Shows
Time Crunch HistorySausage Duel: Bismarck v. VirchowToday’s episode is all about an *interesting* duel between two Prussian politicians. On one side, Otto Von Bismarck, praised as the visionary behind uniting Germany and a hero among German nationalists. One the other, Rudolf Virchow, a talented scientist-turned-progressive political figure who discovered Leukemia and whose work on parasitic worms influenced the practice of meat inspection. The weapon of choice for the duel? A lowly German sausage. Why are they dueling? Why are they using a sausage? How does that even work?!? Find out today on Time Crunch History: Sausage Duel: Bismarck v. Virchow!2021-09-0734 min
Time Crunch HistoryChina's Most Ruthless Emperor (Or Was She?)Today’s episode is about the famous Empress Wu Zetian, the first and only female ruler in more that 3,000 years of Chinese history. From her beginnings as a low level concubine to sitting on the Dragon throne, the accomplishments of Empress Wu are a matter of dispute to this day. Between ruthless tactics and great reforms, her legacy is a complicated one.2021-08-2335 minTime Crunch HistoryThe Black Olympian Who Ruined Hitler’s PlansToday’s story is about Jesse Owens, an African American athlete who disrupted Hitler’s plans to use the 1936 Berlin Olympics to showcase Aryan superiority. Despite becoming the first global black star of the track and taking home four Olympic gold medals, Jesse Owens was still faced with the harsh reality of being black in America.2021-08-1030 minTime Crunch History1816: The Year Without a SummerWhat do Frankenstein, worldwide famines, apocalyptic weather, and the invention of the bicycle have in common? They were all caused by the most destructive explosion on earth in the past 10,000 years: the eruption of Mount Tambora. This episode, you'll see just how much changes when 12 cubic miles of earth is blasted into the atmosphere. Spoiler alert: a lot of bad stuff... and Frankenstein.2021-07-2729 minTime Crunch HistoryThe African Kingdom That Didn't Need DoorsToday’s episode is all about a Kingdom you probably haven’t heard about, but definitely should have: a place with fortifications rivaling the Great Wall of China, the birthplace of the famous Benin Bronzes, and whose capital was more technologically advanced than contemporary London. This is the story of the Great African Kingdom of Benin.2021-07-1328 minTime Crunch HistoryBritain's Last HangmanCW: This episode discusses alcoholism, executions and the holocaust. Listener discretion is advised.
Growing up some kids want to be firefighters, astronauts, doctors. Not the main character of this week's episode: growing up, his dream was to be an executioner. This is the story of the UK’s last hangman.2021-05-3132 minTime Crunch HistoryThe Satanic Fortune Teller AssassinCW: This episode discusses infanticide, marital abuse, and abortion. Listener discretion is advised.
This episode, Felicity tells the tale of one of history’s most scandalous criminal trials. The story of La Voisin has it all: fortune telling, satanic rituals, and a poison-peddling organization that reached all the way to the king’s court! Meanwhile, Ben tells us about tomatoes.2021-04-0628 minTime Crunch HistoryThe Bisexual, Sword-Fighting, Convent-Burning Opera Singer: Julie d'AubignyJulie d'Aubigny's story is so wild we couldn't fit it all in one episode. From her upbringing in the King's court to her rough-and-tumble life as a sword fighter to her fame as an opera singer, listen along for the tale of this particularly badass bisexual woman.2021-03-2322 minTime Crunch HistoryThe Pharaoh Egypt Tried to ForgetThis week join Felicity and Ben and a trip to Ancient Egypt. Learn about Ahkenaten: father of King Tut, husband to Nefertiti and founder of a royal cult to the sun god. We don't want to spoil anything, but he may or may not have been labelled a heretic and a criminal.2021-03-0828 minTime Crunch HistoryGreat Zimbabwe & Yasuke, the First Black SamuraiIt's important to recognize that black history extends beyond and before the tragic history of the Atlantic slave trade so in honour of Black History Month we wanted to share the story of Yasuke, the first non-Japanese and African Samurai. Also, thanks to one of our listeners, find out about the city of Great Zimbabwe whose African origins were obfuscated by Europeans colonists.2021-02-2220 minTime Crunch HistoryChina's First Emperor: Fighter of Fish and Eater of (Im)Mortality PillsThis episode Felicity tells Ben the story of how the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi, became obsessed with immortality after several failed coups and assassination attempts, creating a couple world wonders in the process.2021-02-0923 minTime Crunch HistoryMr. Cheese & The Ghost Army of El AlameinThis episode, Ben decides to give his own history fact, and Felicity tells the story of how a filmmaker, a stage magician, and a man nicknamed “cheese” teamed up to fool the Nazis using tanks made of palm leaves. 2021-01-2520 minTime Crunch HistoryTurtle Ships: Defenders of KoreaLearn about that time the famous Admiral Yi was outnumbered ten-to-one. Luckily, he had a trick up his sleeve: the Turtle Ship.2021-01-1118 minTime Crunch HistoryThe Brit Who Tricked an American General into Surrendering His Fort to CanadaJoin Felicity, who is a history buff, and Ben, who isn't, to learn about the amazing General Brock and that time he tricked an American General into surrendering an entire Fort without a single drop of blood being drawn. Welcome to the very first episode of Time Crunch History!2020-12-2820 min