gender presentation, and the trouble with Maceo Sheffield. She and Tracy also discuss James Braid's ethics in both medicine and hypnotism. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Braid, Surgeon and Father of Hypnotism

8. Apr. 2026 · 43:36

Braid is known for his work in hypnotism. But he was also a surgeon with a reputation for pioneering new treatments before he became fascinated with the scientific underpinnings of mesmerism.

Gladys Bentley

6. Apr. 2026 · 40:10

Gladys Bentley was a part of the Harlem Renaissance as a performer – she played piano and sang in ways that drew huge crowds starting in the 1920s, and she was completely out as a lesbian. But her story takes some surprising turns.

SYMHC Classics: Moms Mabley

4. Apr. 2026 · 33:10

This 2022 episode covers Moms Mabley, whose career lasted more than six decades. She was hugely influential, and inspired so many comedians and other performers who came after her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Self-talk Hoax

3. Apr. 2026 · 19:57

Holly and Tracy discuss the idea of autosuggestion and positive self-talk. Tracy shares her thoughts on writings about the Pompey stone. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pompey Stone Hoax

1. Apr. 2026 · 35:26

The Pompey Stone was discovered in the early 1820s, and was believed to be hundreds of years old. It turned out to be a hoax, but a fairly benign one.

Émile Coué and Autosuggestion

30. März 2026 · 39:52

Émile Coué genuinely seems to have wanted to help people by teaching them how to plant helpful directives in their subconscious minds. Whether he was effective is something that's still debated.

SYMHC Classics: Louis Daguerre

28. März 2026 · 34:34

This 2021 episode covers Louis Daguerre, who comes up almost any time we mention photography. Well before he figured out how to capture images through a camera obscura, he was an artist and innovator in entertainment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Atlanta and Textiles

27. März 2026 · 33:35

Holly talks about the frustration of not finding any solid evidence of where Richard Peters stood on the issue of slavery. Tracy wonders what Elizabeth Fulhame's relationship with her husband was like. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth Fulhame’s Colorful Chemistry

25. März 2026 · 36:19

Elizabeth Fulhame’s biography is largely a mystery, but in 1794 she wrote a book on chemistry that was way ahead of its time.