Dead Air Time

A lady of grit and determination, Virginia Hall, became a noteworthy figure in history. Though many do not recognize her name, she had a significant impact, particularly in France. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with Virginia Hall. Sources: Purnell, Sonia. A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II . Penguin Books, an Imprint of Penguin Rand...

The Star Spangled Banner is more than a song - it’s a story. The words paint the picture of our beloved flag, tattered and battle torn, hanging on through a battle.  - “Oh say can you see, by the dawn’s early light? What so proudly we hailed, at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight? O’er the ramparts we watched, was so gallantly streaming?...

A lady of grit and determination, Virginia Hall, became a noteworthy figure in history. Though many do not recognize her name, she had a significant impact, particularly in France. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with Virginia Hall. Sources: Purnell, Sonia. A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II . Penguin Books, an Imprint of Penguin Rand...

How easy it is to see someone well-known for a skill and to say, “They were born with it,” or we assume, ”They must have it so easy.” However, we know that isn’t always true. For many talents and abilities, we struggle and strive to master it, and sometimes we never see the fruits of our labors. Other times, our efforts bring us to places we could never have imagined for ourselves. Now, imagine yo...

Intro: Before Tony the Tiger, Dig’em Frog, Snap, Crackle, and Pop, breakfast was a very different meal. For the wealthy it included large spreads of meats, eggs, and breads. For the poor, breakfast usually consisted of a daily bowl of porridge. But all of that changed just before the turn of the 20th century, when two brothers discovered something new. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with...

During a time when tensions were high and grudges were rampant, the city of Berlin had been caught in the crossfire of former allies now at odds. The newly established United States Airforce was called on to bring food and necessities to these people who had, until very recently,  been considered enemies. It was a great humanitarian effort for those who were in dire straits, but would it be enough...

She was a true prodigy in every sense of the word. Her fingers flew over the black and white keys, nimble with grace surprising for such a young lady. The melody flowing from her hands matched her movements as the enraptured audience held their breath. It was enchanting. Her brother had indeed awed them before with his performance, but she captivated them just as well. While her brother would beco...

In 2008, a newspaper man, named Wil Haygood, was on a mission to interview a very specific person. After spending a multitude of hours making calls and searching, he finally was able to make contact with the man who had seen more history happen than Wil had even hoped for. This man had not been a politician, a musician, or a rich statistician. Nope! This man had been a butler. A butler to presiden...

While starting from humble origins, born on a small farm in a small town in Texas, this boy would go on to be not only a household name known for his warm voice, his upright character, and his beloved shows, but he would also become a great businessman with investments in a variety of things. From airplane schools to baseball teams, from television and radio shows to hotels, his business spanned a...

Soccer, known as football in most parts of the world, has made its mark on the lives of many generations. Today more than 250 million people play the sport and it has been a unifying game in many instances for people across cultures. Throughout time, soccer has evolved as countless players have changed the game by how they choose to play it. One such athlete was a Dutchman. Join us today as we dis...

Mary, Mary, quite contrary How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockleshells And pretty maids all in a row. Mary, Mary, not so wary Of hearts and darkness bleak With spirits fraught, creatures new She was never meek Mary, Mary, like a fairy Drawn to mists and deep She calls a message to us all -  Know what to give and keep.  Join us as we take a breath of dead air with the mother of sc...

Enjoy hearing of how radio and podcasts came to be, as well as celebrate a full year of Dead Air Time Podcast with us in this off the rails episode! Sources https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/rescue-development-radio/   https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/a-short-history-of-radio.pdf   https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/radio-wave-definition-spectrum-uses.html#:~:text=Exa...

What do you get when you add a growing family shoe business, a difference of opinions, and a war together? Well you’d get the Dassler brothers, of course! Join us today as we discuss the development of the sneaker and the story of two men who made the shoe market so competitive. Listen in as we take a breath of dead air with Rudolf and Adolf Dassler. Sources Shaw, Noah. Adidas vs Puma: Brothers at...

In our human experiences, we search for truth. We sometimes ask ourselves - Who am I? What do I know? While the introduction of technology changed how we approach these questions and perhaps search for answers, these questions are ancient. A young man in Ancient Greece also asked these questions. He dared to question what drove human existence, greatly valued education, and searched for truths in...

Much of our modern culture has dramatized the time when pirates roamed the ocean. It is seen as a time of great adventure and lots of treasure. But where did this treasure come from? What did the pirates actually do? And what was it like for the average citizen to live during this “golden age of piracy”? Today, we’ll explore these topics, as we take a breath of dead air with Sarah Kidd. Sources: G...

There is a fine line between an opportunist and a manipulator. Both see a chance for growth, power, wealth. One intentionally deceives to control the actions of others, while the other simply observes what is happening and takes advantage of the opportunities before them. It all comes down to the intent. The difficulty lies in identifying the differences between the two, especially when the outcom...

The year is 1778. General Washington is trying to rally and strategize the best he can with an army full of inexperienced, yet passionate soldiers. If they are to succeed in gaining independence from England, the American forces will need to be aware of the movements and plans of the British. Washington has assigned Major Benjamin Tallmadge to set up some informants within New York, the area that...

Olive held her breath as the group could finally see Fort Lamy. French soldiers were hustling about them, as the French hold of parts of Africa was breaking further and further each day. Ushered into a large, European-inspired house surrounded by all of the luxuries one could find, the river flowing nearby, it was such a picturesque scene. Surrounded by all of the beauty, soldiers told the travele...

A young woman from a wealthy and noble background has left for Africa. She knows little of where she is heading, the culture she is going to be surrounded by, the language which the people there will speak, and, most of all, where and how her finacee, Mr. Boyd Alexander, had been murdered. In search of answers, she has begun to acquire the skills needed to survive and investigate with the help of...

As you wander through the vast halls of Dunvegan Castle, you catch a glimpse of the green rolling hills of Scotland through the arched window.  Your breath catches as the drizzling rain outside deepens the rich hues of emerald outside, coating everything in a glistening blanket. Stepping up the stairs, portraits on the walls around you seem to watch and encourage you to move forward, see more.  Wh...

Satisfaction guaranteed, Rollback prices, and the yellow smiley face stickers- these are all famous icons of the Walmart store. But how did this prevalent company get its start? Today we’ll take a breath of dead air with Walmart’s founder and long-time president, Sam Walton. Sources Blumenthal, Karen. Mr. Sam: How Sam Walton Built Walmart and Became America’s Richest Man . Viking Books for Young R...

She stepped into the shop, perfume bottles and cosmetic cases glittering in the dim light.  Stepping forward, she approached the counter where behind an older woman accompanied by her young lady assistants worked.  Whispering in hushed tones while trying to appear at ease, money was exchanged for a small vial of liquid - uncolored, having no scent, and having no taste.  For all one unknowing could...

Have you ever used Morse Code, written a hidden message in a note to a friend, or even spoken pig latin to keep a secret from some young kids? No matter the method, we all have information that we’d like to keep private. Today banking, tech security, and even text messaging all involve encryption. Oftentimes computers are needed to “hack” into or break through these extra measures. But how was thi...

Imagine you are at the base of a mountain.  It’s impressive rocks covered with a blanket of lush, green grass and peppered with tall, proud pines, oaks, maybe even sequoias. You take a deep inhale, savoring the fresh air surrounding you, feeding you.  Burbling creeks trickle down from the snow-capped mountain top, the beginning of spring bringing a promise of filling lakes and falls. The music of...

Have you ever experienced a moment in which doing something absolutely terrified you and yet you knew that you just had to do it anyway? During a time when women were typically thought to have very little power to change their circumstances, a courageous woman did something nerve-wracking in order to stop a genocide,. This woman and her story are now honored each year through the observance of Pur...