A Very Broad History of Werewolves and Other Things

The very first episode! As such, it seems appropriate to tackle the subject of werewolves. From Ancient Greece to the Universal horror classics, this episode covers a lot of historical ground concerning werewolfery in just over a half hour.

Old Scratch has gone through quite a few incarnations throughout history. In this episode we take a quick look at the ways his myth has changed over time, as well as some of the ways that belief in the literal devil has affected modern American culture.

We’re getting biblical, and then some. Flood myths predate the Bible and show up in the cultures of civilizations the world over. In this episode, we take a quick look at some of the most prominent flood myths, the connections between them, and what it might all mean.

Philip Seymour Hoffman believed that the less audiences knew about him personally, the more they could appreciate his work. He also was uncomfortable with being celebrated. In this episode, we defy both those wishes and delve into the life and work of one of the most talented artists of our time.

Mob justice in the years leading up to the American Revolution was a culture all its own, and in this episode we explore the various ways colonists demonstrated their dissatisfaction with the powers that be, short of war itself.

People all over the world have seen UFOs— but people from the United States seem to have seen them extra. Why? This episode comes at the issue of UFOs from a historical perspective, to try and determine why Americans are so obsessed with UFOs and what it says about them.

Let’s take a look at these rodents in history. Both species live among humans, and both have carried fleas infected with bubonic plague. Yet the United States has treated these creatures very differently. Is it the tail?

For a century tobacco companies have worked with advertisers to mislead the public and infuse habitual smoking into American culture. This episode looks at the history of how an open conspiracy led to a global epidemic of preventable cancer.

Episode Three straddles the line between history and personal opinion as we explore the expansive career of the great American musician Bob Seger. We discuss his history and impact and I gush about one song in particular and manage to get the name of it wrong anyway. Check it out!

As promised, no werewolves. This episode we dive into the technology used to let us watch movies at home, and how those technological innovations help steer culture. From pre-film projectors, to film, to VHS, to streaming, I will walk you through these technological changes without getting too techy with the lingo.