Dead Air Time

How easy it is to see someone well-known for a skill and to say, “They were born with it,” or we assume, ”They must have it so easy.” However, we know that isn’t always true. For many talents and abilities, we struggle and strive to master it, and sometimes we never see the fruits of our labors. Other times, our efforts bring us to places we could never have imagined for ourselves. Now, imagine you are born with the exact deficits to hold you back from succeeding at a specific goal - what would you do? How would you try to overcome it? Or would you simply give up? Today, we follow the story of such a man, born with a severe speech impediment, who went on to accomplish something they never thought he could. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with an orator of ancient Greece, Demosthenes.Sourceshttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Demosthenes-Greek-statesman-and-oratorhttps://medium.com/thrive-global/how-7-people-overcame-huge-obstacles-to-become-famous-4ae0386f4ee1https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=resources&s=char-dir&f=demosthenes2 https://catholicbiblestudent.com/2022/01/two-ways-to-calculate-the-value-of-a-talent.html#:~:text=The%20value%20of%20ten%20talents%20of%20silver,in%20comparative%20American%20wages%20of%202006%2C%20$6%2C000%2C000 https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=read&author=lemon&book=greek&story=demosthenes https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Demosthenes*.html#:~:text=3%20However%2C%20at%20the%20age,force%20him%20to%20do%20so. https://www.vaia.com/en-us/explanations/greek/greek-literature/greek-oratory/#:~:text=Greek%20oral%20tradition.-,Classical%20Period,Greek%20oratory%20with%20local%20practices. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/dominique-charpentier/clapotisLicense code: UFC1IOXIP5RCUBWFMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/brandon-hopkins/inner-workingsLicense code: AWKTSAR0YDGTDMZZ

Intro: Before Tony the Tiger, Dig’em Frog, Snap, Crackle, and Pop, breakfast was a very different meal. For the wealthy it included large spreads of meats, eggs, and breads. For the poor, breakfast usually consisted of a daily bowl of porridge. But all of that changed just before the turn of the 20th century, when two brothers discovered something new. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with the Kellogg brothers.Sources:“Almanac: Graham Crackers.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, www.cbsnews.com/news/almanac-graham-crackers/.“Cereal: Accidental Invention That Changed American Breakfast.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 27 Aug. 2025, www.history.com/articles/cereal-breakfast-origins-kellogg. Gross, Terry. “How the ‘battling’ Kellogg Brothers Revolutionized American Breakfast.” NPR, NPR, 8 Aug. 2017, www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/08/08/542145177/how-the-battling-kellogg-brothers-revolutionized-american-breakfast. “Our Story & Timeline - WK Kellogg Co.” Our Story & Timeline - WK Kellogg Co®, www.wkkellogg.com/who-we-are/our-story. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026. “Sylvester Graham: History: Research Starters: EBSCO Research.” EBSCO, www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/sylvester-graham. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026. Music was obtained through Riverside.

During a time when tensions were high and grudges were rampant, the city of Berlin had been caught in the crossfire of former allies now at odds. The newly established United States Airforce was called on to bring food and necessities to these people who had, until very recently,  been considered enemies. It was a great humanitarian effort for those who were in dire straits, but would it be enough to sustain the West Berliners while they held out to build their own democratic and free government? Tune in to learn how two sticks of gum changed history, as we take a breath of dead air with Gail Halvorsen.Sources:Cherny, Andrei. The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America’s Finest Hour. CNIB, 2014. Halvorsen, Gail S., and Denise H. Williams. The Candy Bomber. Cedar Fort Publishing & Media, 2022. Tunnell, Michael O. Candy Bomber. Charlesbridge, 2014. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/kurtz-martin/untamable-loveLicense code: DUWOTINF0ETHY19D

She was a true prodigy in every sense of the word. Her fingers flew over the black and white keys, nimble with grace surprising for such a young lady. The melody flowing from her hands matched her movements as the enraptured audience held their breath. It was enchanting. Her brother had indeed awed them before with his performance, but she captivated them just as well. While her brother would become a name famously known throughout her country, and the world, she continued to feed her love of music even when she couldn’t perform as she once did. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with Maria Anna Mozart. Sources https://www.ritacharbonnier.com/mozarts-sister-q-a/ https://herhalfofhistory.com/2025/02/20/14-8-nannerl-mozart-sister-of-wolfgang-amadeus/ https://interlude.hk/maria-anna-mozart-the-bittersweet-story-of-mozarts-prodigy-sister/ https://robertgreenbergmusic.com/music-history-monday-the-other-mozart-kid/#:~:text=Leopold%20Mozart%20%E2%80%93%20Dad%20%E2%80%93%20was%20born,to%20actually%20earn%20his%20salary). https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/key-dates/visit-child-mozart-1763-1764#:~:text=Key%20Dates,and%20everyone%20flocked%20after%20him. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/anibal-seminara/los-juegos-de-brianLicense code: JN6FVYTX4BTDCTQT

In 2008, a newspaper man, named Wil Haygood, was on a mission to interview a very specific person. After spending a multitude of hours making calls and searching, he finally was able to make contact with the man who had seen more history happen than Wil had even hoped for. This man had not been a politician, a musician, or a rich statistician. Nope! This man had been a butler. A butler to presidents of the United States, to be exact. What was it like to be a butler in the most distinguished household in the country? Join us as we discuss this and take a breath of dead air with Eugene Allen.SourcesDaniels, Lee, director. The Butler. 2013. Haygood, Wil. “A Butler Well Served by This Election.” Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/a-butler-well-served-by-this-election/2019/01/02/b2a805a6-07b1-11e9-88e3-989a3e456820_story.html. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025. Haygood, Wil. The Butler: A Witness to History. 2018. Nagle, Bethany. “The Life of Eugene Allen.” White House Historical Association, www.whitehousehistory.org/the-life-of-eugene-allen. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-mcelroy/pocket-watchLicense code: ADO7J0RJHQ50S6B8

While starting from humble origins, born on a small farm in a small town in Texas, this boy would go on to be not only a household name known for his warm voice, his upright character, and his beloved shows, but he would also become a great businessman with investments in a variety of things. From airplane schools to baseball teams, from television and radio shows to hotels, his business spanned across many fields. However, we remember him most for his voice and his warmth. Join us as we get “Back in the Saddle Again”, and take a breath of Dead Air with America’s Singing Cowboy, Gene Autry.Sourceshttps://www.geneautry.com/geneautry/geneautry_biography.phphttps://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=AU004 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUK2PUwrz9Y (Biography TV Series - Gene Autry)https://spclarke.com/?page_id=139#:~:text=Gene%20then%20returned%20to%20New,forty%2Dfive%20years%20of%20age. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23905-pellagra https://library.uab.edu/locations/reynolds/collections/regional-history/pellagra/history#:~:text=Joseph%20Goldberger%20(1874%2D1929),a%20deficiency%20in%20the%20diet. https://www.normantranscript.com/news/lifestyles/inside-gene-autry/article_9d7aa572-5efb-5f2c-b843-658cd52737fd.html Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/jacob-taylor-armerding/shes-goneLicense code: CZPU2CWHV6AMBH9T

Soccer, known as football in most parts of the world, has made its mark on the lives of many generations. Today more than 250 million people play the sport and it has been a unifying game in many instances for people across cultures. Throughout time, soccer has evolved as countless players have changed the game by how they choose to play it. One such athlete was a Dutchman. Join us today as we discuss the beginnings of soccer and take a breath of dead air with Johan Cruyff. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/drummr/gamedayLicense code: BRA4FFL9DQTMAVIX

Mary, Mary, quite contraryHow does your garden grow?With silver bells and cockleshellsAnd pretty maids all in a row.Mary, Mary, not so waryOf hearts and darkness bleakWith spirits fraught, creatures newShe was never meekMary, Mary, like a fairyDrawn to mists and deepShe calls a message to us all - Know what to give and keep. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with the mother of science fiction - Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.Sourceshttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Wollstonecraft-Shelley https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/mary-shelley https://www.centralsquaretheater.org/2018-19-season/articles/mary-shelley-and-frankenstein-a-personal-history/ https://osborneeighteenthcenturychildrensliterature.wordpress.com/2017/01/14/mounseer-nongtongpaw-by-mary-godwin-shelley/ https://www.historythroughfiction.com/blog/love-and-tragedy https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/1816-the-year-without-summer.htm https://historicipswich.net/2020/06/25/1816-the-year-without-summer/ https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2005/aug/hand-other-woman-shelleys-life https://www.historyhit.com/culture/facts-about-mary-shelley-the-woman-behind-frankenstein/ https://annamazzola.com/did-mary-shelley-keep-percys-heart/ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/brandon-hopkins/neighborhoodLicense code: FGSZT2GSUUUNFVA1

Enjoy hearing of how radio and podcasts came to be, as well as celebrate a full year of Dead Air Time Podcast with us in this off the rails episode!Sourceshttps://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/rescue-development-radio/ https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/a-short-history-of-radio.pdf https://study.com/academy/lesson/video/radio-wave-definition-spectrum-uses.html#:~:text=Examples%20and%20Applications%20of%20Radio,in%20body%20scanners%20in%20airports.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/airstream/everybody-danceLicense code: 74X3ZJRYVKFBKHA7

What do you get when you add a growing family shoe business, a difference of opinions, and a war together? Well you’d get the Dassler brothers, of course! Join us today as we discuss the development of the sneaker and the story of two men who made the shoe market so competitive. Listen in as we take a breath of dead air with Rudolf and Adolf Dassler.SourcesShaw, Noah. Adidas vs Puma: Brothers at War in the Sneaker Game. ADMIT HUB REF SERVICE PR, 2025. Smit, Barbara. Sneaker Wars: The Enemy Brothers Who Founded Adidas and Puma and the Family Feud That Forever Changed the Business of Sports. Harper Perennial, 2009. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/avbe/cut-the-wireLicense code: THUPZ8HA6Y1YIJNU

In our human experiences, we search for truth. We sometimes ask ourselves - Who am I? What do I know? While the introduction of technology changed how we approach these questions and perhaps search for answers, these questions are ancient. A young man in Ancient Greece also asked these questions. He dared to question what drove human existence, greatly valued education, and searched for truths in life that would apply to all, not just those of a certain class. He strove to break the molds of his time. We know so much of him and his teachings, yet he never wrote down a word himself. His questions changed the world, and he would be killed for it. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with Ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates. Sources“Genius of the Ancient World: Socrates - Documentary” History Explore Channel, made by BBChttps://www.metmuseum.org/essays/greek-gods-and-religious-practices https://iep.utm.edu/socrates/#:~:text=As%20a%20young%20man%20Socrates,influential%20men%20in%20the%20city. https://www.history.com/articles/socrates http://cas.loyno.edu/sites/chn.loyno.edu/files/Plague%20in%20the%20Ancient%20World_A%20Study%20from%20Thucydides%20to%20Justinian.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6402746/ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/truth-in-the-stonesLicense code: MKSHEYHYXXE8M4YJ

Much of our modern culture has dramatized the time when pirates roamed the ocean. It is seen as a time of great adventure and lots of treasure. But where did this treasure come from? What did the pirates actually do? And what was it like for the average citizen to live during this “golden age of piracy”? Today, we’ll explore these topics, as we take a breath of dead air with Sarah Kidd.Sources:Geanacopoulos, Daphne Palmer. The Pirate’s Wife: The Remarkable True Story of Sarah Kidd. Hanover Square Press, 2022.“Research Guides: Golden Age of Piracy: A Resource Guide: Introduction.” Introduction - Golden Age of Piracy: A Resource Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congress, guides.loc.gov/golden-age-of-piracy.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/danijel-zambo/the-widowLicense code: UYDCU1ZPMBMJEWIX

There is a fine line between an opportunist and a manipulator. Both see a chance for growth, power, wealth. One intentionally deceives to control the actions of others, while the other simply observes what is happening and takes advantage of the opportunities before them. It all comes down to the intent. The difficulty lies in identifying the differences between the two, especially when the outcomes can become so similar. While this can be tricky for people we know now or who we know are alive today who are oh-so-visible on our screens, others are even more complicated. As decades pass, perhaps even a century or two, furthering the divide between the past and the present, things can get lost, muddled, changed, confused. When it came to the Gilded Age of the United States, the same could be said of the robber barons. While their name implies they were ones to steal from others to gain more power and money, it may not always be that simple… or is it? After all, a robber baron by definition is one who monopolizes a market, usually by unethical or questionable methods, amassing great wealth as a result. So what is the truth? Join us as we take a breath of dead air with the robber baron of the Gilded Age, John D. Rockefeller Sr.SourcesPodcast - History That Doesn’t Suck! Ep. 97: The Gilded Age’s Robber Barons: John D Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegiehttps://news.clemson.edu/a-clemson-professors-detailed-study-of-snake-oil-cures-from-long-ago-reveals-connections-to-current-pharma-industry-woes/ https://www.britannica.com/money/John-D-Rockefeller https://www.nato.int/cps/fr/natohq/declassified_215371.htm?msg_pos=1#:~:text=The%20list%20of%20everyday%20items%20that%20were,sanitary%20pads%2C%20*%20wristwatches%20and.%20*%20computers. https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/teachers/lesson_plans/pdfs/unit7_3.pdf https://historicalsnaps.com/2018/07/26/ida-tarbell-quote-about-the-standard-oil-company/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CVery%20often%20people%20who%20admit,break%20up%20of%20the%20company. https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/teachers/lesson_plans/pdfs/unit7_5.pdf https://www.britannica.com/topic/Great-Railroad-Strike-of-1877 https://rockarch.org/resources/about-the-rockefellers/john-d-rockefeller-sr/#:~:text=Family%20Life,continued%20his%20father's%20philanthropic%20work. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/torus/delveLicense code: UQSL5IEBEAPVSEJH

The year is 1778. General Washington is trying to rally and strategize the best he can with an army full of inexperienced, yet passionate soldiers. If they are to succeed in gaining independence from England, the American forces will need to be aware of the movements and plans of the British. Washington has assigned Major Benjamin Tallmadge to set up some informants within New York, the area that the British have conquered and claimed for their headquarters. But what risks would these everyday spies have to take? Would they be able to take the pressure? Join in as we take a breath of dead air with the Culper Ring.Sources:Kilmeade, Brian, and Don Yaeger. George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spies Who Saved America. Puffin Books, 2020.“The Culper Spy Ring.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 28 May 2025, www.history.com/articles/culper-spy-ring.Williams, Victoria. “Culper Spy Ring.” George Washington’s Mount Vernon, www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/culper-spy-ring. Accessed June 2025. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/aaron-paul-low/man-of-warLicense code: YQLJAJYHTHPSMK0K

Olive held her breath as the group could finally see Fort Lamy. French soldiers were hustling about them, as the French hold of parts of Africa was breaking further and further each day. Ushered into a large, European-inspired house surrounded by all of the luxuries one could find, the river flowing nearby, it was such a picturesque scene. Surrounded by all of the beauty, soldiers told the travelers of the deadly battles between the French and the Africans - desperation, injury, and loss - her heart still clung to the hope that amidst all of this, Boyd would be alive, waiting for her. Was he alive? Was he injured? Was he truly murdered? How, why, when? Then her answer walked into the room.Sources - “Olive the Lionheart” by Brad Riccahttps://www.grida.no/resources/5593 https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/attack-el-fasher-would-endanger-hundreds-thousands-children-warns-unicef https://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2024/06/the-woman-who-crossed-africa-in-1910-to-visit-her-fiances-grave-and-is-buried-in-granada/ Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/locran/cant-sleepLicense code: YWGNBBRJLKYJALQZ

A young woman from a wealthy and noble background has left for Africa. She knows little of where she is heading, the culture she is going to be surrounded by, the language which the people there will speak, and, most of all, where and how her finacee, Mr. Boyd Alexander, had been murdered. In search of answers, she has begun to acquire the skills needed to survive and investigate with the help of a young couple named Mr. and Mrs. Talbot. While staying in a house in the deep of Africa belonging to Governor Temple, who has alluded that they must not venture out to where Mr. Alexander was killed, she learns she has a knack for shooting and begins to hone her skill.  She is ready for her first real excursion. However, we learned that she had broken off her engagement with the very man she is there in Africa for before leaving her home in Scotland.  Torn between two possible suitors, one a long-time friend who she had only recently learned loved her, whose friends and family insist she must say yes to or his career, and life, are over, she felt she must say no to this exciting and warming new possibility she had found in Mr. Alexander.  And yet… she did care for Mr. Boyd Alexander.  She thought of him often.  She was drawn to him.  So she had written him more letters, unknowing if he had left for Africa or would even care to respond to her letters. So… just why is she there? Join us as we take a second breath of dead air with Olive McLeod in part two of her story.Sources - "Olive the Lionheart" by Brad RiccaMusic - Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/benjamin-botkin/enigmaLicense code: IHTXIMEFKHSCJSSX

As you wander through the vast halls of Dunvegan Castle, you catch a glimpse of the green rolling hills of Scotland through the arched window.  Your breath catches as the drizzling rain outside deepens the rich hues of emerald outside, coating everything in a glistening blanket. Stepping up the stairs, portraits on the walls around you seem to watch and encourage you to move forward, see more.  Who are you to deny them? Paintings, decorative rugs, wood railings, and… a locked shelf.  Little known to you, but within that shelf would lie the story of a woman whose story lay hidden in her diaries for almost a hundred years. Her life was one filled with adventure, danger, daring, and trouble. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with Olive MacLeod. Welcome to Dead Air Time.Sourceshttps://www.labrujulaverde.com/en/2024/06/the-woman-who-crossed-africa-in-1910-to-visit-her-fiances-grave-and-is-buried-in-granada/“Olive the Lionheart” by Brad Ricca

Satisfaction guaranteed, Rollback prices, and the yellow smiley face stickers- these are all famous icons of the Walmart store. But how did this prevalent company get its start? Today we’ll take a breath of dead air with Walmart’s founder and long-time president, Sam Walton.SourcesBlumenthal, Karen. Mr. Sam: How Sam Walton Built Walmart and Became America’s Richest Man. Viking Books for Young Readers, 2011. Taylor, Cameron C. Does Your Bag Have Holes?: 24 Truths That Lead to Financial and Spiritual Freedom. Mount Lanai Publishing, 2007. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/locran/little-utopiaLicense code: 7DQJNFZVL1KDKRDA

She stepped into the shop, perfume bottles and cosmetic cases glittering in the dim light.  Stepping forward, she approached the counter where behind an older woman accompanied by her young lady assistants worked.  Whispering in hushed tones while trying to appear at ease, money was exchanged for a small vial of liquid - uncolored, having no scent, and having no taste.  For all one unknowing could tell, it was a small vial of water. Slipping it into her pocket sleeve, she hustled out of the unassuming shop.  Within the week, her husband would be dead, and she would be a free woman. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with the alleged serial poisoner, Giulia Tofana.Sources - https://smarthistory.org/gender-renaissance-italy/ https://mikedashhistory.com/2015/04/06/aqua-tofana-slow-poisoning-and-husband-killing-in-17th-century-italy/https://www.wired.com/2013/01/the-myth-of-the-female-poisoner/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/251886/murder-offenders-in-the-us-by-gender/#:~:text=Number%20of%20murder%20offenders%20in%20the%20U.S.%202023%2C%20by%20gender&text=In%202023%2C%20there%20were%2014%2C327,to%201%2C898%20who%20were%20female. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24727-arsenic-poisoning “The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women” by Lisa PerrinMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/weary-pines/homeLicense code: XYNWYTBLVGNANIG9

Have you ever used Morse Code, written a hidden message in a note to a friend, or even spoken pig latin to keep a secret from some young kids? No matter the method, we all have information that we’d like to keep private. Today banking, tech security, and even text messaging all involve encryption. Oftentimes computers are needed to “hack” into or break through these extra measures. But how was this done before computers? Join us as we take a breath of dead air with William and Elizebeth Friedman, who broke codes in the service of their country long before the digital age.SourcesClark, Ronald. The Man Who Broke Purple. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2011. Fagone, Jason. The Woman Who Smashed Codes. Harper Collins, 2017. Greenfield, Amy Butler. The Woman All Spies Fear: Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life. Books on Tape- Listening Library, 2021. Mundy, Liza. Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II. Hachette Audio, 2017. “William F. Friedman Collection of Official Papers.” National Security Agency/Central Security Service, www.nsa.gov/Helpful-Links/NSA-FOIA/Declassification-Transparency-Initiatives/Historical-Releases/Friedman-Documents/. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

Imagine you are at the base of a mountain.  It’s impressive rocks covered with a blanket of lush, green grass and peppered with tall, proud pines, oaks, maybe even sequoias. You take a deep inhale, savoring the fresh air surrounding you, feeding you.  Burbling creeks trickle down from the snow-capped mountain top, the beginning of spring bringing a promise of filling lakes and falls. The music of birds fills your ears, all chirping a part of the symphony of nature you are now a part of. You pause, savor all of the beauty and wonder around you. Then you take a step forward, your boots crunching the hiking trail beneath you, and begin your journey through this paradise. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with the environmentalist and writer, John Muir.Sources - “The Wisdom of John Muir” Compiled by Anne Rowthorn, Foreword by Bill McKibbenhttps://wilderness.net/learn-about-wilderness/people/john-muir.php https://www.sierraclub.org/minnesota/about-us#:~:text=Sierra%20Club%20National%20and%20the,about%20the%20national%20Sierra%20Club. https://www.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/jomu/legacy.html https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/events/1906calif/18april/casualties.php

Have you ever experienced a moment in which doing something absolutely terrified you and yet you knew that you just had to do it anyway? During a time when women were typically thought to have very little power to change their circumstances, a courageous woman did something nerve-wracking in order to stop a genocide,. This woman and her story are now honored each year through the observance of Purim. So join us as we discuss the history of this holiday and take a breath of dead air with Queen Esther. Sources - “Esther.” Sefaria, www.sefaria.org/Esther.1.1?ven=english%7CTanakh%3A_The_Holy_Scriptures%2C_published_by_JPS&lang=bi. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025. Feinberg, Danielle. “What Are Hamantaschen?” My Jewish Learning, 6 Mar. 2025, www.myjewishlearning.com/the-nosher/what-are-hamantaschen/. “Purim.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, www.history.com/topics/holidays/purim. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.Reich, Aaron. “What Is the Story, Customs of the Jewish Festival of Purim?” The Jerusalem Post | JPost.Com, 21 Mar. 2024, www.jpost.com/judaism/jewish-holidays/article-793088. “The Amazing Name Hadassah: Meaning and Etymology.” Abarim Publications, Abarim Publications, www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Hadassah.html. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025. “What Is Purim?” IFCJ, www.ifcj.org/learn/jewish-holidays/what-is-purim. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025. What Is Purim? - Chabad.Org, www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/645309/jewish/What-Is-Purim.htm. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.“Why Wear Purim Costumes? - On Dressing up and Wearing Masks on the Holiday of Purim.” Chabad.Org, www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/1456808/jewish/Why-Wear-Purim-Costumes.htm. Accessed 7 Mar. 2025.

Truth or Dare - what do you choose? For one woman, to dare was to live. After all, her mantra was “do or die”. She pushed the limits of what was physically possible and socially acceptable, all while in front of a camera. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with Helen Gibson, Hollywood's first stuntwoman.Sources - “Daughter of Daring: The Trick-Riding, Train-Leaping, Road-Racing Life of Helen Gibson, Hollywood’s First Stuntwoman” by Mallory O'Meara

Abraham Lincoln is one of the most well-known figures in US history. He is famous for being the president during the civil war and the way in which he died. What was he actually like as a person? Today we will spend our time immersed in this topic as we take a breath of dead air with Abraham Lincoln.Sources - Lincoln Abraham. The Autobiography of Abraham Lincoln. New York : F.D. Tandy Co, 1905. Kanefield, Teri. Abraham Lincoln: The Making of America. ABRAMS, Inc., 2018.Meltzer, Brad, and Josh Mensch. The Lincoln Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill America’s 16th President--and Why It Failed. Flatiron Books, 2020.  Pascal, Janet B., et al. Who Was Abraham Lincoln? Listening Library (Audio), 2019. Zarefsky, David. Abraham Lincoln: In His Own Words. Teaching Company, 2015.

How did chocolate become such an important part of this holiday of love? Find out in this light-hearted, fun-filled, laid-back episode as we discuss one of our favorite food groups - chocolate.Sources -https://www.history.com/news/valentines-day-chocolate-box-history-cadbury https://www.santabarbarachocolate.com/blog/why-chocolate-on-valentines-day/?srsltid=AfmBOoqmBzLXAOySzBjRDWGoVvtUAIHDuhgwgWJjU_H98821SSB5sgpZ https://www.uschamber.com/economy/how-valentines-day-is-brought-to-you-by-american-business#:~:text=Valentine's%20Day%20Is%20an%20Economic%20Engine&text=The%20National%20Confectioners%20Association%20tells,the%20holiday's%20most%20popular%20candies.

Just what are we made of? Inside our bodies are trillions of cells doubling and replicating. Henrietta Lacks had been just like you until scientists found her cells were unlike anything they had ever seen. Join us for part two as we take a breath of dead air with Henrietta Lacks. Sources - "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot https://lacksfamily.com/  https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2303077120  https://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/cells_tissues_membranes/cells/structure.html https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9876/  https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer  https://youtu.be/ggIChkFTWE8?feature=shared https://youtu.be/22lGbAVWhro?feature=shared  https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/family-of-henrietta-lacks-whose-cells-were-taken-for-medical-advancement-settles-with-company-that-profited#:~:text=Though%20her%20relatives%20hadn't,making%20Lacks'%20genetic%20makeup%20public.  https://news.wttw.com/2023/08/04/henrietta-lacks-family-settles-lawsuit-biotech-company-used-her-cells-without-consent#:~:text=Despite%20that%20incalculable%20impact%2C%20the,their%20lawsuit%2C%20filed%20in%202021.  https://www.npr.org/2023/08/01/1191283359/henrietta-lacks-descendants-settlement-stolen-cells#:~:text=Lacks'%20descendants%20have%20argued%20that,same%20name%20starring%20Oprah%20Winfrey. 

Henrietta Lacks - A young woman of 30.  She could feel a knot in her stomach. While coming from a low-income African American household, she sought medical help at The Johns Hopkins Hospital as it was one of the few places in 1951 that would offer treatment to poor African Americans. She stepped into the examination room, nervous of what the doctor attending her, Howard Jones, would find. Later on, she would hear two words that would change her future - “tumor” and “cancer”. Her cells would go on to change the world of medicine. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with Henrietta Lacks. Sources - "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot https://lacksfamily.com/  https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2303077120  https://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/cells_tissues_membranes/cells/structure.html  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9876/  https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer

Join us for part two of our journey through the life of Mr. Rogers. Imagine that you're a young 4 or 5-year-old again. The TV is playing in the other room as you play with your toys. Then all of a sudden you hear the sound of a piano and you realize that one of your favorite shows is on. You run to the living room just in time to see a man walk through a door as he sings, "it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.." Mr. Rogers was one of the most beloved childrens' TV characters in the country. How did he create such a fan base and become a star amongst preschoolers? Join us as we take a breath of dead air with Fred Rogers. Sources - King, Maxwell. The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers. Abrams Press, an Imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc, 2019. Rogers, Fred. You Are Special: Words of Wisdom from America’s Most Beloved Neighbor. Viking, 1994.  “Mister Rogers Neighborhood Full Episodes (1979-2001).” YouTube, YouTube, youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXw6bhFJGPfSdxefZqOqIGcodBuapJUai&feature=shared. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024. “May 1, 1969: Fred Rogers Testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications.” YouTube, YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKy7ljRr0AA. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024.

Imagine that you're a young 4 or 5-year-old again. The TV is playing in the other room as you play with your toys. Then all of a sudden you hear the sound of a piano and you realize that one of your favorite shows is on. You run to the living room just in time to see a man walk through a door as he sings, "it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.." Mr. Rogers was one of the most beloved childrens' TV characters in the country. How did he create such a fan base and become a star amongst preschoolers? Join us as we take a breath of dead air with Fred Rogers. Sources - King, Maxwell. The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers. Abrams Press, an Imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc, 2019. Rogers, Fred. You Are Special: Words of Wisdom from America’s Most Beloved Neighbor. Viking, 1994.  “Mister Rogers Neighborhood Full Episodes (1979-2001).” YouTube, YouTube, youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXw6bhFJGPfSdxefZqOqIGcodBuapJUai&feature=shared. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024. “May 1, 1969: Fred Rogers Testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications.” YouTube, YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKy7ljRr0AA. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024. 

Fireworks, Christmas miracles, fun traditions, and more are shared in this fun filled Christmas episode of Dead Air Time. Stories from you, our listeners, are shared in this special episode.

Father Frost, Sinter Klaas, Kris Kringle, Saint Nick, and Santa Claus are just a few of the names for the international superstar of December. Many cultures have traditions associated with this figure. But how did this all begin? Today we’ll quite literally discuss the man, the myth, and the legend as we take a breath of dead air with jolly old Saint Nicholas. Sources - Alleyne, Caleigh. “20 Unique Christmas Traditions Around the World That May Surprise You.” Country Living, 28 Nov. 2022, www.countryliving.com/entertaining/g4933/christmas-traditions-around-the-world/.  Ayo, Nicholas. Saint Nicholas in America: Christmas Holy Day and Holiday. Corby Books, 2006.  Bahn, Micaela. “25 Christmas Traditions Around the World That Will Surprise and Delight You.” The Pioneer Woman, 11 Sept. 2023, www.thepioneerwoman.com/holidays-celebrations/g41466285/christmas-traditions-around-world/.  Edwards, Rosy. “This Unique Christmas Tradition of Roller Skating Is about to Die Out.” Metro, 4 Dec. 2024, metro.co.uk/2017/12/20/christmas-around-the-world-why-venezuelans-roller-skate-to-mass-on-christmas-eve-7018407/.  Lakbaypinas. “Ultimate Guide to Giant Lantern Festival 2024.” LakbayPinas, 5 Nov. 2024, lakbaypinas.com/giant-lantern-festival-2024-san-fernando-pampanga/.  Wallace, Carey. Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace, and Courage. Illustrated by Nick Thornborrow, Workman Publishing, 2020. 

Voted the most admired man alive in a national poll taken in the 1940s, Bing Crosby was more than a well-beloved singer.  He was a father, a friend, a husband, actor, and an example of goodness to many then and now.. depending on who you ask. Not a Christmas season goes by without hearing him sing the familiar tune of “White Christmas”.  Join us as we take a breath of dead air with the singer Bing Crosby. Sources - “Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams, The Early Years 1903-1940” by Gary Giddins “18 Holes with Bing: Golf, Life, and Lessons From Dad” by Nathaniel Crosby and John Strege https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/20-best-selling-singles-all-time/  https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/inventions-and-discoveries-of-the-twentieth-century/inventions-1900-to-1990/  https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bing-crosby-introduces-white-christmas-to-the-world

Although she was famous, perhaps one the of most well-known people from the 17th century, there is much controversy and speculation about the life of Pocahontas. What is true and what is not? Sources - Custalow, Linwood, and Angela L. Daniel. The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History. Tantor Media Inc., 2023. Fritz, Jean. The Double Life of Pocahontas. Blackstone Publishing, 2007.  “Pocahontas: Her Life and Legend.” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 4 Sept. 2022, www.nps.gov/jame/learn/historyculture/pocahontas-her-life-and-legend.htm. 

Honor our veterans with us as we share veteran stories from the creators themselves, along with our first listener story. Plane crashes, close calls, and some who never returned. Sources - Arlington National Cemetery. “The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.” https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Monuments-and-Memorials/Tomb-of-the-Unknown-Soldier Brallier, Jess M. The Unknown Soldier. Illustrated by Jamie Peterson. Charlesbridge, 2022.

"It was we, the people; not we, the white male citizens; nor yet we, the male citizens; but we the whole people.." This was said by none other than the pioneer of women's suffrage herself - Susan B. Anthony. She and many others dedicated their work and lives for the promise of a better future, one that allowed women to vote. How did it happen? Listen to this week's episode to find out. Sources - “Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony’’ by Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/susan-b-anthony https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/-failure-is-impossible-the-battle-for-the-ballot.htm https://www.history.com/news/night-terror-brutality-suffragists-19th-amendment https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/happy-birthday-sue-b/#:~:text=University%20of%20Rochester.-,Susan%20B.,of%20her%20life%20insurance%20policy. https://susanb.org/the-trial-of-susan-b-anthony/2023/06/17/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAll%20of%20my%20prosecutors%E2%80%94from,to%20the%20jury%2C%20as%20was

Join us as we venture into the life of artist José Guadalupe Posada, his contributions to Mexican culture, and the history behind Dia de Los Muertos. After all, what could be a more fitting holiday to celebrate on this podcast than the Day of the Dead? Sources - Archie, Ayana. “How to Make an Ofrenda for Día de Los Muertos.” NPR, NPR, 1 Nov. 2022, www.npr.org/2022/11/01/1133041841/dia-de-los-muertos-ofrenda-altar. “The Best Books on the Day of the Dead.” Five Books, Five Books, 16 Oct. 2022, fivebooks.com/best-books/regina-marchi-on-the-day-of-the-dead/. Carmichael, Elizabeth, and Chloë Sayer. The Skeleton at the Feast: The Day of the Dead in Mexico. University of Texas Press, 1992, Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/skeletonatfeastd00carm . “José Guadalupe Posada: Symbols, Skeletons, and Satire opens at The Clark Art Institute on July 16, 2022.” The Clark, The Clark Art Institute, 29 June 2022, www.clarkart.edu/About/Press-Room/Press-Room-Archives/2022-Archives/Jose-Guadalupe-Posada-Symbols,-Skeletons,-and-Sati. Posada, José Guadalupe. “José Guadalupe Posada: Broadsheet Relating to Sad Lament of Those Exiled to the Prison on the Islas Marias, Corrido in the Bottom Section.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1 Jan. 1970, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/717471.  Posada Art Foundation. “About Posada.” Posada Art Foundation, 2014, www.posada-art-foundation.com/about-posada. Román, Iván. “Day of the Dead: How Ancient Traditions Grew into a Global Holiday.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 29 Oct. 2020, www.history.com/news/day-dead-dia-de-muertos-origins. Tonatiuh, Duncan. Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras. ABRAMS, 2015. 

Listen to the first of a miniseries within our podcast called Snapshot episodes. In this episode, we talk about one of the most interesting occupations a dog can have - helping to find dead bodies - and how this came to be. Links to Sources Used for the Episode - 1.https://www.jack-the-ripper-tour.com/generalnews/a-precedent-for-the-whitechapel-murder/  2.https://alifeofdogs.com/the-history-of-cadaver-dogs/ 3.https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/a-labrador-retriever-was-the-first/  4.https://tacticalpolicek9training.com/cadaver-dogs/  5.https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-archaeological-practice/article/applying-canine-detection-in-support-of-collaborative-archaeology/11B525724D86698E8D34BBACA00B10A6  6.https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/how-cadaver-dogs-sniff-out-and-dig-up-decaying-history 7.https://indigenousscience.ubc.ca/gpr-partnership-musqueam/technical-guidance-survivors/historic-human-remains-detection-dogs 8.https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/how-dogs-use-smell-to-perceive-the-world#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20it%20has%20been,10%2C000%20times%20better%20than%20people.

As we prepare for the season of spooks, many of us nestle in to watch thrillers concocted by none other than the mind behind movies like The Birds, Vertigo, and Psycho - Alfred Hitchcock.  When one watches one of his shows, we can’t help but wonder…. What was inside his head? Join us as we take a breath of dead air with the master of suspense. Sources - "The Twelve Lives of Alfred Hitchcock: An Anatomy of the Master of Suspense" by Edward White "Alfred Hitchcock: A Brief Life" by Peter Ackroyd

Anne Sullivan Macy and Helen Keller - the inseparable pair that not only overcame but thrived in the face of many obstacles. Today we continue into Part Two of their story. Sources - Helen Keller Foundation. “Helen Keller.” Helen Keller Foundation, 14 Mar. 2024, helenkellerfoundation.org/helen-keller/.  History.com Editors. “Slavery in America.” HISTORY, A&E Television Networks, 25 Apr. 2024, www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery.  Keller, Helen. Teacher Anne Sullivan Macy. Kindle Ed., Rare Treasure Editions, 2024.  Keller, Helen. The Story of My Life with Her Letters and a Supplementary Account of Her Education. Ebook, The Floating Press, 2009 Nielsen, Kim E. Beyond the Miracle Worker: The Remarkable Life of Anne Sullivan Macy and Her Extraordinary Friendship with Helen Keller. Kindle Ed., Beacon Press, 2009.  Perkins School for the Blind. “Helen Keller FAQ.” Perkins School for the Blind, 29 June 2024, www.perkins.org/helen-keller-faq/.  Turbert, David. “What Is Trachoma?” American Academy of Ophthalmology, 12 Feb. 2024, www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-trachoma.

Regardless of how you know, virtually everyone knows the name Helen Keller. But do you know how she overcame, how she became famous, and who got her there? Today we will take a breath of dead air with Anne Sullivan Macy and Helen Keller. Sources - Helen Keller Foundation. “Helen Keller.” Helen Keller Foundation, 14 Mar. 2024, helenkellerfoundation.org/helen-keller/.  History.com Editors. “Slavery in America.” HISTORY, A&E Television Networks, 25 Apr. 2024, www.history.com/topics/black-history/slavery.  Keller, Helen. Teacher Anne Sullivan Macy. Kindle Ed., Rare Treasure Editions, 2024.  Keller, Helen. The Story of My Life with Her Letters and a Supplementary Account of Her Education. Ebook, The Floating Press, 2009 Nielsen, Kim E. Beyond the Miracle Worker: The Remarkable Life of Anne Sullivan Macy and Her Extraordinary Friendship with Helen Keller. Kindle Ed., Beacon Press, 2009.  Perkins School for the Blind. “Helen Keller FAQ.” Perkins School for the Blind, 29 June 2024, www.perkins.org/helen-keller-faq/.  Turbert, David. “What Is Trachoma?” American Academy of Ophthalmology, 12 Feb. 2024, www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-trachoma.

From Latin spinoffs to zombie apocalyptic takes to Indian adaptations and more, this woman’s books have been the inspiration for over 30 movies and counting.  Jane Austen - one of the most renowned novelists of all time. Today we will look into who she was as a person, novelist, and critiquer of her own society.  Sources - "Jane Austen: An Obstinate Heart" by Valerie Grosvenor Myer "Jane Austen at Home: A Biography" by Lucy Worsley

Dead Air Time - The new podcast where we delve into the lives of people and other characters from history. We hope you’ll join us as we give the dead a breath of fresh air. Tune in for a lively conversation about those who are…. Not so lively…. in “Dead Air Time”.