Surprising Histories

Stories about the history of places, events and people that most certainly will surprise you.

Stories about the history of places, events and people that most certainly will surpris... more

Curated byDeenah Vollmer, Hark Editor

11 CLIPS27 MINS

Clip 1 of 11

The Lascaux Caves

John Green reflects on the ancient hand stencils found on the walls of the Lascaux caves.

The Anthropocene Reviewed

4 MINS

Clip 2 of 11

Celiac Disease

On 'Freakonomics Radio,' Stephen Dubner brings us the story of a Dutch pediatrician who took advantage of a WWII famine to uncover the mystery behind celiac disease.

Freakonomics Radio

2 MINS

Clip 3 of 11

All the Presidents' Stuffed Animals

In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt embarked on a failed hunting trip. Hear how this vacation led to the invention of the Teddy Bear, and how the Taft presidency subsequently responded with their own plush toy.

99% Invisible

4 MINS

Clip 4 of 11

Is Hobo Short for Homeless Boy?

Possible meanings behind the word "hobo" as well as the incredible Hobo Code of Conduct.

Ologies with Alie Ward

1 MIN

Clip 5 of 11

Touch Tone Dialing

Back in the day, you couldn’t just pick up the phone and get whoever you wanted on the line. First, you had to go through an operator. On Twenty Thousand Hertz, Dallas Taylor explains how we cut out the middleman and ended up with touch tone dialing.

Twenty Thousand Hertz

2 MINS

Clip 6 of 11

Pockets: A Metaphor for Privilege

On '99% Invisible' Avery Truffleman brings us the sexist history of pockets.

99% Invisible

3 MINS

Clip 7 of 11

A Profusion of Pagodas

Most American Chinatowns look pretty similar, and that's not an accident. On '99% Invisible' Roman Mars and Chelsea Davis describe how embracing older Chinese architecture was part of an effort to attract tourists and rebuff racist stereotypes.

99% Invisible

6 MINS

Clip 8 of 11

Red Necks & Hillbillies

Wealthy Northerners may have been the first to call poor Southerners "rednecks" and "hillbillies", but the folks in Appalachia embraced the term. We find out why on 'Dolly Parton's America.'

Dolly Parton's America

4 MINS

Clip 9 of 11

From Cocaine to Coca Cola

The surprising history of Coca Cola, which involves the American South, wine, prohibition and of course, cocaine.

Gravy

5 MINS

Clip 10 of 11

The Whoopee Cushion

The surprising history of the Whoopee Cushion from the podcast, "Twenty Thousand Hertz."

Twenty Thousand Hertz

5 MINS

Clip 11 of 11

The Confederate Anthem "Dixie."

The surprising history of the cofederate anthem "Dixie" from the podcast, "Uncivil."

Uncivil

3 MINS

Curated byDeenah Vollmer

11 CLIPS27 MINS

The best podcast moments curated by Hark Editors

We listen to 100s of podcasts and clip the most interesting moments
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Surprising Histories

The Lascaux Caves

The Anthropocene Reviewed

Celiac Disease

Freakonomics Radio

All the Presidents' Stuffed Animals

99% Invisible

Is Hobo Short for Homeless Boy?

Ologies with Alie Ward

Touch Tone Dialing

Twenty Thousand Hertz

Pockets: A Metaphor for Privilege

99% Invisible

A Profusion of Pagodas

99% Invisible

Red Necks & Hillbillies

Dolly Parton's America

From Cocaine to Coca Cola

Gravy

The Whoopee Cushion

Twenty Thousand Hertz

The Confederate Anthem "Dixie."

Uncivil

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