History

Origin of Everything

Every aspect of our daily reality, whether its the words we use, the pop culture we love, the technology that get us through the day, or even the identities we give ourselves, emerge from thousands of intersecting histories. And on this show, we're going to explore them ALL! . . . Okay, maybe not ALL, but you get the idea.

Did Europeans Enslave Native Americans?

12m 41s

Here in the United States, when we think about the term "slavery" we think about the transatlantic slave trade and the institution of chattel slavery. But this wasn't the only type of enslavement that took place in the Americas and the Caribbean. Today Danielle looks at the complicated history surrounding the European enslavement of Indigenous peoples.

Episodes

  • How Did Pride Become a Parade?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How Did Pride Become a Parade?

    S3 E13 - 7m 24s

    June is Pride Month and if not for coronavirus streets around the world would be filled with the LGBTQIA Community living loud and proud. But how did the New York City Stonewall Riots turn into a month-long celebration? And specifically, how did we get from picketed protests like the Annual Reminder in Philadelphia to massive parades and parties around the world?

  • Concentration Camps Are Older Than World War II: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Concentration Camps Are Older Than World War II

    S3 E12 - 10m 7s

    The history of the World War II concentration camps extends back to the late 19th. century and the invention of barbed wire and the automatic rifle. Danielle looks at the grim origin of concentration and internment camps and the various countries (including Spain, Great Britain, and the United States), who used similar tactics long before the Nazi Regime.

  • How We Discovered Germs: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How We Discovered Germs

    S3 E11 - 9m 7s

    Humanity didn't always know about the invisible viruses, bacteria, and microbes that can cause disease. But that doesn't mean we didn't come up with some truly bizarre ideas. From the four humors and miasma theory to bloodletting and trepanation, Danielle traces humanity's winding road to the Germ Theory of Disease that revolutionized the medical profession.

  • 6 Surprising Facts About the 19th Amendment: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    6 Surprising Facts About the 19th Amendment

    S3 E10 - 12m 9s

    2020 marks 100 years of National Suffrage for women in the United States! Today Danielle looks back on the long road to ratification for the 19th Amendment. She explains how the Seneca Falls Convention wasn't seen as important at the time and how some of the most famous suffragists of the time wrote a whole history book to ensure they were remembered.

  • Economic Lessons from Past Pandemics: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Economic Lessons from Past Pandemics

    S3 E9 - 10m 11s

    Today, Danielle (from the safety of her Chicago flat) looks back at a few of the world's biggest pandemics. From the Black Death of the 1300s to the 17th c. Plague and the 1918 Spanish Flu, Danielle explores the human and economic tolls of past pandemics and what we can learn to prepare for life during and after COVID-19.

  • Where did Advice Columns Come From?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Where did Advice Columns Come From?

    S3 E8 - 8m 5s

    Writing to a complete stranger about your most pressing, personal issues seems a bit odd. But that's exactly what the advice column is! From their origin as the Google of the 1600s to the booming renaissance of today, Danielle examines the strange history of advice columns.

  • What Does It Mean to Be a "Good" Student?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    What Does It Mean to Be a "Good" Student?

    S3 E7 - 6m 36s

    What does it mean to say someone is a "good" student? Today Danielle breaks down the stereotype of the perfect student and why grades alone don't define children. She also examines the systems and barriers that stop young girls and students of color from reaching their fullest potential.

  • Why Are There 12 People on a Jury?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Why Are There 12 People on a Jury?

    S3 E6 - 11m 8s

    When picturing a jury, you probably imagine 12 people - no more, no less. But did you know there is no hard and fast rule about how many members are required on a jury? Today, Danielle looks at the differences between petit and grand juries and the historical accidents that have lead many to believe that juries MUST have twelve members.

  • The Rise of E-Cigarettes: Why is Everyone Vaping?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Rise of E-Cigarettes: Why is Everyone Vaping?

    S3 E5 - 10m 43s

    E-Cigarettes are everywhere. Vaping has become so ubiquitous that "vape" was Oxford Dictionaries word of the year in 2014. Today, Danielle looks at how and why vaping took off. She examines the early 20th century prototypes for electric vaporizers and smokeless, non-tobacco cigarettes. She also compares the marketing and debates surrounding e-cigarettes to that of their tobacco counterparts.

  • Why Does "Straight" Mean Heterosexual?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Why Does "Straight" Mean Heterosexual?

    S3 E4 - 8m 7s

    When did we start defining sexual orientation and how did that result in "straight" becoming a synonym for "heterosexual"? Today Danielle follows the winding history of the word through medical terms, lavender linguistics, and community slang.

  • The Science Behind Why We Love Boy Bands: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Science Behind Why We Love Boy Bands

    S3 E3 - 12m 11s

    Everybody, rock your body and get ready to scream! Today Origin is looking at all things boy band! Danielle traces the history of boy ensembles from early Beatlemania to today, examines the markers of a classic boy band, and explains the science behind this particular type of fandom.

  • The Rise of Beer: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Rise of Beer

    S3 E2 - 12m 21s

    People across the globe love beer. A LOT. Danielle traces the history of beer and how we got from fermented corn to the craft beers so many enjoy today. She looks not just at the science of brewing, but also the various fermented beverages that cropped up around the world over the centuries.

Extras + Features

  • Welcome To Origin of Everything!: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Welcome To Origin of Everything!

    S1 - 29s

    If you're curious about where it all comes from, then this is place for you. Every week, we're going to investigate the fact that every aspect of our daily reality, whether its the words we use, the pop culture we love, the technology that get us through the day, or even the identities we give ourselves, emerge from thousands of intersecting histories.

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