Episodes
The Publication of The Lord of the Rings
July 29, 1954. After years of struggle for its author, the first installment of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is published in Britain. This episode originally aired in 2022.
Henry VIII’s Fifth Wedding
July 28, 1540. King Henry VIII of England marries his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, 32 years his junior.
Saturday Matinee: Math! Science! History!
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we shine the light on two remarkable transgender figures in STEM who were trailblazers in their fields; pioneering eighteenth century surgeon Dr. James Barry, and renowned nuclear physicist Angela...
Bob Dylan Goes Electric
July 25, 1965. at the Newport Folk Festival, American singer and songwriter Bob Dylan eschews his acoustic guitar to go electric in a controversial performance considered one of the most pivotal moments in the history of rock...
The Siege of Damascus
July 24, 1148. Crusaders lay siege to Damascus, attempting to regain control of the Holy Land, a fiasco that brings the second Crusade to an end.
The Twilight Zone Helicopter Crash
July 23, 1982. Three people are killed when a helicopter crashes on the set of Twilight Zone: The Movie. This episode originally aired in 2024.
The Preparedness Day Bombing
July 22, 1916. A bomb explodes during a “Preparedness Day” parade in San Francisco, killing 10 people and wounding another 40.
Neil Armstrong Walks On the Moon
July 21, 1969. American astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the first person to walk on the moon. This episode originally aired in 2022.
Saturday Matinee: What Went Wrong
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we dig into the evolution of zombies in media- from their birth in the Caribbean amidst the horrors of the Atlantic slave trade to their high-speed, globalized, modern incarnations. Link to What W...
The Great Fire of Rome
July 18, 64 AD. When the Great Fire of Rome reduces two-thirds of the city to ashes, Emperor Nero uses the catastrophe as an excuse to persecute a new religious group, the Christians. This episode originally aired in 2022.
The Russian Royal Family is Executed
July 17, 1918. Following the Russian Revolution, the Romanov royal family are executed by Bolshevik revolutionaries in the basement of Ipatiev House, in Yekaterinburg, Siberia. This episode originally aired in 2023.
The Trinity Nuclear Test
July 16, 1945. An atomic bomb is detonated in New Mexico, marking success in the Manhattan Project. This episode originally aired in 2024.
Nintendo’s First Multi-Game Console
July 15, 1983. Nintendo hits new heights with the release of the Famicom video game console in Japan. If you want to find out more about Nintendo’s rise to the top of the gaming industry, listen to Season 37 of Business Mover...
The Lincoln Hospital Takeover
July 14, 1970. A group of Puerto Rican activists stage an occupation demanding better health care at the Lincoln Hospital in South Bronx, New York City. Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more. Hist...
Saturday Matinee: American History Tellers
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we examine the Scopes Monkey Trial- the 1925 legal case that put a spotlight on the controversy of teaching evolution in US public schools. Link to American History Tellers : https://wondery.com/s...
Yagan: The Death of a Freedom Fighter
July 11, 1833. Australian Aboriginal warrior, Yagan, is murdered by colonists, after leading a war of resistance against the British settlers.This episode originally aired in 2022.
Telstar Reaches Orbit
July 10, 1962. The world’s first active communications satellite is launched into space.
The First Wimbledon Tennis Tournament
July 9, 1877. Spectators gather at the All England Club for the first Wimbledon Championship, marking the beginning of an annual sporting tradition.
Con Man Soapy Smith is Shot Dead
July 8, 1898. Notorious confidence man Jefferson “Soapy” Smith is killed in a gunfight with a vigilante in the Alaskan boomtown of Skagway. This episode originally aired in 2024.
News of the World Shuts Down
July 7, 2011. A phone hacking scandal forces the closure of Rupert Murdoch’s long-running News of the World . This episode originally aired in 2023.
Saturday Matinee: Famous & Gravy
On today’s Saturday Matinee, we put on our aprons and open our cookbooks to learn about one of the best culinary personalities in recent history: Julia Child. Link to Famous & Gravy : https://www.famousandgravy.com/ Support t...
Lewis Carroll Imagines Wonderland
July 4, 1862. An Oxford professor takes a boat ride and tells a fantastical story that he’ll eventually publish under his pen name, Lewis Carroll. This episode originally aired in 2024.
The Downing of Iran Air Flight 655
July 3, 1988. The US Navy shoots down Iran Air Flight 655 after mistaking it for a military aircraft, killing all 290 people on board.
The Assassination of President Garfield
July 2, 1881. President James A. Garfield is fatally wounded in a shooting at a Washington train station.