Thinking of watching A Charlie Brown Christmas this year? What would be better than a full understanding of how it came to be, starting way back in the 1400s. Learn about Charles Schulz, Lee Mendelson, Bill Melendez, Vince Guaraldi, Hans Christian Andersen, Felix Mendelssohn, Saul Zaentz, NASA, Coca-Cola and more. 

Tracing The Path

Episode 11: A Charlie Brown Christmas Podcast

Would you ever think Thomas Edison, George Easton, Ian Fleming and Bill Blass all took part in deception? In the World's Greatest Con?  It's the story of James Bond, Inflatable Tanks, Celluloid Film and a WW2 Ghost Army. Sit back and be amazed at this story of America's most respected names.

Celebrities In The World's Greatest Con

The history of pizza is more than its Naples Origin. You'll be amazed how Mario Puzo, Queen Margherita, Pinocchio, Yogi Berra, Al Capone, The Supreme Court and Sophia Loren all play a part. Today we look at the interconnected history of the world's greatest food (and maybe the Mob). 

Margherita Pizza and The Godfather

Could the post office be the single largest cause of America's expansion to Westward?  When you look at it through Maslow's lens, it just may be. Sears, Greeting Cards, Charles Lindbergh, Benjamin Franklin, King William III, the California Gold Rush, the Boston Tea Party . . . and Addressing the Unaddressed in Calcutta. Let's talk about the 7 most important words in the U.S. Constitution. 

Did the Post Office Grow America?

People like Walt Disney, Walter Murisch, Blake Edwards, Friz Freleng and Henry Mancini paved the way for Independent Film Makers today. .  . but they had help with the Paramount Decrees of 1948. Now that those are over, has the window closed?

How the Supreme Court Created Disney+ and HBOMax

HG Wells motivated authors, inventors, scientists, politicians and the every day man. Specifically Orson Welles, Leo Szilard, Robert Goddard and George Lucas were inspired by Wells to change the world. And from his words we put astronauts on the moon, created NASA and now rovers on Mars. Get ready to hear the story of how one man shaped science. 

Who Started The Outer Space Race?

The Six Degrees of Separation Game originated in 1909 with a Novel Prize winners speech. From there it has grown in reach and truth. What if we connect the most amazing things that could never truly have something in common. We do and it's amazing! 

Connecting The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon

Which 2 wars played a role in the history of M&M Chocolate Candy?  And the Nutcracker? How did the Mars Bar, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way and Cadbury Easter Eggs come to be?  And learn how 2 wars combined to make the most popular candy in the world.

2 Wars: The Crazy History of M&M Chocolate Candy

Baseball created strong ties between the U.S. and Cuba, specifically the negro leagues and the Cuban league. For both countries baseball had become the national past time  . . . until Fidel Castro stepped in. Today we look at the how baseball impacted the Cuban Missile Crisis along with some of the major traditions surrounding it. 

Baseball and the Cuban Missile Crisis??

Let's unravel the mysteries of the Trial of the Century where Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan put evolution on trial. What was the long term significance? How did it end? And who got the final justice?

Before and After the Scopes Monkey Trial

In today's story we explore the interconnected stories of Anacreon the Greek Poet, Francis Scott Key, Robert Ripley, John Philip Sousa and 7 US Presidents.  The Star Spangled Banner isn't just about a flag or the Battle of Fort McHenry. It involves slaves, Charles Schulz, Jack London, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and even Barry Goldwater. 

Our Star Spangled Banner: Believe it or Not

A lot happens in Santa's story since the 1950s. Not only does the NORAD Santa Tracker take hold, but a human baby makes it to Santa's Village and Santa finally puts the pieces together as to what role he plays in the world. 

Pt. 5 The Complete Canon of Santa Claus

Kris Kringle was Santa Claus for most of the 20th Century. He's the one most of us grew up under. During his time as Santa, he lived through the Spanish Flu, WWI, the Great Depression, WWII,  the Beatles and more. In today's episode we discuss the role of Santa over the last 120 years.

Pt. 4 The Complete Canon of Santa Claus

Today's we explore the time that Christmas was banned in parts of the world and what Santa was doing to raise spirit, the invention of the candy cane and Santa's new idea - a train to bring kids to the North Pole. 

Pt. 3 The Complete Canon of Santa Claus

The middle centuries of Santa Claus's life are where derive most of our traditions and overall Christmas culture. It's also the time that St. Nicholas Day and the birth of Jesus Christ begin to converge.

Pt. 2 The Complete Canon of Santa Claus

We connect the dots between the people, products, events and ideas of America's 20th Century. Inspired by storytellers like Paul Harvey, Charles Kuralt, and Andy Rooney.

hubhopper

Tracing The Path

hubhopper