Since the World's been Turning

Hello fans,  First hitting the Broadway stage in 1951 with one of the biggest stars in the business, Gertrude Lawrence, in the leading role, The King and I became an instant hit. Having been revived many times since its original production, and inspiring an Oscar-winning film adaptation in 1956, the musical challenged 1950s audiences to consider issues of race, imperialism, and the values of cultu...

 Marlon Brando - arguably the greatest actor of all time . Modernising the craft of acting, Brando brought a natural realism to the screen that nobody had ever seen before and won two Oscars in the process. But he could be notoriously difficult to work with, sometimes ignoring directors and not learning his lines. Off screen, his life was equally colourful; he advocated for Native American rights,...

Sugar Ray Robinson arguably the greatest pound for pound boxer of all time, a man who could knock someone out while going backwards. His rivalry with the equally fascinating Jake LaMotta, defined his career. We’ll look into Sugar Rays rise to the top and his fall by the end of his career. This week we're joined by boxing historian Lou Eisen, who was mentored by Muhammed Ali's trainer Ang...

 Want to learn more about the deadliest weapon ever built – the hydrogen bomb – which in the 1950s gave the United States and the Soviet Union the power to destroy the world. While the h-bomb took humanity terrifyingly close to the brink of a nuclear apocalypse several times during the Cold War, it may have also stopped World War 3 from happening. Historian of science Alex Wellerstein joins us to...

In the aftermath of World War 2, the United States was the only country to possess the most powerful weapon ever developed, the atomic bomb. US intelligence estimated that it would take the Soviet nuclear programme at least another 10 years to catch up. However, much to the surprise of the Americans, the Soviets detonated their first atomic bomb in 1949. It was obvious that spies had helped them s...

 This episode explores one of Hollywoods biggest icons and the woman beneath the fame. The real Marilyn Monroe. We will dive deep into the her career highlights and her tragic personal life. This week's guest Greg Schreiner, (the President and a founding member of the longest running fan club in existence today - Marilyn Remembered) will give his insight on the topic.  So join us for a detail...

The focus of this episode will be covering three topics. North Korea, South Korea and Panmunjom. The ongoing conflict in Korea, a tragedy that has dragged on for more than 70 years. The Korean War, fought between 1950 and 1953, never ended with a peace treaty, only a ceasefire, and Korea remains divided and in a state of high alert to this day. American history professor Dolores Janiewski helps us...

This episode focuses on one of the biggest inventions of the 20th century - Television. No other medium has had such a dramatic impact on society and culture. People managed to see for the first time, momentous historical events, such as the Vietnam War and the Moon Landing from the comfort of their homes. Television impacted society at all levels, from sports to music, to culture, and to politics...

This episode we cover one of America's greatest companies-Studebaker. A company that went from horse drawn carriages to automobiles. Throughout the 20th century Studebaker was an emblem of American industrial might. Their cars were beloved by millions and their factory was the beating heart of South-Bend Indiana. We're joined by Studebaker National Museum archivist Andrew Beckman, to hel...

 The man behind one of the darkest periods of American political history. In the early 1950s, Senator McCarthy stoked Cold War paranoia and launched a nationwide witch-hunt to oust communists from society. Without evidence, he destroyed people’s lives. The era now bears his name and “McCarthyism” has become synonymous for baseless accusations, fear, and lies. Political scientist Dan Zirker helps u...

This week’s episode tells the life story of baseball superstar, Joe DiMaggio. Tara Krieger from the Society for American Baseball Research joins us to explain how a fisherman’s son ended up becoming a Yankee hero, marrying Marilyn Monroe, and changing cultural perceptions of Italian Americans. So, in the words of Simon and Garfunkel – “Here’s to you, Joe DiMaggio.” Don’t forget to like and subscri...

Walter Winchell was America's biggest news broadcaster. Yet today he is almost forgotten. Winchell came from poverty, before rising to the peak of American society, making or breaking the careers of movie stars and politicians. We're joined by Professor Joe Saltzman, so listen in as we explore the eventful life of this hugely influential man, and understand how a friend of the president...

The Rodgers and Hammerstein wartime romance that forever changed Broadway. Joined by musical director and historian, Mark Robinson, we'll learn how 'South Pacific' brought American theatre audiences face to face with a message about race that is still as relevant today as it was 70 years ago. We hope you enjoy and remember to like and subscribe!

This episode tells the fascinating story of Johnnie Ray, the ‘inventor of the rock star’ who was also partially deaf. Before The Rolling Stones, before The Beatles, before Johnny Cash, and before Elvis – Johnnie Ray cut loose on stage, showing the world what a modern entertainer could do. But though his star burned bright, it burned fast; the biggest musical star in the world in 1952 was largely f...

This first installment of our two part series on Harry Truman looks at his early life as a struggling farmer and businessman, a soldier in World War I, and an up and coming politician that culminates with becoming the 33rd president of the United States. We’re joined by Dr Robert Patman from the University of Otago

This second installment continues our two-part series on Harry Truman by delving into the events of his presidency, from finishing World War 2, to rebuilding an international system torn apart, all while trying to fend off opposition back home and preventing the outbreak of World War 3.

In this episode, we look at the life of America’s sweetheart, Doris Day. A talented singer and actress, Doris was loved by fans all over the world. However, her private life was full of ups and downs. We’re joined by musicologist, Dr Gregory Camp, from the University of Auckland 

For centuries, China was ruled by dynasties and warlords. At the beginning of the 20th century, however, change was imminent. With contributions from Dr Jason Young of the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre, this episode chronicles the events that led to the rise of communism in China under the leadership of Mao Zedong.

This podcast series is a journey through history, one guided by the lyrics of Billy Joel’s song “We Didn’t Start the Fire" . Join us for an educational and fun exploration of the events, people, and inventions that helped to shape the modern world during the Cold War. These roughly half-hour episodes place a microscope on each of Billy Joel’s lyrics, discovering the rich detail that helps bre...