Sidedoor

Smithsonian Institution

More than 154 million treasures fill the Smithsonian’s vaults. But where the public’s view ends, Sidedoor begins. With the help of biologists, artists, historians, archaeologists, zookeepers and astrophysicists, host Lizzie Peabody sneaks listeners through the Smithsonian’s side door, telling stories that can’t be heard anywhere else. Check out si.edu/sidedoor and follow @SidedoorPod for more info. 

  1. The Wright Sister

    -5 DIAS

    The Wright Sister

    Orville and Wilbur Wright have been immortalized as the men opened the skies to human flight. But could they have achieved such great heights without the wind beneath their wings — their sister? Katharine Wright was her brothers' biggest champion, official spokesperson, closest confidante and the only one of the Wright siblings with a college degree. For years, Katharine, Wilbur and Orville were inseparable — until tragedy and a love affair upended everything. This is the story of the Wright sibling that history almost left out. Guests: Thomas Paone, museum specialist at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space MuseumTom Crouch, curator emeritus of the aeronautics division at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and author of The Bishop’s Boys: A Life of Wilbur and Orville Wright

    40 min
  2. The King of Zydeco

    21/01

    The King of Zydeco

    Clifton Chenier grew up in rural Louisiana, watching how his father’s accordion could magically turn front porches into dance parties. When he was old enough to play himself, Chenier began blending the Creole zydeco of his childhood with R&B and blues sounds of the 1940s and ’50s. His style packed dance halls across Louisiana and eventually carried zydeco to stages around the world. Through rare archival recordings and firsthand stories, we trace Chenier’s journey from a sharecropper’s son to the undisputed King of Zydeco. Guests:  Adam Machado, director of the Arhoolie Foundation and producer of the retrospective box set, King of Louisiana Blues and Zydeco CJ Chenier, son of Clifton Chenier and lead singer and saxophonist for CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band Dickie Landry, saxophonist, composer, and photographer Maureen Loughran, director and curator of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings    This episode features archival interview recordings of Clifton Chenier courtesy of the Arhoolie Foundation. You can find the full interviews and archival photographs here.

    51 min
  3. Will the Real Uncle Sam Please Stand Up?

    7/01

    Will the Real Uncle Sam Please Stand Up?

    He’s a symbol of patriotism, protest, and power. But behind the red, white, and blue is a real man—and a disputed American origin story. How did a real guy go from meatpacker to meme, to personification of a nation and, eventually, the most famous Army recruiter in history? I WANT YOU… to listen and find out. Guests:  Frank Blazich, curator of modern military history at the Smithsonian's National Musuem of American History Kathy Sheehan, executive director of the Hart Cluett Museum in Troy, New York; The Redela County and Troy City historian

    31 min
  4. A Very Cold Case

    24/12/2025

    A Very Cold Case

    American newspaper publisher and all-around eccentric, Charles Francis Hall, was an unlikely candidate to become an Arctic explorer. Nevertheless, he made three trips to the frozen north, until he died there under suspicious circumstances. Sharpen your powers of deduction and join us on Sidedoor for an epic frozen whodunit, featuring shipwreck, romance, and a social media darling with a dark secret. We’re resharing this longtime favorite from 2021 to bring you some wintry vibes.  Guests:Stephen Loring, anthropologist and archeologist at the Arctic Studies Center of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History Heidi Moses, volunteer with the Smithsonian Transcription CenterEmily Niekrasz, social media manager, Smithsonian Institution

    33 min
  5. A Mold with a Grudge

    10/12/2025

    A Mold with a Grudge

    It started with a messy lab and a mysterious mold. But turning “mold juice” into the world’s first antibiotic would take a sick policeman, a market cantaloupe, and an extraordinary wartime collaboration between scientists, governments, and industry. This is the story of how penicillin changed the world. Guests: Kevin Brown, Trust Archivist to Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and curator of the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum at St. Mary’s Hospital; author of Penicillin Man: Alexander Fleming and the Antibiotic Revolution Diane Wendt, curator in the Division of Medicine and Science at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

    39 min
  6. The Secret of Lincoln's Watch

    26/11/2025

    The Secret of Lincoln's Watch

    A mystery hidden in time. Wrapped in gold. Stowed secretly in Lincoln's pocket. We dig into the family story of a secret message etched inside Abraham Lincoln's pocket watch. Is this a tall tale or a hidden piece of history waiting to be discovered? Join us as we dive into this incredible tale of family lore, historical detective work, and the Smithsonian's decision to open a priceless artifact.   Guests:  Lisa Kathleen Graddy, curator of American political history at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History Harry Rubenstein, curator emeritus in the Division of Political History at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History Doug Stiles, great-great-grandson of watchmaker Jonathan Dillon

    30 min

  7. TRAILER DA TEMPORADA 12

    It's Season 12!

    Sidedoor returns for its twelfth season on Wednesday, November 26th!

    2 min

  8. 10/10/2025

    A Message Regarding the Shutdown

    Please be advised that new episodes will not be released during the government shutdown. For up-to-date information on the status of the Smithsonian, please visit our website at si.edu.

    15 s
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Sobre

More than 154 million treasures fill the Smithsonian’s vaults. But where the public’s view ends, Sidedoor begins. With the help of biologists, artists, historians, archaeologists, zookeepers and astrophysicists, host Lizzie Peabody sneaks listeners through the Smithsonian’s side door, telling stories that can’t be heard anywhere else. Check out si.edu/sidedoor and follow @SidedoorPod for more info. 

Informação

  • Autoria
    Smithsonian Institution
  • Anos em atividade
    2016 - 2026
  • Episódios
    239
  • Classificação
    Para todos
  • Copyright
    © Smithsonian 2016
  • Site do programa
    Sidedoor

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