The Past and The Curious: A History Podcast for Kids and Families

Episode 95 covers two great stories of international competition. First, The Field of Cloth and Gold was a historic summit that brought together Henry VIII and Francis I with the hopes of peace, competition, and maybe a bit of wrestling.Second, the 1904 Olympics put a Cuban runner named Felix Carvajal on the map. He didn't win the Olympic marathon, but his spirit made him the winner among the crowds who saw him.

Minerva Hoyt was a wealthy socialite who loved to escape to the desert of California and sleep in the sand. Her hard work and dedication in convincing people about the value of the desert led to preservation of today's Joshua Tree National Park.Col. Charles Young was born before the end of the Civil War and he would go on to be the third Black graduate from West Point Military Academy. When the Buffalo Soldiers under his command were put in charge of Sequoia National Park he became the first Black superintendent of a National Park.

Episode 93: Milk has been a lot of things through the years, but it was often poisonous, spoiled or both. Learn about how far we've come in making milk safe, and who may or may not have helped us get to the root cause of what was making milk dangerous. From Dr. Anna Bixby and the mystery of Milk Sickness to Gail Borden who invented condensed milk, it's been a long road to your grocery store. 

Learn about the quirky tradition of bombarding Nottingham's mayors with massive cheese wheels, the chaos of the Nottingham Cheese Riots, and the alleged inventor of the donut, Captain Hansen Crockett Gregory. Also, discover children's vitamins and primatologist Valerie Jane Morris Goodall's conservation work with chimpanzees.

Explore Anne Carroll Moore's influential role in shaping children's libraries and her legacy despite controversies. Learn about the Western Library in Louisville, the first library for African-Americans. Reflect on the community impact and the revival of the Cotter Cup poetry contest.

The podcast delves into the bizarre Kentucky Meat Shower incident of 1876, exploring new information discovered by Frank Reiser. It covers the scientific investigation of the mysterious meaty phenomenon and the collaboration between amateur enthusiasts and professional scientists. The episode also discusses the Great Molasses Flood in Boston and showcases the intriguing items in Transylvania University's collection in Lexington, Kentucky.

Episode delves into the origin of time zones in America and Daylight Saving worldwide. Topics include bugs, sunburns, train crashes, dropping timeballs, and smashed pocket watches. Historical inventions, outdoor time benefits, and upcoming events are also discussed.

Episode 88 features two incredible Black Americans who were friends born in the 18th Century. James Forten (1766-1842) was a Revolutionary War Veteran who owned one of America's most successful sail-making companies. He was also influential abolitionist and early Civil Rights leader. His friend Francis "Frank" Johnson (1792-1844) was an equally influential musician. When he published his original piece of music "Bingham's Cotillion" he became the first published Black musician in American History. The European and American tours his band made also made history.Hear recent recordings of his music on the Museum of the American Revolution's website: https://www.amrevmuseum.org/the-music-of-francis-johnson-a-soundtrack-to-antebellum-black-philadelphiaThanks to Sponsor Green Chef. Go to greenchef.com/60CURIOUS and use code 60CURIOUS to 60% off, plus 20% off your next two months.

Episode 87: Potatoes and RocksIt’s our annual end-of-year episode dedicated to toys and we have some fun with Mr. Potato Head and Pet Rocks. From the first toy on a commercial to the earthiest fad, you might soon find yourself out digging in the dirt in search of one natural new friend or another!

Walt Whitman, a self-published poet and nurse during the Civil War, and Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor, are discussed. Whitman's dedication to poetry and unique exercise advice, along with Walker's unrecognized heroism, are highlighted in this episode.