Best 30for30 Podcasts (2024)

1
Washington's Farewell (Non) Address (1796) 17:06

2h ago17:06

17:06

It's September 22nd. This day in 1796, a letter from George Washington appeared in the Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser announcing that he would not be seeking a third term for president. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the significance of Washington's announcement, how it's often mis-remembered as an actual address -- and why it mattered that…

1
The New York City Pig Wars (1859) 17:35

5h ago17:35

17:35

It's September 19th. This day in 1859, New York City declared victory in the war on pigs. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why there were so many pigs on the island of Manhattan, and how the city's expansion created an enormous amount of tension around race, class, health and gentrification. This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of…

1
TRAILER: GIRL v. HORSE 2:55

3m ago2:55

2:55

Runner Nicole Teeny wants to do something possibly absurd: race an ultramarathon against a horse. It all started with a theory and a diagnosis. In GIRL v. HORSE, a four-part podcast from 30 for 30 Podcasts, Teeny comes to terms with being diagnosed with epilepsy, and hating the loss of control, decides to push her body to the limit. In the process,…

1
Packwood Sent Packing (1995) 18:13

28m ago18:13

18:13

It's September 17th. This day in 1995, Oregon Senator Bob Packwood resigns before he can be expelled for decades of sexual misconduct. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss Packwood's long record of abuse, which he chronicled in detail in his own diaries -- and why it took so long to finally hold him accountable. This Day In Esoteric Political History is …

1
Georgia's Three Governors Problem (1947) 17:38

3d ago17:38

17:38

This day, in 1947, Georgia holds a special election that finally - finally - brings an end to a period in which the state had three people claiming the governor's office. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how Georgia ended up in this constitutional crisis, and the many shenanigans that ensued within the halls of the capitol. This Day In Esoteric Polit…

1
Witches (1693) w/ Josh Gondelman [[Archive Episode]] 19:39

3d ago19:39

19:39

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It features comedian Josh Gondelman -- so today we're rerunning and episode with Josh from 2020. This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support helps foster independent, artist-owned podcasts and award-wi…

1
The "Bra Burner" Myth Is Born (1969) w/ Cristen Conger 27:42

5d ago27:42

27:42

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's September 8th. This day in 1969, a group called "New York Radical Women" holds a protest at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the wake of the protest, a very persistent story emerged, despite no evidence to support it: tha…

1
Frederick Douglass's Two-Day Escape North (1838) 18:06

8d ago18:06

18:06

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's September 5th. This day in 1838, Frederick Douglass makes a two-day escape from Maryland to New York City. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how perilous Douglass's trip was, and how he was able to navigate the route from Baltimore to Delaware to Pe…

1
Roosevelt's "Big Stick" (1901) 16:33

12d ago16:33

16:33

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's September 3rd. This day in 1901, Vice President Teddy Roosevelt gives remarks in which he refers to his notion that one should "speak softly and carry a big stick." Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss where Roosevelt got that phrase, and how it came t…

1
The HIV-Positive Ray Brothers House Is Burned Down (1987) w/ Eric Marcus 24:21

19d ago24:21

24:21

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 29th. This day in 1987, an arson burns down the house of the Ray brothers, three HIV-positive children who had contracted the virus through blood transfusions. Jody, NIki, and Kellie are joined by Eric Marcus of "Making Gay History" projec…

1
Strom Thurmond's Epic Filibuster -- And Bladder Control (1957) 16:53

17d ago16:53

16:53

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 27th. This day (technically the 28th) in 1957, Senator Strom Thurmond embarks on what would be the longest filibuster in Senate history, arguing against civil rights legislation that would expand the vote for Black americans. Jody, NIki, a…

1
A Global Anti-War (Or Is It Pro-Peace?) Pact (1928) 25:36

24d ago25:36

25:36

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 25th. This day in 1928, representatives from the major world powers sign on to a treaty that states that promised to not use war to "resolve disputes or conflicts of whatever nature... or of whatever origin." Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss…

1
Conventions Week: Hamer vs. Johnson (1964) [Archive Episode] 21:11

22d ago21:11

21:11

**Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!** Welcome to Conventions Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight the rhythm of an election cycle. This week, as the Democrats are meeting in Chicago, we are looking at conventions, which are v…

1
Conventions Week: Seven Weird Conventions Moments (Part Two) 15:16

24d ago15:16

15:16

**Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!** Welcome to Conventions Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight the rhythm of an election cycle. This week, as the Democrats are meeting in Chicago, we are looking at conventions, which are v…

1
Conventions Week: Seven Weird Conventions Moments (Part One) 23:24

26d ago23:24

23:24

**Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now!** Welcome to Conventions Week! From time to time this election year, we're going to do some special series that highlight the rhythm of an election cycle. This week, as the Democrats are meeting in Chicago, we are looking at conventions, which are v…

1
Trump's "Very Fine People" Comments (2017) 27:47

29d ago27:47

27:47

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 15th. This day in 2017, President Donald Trump gave a press conference in which he offered remarks about the violence that took place in Charlottesville, VA a couple days before. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss the roots of the white suprem…

1
Thoreau Spends One Night In Jail (1846) 15:50

1M ago15:50

15:50

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 13th. This day in 1846, Henry David Thoreau is thrown in jail -- for one night -- for refusing to pay his back taxes. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why Thoreau objected to the poll tax, and how his political stances intersected with the m…

1
What The Watts Riots Meant (1965) 17:52

1M ago17:52

17:52

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 11th. This day in 1965, six days of civil unrest erupts in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Watts. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why the violence was sparked -- and how the reaction to it prefigured much of the conversation that would domi…

1
George HW Bush Compares Sadaam To Hitler (1990) 17:44

1M ago17:44

17:44

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 8th. This day in 1990, George HW Bush addressed the country about Iraq's recent invasion of Kuwait. In it, Bush evoked WWII and made a comparison between Sadaam Hussein and Adolph Hitler. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why Bush framed the …

1
The Shirtless George Washington Statue Is Unveiled (1841) 14:14

1M ago14:14

14:14

Come to our first ever live show! In Boston, on Friday, September 13th. Tickets are available now! It's August 5th. This day in 1841, a new statue is unveiled in the Capitol rotunda, to commemorate the 100th birthday of George Washington. One notable element: he's shirtless. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why the statue of Washington arrived bare-c…

1
Some 2024 Veepstakes Thoughts (Plus A Special Announcement) 33:17

2M ago33:17

33:17

Here in 2024, there is a lot of speculation about who Kamala Harris will select as her running mate. And the Veepstakes almost feel kind of...normal? So, today, Jody shares some thoughts about the nature of the VP pick, and we re-run our episode from "Veepstakes Week" about notable picks throughout history. Also -- we just announced our first ever …

1
Jim Traficant Heads To Jail, Toupee And All (2002) 16:55

1M ago16:55

16:55

It's August 1st. This day in 2002, Congressman James Traficant of Ohio has been expelled from Congress for bribery and corruption, only the second member ever kicked out of the institution. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss Traficant's bombastic reputation, corrupt dealings -- and how his shifting politics represented the way political fault lines wer…

1
The Mother Of Miami (1896) 14:08

2M ago14:08

14:08

It's July 28th. This day in 1896, residents vote to incorporate the city of Miami, Florida. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how the birth of Miami was in large part due to a woman named Julia Tuttle and the arrival of the railroad to the Florida "frontier." This Day In Esoteric Political History is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Your support…

1
Jesse Owens v Hitler, Behind The Scenes (1936) 19:50

2M ago19:50

19:50

It's July 27th. Today we mark the start of the Olympics by looking at one of the most famous -- and perhaps apocryphal -- moments in Olympics history, when American Jesse Owens won four gold medals in front of Adolf Hitler. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how the legend is a little more complicated than we may know, from the controversy over whether…

1
A Record Election-Year Heat Wave (1936) 18:53

2M ago18:53

18:53

It's the middle of July. In 1936, much of the country -- especially the Midwest -- is experiencing record heat. Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss why the heat was so deadly, how it created economic and social ripple effects, and why FDR was able to rally the country to talk about government solutions to some of the problems the heat exacerbated. This …

1
"Pretendians" And The Politics Of Native Identity (1934) w/ Angel Ellis and Robert Jago 22:42

2M ago22:42

22:42

It's July 22nd. This day in 1934, FDR has signed the "Indian Reorganization Act," which provided economic relief to many tribes, but also came with provisions to reorganize the way in which Native Americans self-governed, and self-identified. This opened up a vacuum for fundamental questions of identity and community which reverberate today. Jody, …

1
The Thiokol Weapons Plant Explosion (1971) w/ Patrick Longstreth 22:40

2M ago22:40

22:40

In 1971, a massive explosion at the Thiokol plant in Woodbine, Georgia shook the small town and killed 29 workers, injuring dozens of others. Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined by director Patrick Longstreth to talk about how the plant provided good jobs for the rural community, but lax safety standards ultimately led to one of the worst industrial …

1
Reagan says "MAGA" (1980) 28:23

2M ago28:23

28:23

It's July 18th. This day in 1980, Ronald Reagan accepted the Republican nomination for president. His speech included the phrase "let's make American great again." Jody, NIki, and Kellie discuss the long history of that phrase, why it is so appealing, the power of nostalgia in American politics -- and of course how Trump made MAGA into a movement. …

1
'A Harvest Of Death' And The Power Of Photography (1863) w/ Robert Sullivan 17:44

2M ago17:44

17:44

It's July 15th. This day in 1863, photographer Timothy O'Sullivan has taken a photo of dead soldiers at Gettysburg called "A Harvest of Death." It would become one of the most famous photos in American history -- and O'Sullivan would soon be contracted to travel west and photograph the American frontier. Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined by writer …

1
The Real Free State of Jones (1863) [Archive Favorite] 14:07

2M ago14:07

14:07

[[It's the heart of the summer, which means that our crew is taking some breaks here and there. In the meantime, we'll bring you some favorite episodes from the vaults -- and we'll be back with new episodes very soon!]] It’s October 12th. This day in 1863, fighting is breaking out in Jones County, Mississippi, as a group of southern farmers starts …

1
A Bombing At LaGuardia Airport (1975) [Archive Favorite] 17:54

2M ago17:54

17:54

[[It's the heart of the summer, which means that our crew is taking some breaks here and there. In the meantime, we'll bring you some favorite episodes from the vaults -- and we'll be back with new episodes very soon!]] It’s December 29th. This day in 1975, a bomb, planted in a luggage locker, exploded at NYC’s LaGuardia Airport, killing 11 and inj…

1
The Big Dig's Big Start w/ Ian Coss [Archive Favorite] 28:23

2M ago28:23

28:23

[[It's the heart of the summer, which means that our crew is taking some breaks here and there. In the meantime, we'll bring you some favorite episodes from the vaults -- and we'll be back with new episodes very soon!]] It’s September 26th. This day in 1983, Massachusetts Senator Michael Dukakis held a press conference to announce an enormous and a…

1251
SEARCHING FOR HOBEY BAKER Episode 3: Going West 48:07

3M ago48:07

48:07

As WWI rages, Hobey arrives in France to prepare for aerial combat. He embraces being a fighter pilot, finding the adrenaline-fueled commonality between war and sports. While in Europe, Hobey exchanges dozens of affectionate and loving letters with Percy Pyne. And during his off-duty forays into Paris, Hobey experiences the city’s lively cultural s…

1
SEARCHING FOR HOBEY BAKER Episode 2: The Lost Generation 36:21

3M ago36:21

36:21

His Princeton glory days behind him, Hobey moves to New York and begins a job at JP Morgan Bank. A member of what would be called the Lost Generation, Hobey misses the adrenaline rush of his college sports stardom and becomes despondent. But he soon finds himself in the social circles of the flamboyant and extremely wealthy Percy Rivington Pyne 2nd…

1251
SEARCHING FOR HOBEY BAKER Episode 1: The Natural 42:06

3M ago42:06

42:06

After Hobey Baker makes his triumphant Princeton hockey debut against Williams, we travel back to his early days attending St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire. He develops a reputation as both an athletic phenom and a kind, generous sportsman. After the economic crash of 1907, his father struggles to send him to college at Princeton where he becomes…

1251
TRAILER: Searching for Hobey Baker 2:37

3M ago2:37

2:37

Every hockey fan knows the name Hobey Baker - collegiate hockey’s most prestigious trophy is named after him - but very few know the real story of this all-time great athlete. Using an archive of personal letters and source materials provided by the Mudd Library at Princeton University, as well as original research, the series charts Hobey’s glory …

1251
The Sterling Affairs: Let’s Talk Clipped (E6) 37:33

3M ago37:33

37:33

This is Let’s Talk Clipped, a companion podcast for FX’s Clipped, a Hulu sports drama based on the 30 for 30 Podcasts series, The Sterling Affairs. In our final episode, host Ramona Shelburne chats with returning guests Gina Welch (showrunner, writer, and executive producer of Clipped) and writer and producer Rembert Browne about the sixth and fina…

1
The Statues That Represent The United States (1864) 13:49

3M ago13:49

13:49

It's July 2nd. This day in 1864, President Lincoln signed a law declaring the chamber previously used as the House of Representatives to be a statuary hall, featuring two statues submitted by each state. Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the kinds of statues that got submitted, what kind of story of American history it told, and how that has started t…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

30for30 Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide