Episodes
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A beacon of hope, the Statue of Liberty has welcomed millions of immigrants to the United States and to a new life. The statue overlooks New York harbour, close to Ellis Island immigration centre: if the USA is a land of immigrants, Ellis Island is where those immigrants landed.
Built by France for the USA, there was some debate about which city the statue should be placed in. Then there was how to pay for a pedestal large enough to hold Liberty.
We are grateful to Suzanne Mannion, Director of Public Affairs at the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, for arranging our visit, and to our interviewee, Jonathan da Silva, Assistant Manager of the American Family Immigration History Centre on Ellis Island.
After the end theme music you’ll find these questions, followed by outtakes and an extra recording we made in the Statue of Liberty Museum:
Where was the first federal immigration centre for the USA?
What was the ‘kissing post’?
Why do you think immigrants would be happy to see the Statue of Liberty when their ship arrived in New York?
Who paid for the pedestal - the base platform - that the Statue of Liberty would be built on?
Can you name any other city that requested that the Statue of Liberty be placed their area?
What do the seven rays or spikes on the Statue’s crown represent?
Here’s our website, where you'll find photos, info about each episode and links to our social media: https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/ - here, you can also listen to episodes.
For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects are used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2024 © BBC
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We investigate the special operations that occurred ahead of the D-Day landings of over 130,000 Allied troops on the Nazi-controlled beaches of northern France
We look at the role of special troops who parachuted into Nazi-occupied France ahead of the D-Day beach landings. With help from a very special expert guest, we focus on a mission for US Army Rangers at a headland near the beaches, called Pointe du Hoc.
After the end theme music you’ll find these questions, followed by the outtakes:
Which Allied countries took part in the D-Day landings?
What was this operation called?
Why did Allied special forces parachute into France before the D-Day beach landings?
Why was it important to disrupt railway lines and German communication centres?
Why was Pointe du Hoc an important piece of land?
What challenges did the US Rangers face?
Our website, where you'll find photos, info about each episode and links to our social media, is https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/ - where you can also listen to episodes.
For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects are used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2023 © BBC
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Missing episodes?
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The history of the women’s game – from China to Britain, the US, Australia and Europe.
Released with our recordings from the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, we bring you not only the history but the vibes too – all sprinkled with plenty of dad jokes from James! At the end of today’s episode (after our outro theme song), you’ll hear some World Cup extras, a bonus dad joke from James, and an outtake or two. For a broader angle on football today – from powerchair to amputee – and how we try to make a positive difference, take a look at my webpage and socials for https://www.notyouraverageenglandfan.com/
Our website, where you'll find photos, info about each episode and links to our social media, is https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/
For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2023 © BBC
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Today’s episode comes from Washington DC, where we investigate why the capital was positioned there. And then, for our big question, we debate who wins the title of greatest US President ever!
We are delighted to be joined by special guest Patrick Lau, who works for the US government in Washington, has a Masters’ degree in political science and is a history buff! He is also a former high school student whom Dad taught a long, long time ago!
At the end of today’s episode (after our outro theme song), you’ll hear the questions (see below) and then bags of outtakes!
Here are some questions to test your skills:
1. Why was the USA’s new capital city called Washington?
2. Why was the city of Washington built where it was built?
3. How many of America’s first 18 presidents owned slaves?
4. What was significant about the letter Jefferson sent to an African-American?
5. What did Patrick say makes a great President?
6. Why did James choose Abraham Lincoln as the greatest ever president?
Our website, where you'll find links to our social media, is https://www.dadandmelovehistory.com/
For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2023 © BBC
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Today’s episode comes from the Imperial War Museum, London, where we investigate: Odette, the spy; Roy and Bob’s great escape at sea; Daisy’s story of imprisonment in Hong Kong.
We are delighted to be joined by co-host Benji – and we are amazed by how he happens to find his own family history in the museum.
At the end of today’s episode (after our outro theme song), you’ll hear the questions (see below) and then the outtakes.
Here are some questions to test your listening skills:
Which museum were we in?
Who was the relative whose name Kim and Benji found embroidered (sewn) on a bedsheet from a World War II prisoner camp in Hong Kong?
What’s the difference between an “internee” and a “prisoner of war”?
What happened to Roy and Robert?
What role/job did Odette perform when she was parachuted into France?
What happened to Odette after she was arrested by Nazi forces?
For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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We are joined by two wonderful guests from the town of Gander in remote Newfoundland, Canada, where locals showed amazing kindness to people from all over the world, following the terrible events of 9/11. We only briefly mention the planes that crashed into the twin towers: we focus on the heart-warming humanity that followed.
This true story is sweeping the world through the award-winning musical Come From Away, and we make good use of having attained the rights to the music! Even better, we spend time with local journalist Janice Goudie and animal shelter manager Bonnie Harris, who found themselves at the centre of events – and at the centre of Come From Away. Janice was reporting on events on 11 September, 2001, as 38 planes, carrying nearly 7,000 passengers, landed at the remote Canadian town of Gander. Bonnie was determined to discover if there were any animals on board – and she received quite a surprise.
The population of the town almost doubled in just a couple of hours. How would the town cope? Well, the answer to that is: remarkably!
Janice now works for the Canadian Broadcasting Company, and we recommend this CBC cartoon strip resource, featuring Janice, as a way to educate suitably-aged children about 9/11.
At the end of today’s episode (after our outro theme song), there are bags of extras – including lots of outtakes, additional interview material and bonus music from Come From Away!
Here are some questions to test your listening skills:
What was Janice’s job? Why were 38 planes - and nearly 7,000 passengers - forced to land in Gander? What was Bonnie’s job? What examples of kindness can you remember that the islanders showed the passengers? What types of animals were found on those planes? Can you think of a time when someone has shown great kindness to you or when you have shown kindness to others?For mature history lovers: read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2022 © BBC
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Our special guest tells us all about why King George VI was called ‘Bertie’ and why his daughter should never have become Queen!
THIS EPISODE IS PARTICULARLY RECOMMENDED AS SUITABLE FOR OUR YOUNGER LISTENERS!
In this royally mad episode – which features a record number of majestic jokes – we are joined by a very special guest. Children’s author Susan Webb, who wrote ‘Bertie: The Best Stuttering King’, reveals what you should know about Princess Elizabeth (the current British queen) and why she expected to never be queen. You can find out more about Susan and her writing at https://susanmwebb.com/
This episode has been released shortly ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022 - look out for the special events on TV!
At the end of today’s episode (after our outro theme song), there are bags of extras – including the King and Queen of Dad jokes! Also after the main episode, we’ve got some TRUE or FALSE questions – how many can you get correct?
True or False: King Edward VIII was Elizabeth’s uncle True or False: Bertie was the King George VI’s nickname True or False: King George VI’s real first name was Louis True or False: Princess Elizabeth was in Asia when she became Queen True or False: Queen Elizabeth II is about to celebrate her Golden Jubilee True or False: James never gets nervousRead industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2022 © BBC
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Listen and learn from a 16-year-old master historian – and hear some incredible interviews!
Today we are joined by a very special high school kid: historian Jaxon Hekkenberg. Jaxon is doing remarkable things, teaching us all how we can save history. You’ll hear clips from just a few of the incredible interviews Jaxon has carried out. There are no graphic descriptions – just listen out for incredible stories from veterans from BOTH SIDES of World War II.
At the end of today’s episode there are bags of extras (after our outro theme song) – including an insight into the Hekkenberg family’s own World War II family history!
Read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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Dad and Me investigate ‘internment’ in America, the UK, Australia, Hong Kong and beyond.
Internment was when ordinary men, women and children were imprisoned because they – or their parents – were born in an enemy country, and the country they lived in thought they might secretly help the other side. Listen out for our best ‘prison’ jokes! And don’t forget after the end theme song, we’ve got more of the good stuff, including questions and out-takes – and more jokes!
Read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2022 © BBC
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Dad & Me Love History presents a New Year Special Episode, where we go back through the archives and play you highlights from our original recordings of Dad (& Me) jokes, from Ancient Romans to African Moors to the invention of cars! This includes some previously unpublished material.
Read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available as e-books, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going. We will bring you episodes throughout the year, so stay subscribed on your podcast app!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2021 © BBC
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Following the origins of sugar takes us around the world, through 10,000 years of sweet but sticky history. Sugar was like oil or gold for a while - so in-demand that people in power got greedy and the powerless suffered as slavery expanded.
On the sweeter side, listen out for Dad’s best bad Dad jokes yet! Do let us know (via Facebook/Twitter/Instagram) why it is particularly Norwegians who like to put sugar on their pillow – and listen all the way to the outtakes for bonus jokes!
How are some questions to see how well you understood today’s episode:
Which country near Australia is where we think sugar cane first grew? Which Persian leader discovered sugar in India and then kept how it was made a secret? Who took sugar to America in the 1590s? Who invented marzipan? Explain what impact sugar had on slavery Why do you think Olaudah Equiano is famous?Read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available on Kindle, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going.
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2021 © BBC
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Why poppies? What’s the Last Post? [HINT: it’s nothing to do with sending mail before Christmas!] Why keep remembering a battle your side loses? What does ANZAC mean?
This re-release of a special extended episode is a lot more serious than our usual fun-filled shows, but there’s lots to learn for kids and adults! We talk to veterans about Veterans Day/Remembrance Day/ANZAC Day.
We go to an ANZAC service in Australia, where World War One is particularly remembered. Then we go to Hong Kong, which was invaded during World War Two, so remembrance there focuses on that era. We then return to Australia for our interview with Major Matina Jewell.
If you know a teacher who could use this episode, please share it with them – and with any other friends.
We are grateful to Lindisfarne Anglican College for allowing us to visit their ANZAC assembly, and thanks go to their special guest, Major Matina Jewell (retired). Recurring at points throughout this episode is the sound of Lindisfarne’s School Marching Band, led by Mr. Dale Norton. And thank you, retired Sergeant Kelvin Fawcett.
LISTEN HERE
Questions for after you’ve listened:
1. What does A-N-Z-A-C – ANZAC -- stand for?
2. Why is November 11 an important date for remembering people from wars?
3. What happened at Gallipoli in WWI?
4. What is the Last Post?
5. Which country is the Menin Gate in?
6. What colour are poppies?
7. Who wrote the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’?
8. Why is it important to remember people who died in wars?
LISTEN HERE
Look on our webpage for images that accompany each episode.
And join us on: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going.
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
Additional instrumental music by Kevin MacLeod
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We investigate the Cold War: when did it happen? What happened during the Cold War? Why did it happen? And how? Between the USA and the USSR, things were very cold, whereas over in Korea and Vietnam things got hot-hot-hot!
Listen out in the extras for James's Cold War joke - did Dad understand it? After the outtakes, there's a bonus couple of minutes about who invented the 'cold war' - we discover the famous writer who invented the term and predicted the future!
Here are some QUESTIONS to see how well you understood today’s episode:
When did the cold war begin and end? Why was it called the cold war? Where did the cold war become hot? What is the difference between the Soviet Union during the cold war and Russia today? What was M.A.D.? What’s going on in the world today that is the same or similar to how it was during the Cold War?Read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available on Kindle, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going.
We’ll be back on the first Monday of next month!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2021 © BBC
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The invention of the car made a major change in the way people got around. We discover that the history of the car goes back to Leonardo and that electric cars have been around for ages! James brings you his research on the history of electric cars, and you'll hear his best car jokes!
How are some questions to see how well you understood today’s episode:
Over 500 years ago, who made designs for a mechanical, wind-up car? What was built first: a steam-powered car or the Eiffel Tower? In 1885 who built the first car powered by a gasoline or petrol engine? Who made assembly lines that could build lots of cars quickly? Until 1900, what would you move to steer a car? When was the first fully electric car that could go over 100 kilometres per hour built?Read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available on Kindle, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going.
We’ll be back on the first Monday of next month!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2021 © BBC
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Ahead of the para events at Tokyo 2020 (in 2021), we investigate the history of the Paralympic Games. Our special Paralympian guest is two-time swimming medalist Peter Hill. Long before it became a Paralympic sport, Peter was also involved in the early development of murderball (yes, that’s a real sport), and he’s dabbled in many more para-sports.
How are some questions for after you listen to today’s episode:
What’s my favourite Paralympic sport? What does the Greek word “para” mean? What was the name of the UK hospital which used sports to try to help injured people after World War II? And what was the name of the Jewish-German doctor who ran the program at that hospital? What happened on 29 July 1948, the same day as the London 1948 Olympic Games began? When did the first Winter Paralympic Games happen?Read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available on Kindle, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going.
We’ll be back on the first Monday of next month!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2021 © BBC
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Today, we’re looking at why the Ancient Olympic Games began and why – after many centuries – they were stopped. And why, over 1,500 years after being stopped, did they restart?
We are delighted to be joined by Mark Selleck from the hit podcast series Casting through Ancient Greece. Mark digs deep to unearth the truth behind the ancient Olympic Games, and James and Dad – who once visited the Olympics Museum in Switzerland – bring us more up-to-date.
And we have gold medal-winning jokes from Dad.
Here are some questions to see how well you understood today’s episode:
When did the Ancient Greek Olympics begin? Which empire invaded Greece and ended the Olympic Games? True or false: different Greek cities competed at the ancient Olympic Games True or false: ancient Greek cities used to fight against each other Explain how the ancient Olympic Games helped bring peace Explain how the modern Olympic Games began in the late nineteenth centuryRead industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available on Kindle, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going.
We’ll be back on the first Monday of next month!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2021 © BBC
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Today, we’re looking at how the Allied side – that includes the US, UK and Australia – broke the enemy’s secret codes during World War II. We see how Alan Turing and General MacArthur were central to wartime code-breaking, on different sides of the world. We are joined by a special guest, author David Dufty, who wrote ‘The Code Breakers of Central Bureau’ and ‘Radio Girl’. And we have Dad’s best Dad jokes about spies!
Here are some questions to see how well you understood today’s episode:
What’s Morse code? Name of the man who invented the computer that code breakers used at Bletchley Park, in England. What was the biggest achievement of the British code breakers during World War II? What was the name of the American general who set-up the Central Bureau code breakers in Australia? What subject do you need to study hard at school if you’re going to be a code breaker? What did the Central Bureau code breakers achieve in World War II?Read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available on Kindle, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going.
We’ll be back on the first Monday of next month!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2021 © BBC
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Please share this episode with friends who need Dad & Me & Hamilton the hip-hop musical in their life! The production company behind Hamilton the musical has given us the soundtrack and the full rights to use it – so you’ll hear some big numbers in this episode. You’ll also hear what you can learn about history from a hip-hop musical that treats its audience as the intelligent beings that our listeners are!
There are some big plot spoilers in here – but no worse than if you simply listen to the musical’s soundtrack. On Disney+, Hamilton the musical is rated PG-13, but we spare you the worst of the language here. You will hear ‘damn’ and ‘hell’ amid the lyrics of the songs we include from the Hamilton musical. (Lin-Manual Miranda, the creator of Hamilton, also composed the music for Moana; the two sound rather different.)
Here are some questions to see how much you understood from today's show:
1. What was James' favourite line from the musical?
2. In the song "Guns and Ships" which country was the superpower and who were they fighting against?
3. What do you think George Washington meant when his character sang "History has its eyes on me"?
4. Do you think different people can believe different versions of the same period of history?
5. Where did they make the new US capital and what is it called?
6. The Hamilton Project found that the musical has what percentage of historical accuracy?
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. Look on our webpage for images that accompany each episode.
And join us on: Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
Have fun!
Dad & Me
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, 2016. Copyright © Warner Music.
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Part I of two episodes about America’s fight for independence from Britain. We investigate how the hit musical Hamilton is teaching us history – but is it accurate?
And we have James’s best American history jokes.
Next month, Part II will be a bumper episode - we have secured the rights to use full songs from Hamilton :) So, we will take a close look at what we can learn from them about history.
How are some questions to see how well you understand today’s episode:
What does “democracy” mean? Who could not vote in the USA when it was first founded? What does “capitalism” mean? Who was king of Britain at this time? Why did the Americans want to be free from British rule? Who was allowed to vote and who wasn’t in the new USA?Read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available on Kindle, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going.
We’ll be back on the first Monday of next month!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, 2016. Copyright © Warner Music.
All instrumental music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2021 © BBC
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We get to India by looking at the origins of Empire, Elizabeth I’s Muslim friends and England v Britain
In investigating why and how the English (later, the British) got involved in India, we discover how a bit of charm and a trading company can spread an empire – all backed with brute force. We enjoy a side-track into a headless Mary and how England most definitely does not equal Britain. And you’ll find answers to the best homemade jokes like “Which country’s empire tastes best at Christmas?”
Elizabeth I is back, and she’s full of charm for the Islamic world. (Ever since we recorded this episode, whenever James wants to charm his way to more gaming time he quotes Elizabeth I’s letters to the Turkish Sultan, calling me the “Most Imperial and Most Invincible Emperor”.)
So, do you know the answer to the Christmas joke now?!?
Here are six questions to test your listening skills:
In which continent outside Europe did Britain’s empire begin? What was the slave trade? Why did Elizabeth say that Catholics are so last century*? (*Not her exact words) What is the difference between “England” and “Britain”? What was the name of the only business that Elizabeth allowed to trade with India? How did Britain go from only having a trading company in India to invading India?Read industry reviews of Dad’s World War II novels, A Chance Kill and The Slightest Chance, at paulletters.com. Available on Kindle, as well as in paperback. Dad’s first wartime novel, A Chance Kill, is a love-story/thriller based on real events in Poland, Paris, London and Prague. The Slightest Chance follows the remarkable true story of the only escape from Japanese imprisonment by a Western woman during World War II.
Please rate and review us wherever you get podcasts. And share our podcast on social media and recommend it to friends – that's how we'll keep going.
We’ll be back on the first Monday of next month!
Podcast cover art by Molly Austin
All music is from https://filmmusic.io and composed by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2021 © BBC
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