Professor Buzzkill History Podcast

Was Civil War Union General Joseph “Fightin’ Joe” Hooker’s last name the origin of the slang term for prostitute? He had a perhaps undeserved reputation as a party animal, but did that reputation actually add a new word to the language? Find out, Buzzkillers!

Major social and political forces led to the establishment of Mother's Day as a major and official holiday. This episode explains those forces, and also tells us who founded Mother's Day. Was it Julia Ward Howe with her famous "Appeal to Womanhood" Peace Proclamation in 1870? Or did Anna Marie Jarvis start it, honoring her own mother in 1908? And what do war and campaigns for international disarmament have to do with the history of Mother's Day?

In “They Called Us Girls: Stories of Female Ambition from Suffrage to Mad Men,” Kathleen Stone meets seven of these unconventional women. In insightful, personalized portraits that span a half-century, Kathleen weaves stories of female ambition, uncovering the families, teachers, mentors, and historical events that led to unexpected paths. What inspired these women, and what can they teach women and girls today? Episode 450!

The 1937 Hindenburg disaster was one of the most dramatic in the 20th century. But what if the dramatic report we're used to hearing was partly the result of a mechanical error in the recording equipment? What if the emotion that comes through in the "oh the humanity" quote was inadvertently enhanced through this error? Would the disaster "sound" different to us if we heard the genuine report? Listen to this Monday Myth for Extra Credit!

Thomas Edison invented almost nothing he’s given credit for -- at least not by himself. But he was undoubtedly one of the most important people of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Good old Professor Buzzkill turns on the light and puts the buzz back into hero worship. Grab your phonograph and listen to this Monday Myth for Extra Credit. Episode 449.

Here's your short Monday Extra Credit Myth for the week! It’s a great “Gone with the Wind” romantic-type story. The defeated, but honorable, General Robert E. Lee offered his sword to the victor, U.S. Grant, during the Confederacy’s surrender at Appomattox Court House. Grant, just as honorably, refused to take it. But did it happen? Find out! Episode 448.

This quote has been attributed to Rudyard Kipling, George Orwell, John Le Carré, Winston Churchill, and many others. We determine the origin. But how the quote became accepted wisdom is also important historically and culturally. Listen as the Professor waxes about its significance! And remember to stay vigilant! Episode 447

"We must all hang together, or we will all hang separately" is a famous quote. But did it originate with Ben Franklin, one of the founders of the United States? And does the Franklin attribution tell us something about history and popular memory? The Professor explains! Episode 446.

Just in time for baseball season! Was Ty Cobb, the Georgia Peach, rotten to the core? He is often referred to as one of the greatest baseball players of all time. But was his professional greatness mirrored by personal reprehensibility? Play ball, Buzzkillers, and don’t forget to sharpen your spikes! Episode 445