Episodes
The Brexit Referendum
June 23, 2016. The United Kingdom votes to withdraw from the European Union, the first time a country has decided to leave the organization. This episode originally aired in 2023.
Saturday Matinee: American Criminal
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we cover the political assassinations of San Francisco Mayor, George Moscone, and Harvey Milk who would go on to become a martyr in the LGBTQ+ community. Link to American Criminal : https://www.am...
Jaws Hits U.S. Movie Theaters
June 20, 1975. Steven Spielberg's thriller Jaws is released in theaters and becomes the highest grossing movie of all time, essentially creating the genre of the “summer blockbuster”. This episode originally aired in 2022.
Juneteenth
June 19, 1865. Over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved people in Texas are officially informed of their freedom.
The Mysterious Death of “God’s Banker”
June 18, 1982. The body of Italian banker and convicted fraudster Roberto Calvi is discovered hanging from a bridge in London, England. This episode originally aired in 2024.
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act
June 17, 1930. The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act takes effect in the US, raising most tariffs by 20% and damaging the world’s already suffering economy.
The First Woman In Space
June 16, 1963. After months of rigorous training, Soviet Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space, orbiting the Earth for just under three days. This episode originally aired in 2022.
Saturday Matinee: American Scandal
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we recount the crimes of Georgia Tann- the operator of the Tennessee Children's Home Society in Memphis who used the organization as a cover for child trafficking. Link to American Scandal : https...
The Mysterious Death of King Ludwig II
June 13, 1886. after being declared medically insane and forcefully deposed, the eccentric king of Bavaria, Ludwig II, drowns in a lake under mysterious circumstances. This episode originally aired in 2023.
Retreat from Cold Harbor
June 12, 1864. Union soldiers retreat in the dead of night to bring the Battle of Cold Harbor to a conclusion, ending one of the bloodiest encounters of the American Civil War.
Vietnam’s “Burning Monk” Protest
June 11, 1963. Protesting the lack of religious freedom in South Vietnam, Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc sets himself on fire in a busy Saigon intersection. This episode originally aired in 2024.
Benjamin Franklin’s Kite Experiment
June 10, 1752 . Benjamin Franklin flies a kite during a thunderstorm to demonstrate a connection between lightning and electricity.
Secretariat Wins the Triple Crown
June 9, 1973. Secretariat makes horse racing history by winning the Belmont Stakes by an unprecedented 31 lengths and capturing the Triple Crown.
Saturday Matinee: D-Day: The Tide Turns
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we acknowledge the 81st anniversary of D-Day with a story of the espionage that kept the entire operation secret, kept Hitler fooled, and kept the Allies' hope alive. Link to D-Day: The Tide Turns...
The First Concrete is Poured at the Hoover Dam
June 6, 1933. The first bucketful of concrete is poured in the construction of The Hoover Dam. This episode originally aired in 2024.
The Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy
June 5, 1968. Senator Robert F Kennedy is assassinated a few months into his controversial bid for president, changing the course of American politics forever.
The Hot-Air Balloon’s First Flight
June 4, 1783. The Montgolfier Brothers hold the first public demonstration of their new invention: the hot-air balloon.
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.
The Killing of Benno Ohnesorg
June 2, 1967. Benno Ohnesorg, a West German student, is killed by a police officer while attending a protest in West Berlin.
Saturday Matinee: Dressed
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we unspool the history of childrenswear in the 16th-19th centuries to learn how safety features first started to be developed in toddler clothing. Link to Dressed : https://dressedhistory.com/ Sup...
Joan of Arc is Burned at the Stake
May 30, 1431. In the Hundred Years’ War, 19-year-old military leader Joan of Arc is burned at the stake following a trial by an English-backed tribunal in Rouen, France. This episode originally aired in 2022.
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.
The Birth of the Miracle Quintuplets
May 28, 1934. The Dionne quintuplets are born. The identical sisters are the first quintuplets to survive infancy, but the girls will face a childhood of exploitation as a tourist attraction. This episode originally aired in ...
The Assassination of the Butcher of Prague
May 27, 1942. Two Czechoslovakian operatives assassinate Reinhard Heydrich, a principal architect of the Holocaust.