Best Enigma Umbrella Podcasts (2024)

1
Off the Plank: Moby-Dick in New Bedford 21:41

6d ago21:41

21:41

Herman Melville published one of the great American novels in 1851. Just in case you missed it in high school, a quick refresher: we follow Ishmael. He’s a crew member aboard the whaling ship the Pequod. Its captain, Ahab, is a menacing figure obsessed with catching a whale he calls Moby-Dick. This book is all about whaling, which used to be one of…

1
Off the Plank: The Turtle, America's First Submarine 12:37

27d ago12:37

12:37

America's first submarine dates to the Revolutionary War. Built by a Connecticut inventor, it sailed into New York Harbor in 1776 with a mission to blow up a British warship. It was ahead of its time — maybe a little too ahead of its time. There are a few places you can see replicas of the Turtle — and one of them is at the Connecticut River Museum…

1
Off the Plank: The Wreck of the Whydah 19:46

1M ago19:46

19:46

One of the most successful pirates of all time died at sea in a dramatic storm, leaving all his treasure buried under the ocean floor. Hundreds of years later, a Cape Cod man followed a real-life treasure map to find it — and now you can go to his museum to see real-life pirate booty. Featured song: “Jolly Sailor Bold,” performed by the Ranzo Boys.…

1
Off the Plank: Trailer 1:42

2M ago1:42

1:42

Host Davis Dunavin previews his upcoming adventure at sea! Among other things, you’ll hear about quite a few pirates in this series, which is why we decided to call it Off the Plank.By Davis Dunavin

1
Jung Chang: Chairman Mao Badge 11:53

3M ago11:53

11:53

Can you ever truly suppress a curious mind? If there was one aim of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution, it was that. The lauded writer Jung Chang joins Alice Loxton to revisit a childhood characterized by surveillance and prohibition. But even in Communist China – at a time when pins bearing the face of the great leader were worn on every chest – cur…

1
Manya Kullmann: Castro’s Keepsakes 9:32

3M ago9:32

9:32

Where does a leader like Fidel Castro place his trust? The answer comes in the form of a box of romantic mementos, carried from Cuba to Russia. Print designer Manya Kullman tells Alice Loxton the story of her grandmother, Galina, a KGB spy who won the affections of a revolutionary leader at the height of the Cold War – and who kept his keepsakes cl…

1
Tim Marlow: The Welbike 11:17

3M ago11:17

11:17

What would you need to go it alone behind enemy lines? For the agents of the notoriously brave Special Operations Executive in World War II, a select toolkit of spy gadgets represented the difference between life and death. Design Museum CEO Tim Marlow and host Alex Loxton discuss the groundbreaking folding motorcycle that accompanied SEO operative…

1
Alexander Cary: Kim Philby Papers 14:26

3M ago14:26

14:26

How does the old spy regard himself, when he’s left alone with his thoughts? The answer to this question can be found in the aborted memoir of one of the most notorious traitors in history: Kim Philby. Screenwriter Alexander Cary and host Alice Loxton unpick the inner workings of a complicated spy. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzz…

1
Kengo Kuma: Nijo Jinya Hotel 10:32

4M ago10:32

10:32

If Nijo Jinya’s walls could talk, what story would they tell? World-renowned architect Kengo Kuma joins host Alice Loxton to discuss a still-standing Kyoto guest house where, in Japan’s Edo era, power was bought and sold, and silent ninjas stalked the corridors in search of secrets. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. S…

1
Gary Powers Jr: U2 Spy Plane 17:22

4M ago17:22

17:22

What’s it like to be the child of a world-famous spy? Gary Powers Jr. takes his name and his inspiration from his father, Francis Gary Powers – the pilot of the U2 spy plane that was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960, sparking a major Cold War crisis. Here, Powers and host Alice Loxton discuss the legendary U2, and the life of its most famous…

1
Tom Ayling: Secret Service Payments Book 17:41

4M ago17:41

17:41

Who pays for all the King’s secrets? In between the lines of a tired old accounts ledger, a hidden history of espionage and scandal lies in wait. Antiquarian bookseller Tom Ayling and host Alice Loxton guide us through the secret affairs of King William III – with direct access to the payments that he kept away from prying eyes. From SPYSCAPE, the …

1
Trevor Paglen: Skynet 13:28

4M ago13:28

13:28

How dangerous is metadata? According to the artist and author Trevor Paglen, it can be deadly. Paglen joins host Alice Loxton to shine a light on Skynet – a network of all-seeing satellites – and the ominous AI algorithm that farms metadata and gets to decide who lives and who dies. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. S…

1
Simon Menner: The Coffee Pot 12:38

4M ago12:38

12:38

Who keeps on moving the coffee pot? That innocent question plunges one East German woman into a dangerous world of deception and betrayal. Photographer and archivist Simon Menner joins Alice Loxton to unravel a Cold War domestic mystery centered around the most inconspicuous of objects. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle productio…

1
The Cultural Tutor: Napoleon’s Briefcase 13:00

5M ago13:00

13:00

How did Napoleon keep a sprawling empire under his thumb? Ask Sheehan Quirke – who runs the popular history feed, The Cultural Tutor – and he’ll tell you that the great historical leader depended on a vast network of spies to keep him clued up. The fruits of their toil were delivered to him each morning in a leather briefcase. Here, Quirke and host…

1
Joana Vasconcelos: War Games 15:02

5M ago15:02

15:02

What secrets are hiding under the bed? For the Portuguese artist and sculptor, Joana Vasconcelos, a troubling inheritance of deceit lay lurking in wait in her late grandparents’ apartment. Here, she and host Alice Loxton discuss the dark journey that her discovery sent her on – and the powerful work of art it inspired. From SPYSCAPE, the home of se…

1
Marc Newson - SR-71 Blackbird 14:05

5M ago14:05

14:05

How do you solve a problem like a Russian radar? That question lies at the heart of one of the most innovative and intricate planes ever to be made: the SR-71 Blackbird. Acclaimed industrial designer and artist Marc Newson and host Alice Loxton tell the story of an aircraft born out of an impossible brief. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup …

1
Dan Snow: PM's Despatch Box 12:55

5M ago12:55

12:55

What official secrets hide inside that battered red leather box? Popular historian Dan Snow and host Alice Loxton peer inside a Victorian Prime Minister’s despatch box, and speculate on the world-changing intelligence that such a storied case once contained. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series produced by Alex Bu…

1
Daniel Arsham: Animal Farm Cels 17:22

6M ago17:22

17:22

What did George Orwell and the CIA have in common? Perhaps more than the great socialist writer would have cared to admit. The groundbreaking visual artist Daniel Arsham and host Alice Loxton bring us inside the CIA-sponsored production of Animal Farm. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series produced by Alex Burnard,…

1
Justin Jampol: Wende Museum Artefacts 13:45

6M ago13:45

13:45

To whom do retired spies turn after the collapse of their mission? Los Angeles’ Wende Museum holds one of the most impressive Cold War collections in the world – and has become something of an amnesty box for old agents seeking to preserve a piece of their former lives. The Wende’s director Justin Jampol and host Alice Loxton explore highlights fro…

1
Elizabeth Bruton: Portland Spy Ring Ephemera 13:17

6M ago13:17

13:17

What does it take to betray your country? Less than you might think. Dr. Elizabeth Bruton and host, Alice Loxton, break down the surprisingly humble tool kit of one of the most destructive espionage networks in British history – the Portland Spy Ring. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series produced by Alex Burnard, …

1
Jason Isaacs: B-2 Spirit 9:31

6M ago9:31

9:31

How many secrets weigh 1500 lbs, cost $100 million, and travel at 600 mph? Only one that we can think of. Acclaimed actor Jason Isaacs and host Alice Loxton take us inside the cockpit of Northrop Grumman’s legendary B-2 Spirit – the iconic stealth bomber that epitomized late Cold War ingenuity. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle p…

1
James Grime: Enigma Machine 12:36

7M ago12:36

12:36

How much depended on breaking Enigma’s code? Mathematician James Grime and host, Alice Loxton peer beneath the hood of one of the most storied inventions in military history: the near-unbreakable Enigma Machine, used by German military throughout World War II as a means of protecting critical communications. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cu…

1
Anthony Horowitz: Joan Bright Astley’s Inner Circle 10:52

7M ago10:52

10:52

For how long could you keep a secret? In the case of Joan Bright Astley, the answer was ‘To the grave.’ Acclaimed novelist and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz and host Alice Loxton offer up a gift from the real-life Miss Moneypenny – a formidable woman who protected the secrets of the notorious Special Operations Executive for as long as she lived. F…

1
Lynette Nusbacher: Button Compass 11:38

7M ago11:38

11:38

How can a button save your life? It depends on who your tailor is. Military history expert Lynette Nusbacher and host Alice Loxton discuss an ingenious piece of covert pathfinding technology, designed for RAF pilots stranded behind enemy lines in World War Two. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series produced by Alex…

1
Thomas Heatherwick: Poison-Tipped Umbrella 11:39

7M ago11:39

11:39

What was the sharp pain that Georgi Markov felt in his ankle as he crossed London’s Waterloo Bridge one day? Spoiler: it doesn’t end well for Georgi. Designer Thomas Heatherwick and host Alice Loxton tell the sad tale of a Bulgarian dissident’s encounter with one of the most notorious tools of spycraft. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And…

1
Daniel Arsham: Jackson Pollock, Number 8 13:23

8M ago13:23

13:23

What connects the radical 20th century painter Jackson Pollock and the CIA? More than you’d think. Artist Daniel Arsham and host Alice Loxton share the surprising secret history of Pollock’s 1949 masterpiece, Number 8. From SPYSCAPE, the home of secrets. A Cup And Nuzzle production. Series produced by Alex Burnard, Morgan Childs, Claire Crofton, Jo…

1
Introducing: A History of the World in Spy Objects 1:45

8M ago1:45

1:45

The Enigma Machine. The B2 stealth bomber. The poisoned-tipped umbrella. Napoleon’s Briefcase of Secrets. As long as there has been conflict, there have been spies, and as long as there have been spies, there have been incredible gadgets and iconic objects. These are the stories of the tools that power the world of espionage. Learn more about your …

1
The legend of Sleepy Hollow lives on 6:44

8M ago6:44

6:44

In 1820, Washington Irving wrote a short story steeped in the ghostly folklore of New York’s Hudson Valley. Its simple premise and terrifying climax has spooked and entertained people for two centuries. It was set in North Tarrytown, but Irving called it Sleepy Hollow.By Davis Dunavin

1
A 'close encounter' in New Hampshire 21:27

10M ago21:27

21:27

Barney and Betty Hill claimed they had an encounter with aliens more than 60 years ago. Their story became the launching point for alien abductions in popular culture. And it happened — supposedly — late one night on a lonely road in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.By Davis Dunavin

1
The Desert of Maine: An ecological odyssey at a tourist spot 7:11

11M ago7:11

7:11

The state of Maine has deep forests and rocky shores. It also has one small stretch of sandy dunes in the town of Freeport — that looks more like the Sahara than northern New England.By Davis Dunavin

1
Christina's World: The "enigma" and friendship behind a classic American painting 12:00

11M ago12:00

12:00

Andrew Wyeth’s 1948 painting “Christina’s World” shows the reality of life for his longtime friend, a woman with a disability, on her farm in coastal Maine.By Davis Dunavin

1
"Appreciate the Mundane" at a museum for umbrella covers 7:07

11M ago7:07

7:07

A small museum on an island in Maine boasts the world’s largest collection of a specific kind of artifact: umbrella covers. Not umbrellas — just the covers.By Davis Dunavin

1
The "Lost Limner" returns in a new play 9:29

12M ago9:29

9:29

By Davis Dunavin

1
Chicken Farmer I Still Love You 12:14

12M ago12:14

12:14

There are six words spray painted on a rock along a highway near Newbury, New Hampshire. How they got there is still a mystery. Davis Dunavin took a drive up Route 103 to see the mystery rock — and maybe get some answers.By Davis Dunavin

1
The view and the visionary behind the Appalachian Trail 13:07

1y ago13:07

13:07

The Appalachian Trail stretches more than 2,000 miles from Maine to Georgia. It was the brainchild of an idealistic forester who drew inspiration from a mountain top in Vermont.By Davis Dunavin

1
Inside Robert Frost's legendary stone house 15:41

1y ago15:41

15:41

The beloved poet bought a home in Vermont — where he wrote some of his most famous poems, weathered family tragedy and picked lots of apples.By Davis Dunavin

1
Off the Path: Trailer 2:09

1y ago2:09

2:09

Host Davis Dunavin is back on the road as he previews his next set of adventures on a new season of Off the Path!By Davis Dunavin

1
Herb Lore: Why it's okay to eat off the ground in New York City 8:43

2y ago8:43

8:43

Most New Yorkers might be a little skeptical about eating something they found on the street — if it’s not from a food cart. But one New Yorker has made it his life’s work to convince his neighbors that nature’s bounty is accessible even in the heart of the city.By Davis Dunavin

1
Herb Lore: How witch hazel made its way into everything 7:17

2y ago7:17

7:17

Take a look through your medicine cabinet — from skin cream to body wash and deodorant. Many of these products share an ingredient: witch hazel. And the witch hazel industry has deep roots in the Connecticut River Valley.By Davis Dunavin

1
Herb Lore: The nearly 400-year-old fruit tree that keeps giving 8:38

2y ago8:38

8:38

The first colonial governor of Massachusetts planted a pear tree in the 1600s. It’s now believed to be the oldest cultivated fruit tree in the Americas.By Davis Dunavin

1
LGBTQ Stories: How "Family Week" helped gay families find acceptance 5:11

2+ y ago5:11

5:11

A few LGBTQ families met up on the tip of Cape Cod one summer in the mid '90s. Their fun beach week had a bigger impact than they expected. Family Week — as it’s called — has helped redefine ideas of marriage and family for more than 25 years. And it still takes place every summer in Provincetown, Massachusetts.…

1
LGBTQ stories: Andy Warhol's unlikely spirituality 7:51

2+ y ago7:51

7:51

One of America’s most beloved artists kept a secret. Andy Warhol — pop artist and gay icon — was also a lifelong Catholic who went to mass regularly at a church in New York City’s Upper East Side.By Davis Dunavin

1
LGBTQ stories: The 'Sip-In' paved the way for gay rights 6:01

2+ y ago6:01

6:01

A few years before the Stonewall riots, a protest took place at another New York City gay bar, just about a block away. It didn’t draw as much attention, but in its own way, it was a milestone for gay rights.By Davis Dunavin

1
Folk Songs: Opening up traditional music to new audiences 5:29

2+ y ago5:29

5:29

Musician Nicole Singer, the organizer of Youth Traditional Song Weekend, which took place online this month due to the pandemic, is trying to bring young people and non-traditional audiences into folk music.By Davis Dunavin

1
Folk Songs: Sea Shanties are the sound of New England's nautical history 7:04

2+ y ago7:04

7:04

Sea shanties have enjoyed some renewed attention on social media. A lot of them have strong ties to New England’s maritime culture and whaling industry.By Davis Dunavin

1
Blood Calls Blood Review 24:42

2+ y ago24:42

24:42

Spoilers Please understand if you didn't like Lan showing emotion, this probably isn't the Podcast for you to listen to. Plus it's always been Rand.By Enigma Umbrella

1
The Dragon Reborn Review 27:22

2+ y ago27:22

27:22

SPOILERS The 4th episode has come and gone, let talk about what ideas have been presented and what may still come. Plus how cool is Nynaeve!By Enigma Umbrella

1
Wheel of Time Review Day 42:14

2+ y ago42:14

42:14

My Review, My understanding, my overall joy of what has come out. Plus this isn't about how it is compared to the book, another podcast about that to come later.By Enigma Umbrella

1
Folk Songs: An 'Exceedingly Good' Night of Music 7:37

2+ y ago7:37

7:37

A group singalong has hopped from bar to bar in New York City for years — and in the age of the pandemic, it lives on Zoom. It’s called Exceedingly Good Song Night.By Davis Dunavin

1
Folk Songs: A folk dancing camp for the people 6:18

2+ y ago6:18

6:18

There’s a camp in the woods of Massachusetts where traditional styles of folk music and dance from around the world are kept alive. It’s the oldest continuously operated folk dance camp in the United States. It’s called the Pinewoods Camp.By Davis Dunavin

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