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Ebbs of History

The Ebbs of History

Welcome to Ebbs of History, the show where we dive into the strangest, wildest, and sometimes downright creepiest stories the past has to offer. From Dancing Plagues to Pirate Queens, we’ll laugh, we’ll gasp, but most importantly, we will learn how history is way cooler than your textbook ever told you. Every episode, we will take a quick trip through time, then see what lessons we can still learn today. This is the Ebbs of History!

history education for kids

All Episodes

00:51:14

When a Battle Changed Everything

Ebbs of History ·

2026/10/08

Eighteen days. That's all it took to end five hundred years of Anglo-Saxon England. In eighteen days, a king wins the greatest victory of his life, marches 250 miles, dies on a hillside, and a duke from Normandy is crowned in a burning abbey. Every word of English you're hearing right now, half of it exists because of what happened in those eighteen days. Primary sources William of Poitiers, Gesta Guillelmi (Deeds of Duke William), William of Jumièges, Gesta Normannorum Ducum (Deeds of the Norman

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00:45:16

When a Comet Predicted Doom

Ebbs of History ·

2026/10/01

In the spring of 1066, a flaming comet lit up the skies over England for seven straight nights — and every kingdom in Europe knew what it meant: blood. Three men wanted Harold Godwinson's crown. A Viking warlord with the wildest résumé in medieval Europe was sharpening his axes. And Harold's own brother had switched sides. Join us for a bridge, a berserker, and the greatest victory an English king ever won — three days before it stopped mattering.Primary sourcesAnglo-Saxon Chronicle — Manuscripts C

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00:55:08

When a Saint, a Strongman, and a Bastard All Wanted...

Ebbs of History ·

2026/09/24

A celibate almost-saint on the throne. An earl who may or may not have been struck dead by a piece of bread. A young Norman duke across the Channel who's been quietly told England is his — and one English nobleman tricked into swearing on a chest full of hidden holy relics. Before 1066 has three kings in a single year, it has one very tangled promise. This is the calm before the storm. Primary sources - Anglo-Saxon Chronicle -Vita Ædwardi Regis (Life of King Edward), anon. c. 1065–67, Barlow edition

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00:35:08

When England Had Three Kings in Seven Years

Ebbs of History ·

2026/09/17

A stranded heir. A usurper nicknamed "Bunny Feet." A grieving mother locked in a treasury. And a Norman prince whose murder England will pay for fifty years later. Three kings, seven years, and the moment that gave William the Conqueror his excuse. Primary sources Anglo-Saxon Chronicle John of Worcester, Chronicon Encomium Emmae Reginae (c. 1041–42) Encomium Emmae Reginae (Wikipedia) Reputable secondary Harold Harefoot (Wikipedia) | Harthacnut (Wikipedia) The Death and Exhumation of Harold Harefoot

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00:41:26

When a Viking Teenager Conquered England

Ebbs of History ·

2026/09/10

A runaway Viking teenager. A ghost king with a spear. A queen who out-negotiated an empire. In 1013, England is falling apart — and one eighteen-year-old is about to change the course of European history. Episode 1 of our six-part journey to the Norman Conquest starts here. Primary Anglo-Saxon Chronicle — https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/657 Heimskringla, Snorri Sturluson (Laing translation) — https://www.gutenberg.org/files/598/598-h/598-h.htm Encomium Emmae Reginae — Fordham Internet Medieval

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00:36:10

When a Flower Cost More Than a House

Ebbs of History ·

2026/09/03

In 1630s Holland, a single flower bulb could cost more than a canal house. How did a tulip become the world's most expensive object, and did the crash really send ruined merchants jumping into the canals? Grab your onion and let's find out.Sources• Wikipedia, "Tulip mania" (price data, Semper Augustus valuation, Mackay's claims, Thompson's contract-conversion argument, modern reassessments): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_mania• Smithsonian Magazine, "There Never Was a Real Tulip Fever" (Anne

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01:11:49

When Your Brain Gets Hacked: A Crash Course in...

Ebbs of History ·

2026/08/20

Can your own brain trick you? This episode turns critical thinking into a survival skill for spotting bad arguments, bias, misinformation, and online manipulation.Lost at Sea Shanty by legacyAlli Link: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/legacyalli/sound-phrases/rf-lost-at-sea-shanty/ License: Attribution 4.0 International License

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00:30:15

When A Man Survived Two Atomic Bombs

Ebbs of History ·

2026/08/06

Dive into the harrowing tale of Tsutomu Yamaguchi, the only known survivor of both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings. Discover how a businessman’s ordinary trip turned into an extraordinary testament to human resilience.SourcesWikipedia: Tsutomu Yamaguchi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsutomu_YamaguchiHISTORY.com: "The Man Who Survived Two Atomic Bombs" — https://www.history.com/articles/the-man-who-survived-two-atomic-bombsBiography.com: "Tsutomu Yamaguchi" —

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00:25:38

When Stranger Things Was Real

Ebbs of History ·

2026/07/30

Today, we're diving into a chilling chapter of history that blurs the lines between reality and fiction — the infamous MK Ultra program. Imagine a world where government experiments pushed the boundaries of human consciousness, much like the eerie twists in Stranger Things. What really happened behind closed doors? Join us as we uncover the secrets and the lessons from this dark tale.SourcesBritannica, "MK-ULTRA | CIA, LSD, Mind Control, Cold War, & Discovery" |

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00:29:49

When the Moon Was Full of Man-Bats

Ebbs of History ·

2026/07/23

Discover how a sensational 19th‑century newspaper hoax about moon‑dwelling creatures captivated a bewildered public—and why its wild tale still tickles our imaginations today. Join us as we unravel the absurd, the unknown, and the unforgettable twists of the Great Moon Hoax of 1835, all while laughing at our own clueless co‑hosts.SourcesStuff You Missed in History Class, "SYMHC Classics: The Great Moon Hoax of 1835, Part 1" (YouTube transcript): detailed walkthrough of the six articles and the

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00:32:56

When World War I Stopped… for Soccer

Ebbs of History ·

2026/07/16

Get ready to unwrap the mystery behind “Silent Night” — a tale that starts with a quiet snowfall and ends with a surprising twist you never saw coming. Join us as we peel back the layers of history, humor, and heart, and discover why this story still echoes today. Imperial War Museum: "The Real Story of the Christmas Truce" — https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-real-story-of-the-christmas-truceHISTORY: "WWI's Christmas Truce: When Fighting Paused for the Holiday" —

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00:28:46

When Women Fought Back Against Glowing Death

Ebbs of History ·

2026/07/09

In the 1920s, young women painting watch dials with radium were told the glowing substance was completely harmless. They were even encouraged to lick their brushes to keep a fine point. But as their bodies began to glow in the dark and their bones crumbled, these women realized they had been poisoned. Their fight for justice against powerful corporations became a landmark case that transformed workplace safety laws and established the right of workers to sue for occupational diseases. This is the

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00:27:38

When America Picked the Wrong Birthday

Ebbs of History ·

2026/07/02

Get ready to travel back to the fireworks‑filled summer of 1864, where a daring raid on a small coastal town sparked a chain of unexpected heroics, betrayals, and a mystery that still haunts historians today—perfect for anyone who loves a good twist on the classic Fourth of July tale.Sources: Grunge: Things That Don't Make Sense About The Fourth Of July — https://www.grunge.com/1881645/things-dont-make-sense-independence-day-july-fourth/ Massachusetts Historical Society: John Adams to Abigail Adams,

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00:32:57

When Soccer Became Stranger Than Fiction

Ebbs of History ·

2026/06/25

Dive into this week’s bizarre soccer saga where the unexpected twists on the field will leave you laughing, gasping, and questioning everything you thought you knew about the beautiful game—plus a surprise that ties it all together!Sources: Wikipedia: Sam Bartram — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Bartram Snopes: Is This Soccer Goalkeeper 'Lost in the Fog'? — https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/goalkeeper-lost-in-fog/ Associated Press, "London's Fog Is Deceiving to Goalkeeper," December 27, 1937 The

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00:30:36

When the Queen's Makeup Was Poisoning Her

Ebbs of History ·

2026/06/18

Ever wondered how a queen’s quest for flawless skin might have sealed her fate? This week we peel back the layers of Elizabeth I’s legendary white makeup, separating myth from history and exposing the deadly beauty secrets that could turn vanity into poison. Join us as we uncover the truth behind the inch‑thick ceruse, the rumors of lead‑laden death, and what this cautionary tale tells us about image, power, and the price we pay for perfection. Sources: - Wikipedia: Venetian ceruse —

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00:34:32

When a Soccer Game Started a Real War

Ebbs of History ·

2026/06/11

Content note: this episode briefly discusses the death by suicide of an 18-year-old in 1969 and how the media of the time used her death politically. We handle it carefully but listeners may want to be aware.If you need to talk to someone, in the U.S. call or text 988.Imagine a World Cup qualifier that ignites a full‑scale war—three soccer matches, a border crisis, and a hundred‑hour conflict that reshaped Central America. Dive into the shocking tale of how a game of football turned into a deadly

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00:29:18

When Ireland Had a Pirate Queen

Ebbs of History ·

2026/06/04

Dive into the wild world of 16th‑century Ireland, where a fierce mother‑captain named Grace O'Malley defied kings, gave birth on a ship, and fought off pirates the next day—proving that history’s fiercest rebels can also be moms.Sources: Chambers, Anne. Granuaile: Grace O'Malley — Ireland's Pirate Queen c. 1530–1603. Gill Books.Wikipedia: Grace O'Malley — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_O'Malley Royal Museums Greenwich: Grace O'Malley —

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00:32:49

When America Tried to Conquer Canada and Failed...

Ebbs of History ·

2026/05/28

In 1812, the United States declared war on Britain and immediately set its sights on conquering Canada. American leaders were so confident that Thomas Jefferson claimed taking Canada would be "a mere matter of marching." What followed was one of the most embarrassing military disasters in American history: three separate invasions, all ending in failure, surrender, and humiliation. From a general who surrendered an entire fort without firing a shot to militia who refused to cross the border, this is

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00:25:46

When Laughing Was Contagious

Ebbs of History ·

2026/05/14

In this episode, we explore the Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic, a bizarre outbreak that affected a small village in East Africa. The epidemic lasted for 18 months and primarily affected adolescent girls and young women in schools. The psychological explanation, social context, and historical impact of the epidemic are discussed in detail.Sources: Wikipedia: Tanganyika laughter epidemic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanganyika_laughter_epidemic)Atlas Obscura: The 1962 Laughter Epidemic of Tanganyika

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00:41:19

When Sports Were Crazy

Ebbs of History ·

2026/05/07

What if sports could get you sacrificed, dragged to death by horses, or killed by a king's splintered lance? In this episode, we count down ten of the craziest sports ever played. These weren't just games. Sources: Wikipedia: Mesoamerican Ballgame (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgame) The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Mesoamerican Ballgame (https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/the-mesoamerican-ballgame) National Geographic: Death Ball

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