Professor Buzzkill History Podcast

We are living in interesting times. But is “may you live in interesting times” actually an old Chinese curse, or is the history of the saying more complicated? We take you from Chinese folk tales in 1627 to 20th-century British politicians in this episode of Quote or No Quote, trying to track down who said what when. Listen and learn.

Today’s FDR Friday is the 1935 Fireside Chat on the Works Relief Program and Social Security Act. In one Fireside Chat in 1935 President Roosevelt laid out the plans for two of the largest and longest-lasting civilian government programs in American history. Listen to honesty and competence!

Find out why the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was one of the most significant conflicts of the 20th Century, and why it's been overlooked. Professor Phil Nash relates the course of the war and its conclusion. We explain why this is one of the most dreadful episodes in European history.

FDR's first Fireside Chat was about banking. He gave it on March 12th 1933, after the first steps were taken to try to stabilize the American banking system in the first days after his inauguration. So, here it is, in full. And I’ll leave you to try to imagine what it was like hearing it, 87 years ago.

Professor Sarah Milov explains the political and medical environments in which the 1964 US Surgeon General’s Report on dangers of smoking appeared in 1964. In addition to the medical and scientific concerns in producing the report, there were significant non-medical concerns and obstacles to overcome. One of the most significant of these was the political ways in which the Report was treated, both inside and outside the government. Listen and learn!

Find out why the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was one of the most significant conflicts of the 20th Century, and why it's been overlooked. Professor Phil Nash explains the background and the first half of this dreadful episode in European history.

Wednesday Wisdom! The phrase and sentiment, "A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song," is one of the best-known expressions of the intrinsic nature of art and beauty. It has been quoted by presidents and school teachers, and practically everyone in between. And we all "know" that quote comes from Maya Angelou. The US government even said so. But did Maya Angelou really say it? Join Professor Buzzkill as he sings out the answer!

Are you wondering what it was like when a President addressed the nation competently at a time of crisis and uncertainty? Professor Phil Nash enlightens us about FDR's “Fireside Chats” from the 1930s and 1940s! Were they really as ground-breaking as we all tend to believe? Did they really help the American people get through the Great Depression and World War II? Was it FDR’s tone and confidence that connected to the people, or was there something more mundane that explains the popularity of the Fireside Chats?

What a great way to get taxes lowered! Get your land-owning husband to agree to lower property taxes if you ride naked on horseback right down main street. That’s just what Lady Godiva agreed to do in 11th century England in order to get her tight-fisted husband to lighten up on his tenants. But is it true or just another mini-myth? Listen in Buzzkillers!

Lots of people are credited with coining the great phrase, “well-behaved women rarely make history.” These include Marilyn Monroe, Gloria Steinem, Eleanor Roosevelt, Anne Boleyn, and our own Aunt Ginger from the Buzzkill Institute. Given time, any powerful woman with backbone and verve will get credit for this phrase and sentiment. Listen and learn who said it first.