The Revisionists

We reach back into the archives one more time for this Halloween favorite featuring the brilliant Rachel Weeks helping us discuss Belle Gunness : farm owner, pig feeder, and *checks notes* remorseless serial killer. Brian’s leave continues, but hopefully we’ll be back to new episodes in a couple weeks! Thanks for sticking with us through this time, we so appreciate your support! ******************...

While Brian’s leave continues, please enjoy one of our all-time favorite episodes! In the wake of the 2016 election, we scrapped our usual format and recorded a two-parter with special guests Janae Burris and Christie Buchele. We bring you part two, where Janae and Christie discuss a couple of historical resistance heroes: Ida B. Wells & the White Rose . **************************** We’re thri...

While Brian is away on family leave, please enjoy this classic episode from December 29th, 2018: Ernest Shackleton featuring Jordan Doll! We’ll be back soon, and hope you like these nostalgic tastes until then. ************************************* It’s a New Year’s miracle! The brilliant Jordan Doll returns for this all in-person recording where we talk about Ernest Shackleton ! Zach reboots the...

While Brian's on family leave, enjoy and share this, one of our favorite episodes: Sir Roger Casement with Duke Byron Graham! ******** Hilarious rogue Byron Graham returns to the show to help us discuss Human Rights pioneer, Irish patriot, and very hot guy Roger Casement! Zach helpfully explains the differences between Byron and Brian, Byron repurposes some schoolyard rhymes, and Brian shouts out...

There’s no way around it, y’all, this topic is sad. The episode, however is very silly. A weird combo, but it’s kind of what we do. Danny Ramos returns to help us talk about Julius and Ethel Rosenberg . Stay tuned to the end for an ill-advised request for audience participation! IMPORTANT NOTE: Brian is going on very sudden family leave! There’s gonna be a pause in new episodes for a short while (...

The delightful Priscilla Spangler returns to help us discuss a white dude with connections who kept failing up and ended up betraying his country! Not that one. Or that one. No, it’s Aldrich Ames . Zach emcees the bi-weekly roast of Brian, Priscilla leads us on a stroll down memory lane, and Brian makes some very specific fan art requests. We love hearing from you! Reach out via our website , Twit...

We kick off our miniseries on spies with the “ace of spies” (and definite murderer) Sidney Reilly ! Joining us is friend of the show (not murderer) Byron Graham! I’ll level with you, it’s one of the most fun episodes we’ve recorded, but then Brian was hiding in his apartment in fear this week, so it’s about an hour late and is missing extensive show notes. Sorry about that. We love you, and hope t...

Okay, so it’s not a Christmas episode, but it’s definitely a bizarre one! The holidays kept us from recording, so we wanted to reach back into the vault and share another episode of our (10 year!) old podcast, The First World Privilege Hour with Pat Medaugh. In this episode we discuss Cool Dog , a movie about (wait for it) an all right dog. We’ll be back in the new year with our regular schedule a...

Help us say farewell to our Medical History miniseries with special guest Allison Rose as we discuss medical pioneer Rebecca Lee Crumpler ! Zach revisits some of our saddest hits, Allison refuses to save Brian from himself, and Brian asks the question on everyone’s lips. We wanna hear from you! Random questions, comments, recipes, whatever! You can send them via our website or through Twitter or I...

The Black Plague? That shouldn’t feel topical! We welcome back the hilarious Brad Galli to help us talk about *checks notes* the largest mass death event in recorded history . Look, we promise this is a fun episode. Zach has his judging work cut out for him, Brad has the hot gos on literally every single person, and Brian briefly tries a new way of telling the actual history. NOTE: Since we had to...

Heads up! We’re diving back into medical history with the wonderful Josh Hollis, who joins us to talk about the strange case of Phineas Gage ! Zach speaks to the true believers, Josh talks about the hole craze that swept the country, and Brian introduces a regrettable new segment. Don’t forget! If you make a donation of $20 or more to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project , we’ll send you one of our aweso...

Happy Halloween! For the final episode of our annual Spooktacular, we welcome back the brilliant Kira MagCalen to discuss the life and crimes of H.H. Holmes ! Zach celebrates a slice of Chicago history, Kira picks her favorite weapon , and Brian accidentally slanders Jon Favreau . BOO! SPOOKY! CHARITY DRIVE ANNOUNCEMENT : We’ll send you one of our awesome, Geoff Tice-designed t-shirts if you help...

Lock the door, it’s part 2 of 3 in our annual Halloween Spooktacular! We’re so excited to have the wonderful Gena Radcliffe (co-host of Kill by Kill and writer for The Spool ) join us to talk about the bizarre story of Spring-Heeled Jack . Zach has The Boss on the brain, Brian dives into the robust Victorian justice system, and Gena tells us of brand-new invention, you know, for kids. *NOTE* So, t...

Children of the night, what sweet themed comedy podcasts they make! We kick off our three-episode Halloween Spooktacular with special guest and co-host of Movie Trap Russel Carlsen as we discuss the Highgate Vampire . Zach pulls us out of an N64 hole, Russel blows some fat clouds, and Brian breaks out his 2020 Dracula impression. NEWS: If you head to our website , you can participate in a brief an...

Soup’s on! The wonderful Jen Kolic returns to help us talk about the mysterious National Hotel Disease ! Zach remembers his first Toblerone, Jen spoils the surprise disease like, right up top, and Brian thinks he’s doing a cowboy character? It’s hard to tell. Thanks for listening, and if you want to become part of our community, you can follow us on Twitter and Instagram , drop us a line on our we...

It’s bloodsuckers and bad poetry this episode as we discuss Malaria researcher and semi-toolbag Ronald Ross with returning favorite Kate Strobel! Zach sings the pop-punk hits of 1888, Kate asks you to support public broadcasting, and Brian reads off his browser history. Become part of our community by following us on social media and pledging your support on Patreon with just $1 a month!

Brian is tending to a sick cat, so no new episode this week. We’ll be back in two weeks with more timely medical history! In the meantime, enjoy this episode of the First World Privilege Hour, our late, lamented podcast with friend of the show Pat Medaugh. We watched the awful Bill Murray, Megan Fox, Mickey Rourke movie Passion Play, which I had to google Passion Play Movie Mickey Rourke to find....

Get your alchemy supplies ready, because we’re talking about the weird science of rumored real-life Frankenstein, Johann Conrad Dippel ! It’s also a Movie Trap crossover with special guest Kris Boruff. Zach plays metaphysical drinking games, Kris puts some pepper in our butts (metaphorically), and Brian gets extorted by a cat. Become part of our community! Reach out to us on social media and our w...

Get your cosplay ready, because we’re talking about John Snow ! The epidemiologist, not the sword guy. Plus, Caitie Hannan is back! Zach founds a totally cool, low-presh religion, Caitie asks the question we’ve all been thinking, and Brian looks for some solid ethical footing. Thanks for listening! You should consider becoming part of our community. Find us on social media, write us a letter, or p...

Get on the floor, because we’re talking about Dancing Sickness with friend of the show Steve Vanderploeg! What could cause entire towns to break out in multiple days of unstoppable dancing? We break down incidents, causes, and theories. Zach goes behind the music on our theme song, Steve channels Nicki Minaj (briefly), and Brian finally gives Luxembourg the attention they have been craving. Become...

Wash up, because we’re kicking off our miniseries on medical history with the wonderful Shannon Campe who helps us discuss the life of Typhoid Mary (Mary Mallon, who would hate that nickname). Zach brings some distant dad energy, Shannon helps us take our minds off the pandemic, and Brian slowly overheats. (Note: This was a last-minute reschedule, so I didn’t have time to do as much editing as usu...

Hey everyone, as I write this, the cops who killed Breonna Taylor have not yet been charged. Have you signed the petition on her behalf yet? We wanted to recommend some podcasts for you to listen to that are hosted or co-hosted by Black creators and (mostly) focus on history. Please give them a listen! They are Black History Buff , Garbled Twistory , Asterisk History , 1619 , Point of Origin , and...

It’s the last episode of our space race miniseries, and we’ve got the brilliant Nathan Lund on to help us tell the tragic story of Soyuz 11 . But also jokes? Zach pulls out his rhyming dictionary, Nathan hits Brian’s sweet spot, and Brian does a first pass for Austin Powers. (On account of a rescheduled recording, this episode features almost no editing. Sorry about any diminished quality). Also,...

Strap in, the delightful Derrick Stroup makes his debut on the show as we discuss both Tom Hanks and NASA’s finest hour, Apollo 13 ! Zach can’t wait to finish the Challenger Wikipedia article, Derrick tests Brian’s knowledge of boxing, and Brian squashes the beef with Mr. Rogers. Become part of our community! Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, write us a letter on the website, or pledge...

It’s one small step for us as Bridget Callahan stops by to talk about the greatest remote work setup of all time, the moon landing ! Zach speculates about bodily fluids on Apollo 11, Bridget dives into Stanley Kubrick’s oeuvre, and Brian dunks on some moon nerds. As with our last few episodes, the audio here is taken from our Zoom call, so the quality is somewhat diminished. It’s still a fun episo...