Professor Buzzkill: History 101

Long-time Buzzkiller, Dr. Colin Woodward, discusses his new book, Country Boy: the Roots of Johnny Cash. Woodward dispels many myths about Cash, but also about the culture he grew up in, as well as the ways his music developed over his long career. Episode 476.

Comedian Gary Gulman uses “empathy” as a theme in his new show “Born on Third Base.” Among other things, he discussed Pastor Martin Niemöller famous quote “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out --- because I was not a socialist.” That is perhaps the most touching and thought-provoking expressions of human and communal responsibility of the 20th Century. But the history of that poem is just as heart-rending, and prompts just as much self-reflection about political and social responsibility as anything that came out of that horrific period. Please listen.

Professor Buzzkill gets schooled on the early history of baseball! Noted baseball historian, Richard Hershberger, corrects the mistakes that Professor Buzzkill made in his earlier show on Abner Doubleday. But he goes further to explain the complexities of the early years of baseball. Not only is it the history of a sport, it’s the history of urbanization, industrialization, the rise of organized exercise, muscular Christianity, and American popular culture. Batter up, and listen up! You’ll learn a lot! Episode 475

Egyptologists consider Hatshepsut, the fifth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt, one of the most powerful pharaohs in Egyptian history. Join us as we have a Woman Crush Wednesday about the Egyptian pharaoh who the famous American archaeologist and Egyptologist James Henry Breasted called, "the first great woman in history" that we know about.

Did Abraham Lincoln actually say “a house divided against itself cannot stand”? We place that quote in its historical context. And Dr. Heather Cox Richardson gives us a wonderful analysis of its meaning in American history, and its importance for our times. Episode 474.

It's baseball season and time for a myth about the national pastime. Once again, a second- or third-hand story created a persistent myth. Did Abner Doubleday invent baseball in Cooperstown in 1839? If not, who did? Find out all about it! Episode 473

Dr. Tim Newburn explains how modern societies (especially Britain) have organized themselves since the 1970s. He uses the new practice of cleaning up after dogs to bust myths about the orderliness of the “good old days.” The relatively recent phenomenon of “pooper scoopers” explains why some societies have been able to regulate themselves around a handful of accepted practices and “rules.” It’s not perfection, but there is certainly less poop around! Episode 472.

Warner Bros Studios pumped out this myth, Buzzkillers, before production had even started on the movie. Reagan was too genial to play a world-weary, hard-drinking, cynical American who left occupied France to run a bar in Morocco. Bogart practically embodied the role, and he was slated for the part all along! Episode 471

Professor Vernon Burton joins us to explain the long and tortured history of the ways in which the United States Supreme Court has handled race. The Supreme Court is usually seen as the protector of our liberties: it ended segregation, was a guarantor of fair trials, and safeguarded free speech and the vote. But what’s the full story, across all of American history. Episode 468.

Not even Donald Trump could have made this deal. Have you heard that Dutch settlers bought the island of Manhattan from Native Americans for a measly $24? Turns out it was more complicated than that. New York finance always is. Episode 468.

Jason Steinhauer of the History Communications Institute joins us to explain the veracity of the film clip of a "3-year-old chimney sweep" from the 1930s that's gone viral on social media. Is it heart-breaking evidence of child labor, or is it something else? He also explains how it went viral and what that means for issues of history presented on social media. Episode 467.

Monday Myth for Extra Credit! A Viking horned helmet would have been very impractical, and perhaps dangerous, in battle, Buzzkillers. Horned helmets are most likely the invention of legendary opera composer Wagner’s costume designer in the 19th century. Episode 466

July 30th is the anniversary of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis during World War II in the Pacific in 1945. Captain Quint’s story about the USS Indianapolis in the movie “Jaws” is only the beginning of a gut-wrenching piece of history. There’s a lot more to the Indianapolis sinking than most people know. Listen to the special Anniversary Encore!

Professor Brandon Gauthier uses Lenin, Stalin, and Putin as case studies to try to help us understand the reasons why certain political leaders become monsters. By looking further into their pasts and noting the important changes in their attitudes towards other human beings, Gauthier shows how radical ideologies coupled with the erasure of any sense of empathy for other people created some of the worst people in world history. Episode 465.

Monday Myth for Extra Credit! How often did people bathe in the past? Hardly ever, according to popular perception. Well that’s not true, Buzzkillers! Not only did people wash more frequently than is generally thought, they had innovative and creative ways to get it done (even in cold weather). My favorite is the MesoAmerican steam bath. So get naked and get clean with Professor Buzzkill! Episode 464.

Crikey. These are interesting times. But is “may you live in interesting times” actually an old Chinese curse, or is the history of that saying more complicated? We take you from Chinese folk tales in 1627 to 20th-century British politicians in this encore episode of Quote or No Quote, trying to track down who said what when. Listen and learn.

Professor Heather Cox Richardson gives us the low-down on one of history's pieces of sh*t, Salmon P. Chase (the man on the $10,000 bill). Hear about his machinations during the Lincoln administration, his colossal ego, and how he helped saddle the United States with President Andrew Johnson. Ugh! Episode 463.

Your favorite Buzzkill history professor, Dr. Philip Nash, gives us a fascinating glimpse into the life of Claire Boothe Luce, an American Renaissance woman if ever there was one. In part two of this two-parter, we discuss her career as a diplomat, and her fascinating personal life. Listen and learn! Episode 462.

The Venus de Milo is considered one of the most beautiful representations of a woman in ancient Greek sculpture. But she is probably more famous for her missing arms. Were they really broken off in a fight over her by zealous archaeologists? And what would she look like if her arms weren’t missing? Find out! Episode 461.

Your favorite Buzzkill history professor, Dr. Philip Nash, gives us a fascinating glimpse into the life of Claire Boothe Luce, an American Renaissance woman if ever there was one. In part one of this two-parter, we discuss her early life and career as a journalist and writer, and her fascinating personal life. Listen and learn! Episode 460.