Episodes
Saturday Matinee: Hidden History with Dr. Harini Bhat
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we climb aboard the Mary Celeste- the infamous “ghost ship” found drifting in the Atlantic in 1872 with its entire crew mysteriously missing. Link to Hidden History with Dr. Harini Bhat: https://p...
The First Scientific Report on the AIDS Epidemic
June 5, 1981. The Centers for Disease Control identifies five cases of a rare infection striking gay men in California—a disease that will become known as AIDS. This episode originally aired in 2024.
The Ten-Cent Beer Night Riot
June 4, 1974. A Major League Baseball game is abandoned after an ill-conceived promotion ends in a boozy stadium riot.
The Extinction of the Great Auk
June 3, 1844. After becoming collector’s items for being a rare species, the last pair of great auks is killed by fishermen. This episode originally aired in 2025.
Billy Bishop’s Victoria Cross
June 2, 1917. Canadian fighter ace Billy Bishop launches a daring solo raid on a German airfield, an act of bravery that wins him the Victoria Cross.
The Beatles Release Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
June 1, 1967. The Beatles’ eighth studio album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, is released, topping the charts and forever changing the world of music and pop culture This episode originally aired in 2022.
Saturday Matinee: History of the Second World War
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we delve into the pivotal moments of the Battle of Britain- the war in the skies that kept Nazi Germany from invading the UK by sea. Link to History of the Second World War: https://historyofthese...
The Arrest of an Art Forger
May 29, 1945. Dutch authorities arrest art dealer Han Van Meegeren for selling priceless paintings to the Nazis, not knowing that his collection is actually made up of sophisticated forgeries. This episode originally aired in...
Jell-O’s Trademark
May 28, 1897. New York inventor Pearle Bixby Wait trademarks a new gelatin dessert.
A B-24 Crash Survivor Begins a Fight for Survival
May 27, 1943. A B-24 bomber crashes in the Pacific Ocean, beginning a two year ordeal at sea and in Japanese captivity for former Olympic athlete Louis Zamperini. This episode originally aired in 2024.
America’s Most Dangerous Amusement Park
May 26, 1978. “Action Park” opens in New Jersey and quickly earns a reputation as an amusement park like no other.
The Edict of Worms
May 25, 1521. The Edict of Worms marks the beginning of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. This episode originally aired in 2023.
Saturday Matinee: Medal of Honor
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we honor the those in service to our country by sharing the story of just one of them- James Fleming, a Vietnam helicopter pilot who risked it all for his comrades. Link to Medal of Honor: lnk.to/...
The Disappearance of the USS Scorpion
May 22, 1968. The nuclear-powered submarine USS Scorpion disappears in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with 99 men on board. This episode originally aired in 2024.
Paris’s Bloody Week
May 21, 1871. An assault by French troops to retake Paris from revolutionaries leaves the city in ruins.
The Meter Convention
May 20, 1875. The Meter Convention is signed by 17 nations, establishing a system for standardizing measurements worldwide. This episode originally aired in 2025.
The Invention of the Rubik’s Cube
May 19, 1974. Hungarian professor Ernő Rubik creates the prototype for his famous cube.
The Eruption of Mount St. Helens
May 18, 1980. After a century of silence, Mount St. Helens, a dormant volcano in the scenic Washington countryside comes to life. This episode originally aired in 2023.
Saturday Matinee: Anthology of Heroes
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we trace the final days of the Byzantine Empire through the eyes of its last emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos, and his formidable rival, Sultan Mehmet II. Link to Anthology of Heroes: https://w...
The Assassination of Japan's Prime Minister
May 15, 1932. The Prime Minister of Japan, Inukai Tsuyoshi, is assassinated in an attempted coup d’état. This episode originally aired in 2025.
The Second Salem Witch Trial
May 14, 1878. America’s last witchcraft trial begins after faith healer Daniel Spofford is accused of “malicious animal magnetism.”
The Escape of Robert Smalls
May 13, 1862. During the American Civil War, a slave absconds with a Confederate ship and flees to the north with his family. This episode originally aired in 2022.
The End of the British General Strike
May 12, 1926. After nine days of protest and division, the United Kingdom’s first general strike comes to an end.
The Creation of Comedy Troupe Monty Python
May 11, 1969. Six Monty Python writers and actors meet in an Indian Restaurant to officially form their troupe. This episode originally aired in 2023.