History Fix

This week I tell the stories of 9 feral children found surviving alone in the wilderness. Some even appear to have been cared for by wild animals - wolves, bears, dogs, and monkeys. Most walked on all fours, ate raw meat, and could only communicate in grunts, growls, and "wild cries." Some would never gain the ability to speak, burying their backstories in mystery to this day. Feral chil...

Mental health has been one of the greatest mysteries throughout human history. An illness with an invisible cause, no surgery will fix it, no tonic, no bandage. Is it supernatural? Evil spirits? Demonic possession? Our lack of understanding about the human mind and stigmatization of mental health issues has led to untold horrors throughout time. And while, yes, we’ve come a long way, is it possibl...

Uncover the history of Hawaii from its earliest habitation to its illegal overthrow by the US government in 1893. Join me as I discover exactly how the United States sank its claws into this island paradise, erased its native culture, and violently forced its queen to relinquish her throne without the approval of the US government. By the end, I think I'll have you convinced that Hawaii is no...

Join me as I uncover the unknown history of bread and how it has shaped our entire world. From its earliest existence 14,400 years ago, bread has played a major role in the formation of human civilizations. This week, we'll follow the path of bread from ancient Egypt, to ancient Rome, to medieval Europe, revolutionary France, and early America to discover how this universal food staple has be...

Few celebrities have captured the public’s attention like Marilyn Monroe. Mention of her immediately evokes images of platinum blonde curls, beauty marks, and that white dress, flapping in the updraft of a New York City subway grate. But despite being almost universally known, no one knows the real Marilyn Monroe because she never existed. She was less of a person and more of a product, created, i...

Join me as I uncover the history of cannibalism starting with the butchered bones of ancient hominids dating as far back as 780,000 years all the way to the present day. I'll explore examples of ritual cannibalism and delve into four horrifying stories of survival cannibalism. Finally, I'll examine the freaky psychology behind pathological cannibalism. What drives a human to eat another...

Easter is the foundation of the Christian religion. It commemorates the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and whether or not you believe this story is the difference between being a Christian and not being a Christian. It’s the single defining event of that religion. So Easter is a very religious holiday. But it also has a historical side. In this episode, I dig into the historical side...

This week, I tell the inspiring stories of 6 women who served in the top secret British espionage and sabotage organization, the SOE, during World War II.  In the late 1930s, Hitler's Nazi Germany quickly expanded throughout Europe, grabbing up country after country in its quest for world domination. When France finally fell to the Nazis in 1940, Britain was utterly alone in Europe, a sitting...

This week, I discuss the history of Saint Patrick's Day including who Saint Patrick was, what he did, and how the modern holiday actually got its start with Irish immigrants living in America and not Ireland. This one is packed full of bombshells you won't want to miss!  Sources:  History.com "History of Saint Patrick's Day" History.com "How St. Patrick's Day Too...

In this episode, I discuss the centuries long toxic relationship between Ireland and England that led up to the devastation of the potato famine in 1845. During the 7 year period of "The Great Hunger," one million Irish people died and two million left Ireland. But while the blight that caused the potatoes to rot may be considered a natural disaster, there was nothing natural about the c...

In this episode of History Fix I speak with Sue Burns about her book "A Common Life: A Voice From the Progressive Era." When Sue's great great grandmother's 100 year old diary was discovered disintegrating in an attic, she went to great lengths to help her mother preserve it. Then she took it even further, researching the historical context in which Mary Anne Mosher Briggs live...

In this episode of History Fix, I bring you the story of Mary Richards and Elizabeth Van Lew, two women who worked together to feed Confederate secrets to Union forces during the American Civil War. These daring women put it all on the line, demonstrating  exceptional bravery and above average intellect to do what they thought was right. At a time when women were seen as docile, ignorant, and non-...

In this episode of History Fix I discuss the history behind the Buffalo Soldiers mentioned in Bob Marley's hit 1983 song by the same name. Recruited just after the Civil War, these all Black army regiments were sent out west to claim land already inhabited by Indigenous Americans during the decades long "Plains Wars." Despite being forced by desperation to do this dirty job for a co...

In this episode of History Fix, I unpack the history of Valentine's Day. Join me to discover more about the holiday's bizarre Roman roots (there are naked, drunk priests!), how no one really knows who Saint Valentine was or what he did, and who sent the first valentine and when. You'll also learn about Esther Howland, the 18th century Massachusetts woman who started a multi-million...

This week on History Fix, I have a chat with New Orleans tour guide Tanya de Fazen to uncover the true story of the infamous "Queen of Voodoo" Marie Laveau. Get a look inside the culturally colorful and unique history that has made New Orleans a one of a kind city. Learn why Marie Laveau is closer to a saint than a witch and how her story got so twisted.  Connect with Tanya: Tanya's...

In this episode of History Fix, I reveal the dark history of the eugenics movement and how it led to the forced sterilization of over 60,000 Americans. I'll also reveal how American sterilization policies influenced similar policies enacted in Hitler's Nazi Germany that led to the forced sterilization of 400,000 Germans, the "euthanasia" of 250,000 disabled people, and eventual...

In this episode of History Fix, I discover how rats have impacted history. I'll go way back to uncover how the brown rat came to occupy every continent (except Antarctica) as well as how rats have impacted human health throughout history - their ties to the Bubonic plague and how they are used in medical and scientific testing today. Join me to learn more about rats than you ever thought you...

In this episode of History Fix, I tell the stories of four historically Black towns that are now underwater: Oscarville, Georgia, Kowaliga (Benson), Alabama, Vanport, Oregon, and Seneca Village in New York City. We'll take a look at how and why these fledgling towns were destroyed and the ripple effect it's had on Black Americans even today.  www.historyfixpodcast.com Sources:  Travel No...

This episode is all about the Mona Lisa. Who was Mona Lisa and how did her portrait become the most famous work of art, ever? How does everyone know her face but nothing at all about the woman herself? Join me to uncover the history behind the famous painting - the subject, the artist, and how it came to be so very famous.   www.historyfixpodcast.com Sources: Short History of Podcast "The Mon...

As the clocks ticked down to midnight on December 31st, 1999, as each final second of the last millennium slipped away, people all over the world collectively held their breath. If all the hype was to be believed, if the Y2K threats were real, their New Years merrymaking - the fireworks, the champagne, the confetti - might all come crashing down amidst terror and chaos, the apocalypse. Would the p...

In this episode, I explore the history of Christmas traditions including Santa Claus, stockings, and Christmas trees. I'll also uncover the pagan roots behind Christmas and examine how it has evolved from a religious holiday celebrating the birth of Christ to a secular day of excessive spending. Chances are you've been celebrating Christmas your entire life, carrying out these strange ri...

In this episode, I share how heroic sled dogs and their mushers achieved the impossible in  1925 to deliver a life saving serum to the children of Nome, Alaska.  I'll recount their harrowing journey along the Iditerod Trail in subfreezing whiteout conditions and explore why one dog, Balto, seemed to get all the credit while the real hero of Nome, Togo, was almost forgotten by history.  www.hi...

In this episode of History Fix, I explore the concept of "Mayanism" -  the centuries old notion that the Maya were a mystical, lost civilization with abilities, knowledge, and powers that modern humans no longer possess. And how these beliefs were started by European conquistadors who couldn’t fathom that the Maya were possibly capable of their impressive accomplishments without some kin...

In this episode, I explore the disappearance of famous British crime novelist, Agatha Christie. I'll relay the events leading up to her mysterious disappearance in 1926 and give you a play by play of the investigation, including where and how she was found. I'll also consider possible motives and try to make sense of why the "Queen of Crime" became the subject of her own real l...

When I think of rum, I think of pirates. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, right? And when I think of pirates, I think of treasure chests full of gold, silver, precious gems, buried treasure. The rum seems recreational, dastardly, debaucherous, trivial. The treasure, now that’s serious. That’s the job. There’s no messing around with the treasure. But, did know, for many in the business of maritime tra...