Byzantium And The Crusades - The Fall of Constantinople Episode 8 “The Siege Begins”

With over 100,000 Turkish soldiers facing them, the 7,000 or so defenders of Constantinople awaited the first attack. All they could do was to hope and pray for a miracle.

Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War, my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.

Curious City - The Halloween Episode: Munger Road

On this week’s episode Curious City investigates the origins of the Munger Road haunting. Like any good ghost story, there are several versions of the Munger Road tale, but the ghost story goes something like this: A school bus full of kids was crossing over the train tracks and it stalled. Before the driver could get the bus off the tracks, a train came along and hit the bus. No one bus survived the accident. The legend says the ghosts of the children are still there, and claims that if you drive your car onto the tracks and put it in neutral and sprinkle some baby powder on your car bumper, allegedly, the children are going to push your car off the tracks to safety. And small handprints will appear in the baby powder.

Curious City - The Halloween Episode: Munger Road

On this week’s episode Curious City investigates the origins of the Munger Road haunting. Like any good ghost story, there are several versions of the Munger Road tale, but the ghost story goes something like this: A school bus full of kids was crossing over the train tracks and it stalled. Before the driver could get the bus off the tracks, a train came along and hit the bus. No one bus survived the accident. The legend says the ghosts of the children are still there, and claims that if you drive your car onto the tracks and put it in neutral and sprinkle some baby powder on your car bumper, allegedly, the children are going to push your car off the tracks to safety. And small handprints will appear in the baby powder.

Back Bar - Jack Who?

Women have been making cider and brandy for centuries - so where are they in the history books? A look at who gets written into and out of history through the lens of one of the most enduring apple brandy cocktails of all time, the Jack Rose.

In ancient times making alcohol was seen as a mystic art, something done to commune with the divine and heal the sick. In colonial America, it was done to preserve surplus harvests and keep produce from going to waste. In each case, and every millennium in between, the work was done by women. Now we see alcohol as a male-dominated field, both when it comes to producing and serving. By looking at the Jack Rose, which has changed in its own way over the years, Greg and his co-host Jess look at how women were written out of the story and how they could be written back.

Our guests on this episode are Dr. Nicola Nice of the Women’s Cocktail Collective, Diane Flynt of Foggy Ridge Cider in Virginia, Jen Querbes of Brandy St. Louise, and Lisa Laird Dunn, a ninth-generation apple brandy distiller from New Jersey. And you can find more amazing music from Jess, who wrote the music for and performed the eua de vie recipe here!

The books referenced on this show were Imbibe by David Wondrich, Meehan’s Bartending Guide by Jim Meehan, and Jones Complete Bar Guide by Stan Jones.

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Please SUBSCRIBE and RATE the show if you can. Join us every two weeks as we talk about history's favorite drinks and how what we drink shapes history. To see what's coming next follow Greg on instagram @100ProofGreg. #drinkinghistory

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Byzantium And The Crusades - The Fall of Constantinople Episode 7 “The Heroes of Constantinople”

As the Turkish army approached Constantinople in 1453, the Byzantine defenders were joined by a handful of Genoese, Venetians and other adventurers prepared to join the fight to save the great Christian city.

Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War, my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.

Curious City - Chicago Is Where Black Cinema Took Root

Chicago was like Hollywood before Hollywood became the movie capital we know today. And Black directors were an important part of that early industry. In 1913 Willam Foster became the first Black director to make a film with an all Black cast. Yet most people have never heard of him. Reporter Arionne Nettles shares his story and the legacy he left behind.

Curious City - Chicago Is Where Black Cinema Took Root

Chicago was like Hollywood before Hollywood became the movie capital we know today. And Black directors were an important part of that early industry. In 1913 Willam Foster became the first Black director to make a film with an all Black cast. Yet most people have never heard of him. Reporter Arionne Nettles shares his story and the legacy he left behind.

Byzantium And The Crusades - The Fall of Constantinople Episode 6 “Gunpowder and Cannons”

By 1452, the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II had decided to launch a huge attack on the ancient city of Constantinople. But as he gathered his army from all over his dominions, he knew that he would need more than soldiers. To breach the ancient walls he would need gunpowder and cannons!

Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War, my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.