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PODCAST

Not Past It

Ever wonder why the world is the way it is? Like, 1000s of years of humanity and this is the version of the world we came up with. This one? Same. Each Wednesday on Not Past It host Simone Polanen will pick a moment from that very same week in history -- and tell you how it shaped our lives today.

history

All Episodes

27:22

The Great Big Butter Battle

Not Past It ·

2025/03/26

128 years ago this week, news broke of a small-town butter contest turned scandalous. Dairy experts and buttermakers gathered in Meadville, Pennsylvania to award the state’s best butter. Little did they know, there was a cheat in their midst. These treacherous events sparked important questions for Meadvilleans, and for us all: Who can we trust? And what the heck is in our food? This episode originally aired April 5, 2023.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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30:53

The Price of Blood

Not Past It ·

2025/03/19

On March 15th, 1937—86 years ago this week— a new kind of bank opened in the US. That bank wouldn’t deal out money— it would deal out blood. Blood banks would help to revolutionize medicine, save countless lives, and make complex new surgeries possible. But who could put blood in those banks? Who couldn’t? And why? That has its own complicated history. One that we’ll look at through an event that happened not too long ago. This episode originally aired March 15, 2023.Learn more about your ad

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30:48

‘Come On Barbie, Let’s Go Party’

Not Past It ·

2025/03/12

Hey, Barbie Girls! On March 9th, 1959, the now-legendary Barbie doll debuted at the International Toy Fair. She was controversial from the start; her hot bod scandalized parents and intrigued kids across the country. But while grown-ups were clutching their pearls, a more pointed battle was brewing -- over the purpose of Barbie and the nature of play. This episode originally aired March 8, 2023.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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34:02

A Notorious Life After Death

Not Past It ·

2025/03/05

The Notorious B.I.G. was at the top of his game when he was murdered, 25 years ago this week. On March 9th, 1997, Christopher Wallace was gunned down in public. We’re telling the story of Biggie’s friendship with Tupac. Just not the one you may have heard. This episode originally aired March 9, 2022.Check out our Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac playlist to hear songs from the episode and other fan favorites. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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29:24

Korea’s Olympic Dream

Not Past It ·

2025/02/26

Before Squid Game, BTS, and Parasite, South Korea dazzled the world in a different field… figure skating. All thanks to their queen of the ice, Yuna Kim. On February 25, 2010 she set a new world record at the Winter Olympics. But Yuna’s path to the Olympics was bigger than her — and charts the history of a nation emerging into a new chapter. This episode originally aired February 23, 2022.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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33:42

The Nazi Hunter

Not Past It ·

2025/02/19

Simon Wiesenthal walked out of the Mauthausen concentration camp a survivor determined to hold war criminals accountable. When it was discovered that one of the Holocaust’s primary architects was in hiding, Simon was on the case. His 15 year globe-spanning hunt ended in 1960 with some secret spy photography that would make Simon a legend. His story would inspire those seeking justice to this day. Even if Simon’s hunt wasn’t entirely truthful. This episode originally aired February 16, 2022.*A

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28:15

F*** Your Slave Laws

Not Past It ·

2025/02/12

173 years ago this week, a new fugitive slave law loomed large over the city of Boston. Southern slave hunters were now empowered to travel up North, catch anyone who’d escaped slavery, and return them to bondage. That’s why, in 1851, they rolled through town looking for Shadrach Minkins, who fled from slavery in Virginia. The Black abolitionists of the city made it their mission to protect Shadrach. And they fought back — even if it meant breaking the law. This episode originally aired Feb. 15,

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37:26

TV’s Hail Mary Pass

Not Past It ·

2025/02/05

On February 1st, 2004— 19 years ago this week— Americans witnessed, live on television, a Super Bowl mishap that would impact our culture and media consumption to this day. So put on your jersey, grab some nachos and gather around for the history of the gridiron. We’re joined by Sam Sanders, host of the Vulture podcast, Into It & co-host of the Stitcher podcast, Vibe Check. This episode originally aired February 1, 2023.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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31:47

The Last Queen of Hawaii

Not Past It ·

2025/01/29

Before Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States of America, it was ruled by a monarchy. On January 29, 1891, Lili’uokalani was crowned Queen of Hawaii. She would be faced with the greed and violence of White sugar plantation owners that had been building under her brother, King Kalakaua. She was the first queen of the island nation and would be the last. This episode originally aired January 26, 2022.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

en

34:08

A New Sheriff in Town

Not Past It ·

2025/01/22

In the 1960s Alabama was at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. It’s the home of the years-long Montgomery Bus Boycotts and demonstrations in Selma for Black people to gain equal voting rights. But in Tuskegee, on January 16th, 1967 – history was made when Lucius Amerson was sworn in as Sheriff of Macon County, Alabama. He was the first Black documented sheriff in the South since Reconstruction. Amerson gained unprecedented power for a Black man in the South...and many people wanted to take

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24:44

The Sweet, but Deadly, Disaster

Not Past It ·

2025/01/15

On January 15, 1919, a tank exploded in Boston’s North End releasing a tsunami wave of molasses that plowed down the city’s streets at 35 miles per hour. It destroyed businesses and homes. Lives were lost. And in the wake of this sticky disaster, people were suspicious… What caused the tank to blow? Who was to blame? There were rumors of foul play. This episode originally aired January 12, 2022.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

en

31:40

The Kings of Drag

Not Past It ·

2025/01/08

Drag Kings. Gender Bending. Punk Rock. In the 1990s, that’s what Club Casanova was all about. Back then, New York City nightlife was poppin’. But so was crime. Both of which then Mayor Rudy Giuliani was hellbent on cleaning up. Luckily for him, a racist Prohibition-era law helped eradicate crime...and fun. And a few days before New Years 1998, Club Casanova was Rudy’s latest victim. This episode originally aired January 5, 2022.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

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32:05

Undercover at the Debutante Ball

Not Past It ·

2024/12/18

On December 22, 1972, St. Louis high society was readying itself for The Veiled Prophet Ball—a debutante ball for the daughters of the city’s most pedigreed families. Inside, thousands of guests at the white tie event settled in for an elegant evening. But just outside, a group of stealth activists was preparing to infiltrate the exclusive party, where they’d attempt to pull off a dramatic stunt and unveil the ugly truth behind the ball’s origins. This episode originally aired on Dec. 21,

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33:39

Santa Snafu

Not Past It ·

2024/12/11

On this episode, we’ll find out how a 19th-century obsession with the frigid Arctic snowballed into our mythology of Old Saint Nick. We’ll take a sneak peek into Santa’s bag of toys, answer his personal phone calls, and track his sleigh across the starry night sky. We’re joined by comedian and writer Karen Chee (Late Night with Seth Myers, Patchinko). This episode originally aired Dec. 14, 2022.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

en

36:52

World’s Most Famous Virgins

Not Past It ·

2024/12/04

Christmas is upon us. And, that means one thing at Not Past It: diving into the dark, twisted history of S E X. This week, Simone is taking our guest Eric Mennel on a domino history ride that starts with a bishop’s declaration of original sin and ends with the outward sexual displays of America’s beloved celebrities. This episode originally aired December 15, 2021.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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25:59

How To Invent A Holiday

Not Past It ·

2024/11/27

To usher in the holiday season, we’re offering up four historical events that we think should be celebrated on the first day of the last month of every year. These history holidays require no religion, gift-giving, or even cooking...just an appreciation for how the past shapes our lives. Come create a new tradition with us. This episode originally aired December 1, 2021.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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28:22

Sabotaging Thanksgiving

Not Past It ·

2024/11/20

Wamsutta Frank James, a member of the Wampanoag Tribe, led his fellow activists in protest of a Thanksgiving Celebration in Plymouth, MA. On November 26, 1970, he set the record straight as to the true and violent history of this holiday. The Pilgrim celebration went to shit and the first National Day of Mourning was born. This episode originally aired November 24, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

en

34:03

Murder in Ogoniland

Not Past It ·

2024/11/13

After four decades of devastating oil pollution in the Niger Delta, Ken Saro-Wiwa decided he couldn’t stand the injustices any longer. The Nigerian writer-turned-activist started campaigning to defend the rights of his people, the Ogoni, from the oil drilling that was destroying their land and way of life. But Ken paid a price. In this episode, actor Gbenga Akinnagbe (The Deuce, The Wire), brings Saro-Wiwa’s work to life. This episode originally aired November 17, 2021.Learn more about your ad

en

31:05

King Tut Died for Tourism

Not Past It ·

2024/11/06

King Tutankhamen, Egypt’s boy prince was laid to rest in a fantastical chamber of secrets. On November 4, 1922, the entrance to King Tut’s tomb was discovered 33 centuries after he was buried. But when the king’s tomb was disturbed strange things began to happen. This episode originally aired November 3, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

en

40:19

Election Trivia Smackdown

Not Past It ·

2024/10/30

It’s election season! That time of year when nasty political debates and nonstop campaign ads finally face their judges: you, members of democracy. We decided to honor this special time by bringing back the trivia show that swept the nation… but this time, election style. Guests Emma Choi and Mike Danforth from NPR show Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me roll up their sleeves and compete for the world’s sharpest political brain. This episode originally aired November 2, 2022.Learn more about your ad

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200 results

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