Best We Don T Need To Hear This Podcasts (2024)

1
Did Sybil Ludington Really Make her Paul Revere-like Ride to Aid Danbury? 28:44

17h ago28:44

28:44

A 16-year-old Dutchess County, NY girl rode a horse in pouring rain for 40 miles to rally area militia to come to the aid of Danbury, CT which was under siege by the British during the Revolutionary War. At least, that’s the legend of Sybil Ludington. But, not all professional historians sign-off on the tale, due to scant written evidence. Now, a r…

1
NASCAR was Born at a Trend-Setting CT Racetrack 18:36

6d ago18:36

18:36

In the very northeast corner of Connecticut, the sport of racecar driving took shape in several meaningful ways at Thompson Speedway. Thompson’s two separate racetracks set “firsts” for the U.S.: the oval track was the first to be asphalt paved and the separate looped racetrack was the first one not using public roads. It’s also where NASCAR was bo…

1
From a 1-Room Schoolhouse Education in Rural CT to Wall Street Mega-Titan 20:42

13d ago20:42

20:42

How did a titan of Wall Street manage to attain his success coming from a rural dairy farm in the eastern Connecticut town of Sterling? Charles Dow’s only education was in a one-room schoolhouse, and yet managed to start the Dow-Jones Company, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the Wall Street Journal. The improbable journey makes for a great st…

1
The Oldest Volunteer Fire Department in the Entire Nation is in CT 20:51

20d ago20:51

20:51

The oldest volunteer fire department in the nation is in Wethersfield. They’ve fought fires with leather bucket brigades and hand-drawn pumpers. Chiefs used to bark orders through “speaking trumpets” before 2-way radios were available. Responders wouldn’t even try to extinguish your fire if you didn’t have a certain plaque on your house. Towns used…

1
What was the Ferocious Creature that Terrorized CT in 1939? 30:04

1M ago30:04

30:04

Back in 1939, a ferocious creature (nicknamed Glawackus) terrorized the mid-Connecticut town of Glastonbury for several months. Pets were mauled. Livestock went missing. Quite a few residents saw the mysterious creature, but the descriptions didn’t match that of a mountain lion, bobcat, lynx, or any other animal known to inhabit the extensive woodl…

1
When CT's Famous Blind and Deaf Resident, Helen Keller, Showed us the Way 25:04

1M ago25:04

25:04

There simply aren’t enough superlatives to explain the remarkable life of Helen Keller. She lost her sight and hearing when she was just 19 months old, but went on to become an internationally celebrated author, lecturer, and advocate for those with her disabilities. Her last 30 years were spent living in Easton, CT and we hear stories about her ti…

1
How Four Deaths During a Mutiny Shook CT 185 Years Ago 22:34

2M ago22:34

22:34

A mutiny aboard a Spanish ship, La Amistad, occurred in 1839 resulting in four deaths. The ship would make its way to Long Island Sound where it was captured by a U.S. naval vessel. Onboard were 50 kidnapped Africans, who had been sold into slavery and who would have to undergo nearly two years of court cases to try to earn their freedom. This case…

1
You Couldn't See the Frightening Enemy - But You Could Certainly Hear Them 22:40

2M ago22:40

22:40

This is the story of the unusual “Battle of Windham, CT” – a battle in the middle of a dark night when the residents couldn’t see what they were facing – they could only hear them. It happened during the French & Indian War and townspeople had been on edge. The exceptionally loud and ongoing noise that woke up the whole town was like nothing they h…

1
We Have the Bankrobber's Body, but his Grave Still Reads X-Y-Z 25:30

2M ago25:30

25:30

His name is X-Y-Z. At least, that’s what’s on his gravestone in the town of Deep River. The man robbed a bank in 1899 and was shot dead during the attempt. The problem is that no one knows who he was. Perhaps the lady, dressed all in black, who put a flower on his grave each year on the anniversary of his death, knows his identity. But, nobody ever…

1
Arsenic and Old Lace is Based on a True CT Murder Case 28:02

2M ago28:02

28:02

The 1944 Cary Grant classic Arsenic and Old Lace is portrayed as a comedy involving two elderly women who poison inhabitants of their New York home. In fact, the story is based on the real-life drama that unfolded in the early 1900s in one of CT’s first nursing homes, located in Windsor. We’ll hear the extraordinary story of one of the state’s firs…

1
The CT Compromise: Without It, We'd Have No Country 20:33

2M ago20:33

20:33

The only founding father who signed all four of the original documents forming the new United States was Connecticut’s Roger Sherman. Not only was he one of five members of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, but he brokered the so-called Connecticut Compromise, breaking a logjam that paved the way for the adoption of the U.…

1
The Flying Automobile was Invented in CT 20:41

3M ago20:41

20:41

One man – CT’s Robert Fulton – is responsible for three incredible inventions: the FAA-approved flying car known as the Airphibian, the Skyhook (for rescuing downed military pilots in remote locations), and the flight simulator (used to teach pilots how to fly without actually flying). Fulton had other incredible accomplishments during his life, an…

1
Can We Settle the Issue over Who Settled First? 19:36

3M ago19:36

19:36

The town of Wethersfield is the oldest in the state, in terms of an actual English settlement, even though English traders arrived in Windsor months before that (but they only established a trading post at first). Wethersfield was also the first CT town ever attacked by Native Americans. It was in retaliation for an earlier attack on them by Massac…

1
Tweed - CT's Little Airport That Could 21:57

3M ago21:57

21:57

Of the two commercial airports in Connecticut, the smaller of the two gets relatively little mention. Tweed-New Haven Airport, which straddles the New Haven-East Haven border, has been in business for nearly a century, when it was just a dirt landing strip. The history of the airport, and its namesake Jack Tweed, are told by the Director of Photo A…

1
Yankee Peddlers - Connecticut Introduces Door-to-Door Salesmen, in the 1700s 18:24

3M ago18:24

18:24

The infamous Yankee Peddlers are credited with originating in Berlin, CT – the same town where the tin industry started in the young United States. In fact, the same two individuals were responsible for starting both. In this episode, we’ll explore how the business model of door-to-door salesmen got its start, along with American consumerism itself…

1
How a CT Man Defined and Chiseled Mount Rushmore 26:29

4M ago26:29

26:29

The concept behind the Mount Rushmore National Memorial was conceived by a sculptor living in Connecticut, Gutzon Borglum. He and his son Lincoln selected the location for the monument, and Gutzon changed the original tourist attraction concept into a national monument featuring four presidents who he selected. The incredible story of how the memor…

1
Part 2: When a Secret CT Military Sea Mission Went Very Wrong 24:05

4M ago24:05

24:05

In the conclusion of the story of the sinking of the military research vessel the Sea Surveyor, we learn what happened to the 12-man crew on their secret mission. In part one, we learned their ship was sinking and they had abandoned it for a rubber lifeboat. It was being tossed in 25-foot waves and gale-force storm winds. We wrap-up the tale with a…

1
PART 1: When A Secret CT Military Sea Mission Went Very Wrong 18:00

4M ago18:00

18:00

Twelve men were aboard the ill-fated Sea Surveyor when it sank in rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean 50 years ago. Walter “Wally” Banzhaf was the youngest of the 12 on this secret military mission and was one of the survivors. He will share his story over a two-part series that begins with this episode. It is a mesmerizing tale that you won’t soon fo…

1
Riding Motorcycles with Top-Secret Documents Under Gunfire 15:38

4M ago15:38

15:38

A Connecticut man had a distinguished career in World War I as a member of the prestigious, 10-member motorcycle courier squad carrying top-secret documents on behalf of General John Pershing, head of U.S. forces in Europe. As the only non-professional motorcyclist on the squad, Carlton Stevens achieved notoriety when coming under gunfire while rid…

1
The #1 Word Puzzle Creator in the U.S. 20:41

5M ago20:41

20:41

The man who is the #1 syndicated creator of word puzzles in the U.S. is a CT native. David L. Hoyt is the author behind Jumble, as well as two for USA Today: “Word Round-up” and “Up and Down Words.” His story of getting involved in the puzzle world is fascinating – including the fact that his life’s dream was much different when he was in CT.…

1
Secrets of the Oldest Town Green 20:39

5M ago20:39

20:39

It’s the oldest town green in North America – one laid out in grid format and continuously maintained since colonial days. The New Haven Green has acquired many secrets in its nearly 400-year existence, including hidden cemeteries, historic churches, famous political visits, and its very purpose for existence. Learn the enchanting history behind on…

1
The Inside Story Behind New England's Stonewalls 24:44

5M ago24:44

24:44

You might look at stonewalls as so many people do – beautiful rows of rocks piled in lines along fields or through the woods. Yet, the history of stonewalls, and their New England charm, hide a more scientific purpose – namely, classifying them in ways similar to wetlands to allow consideration during future land use decisions. The topic of the 240…

1
This CT Harbor Attack is in the Same Record Book as Pearl Harbor 23:36

5M ago23:36

23:36

It’s one of the largest, single-day losses of boats by the United States in a military campaign – and it held that record for 200 years, until Pearl Harbor. The British raid on Essex during the War of 1812 saw more than two dozen ships destroyed. Also ruined were the local economy and the fortunes of those who made their living both in ship buildin…

1
Connecticut's Hanging of Witches in the 1600s 20:13

5M ago20:13

20:13

The Salem Witch Trials occurred in the 1690s. It was decades earlier that CT’s witchcraft frenzy occurred. Nearly a dozen women and men were hanged for witchcraft, until young CT Colony Governor John Winthrop used his political expertise to get the state to end executions entirely. This dark chapter in CT history is told by the State Historian Emer…

1
How One Ancient Dirt Path Paved the Future for Western CT 22:26

6M ago22:26

22:26

The successful development of western Connecticut, following the arrival of European settlers, can largely be attributed to a single dirt path, that was nearly lost to history. The 350-year-old Old Woodbury Path ran from the 1600s settlement of Woodbury to the bustling port of Derby, known at that time as the “new Boston” due to its importance as a…

1
Who Put the Ivory in Ivoryton? 20:35

6M ago20:35

20:35

From piano keys to combs, buttons, and other various other items, the smooth, glassy touch and feel of ivory was a highly regarded commodity in high demand. And 90% of the ivory products made throughout the world were made in two communities in the lower Connecticut River Valley for many decades. The Village of Ivoryton owes its name to the industr…

1
A CT Man's Top-Secret Project: "PO Box 1142" 22:50

6M ago22:50

22:50

During WW II, there was a top-secret project known as “Post Office Box 1142.” A Connecticut man played a major role in the operation, which focused on prisoners of war – both Americans held overseas as well as influential German and Italian prisoners who were kept at Fort Hunt in Virginia. A number of James Bond-like gadgets were made at Fort Hunt …

1
Who Really Killed Seymour's First Selectman? 23:39

6M ago23:39

23:39

It was nearly 100 years ago when the shooting death of Seymour First Selectman Ray Gilliard occurred in his Town Hall office. He called the telephone operator, said he had been shot, described his assailants, and asked for police and a doctor to be dispatched. Then, the line went dead. The outcome of the investigation shocked virtually everybody in…

1
CT Gave Birth to the Very First Robot 21:18

7M ago21:18

21:18

Connecticut is the home of many inventions. One that's of particular interest is the first robot. The first industrial robot ever placed on a production line was built in Danbury and spearheaded by the holder of the patent (George Devol, of Wilton) and the marketing mastermind who found the markets and promoted the invention (Joseph Engelberger, of…

1
One of CT's Biggest Disasters - the L'Ambiance Building Collapse 21:09

7M ago21:09

21:09

Today, we often hear of building collapses, with workers or members of the public trapped underneath debris. One of the first such incidents to capture the public’s attention was the collapse of the L’Ambiance apartment building while it was under construction in Bridgeport in 1987. Tons of concrete slab floors were being hoisted into place, while …

1
CT had its own Alamo - and it had a Gruesome Ending 20:20

7M ago20:20

20:20

Some call it, Connecticut’s Alamo. The Battle of Groton Heights was a massacre by any measure, with 1,600 British soldiers greatly outnumbering 165 Patriot soldiers in one of the last battles of the Revolutionary War. The British were led by Benedict Arnold, who had only recently switched allegiances and who was born less than 10 miles from the bat…

1
He Murdered for Love - and Hate 21:21

7M ago21:21

21:21

This 100-year-old western CT murder case was a difficult one to solve. There was no body in home where murder victim George Hultz lived that had burned to the ground. The motive was elusive. And the perpetrator who was eventually identified was quite good at deflecting suspicion. Yet, the man who would rise from Sergeant to Commissioner of the CT S…

1
Civil War Draft Dodging, with the Doctor's Help 20:21

8M ago20:21

20:21

When we speak about draft dodgers, we normally mean the potential recruits, who are trying to stay out of the military. In the case of Dr. Josiah Beckwith, he was a CT doctor examining recruits for the Civil War, and more than 90% of them got medical deferments, meaning they didn’t have to serve. The intriguing back story is told by the author of L…

1
Will CT Have Enough Open Space in the Future? 24:32

8M ago24:32

24:32

We live in a state with a lot of open space, correct? Well, while 60% of our land is forested, much of it is privately-owned and potentially subject to development. The state legislature established a goal of setting aside 21% of the state’s land by 2023. We’re at about 16%, and an extension to that target is being developed. Land trusts play a cri…

1
Noah Webster - Our Forgotten Founding Father 20:50

8M ago20:50

20:50

Connecticut native Noah Webster not only created the first American dictionary, but he made numerous contributions to the field of education, establishing teaching approaches that exist as the norm to this day. His writings on establishing a new U.S. government were studied by the authors of the U.S. Constitution – before they wrote it. He was the …

1
It's Connecticut's Only Zoo - And What a History it Has 25:31

8M ago25:31

25:31

Connecticut once had five zoos. Now, it just has one accredited facility – Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. Not only is the history of how the facility began quite interesting, but so it its mission of keeping highly endangered species alive and multiplying in the hope of keeping them from going extinct. The current director, Gregg Dancho, talks about …

1
Embracing Wins and Self-Worth with Chris Cownden 41:13

8M ago41:13

41:13

In this episode, host Rob Actis sits down with guest Chris Cownden, as they explore Chris's journey from a career-ending injury as a chef to finding success in marketing and podcasting. They discuss Chris's struggles with self-doubt and low self-esteem, and the impact of past experiences on his confidence. Join us as they share personal insights, d…

1
Did a CT Man Survive the Titanic by Wearing a Dress? 21:47

9M ago21:47

21:47

A CT man survived the sinking of the Titanic 110 years ago, but he was accused of getting into a “women and children only” lifeboat by wearing a dress. The problem is, it was a completely fabricated story. Yet, the lie followed William Sloper for the rest of his life, because his father urged him to ignore the controversy. In the absence of a denia…

1
When Your Small Plane Pilot Dies in Mid-Flight 35:02

9M ago35:02

35:02

Have you ever wondered what would happen if the pilot of a small plane you were riding in died in mid-flight? On Easter Sunday, 2009, the pilot of a twin-engine plane out of Florida suffered a fatal heart attack, leaving a father, his wife, and two daughters alone in the plane. A CT flight instructor, who was familiar with that type of plane, was c…

1
Breaking Stigmas: Mental Health and Suicide Conversations with Stacy Robertson 48:46

9M ago48:46

48:46

Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster ride: Stacy Robertson is a woman who defies the strict conformity of her upbringing and shares her story of resilience. She gives us a peek into her world of sex-work, suicidal depression and the mental health issues that have wreaked havoc on herself and those around her. Truly rising from the ashes, Stacy …

1
Which of CT's 169 Towns Came First? 20:17

9M ago20:17

20:17

There are 169 towns in Connecticut, and it would seem like a simple question: which town was the first to be settled? Well, there is still some controversy – nearly 400 years after the fact – as to whether it was Windsor or Wethersfield. The debate falls along the definition of settlement, versus trading post. Either way, some would argue, what abo…

1
20,000 Leagues Under Long Island Sound: PART TWO 23:30

9M ago23:30

23:30

In this second of a two-part series on the sinking of the S-48 submarine 100 years ago in Long Island Sound, we’ll have the exciting conclusion about the survival efforts made by the 41 crew members trapped 60 feet below the surface of The Sound, off the coast of Fairfield, with icy water and poisonous chlorine gas filling the vessel and no communi…

1
PART 1: 20,000 Leagues Under Long Island Sound 22:30

9M ago22:30

22:30

Many people have no idea that the S-48 submarine sank in Long Island Sound off the coast of Fairfield back in 1921, with 41 crewmen onboard. This first of a two-part series takes us through a detailed accounting of the first hours of what the crew encountered over a 12-hour period, based on statements from the survivors. It is an absolutely spellbi…

1
Inspirational Artistic Journey Through Racism and Resilience with Karole Forman-Conclusion 45:46

10M ago45:46

45:46

In this the conclusion of these 2 episodes, host Rob Actis engages in a powerful conversation with guest Karole Forman, who reflects on her journey of self-discovery through art and the challenges she faced. Karole also shares what it is like to perform as Billie Holiday in the theater perfomance in San Diego of LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR &GRILL. Jo…

1
This CT Ghost Story has Plenty of Credible Witnesses 29:00

10M ago29:00

29:00

It’s one of the most documented cases of supernatural activity in world history – the so-called “Lindley Street Poltergeist.” In a house in Bridgeport in the 1970s, the three residents were tormented by floating refrigerators, knives and crucifixes flying through mid-air, and a talking cat. More than a dozen police officers and firefighters reporte…

1
Inspirational Artistic Journey Through Racism and Resilience with Karole Forman 41:25

10M ago41:25

41:25

In this episode, host Rob Actis engages in a powerful conversation with guest Karole Forman, who reflects on her journey of self-discovery through art and the challenges she faced. Karole shares her experiences with confronting racism, finding her passion for drama, and the pivotal moments that shaped her resilience and determination. The episode a…

1
The U.N. was Supposed to be in Greenwich 17:38

10M ago17:38

17:38

The United Nations headquarters was originally supposed to be in Greenwich, CT. The search committee decision to build a Vatican-like city was announced in 1946. It would have consumed the entire northern half of the town and displaced a thousand residents. The ensuing community battle over the project designed to stop future world wars involved th…

1
New Year, New Possibilities: Unlocking Your Potential in 2024 with Rob Actis 8:45

10M ago8:45

8:45

Host Rob Actis takes us on a journey into the new year, exploring the keys to unlocking our potential and experiencing true transformation. He emphasizes the importance of resilience in the face of adversity and encourages setting meaningful intentions aligned with our values and aspirations. Rob's personal experiences and insights from incredible …

1
A Founding Father’s Son Jailed in CT 27:07

10M ago27:07

27:07

When Ben Franklin’s son, William Franklin, was born out of wedlock, he had to endure the taunts of his young peers for his illegitimacy. Through his famous father’s connections, though, he rose to become the last Royal Governor of New Jersey before the Revolutionary War ushered in a new government. William helped his father with the famous kite fly…

1
The Mystery Behind the Eerie Moodus Noises 27:37

10M ago27:37

27:37

The sound has been described as eerie, dreadful, and fearful. It’s been heard for at least a few centuries, and perhaps longer. The so-called “Moodus noises” have come to define the small village in East Haddam where the sounds come from. The legends that have grown around these noises have a fascinating background, which we’ll examine more closely…

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