51: America Can’t Figure Out Daylight Saving Time (Part 2)
In his final episode on Daylight Saving Time, Norm tells us that America has flip flopped on Daylight Saving Time for decades. We love it! We hate it! We implement it; we rescind it. Will the battle ever end? Probably not! Will Norm survive the disease known as the flu? We sure hope so! Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: Austermuhle, Mar...
1hr 35m Apr 23, 2025
1hr 35m
50: Hello, Sunshine: Why We Have Daylight Saving Time (Part 1)
“OMG, the sun is up! Shouldn’t you be awake, doing productive things?” … that’s essentially what Benjamin Franklin shouted when he advocated to change the hours of human activity to take advantage of daylight. That idea later evolved into Daylight Saving Time. Since its inception, Daylight Saving Time has had its fans and critics. In this series, Norm refers to the critics as Sun Cynics. The f...
1hr 23m Apr 16, 2025
1hr 23m
49: Cleveland’s Chaotic 10-Cent Beer Night
In the summer of 1974, the Cleveland Indians had a big problem. Hardly anyone showed up for their games. It was embarrassing! So, the team’s management brainstormed ways to get butts in seats. Ultimately, they opted to host a handful of 10-cent beer nights. They hoped that the cheap beer would draw people to the stadium. The good news? The plan worked! The bad news? It was pandemonium! Rememb...
1hr 24m Apr 09, 2025
1hr 24m
48: The Great Cobra Scare of 1953
In the year of our Lord 1953, the city of Springfield, Missouri, had a terrible problem. Deadly cobras kept popping up in people’s yards! What were cobras doing in Missouri? They weren’t native to the area. Who the hell had rolled out the welcome mat?? For the local police, the sudden presence of cobras wasn’t nearly as mysterious as it sounded. A local store, the Mowrer Animal Company, sold a...
1hr 16m Apr 02, 2025
1hr 16m
47: DP Dupes Us!
In this *very special* episode of an Old Timey Podcast, we got DP’d. Ahem. By that, we mean that Kristin’s dad (aka DP) took over. He renamed the podcast. He accused Norm of having a dirty mind. Worst of all, he tricked us. (On our own podcast! In our own home! Is nothing sacred??) Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, DP pulled from: “Small Town, Big Con” ...
1hr 52m Mar 26, 2025
1hr 52m
46: Robert Smalls: An American Hero (Part 5)
The final chapter of Robert Smalls’ life was eventful, and, at times, frustrating. He gained and lost government appointments. He won and lost political races. He weathered attacks on his character and attacks on his constituents. Through it all, he used his intelligence and agility to battle a system that tried – and failed – to take him down. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their so...
1hr 45m Mar 19, 2025
1hr 45m
45: Robert Smalls Battles Bribery Charges (Part 4)
Brace yourselves. This episode is chock-full of post-reconstruction politics. Boy, is it grim! And also a little… relevant? (Ew!) As South Carolina politics turned on its head, Robert Smalls emerged as one of the few Republican politicians still able to hold his seat. Unfortunately, Smalls’ influence and popularity put a target on his back. Soon, his political opponents ensured that he was cha...
1hr 46m Mar 12, 2025
1hr 46m
44: Robert Smalls Fights For Equality (Part 3)
After the American Civil War, Robert Smalls navigated the complicated waters of Reconstruction. Black people struggled for basic rights against the White planter class, who refused to accept the end of slavery. In this difficult time, Robert Smalls rose to the occasion and became a leader in his community. He fought for public education, equality, suffrage, and protection against violent terro...
1hr 39m Mar 05, 2025
1hr 39m
43: Robert Smalls Fights the Confederacy! (Part 2)
In part two of our series on Robert Smalls, Robert proves that his ballsy escape from slavery was just part of his story. In this episode, Robert builds wealth, becomes the Captain of a Union ship, and helps persuade the government to allow Black soldiers to enlist in the Union Army. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: Lineberry, Cate. Be...
1hr 41m Feb 26, 2025
1hr 41m
42: The Daring Escape of Robert Smalls (Part 1)
As an enslaved man, Robert Smalls had one goal – to attain freedom for himself and his family. The odds were against him. He’d hoped to buy his wife and children from their enslaver, but saving that amount of money might take a lifetime. Then, when Robert’s home state of South Carolina seceded from the Union, freedom seemed even more out of reach. But then Robert got an idea. It would be bold. ...
1hr 44m Feb 19, 2025
1hr 44m
41: The Gay Jesus Movie Hoax
T’was an OUTRAGE! An Illinois-based company was working on a film about Jesus Christ. The problem? The film would portray Jesus as a drunk bank robber, a “swinging homosexual,” and a big fan of Hitler. Oh, and he’d also be depicted as having an affair with Mary Magdalene. … wouldn’t the affair with Mary Magdalene make him bisexual, you ask? DON’T ASK QUESTIONS. In fact, don’t bother fact check...
1hr 16m Feb 12, 2025
1hr 16m
40: Nell Donnelly Reed Conquers All (Part 3)
In the final episode of this series, we hear how it all shakes out. The trials end. The messy love square between the Donnellys and Reeds implodes. Kansas City Mafia boss Johnny Lazia meets his maker. The Donnelly Garment Company thrives, then dies. Through it all, Nell Donnelly Reed rises to untold prominence, but still manages to keep her secrets. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite the...
1hr 57m Feb 05, 2025
1hr 57m
39: The Mafia Rescues Nell Donnelly (Part 2)
James A. Reed was in federal court, about to argue his case, when a call came in from Kansas City. Nell Donnelly had been kidnapped. James panicked. To James, Nell was so much more than a celebrated fashion designer. She was his neighbor. She was his secret lover. She was the mother of his child. He’d do anything to save her – including threatening the head of the Kansas City mafia. Remember, ...
1hr 56m Jan 29, 2025
1hr 56m
38: The Kidnapping of Nell Donnelly (Part 1)
It was 6 p.m. on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1931. Legendary fashion designer Nell Donnelly was headed home from work. Her chauffeur, George Blair, drove Nell’s lime green Lincoln through the streets of downtown Kansas City. When they arrived at her palatial home, George noticed a vehicle blocking the driveway. Two unfamiliar men stood on either side of it. George slammed on the brakes. ...
1hr 56m Jan 22, 2025
1hr 56m
37: Stealing the Mona Lisa
Back in 1911, the Mona Lisa didn’t get a lot of attention. Art critics considered it an excellent example of a painting from the renaissance era, but the general public wasn’t nearly so enamored. That changed in August of that year, when someone plucked it off the wall of the Louvre, busted it out of its glass box and frame, and took off with it. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their...
2hr 6m Jan 15, 2025
2hr 6m
36: The Murder in Room 1046
When a dark haired man showed up at the Hotel President one January afternoon in 1935, the hotel staff couldn’t help but take note. He showed up without luggage. He seemed nervous. He said his name was Roland T. Owen and that he was from Los Angeles, but he spoke with a southern accent. At one point, the hotel maid overheard him speak on the phone with a man named Don. She spotted a note he’d ...
1hr 50m Jan 08, 2025
1hr 50m
35: Pocahontas Ends a War (Part 5)
In this final episode of our series on Pocahontas, we see Pocahontas navigate life as a kidnapped young woman. She gets a marriage proposal. She ushers in an era of peace for her people. She gives birth. She’s taken to England. At one point, she tells off that douchelord, John Smith. Her life story presents challenges for historians, not just because Native American oral history conflicts with...
1hr 55m Dec 18, 2024
1hr 55m
34: Pocahontas Gets Kidnapped! (Part 4)
In this episode, tensions rise and true crime abounds. And, like an old timey episode of Dateline, it starts off peachy keen! Pocahontas married a warrior. She had a child. She lived what seemed to be a happy, normal life. But being the favorite daughter of Chief Wahunsenaca put a target on her back. It wasn’t long before English settlers decided to kidnap her. Remember, kids, history hoes alw...
1hr 46m Dec 11, 2024
1hr 46m
33: Was Pocahontas a Spy?? (Part 3)
Chief Wahunsenaca was in a tough spot. English settlers were camped out nearby, desperate for food but heavily armed. He thought he might bring them under his fold by offering them food and community. To help ensure meetings remained peaceful, he sent his favorite daughter, Pocahontas, as a sign of trust. Over the next year, Pocahontas frequently visited Jamestown. She brought food, taught the...
1hr 27m Dec 04, 2024
1hr 27m
32: Pocahontas was *not* into John Smith (Part 2)
When the English popped up on the shore of the “New World,” they were in rough shape. They didn’t have much food, knew next to nothing about their surroundings, and had a boatload of diseases. The English also brought with them an interesting worldview. They figured that Native Americans would be thrilled to: Give them food, work for them, change religions, and one day pay taxes to the King. T...
1hr 38m Nov 20, 2024
1hr 38m
31: Pocahontas: More Than a Disney Movie (Part 1)
Over the years, Pocahontas’ life story has become distorted, sensationalized and mythologized. Hell, it even got turned into an exceptionally crappy Disney movie! In this series, Norm separates fact from fiction as he delves into the complicated, fascinating life of Pocahontas. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: Custalow, Linwood, and An...
1hr 33m Nov 13, 2024
1hr 33m
30: Ya Call This Art?? (Patreon Bonus)
Note: Hi friends. We had to say goodbye to our sweet, 17-year-old cat, Boo, this week, so we’re releasing this episode from our Patreon. We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming next week. Teri Horton didn’t mince words. The $5 thrift store painting she’d picked up for a friend was ugly. Very ugly. It wasn’t even what she’d call art. It looked like blobs and sprays of paint flung w...
1hr 56m Nov 06, 2024
1hr 56m
29: Frances Perkins Gave Us the Weekend (Part 2)
Frances Perkins wasn’t just the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet. She was also America’s longest serving Secretary of Labor. The only thing that overshadows her status as a trailblazer is what she accomplished in office. She’s the reason we have Social Security. She led the fight to end child labor, to establish a minimum wage and to create the 40-hour work week. She tried to esta...
1hr 47m Oct 30, 2024
1hr 47m
28: Frances Perkins Fights For Workers Rights (Part 1)
Frances Perkins was the first woman to serve in a presidential cabinet. She’s the reason we have Social Security. She led the fight to end child labor, to establish a minimum wage and to create the 40-hour work week. In this episode, we find out how this remarkable woman got her start. Did it help that her birth name was Fanny??? Possibly! Bad names build character! Remember, kids, history hoe...
1hr 39m Oct 23, 2024
1hr 39m
27: The Gross History of the Lobotomy
Walter Jackson Freeman wanted to do something *big.* As a neurologist for the nation’s largest psychiatric hospital, he saw patients who desperately needed help. But, absent any major medical breakthroughs, Walter was powerless to do much of anything. So he spent years searching for *the thing* that separated people with mental illnesses from the normies. He studied brains. He measured them. H...
1hr 54m Oct 16, 2024
1hr 54m
26: The 1904 St. Louis Olympics Sucked (Part 2)
America’s first Olympic games were bad. But just how bad were they??? The 1904 St. Louis Olympics were part of a World’s Fair that featured human zoos, a display of premature babies, a racist athletic event called “Anthropology Days,” and more! The actual Olympic competitions were disorganized and featured mostly American athletes. And for the turd on this poo sundae - a marathon event that al...
2hr 2m Oct 09, 2024
2hr 2m
25: How Chicago Lost the 1904 Olympics (Part 1)
Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin was embarrassed. He had just revived the Ancient Olympic Games on a global scale. But the 1900 Games in his hometown of Paris, France were a disaster. They were a sideshow at the World’s Fair! Many competitors weren’t even aware they were participating in the Olympics! Next time around, Coubertin vowed to find a host nation that would appreciate the Olympics. And...
1hr 37m Oct 02, 2024
1hr 37m
24: An 18th Century Robot That…Played Chess??
Wolfgang von Kempelen was unimpressed. Empress Maria Theresa had invited him to attend a magic show, hoping he’d tell her how the tricks worked. Instead, he told her – and everyone else in her court – that the tricks just plain sucked. He claimed he could do better. Stunned, Maria gave him six months off work to create something that would dazzle her court. So, six months later, Wolfgang von Ke...
1hr 33m Sep 25, 2024
1hr 33m
23: The Great Emu War!
Picture it! 1932. Western Australia. Emus were taking over. They were gobbling up and trampling farmers’ wheat, and in turn, destroying their livelihoods. Something had to be done. So, the Australian government came up with a *novel* solution. They’d arm three members of the Royal Australian Artillery with machine guns. They figured those tall, flightless birds would be easy prey. They were wro...
1hr 23m Sep 18, 2024
1hr 23m
22: The Story of the Super Soaker!
Lonnie Johnson was a smart guy — a very smart guy. As a NASA engineer, he spent his days coming up with solutions to complex problems. But when he went home, Lonnie’s brain kept whirring. So, he invented. He tinkered. He imagined. The vast majority of his creations had scientific, practical purposes. But his idea for a pressurized water gun? Well, that was just pure fun. Remember, kids, histor...
1hr 38m Sep 11, 2024
1hr 38m
21: Mount Rushmore: Awesome and Awful (Part 4)
In the finale of our Mount Rushmore series, Mount Rushmore National Memorial gets finished. But the final product isn’t quite what Gutzon Borglum envisioned. The presidents aren’t sculpted down to their waists. There is no entablature. There is no true hall of records. There isn’t a message, written in three languages, in the hope that it’ll one day become Rosetta Stone 2: Electric Boogaloo. A...
1hr 45m Sep 04, 2024
1hr 45m
20: Wait… Does Mount Rushmore Suck? (Part 3)
There are so many reasons why Mount Rushmore National Monument *shouldn’t* exist. Right from the start, there was opposition. Environmentalists called the proposed monument a desecration. Native Americans rightly asserted that the Black Hills — and specifically the Six Grandfathers Mountain (aka Mount Rushmore) — was their property. But that didn’t stop Gutzon Borglum, or his circle of high-po...
1hr 55m Aug 28, 2024
1hr 55m
19: Before Mount Rushmore, There Was Stone Mountain (Part 2)
Before he set his sights on Mount Rushmore, sculptor Gutzon Borglum had a vision for a massive monument to the Confederacy. He figured that Stone Mountain, located just outside of Atlanta, would be the perfect spot for his magnum opus. The United Daughters of the Confederacy agreed. So did their BFFs, the KKK. For years, the project seemed to be going well. It ended in disaster. Remember, kids...
1hr 41m Aug 21, 2024
1hr 41m
18: Mount Rushmore: America’s Weirdest Monument (Part 1)
In this series, we’re talking about something… pretty weird! It’s the fact that, roughly 100 years ago, a handful of people thought it’d be a really good idea to carve four gigantic faces into the side of a mountain. But why did they do it? Whose idea was it?? And finally, they were so busy asking if they could… DID THEY EVEN THINK TO ASK IF THEY SHOULD??? In this episode, we take a look at th...
1hr 29m Aug 14, 2024
1hr 29m
17: “Hunting Hitler” Broke Norm (Part 5)
In the History Channel’s “Hunting Hitler,” a group of experts embark on a disingenuous investigation into what became of Adolf Hitler. They consult unreliable witnesses. They make something out of nothing. They cherry pick evidence, and occasionally, they outright lie. Throughout the show, they ignore the forensic evidence, eyewitness accounts, and thorough investigations that showed what we al...
2hr 3m Aug 07, 2024
2hr 3m
16: "Hunting Hitler" is Irresponsible BS (Part 4)
Put on your tin foil hats, kids! It’s time for “Hunting Hitler.” In previous episodes of this series, Norm covered Hitler’s final days, his suicide, and the subsequent investigations into his death. But the fine folks from the History Channel’s “Hunting Hitler” program want you to believe that Adolf Hitler truly might have escaped the bunker, unscathed. In this episode, we don our finest tin f...
1hr 35m Jul 31, 2024
1hr 35m
15: Anyone Seen Hitler’s Body? (Part 3)
Reports of Adolf Hitler’s death filled newspapers around the globe, but was he *really* dead? Like, for real?? Misinformation from the Soviet Union left people all over the world fearing that Hitler might have escaped the bunker. Soon, British and American intelligence stepped in to conduct their own investigations. Over time, the truth emerged. (But Hitler didn’t, because he was super dead.) ...
1hr 48m Jul 24, 2024
1hr 48m
14: Hitler Goes to Hell! (Part 2)
In his final days, Adolf Hitler wallowed in self pity, sent children into war, and held tea parties into the wee hours of the morning. He also threw himself a birthday party. The guest list was a real who’s who of Most Evil Humans! Ultimately, Hitler decided to take his ball and go home. (And by that, we of course mean that he shot himself and went to hell.) Remember, kids, history hoes alway...
1hr 43m Jul 17, 2024
1hr 43m
13: Adolf Hitler’s Fart-Filled Bunker (Part 1)
The History Channel’s “Hunting Hitler” poses really stupid, already answered questions about the death of Adolf Hitler. Normie C is having none of it! In this series, Norm will cover Adolf Hitler’s final days, his suicide, and finally, Norm will address the conspiracy theories that Hitler made it out of that bunker alive. In this episode, we learn about Hitler’s smorgasbord of medications, his...
2hr 1m Jul 10, 2024
2hr 1m
12: Lucy Goes Home (Part 7)
As Lucille Ball grew older, she struggled to keep her career going. She got back into movies. She started another sitcom. But critics were cruel. In addition to critiquing her work, they critiqued her – for looking her age. By the mid-80s, she found herself on the receiving end of countless accolades and lifetime achievement awards. But Lucy wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet. Remembe...
1hr 58m Jul 03, 2024
1hr 58m
11: Lucy and Desi Get Divorced (Part 6)
After nearly 20 years of marriage, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz called it quits. Their divorce was quick, but it wasn’t simple. They’d grown Desilu into a major Hollywood studio, on par with MGM, Warner Brothers and Twentieth Century Fox. In order to keep the business going, they had to work together. And when that didn’t work out, Lucy had to figure out how to be the boss. Remember, kids, hist...
2hr 23m Jun 26, 2024
2hr 23m
10: Lucy Loves Communism?? (Part 5)
Lucille Ball had everything she’d ever wanted. She had the #1 show on television. She had a family. She had money. But Lucy was waiting for the other shoe to drop. And in the spring of 1952, it did. FBI agents showed up at her door, wanting to know about her relationship to the communist party. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Kristin pulled from: “Love...
2hr 18m Jun 19, 2024
2hr 18m
9: "I Love Lucy!" (Part 4)
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz had a goal – to star in a TV show as husband and wife. But there were about a million obstacles in their way. For one thing, CBS didn’t want to buy a TV show that featured an interracial couple. Major companies didn’t want to sponsor the show for that same reason. There was even a battle over where to film the show. In these negotiations, Desi proved himself to be a...
1hr 54m Jun 12, 2024
1hr 54m
8: Lucy’s Career Hits the Fan! (Part 3)
Lucille Ball wanted it all. She wanted to become an A-list actress. She wanted to have children. She wanted a happy marriage. But if the 1940s taught her anything, it was that she wasn’t in control. Her husband, Desi Arnaz, cheated on her constantly. They wanted children together, but suffered several miscarriages. By the end of the decade, Lucy’s only unequivocal professional success was a co...
2hr 4m Jun 05, 2024
2hr 4m
7: Lucy Goes to Hollywood (Part 2)
Lucille Ball arrived in Hollywood ready to work. She honed her craft. She made powerful friends. She got bigger and bigger roles. Soon, she became known as the queen of the b’s. As in, queen of b-movies. Critics spotted her talent, but noted that poorly written scripts and low budget films were holding her back. Nevertheless, Lucy persisted. And then, one day on set, Lucy met a handsome young...
2hr 15m May 29, 2024
2hr 15m
6: Lucille Ball’s No Good Very Bad Childhood (Part 1)
Lucille Ball was a legendary comedian. She was a studio executive. Together with her real-life husband, Lucy created the modern sitcom. …but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. In this episode, we’ll focus on Lucy’s tumultuous childhood and the years she spent struggling to get into showbusiness. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Kristin pulled from: The ...
1hr 50m May 22, 2024
1hr 50m
5: John Brown Goes to Court (Part 4)
He led a massacre. He led a raid. And now, in the final episode of this series, anti-slavery crusader John Brown goes on trial. His trial had everything – peanut shells, a cozy cot, and not a speck of justice in sight. In John Brown’s final act, he became a martyr. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: “Midnight Rising: John Brown and the R...
1hr 55m May 15, 2024
1hr 55m
4: John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry (Part 3)
In part three of Norm’s coverage of John Brown, shit *officially* hits the fan. After years of planning, John Brown leads his men in a raid on the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Things quickly go awry. They shoot an innocent man. They get outnumbered. But John Brown refuses to back down. Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: “Mi...
1hr 50m May 08, 2024
1hr 50m
3: John Brown’s Sausage Fest (Part 2)
Welcome back to part two of Norm’s coverage of famed anti-slavery crusader, John Brown. In this episode, John and his squad prepare for their infamous raid on Harpers Ferry. In the leadup to the attack, John dodges saboteurs, refuses to compromise, and bores the ever-loving shit out of Frederick Douglass. Plus, he comes up with a cool new invention - a knife on a stick! Remember, kids, history...
2hr 24m May 01, 2024
2hr 24m
2: Carry A. Nation wasn’t *that* tall
Good history hoes probably think they know about Carry Nation. She was the woman who busted into saloons with a hatchet and smashed everything to booze-soaked bits! In fact, she liked smashing up bars so much that she did it again. And again! And again!! People called her crazy! And ugly! And tall! …which we all can agree is equally bad!(?) In this episode, Kristin posits that Carry A. Nation...
2hr 45m Apr 24, 2024
2hr 45m