Throughline
NPR
Throughline is a time machine. Each episode, we travel beyond the headlines to answer the question, "How did we get here?" We use sound and stories to bring history to life and put you into the middle of it. From ancient civilizations to forgotten figures, we take you directly to the moments that shaped our world. Throughline is hosted by Peabody Award-winning journalists Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei.Subscribe to Throughline+. You'll be supporting the history-reframing, perspective-shifting, time-warping stories you can't get enough of - and you'll unlock access bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/throughline
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 14, 2019 • 43min
The Siege of Mecca
On November 20th, 1979, a group of Islamic militants seized Islam's holiest site — the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. They took thousands of hostages and held the holy site for two weeks, shocking the Islamic world. This week, how one man led an uprising that would have repercussions around the world and inspire the future of Islamic extremism.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Nov 9, 2019 • 25min
Throughline Presents: Short Wave
NPR science correspondent Geoff Brumfiel shares the story of Nazi Germany's attempt to build a nuclear reactor — and how evidence of that effort was almost lost to history. It's a tale he heard from Timothy Koeth and Miriam Hiebert at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Maryland in College Park.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Nov 7, 2019 • 42min
No Friend But The Mountains
Over the decades the Kurds have been inspired by, allied with, relied upon and betrayed by the United States. This week we explore who the Kurds are, who they are to the United States and what, if anything, we owe to them.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 31, 2019 • 43min
ZOMBIES
Zombies have become a global phenomenon — there have been at least ten zombie movies so far this year. Which made us wonder, where did this fascination for the undead come from? This week, how one of our favorite monsters is a window into Haiti's history and the horrors of slavery.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 24, 2019 • 39min
The Dark Side Of The Moon
50 years ago the world watched as man first landed on the moon, an incredible accomplishment by the engineers and scientists of NASA. But what if some of those same engineers and scientists had a secret history that the U.S. government tried to hide? This week, the story of how the U.S. space program was made possible by former Nazis.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 17, 2019 • 42min
A Borrowed Time
Explore the evolution of Hong Kong and the recent intense protests against extradition. Delve into the historical relationship between Hong Kong and China, including the impact of the opium trade and the first Opium War. Discover the colonial era of Hong Kong under British control and the transformation of the city. Learn about the challenges and uncertainties faced by the British in maintaining control and the negotiations between China and the UK. Understand the birth of Hong Kong's democracy movement and the hope it brought for a better future.
Oct 10, 2019 • 29min
The Commentator
Today the foundations of philosophy are seen as a straight line from Western antiquity, built on thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle. But, between the 8th century and 14th century, the West was greatly overshadowed by the Islamic world and philosophy was in very different hands. This week, how one Medieval Islamic philosopher put his pen to paper and shaped the modern world.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Oct 3, 2019 • 17min
High Crimes And Misdemeanors
When Andrew Johnson became president in 1865, the United States was in the middle of one of its most volatile chapters. The country was divided after fighting a bloody civil war and had just experienced the first presidential assassination. We look at how these factors led to the first presidential impeachment in American history.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Sep 26, 2019 • 54min
American Exile
Parth Shah, a producer on NPR's Hidden Brain, shares the gripping tale of the Blackburns' daring escape from slavery. Sonny Dossi, a retired geography professor, discusses the Confederados' migration to Brazil after the Civil War, revealing the complexities of identity in their new home. Luciana Brito, a historical expert, contrasts American and Brazilian narratives of slavery and freedom. Together, they explore themes of desperation, resilience, and cultural identity in the face of oppression, challenging perceptions of migration.
Sep 19, 2019 • 1h 5min
Puerto Rico
Pedro Albizu Campos, a key figure in Puerto Rican history and independence leader, shares insights into the island's fight for autonomy. Cornelius Packard Rhodes, a controversial doctor, sparked nationalist sentiments with his racist views. They discuss the tension between Puerto Rico and the U.S., and the socio-political struggles born from natural disasters and colonial legacies. The essence of 'La tierra de borinquen' comes alive as they explore the passionate yearning for independence and the darker side of U.S. influence on Puerto Rican identity.
