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PODCAST · history

Question Block

by Secret Loft

A live-streamed history/educational/comedy show with Ariel and Alex, the cofounders of Secret Loft, a performing arts venue in NYC. Ariel is a professional aerialist, Alex is a software engineer with a PhD in Electrical Engineering. Every week we cover a new topic, giving you memorable, funny anecdotes that you can use to charm your friends and family. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretloft/support

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Episodes

  1. Category Is: The History of Drag - Part 2

    This week we're continuing to talk about the history of Drag, from the NYC Ball Scene to Ru Paul and the story behind Drag Race.

  2. Category Is: The History of Drag - Part 1

    This week we're talking about the history of Drag, from ancient Greek dramas to Shakespearean actors to the New York City ballroom scene. This episode is part 1 of 2, ending with Paris is Burning. Check out next week to learn about Ru Paul and the story behind Drag Race.

  3. The Ultimate Guide to Shade(s)

    This week we're talking about the history, rating, and culture of sunglasses!

  4. All Your Burning Questions About Sunscreen Answered

    This week we're talking about the history, science, and myths of sunscreen. You should be wearing it every time you go in the sun, but do you know how it works, how it's tested, and what kinds are the most effective?

  5. A Cold Treat to Beat the Summer Heat: The History of Ice Cream

    This week we're talking about the history of ice cream, from the ancient Persians to Nero, from Marco Polo to Ben and Jerry.

  6. You Must Be This Tall To Ride: The History of Amusement Parks and Rides, Including Disneyland and Coney Island

    This week we're talking about the history of amusement parks, from Renaissance Faires and Pleasure Gardens to American Amusement Parks. We discuss theme parks like Disney Land, Six Flags and Universal Studios, and America's best and worst amusement parks, Cedar Point and Action Park. We've even…

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  7. Renaissance Men: The Story of the original Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, and their patrons the Medici

    This week we're talking about the Italian Renaissance and the lives of some of history's most famous sculptors and painters.

  8. Sweet Dreams Are Made of Z's: The Science and History of Sleep

    This week we're talking about the science and history of sleep! Ariel will give some tips for falling asleep at night, while Alex will spend part of the episode almost dozing off because he has a cold. Turn this one up and get some rest!

  9. Shocking News! The History of Electricity and Electrical Inventors

    This week we're talking about the discovery of electricity, how it works, the history of electrical inventors, the current wars between Edison, Westinghouse and Tesla, and more!

  10. Floriography: The Language and History of Flowers

    It's May and this week we're talking about the history and science of flowers, Tulip Mania and other flower crazes, and the secret meanings of bouquets and flower arrangements.

  11. Two Tickets to the Gun Show: The History of Firearms

    This week we're talking about guns, from ancient Chinese gunpowder to modern day sniper rifles!

  12. Easter, The Gospel, and the Last Supper aka Jesus's Dramatic Dinner Party

    This week we're talking about The Gospel, the origin of Easter, Passover, and Jesus's campy final days with Judas and the boys.

  13. Rain On Me: The History and Science of Weather

    This week we're talking about weather! Types of clouds, what causes lightning, polar vortexes, the jet stream, weather on other planets, and more!

  14. Et Two Brute? - The Life and Times of Julius Caesar and Brutus - Pt. 2

    This week we're talking about the second part of the biography of Julius Caesar, the fall of the Roman Republic, the rise of the Roman Empire, and Brutus's betrayal for the sake of his ideals. In the second half of this two part episode we talk about the Roman Civil War, the fall of the Roman...

  15. Et Tu Brute? - The Life and Times of Julius Caesar and Brutus

    This week we're talking about the biography of Julius Caesar, the fall of the Roman Republic, the rise of the Roman Empire, and Brutus's betrayal for the sake of his ideals. In the first half of this two part episode we talk about Caesar's rise to power and Brutus's coming of age, right up to the...

  16. Kiss Me I'm Celtic - The History of St. Patrick's Day

    This week we're talking about Druids, Celts, St. Patrick and the Emerald Isle!

  17. Trending on Tick Tock: The History of Calendars and Clocks

    This week we're talking about how humans measure time, from the prehistoric lunar calendar to the atomic clock.

  18. Beads, Burbon Street, and Babies in Cakes: The History of Carnival and Mardis Gras

    This week we're talking about the history of Carnival and Mardis Gras, from Ancient Egypt and Rome to the present day Greatest Free Show on Earth in the Big Easy.

  19. Shakes-Queer: The Love Lives of Famous Poets

    This week we're talking the love lives of famous poets and writers, including Sappho, Shakespeare, Lord Byron, Edgar Allen Poe, Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, Walt Whitman, Allen Ginsberg, Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, and Sylvia Plath. Hear salacious stories, enjoy engrossing excerpts, and learn…

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  20. Marry Me! - The History of Dating and Marriage

    This week we're talking about the history of dating, courtship, matchmaking, marriage, and the many ways that couples get together. From the earliest marriages to the first personal ads, to online dating scandals, you'll like this one so much that you might just fall in love and propose to this...

  21. Xīn Nián Hǎo! or Happy Chinese New Year! - History, Customs, and the Story of the Chinese Zodiac

    We're welcoming the year of the Water Tiger! This week we're talking about the history and fun traditions of Chinese New Year. Learn about the symbolism of fireworks, dragon dances and red envelopes, take a tour of the Chinese zodiac, and get psyched for a holiday that feels like a mix of the...

  22. Buy Low, Sell High! - The History of Finance, Wall Street, and the Stock Market

    This week we're talking about the stock market and the history of financial bubbles, scandals and crashes, from the Dutch East India Company to GameStop and AMC.

  23. You Are What You Eat... The History of Nutrition, with Healthy Eating Tips from a Personal Trainer

    We talk about eating well, the history of nutritional science, the food pyramid, and how to successfully improve you diet by eating more healthy foods and avoiding "low fat" gimmicks.

  24. Pumping Iron: The History of Fitness, with Advice from a Professional Trainer

    This week we're tackling our new year's resolutions, discussing the history of exercise and answering listener questions about fitness.

  25. Ho Ho Ho! A Christmas Story Part 2 - Christmas Traditions from Around the World

    This week we're talking about Christmas traditions from around the world - from the Yule Cat and Krampus to Japan's love of Christmas fried chicken.

  26. The Best Part of Waking Up? The History and Culture of Coffee in Your Cup

    This week we're talking about the history and culture of coffee, from Ethiopian goat herders to Starbucks baristas.

  27. Aloha! - The History and Culture of Hawaii

    This week we're live from the Big Island, talking about the history and culture of Hawaii. From Captain Cook and Kamehameha to surfing and aloha Fridays, the facts in this episode enough to totally get you lei'd.

  28. Let's Talk Turkey! The History of Thanksgiving

    This week we're talking about the history of Thanksgiving. We're digging in on the differences between Pilgrims (or Saints) and Puritans, the voyage of the Mayflower and the sinking of the Speedwell, John Carver, William Bradford, Squanto, and some asides about Jamestown. Finally, we put the 1621...

  29. Castles in the Sky - The History of Architecture

    This week we're time-traveling through history discussing famous buildings, tombs, architects and movements, from Ancient Greece to Zaha Hadid.

  30. Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands - The History of Candy and Chocolate - Part 2

    This week we're talking about the history of candy, from ancient Indian Khanda to Olmec chocolate, to Willy Wonka and the dysfunctional Mars family, truth is sweeter than fiction.

  31. Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands - The History of Candy and Chocolate - Part 1

    This week we're talking about the history of candy, from ancient Indian Khanda to Olmec chocolate, to Willy Wonka and the dysfunctional Mars family, truth is sweeter than fiction.

  32. The Monster Mash! - The History of Gothic Monsters

    This week we're talking about classic horror creatures, like werewolves, vampires, zombies, and Frankenstein's monster.

  33. Do You Like Scary Movies? - The History of Horror Films

    This week we're talking about the history of horror movies, from silent films to Scream.

  34. The Occult - The Haunting Mysteries of Secret Society Histories

    This week we're talking about the occult, spiritualism, and secret societies. From the Emerald Tablet and the Hermetic Orders of the Middle Ages to modern Wiccans and Chaos Magicians, we're shining some light on hidden secret societies and spells.

  35. So Pumpkin' Good: The History of Harvest Festivals

    This week we're talking about autumn harvest festivals, including Oktoberfest, Diwali, Halloween, Samhain, Dia de los Muertos, Chinese Moon Festival, and Diwali! Ariel also does an exclusive on the history of pumpkin spice #PSL. Across the world, every culture seems to have a day to gather the...

  36. Cretaceous Park - The Incredible Evolution of Dinosaurs

    This week we're talking about the fierce reptiles of the Mesozoic Era, fossil hunters, feathers, and the evolution of flowers.

  37. I Think Therefore I Am: The History of Philosophy - Part 2

    This week we're talking about the history of post-enlightenment philosophy, from Simone de Beauvoir to Sartre. As the best philosophers know, it's fly to ask "Why?"

  38. I Think Therefore I Am: The History of Philosophy - Part 1

    This week we're talking about the history of philosophy, from Aristotle to Zeno, Machiavelli to Siddhartha. As the best philosophers know, it's fly to ask "Why?"

  39. Crystal Light: Practical, Magical Gems, Crystals, Minerals and Rocks

    This week we're talking about rocks, minerals, crystals and gems, from amethyst to zirconia. Dr. Wires breaks down the science and quantum mechanics behind crystals while Ariel discusses birthstones, the history of the diamond trade, and healing gems.

  40. By Zeus! - Greeking Out on Mythology

    This week we're talking about Greek Mythology. Jealous gods, sexy nymphs, confused mortals - it's a mess of epic proportions! Recorded February 24, 2021 Produced by @secretloftnyc Ariel: @ariel.ist Alex: @dr.wires http://secretloftnyc.com/

  41. I'll Drink to That! - The History of Cocktails and Alcoholic Drinks

    This week we're talking about the history of bartending and cocktails, from absinthe to zinfandel, from Jerry "The Professor" Thomas to Sailor Jerry.

  42. Naked and Afraid: Fetishes and Phobias

    This week we're talking about phobias and paraphilias, the irrational fears and irresistible kinks of famous historical figures.

  43. The Journey is the Destination: Famous Explorers and Expeditions

    This week we're talking about famous explorers, doomed expeditions and amazing discoveries.

  44. Compose Yourself! - The History of Music

    This week we're talking about the history of music, from biblical guitars to experimental electronica, from medieval tritones to Black Sabbath, and every mellifluous weirdo in between.

  45. A Wet and Wild World Under the Sea

    This week we're talking about geologic history, weird fish, and conservation efforts to save the world's oceans.

  46. Walk Like an Egyptian

    This week we're talking about Ancient Egypt! From the magnificent pyramids, to the scandalous legend of Osiris, to Cleopatra in a rug, to daily beer drinking, you can't de-Nile, it's a great episode. Skip to the halfway mark for silly mythology, start at the beginning for factual history.

  47. What's Your Sign? - The History and Science of Astrology, Astrologers, and the Zodiac

    This week we're talking about the history of astrology, the science of the positions of the planets and stars, and how the "What's Your Sign?" evolved over time, from the Babylonians to Walter Mercado. You're gonna love this episode: it's written in the stars!

  48. Spilling the Tea on the American Revolution

    This week we're talking about the American Revolution, the shady Founding Fathers, and early American history.

  49. Rainbow Bright: The History of Pride

    This week we're talking about the history of Pride and the Gay Rights Movement, from Sappho to Stonewall.

  50. Now That is One Fantastic Beast! - True Stories of Mythical Creatures

    This week we're talking about the history and explanations behind various mythical creatures, from the Anansi to Zombies.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

A live-streamed history/educational/comedy show with Ariel and Alex, the cofounders of Secret Loft, a performing arts venue in NYC. Ariel is a professional aerialist, Alex is a software engineer with a PhD in Electrical Engineering. Every week we cover a new topic, giving you memorable, funny anecdotes that you can use to charm your friends and family. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/secretloft/support

HOSTED BY

Secret Loft

CATEGORIES

history

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Question Block have?

Question Block currently has 74 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Question Block about?

A live-streamed history/educational/comedy show with Ariel and Alex, the cofounders of Secret Loft, a performing arts venue in NYC. Ariel is a professional aerialist, Alex is a software engineer with a PhD in Electrical Engineering. Every week we cover a new topic, giving you memorable, funny...

How often does Question Block release new episodes?

Question Block has 74 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Question Block?

You can listen to Question Block on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Question Block?

Question Block is created and hosted by Secret Loft.
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