Stuff You Missed in History Class

Dentist Horace Wells set up shop in Hartford in 1836, before the discovery of anasthesia. At an exhibition in 1844 he became certain that nitrous [Read more]

Professor Moriarty was based on a real man: Adam Worth. After being falsely reported as dead during the Civil War, Worth began a life of [Read more]

Amelia Earhart is the most well-known female aviator, but there were several notable female aviation pioneers. This episode talks about Raymonde de Laroche, Harriet Quimby, [Read more]

Ferdinand Demara took on several bogus personas throughout his imposter career — everything from a professor to a monk. Demara stole the identities of regular [Read more]

Although Lucas and Spielberg claim Indiana Jones was only inspired by adventure movies and pulp fiction, people have still suggested real-life inspirations. Tune in to [Read more]

Beryl Markham was Africa’s first female licensed racehorse trainer, but by the 1920s she’d found a new passion: flying. She went on to become Kenya’s [Read more]

When gold mine heiress Louise Boyd staged her first Arctic expedition in the 1920s, she hunted polar bears with aristocrats. Yet she also met other [Read more]

How did advice from his great uncle inspire tobacco businessman George Arents to become one of the great contemporary bibliophiles? Listen in as Sarah and [Read more]

After Jim Reed’s death, Belle eventually married Sam Starr. Rumors circulated: Was Belle a barfly or a mom? In 1883, Belle and Sam served 9 [Read more]

Charles Dickens is best known for chronicling life in London, but he also wrote about the United States – and not in a flattering light. [Read more]