Did The Father of The Blues Really Sell His S...

On this episode of Our American Stories, after World War II airman Danny Wilson fell overseas, his body was buried in France alongside thousands of American soldiers. But that wasn't the end of his story. His niece, Joy Neal Kidney, shares the little-known journey of how her uncl ...  Show more

On this episode of Our American Stories, few filmmakers embody the American Dream as vividly as Frank Capra. Born in Sicily in 1897, he carried the memory of arriving at New York Harbor and seeing the Statue of Liberty through World War I and into Hollywood's golden age. In films ...  Show more

In this throwback episode Sebastian takes a look back at a show that explores one of the greatest legends in 20th century popular music. Did the legendary blues musician, Robert Johnson, really trade his immortal soul for superhuman musical talent? In the newly recorded intro, Se ...  Show more

August 6, 1938. The Mississippi Delta. The Badlands… In this hauntingly melodic episode of The Passage, the Ferryman, voiced by the enigmatic Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, The Walking Dead), finds himself aboard a steam engine train, its whistle echoing thr ...  Show more

Summary

This week Sphar explores the life and music of blues musician Robert Johnson. We dive into his background, the origins of the blues, his musical transformation, the myth of the crossroads, and the hoodoo references in his music. This episode explores ...

Born into slavery, Robert Smalls dreamed of freedom for not just himself and his family, but all oppressed people. As the US became consumed in the Civil War, he hatched a daredevil plan to make this dream a reality -- by stealing a Confederate ship and sailing straight past t ...