Not Past It

Nov 06 2024 182 ep. 33 mins 1.5k
Not Past It Podcast artwork

Ever wonder why the world is the way it is? Like, 1000s of years of humanity and this is the version of the world we came up with. This one? Same. Each Wednesday on Not Past It host Simone Polanen will pick a moment from that very same week in history -- and tell you how it shaped our lives today.

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King Tut Died for Tourism

Nov 06 2024 31 mins  
King Tutankhamen, Egypt’s boy prince was laid to rest in a fantastical chamber of secrets. On November 4, 1922, the entrance to King Tut’s tomb was discovered 33 centuries after he was buried. But when the king’s tomb was disturbed strange things began to happen. This episode originally aired November 3, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoic

Election Trivia Smackdown

Oct 30 2024 40 mins  
It’s election season! That time of year when nasty political debates and nonstop campaign ads finally face their judges: you, members of democracy. We decided to honor this special time by bringing back the trivia show that swept the nation… but this time, election style. Guests Emma Choi and Mike Danforth from NPR show Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me roll up their sleeves and co

Houdini: The OG Ghostbuster

Oct 23 2024 41 mins  
Harry Houdini escaped from handcuffs, sea monsters and torture cells, but his last great illusion defied even the spirits. On October 31, 1936, the famous escape artist was set to come back from the dead. But, as spooky as that sounds, the backstory to uncover America’s most notorious frauds of the day, is even more devilish. This episode originally aired October 27, 2021. Learn

What’s Haunting The Lake?

Oct 16 2024 40 mins  
Roughly 40 miles northeast of Atlanta, in Forsyth County, lies Lake Lanier. It’s a place where people go to relax, fish or party - and legend has it, it's haunted. But not in the way it’s been talked about. We’re revealing the true haunting of Lake Lanier, where a horrific story of racial violence and terror is hidden under a veneer of suburban bliss. This episode originally

Hooked on Black Horror

Oct 09 2024 36 mins  
Candyman, Candyman, Candyman… Do you dare say it five times? On October 16, 1992, Candyman was released in theaters introducing the world to the ghost-like ghoul with a hook for a hand. But this horror cult classic is different--it features a Black man as the haunting character with a backstory of racial trauma. We explore the legacy of the film and why it has such staying power,

The Witch of Delray

Oct 02 2024 36 mins  
Depression-era Detroit is known for many things: baseball, bootlegging, and the booming auto industry. But what about a witch? On October 5, 1931, a Wayne County jury reached a verdict in the trial of an immigrant woman accused of murder and of being...The Witch of Delray. This episode originally aired October 6, 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch

How The Green M&M Got Sexy

Sep 25 2024 37 mins  
The backstory of the M&M can be traced to the Spanish American War. On October 1, 1898, a coalition of diplomats met in Paris to negotiate a peace treaty between the U.S. and Spain, leading to a sugar rush across America’s new colonial territories. And eventually… domino-ing us into the modern day sex icon that is the green M&M. This episode originally aired September 29, 2021.

Remember TGIF?

Sep 18 2024 31 mins  
On September 22nd 1989, ABC launched their now iconic TGIF lineup. So today on the show, three essays, from three different people, about why millions of Americans tuned in every Friday night to watch two hours of families getting into shenanigans and having resolvable conflict. Turns out, sitcoms can teach us quite a bit about history, about our families and about ourselves. This

9/11 Makes Me Uncomfortable

Sep 11 2024 31 mins  
American flags, camouflage ribbons and “Never Forget” statements, prevailed as symbols of patriotism in the early 2000s. On September 11, 2001, four coordinated terrorist attacks took place in the U.S. and had catastrophic ripple effects across the globe. Simone explores her personal feelings about 9/11 and the “Never Forget” narrative. This episode originally aired Septemb

Zsa Zsa Slaps a Cop

Sep 04 2024 29 mins  
Zsa Zsa Gabor was the epitome of Hollywood glam, starring in dozens of films and tv shows in the 1940s and 50s. But by the 1980s, her shine began to dim. On September 14 1989, Gabor made a celebrity comeback when she was prosecuted for slapping a Beverly Hills cop. In court Gabor played the role she was born to play… herself. This episode originally aired September 15, 2021. Lear