History Loves Company

We've all seen it: a black-and-white, grainy photo of a long-necked creature surfacing the waters of Loch Ness. This is perhaps the most iconic image of the so-named Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, ever captured on film. But while the creature has been better documented in recent centuries thanks to photographic and video evidence, sightings of it date back even further to several centuries in the p...

There are many ways to legitimize a city, but your first thought might not be to steal a holy relic. The Most Serene Republic of Venice, or La Serenissima in the Venetian language, did just that in its formative years and it fast became the symbol of the city itself. How and why did they do it? Was it indeed God's will? And how has this holy relic shaped its identity? Find out in this week's enthr...

The bond between humans and dogs is an unbreakable one. From their domestication some 20000 to 40000 years ago during the Ice Age, they've become loyal companions and dear friends. Across cultures, dogs are often associated with benevolence, but did you know that a town in Medieval France even went as far as to make one a saint? Find out how it all happened in this week's episode, all about Saint...

French art in the late 19th Century was at a crossroads. Between Impressionism and Post-Impressionism and the various Modernist movements that would dominate the early 20th Century, the Turn-of-the-Century was a transitional period. And yet, no movement better embodied this transition than the Nabis, a fringe movement that would ultimately bridge the gap between the two. Tune in this week to disco...

With the rise of Benito Mussolini (and, by extension, fascism) in Italy, the colony of Eritrea was hurled into Modern Age. Rapid industrialization and development of infrastructure meant that the capital city of Asmara's population more than doubled within a decidedly short span of time. But the grinding gears of history had other plans for the colony. Find out what happened next in Part Two of It...

Admittedly, the so-called "Rush to Africa" conjures up the usual European suspects: France, Belgium, and, of course, Britain. But lesser known is Italy who established its own colony in East Africa in a place they called Eritrea (from the Latin name for the Red Sea that borders it). Today, the capital city of Asmara is a hodgepodge of Romanesque churches, Modernist architecture, and businesses wit...

You've likely heard the phrase "singing for one's supper," but how about singing for one's freedom? Nearly forty years ago now, the people of the Baltic states did just that in order to cast off the yoke of Soviet oppression. Lend me your ears (and voices) this week for a look at the Singing Revolution!

The sinner-to-saint story is prevalent in Christianity. There are countless examples of men and women who saw the proverbial light and made a change for the better. But what about in other faiths? In the East, such figures can also be found in Buddhism. And in Tibet, perhaps none is as famous as the subject of this week's episode. We return to the Himalayas this week, dear listeners, for a look at...

Despite three of the world's main religions being monotheistic in nature, they were not the first to adopt such a concept. The belief in a sole or chief deity is decidedly older, with roots in Persia and, perhaps surprisingly, in Egypt, where one pharaoh dared to topple the age-old religious order in favor of something new and radical. Tune in this week to learn about Atenism, Ancient Egypt's mono...

The subject of colonization of North America typically conjures up a few "culprits": Spain, France, and, of course, Britain. But it's important to remember that other European powers gave it a go here as well: the Dutch, for example, whose colony of New Amsterdam would one day become the city of New York. But even lesser known than the Dutch were the Russians, who, unlike the others who crossed th...

Take a look in your pockets, dear listeners. Do you have any spare change? Perhaps a nickel, a dime, or a penny? Of these, the penny isn't worth that much. Just one cent in American currency, these copper coins bearing the likeness of our 16th president (Abraham Lincoln) are the most commonly found coins on the ground while out and about. And yet, it was a humble penny, albeit far older than the L...

If you've attended a university in either the United States or Canada, chances are you or someone you know was part of a fraternity or sorority. These exclusive student-led clubs offer a sense of camaraderie and community and, some would say, enhance and exemplify the college experience. But there was a time before such organizations existed and were even regarded with scorn by university faculty....

"Do yeh fear that dark abyss?" So asks Davy Jones, the main antagonist of the second film in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise: 'Dead Man's Chest.' For context, he was referring to death, but his words could just as easily apply to the sea itself. The ocean is vast, unforgiving, and holds many secrets. One such secret is the disappearance of a Danish ship almost a century ago--the København...

Our species is obsessed with immortality. Given our limited time on this Earth, who can blame us? As such, many great men and women throughout history have sought to halt or postpone death through both supernatural and scientific means. But of them, perhaps none did so quite as intensely as the first emperor of China. Join me this week for a tale of political intrigue, assassination attempts, and...

Baseball is America's pastime. So how did it end up in one of the remotest places on Earth? Just in time for the World Baseball Classic (starting March 5th), join me as we explore the history of the sport in Bhutan and how a tiny part of the Himalayas became a bastion for baseball.

As there's currently a revolution taking place in Iran, it seemed high time that the 'History Loves Company' podcast traveled to this historically and culturally rich land to explore its ancient past. If you've attended any of the pro-democracy demonstrations in Persian communities throughout the world, then you've seen images of heard tell of a man known as Kurosh, better known in the West as Cyr...

About 40 miles (64 kilometers) north of Los Angeles is a natural rock formation known as Vásquez Rocks. Formed around 25 million years ago, they dominate the sparse landscape, their bright reddish hues telling the story of the area's seismic and geological history. But our focus this week isn't on the formation, but the man whose name now graces it. Few figures in the days of California's Wild Wes...

Many of us grew up with Paddington, the adorable, lovable bear who somehow finds himself transplanted on British soil from his homeland of "darkest Peru." While the subjects of today's episode are a bit less endearing (to say nothing of a geographical reversal of this), their story is nonetheless captivating. How did a vibrant community of Welsh people end up in one of the wildest regions of South...

Much like life, history has a way of going its own way, usually in a direction one least expects. After becoming part of Italy, South Tyrol enjoyed some autonomy and was allowed to retain its culture and practices. But then, a little thing called fascism assumed control of Italy in what can best be described as a coup d'état and the South Tyroleans found their entire world turned upside-down. Find...

Ah, Italy! Known the world over for its natural beauty, picturesque towns, and delicious cuisine, to walk or drive its roads is to follow in the footsteps of great men and women or else great civilizations and disparate peoples such as the Etruscans, Romans, or...Austrians?! You read that right, dear listeners. Indeed, Italy shares a border with Austria, but how did some 150000 Austrians become It...

If you're hungry this week, dear listeners, how about having something a bit "meteor"? Get it? Instead of "meatier"...Okay, so you're not here for my knockabout comedy, but this week's episode is, quite literally, out of this world. What do Siberia, Evenki natives, and space rocks all have in common? If you're in suspense, hit that play button to find out!

Imagine going on a hunting trip with your sibling or best friend, only to happen upon the body of an infant. It's a frightening prospect, but that's exactly what happened to brothers Hans and Jokum Grønvold of Ummannaq, Greenland in 1972. They immediately contacted local authorities, mistaking the child as the victim of a murder. But further analysis revealed something far different--and far older...

If you've ever seen the musical '1776,' then you're likely familiar with the spirited debate between Founding Fathers John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin about which bird should be the symbol of America. Adams vies for the bald eagle, Jefferson the ring-necked pheasant, and Franklin the wild turkey. All three species are native to the United States, yet history shows us that it was...

As with many cities throughout the world, Los Angeles has a long and troubled history of crime. The Black Dahlia, Charles Manson, Richard Ramirez (the infamous "Night Stalker")...these are just some of the most notorious criminal cases that have taken place in the so-called City of Angels. But long before these, even before its days as a lawless Wild West town, Los Angeles was home to one of the e...

Celebrity and tabloid culture are nothing new. We forget that the stories and scandals of today are not a recent phenomenon. Indeed, what we now regard as salacious can, in fact, trace its roots back a century at the height of the Roaring Twenties, when a lively and decadent youth subculture took Britain by storm with their shocking behavior. Join me this week for a look at the Bright Young Things...