American Esoterica

In which men once again learn which is the superior sex. You may have never heard of the Smith sisters, but after this, you won't forget them. Or their cows.

An inquisition that everybody expects uses its greatest weapon - surprise - against its worst enemy - itself. It begins with a reign of terror but ends in a very different place. 

The intersection of the National Mall's biggest eyesore and its ultimate revenge on its most consequential critic.

In the fourth of four episodes on our nation's capital, new heroes emerge to drag Washington, D.C., kicking and screaming into the 20th century via a plan from the 18th century. In other words, the D.C. you know is a lot younger than you think.

In the third of four episodes on our nation's capital, it takes a century for the nation's capital to become...the national toilet. Follow the federal city as it grows and decays simultaneously.

If you think Washington, D.C., is a joke, well...it came by it honestly.

In the second of four episodes on our nation's capital, one man's ego gave us a grand plan for our capital city, but it also led to his downfall. Come for the French fuss, stay for George Washington micromanaging real estate negotiations instead of presidenting. 

Hey, just because something isn't true doesn't mean we should just ignore its historical importance, right? Also, contains vague discussions of prior episodes and one use of the world's mildest profanity. Your great-grandma has been warned. 

In the first of four episodes on our nation's capital, a struggling new nation pulls itself together over dinner. Literally. Three men enter, two plans leave. Witness the most consequential dinner party in history. 

What could possibly overshadow a tragic and eerie event that would cost the lives of 22 people in a government office building? 

In this mini-sode of what were already short episodes, learn the origins of how Chicago learned how to turn brown into green. 

The duel may have been the end of Alexander Hamilton's story, but it was only the beginning of Aaron Burr's descent into treasonous lunacy and at least a little karma.

Get ready to build your multimillion-dollar international business empire - here's a dollar and fifteen years. Can't do it? Sarah Breedlove did - this is her story.

A fierce love, a bold plan, and a desperate need - but will it be enough for Robert Smalls to rescue his family and escape the Confederacy?

They tried to keep her silent, but instead gave her something to sing about, along with the most incredible stage in the world from which to sing it.

If it were a work of fiction, you wouldn't believe it. This is the story of an epic feat of strength, bravery, and compassion.

Our First was their third - the Bill of Rights that Congress sent to the states for ratification had twelve amendments, not ten, so what happened to those extra two? 

The story of how one man during the Cold War accidentally wound up tracking the wrong kind of red airspace invader. And if you've heard the story before, you probably heard it wrong.

A beloved Christmas classic may not have always been so beloved, which is what directly led to it becoming beloved. Beloved.

Our national obsession with a cheezy pasta dish began in the kitchens of Monticello, but it isn't Jefferson to whom we owe the credit. 

This is the story of the world's greatest heist - the time the CIA stole a Soviet submarine in full view of the entire world with the help of an eccentric billionaire.

Look, we don't know why we keep coming back to Lincoln, either. But this one has a ghost train, so there's that. 

On a Saturday morning in 1971, it took one word to bring many across the nation to the brink of utter panic. Blame Wayland Eberhardt. 

Thirteen original colonies smiling and holding hands? Nope. Twelve colonies and one knock-down, drag-out fight with one stubborn holdout. 

All it takes is one idiot to make your local street corner a radioactive hot zone. Note: this one is both gross and cruel towards dogs; we're less concerned with the people.