2 Queens In A Pod

In this week's episode, we learn about the City University of New York, Queens College. Established in 1937, Queens College has evolved over the decades. Located in one of the most diverse portions of the world it is not surprising that the student body represents more than 170 countries. Listen along as we discuss the history of Queens College, along with our own college experiences.

In this week's episode, we take the podcast to new heights, literally and figuratively. We head out of Queens for our first NYC location and what better way to kick it off with the most iconic landmark in the city. Completed in 1931, the Empire State Building brings in millions of viewers every year to take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the city. This week we dive into the history and rom...

On this week's episode, we head to Long Island City to visit a museum and sculpture garden designed and created by the Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. First opening in 1985, The Noguchi Museum displays Noguchi's sculptures, architectural models, stage designs, drawings, and furniture designs.

Happy New Year! In today's episode, we reflect on 2023 and discuss our hopes & dreams for 2024. Cheers to more adventures!

Holidays are usually a time of happiness and celebration, but sometimes they can lead to unexpected drama. In this week's episode, Melanie and Diana share stories about their childhood Christmases. From believing in Santa Claus to attending midnight mass, being a kid during the holiday can be overwhelming. Listen along as we talk about what makes the holiday memorable in good ways and bad.

On this week's episode, we light up the conversation on home holiday displays. During this time of year, Queens houses are decked out with lights and decorations. One display in particular will always hold special meaning, the one built at Melanie's childhood home. Melanie's dad, Gary Geidel, makes a guest appearance to talk about how he expanded his display every year and raised money for differe...

In this week's episode, Diana and Melanie talk about their experiences moving throughout New York City. Embarking on a move can feel daunting, but tackling a move in the chaos that is NYC? That's worthy of a medal.

In this episode, Melanie and Diana are on the search for the perfect NY slice in Queens. They adventure off into three different neighborhoods in Queens on their first-ever pizza tour. The first stop was Lucia Pizza in Flushing to see if a slice Diana had a decade ago still held up. Then to Whitestone to try Melanie's childhood pizza joint Cascarino's, previously the official pizza of the NY Mets....

Starting in 1924, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has become a well-known New York City celebration but it was not the only way New Yorkers celebrated. In this week's episode, we dive into the history of Thanksgiving and discuss its many different origin stories and the way people marked the holiday.

Before the arrival of English and Dutch colonizers in the area now known as Queens, numerous indigenous tribes thrived, considering this land their ancestral home. In this week's episode, we delve into the historical significance of the Battle of Madnan's Neck. This event marked the expulsion of the final Matinecoc inhabitants from Douglaston and Little Neck.

More than five million people are buried in cemeteries across Queens, which is twice as many as there are currently living there. As the population soared in Manathan in the 19th century, creating cemeteries outside of the island became a big business. In this week's episode, we discuss the Rural Cemetery Act and its impact on Queens having the largest number of burials in the United States.

On March 13, 1964, Kitty Genovese was murdered in Kew Gardens during the early morning hours. 38 witnesses in the surrounding area heard and ignored her cries for help, or at least that's how the story goes. In this week's episode, we dive into the social psychological theory of the bystander effect and whether New Yorkers are apathetic.

Sitting on 30 acres of land in Queens Village, Creedmoor Psychiatric Center was established over a century ago. Over the past few decades, buildings on the Creedmoor campus have been abandoned and ruined. This week we discuss the unfair conditions to patients that have plagued Creedmoor throughout its lifetime and society's stigmatization of mental illness'.

For our 50th episode, we are discussing the infamous Queens Blvd. Running through 7 Queens neighborhoods, Queens Blvd runs 7.5 miles from Queensborough Plaza to Jamaica Avenue. With pedestrian walkways averaging 200 feet in most areas and heavy traffic flow, Queens Blvd is one of the most dangerous roadways in New York City, gaining the notorious name "The Boulevard of Death." 

Melanie and Diana talk all things Citi Field, including their recent tour around the stadium. Citi Field officially opened at the start of the 2009 baseball season, replacing the iconic Shea Stadium. Many key design features play homage to the Polo grounds and Ebbets Field, giving a reminisce feel of past New York baseball. With a ton of amenities and local upgraded food choices, Citified is a spo...

Diana and Melanie discuss the high and lows of the 1964 New York World's Fair.

Melanie and Diana explore the history of the Queens Zoo. Opening in 1968, Queens was the last borough to get its own zoo. Listen as we discuss the highs and the lows the zoo has had over the past few decades.

Diana and Melanie discuss the summer of 99' when West Nile virus was running rampant through New York. In the summer of 1999, West Nile virus was first detected in Queens, NY when 2 people at Flushing Hospital appeared to have similarly odd symptoms. On today's podcast episode we discuss our memories of the hysteria that followed that first detection.

Melanie and Diana reminisce about their childhood experiences during the 2003 Northeast blackout. On August 14th 2003, a little after 4:10 PM, seven states and parts of Canada experienced major power outages caused by a power station in Ohio. Listen along as we talk about where we were 20 years ago and how we dealt with the major blackout of 2003.

Diana and Melanie discuss the influence of the Queensboro Bridge and the famous hip hop rivalry, The Bridge Wars.

Melanie and Diana read up on the history of the Queens Public Library. The Queens Public Library was organized well over a century ago and is still thriving within the Queens community today. Listen along as we discuss the formation of the Queens Public Library along with our own personal experience growing up visiting them.

Diana and Melanie dig up all the rich history of Astoria Park. Astoria Park, located at the tip of the east river, is known for its picturesque waterfront views situated between two historic bridges. Here are some other things it is know for - Glacial boulders, Summer Olympics, Shipwrecks, and Sewage waste. Listen as the 2 Queens Pod discover the long in-depth history surrounding one of their favo...

Melanie and Diana walk along the LiC brewery trail and try out refreshing crafted beers. Listen as 2 Queens Pod describes their perfect Sunday spent in Long Island City. The trail spans less than a 2 mile radius and features the breweries- Rockaway Brewing Company, Fifth Hammer Brewing Co., Big aLICe Brewing, Focal Point Beer Co, & LIC Beer Project.

Diana and Melanie discuss all their favorite things to do in Queens during the summertime. Listen along while they discuss all the best places to beat the heat and enjoy the sunshine.

Melanie and Diana sing the night away at Forest Hills Stadium.