Up next

Malcolm Gladwell on Reconstruction’s Unfinished Questions

June 15, 1865. German-American statesman Carl Schurz is traveling to Washington to meet with President Andrew Johnson when he stops at a friend’s home in Philadelphia. That night, during a séance, a teenage medium claims to summon the spirit of Abraham Lincoln… and delivers Schur ...  Show more

Why the Crusades Became Cool Again

June 8, 1191. The Crusaders and Muslim forces are locked in battle over the city of Acre. On one side is Saladin, the great Muslim leader who has already recaptured Jerusalem. On the other, an armada arrives carrying England’s king: Richard the Lionheart.The Crusades will become ...  Show more

Recommended Episodes

The Interruption | Episode Five: Operation Space Pirates
The World's Hardest Puzzle

We have explored the motive, but what about the method? Tommie hears from some of England’s most well-known pirate broadcasters. These pirate radio DJs weren’t messing around, they took their craft seriously, they loved what they did and they were willing to take risks. A new two ...  Show more

The Real Pirates of the Caribbean
Short History Of...

Throughout the late 17th and early 18th Century, the waters of the Caribbean were crawling with pirates. Stories about swash-buckling buccaneers, and insatiable treasure-seekers haunted the tropical islands, as navies tried in vain to put a stop to their reign of terror. But who ...  Show more

Be More Pirate w/ Sam Conniff
Upstream

What do you typically think of when you think of pirates? Parrots? Peg Legs? Eye patches? Treasure? Is there more to pirates than these things, than corny jokes and a Disney franchise starring Johnny Depp? 

Our guest for today's episo ...

  Show more

Sealand
Criminal

Today's episode begins with rock & roll and ends with royalty. When bands like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles were becoming popular, they weren't played much on the radio in England. The BBC controlled the airwaves at the time, and some listeners described its music offerings ...  Show more