You may recognize her story as the inspiration for one of your favorite characters from The Gilded Age. She was a socialite-turned-aristocrat, thanks to her mother's meddling. She built a hospital in France. She's the endlessly fascinating Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan.
You know we love an author, and this week, we're talking about one of our favorites: Louisa May Alcott. She grew up around famous writers, defied gender norms, and gave us one of the most influential stories of our childhoods.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains mentions of suicide. It's another historical mystery! She was a socialite with ambitions to become a writer, and she vanished from the busy streets of New York City. No one ever saw her again. What happened to Dorothy Arnold?
Pride 2026 continues! This week, we learn all about activist Kiyoshi Kuromiya, who was born into an internment camp, marched alongside Dr. King, traveled the world writing books, and tried to make a building levitate. Join us as we dive into his fascinating and accomplished life!
Happy Pride Month 2026! As always, we're bringing you Pride-themed episodes in June. We kick things off with a look at the life of one of Anna's favorite children's authors: a gay man, an artist, and a brilliant creative mind, who taught us to love and live with our sadness. Let's learn about Maurice Sendak.
We return with part 2 of our exploration of the Chernobyl Disaster. What happened in the aftermath? How did the Soviets handle such a PR nightmare? And how are we still dealing with the impacts of the disaster to this day?
We've been waiting for this one! This month, we're bringing you a 2-part series all about The Chernobyl Disaster. In part 1, we learn about the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, how it worked, and how the unthinkable happened. Please note that, as we say multiple times in this episode, we are not scientists! But we're trying our best! Amanda worked very hard on this one, and it's a topic we've been…
CONTENT WARNING: This episode is about a tragic incident, so there are mentions of death in large numbers. There are also extended discussions about eye injuries. This week, we're discussing a tragic event that resulted in the destruction of a community, the death and injury of many, and the advancements of medical and social services throughout North America. Let's learn all about the Halifax…
There's an extra Monday in March, which means we get an extra Women's History Month episode! We're learning all about a West Virginia hero who didn't really live in West Virginia, an author, an activist, and a Nobel Prize winner. Let's talk about Pearl S. Buck!
We continue our celebration of Women's History Month with an episode all about Lucille Ball! She was a pioneer of television and a comedy icon, who made us all love Lucy.