Episodes
If you want to get to the roots of horror in America, you have to go way back. Back to slavery, back to Salem, back to the colonization of the New World.
Published 11/21/24
In 1977, Randy Bachman was a rock star. Then the guitar with which he’d written hits like “American Woman” and “Takin’ Care of Business” was stolen.
Published 11/20/24
During the 1800s, the Victorians had the natural world pretty much figured out, or so they thought. Then a 12-year-old discovered the first dinosaur tracks.
Published 11/14/24
In 1740, the Wager set sail from England in search of Spanish treasure. Just about everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
Published 11/13/24
The author Katherine Rundell didn’t believe in love at first sight until she met a pangolin. The encounter with the anteater-like creature made her curious about other endangered animals, and now, she wants us to notice more of these exquisite creatures.
Published 11/07/24
When you read this, it’s likely either Election Day or the morning after. We’re going live to talk about what we know and what’s still to come.
Published 11/06/24
Arizona is one of the swing states that candidates are honing in on this year. 10,457 — that’s how many votes went to Joe Biden in Arizona in 2020, close enough to swing the state blue. So, of course, both of the 2024 presidential campaigns set up camp in Arizona weeks ago. Their target audience? Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Published 10/31/24
With “Gladiator II” set to hit theaters in November, we’re exploring the history of Rome in film and television. Are “sword and sandal” epics making a comeback?
Published 10/30/24
The author Amanda Montell says magical thinking is everywhere. If you’ve ever wondered if you could manifest your way to wealth, this one’s for you.
Published 10/24/24
Everyone knows the Indigo Girls — or at least they think they do. The indie rock duo hit the music scene in the early 80’s, and people were quick to try to categorize them.
Published 10/23/24
We’re mere weeks away from the 2024 election, and there’s a lot more at stake than just the presidency. We’re convening a panel of local experts to get you ready.
Published 10/17/24
History is full of white explorers “discovering” the Americas. But there are stories that flow the other way, too, of Indigenous people who also “discovered” a new land — Europe.
Published 10/16/24
Time is limited. And life is short. So why, asks the writer Oliver Burkeman, do we waste so much of it trying to get on top of things before we can focus on the really meaningful parts of life?
Published 10/10/24
The journalist Helen Lewis says that Austin, Texas, is at the center of a Venn diagram encompassing culture, gun ranges, low taxes and kombucha. Why? Because podcaster Joe Rogan lives there.
Published 10/09/24
In the early 2000s, Matt Relkin, an artist from Florida, was living in New York City, where he took in fine art at galleries and museums. But when he visited southern Utah on the advice of a friend, and saw the ancient petroglyphs in Sego Canyon, his love for nature collided with his passion for art, and he was instantly hooked.
Published 10/03/24
A recent exposé in a British newspaper pulled back the curtain on the world of Hannah Neeleman, a hugely popular Utah-based social media influencer. Once an aspiring ballerina, Neeleman’s posts now depict her seemingly idyllic life as a Mormon stay-at-home mom caring for her eight kids, brood of chickens, herd of cows and flock of sheep on a homestead in Kamas, Utah. Her Instagram account is yet another window into a surprisingly large and growing constellation of hugely popular Mormon...
Published 09/26/24
The howling of wolves, the mewing of your cat, dolphins whistling —these aren’t just noises. They’re animals talking, and what they say might surprise you.
Published 09/25/24
Utah lawmakers called themselves into emergency special session last month to draft a constitutional amendment that would give them the power to significantly alter voter-approved ballot initiatives. That change would need to be approved by voters, if, that is, the state courts allow it.
Published 09/19/24
In 2016, Utah’s Senator Mike Lee tried to stop Donald Trump from becoming the president. Today, he might become Trump’s attorney general.
Published 09/18/24
Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as the greatest president in American history, a transformational figure who guided the nation through civil war and paved the way for the abolition of slavery. But what if he was queer, by modern standards? Because historians say that may well have been the case.
Published 09/12/24
In Christopher Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus,” the titular magician trades his soul to Lucifer for power. We’ve been captivated by such demonic transactions ever since.
Published 09/11/24
On July 12, 1776, James Cook set sail aboard the HMS Resolution. It was Cook’s third voyage, and this time, he wouldn’t come home again.
Published 09/05/24
Roads are such a common feature of the landscape that you can forget they aren’t natural at all — that is, unless you’re an animal trying to cross one.
Published 09/04/24
Donald Trump has said that surviving an assassination attempt didn’t change him. But it sure did change Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.
Published 08/29/24