PRX - Pieces for Topic: Historical

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24 results


219: Wife Selling
From: Trace Kerr
Series: Brain Junk
Piece image
In the 16 and 1700s, wife selling was a type of marital separation that people did when they couldn't afford divorce. It was shaming, mysoginistic,...

Bought by WRFA-LP


  • Added: May 31, 2022
  • Length: 04:48
  • Purchases: 1
208: Thunderclappers
From: Trace Kerr
Piece image
It wasn't just fame and glory that inspired Lewis and Clark's expedition across this great land. It took a "medication" so powerful that people wou...

  • Added: Mar 30, 2022
  • Length: 04:58
201: Rabbit War
From: Trace Kerr
Series: Brain Junk
Piece image
What happens when you are the Emperor of France and your hunting party plans go completely wrong? You get attacked by rabbits. This isn't a Monty P...

Bought by WRFA-LP and Spokane Public Radio


  • Added: Feb 15, 2022
  • Length: 04:47
  • Purchases: 2
184: Dog Days of Summer
From: Trace Kerr
Series: Brain Junk
Piece image
It's fall now, but we recorded this episode during the dog days of August. The sky wore a blanket of wildfire smoke and daytime lows were in the mi...

Bought by WRFA-LP


  • Added: Oct 11, 2021
  • Length: 04:20
  • Purchases: 1
172: Dancing Plague
From: Trace Kerr
Series: Brain Junk
Piece image
During the 1300-1500s there were several accounts of people being afflicted with spontaneous dancing. One group of 400 people were struck with the ...

Bought by WRFA-LP and Spokane Public Radio


  • Added: May 24, 2021
  • Length: 04:44
  • Purchases: 2
149: History of Bandanas
From: Trace Kerr
Series: Brain Junk
Piece image
Originating in India, the western version of the red bandana began in 1800s England with the use of snuff. Over the years the pattern has changed s...

  • Added: Feb 21, 2021
  • Length: 04:55
WRM40 - Will & Reading
From: KRSC
Series: The Will Rogers Minute
Piece image
Even though he wasn't a great student, Will Rogers knew the value of a good education.

  • Added: Jan 27, 2021
  • Length: 01:00
141 Box Beds
From: Trace Kerr
Series: Brain Junk
Piece image
Tired of cold feet and longs nights huddled under not quite warm enough blankets? Maybe you need a box bed. Originating in medieval times, making a...

  • Added: Dec 23, 2020
  • Length: 04:45
136: Sneaky Potato
From: Trace Kerr
Series: Brain Junk
Piece image
In 1532 the Spanish found out what everyone in South America already knew--potatoes are amazing. But when they brought them back to Europe the rece...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio


  • Added: Nov 10, 2020
  • Length: 04:41
  • Purchases: 1
118: Trundling
From: Trace Kerr
Series: Brain Junk
Piece image
Trace follows a trail from shoving boulders downhill to the 18th century sport of hoop rolling. P.S. Trace mentions in the beginning of the episode...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio


  • Added: Jul 23, 2020
  • Length: 04:46
  • Purchases: 1
101: Jimmy Legs
From: Trace Kerr
Series: Brain Junk
Piece image
The term Jimmy Legs describes both a syndrome and the restless leg bumping up and down that some of us do when nervous or full of energy. Let's fin...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio


  • Added: Mar 03, 2020
  • Length: 03:36
  • Purchases: 1
85: Two Penny Hangover
From: Trace Kerr
Series: Brain Junk
Piece image
In the late 19th century, London had the beginnings of homeless shelters. They weren't always comfortable (try sleeping in a four-penny coffin), bu...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio


  • Added: Nov 24, 2019
  • Length: 04:42
  • Purchases: 1
79: Pt. Roberts
From: Trace Kerr
Series: Brain Junk
Piece image
When the US and Canadian governments decided the border between our two countries, a few places got left on the "wrong" side of the line. Those pla...

  • Added: Nov 24, 2019
  • Length: 08:03
Turn of Phrase
From: Rosa Olson McKenzie
Series: Google It, Bitch
Piece image
We explore the origins of your favorite cliches.

  • Added: Aug 03, 2017
  • Length: 39:15
The Peter Yarrow Interview
From: Jake Feinberg
Series: In The Land of Giants
Piece image
Interview conducted by radio journalist Jake Feinberg. Wide ranging discussion from his relationship with Bob Dylan to the potential of viral video...

  • Added: Dec 18, 2013
  • Length: 16:54
The Bob Weir Interview
From: Jake Feinberg
Series: In The Land of Giants
Piece image
Interview with rhythm guitar player from the Grateful Dead. Ranges from stories about The Reverend Gary Davis to Garcia's addictions.

  • Added: Dec 18, 2013
  • Length: 07:49
Inside the Glore
From: Michael Paul Mason
Caption: A Tranquilizer Chair inside the Glore
An otherworldly visit to one of America's most bizarre museums, the Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph, MO.

Bought by PRX Remix, KUT, KUOW, Remix Radio, KFAI Minneapolis and more


  • Added: Feb 03, 2009
  • Length: 13:48
  • Purchases: 6
Boston Tea Party
From: Nicholas Demarest
Piece image
A radio play on the preceding events and organization of the Boston Tea Party.

  • Added: Jul 29, 2008
  • Length: 06:32
metal - word of the day
From: Charles Hodgson
Caption: PRX default Piece image
The story behind the word "metal"

  • Added: Nov 24, 2006
  • Length: 03:34
bombast - word of the day
From: Charles Hodgson
Caption: PRX default Piece image
The story behind the word "bombast"

  • Added: Nov 24, 2006
  • Length: 02:40
arcade - word of the day
From: Charles Hodgson
Caption: PRX default Piece image
The story behind the word "arcade"

  • Added: Nov 24, 2006
  • Length: 03:31
pedigree - word of the day
From: Charles Hodgson
Caption: PRX default Piece image
The story behind the word "pedigree"

  • Added: Nov 13, 2006
  • Length: 02:32
assassin - word of the day
From: Charles Hodgson
Caption: PRX default Piece image
The story behind the word "assassin"

  • Added: Nov 13, 2006
  • Length: 03:50
tributary - word of the day
From: Charles Hodgson
Caption: PRX default Piece image
The story behind the word "tributary"

  • Added: Nov 13, 2006
  • Length: 03:19