Object Obscura

EP 21 - Breaking News • Bulletin • Buffalo [Part 1] is a pilot for the fourth season of Object Obscura that will look a little different. This season will only focus on one object, a photograph in a slide taken in 1942. The contents of the photo turn me to talk to a historian, an antique shop worker and an suicide outreach program director.  Theme song for Object Obscura is ‘Behind the Walls’ by N...

Um livro de Rudyard Kipling me leva a uma investigação selvagem no nordeste brasileiro a três livrarias de segunda mão, uma clínica de instituição mental e no banheiro de um prédio anexo ao tribunal. Não só encontraremos a biblioteca de livros, mas também o neto do banqueiro que a assinou há 98 anos. Obrigado a Sílvia Diniz e sua loja Paço Prosa Livraria, Bill Burns, Clínica La Ravardiere e Archie...

A Rudyard Kipling book leads me on a wild investigation in the Brazilian northeast to three secondhand bookstores, a mental institution clinic and in the bathroom of an annex court building. Not only will we find the books’ respective library, but the grandson of the banker who signed it 99 years ago.  Thank you to Sílvia Diniz and her store Paço Prosa Livraria, Bill Burns, Clínica La Ravardiere a...

Olá pessoal! Só queria gravar esse áudio para fornecer algumas atualizações sobre o podcast Object Obscura e o Obscurity Podcast Network em geral. Então a terceira temporada do Object Obscura ainda está em andamento - nós estamos trabalhando ativamente em mais dois episódios que vão ser lançados no início de abril, disponíveis em inglês e português. Para se concentrar em histórias do Brasil, acham...

Hello everyone! Just wanted to check in to give you some updates about the Object Obscura podcast and the Obscurity Podcast Network in general. So season 3 of Object Obscura is still ongoing - we are actively working on two more episodes which will be released in early April available in English and Portuguese. Because it focuses on stories from Brazil we thought it best to conduct more interviews...

Neste episódio, vamos fazer um cruzeiro na Amazônia para descobrir a verdade por trás de uma máscara que minha família comprou em 1996. Viajamos para o Pará e conversamos com um antropólogo sobre a máscara indígena brasileira. Por fim, encontramos alguém da comunidade indígena Mebêngôkre e ouvimos sua explicação sobre a máscara parecida com um macaco. Obrigado a Ben Hess e a todos da minha família...

In this episode, we are going on an Amazon cruise to discover the truth behind a mask that my family bought in 1996. We travel to Pará and talk to an anthropologist about the Brazilian indigenous mask. Eventually, we find someone from the indigenous Mebêngôkre community and hear their explanation of the mask resembling a monkey. Thank you to Ben Hess and everyone in my family who filled in the det...

Neste episódio ouvimos um novo tipo de som e falamos com a filha do homem que o criou. A radiola, uma grande cabine de som, é a forma mais comum de tocar reggae na capital do reggae no Brasil: São Luís, no Maranhão. Ouça esta viagem para ouvir as histórias do DJ de reggae mais antigo da cidade, Serralheiro. Obrigado Ademar Danilo do Museu do Reggae Maranhense e Karlena Costa. Episódio escrito e tr...

In this episode we listen to a new type of sound and speak to the daughter of the man who created it. The radiola, a large sound system booth, is the most common way to play reggae music in the reggae capital of Brazil: São Luís, Maranhão. Listen to this journey to hear the stories from the oldest reggae DJ in the city, Serralheiro. Thank you to Ademar Danilo from the Museum of Reggae Maranhense a...

Este episódio é um pouco diferente - estamos falando de uma empresa brasileira de refrigerantes que foi fundada há quase 100 anos. O refrigerante cor-de-rosa, chamado Guaraná Jesus, tem o nome do farmacêutico que o criou. Viajando de Belém a São Paulo, percorreremos o Brasil para descobrir a verdade sobre o passado sombrio dessa bebida e finalmente responder à pergunta “por que Jesus foi preso?” O...

This episode is a little different - we’re talking about a Brazilian soda drink that was founded almost 100 years ago. The pink soda, called Guaraná Jesus, is named after the pharmacist who created it. Traveling from Belém to São Paulo, we’ll trek across Brazil to find the truth about this drink’s dark past and finally answer the question “why was Jesus put in Jail?” Thank you to Vagner do Vale fr...

A 3ª TEMPORADA ESTÁ AQUI! Estamos descobrindo a história um objeto de cada vez. Este é o podcast investigativo histórico sobre pessoas, objetos e suas histórias. O primeiro episódio sai em duas semanas na sexta-feira, 4 de novembro! Os episódios seguintes desta temporada serão lançados a cada duas sextas-feiras. Ouça o trailer completo no Apple Podcasts, Spotify ou onde quer que você ouça podcasts...

SEASON 3 IS HERE! We are uncovering history one object at a time. This is the historical investigative podcast about people, objects and their stories. The first episode comes out in two weeks on Friday, November 4th! The following episodes in this season will come out every other Friday. Listen to the full trailer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out everything...

In this episode I have a metal film canister - and inside is an acetate film reel of a 1990s Indian film. We’ll go on a roller coaster adventure to learn about the movie inside and all of the drama surrounding it. Thank you to Anthony L’Abbate from the George Eastman Museum, Tejaswini Ganti and Ramesh Talwar from the IPTA. Theme song for Object Obscura is ‘Behind the Walls’ by Nathanie Thanks to E...

In this episode I have an Army songbook from WWI. I track down the great niece of the soldier who had it in battle over 100 years ago. Thank you to Jari Villanueva → tapsbugler.com and tapsforveterans.org, The National WWI Museum and Marleen Grass. Voice of John Pfuelb by Robert Anthony Peters Voice of Leo T. McCabe by Ben Hess Picture credits by Korina McNair Theme song for Object Obscura is ‘Beh...

In this episode I have a WWII flight report log book. We investigate the book’s pages and hear many unexpected stories from the soldier's daughter. Thank you to Pilot Dave and Ellen Rhinehart. Theme song for Object Obscura is ‘Behind the Walls’ by Nathanie Thanks to Epidemic Sound and Anchor.fm for most of the music, SFX and distribution. Music in order of appearance: Time Pressure by Max Anson, B...

Second update for season 2 of the podcast. The last three episodes will come out every other Friday, starting next week, November 3. So the schedule is EP 13 - Friday, November 3, EP 14 - Friday, November 19, EP 15 - Friday, December. Stay tuned - tell your friends and family about the show.

In this episode I have an early 1900s pencil box with a drawing of Mother Goose on the top. We discuss the deep history behind this box and the multilayered stories of different school children who owned similar boxes. Thank you to Debbie Schaefer-Jacobs from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Theme song for Object Obscura is ‘Behind the Walls’ by Nathanie Thanks to Epidemic So...

In this episode I have a pair of wooden skis. They take me to hear stories about a world famous skier - speaking face to face with his son at a Safari park. Thank you to Seth Masia at the International Skiing History Association, Peter Lang at Safari West, Antiquities Warehouse and the Colorado Snowsports Museum. Theme song for Object Obscura is ‘Behind the Walls’ by Nathanie Thanks to Epidemic So...

Hey guys - just wanted to let you know there is no episode this week. Due to the nature of this show - where I’m researching these episodes simultaneously, not all of the stories are complete. So I hope to release a new episode every Friday starting next week on October 15. If there are more developments then I’ll let you know in a future update episode. I also wanted to share some news with you....

In this episode I have a wooden fish decoy used for ice spear fishing. I then take a trip to Michigan to find some answers and I locate the man who collected hundreds of these decoys for more than twenty years. Thank you to Stephen Michaan and Brad Kimball. Voice acting done by Robert Anthony Peters Picture credits by Korina McNair Theme song for Object Obscura is ‘Behind the Walls’ by Nathanie Th...

In this episode I have a small picture taken by Wallace Nutting. I uncover the fascinating history of where the picture was taken and reenact the women colorist who worked for him over 100 years ago. Thank you to Linda B. Palmer for sharing her knowledge, and Shannon Warrick and Jennie Brick for providing voices to these colorists. Thanks to Wallace Nutting Collector's Club Picture credits by Kori...

In this episode I have a horseshoer’s certificate from 1913. I travel to meet the person who last had it for 15 years and later track down a distant relative of the farrier who signed the document over a century ago. There were so many twists and turns and unexpected coincidences.  Thank you to the American Farriers Association @AmericanFarriers, Pat Hirsch and Judy Sullivan. Listen on Apple...

In this episode I have a WWII chocolate tin. An inscription on the back of the tin intrigues me to write a story that takes an unexpected turn. I don’t find the consumers of the chocolate but the woman who helped make it. Thank you to Sarah Wassberg Johnson and Susan Whildin Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Anchor. You can also listen on our website --> object-obscura.com...

In this episode I have a printing plate. It leads me to the owner of the Great James H. Drew Exposition and the printing company that used it nearly forty years ago. Thank you to Jimmy Drew @DrewExposition and Al Rosenberg @triangleposter Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Anchor. You can also listen on our website --> object-obscura.com Theme song for Object Obscura is ‘Beh...