Archive Hoppers Podcast

Alberto

Ever wonder how the world's biggest brands really got their start? Welcome to Archive Hoppers, the podcast that leaps into the vaults of the most influential organizations in history. Each week, we uncover the surprising origins, forgotten tales, and game-changing decisions behind the names you know. Subscribe to start hopping through history!

  1. 1D AGO

    Episode 43: The Woolworth Building

    Paid for in cash with the nickels and dimes of a retail empire, the Woolworth Building was a 792-foot Gothic miracle. Hope explores Frank Woolworth’s rise from a failed shopkeeper to a skyscraper titan, pulling the file on the "sky boys" who built it and the eccentric tenants—like Nikola Tesla—who called it home.

    8 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Episode 42: Part 2 of San Francisco

    Modern San Francisco is a relentless cycle of radical activism, dark sagas, and digital gold. In the conclusion of our series, Hope explores the city’s resilience through the terror of the 1970s, the wreckage of the 1989 earthquake, and the tech revolutions of the last 25 years—from the Dot-com boom to the rise of AI.

    8 min

  3. FEB 17

    Episode 41: Part 1 of San Francisco

    From a quiet mission to a lawless frontier, San Francisco was forged in gold and fire. Hope traces the city’s meteoric rise through the chaos of the Gold Rush, the devastation of the 1906 earthquake, and its vibrant rebirth as the capital of the Summer of Love.

    12 min

  4. FEB 12

    Episode 40: Barnes & Noble

    The last giant standing: discover how Barnes & Noble survived the "Superstore Wars" and the digital apocalypse that claimed its rivals. From the "street-fighter" marketing of Len Riggio to the bold gamble on the Nook, this is the story of a corporate behemoth that found new life by learning to act like a local indie.

    8 min

  5. FEB 10

    Episode 39: Borders

    From its high-tech roots in Ann Arbor to the iconic era of cozy armchairs and espresso, Borders redefined what a bookstore could be. Discover how the pioneer of the "third place" built a global empire, only to vanish after a series of catastrophic digital blunders—including the fateful decision to outsource its future to Amazon. It’s a bittersweet look at a lost cultural icon and a sobering lesson in the cost of failing to adapt.

    7 min

  6. FEB 5

    Episode 38:Longwood Gardens

    From a humble grove of trees to a 1,000-acre "cathedral of glass," discover how a quiet act of Quaker conservation inspired one of the world's most spectacular gardens. This week, we explore the history of Longwood Gardens—from its origins as a family arboretum to its transformation by industrial genius Pierre du Pont. We’ll dive into the high-tech engineering of the Main Fountain Garden, the "Gilded Age" family drama behind the scenes, and the visionary legacy that turned a private sanctuary into a public treasure.

    7 min

  7. FEB 3

    Episode 37: The Tribune Tower New York City

    Before it was a Chicago landmark, the Tribune Tower was a red-brick giant that defined the New York City skyline. Discover the story of the original Tribune Building—a "cathedral of journalism" built on the ego of Horace Greeley and the revolutionary technology of the elevator. This week, we explore how one of the world's first skyscrapers pioneered the vertical city, anchored the chaos of Newspaper Row, and eventually vanished without a trace.

    8 min

  8. JAN 29

    Episode 36: Coca-Cola

    From the morphine-addicted veteran who invented it to the corporate giants who turned it into a global empire, discover the fizzy, controversial history of the world's most famous drink. This week, we explore the story of Coca-Cola—from the "secret formula" and the legend of the contour bottle to the patriotic masterstroke of World War II and the spectacular, high-stakes disaster of "New Coke."

    9 min
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About

Ever wonder how the world's biggest brands really got their start? Welcome to Archive Hoppers, the podcast that leaps into the vaults of the most influential organizations in history. Each week, we uncover the surprising origins, forgotten tales, and game-changing decisions behind the names you know. Subscribe to start hopping through history!

Information

  • Creator
    Alberto
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Alberto
  • Show Website
    Archive Hoppers Podcast