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PODCAST

History on the Margins

John Williamson

History on the Margins is your passport to the forgotten, the overlooked, and the just plain bizarre corners of the past. Hosted by John Williamson - history degree, almost-history teacher, and lifelong storyteller - this podcast digs into the weird, wild, and lessor-known stories that didn't make it into your high school textbook. From oddball inventions to historical head-scratchers, each episode is a dive into the strange side of history you never knew you needed.

history documentary

All Episodes

13:32

The Radium Girls

History on the Margins ·

2025/12/02

Episode SummaryIn this episode of History on the Margins, we dig into one of the most shocking and overlooked stories of the early 20th century — the Radium Girls. These young factory workers were told that the glowing paint they handled every day was perfectly safe. They were encouraged to lip-point paintbrushes dipped in radioactive radium, dusted with luminous powder that looked almost magical… until their bones began to rot from the inside.This is the story of exploitation, corporate deception,

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15:43

The History of the Engagement Ring

History on the Margins ·

2025/11/11

Episode SummaryWhy do we give engagement rings? Why diamonds? And who decided they should cost two months’ salary? In this episode of History on the Margins, we trace the surprising history of engagement rings—from ancient Egypt and Rome to medieval church law, Renaissance nobility, and modern marketing campaigns. What started as a symbol of ownership and contract evolved into one of the most enduring (and expensive) cultural traditions in the world.We’ll explore:• The ancient Egyptian belief in the

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18:43

The History of Political Parties in the U.S.

History on the Margins ·

2025/11/04

Episode SummaryIn this episode, John pulls back the curtain on the often chaotic, surprising, and downright weird history of political parties in the United States. From the Founding Fathers’ warnings about factionalism to the two-party dominance we know today, this episode traces how American politics evolved into its modern form — complete with ideological flip-flops, backroom deals, and some truly strange alliances along the way.Expect humor, history, and a few “wait… what?” moments as we follow

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13:39

The Weird History of Death

History on the Margins ·

2025/10/31

Death. It’s the one club we’re all eventually joining — and yet humans have spent centuries coming up with wildly creative, occasionally terrifying, and sometimes downright hilarious ways to deal with it.In this episode, John dives into the weird history of death traditions from around the world — from Victorian post-mortem photography and Sin-Eaters who literally consumed people’s sins for a paycheck, to sky burials, memento mori jewelry, and funeral strippers (yes, that’s a thing).With a mix of

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11:31

Banishing Spirits: A History of Exorcisms

History on the Margins ·

2025/10/21

Episode SummaryFrom ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day claims of possession, this episode delves into the long, complex, and often misunderstood history of exorcism. We explore religious, cultural, legal, and social dimensions: what exorcism meant in different cultures, how it evolved, how it intersects with mental health, and why it remains both feared and ritualized in many parts of the world.Suggested Further Reading & Sources • National Geographic — “Catholic exorcisms are real—and they have

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13:49

The History of Horror Movie Hosts!

History on the Margins ·

2025/10/14

From flickering late-night screens to campy costumes and corny jokes, horror movie hosts became an unlikely cultural phenomenon. These quirky guides not only introduced monster movies and B-movie thrillers to new generations but also created a shared community experience for fans who tuned in week after week.In this episode, we explore:📺 The origins of horror hosting in the 1950s with Shock Theater packages and local TV personalities.👻 Trailblazers like Vampira, who pioneered the role of

en-US

17:33

The History of Scary Movies

History on the Margins ·

2025/10/07

Episode Summary:From shadowy German expressionists to blood-soaked slashers, horror films have terrified, thrilled, and (sometimes) accidentally made us laugh for over a century. But where did the genre come from? What do our collective fears say about us? And how did we get from Nosferatu to Saw without losing our popcorn?In this episode, we pull back the curtain—and maybe the shower curtain—on the long, dark hallway that is the history of horror movies. You’ll meet the monsters that haunted early

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16:40

The Great Molasses Flood of 1919

History on the Margins ·

2025/09/30

OverviewIn this episode, we unravel the bizarre and deadly Boston catastrophe: when a massive molasses storage tank exploded in the North End, unleashing a tsunami of sticky syrup through city streets. We examine the science behind the disaster, the heroic response, the legal aftermath, and the sweeping safety reforms that followed.Key Discussion Points1. The Explosion Itself • On January 15, 1919 around 12:30 p.m., a 50‑foot‑tall steel tank containing approximately 2.3 million US gallons of

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12:29

The Corpse Synod of 897

History on the Margins ·

2025/09/23

Episode Description:In the year 897, Pope Stephen VI ordered the rotting corpse of his predecessor, Pope Formosus, to be dug up, dressed in papal robes, propped up on a throne, and put on trial.Yes, this actually happened.This bizarre and macabre moment in church history—known as the Cadaver Synod or Synodus Horrenda—is one of the most infamous (and grotesque) episodes of the medieval papacy. In this episode, John Williamson dives deep into the political chaos of 9th-century Rome, explains how the

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22:33

The History of Shaving

History on the Margins ·

2025/09/16

OverviewThis episode traces the age‑old practice of shaving—from prehistoric tools to modern razors—examining how culture, technology, and even gender influenced how we shave. Along the way, we explore evolving tools, the rise of barbers, and how societal beauty ideals shaped personal grooming.Key Topics & Source Highlights1. Ancient Roots of Shaving• Prehistoric humans used clam shells, flint, and even pumice stones or flames to remove hair. These tools date back tens of thousands of years.• In

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16:50

The Real Story of Paul Revere and the Midnight Ride

History on the Margins ·

2025/09/09

OverviewThis episode explores the true story behind one of America’s most enduring legends: Paul Revere’s midnight ride on April 18, 1775. We go beyond Longfellow’s famous poem to examine the historical context, the real events, the unsung riders, and how myth overtook fact over time.Suggested Learning Path 1. Read David Hackett Fischer’s Paul Revere’s Ride—a well-regarded biography and historical account. 2. Listen to dramatizations and factual podcasts such as History Daily, American History Hit,

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14:36

The Dancing Plague of 1518

History on the Margins ·

2025/09/04

Episode Description:In the hot summer of 1518, a woman in Strasbourg walked into the street and started dancing. She didn’t stop for days. Then dozens joined her. And then hundreds. It became so intense that some danced themselves to death.But what caused this bizarre outbreak? Mass hysteria? Ergot poisoning? Or was it a town gripped by something even stranger?In this episode of History on the Margins, John Williamson digs into one of the weirdest unexplained events in European history. With his

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16:07

The History of Bathing

History on the Margins ·

2025/09/02

Episode Description:Why did ancient Romans bathe daily while Europeans in the Middle Ages feared water could kill them? What do soap made from animal fat, medieval plague paranoia, and public bathhouses turned brothels all have in common? In our very first episode, we take a plunge into the surprising and sometimes stinky history of bathing.Join host John Williamson—history degree holder, almost history teacher, and proud shower enthusiast—as he scrubs away the layers of history to reveal the

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16:34

The Weird History of College Sports

History on the Margins ·

2025/08/26

📌 Episode Description:Welcome to History on the Margins – the podcast where we dig into the weird, the wild, and the wonderfully overlooked corners of history. And what better way to kick things off than with a teaser episode just in time for the start of college football season?In this episode, we take you on a fast-paced ride through the strangest stories in college sports: from teams accidentally scoring on themselves, to mascots getting straight-up kidnapped, to games interrupted by wildlife,

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14 results

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