The Mystery of History

In today's podcast, I’m going to first give you a short story about the writing of the Declaration of Independence , in case those facts are dusty or missing from your experience. Second, I’m going to tell you the stories of two lesser-known heroes of the time period. One story ends well, the other doesn’t, which will remind us not to take for granted the hot dogs, the watermelon, the firewor...

If you grew up on boring, pointless, morbid, irrelevant, or secular history, chances are, you didn’t like it—and you’re afraid of passing that on to the next generation. Fear not. There are ways to combat these preconceived ideas – and make history unforgettable and fun! Join Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History , for “How to Make History Unforgettable!” This session is family-frie...

In a day and age where morals and manners are harder to come by, it’s good to know that chivalry lives ! What is chivalry? What are the commandments of chivalry for knights to live by? To learn this and more about medieval times, join Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History , with her guest, J. Aaron Gruben for a conversation on chivalry and how Aaron has creatively tied it in to his...

In the historical play, Julius Caesar , William Shakespeare made famous the phrase, “Beware the Ides of March.” Perhaps you’ve heard it but not known the full story starting on March 15 that eclipsed the death of the Roman Republic—and the birth of the Roman Empire. And perhaps the connection of this event to biblical history is vague! Well, to get the story behind the story, join me, Linda Lacour...

There’s nothing fun about the Salem Witch Trials. But they are intriguing! Most of us know a few things about this story, but the details are vague. That is understandable, because no one can fully explain what went wrong in the small village of Salem in 1692, when more than 20 suffered death from the scare of witchcraft! Join Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History , for the full sto...

It’s a new year, which means a lot of families are newly discovering The Mystery of History . Welcome newbies! This podcast is designed with you in mind to explain our “3-C” themes; a week at a glance; and materials at a glance. Veterans, this podcast is for you too, as a reminder of what this program is all about and how to use it for all ages. Happy New Year and happy teaching! 

For kids to understand the Jewish holiday known as “Hanukkah,” they really need to know the Bible and history. That’s what I’m here for! The Mystery of History four-volume series teaches world history from a biblical worldview. It’s our first volume, in particular, that lines up ancient history with bible events to help us see God’s timeless hand in the affairs of mankind.  Getting now to Hanukkah...

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It has it all! Food, family, faith, and history.  Join me, Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History , for the true story of the First Thanksgiving, which bridged the Old World to the New – through courage, prayer, and the heroic gestures of Squanto who helped the Pilgrims survive in a time of great need.

From the road to Damascus to the fall of the Roman Empire, God has been at work to make Himself known. Follow Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History , through the first five centuries of world history following the resurrection of Jesus Christ. From martyrs and missionaries, to Masada and the Edict of Milan, this is a trip you won’t forget. (This episode was recorded a few years ago...

Some of you have jumped into homeschool this fall all excited—with new markers, new books, and new lesson plans. But! One month in and the lesson plans you poured over in the summer aren’t working! You're frustrated and they're declaring anarchy! Fear not! There is hope for salvaging lesson plans and making them work for you instead of against you. Please join Linda Lacour Hobar, author...

The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, on August 24, A.D. 79 , remains one of the more disturbing natural disasters in history. Why? The strength of the volcano was so unusually massive, that it pushed debris forcefully upward into the sky—where it hung, suspended, for hours! When at last the cloud of debris collapsed and fell to the earth, it was certain death for everyone in its path living in or around...

As promised, my publisher (Bright Ideas Press) has just released a new title in The Mystery of Science Series by Karri Iverson. The new title is dedicated to Physics—for 4-8th graders but is easy to tweak for students younger or older than that. With the prior release of The Mystery of Science—Biology , this new series has been well received by the market and is sure to become a treasure in your h...

If you've ever been in Canada on July 1st, you may have experienced “Canada Day” with fireworks, picnics, parades, and barbecues. What’s up with all the festivities? What is Canada Day and why the celebration? I’ll answer that today, at least historically speaking, in an audiobook excerpt from The Mystery of History Volume IV, titled, “The Dominion of Canada.” Let me add, I think the Canadian...

A lesson on Iran wasn’t exactly on my radar for a summer podcast. But here we are in June (2025) with the recent U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites! While there are layers to this story that may not be understood in my lifetime, there is background to this story that has made the pages of history. In fact, the reason we study history is for weeks like this—when we’re desperate to better underst...

Many celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mexican food and festivities (you can count me in on that!) But few realize the difficult backstory endured by the people of Mexico—who found themselves captive to the French at the same time as the American Civil War! So, I bring you an audiobook narration from The Mystery of History Volume IV with a lesson titled, “The French Rule of Mexico under Maximillien and...

The history of the Holocaust is difficult to learn, difficult to grasp, and difficult to teach. But – to prevent it from happening again – it is history that demands our examination! Join Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History, for a pensive look at the Holocaust and what teens and tweens should know about it. Part 1 of this two-part podcast touched on Hitler’s evil ideology and poli...

The Holocaust is difficult to remember, difficult to grasp, and difficult to teach. But – to prevent it from happening again – it is history that demands our examination! Join Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History, for a pensive look at the Holocaust and what teens and tweens should know about it. Part 1 of this two-part podcast will touch on Hitler’s evil ideology and politics.  Do...

Who are the worst of the worst dictators of the 20th century? Opinions may vary, but you can join Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History , to learn more about the chilling rise to power of Vladimir Lenin, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, and Adolf Hitler. Great for mature students - to appreciate what we "should" learn from history!  (For ease of listening, Part 1 covers on...

Who are the worst of the worst dictators of the 20th century? Opinions may vary, but you can join Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History , to learn more about the chilling rise to power of Vladimir Lenin, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, and Adolf Hitler. Great for mature students - to appreciate what we "should" learn from history!  (For ease of listening, Part 1 will cove...

I think the Middle Ages in history can be compared to puberty in life! Sandwiched between ancient times and the Renaissance, the Middle Ages was an awkward time of growth—and a power struggle over authority—much like junior high! Be it that you’ve covered Medieval Times, or are teaching it soon, this is a summary of some of the most significant topics you’ll not want to miss. To help you break thi...

I think the Middle Ages in history can be compared to puberty in life! Sandwiched between ancient times and the Renaissance, the Middle Ages was an awkward time of growth—and a power struggle over authority—much like junior high! Be it that you’ve covered Medieval Times, or are teaching it soon, this is a summary of some of the most significant topics you’ll not want to miss. To help you break thi...

In the world of home education, academics are important!  But immeasurable blessings await the homeschool family that additionally focuses on real-life learning beyond the books. Join Linda Lacour Hobar, author of The Mystery of History and retired homeschool mom, for heartfelt thoughts about teaching values to your children that matter the most.  If you need refreshment, inspiration, or encourage...

The older I get, the harder it seems to get Christmas right.  It’s “complicated” to sort through all the moving parts and expectations of others. While I can’t manage it well, or just won’t, I can at any given time pause to remember what this sacred season is all about. Join me, the author of The Mystery of History, for a short reflection on Immanuel, which means “God with us.” I also have a histo...

November 22 marks the anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Who shot JFK in 1963? The conspiracy theories abound, and the murder mystery has yet to be adequately solved. Join me, Linda Lacour Hobar, the author of The Mystery of History, for Part 2 of “The Assassination of John F. Kennedy” where we’ll look more closely at Lee Harvey Oswald, the Zapruder Film, James Files, a...

John F. Kennedy, America’s 35th President, was tragically assassinated on November 22, 1962 .  The death of this American president left the nation hurting and in shock. To this day, theories abound on who, what, why, and how this tragedy occurred more than 60 years ago. I can’t solve the mysteries behind this unparalleled event, but I can share the details we do know, or think we know, to help th...