Best Shea LaFountaine Podcasts (2024)

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Ep. 70 Coffee: How Coffee Changed the World, for Better and for Worse 34:01

2h ago34:01

34:01

Send us a Text Message. Coffee may seem like an innocent breakfast beverage to accompany your bacon and eggs, a mid afternoon office pick me up. But did you know, coffee is so much more than that? Did you know that coffee helped spark human enlightenment, the scientific revolution, the industrial revolution, capitalism, helped build the world as we…

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Ep. 69 Washington: How We Barely Know America's First President 39:49

7d ago39:49

39:49

Send us a Text Message. George Washington - most of you know him as America’s first president, Revolutionary War hero, founding father, face of the one dollar bill, chopped down a cherry tree, wooden teeth, real man’s man if you know what I mean. I think that’s all most people know or think they know about him. But the cherry tree thing, that never…

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Ep. 68 Lost Technology: How Ancient Knowledge Has Been Erased By Time 43:25

13d ago43:25

43:25

Send us a Text Message. This episode is all about inventions, techniques, and resources that have been lost or forgotten throughout the ages. From ancient construction techniques to puzzling inventions like the Antikythera mechanism, Greek Fire, and the Archimedes Heat Ray, I'll try to unravel the mysteries of the past and get to the bottom of how …

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Ep. 67 Bone Wars: How Dueling Fossil Hunters Put Dinosaurs on the Map 38:42

20d ago38:42

38:42

Send us a Text Message. Join the Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope were American paleontologists during the second half of the 19th century. Although they started as friends, they soon turned bitter enemies, competing against one another for 20 years to find and name the most fossils. This duel, ofte…

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Ep. 66 Uncivil: How Lack of Punishment for Confederate Leaders Set a Dangerous Precedent 43:11

27d ago43:11

43:11

Send us a Text Message. I recently stumbled across a photograph of Confederate president Jefferson Davis with his family. He is sitting on the porch of his Mississippi home bouncing his granddaughter on his knee while a Black woman stands behind him in a servants uniform. I was somewhat shocked to learn that this photo was taken in 1885... 20 years…

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Ep. 65 Laundry: "The Most Trying Department of Housekeeping" with Lori Davis 37:44

1M ago37:44

37:44

Send us a Text Message. This week, as promised, I welcomed special guest Lori Davis, host of Her Half of History podcast. Join Lori and me as we chat about the unknown history of laundry. Find out just what has made laundry a complete nightmare throughout pretty much all of history and why few people today are even aware of this millennia old strug…

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Ep. 64 Ranavalona I: How This Powerful Queen of Madagascar Might Be Totally Misunderstood 38:50

1M ago38:50

38:50

Send us a Text Message. Ranavalona I, Queen of Madagascar has a bad reputation, to say the least. Few biographical sources exist about her but they all make their opinions well known in the titles alone: "Ranavalona I: Reign of Terror,” “Female Caligula: Ranavalona the Mad Queen of Madagascar,” “The Terror of Queen Ranavalona I in Madagascar.” But,…

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Ep. 63 Nazca Lines: How These Magnificent Creations Became One of History's Greatest Mysteries 40:43

2M ago40:43

40:43

Send us a Text Message. Join me as I explore the Nazca lines of Peru, one of the most enduring historical mysteries. We'll talk about the Nazca people including all of the juicy details... like pooping in people's mouths? Yeah. We'll also explore some of the prevailing theories as to why the Nazca put so much effort into etching these gigantic line…

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Mini Fix #9: How Antibiotics Ruined My Life 13:52

2M ago13:52

13:52

Send us a Text Message. PLEASE SHARE! This is the tell all story of how fluoroquinolone antibiotics led to disabling and potentially permanent side effects for my previously healthy 32 year old husband. Since taking Cipro in March of 2021, Joey has suffered from non-stop chronic pain, weakness, and joint and muscle injuries that do not heal. This p…

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Ep. 62 Antibiotics: How This Accidental Discovery Changed the World Forever 43:51

2M ago43:51

43:51

Send us a Text Message. This week, I'll delve into the surprising history of antibiotics. You'll learn how penicillin was discovered by accident and how its development was helped along by a moldy cantaloupe from a Peoria, Illinois farmers market. I'll also uncover how it went on to act as a secret weapon, helping the allied forces to victory durin…

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Ep. 61 Feral Children: How Mysterious Wild Children Dot the Pages of Our History Books 45:27

2M ago45:27

45:27

Send us a Text Message. This week I tell the stories of 9 feral children found surviving alone in the wilderness. Some even appear to have been cared for by wild animals - wolves, bears, dogs, and monkeys. Most walked on all fours, ate raw meat, and could only communicate in grunts, growls, and "wild cries." Some would never gain the ability to spe…

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Ep. 60 Mental Health: How the Human Mind Has Been Misunderstood and Mistreated Throughout History 42:52

2M ago42:52

42:52

Send us a Text Message. Mental health has been one of the greatest mysteries throughout human history. An illness with an invisible cause, no surgery will fix it, no tonic, no bandage. Is it supernatural? Evil spirits? Demonic possession? Our lack of understanding about the human mind and stigmatization of mental health issues has led to untold hor…

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Ep. 59 Hawaii: How the US Stole This Island Paradise and Why It Isn’t Technically a State 38:51

3M ago38:51

38:51

Send us a Text Message. Uncover the history of Hawaii from its earliest habitation to its illegal overthrow by the US government in 1893. Join me as I discover exactly how the United States sank its claws into this island paradise, erased its native culture, and violently forced its queen to relinquish her throne without the approval of the US gove…

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Ep. 58 Bread: How This Universal Food Staple Is Way More Important Than You Thought 41:58

3M ago41:58

41:58

Send us a Text Message. Join me as I uncover the unknown history of bread and how it has shaped our entire world. From its earliest existence 14,400 years ago, bread has played a major role in the formation of human civilizations. This week, we'll follow the path of bread from ancient Egypt, to ancient Rome, to medieval Europe, revolutionary France…

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Ep. 57 Marilyn Monroe: How the Most Visible Woman in the World Went Completely Unseen 40:53

3M ago40:53

40:53

Send us a Text Message. Few celebrities have captured the public’s attention like Marilyn Monroe. Mention of her immediately evokes images of platinum blonde curls, beauty marks, and that white dress, flapping in the updraft of a New York City subway grate. But despite being almost universally known, no one knows the real Marilyn Monroe because she…

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Ep. 56 Cannibalism: How Humans Throughout History Have Used and Abused This Ancient Taboo 45:06

3M ago45:06

45:06

Send us a Text Message. Join me as I uncover the history of cannibalism starting with the butchered bones of ancient hominids dating as far back as 780,000 years all the way to the present day. I'll explore examples of ritual cannibalism and delve into four horrifying stories of survival cannibalism. Finally, I'll examine the freaky psychology behi…

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Ep. 55 Crucifixion: What We Actually Know About the Easter Story and How Bunnies Got Involved 40:35

4M ago40:35

40:35

Send us a Text Message. Easter is the foundation of the Christian religion. It commemorates the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and whether or not you believe this story is the difference between being a Christian and not being a Christian. It’s the single defining event of that religion. So Easter is a very religious holiday. But it a…

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Ep. 54 Women of the SOE: How Female Agents Helped “Set Europe Ablaze” During WWII 42:55

4M ago42:55

42:55

Send us a Text Message. This week, I tell the inspiring stories of 6 women who served in the top secret British espionage and sabotage organization, the SOE, during World War II. In the late 1930s, Hitler's Nazi Germany quickly expanded throughout Europe, grabbing up country after country in its quest for world domination. When France finally fell …

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Ep. 53 St. Patrick's Day: How This Irish Holiday Actually Got Its Start in America 30:26

4M ago30:26

30:26

Send us a Text Message. This week, I discuss the history of Saint Patrick's Day including who Saint Patrick was, what he did, and how the modern holiday actually got its start with Irish immigrants living in America and not Ireland. This one is packed full of bombshells you won't want to miss! Sources: History.com "History of Saint Patrick's Day" H…

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Ep. 52 The Great Hunger: Why the Irish Potato Famine Was a Completely Unnatural Disaster 44:03

4M ago44:03

44:03

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I discuss the centuries long toxic relationship between Ireland and England that led up to the devastation of the potato famine in 1845. During the 7 year period of "The Great Hunger," one million Irish people died and two million left Ireland. But while the blight that caused the potatoes to rot may be cons…

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Ep. 51 "A Common Life: A Voice From the Progressive Era" with Sue E. Burns 41:44

4M ago41:44

41:44

Send us a Text Message. In this episode of History Fix I speak with Sue Burns about her book "A Common Life: A Voice From the Progressive Era." When Sue's great great grandmother's 100 year old diary was discovered disintegrating in an attic, she went to great lengths to help her mother preserve it. Then she took it even further, researching the hi…

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Ep. 50 Mary Richards: How a Black Female Spy Helped Bring Down the Confederacy 39:42

5M ago39:42

39:42

Send us a Text Message. In this episode of History Fix, I bring you the story of Mary Richards and Elizabeth Van Lew, two women who worked together to feed Confederate secrets to Union forces during the American Civil War. These daring women put it all on the line, demonstrating exceptional bravery and above average intellect to do what they though…

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Ep. 49 Buffalo Soldiers: How America Forced Desperate Men to Do Its Dirty Work 32:35

5M ago32:35

32:35

Send us a Text Message. In this episode of History Fix I discuss the history behind the Buffalo Soldiers mentioned in Bob Marley's hit 1983 song by the same name. Recruited just after the Civil War, these all Black army regiments were sent out west to claim land already inhabited by Indigenous Americans during the decades long "Plains Wars." Despit…

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Ep 48 Valentine's Day: How No One Really Knows Where This Holiday Even Came From 27:13

5M ago27:13

27:13

Send us a Text Message. In this episode of History Fix, I unpack the history of Valentine's Day. Join me to discover more about the holiday's bizarre Roman roots (there are naked, drunk priests!), how no one really knows who Saint Valentine was or what he did, and who sent the first valentine and when. You'll also learn about Esther Howland, the 18…

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Ep. 47 Marie Laveau: How the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans helped to forge the city as we know it 45:19

5M ago45:19

45:19

Send us a Text Message. This week on History Fix, I have a chat with New Orleans tour guide Tanya de Fazen to uncover the true story of the infamous "Queen of Voodoo" Marie Laveau. Get a look inside the culturally colorful and unique history that has made New Orleans a one of a kind city. Learn why Marie Laveau is closer to a saint than a witch and…

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Ep. 46 Eugenics: How the Eugenics Movement Led to the Murder of 6 Million People 38:57

6M ago38:57

38:57

Send us a Text Message. In this episode of History Fix, I reveal the dark history of the eugenics movement and how it led to the forced sterilization of over 60,000 Americans. I'll also reveal how American sterilization policies influenced similar policies enacted in Hitler's Nazi Germany that led to the forced sterilization of 400,000 Germans, the…

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Ep. 45 Rats: How Underrated Rodents Took Over the World 38:51

6M ago38:51

38:51

Send us a Text Message. In this episode of History Fix, I discover how rats have impacted history. I'll go way back to uncover how the brown rat came to occupy every continent (except Antarctica) as well as how rats have impacted human health throughout history - their ties to the Bubonic plague and how they are used in medical and scientific testi…

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Ep. 44 Drowned Towns: How the US Has Strategically Flooded Historically Black Towns 43:26

6M ago43:26

43:26

Send us a Text Message. In this episode of History Fix, I tell the stories of four historically Black towns that are now underwater: Oscarville, Georgia, Kowaliga (Benson), Alabama, Vanport, Oregon, and Seneca Village in New York City. We'll take a look at how and why these fledgling towns were destroyed and the ripple effect it's had on Black Amer…

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Ep. 43 Mona Lisa: How a Boring Portrait of an Unknown Woman Became the Most Famous Painting In the World 38:13

6M ago38:13

38:13

Send us a Text Message. This episode is all about the Mona Lisa. Who was Mona Lisa and how did her portrait become the most famous work of art, ever? How does everyone know her face but nothing at all about the woman herself? Join me to uncover the history behind the famous painting - the subject, the artist, and how it came to be so very famous. w…

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Ep. 42 Y2K with Peter de Jager: How an Actual Threat Was Twisted Into a Comical "Hoax" 48:32

7M ago48:32

48:32

Send us a Text Message. As the clocks ticked down to midnight on December 31st, 1999, as each final second of the last millennium slipped away, people all over the world collectively held their breath. If all the hype was to be believed, if the Y2K threats were real, their New Years merrymaking - the fireworks, the champagne, the confetti - might a…

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Ep. 41 Christmas: How a Specific Religious Event Exploded Into a Worldwide Phenomenon 40:43

7M ago40:43

40:43

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I explore the history of Christmas traditions including Santa Claus, stockings, and Christmas trees. I'll also uncover the pagan roots behind Christmas and examine how it has evolved from a religious holiday celebrating the birth of Christ to a secular day of excessive spending. Chances are you've been celeb…

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Ep. 40 Iditarod: How Heroic Sled Dogs Saved the Children of Nome, Alaska 35:28

7M ago35:28

35:28

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I share how heroic sled dogs and their mushers achieved the impossible in 1925 to deliver a life saving serum to the children of Nome, Alaska. I'll recount their harrowing journey along the Iditerod Trail in subfreezing whiteout conditions and explore why one dog, Balto, seemed to get all the credit while th…

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Ep. 39 Mayanism: How the 2012 Doomsday Debacle Stemmed From Centuries Old Racism 42:46

7M ago42:46

42:46

Send us a Text Message. In this episode of History Fix, I explore the concept of "Mayanism" - the centuries old notion that the Maya were a mystical, lost civilization with abilities, knowledge, and powers that modern humans no longer possess. And how these beliefs were started by European conquistadors who couldn’t fathom that the Maya were possib…

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Ep. 38 Agatha Christie: How the "Queen of Crime" Became the Subject of a Real Life Murder Mystery 38:05

7M ago38:05

38:05

Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I explore the disappearance of famous British crime novelist, Agatha Christie. I'll relay the events leading up to her mysterious disappearance in 1926 and give you a play by play of the investigation, including where and how she was found. I'll also consider possible motives and try to make sense of why the…

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Ep. 37 Rum: How Rum’s Oppressive History Sowed the Seeds of Resistance and Freedom 50:27

8M ago50:27

50:27

Send us a Text Message. When I think of rum, I think of pirates. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum, right? And when I think of pirates, I think of treasure chests full of gold, silver, precious gems, buried treasure. The rum seems recreational, dastardly, debaucherous, trivial. The treasure, now that’s serious. That’s the job. There’s no messing around …

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Ep. 36 Thanksgiving: How a Story of Genocidal Conquest Was Twisted Into a Feel Good Holiday 34:13

8M ago34:13

34:13

Send us a Text Message. I remember the pilgrim hats, the buckles on the shoes, the feather headdresses and beads, the fun, cutesy crafts we did in school. The smell of construction paper and tempera paint as we stamped out handprint turkeys, glued on brightly colored feathers. You dress like a pilgrim. You be an Indian. We’ll all sit down and have …

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Mini Fix #8: Agnes Sorel 22:04

8M ago22:04

22:04

Send us a Text Message. Agnes Sorel was beyond beautiful. When the King of France, Charles VII first laid eyes on her in 1444, he was struck dumb by her stunning good looks. With golden hair, large blue eyes, and a striking figure, Charles absolutely had to have her. He was already married, of course, to the queen, Marie of Anjou, with whom he had …

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Ep. 35 Diamonds: How the Diamond Industry Tricked Us Into the Greatest Marketing Scam of All Time 35:17

8M ago35:17

35:17

Send us a Text Message. “A diamond is forever,” has gone down in history as one of the greatest advertising slogans of all time. It has appeared in every single De Beers diamond ad since 1948 and was ranked the number one slogan of the century by AdAge marketing journal in 1999. But, did you know, the company that hired Frances’ ad agency to come u…

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Ep. 34 Child Migrants: Why Australia's Abusive Child Migrant Program Should Still Terrify You Today 39:36

8M ago39:36

39:36

Send us a Text Message. In 1949, 13 year old Pamela Smedley boarded a ship with 27 other girls from a Catholic orphanage in Britain. The nuns told them they were going on a day trip. The girls were excited, happy to be out in the world, on an adventure. According to Pamela, quote “We thought it would be like going to Scarborough for the day because…

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Ep. 33 Halloween: How Americans Spend $6 Billion a Year on a Holiday They Don’t Understand 33:56

9M ago33:56

33:56

Send us a Text Message. Halloween is weird y’all. I mean, I love it, don’t get me wrong, but it is weird. The costumes, carving faces into pumpkins and putting candles in them, trick or treating - walking around to stranger’s houses at night, costumed stranger’s houses asking for candy, putting the candy into a bucket shaped like a pumpkin with a f…

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Mini Fix #7: A Chat with Historical Fiction Author Sara Swann-Barnard 30:29

9M ago30:29

30:29

Send us a Text Message. Hello dear listeners, this is Shea LaFountaine, popping in on a Wednesday with a mini fix for you. I recently had the pleasure of sitting down for a chat with Sara Swann-Barnard who is a prolific historical fiction author. She has written so many books, several of them set in the worlds that I have delved into in recent epis…

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Ep. 32 Body Snatchers: How the Need for Medical Cadavers Led to a Black Market of Stolen Bodies 40:13

9M ago40:13

40:13

Send us a Text Message. Burial has always been a sacred thing, undertaken with utmost reverence and respect for the dead. Graveyards and cemeteries, while yes often creepy, are peaceful, quiet places. The wind rustles the leaves of a tree, a dove coos mournfully, a tearful widow silently places flowers on her late husband’s grave. We typically thin…

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Ep. 31 Giant Skeletons: How Newspapers Reported An Ancient Race of Giants and Then Went Silent 34:55

9M ago34:55

34:55

Send us a Text Message. “Skeleton of a Giant Found,” “Reported Discovery of a Huge Skeleton,” “Monstrous Skulls and Bones,” “A Race of Indian Giants,” “Giant Skeleton Unearthed at Buzzards Bay,” “Skeleton Found of a Man Over 9 Feet High With An Enormous Skull,” “New Mexico Discovery: 12 Foot Giant Found,” These are newspaper headlines and they’re n…

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Ep. 30 Dracula: How the Real Life Brutality of Vlad the Impaler Inspired the World’s Most Famous Vampire 32:32

9M ago32:32

32:32

Send us a Text Message. Picture a vampire. Yeah, you’re picturing Dracula. That’s Dracula. I mean unless you’re a Twilight fan, then maybe you’re picturing Robert Pattinson’s fine self. But no, chances are you’re picturing the title character from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel “Dracula” about a vampire named Count Dracula who moves from Transylvania to …

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Mini Fix #5: Full Interview With Emma Louise Dyson 17:36

9M ago17:36

17:36

Send us a Text Message. This is my full, uncut interview with Emma Louise Dyson, an Earth medicine practitioner and practicing witch in the UK. Connect with Emma: Facebook group "The Wild Child Crystal Collective" TikTok @thewildanduntamedway Support the show! Buy Me a Coffee Venmo @Shea-LaFountaineBy Shea LaFountaine

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Mini Fix #6: Full Interview With Ben Stimpson 23:15

9M ago23:15

23:15

Send us a Text Message. This is my full, uncut interview with Ben Stimpson, a psychotherapist, pagan author, and student of classical, medieval, and religious studies at the University of Waterloo. Connect with Ben: "Essence" podcast benstimpson.com YouTube @BenStimpsonAuthor Support the show! Buy Me a Coffee Venmo @Shea-LaFountaine…

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Ep. 29 Witches: How the Church Twisted Innocent Caretakers Into Evil Devil Worshipers 41:56

10M ago41:56

41:56

Send us a Text Message. Think of a witch. You’re likely picturing an old woman, gnarled and stooped with a hooked nose and stringy unkempt hair. Maybe she’s wearing a black robe, a pointy hat. Maybe she’s flying on a broomstick. Does she have a black cat? A cauldron where she mixes up deadly potions? An ancient book of spells she uses to curse peop…

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Mini Fix #4: The Other Lost Colony of Roanoke 24:16

10M ago24:16

24:16

Send us a Text Message. In 1586 Sir Francis Drake arrived off the coast of present day North Carolina with a massive fleet, ships heavy with Spanish gold and riches he’d stolen privateering in the Caribbean, South America, Florida. He came to check in on the Roanoke colony - a group of 108 Englishmen who had set up a fort on the North end of Roanok…

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Ep. 28 Roanoke Part 2: How the Real Story of the “Lost Colony” Goes Way Deeper Than You Thought 41:29

10M ago41:29

41:29

Send us a Text Message. John White stares at the sun bleached skull. Empty eye sockets stare back. This was surely one of Grenville’s men. But 15 stayed behind to hold Fort Raleigh. Where were the rest of them? “Governor White,” one of the men speaks up, “we should go.” White nods, but go where? He’s still rattled from the news he was given back at…

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Ep. 27 Roanoke Part 1: How the Real Story of the “Lost Colony” Goes Way Deeper Than You Thought 42:10

10M ago42:10

42:10

Send us a Text Message. In 1587, John White arrived on Roanoke Island, part of the Outer Banks of present day North Carolina. He was part of an expedition sent by Queen Elizabeth I of England to establish a permanent colony in the Americas. White was to be the governor of this new colony. But this wasn’t his first time on Roanoke Island. He had bee…

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