American Esoterica

Episode 81 - What Exit, Your Highness?

We actually had genuine royalty in this country once, and no, I don't mean Beyoncé (or Queen Bey, as those of us who are true fans call her). And in New Jersey, of all places.

Episode 80 - JFK, Not Blown Away

Remember that time that somebody almost assassinated JFK? Probably not.

Episode 79 - Thirteen-ish Colonies

A baker's dozen colonies? A regular dozen? Fourteen? Fifteen? Twenty-six? HOW MANY COLONIES WERE THERE?

Episode 78 - A Second, Non-Consecutive Term of Presidential Potpourri

Here's another round of lightning-fast-ish presidential trivia, from the devil to the Beast and everything in-between.

Episode 77 - Holy Toledo

The tip of Lake Michigan is just the tip of the iceberg that spins out into a war between the states. Two states, that is.

Episode 76 - How We Went Nuts for Country

THIS ONE'S GOT IT ALL, FOLKS - hucksters, country music, goat testicles, pirate radio, patent medicines, wire fraud, William Jennings Bryan...you name it! This is the bizarre story of how rural America fell in love with country music.

Episode 75 - Counter Proposal

Meet Herman Hollerith - the founder of your digital world and archnemesis to The Count on Sesame Street. 

HOT NUGGET OF HISTORY - Sorry, Mom

We all know that THE story about George Washington isn't true, but what if what we've been wrong about all this time is that the story is KINDA true-ish? 

Episode 74 - Book Nook

Sometimes American cultural greatness runs in very concentrated pockets. 

Episode 73 - Foolin', Too

"Fool me once, shame on...shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again..." - George W. Bush.