PodParley PodParley
PodParley
216: What’s in a Number?: Thirteen in American History

EPISODE · Sep 13, 2019 · 50 MIN

216: What’s in a Number?: Thirteen in American History

from BackStory · host BackStory

The 13th of any month is more likely to occur on a Friday than any other day of the week and it’s happened as many as three times in a single calendar year. So, why is it considered bad luck?  In this episode, Joanne, Nathan and Brian explore stories of superstition and the surprising roles the number 13 has played across American history.Image: Triskaidekaphobia stock photo. Source: iStock by Getty ImagesBackStory is funded in part by our listeners. You can help keep the episodes coming by supporting the show: https://www.backstoryradio.org/support

NOW PLAYING

216: What’s in a Number?: Thirteen in American History

0:00 50:45

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Shroud Forgery Debate

May 13, 2026 ·54m

Suffering of the Lamb

May 11, 2026 ·50m

The Backstory: Murder and the Family Next Door

Apr 28, 2026 ·6m

The Backstory: Weird Foods: Beaver Tails, Stuffed Mice, and Whale Vomit

Apr 24, 2026 ·9m

The Backstory: UFOs: Are We Being Watched or Just Now Noticing?

Apr 21, 2026 ·9m

Backstory: Manaswini Rao on Dispute Resolution in India

Apr 20, 2026 ·31m

Similar Podcasts

The Backstory Sputnik International The Backstory brings you in-depth reporting, updates on the latest headlines and great guests in a high energy show that's both informative and entertaining. The Book of Jasher Sol Good Media The Book of Jasher is an ancient Hebrew text that presents itself as an additional historical account of events found in the Old Testament of the Bible. The book covers a wide range of topics, from the creation of the world to the conquest of Canaan, and includes stories not found in the Bible. These stories include a detailed account of the battle between the prophet Abraham and a group of kings, the story of the sun standing still during Joshua's battle, and the backstory of Caleb, one of the Israelite spies. Although its authenticity and authorship remain uncertain, "The Book of Jasher" has been widely read and studied by scholars and laypeople alike, and has been referenced in a variety of works of literature and media over the years. Backstory: How Research Papers in Economics Get Made UC San Diego Tune into the Backstory Podcast with hosts Riccardo Di Cato, Aakash Bhalothia, Santiago Cantillo, and Maddison Erbabian for a deep dive into the behind-the-scenes process of economic research. Each episode unpacks the hidden journey from a paper's conception to its publication, sharing the challenges and triumphs scholars face along the way. Conceptualized by Paul Niehaus and brought to life by UCSD grad students, Backstory gives voice to the stories that academia often leaves untold. That's Debatable with Emely Moreno Hoff Studios What started as a video from the front seat of a car has become a viral TikTok account and now a podcast! On That's Debatable Emely Moreno will go off, giving all the backstory to her most viral moments and taking a closer look at her fav conspiracy theories. Because let's be real, everything is Debatable!
URL copied to clipboard!