Episoder
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A frozen Lake Peipus played host to a dramatic fight between 2,000 Catholic Crusaders and 6,000 Orthodox Christians on 5th April, 1242.
The invading forces were the Teutonic Knights, armed with spears and swords to âChristianizeâ what they saw as a Pagan society. Novgorodâs defender, Prince Alexander Nevsky, lured the Germans to the lake, where his troops could take them down one by one, in a battle that went down in Russian lore.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly reveal how much of the imagery of the battle was in fact crystallised by a controversial twentieth-century filmmaker; consider why the Knights were so unprepared for this particular confrontation; and ask what actual theological differences separated the warring factionsâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âLake Peipus: Battle on the Iceâ (Warfare History Network, 2005): https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/lake-peipus-battle-on-the-ice/
⢠âAlexander Nevsky - Prince of Novgorod and Kievâ: https://www.thoughtco.com/alexander-nevsky-profile-p2-1788255
⢠âAlexander Nevskyâ (Sergei Eisenstein, 1938): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq4PaJfod4w
We'll be back on Monday - unless you join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!
Plus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rerun: MSG, the umami seasoning frequently added to Chinese cuisine, came under fire on 4th April, 1968 - when Dr Robert Ho Man Kwok wrote a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine musing about the possible causes of a âsyndromeâ he experienced whenever he ate at Chinese restaurants in the US.
âThe most prominent symptoms are numbness at the back of the neck, gradually radiating to both arms in the back, general weakness and palpitationâ, he wrote, in a letter that soon attracted multiple responses from other clinicians - and spawned an unscientific panic about monosodium glutamate which still persists to this day.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly investigate which foods contain naturally-occurring MSG; ask why 1960s America was especially susceptible to scepticism about chemical additives; and consider the racist undertones to the definitions of the âsyndromeâ in the modern-day dictionaryâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠Is MSG as bad as itâs made out to be? (BBC Future, 2015): https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20151106-is-msg-as-bad-as-its-made-out-to-be
⢠The Campaign to Redefine âChinese Restaurant Syndromeâ (The New York Times, 2020): https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/16/dining/msg-chinese-restaurant-syndrome-merriam-webster-dictionary.html
⢠âKorean chef talk about MSG myth - Uncle Roger is RIGHT? WRONG?â (Goodchoi's Kitchen, 2020):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et_ja0X9C4I
âWhy am I hearing a rerun?â Every Thursday is 'Throwback Thursday' on Today in History with the Retrospectors: running one repeat per week means we can keep up the quality of our independent podcast. Daily shows like this require a lot of work! But as ever we'll have something new for you tomorrow, so follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Manglende episoder?
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Gottlieb Daimler's patent for his high-speed petrol engine (dubbed the "Grandfather Clock") on 3rd April, 1885, wasn't just a technological breakthroughâit inadvertently birthed the motorbike.
Teaming up with Wilhelm Maybach, the duo had crafted a compact engine featuring float-metered carburetors and mushroom intake valves, all powered by hot tube ignition. This engine found its way into their first vehicle prototype, the Petroleum Riding Car, which bore little resemblance to today's motorcycles but represented a pioneering step towards motorised transportation.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how it was not Daimler, but his son, Paul, who became the first-ever motorbiker; consider the steam-powered predecessors that could potentially lay claim to inventing the motorbike; and explain how Daimler took what heâd learned from these experiences to establish MercedesâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âAn Overview of the Motorcycle's Historyâ (ThoughtCo, 2019): https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-motorcycle-1992151
⢠âHistory Channelâ (Motoring World, 2017): https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Motoring_World/Pt0xDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Daimler+Reitwagen&pg=PA26&printsec=frontcover
⢠âThe riding car â a Daimler patentâ (Mercedes-Benz TV, 2010): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0Tvuya6otc
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORS đ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Johnny Weissmuller made his debut as âTarzan The Ape Manâ on April 2nd, 1932, when MGM released the first talkie to feature the jungle hero - spawning a Tarzanmania craze.
The blockbuster, loosely based on Edgar Rice Burroughsâ 1912 novel, was commissioned in part because the studio held additional footage from their African-set hit from the previous year, âTrader Hornâ.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly reveal how Weissmullerâs Olympic swimming career had hinged on a forgery; explain how the filmmakers created Tarzanâs famous yell; and investigate why MGM stepped in to fund their big starâs divorceâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âJohnny Weissmuller Dies at 79; Movie Tarzan and Olympic Gold Medalistâ (New York Times, 1984): https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0602.html
⢠âThe 50 MGM Films that Transformed Hollywood - Triumphs, Blockbusters, and Fiascos, By Steven Bingenâ (Lyons Press, 2022): https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_50_MGM_Films_that_Transformed_Hollyw/bYh0EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=tarzan+ivor+novello&pg=PA50&printsec=frontcover
⢠âTrailer: Tarzan the Ape Manâ (MGM, 1932): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIoPPD0NKhA
This episode first premiered in 2023, for members of đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´ - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rerun: Edward Lawrence Levy, a bald and bespectacled 40 year old choir-master from Birmingham, became the first ever winner of an international weightlifting contest at Cafe Monaco in London on 28th March, 1891.
The event was an attempt to separate the serious sport of dumbbell lifting from the popular performing âstrongmenâ at sideshows and variety halls, but it did not immediately take hold: the competition was described by the newspaper Sporting Life as âvery slowâ.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly recall the career of âperfect human specimenâ Eugen Sandow; dig into the movement for muscular Judaism; and work out exactly how Levy would fare in a modern Olympic competitionâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âThe Untold History of the First Weightlifting Competitionâ (BarBend, 2019): https://barbend.com/history-first-weightlifting-competition/
⢠âThis Hebrew School Teacher Was the First World Weightlifting Champâ (National Library of Israel, 2021): https://blog.nli.org.il/en/lbh-el-levy/
⢠âThe History of Weightliftingâ (Bodytribe, 2013):: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9moGJHmJyg
Image: Levy with his 1891 British Amateur Championship trophy. From E. Lawrence Levy and Muscular Judaism, 1851-1932, part of the National Library of Israel collection
We'll be back on Tuesday!!! (Happy Easter) - Remember you can join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week! (apart from this week)
Plus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Julius Caesar intervened to put his lover and ally Cleopatra on the Egyptian throne on 27th March, 47 BC - cementing their position as the worldâs premier Power Couple.
But Cleo's ascent to power was not just a power play. Rather, it was a desperate bid for survival - as she had been ousted from the throne by her brother's advisors, and feared assassination.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider whether Cleopatra really did woo Caesar by emerging from a âcarpetâ; explain why Ptolemy's attempt to win Caesar's favour was desperately misguided; and probe into the family issues that perhaps inevitably arise when women are made to marry their younger brothersâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âEgypt's last pharaoh was the 'love child' of Caesar and Cleopatraâ (National Geographic, 2020): https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2020/10/egypts-last-pharaoh-was-the-love-child-of-caesar-and-cleopatra
⢠âCleopatra, Julius Caesar And Mark Antony: Her Love Affairs Exploredâ (HistoryExtra, 2023): https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-egypt/cleopatra-love-affairs-julius-caesar-mark-antony/
⢠âAncient Empires: Cleopatra Evolves Into an Ruthless Monarchâ (HISTORY, 2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpFKwn7YAg0
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORS đ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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âThe Combat of the Thirtyâ, happened in Brittany on 26th March, 1351.
Despite being largely irrelevant in military terms, it was referenced for generations as the pinnacle of chivalric honour in France. The fighting was chaotic, brutal, and lasted for hours, but surprisingly, both sides largely adhered to the agreed-upon rules - even taking a half-time refreshment breakâŚ
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly dig into the various justifications used to rationalise the combat; ask why youâd send a Squire in to do a Knightâs job; and explain how the evolution of longbows banished battles like this to the pastâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âThe Combat of the Thirtyâ (History Today, 2020): https://www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/combat-thirty
⢠â1001 Battles That Changed the Course of History - By R. G. Grantâ (2017):
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/1001_Battles_That_Changed_the_Course_of/2ZNADwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=combat+of+the+thirty+1351&pg=PA195&printsec=frontcover
âThe Combat of the 30: The Wars of the Breton Successionâ (The History Squad, 2022): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiAfs2cCSHc
This episode first premiered in 2023, for members of đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´ - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Each Lady Day, the Hampshire village of Tichborne hands out bags of flour to the locals - a tradition that began on 25th March, 1150 after Lady Marbella Tichborne, on her death-bed, suggested distributing a âTichborne Doleâ to the needy.
Itâs far from the only quaint charity event still going strong in England. In the Kentish village of Biddenden each Easter Monday, locals indulge in âBiddenden cakesâ, bearing the effigy of the Biddenden Maids - conjoined twins who also left behind an annual dole for the deserving poor. And in Hallaton, Leicestershire, villagers still participate in a chaotic rugby-like game, but with more ale and definitely more hare pies.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider what such kooky festivities tell us about mediaeval attitudes to women and the poor; recall what happened when âvagabondsâ dared to take advantage of these handouts; and stumble upon a new book proposal for Danny WallaceâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âThe Tichborne Doleâ (Historic UK, 2015): https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/The-Tichborne-Dole/
⢠âThe Strange Story of the Biddenden Maidsâ (A London Inheritance, 2021): https://alondoninheritance.com/cycling-around-britain/the-strange-story-of-the-biddenden-maids/
⢠âCustom of charity of Tichbourne dole - bags of flour given to local peopleâ (British PathĂŠ, 1928): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jV30X294hA
This episode first premiered in 2022, for members of đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´ - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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There were no orcas or rollercoasters, but there were âseamaidsâ serving tropical drinks when Sea World San Diego first welcomed guests on 22nd March, 1964.
Originally conceived as a themed restaurant with a marine show inside, the founders had pivoted to build a seaquarium instead, drawing thousands of eager visitors, including, bizarrely, Senator Barry Goldwater.
It wasn't until the acquisition of the famous killer whale, Shamu, that SeaWorld's identity truly solidified, but the park's success sparked ethical debates about the treatment of animals, from âFree Willyâ to âBlackfishâ.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly weigh up the parkâs achievements in sealife conservation with the cruelty of keeping orcas in captivity; explain why the city of San Diego was so keen to back this innovative new attraction; and reveal how the Shamu phenomenon can trace its origins to one manâs dream of riding a whale like a waterskiâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âThe Fantastical Vision for the Original SeaWorldâ (The Atlantic, 2014): https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/03/the-fantastical-vision-for-the-original-seaworld/284561/
⢠âObituary: Milton Shedd, 79, Co-Founder of SeaWorldâ (The New York Times, 2002): https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/28/business/milton-shedd-79-co-founder-of-seaworld.html?searchResultPosition=24
⢠âThe Complete "One Ocean" Shamu Show at SeaWorldâ (Money Saving Videos, 2013): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as93_fvdYyk
We'll be back on Monday - unless you join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!
Plus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rerun: The worldâs most famous high-security jail, Alcatraz, evicted its last prisoner on 21st March, 1963. Met by a huge crowd of reporters who asked him what he thought of âthe rockâ, armed robber Frank Weatherman responded, âAlcatraz was never no good for nobody.â
For nearly thirty years the island prison had built a reputation as âinescapableâ, but in 1962 three men did indeed manage to escape, and were never found, dead or alive. The costs of running the facility sealed its fate: at a cost of $10 per day per prisoner, it cost three times more to run than a typical American prison.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider the state-of-the-art security features the prison had when it opened; revisit the 1935 Christmas menu dished up in the mess hall; and review some bad-taste souvenirs offered up in the modern-day gift shopâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âAlcatraz closes its doorsâ (HISTORY, 2020): https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/alcatraz-closes-its-doors
⢠âAlcatraz Prison Was Apparently an Excellent Place to Eatâ (Bon Appetit): https://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/article/alcatraz-prison-food
⢠âLast prisoners leaving Alcatraz Islandâ (Universal International News, 1963): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpP5IJeBshE
âWhy am I hearing a rerun?â Every Thursday is 'Throwback Thursday' on Today in History with the Retrospectors: running one repeat per week means we can keep up the quality of our independent podcast. Daily shows like this require a lot of work! But as ever we'll have something new for you tomorrow, so follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The bubonic plague was blamed on witches, Jews, Godâs wrath, and, on 20th March 1345, in a new theory propagated by the King of France, the rare planetary alignment between Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars in Aquarius.
Of course, the real cause of the Black Death lay in the microscopic world of bacteria, carried by fleas on rats. But mediaeval society, ill-equipped to comprehend the science behind the pandemic, relied on conjecture and superstition to explain the waves of death that swept through Europe.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how the plague reshaped populations through persecution and migration; consider the Popeâs intervention to prevent a pogrom; and unearth a surprising origin theory for the plague - in MongoliaâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âBlack Death is created, allegedlyâ (HISTORY, 2020): https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/black-death-is-created-allegedly
⢠â9 Places Connected to the Black Deathâ (HistoryExtra, 2011): https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/black-death-is-created-allegedly
⢠âPlague 101â (National Geographic, 2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYnMXEcHI7U
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORS đ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The cornerstone of the Sagrada Familia was laid on March 19, 1882, kicking off a construction project so ambitious that it is still going to this day.
Perhaps unexpectedly, however, on the day it began, the cathedral that is now regarded as Antoni GaudĂâs Art Nouveau magnus opus was being overseen by another architect entirely, and had a fairly traditional design.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly discuss how GaudĂ planned to incorporate the entire heavens and earth into a single structure; reveal which are the worldâs longest ever construction projects; and explain why GaudĂ should have followed that classic parental advice to always wear clean underwear in case you are in an accidentâŚ
Further Reading:
âBarcelona's Sagrada FamĂlia: GaudĂ's 'cathedral for the poor'â (The Guardian, 2015): https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jun/03/barcelona-sagrada-familia-gaudi-history-cities-cathedral-poor-church-religion â133 Years Later, GaudĂâs Cathedral Nears Completionâ (National Geographic, 2015): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/151105-gaudi-sagrada-familia-barcelona-final-stage-construction âThe World's Oldest Construction Project | Sagrada Familiaâ (Real Engineering, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkNGdzo_3EA#1800s #Architecture #Religion #Spain
This episode first premiered in 2022, for members of đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´ - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Tenji blocks (çšĺăăăăŻ) - small raised shapes in the pavement to assist visually impaired people in crossing the road - were first installed near the Okayama School for the Blind in Japan on March 18th, 1967.
Designed by Seiichi Miyake (ä¸ĺŽ 粞ä¸), the innovation gained traction in urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka, gradually spreading nationwide, particularly in bustling cities where safety for visually impaired individuals was paramount. But Miyake died before witnessing the global implementation of his invention.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain why frosted-up number plates play their part in the Tenji design story; consider future enhancements, such as embedding QR codes into pavements; and reveal why retrofitting wasnât always a straightforward solutionâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âHow Japanese Inventor of Tenji Blocks Changed the Lives of Millions Around the Worldâ (JAPAN Forward, 2019): https://japan-forward.com/how-japanese-inventor-of-tenji-blocks-changed-the-lives-of-millions-around-the-world/
⢠âSeiichi Miyake: His tactile blocks impacted railway platforms and streetsâ (CNN, 2019): https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/18/world/seiichi-miyake-tactile-blocks-impact-trnd/index.html
⢠âTactile paving slab | Object in Focusâ (V&A, 2020):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKMm-hccQqc
#Design #Japan #Disability #60s
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORS đ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Vincent van Goghâs genius was finally recognised 11 years after his death, when, on March 15th, 1901, the Bernheim-Jeune Gallery in Paris debuted his first major exhibition. Without the persistence of his sister-in-law, Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, it could probably not have happened.
Gogh-Bonger had tirelessly promoted Vincentâs work after inheriting it when her husband Theo - Vincentâs brother and benefactor - suddenly died. And there was a lot to contend with: Vincent had painted around 900 works in the decade leading up to his suicide.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider how Vincentâs use of visible brushstrokes and vibrant colours challenged the conventions of traditional European art, paving the way for modernism; explain how praise from Monet motivated van Gogh despite his debilitatingly poor mental health; and unpick speculation that Gauguin may have been involved in the infamous ear-cutting incidentâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âvan Goghâ (van Gogh Museum, Netherlands): https://vangogh.staedelmuseum.de/en/
⢠âThe Woman Who Made Vincent van Goghâ (The New York Times, 2021): https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/magazine/jo-van-gogh-bonger.html
⢠Van Gogh's Art in 7 Minutes: From Iconic Paintings to Immersive Experiences (Curious Muse, 2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kcXgRK0M3w
#Netherlands #Art #1900s
We'll be back on Monday - unless you join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!
Plus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rerun. Colonel Harland Sandersâ image continues to grace the logo of KFC, who continue to sell the chicken inspired by his â11 secret herbs and spicesâ. But on 14th March, 1978 the Colonel and the chainâs owners were at legal loggerheads over his constant criticism of their food.
As KFC franchises were rolled out worldwide, Sanders was highly critical of the innovations made to his recipe - describing the new batter as "a damn fried doughball stuck on some chicken" - and the iteration of his gravy as "God-damned slop".
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly reveal the Colonelâs surprising devotion to swearing; explain how his devotion to quality made him the âHeston Blumenthal of fried chickenâ; and revisit the debacle of âKentucky Roast BeefââŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âKentucky Fried Chicken of Bowling Green, Inc. v. Sandersâ (Supreme Court of Kentucky, 1978):
https://law.justia.com/cases/kentucky/supreme-court/1978/563-s-w-2d-8-1.html
⢠â8 Things You May Not Know About the Real Colonel Sandersâ (HISTORY, 2019): https://www.history.com/news/8-facts-real-colonel-sanders-kfc
⢠âColonel Sanders: Integrity in What You Doâ (KFC promotional video, 1970s): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzPwWu4PKjU
âWhy am I hearing a rerun?â Every Thursday is 'Throwback Thursday' on Today in History with the Retrospectors: running one repeat per week means we can keep up the quality of our independent podcast. Daily shows like this require a lot of work! But as ever we'll have something new for you tomorrow, so follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Guatemalan island of Flores, once known as NojpetĂŠn, witnessed the final clash between Spanish conquistadors and the last independent Maya kingdom on March 13th, 1697.
The Itza warriors, equipped with ornate spears and swords, fought valiantly to defend their homeland; but Spanish firepower ultimately overwhelmed them, leading to heavy casualties and the retreat of many defenders.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how the fall of NojpetĂŠn marked the end of an era for the Maya people, but not their actual end; consider how foreign diseases like smallpox and typhoid were imported by the Spanish; and reveal how many languages still spoken today stem from this ancient civilisationâŚ
Further Reading:
âWho were the Maya? Decoding the ancient civilization's secretsâ (National Geographic, 2022): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/who-were-the-mayaâAncient History in depth: The Fall of the Mayan Civilisationâ (BBC History, 2011): https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/cultures/maya_01.shtmlâThe Maya Peopleâ (SmithsonianNMAI, 2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86F10IrvVus
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORS đ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2024.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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On this day in 1951, by a peculiar quirk of fate, the world got not one, but two Dennis the Menaces.
Both Dennises were mischievous rascals with slingshots, dogs, and striped outfits, but their personalities were as different as Yorkshire tea and Americano coffee.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly reflect on why Beano eventually gave Walter the Softy a girlfriend; discuss Americaâs 1950s obsession with permissive parenting; and speculate on why the US Dennis the Menace had to go on the run from the policeâŚ
Further Reading:
âThe Most Unbelievable Comic Ripoff Was a Total Coincidenceâ (Screen Rant, 2021): https://screenrant.com/dennis-menace-coincidence-us-uk-ripoff/
âDennis the Menace at 60â (BBC, 2011): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12770341
âAn Insane British-American Coincidenceâ (Lost in the Pond, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykOZXhefypw
This episode first premiered in 2022, for members of đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´ - where you can also DITCH THE ADS and get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast. Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/retrospectors
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Disgruntled textile workers stormed a factory near Nottingham on March 11th, 1811, kickstarting the political movement famously known as Luddism.
Their protest was not anti-technology per se; instead it stemmed from a desire for better work opportunities and wages, amidst economic hardships exacerbated by the Napoleonic Wars. As tensions escalated, the British government deployed troops to safeguard factories and enacted laws making machine destruction a capital offence.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how the fictional âKing Ludâ became the groupâs figurehead; consider how the meaning of the word âLudditeâ has morphed over centuries; and explain why, despite their proclivity for machine-smashing, luddites were keen WFH-ersâŚ
Further Reading:
âWhat the Luddites Really Fought Againstâ (Smithsonian Magazine, 2011): https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-the-luddites-really-fought-against-264412/âThe Luddites: Your Guide To The Violent Industrial Revolution Movementâ (HistoryExtra, 2020): https://www.historyextra.com/period/industrial-revolution/who-were-luddites-facts-what-happened/âAlmanac: The Ludditesâ (CBS Sunday Morning, 2018): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqUezvo6oRALove the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORS đ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
We'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Comedy legends The Marx Brothers made their final on-screen appearance together on March 8th, 1959, in a TV short called "The Incredible Jewel Robbery." However, due to contractual reasons, Groucho's participation was kept a surprise until the end, with his billing simply as "a familiar face equipped with a moustache and leer."
The Marx Brothers' transition from vaudeville to film to television showcased their adaptability and versatility. Despite contractual hurdles and changing entertainment landscapes, their brand of humour continued to delight audiences and influence future generations of comedians.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain why gambling debts motivated some of their various reunions; discover that a generation of Americans knew Groucho more as a TV quiz host than as a movie star; and reveal why the band Queen paid a visit to his Hollywood mansionâŚ
Further Reading:
âExamining the Marx Brothersâ Television Appearancesâ (Vulture, 2014): https://www.vulture.com/2014/08/examining-the-marx-brothers-television-appearances.htmlâThe Marx Brothers Early Career Explored in Fascinating New Bookâ (Den of Geek, 2014): https://www.denofgeek.com/culture/the-marx-brothers-early-career-explored-in-fascinating-new-book/âTHE INCREDIBLE JEWEL ROBBERYâ (CBS, 1959): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueRAX-No08EWe'll be back on Monday - unless you join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´, where we give you ad-free listening AND a full-length Sunday episode every week!
Plus, weekly bonus content, unlock over 70 bonus bits, and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Ollie Peart.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rerun: Why is Sunday the Christian day of rest? Because Jesus said so? No! It was Roman emperor Constantine The Great who decreed on 7th March, 320 that âon the venerable day of the sun, let the magistrate and the people residing in cities rest and let all workshops be closedâ.
It was a departure from the tradition of commemorating Sabbath on a Saturday, which had been in line with Jewish teachings - and the word of God as depicted in the Bible itself.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how the Sumerians and Babylonians also played their part in the seemingly arbitrary division of the week into seven days; ask if Constantine was hedging his bets by merging the Christian calendar with the Roman sun-Godâs special day; and reveal how the Emperor tried to cheat his way into Heaven at the very last minuteâŚ
Further Reading:
⢠âConstantine Orders That Sunday Becomes A Day of Restâ (BBC History Magazine, 2016): https://www.pressreader.com/uk/bbc-history-magazine/20160225/281698319039318
⢠âSol Invictus - Roman Sun Godâ (Mythology.net, 2016): https://mythology.net/roman/roman-gods/sol-invictus/
⢠âWhy Christianity Owes a Lot to the Roman Emperor Constantineâ (Smithsonian Channel, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y7c9vweo8k
âWhy am I hearing a rerun?â Every Thursday is 'Throwback Thursday' on Today in History with the Retrospectors: running one repeat per week means we can keep up the quality of our independent podcast. Daily shows like this require a lot of work! But as ever we'll have something new for you tomorrow, so follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors
Love the show? Join đ´CLUB RETROSPECTORSđ´ to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!
Plus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.
Join now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!
The Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.
Theme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.
Copyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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