Dead Ideas: The History of Extinct Thoughts and Practices

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.

https://deadideas.net

Eine durchschnittliche Folge dieses Podcasts dauert 1h5m. Bisher sind 167 Folge(n) erschienen. Dieser Podcast erscheint wöchentlich.

Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 4 days 18 hours 15 minutes

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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...


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 June 7, 2021  n/a
 
 

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?


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 May 30, 2020  n/a
 
 

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...


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 March 27, 2020  n/a
 
 

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.


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 November 18, 2019  n/a
 
 

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.


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 November 4, 2019  n/a
 
 

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!


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 October 14, 2019  n/a
 
 

Best of the Best: Pulp Fiction/Da Derga’s Hostel Mashup – Irish History


It's another best of the best for you! This one has it all: romance, plunder, mimes - and it all ends in a bloodbath! This was our first mashup and it's still one of my favorite episodes. What are your faves? Let me know at deadideaspod@gmail.com or on Facebook at @deadideaspod. Also, an update on our upcoming show The History of Sex: we're looking at a release date in October! It's coming up fast! This episode features a rockin' soundtrack by Brooklyn band Twin Guns...


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 August 25, 2019  n/a
 
 

Best of the Best: Ghost in the Tablet – Gilgamesh/Ghost in the Shell Mashup – Sumerian History


We’re trying something new here on Dead Ideas. We have a sizeable back-catalog of episodes, many of which new listeners may never have heard, and which long-time listeners may have forgotten. So, we’re reprising classic episodes that are among the best of the best. One of my personal favorites is the finale episode from our cuneiform series. It’s a mash-up juxtaposing the story of the Sumerian hero Gilgamesh with the cyberpunk feel of the thriller Ghost in the Shell...


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 June 30, 2019  n/a
 
 

Put That City to the Sword: Julius Caesar Slaughters Avaricum, Feat. Neil Eckart – Roman History


When was the last time you put a city to the sword? It's not something we do much anymore today. But there was a day and age when it was quite normal to slaughter every last man, woman, and child in a captured city. Neil Eckart of the podcast War and Conquest returns to the show today to talk about Julius Caesar's slaughter of the Gaulish city of Avericum. Be sure to support the show at www.patreon.com/deadideaspod to get your portrait drawn! Music and graphic design by Rachel Westhoff...


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 May 26, 2019  n/a
 
 

Gender in Game of Thrones: Its Legacy


What will Game of Thrones be remembered for? I would argue it's not its supposed character realism, nor it's moral ambiguity. Rather, it will be its depiction of unusual gender identities in fantasy. No other major fantasy show that I can think of does that. In the spirit of our upcoming show the History of Sex, let's talk about gender in Game of Thrones! Be sure to support the show at www.patreon.com/deadideaspod to get your portrait drawn! Music and graphic design by Rachel Westhoff...


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 May 19, 2019  n/a