History on the Margins is your passport to the forgotten, the overlooked, and the just plain bizarre corners of the past. Hosted by John Williamson - history degree, almost-history teacher, and lifelong storyteller - this podcast digs into the weird, wild, and lessor-known stories that didn't make it into your high school textbook. From oddball inventions to historical head-scratchers, each episode is a dive into the strange side of history you never knew you needed.
Latest episodes
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14 min
The Radium Girls
Episode SummaryIn this episode of History on the Margins, we dig into one of the most shocking and overlooked stories of the early 20th century — the Radium Girls. These young fact…
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16 min
The History of the Engagement Ring
Episode SummaryWhy do we give engagement rings? Why diamonds? And who decided they should cost two months’ salary? In this episode of History on the Margins, we trace the surprisin…
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19 min
The History of Political Parties in the U.S.
Episode SummaryIn this episode, John pulls back the curtain on the often chaotic, surprising, and downright weird history of political parties in the United States. From the Foundi…
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14 min
The Weird History of Death
Death. It’s the one club we’re all eventually joining — and yet humans have spent centuries coming up with wildly creative, occasionally terrifying, and sometimes downright hilario…
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12 min
Banishing Spirits: A History of Exorcisms
Episode SummaryFrom ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day claims of possession, this episode delves into the long, complex, and often misunderstood history of exorcism. We explore reli…
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14 min
The History of Horror Movie Hosts!
From flickering late-night screens to campy costumes and corny jokes, horror movie hosts became an unlikely cultural phenomenon. These quirky guides not only introduced monster mov…
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18 min
The History of Scary Movies
Episode Summary:From shadowy German expressionists to blood-soaked slashers, horror films have terrified, thrilled, and (sometimes) accidentally made us laugh for over a century. B…
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17 min
The Great Molasses Flood of 1919
OverviewIn this episode, we unravel the bizarre and deadly Boston catastrophe: when a massive molasses storage tank exploded in the North End, unleashing a tsunami of sticky syrup…
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12 min
The Corpse Synod of 897
Episode Description:In the year 897, Pope Stephen VI ordered the rotting corpse of his predecessor, Pope Formosus, to be dug up, dressed in papal robes, propped up on a throne, and…
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23 min
The History of Shaving
OverviewThis episode traces the age‑old practice of shaving—from prehistoric tools to modern razors—examining how culture, technology, and even gender influenced how we shave. Alon…
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17 min
The Real Story of Paul Revere and the Midnight Ride
OverviewThis episode explores the true story behind one of America’s most enduring legends: Paul Revere’s midnight ride on April 18, 1775. We go beyond Longfellow’s famous poem to…
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15 min
The Dancing Plague of 1518
Episode Description:In the hot summer of 1518, a woman in Strasbourg walked into the street and started dancing. She didn’t stop for days. Then dozens joined her. And then hundreds…
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16 min
The History of Bathing
Episode Description:Why did ancient Romans bathe daily while Europeans in the Middle Ages feared water could kill them? What do soap made from animal fat, medieval plague paranoia,…
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17 min
The Weird History of College Sports
📌 Episode Description:Welcome to History on the Margins – the podcast where we dig into the weird, the wild, and the wonderfully overlooked corners of history. And what better way…