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161 episodes
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Short History Of... Noiser
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- History
History is full of the extraordinary.
Each week, we'll transport you back in time to witness history's most incredible moments and remarkable people.
New episodes Mondays, or a week early for Noiser+ subscribers.
With Noiser+ you'll also get ad-free listening and exclusive content. For more information, head to noiser.com/subscriptions
For advertising enquiries, email info@adelicious.fm
Hosted by John Hopkins. Production: Katrina Hughes, Kate Simants, Nicole Edmunds, Jacob Booth, Dorry Macaulay, Rob Plummer, Cody Reynolds-Shaw. Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink.
We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/shorthistory for £100 sponsored credit.
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Mount Rushmore
This episode will be available for free on June 3rd, 2024. For instant access, ad-free listening and bonus material, join Noiser+.
Designed to be a shrine of democracy, Mount Rushmore was one of the most ambitious building projects of the 20th century, and is still visited by millions of tourists each year. But for many, its history is complicated. Carved into a site believed to be sacred for the Lakota Sioux tribe, the monument serves as a bitter reminder of the injustices and crimes committed against the Native American people. So how did this remote, hallowed spot come to be transformed into a monument intended to last as long as the pyramids? What drove the man who created it? And how is it seen today - by America, tourists, and descendants of the first tribes who lived on the Black Hills? This is a short history of Mount Rushmore.
A Noiser production, written by Kate Harrison. With thanks to Dr Lindsay M Chervinsky, a presidential historian and author of books on the topic, including Making the Presidency. -
Martin Luther King
A pivotal figure in the American civil rights movement, Martin Luther King played a crucial role in challenging racial discrimination in the United States. Believed to have been one of America’s greatest ever orators, his speeches inspired millions, and galvanised support for racial equality. But despite his successes, his message of egalitarianism and advocacy of nonviolent protest was met by many with opposition and rage. So what set King on the path that would change the lives of millions? Why did the FBI begin its campaign of surveillance against him? And what is his legacy today?
This is a Short History Of Martin Luther King.
A Noiser production, written by Nicola Rayner. With thanks to Lerone A Martin, Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute, Stanford University.
Get every episode of Short History Of a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material, and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions.
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The Statue of Liberty (Subscriber only episode)
Originally intended as a generous gift from France to celebrate the United States’ 100th birthday, the Statue of Liberty is a monument like no other. Enormous in both scale and ambition, it stretched its creators to their limits, and still defines the New York skyline to this day. But Lady Liberty’s journey to America was not without obstacles. So who was behind this impressive gift? What does the statue represent, and how was she built? And why was the famous Statue of Liberty almost never constructed at all?
This is a bonus episode for Noiser+ subscribers, a Short History Of the Statue of Liberty.
A Noiser production, written by Sean Coleman. -
Mahatma Gandhi
Raised in India, and trained in London as a lawyer, Mahatma Gandhi went on to lead a life that was anything but ordinary. He campaigned against unjust laws in South Africa, led the movement against British rule in India, and changed the entire nature of protest. His commitment to non-violence would inspire world leaders for generations. But how did a shy, unpromising schoolboy turn into one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century? Where did his ideals and approach to conflict come from? And why, despite his commitment to non-violence, did his own life end so suddenly?
This is a Short History Of Mahatma Gandhi.
A Noiser production, written by Kate Harrison. With thanks to Bindu Puri, Professor of Contemporary Indian Philosophy at Jawaharlal Nehru University, and author of ‘Gandhi for the 21st Century: Religion, Morality and Politics’.
Get every episode of Short History Of a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material, and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions.
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The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the architectural wonders of the world. Stretching for over 21,000km - as far as London to New York and back, twice - it follows what used to be the border between China and Mongolia. Built over a period of 2,000 years by millions of conscripted workers, it’s been the subject of myths and legends for centuries. But who really built the Great Wall, and how? Is it true that those who died at the Wall were buried within it? What purpose did it serve? And can this incredible structure really be seen from space?
This is a Short History Of the Great Wall of China.
A Noiser production, written by Fiona Veitch-Smith. With thanks to William Lindesay, a geographer, explorer, conservationist, and leading expert on the Great Wall of China.
Get every episode of Short History Of a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material, and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions.
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Polynesian Exploration
Modern genetics tells us that the residents of the far-flung Polynesian islands are one of the most closely related people in the world. But, thanks to the exploration of their ancestors, they’re also the most widely dispersed. Polynesian exploration of the Pacific has been compared to humankind’s missions into space, and has led to a unique and vibrant culture for these islanders. So what do these people scattered across 1,000 islands have in common? How did the earliest pioneers survive epic journeys at sea? And what enables sailors to navigate such treacherous waters without any form of writing or physical map-making?
This is a Short History Of Polynesian Exploration.
A Noiser production, written by Jo Furniss. With thanks to Dr Christina Thompson, editor of the Harvard Review, and author of the book Sea People, The Puzzle of Polynesia.
Get every episode of Short History Of a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material, and early access to shows across the Noiser network. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions.
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