120 episodes

We explore ideas and practices once believed to be true but no longer. Each dead idea is explored in all its glorious eccentricity.

For example, discover miasma, the theory that plague comes from stinky air; or the medical diagnosis of hysteria, which holds that women's wombs wander around their bodies causing trouble.

Join us on a fun romp through the history of ideas that didn’t quite stand the test of time.

Dead Ideas: The History of Extinct Thoughts and Practices B. T. Newberg and history nerd friends

    • History
    • 4.0 • 20 Ratings

We explore ideas and practices once believed to be true but no longer. Each dead idea is explored in all its glorious eccentricity.

For example, discover miasma, the theory that plague comes from stinky air; or the medical diagnosis of hysteria, which holds that women's wombs wander around their bodies causing trouble.

Join us on a fun romp through the history of ideas that didn’t quite stand the test of time.

    The All-Gay Army: Ancient Greece’s Sacred Band of Thebes: An Interview with James Romm

    The All-Gay Army: Ancient Greece’s Sacred Band of Thebes: An Interview with James Romm

    The Sacred Band of Thebes, comprised entirely of gay male lovers, was Ancient Greece’s original response to the gays in the military question. What was that like? How did it function? And what was its lasting legacy? That’s what we’re going to find out today, just in time for Pride Month. Here to help us do it is classicist James Romm, author of The Sacred Band: Three Hundred Theban Lovers Fighting to Save Greek Freedom.

    By the way, the New Yorker article referenced in the episode is "Ancient Greece's Army of Lovers" by Daniel Mendelsohn.

    Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Support the show on Patreon at www.patreon.com/btnewberg and get a hand-drawn portrait. Research, writing, editing, and production by B. T. Newberg. Music and Logo Design by Rachel Westhoff. Additional credits, references, and more at www.deadideas.net.

    Report From Minneapolis: Making Sense of the Riots Over George Floyd’s Death

    Report From Minneapolis: Making Sense of the Riots Over George Floyd’s Death

    My city is on fire today. This is day four of the riots in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police. And everyone around me is saying, “I’m angry too, but why destroy your own community? It doesn’t make sense.”

    But is there another way to look at it? In this episode, I share first-hand reports of the riots as well as experiences of income disparity in local schools. By looking behind the violence to the roots of disadvantage, can we turn confusion into empathy?

    Covid Cabana: Top 5 Ways to Have Fun Despite the Coronavirus

    Covid Cabana: Top 5 Ways to Have Fun Despite the Coronavirus

    This episode goes out to all of you at home out there during this pandemic, but we want to dedicate it especially to listener Owyn in Toronto, Canada. He’s faced a string of tough challenges recently, and now there’s the covid challenge on top of it all, but on the bright side, Owyn: it’s your 19th birthday today! Happy Covid 19th, Owyn!

    Be sure to support the show at www.patreon.com/btnewberg to get your portrait drawn!

    Music by Rachel Westhoff. Pics, references and more at http://www.deadideas.net.

    Fascism II: The Silver Legion: A Real American Fascist Movement – American History

    Fascism II: The Silver Legion: A Real American Fascist Movement – American History

    Did you know America spawned its very own homegrown fascist movement in the 1930s? Yup. The Silver Legion's William Dudley Pelley was the original Man in the High Castle. Or... at least he dreamed himself to be.

    Be sure to support the show at www.patreon.com/deadideaspod to get your portrait drawn!

    Music by Rachel Westhoff. Maps, pics, references and more at www.deadideas.net.

    Fascism I: What Is Fascism, and Is Trump It? – Modern History

    Fascism I: What Is Fascism, and Is Trump It? – Modern History

    TRIGGER WARNING: Politics. Today we explore what characterized early 20th-century fascism, and then ask whether it's fair to call Trump fascist.

    Be sure to support the show at www.patreon.com/deadideaspod to get your portrait drawn!

    Music by Rachel Westhoff. Maps, pics, references and more at www.deadideas.net.

    Introducing Our New Show: The History of Sex!

    Introducing Our New Show: The History of Sex!

    It's here! It's finally here! After a full year of development, our new show the History of Sex is here. Cruise on over to The History of Sex on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get podcasts.

    Also, an announcement: next month, we will have more Dead Ideas!

Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5
20 Ratings

20 Ratings

OntarioAA ,

Fun!

Cute little podcast; like that they have adorable sci-fi sound effects and multi-part series.

They enjoy the oddity of these ideas without treating them with scorn.

Sound is a little tinny on the episodes I listened to; hopefully that will get better with experience.

Love all the new history podcasts!

Ace metal ,

Virtue signaling

After the Covid episode, then for some reason we did an episode on George Floyd’s death? Felt like we lost the plot

G9651 ,

Good concept, poor execution

If you have the stunted vocabulary that comes from too much screen time and too few books, and like lazy grammar, then this podcast is for you.

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