

HISTORY This Week
The HISTORY® Channel | Back Pocket Studios
This week, something big happened. You might have never heard of it, but this moment changed the course of history. A HISTORY Channel original podcast, HISTORY This Week gives you insight into the people—both famous and unknown—whose decisions reshaped the world we live in today. Through interviews with experts and eyewitnesses, each episode will give you a new perspective on how history is written. Stay up-to-date at historythisweekpodcast.com and to get in touch, email us at historythisweek@history.com.HISTORY This Week is a production of Back Pocket Studios in partnership with the History Channel.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 20, 2020 • 18min
The Apple Ad That Changed the World
Join historian Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, author of the "Making the Macintosh" digital archive, as he explores the 1984 Super Bowl ad that revolutionized tech advertising. He delves into how this groundbreaking commercial captured the spirit of rebellion and individuality while launching the Macintosh, which fundamentally shifted computing to user-friendly interfaces. Pang discusses the powerful friendship between Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, and how their vision transformed the market and consumer perceptions, making technology accessible and desirable.

Jan 13, 2020 • 18min
The Great Boston Molasses Flood
On January 15, 1919, a wave of molasses flooded Boston's North End, causing chaos and nationwide attention. The podcast dives into the bizarre origins and catastrophic events surrounding this unique disaster. It features gripping firsthand accounts and highlights the groundbreaking class action lawsuit that followed. Furthermore, the discussion reveals how this incident reshaped construction standards, leading to greater accountability in engineering practices. It's a tale of history, community resilience, and lasting impacts.

9 snips
Jan 10, 2020 • 22min
Warning: The Surgeon General Has Determined...
In this discussion with Boris Lushniak, former acting U.S. Surgeon General, listeners dive into the shocking revelations from the 1964 report that officially linked smoking to severe health risks. Lushniak reflects on the slow acceptance of these findings amid a culture that glamorized smoking and highlights how advertising influenced public perception. The conversation also tackles the modern challenges posed by e-cigarettes and the ongoing fight against nicotine addiction, emphasizing the legacy of public health advocacy in America.

Jan 2, 2020 • 2min
Introducing: HISTORY This Week
Dive into the profound impact of language on history and human connections. Discover how the Rosetta Stone revolutionized communication, shaping empires and cultures. Reflect on personal experiences with language that highlight its power in our lives. The discussion showcases how words can define relationships and alter the course of events in our world.