Inventors Killed By Their Own Inventions: Fly...

When we think of the mob today, most Americans think of New York City -- and why not? After all, films, books and TV shows often depict New York as the heart of mob country. Yet, as the guys discover in today's episode, the story of the Italian-American mafia has a surprisingly d ...  Show more

In 1969, the Zombies had a song hit No. 3 on the Billboard charts. There was just one problem: the band had broken up two years earlier, and most people in the US had no idea. In today's episode, Ben, Noel, and Max explore how a deeply sketchy promo company created multiple fake ...  Show more

In mythology from around the world the ability to fly was reserved strictly for the gods. Stories about human beings constructing flying machines were usually punctuated with a moral about hubris. Vain attempts at flight were an easy metaphor for the limits of human ingenuity. Ev ...  Show more

Humans are phenomenally inventive creatures -- problem is, some of their inventions may end up disrupting the status quo. As we explore the history of inventors, we find history is riddled with mysterious deaths, con artists, shady business and countless allegations of conspiracy ...  Show more

This 2017 episode covers the Wright Brothers, yes, but also other contenders to the title of "first in flight," and each has their own compelling story and list of achievements.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

Nowadays almost every urban center has an airport, and the idea of flying across an ocean seems normal. Yet this wasn't always the case. Join Katie and Sarah as they explore the fascinating stories of the people who tried -- and failed -- to fly.