Best Kennen Sparks Podcasts (2024)

1
The Hurricane Party Makes a Good Story 26:51

5M ago26:51

26:51

Some parties are infamous, becoming legends. The Hurricane Party of 1969--while Hurricane Camille roared on shore--is one of those parties. But what really happened in Pass Christian, Mississippi all those years ago? Were there really a bunch of hedonists laughing in the face of death, or just a group of people staying together for company? Find ou…

1
The Bonapartes in America 28:27

6M ago28:27

28:27

The name Napoléon evokes France instantly. But what if he had closer ties to the United States...? While Napoléon never came to the US (he thought about it for a hot second), his family did. Two brothers, Joseph and Jérôme, would spend some time here, dazzling American society. Achille Murat, a nephew, would renounce his titles and move to Florida.…

1
Reverse the River! 19:08

6M ago19:08

19:08

The Chicago River pops up in the news every March when it's dyed green. Have you ever wondered why Lake Michigan isn't subsequently green? You'd be forgiven for thinking that the Chicago River emptied in Lake Michigan, but that's not the case anymore. In this episode, I discuss how a group of politicians and engineers got together to pull off the u…

1
The Gallstone in Omaha's Gut 17:36

6M ago17:36

17:36

Borders are one of mankind's enduring geographic obsessions. Sometimes, natural features lend a hand to form them...until they decide to switch places overnight like the Missouri River did in 1877, stranding a little part of Iowa on the wrong side of the river. This anomaly eventually landed at the center of three Supreme Court cases, each one atte…

1
The Flushing Remonstrance 22:48

6M ago22:48

22:48

Freedom of religion is often touted in the American public arena. But where did it come from? This episode answers that question: Flushing, New York. When Quakers find refuge in a tiny farming village to the east of New York City, Peter Stuyvesant wants nothing to do with them. He gets, however, more than he bargained when many in the town rise up …

1
Yankton: A Mother City Full of Cement 16:00

7M ago16:00

16:00

The United States is full of small cities, spread out over a vast landscape. One of these towns is Yankton, South Dakota. It's likely that more people look at it from a plane than visit it. However, Yankton is full of surprises. It has two nicknames: the Mother City of the Dakotas and Cement City! Tune in to find out how Bismarck stole the territor…

1
All the Windows in Oklahoma City 22:50

7M ago22:50

22:50

Ever wonder why we don't have supersonic planes? Just ask Oklahoma City in 1964. The military and the FAA joined up for Operation Bongo II, subjecting the people of Oklahoma City to over 1,200 sonic booms for roughly six months. The result was a space age tragicomedy, full of broken windows, shrinking furniture, and exploding backyards.…

1
Utah's Salty Stage: the Great Salt Lake 19:33

7M ago19:33

19:33

There's nothing like flying in or out of Salt Lake City and seeing the vast expanse of the Great Salt Lake and its barren surroundings. As the western boundary to Utah's most populous region, the lake has seen its fair share of strange events. In this episode, we dive into three of the most bizarre dramas to use the Great Salt Lake as their stage, …