Cutting Class

Joe delivers the goods on a bizarre uprising of socialist farmers in Oklahoma that formed just before the US went to war in WWI. Learn about their Americanized version of the socialist doctrine that led them to do some pretty weird things! Sources – 1 2 3 Consider Supporting us on Patreon for exclusive content … 117- Green Corn and the Socialist Rebellion of OklahomaRead More »

Today Jess tells us the story of Franz Reichelt, an Austrian man with the dream of making people safe. in the early 1900s, the rapidly growing hobby of airplane use demanded a safer parachute to protect pilots. Franz thought he was just the dressmaker for the job. The only problem was he didn’t have a … 116 – The Tale of the Flying TailorRead More »

Joe gives us the overview of an often overlooked hero of the “first civil rights movement” that took place in the 1920s. Marcus Garvey is an excellent example of one of the many different approaches people had to gaining black equality at the early 20th century. Learn about how fancy hats, 30 year old ships, … 115 – A Man, A Hat, A Dream of Black EqualityRead More »

Join Joe and Jess as we take a double listener request to cover the famous American sniper from Vietnam. If you’ve never heard of Carlos Hathcock then prepare to be amazed by this guy’s feats that distinguish him as one of America’s most impressive snipers. Sources – 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 … 114 – Carlos Hathcock: Worming his way to “Sniper Legend”Read More »

No this episode doesn’t recall Joe’s high school dating experience. We take a brief look at the infamous gang wars of the early 20th century as Al Capone and his crew faced off against “Bugs” Moran. What could be more fun than bootlegging, bosses, and bloodshed? Sources 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 … 113 – Valentine’s Day MassacreRead More »

Learn today about the wild history behind the controversial 1978 Wold Cup Olympics that was held in Argentina during the military junta’s time in power. This story has it all! Sports, death threats, nationalistic egos, and Henry Kissinger! Find out how the Junta “cleaned the streets” and to put a happy face on a not … 112 – Argentina’s Dirty War Pt. 2Read More »

This month Jess and Joe will dive into with the little known “Dirty War” that took place in Argentina from 1976-1983 after the death of Juan Peron. What followed would be a miltary coup followed hostile closure of any democratic forms of the government. They just so happen to also have the World Cup hosted … 111- Argentina’s Dirty War Pt. 1Read More »

Today we look at the famous Buffalo Soldiers which were a famous black american military regiment formed directly after the American Civil War. For many black Americans, they were the first official black heroes of the US military. We specifically focus on their service during the Spanish American War and how a famous American President … 110- Buffalo Soldiers, the REAL heroes of San Juan Hill?Read More »

Joe takes us way back to Ancient Egypt in which we learn of Amenophis IV and his attempt to essentially destroy the Pantheon of Egyptian Gods. It takes quite an ego to overturn your entire culture’s religion and put yourself at the center of it but that never stopped him from trying. Find out about … 109- Ignoring the Gods of EgyptRead More »

If William Jennings Bryan hasn’t already had a wild ride just wait for the infamous finale to his career. WJB would represent the state of Tennessee as it fought to uphold it’s Butler Bill which forbade the teaching of evolution in schools. Clarence Darrow and the ACLU would have a thing or two to say … 108- WJB and the Scopes Monkey TrialRead More »

The WJB saga continues as we look into the his time at the White House! After years of trying (and failing) Bryan finally made it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. But how? What got him there? And what on earth could possibly possess him to RESIGN after years of trying to get in there? Find out … 107- America’s Most Influential Loser Part 3Read More »

We return to this week to the ever-present but never president, William Jennings Bryan. Early 20th Century America had just begin to flex her imperial muscles at the Spanish American War and beyond. But this would not be without controversy. The silver-tongued boy orator is back to argue that invading foreign countries and plundering their … 106- America’s Most Influential Loser Part. 2Read More »

America has spawned many “losers” over the course of it’s existence. Many of them live and die as nobodies. But occasionally one of those losers is a real somebody despite his/her tenacity for supporting the losing side throughout their life. Meet William Jennings Bryan. This guy was THE mover and shaker in the early 20th … 105 – America’s Most Influential Loser Part 1Read More »

Get your ticket to the impeachment show! We dive into the first American President to face the wrath of Congress…it’s as convoluted as it is petty. What did Johnson do that was SO WRONG he was the first president in American history to face the dreaded impeachment powers? Sources – 1 2 3 4 5 … 104- Impeaching Andrew JohnsonRead More »

During WWI a contingent of all black soldiers would volunteer to serve their glorious country. Not surprisingly, they wouldn’t be given the same treatment as other eager young men who wanted to fight the Great War. Despite being assigned Despite being originally assigned supply and bathroom cleaning duties, they would go on to be one … 103 – The Harlem HellfightersRead More »

Did you know in that Europe would drag animals into the court room and put them on trial for hundreds of years? Pigs, donkeys, locusts, and even slugs would be summoned before the court and sentenced with various punishments for their crimes! What on earth? Were Europeans just insane or was this for a laugh? … 100- A Cow in the CourtroomRead More »

Kate from Ignorance Was Bliss joins us today as we pick her brain about lobotomies. We look at the history of Dr. Freeman who popularized it in the United States as well as some other specific examples of the procedure and what it does. Finally, we tackle the hidden story of Rosemary Kennedy the sister … 99- Lobotomies and Rosemary KennedyRead More »

Nikola Tesla has enjoyed a newfound publicity as of late. Perhaps because the man was a mad genius. Not only did he invent some incredible things we use today but he also was quite mad towards the end of his life. Learn about the wild life of Tesla and why such a world renowned inventor … 98- Nikola Tesla the definitive “Mad Scientist”Read More »