Episodes

  • Reality TV: Our ancient thirst for drama

    Reality TV: Our ancient thirst for drama
    Nov 5 2024
    The gladiator's heart is beating hard as he dons his armor. The gates open and the crowd goes wild. He steps forward and finds himself in... the Bachelor Mansion?! Get ready for a trip from Ancient Rome to Laguna Beach as we track down the roots of reality TV and ask: Why are we so drawn to drama? Who really holds the power? And are we closer to the action than we realize?
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    36 mins
  • The Missionary Position: Preaching, power and getting pregnant

    The Missionary Position: Preaching, power and getting pregnant
    Oct 23 2024
    Weird name for a sex position, right? Well, the story behind it is just as strange - involving the Church, the full moon (or was it campfires?), and some mixed messages. But what can unravelling the mysterious backstory of this most rudimentary of sex positions tell us about sex, shame and evangelizing around the world - even today?
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    37 mins
  • Introducing: The Secret Life of Canada | Was the plot to assassinate Lincoln hatched in Canada?

    Introducing: The Secret Life of Canada | Was the plot to assassinate Lincoln hatched in Canada?
    Oct 8 2024
    The Secret Life of Canada from CBC Podcasts is a show about the beautiful, terrible and weird histories of this country. In this episode, hosts Leah-Simone Bowen and Falen Johnson explore how Canada was both the last stop on the Underground Railroad and a destination for Southern Confederate leaders and supporters to strategize, stash money and come up with plots against Abraham Lincoln.
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    27 mins
  • Lawns: Is yours giving sun king or pink flamingo?

    Lawns: Is yours giving sun king or pink flamingo?
    Sep 24 2024
    "Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are," said an English poet. What can a well-manicured lawn reveal about social status, our relationship to the Earth and the American Dream? A surprising amount. From fancy French palace gardens to suburban America, come along for the garden party as we mow over the history of the lawn – and ask if its time is up.
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    34 mins
  • ZIP codes: Delivering more than you bargained for

    ZIP codes: Delivering more than you bargained for
    Sep 10 2024
    Psst, your ZIP code is telling all your secrets. In fact, so much is hidden in that short string of digits at the end of your address – we're talking pride, discrimination and marketing gold. Starting with a bulging wartime mail sack and ending with a cup of tea down an Irish country road – this is the winding journey of the postal code.
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    34 mins
  • Opioids: Old high, new low

    Opioids: Old high, new low
    Aug 27 2024
    The opioid crisis is unfolding around us in real time. But it isn’t just a problem in the US. Following the trail of a new outbreak in addiction leads us across continents and eventually full circle to where one of history’s most addictive drugs was first concocted. Pain relief, dependency and life-destroying consequences – this is how opioids entered the pharmaceutical market and keep us hooked.
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    36 mins
  • Witch hunts: The medieval conspiracy that just won't die

    Witch hunts: The medieval conspiracy that just won't die
    Aug 13 2024
    When did you last hear the phrase "witch hunt"? Thanks to powerful figures like Donald Trump, chances are you see it in the headlines pretty often. Whispers of witchcraft go way back, but the conspiracy really took hold in medieval Europe — with deadly consequences. So how come it's still around, and how has the power shifted? Our adventure reveals why this chapter of history is far from closed.
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    43 mins
  • Don't Drink the Milk Season 2 is coming soon!

    Don't Drink the Milk Season 2 is coming soon!
    Jun 4 2024
    Join us as we hit the road again to uncover the weird and wonderful backstories of familiar things and how they made their way around the world. This season we're delving into sex positions, drug epidemics, reality TV, mowing the lawn and much more. How do these things connect us to disparate cultures and eras and what do their stories reveal about our world today? You're in for an adventure.
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    1 min