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

Hazards of The Wild: George Shannon, Rattlesnake Kate and more!

George Shannon was the youngest member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and his inexperience showed itself a time or two. He did get lost once for 16 days, the longest

Important Animals: Blisters, Shin Splints, Museum Spiders and more

The Bunion Derby (featured in the last episode) also featured a few four-legged friends, including dogs named Blisters and Shin Splints. We'll also re-visit the Pony Ex

Bunion Derby and Route 66

November of 2026 will mark the 100th Anniversary of Route 66, a highway that inspired road trips, neon signs, writers, singers, and even a movie about talking cars. But

War and Pigs : Danish Protest Pigs and the Pig War of 1859

It was the best of swine, it was the worst of swine. This is a much requested episode: the great Pig War that almost launched a 3rd violent conflict between American and

Mary Katharine Goddard, Independence Hall, and The Declaration of Independence

Episode 119 looks at some key moment inside Indepedence Hall (and the time they almost tore it down). Likewise, we'll meet Mary Katharine Goddard, who published the first

Emily the Cow, Geronimo The Beaver, and the Rostocker Pfeilstorch

An escaping cow, Operation Beaver Drop, and a migration mystery solved by a bird with a spear - all on this episode of Important Animals From History - Volume 4!

Lost Woods and Found Amendments

The story of the Lost 40 - an old growth forest in Minnesota that got lost for nearly a century thanks to a surveying error. We're talking lumberjacks, old growth trees,

Animals Vol 3: Signalman Jack, Cacareco, and Pickles!

Signalman Jack was a baboon who worked in the railway in South Africa. Cacareco was a Black Rhino elected to political office in Brazil. Pickles was the dog who found t

Past Scent (and Other Senses)

How did an extinct flower not seen since 1881 wind up being the subject of a modern day project to recreate a scent from the past? It was a long path from Dr. Charles Sho

Animals: Mrs. O'Leary's Cow, Vic the Cat, and Mungo the Squirrel

The Second volume of Important Animals From History, from an upcoming book by Mick Sullivan.

Hidden and Lost

The Amber Room was a feat of artistic ability (and a lot of money) but after WWII it has disappeared entirely. Have you seen it? After that we learn about secret codes,

Important Animals in History Vol. 1

The first release teasing Mick's upcoming book! This episode features three animals of note: Clara the Rhino, Mozart's Starling, and a whale named Mocha Dick. Let's rid

Life Savers

Carolin Hampton needed to pioneer rubber gloves int he operating room after Joseph Lister's big ideas. Richard Etheridge was the first Black keeper at an official Life

Peanut Butter and Jelly

You might be surprised to learn the history of the iconic sandwich and all of the ingredients that go into the recipe. First published in 1901, the availability of peanut

Misers

Two misers for the price of one! Charles Dickens created the world-famous character Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1840s, but he may have been inspired by a real-life miser na

Art Spies and Underwater Toilets

Two fascinating stories from World War II. One is about Rose Valland, a French woman who worked as a spy in Nazi-occupied Paris. Her bravery saved thousands of works of a

Moving Water

The Erie Canal and The Chicago River were two of the most impressive engineering feats in history. For the 200th Anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal we look at

Kids Listen Big Emotions

We're a part of Big Emotions this week! We’re feeling all squishy this week, as we dive into two of the strongest emotions of all. Love is powerful, joyful, and comfortin

Halloween Special: Twain's Ouija Novel

Did a no-longer-living Mark Twain send a novel from the great beyond with a Ouija Board? Find out about the real story with help from our pal Nate DuFort of the podcast,

Very Hairy

Episode 110! Peter the Great, The Hairy Eagle and more! Did I decide on an episode about Peter the Great just so I could say 6-7 a few times to be cringe and make kids