Snapshots of the Star Spangled Banner: The Night America Almost Lost its Flag

Snapshots of the Star Spangled Banner: The Night America Almost Lost its Flag

The Star Spangled Banner is more than a song - it’s a story. The words paint the picture of our beloved flag, tattered and battle torn, hanging on through a battle.  - “Oh say can you see, by the dawn’s early light? What so proudly we hailed, at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight? O’er the ramparts we watched, was so gallantly streaming? And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there. Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave, o’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.  The song tells a story of death, war, survival, freedom, and the people behind America’s most famous lyrics.  Join us as we take a breath of dead air and learn how The Star Spangled Banner became the song to represent a nation. Sources: https://youtu.be/PDxuzAMjj-w?si=z7oqsppyH16cf4wk [https://youtu.be/PDxuzAMjj-w?si=z7oqsppyH16cf4wk] https://www.gettysburgflag.com/star-spangled-banner-history [https://www.gettysburgflag.com/star-spangled-banner-history]  https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/music/story-behind-the-song/the-story-behind-the-song/the-star-spangled-banner/ [https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/media/music/story-behind-the-song/the-story-behind-the-song/the-star-spangled-banner/]  https://youtu.be/H2Iwgq1baks?si=jSnw1QKHdlCX4b_Q [https://youtu.be/H2Iwgq1baks?si=jSnw1QKHdlCX4b_Q]  https://sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com/tsla/exhibits/1812/index.htm [https://sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com/tsla/exhibits/1812/index.htm]  Music/Sound Effects: Sound Effect by https://pixabay.com/users/scottishperson-16626294/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=164347 from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=164347%20[https://pixabay.com/sound-effects//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=164347] Sound Effect by https://pixabay.com/users/soundreality-31074404/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=394355 from https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=394355%20[https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=394355] Sound Effect by https://pixabay.com/users/engyclick-41075976/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=419950 from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=419950%20[https://pixabay.com/sound-effects//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=419950] Sound Effect by https://pixabay.com/users/soundreality-31074404/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=499636 from https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=499636%20[https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=499636]  Sound Effect by https://pixabay.com/users/freesound_community-46691455/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=74064 from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=74064%20[https://pixabay.com/sound-effects//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=74064]  Sound Effect by https://pixabay.com/users/u_r7iwd4nklp-26195122/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=108887 from https://pixabay.com/sound-effects//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=108887%20[https://pixabay.com/sound-effects//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=108887]

Ep. 36 - Virginia Hall, The Woman with Many Names Pt. 1

A lady of grit and determination, Virginia Hall, became a noteworthy figure in history. Though many do not recognize her name, she had a significant impact, particularly in France. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with Virginia Hall. Sources: Purnell, Sonia. A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of the American Spy Who Helped Win World War II. Penguin Books, an Imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2020. Purnell, Sonia. Agent Most Wanted. Penguin Young Readers Group, 2022. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/jonny-boyle/crafty-crime [https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/uppbeat.io%2Ft%2Fjonny-boyle%2Fcrafty-crime/vZub/4ufFAQ/AQ/79553eee-ecc5-4968-9a62-fc4948bbe059/5/0xS-8SjJ5-]License code: 7TSHYUWSJ7XGYATF

Ep. 35 - The Orator, Demosthenes

How easy it is to see someone well-known for a skill and to say, “They were born with it,” or we assume, ”They must have it so easy.” However, we know that isn’t always true. For many talents and abilities, we struggle and strive to master it, and sometimes we never see the fruits of our labors. Other times, our efforts bring us to places we could never have imagined for ourselves. Now, imagine you are born with the exact deficits to hold you back from succeeding at a specific goal - what would you do? How would you try to overcome it? Or would you simply give up? Today, we follow the story of such a man, born with a severe speech impediment, who went on to accomplish something they never thought he could. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with an orator of ancient Greece, Demosthenes. Sources https://www.britannica.com/biography/Demosthenes-Greek-statesman-and-orator [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Demosthenes-Greek-statesman-and-orator] https://medium.com/thrive-global/how-7-people-overcame-huge-obstacles-to-become-famous-4ae0386f4ee1 [https://medium.com/thrive-global/how-7-people-overcame-huge-obstacles-to-become-famous-4ae0386f4ee1] https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=resources&s=char-dir&f=demosthenes2 [https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=resources&s=char-dir&f=demosthenes2]  https://catholicbiblestudent.com/2022/01/two-ways-to-calculate-the-value-of-a-talent.html#:~:text=The%20value%20of%20ten%20talents%20of%20silver,in%20comparative%20American%20wages%20of%202006%2C%20$6%2C000%2C000 [https://catholicbiblestudent.com/2022/01/two-ways-to-calculate-the-value-of-a-talent.html#:~:text=The%20value%20of%20ten%20talents%20of%20silver,in%20comparative%20American%20wages%20of%202006%2C%20$6%2C000%2C000]  https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=read&author=lemon&book=greek&story=demosthenes [https://www.heritage-history.com/index.php?c=read&author=lemon&book=greek&story=demosthenes]  https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Demosthenes*.html#:~:text=3%20However%2C%20at%20the%20age,force%20him%20to%20do%20so [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Demosthenes*.html#:~:text=3%20However%2C%20at%20the%20age,force%20him%20to%20do%20so].  https://www.vaia.com/en-us/explanations/greek/greek-literature/greek-oratory/#:~:text=Greek%20oral%20tradition.-,Classical%20Period,Greek%20oratory%20with%20local%20practices [https://www.vaia.com/en-us/explanations/greek/greek-literature/greek-oratory/#:~:text=Greek%20oral%20tradition.-,Classical%20Period,Greek%20oratory%20with%20local%20practices]. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/dominique-charpentier/clapotis [https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/uppbeat.io%2Ft%2Fdominique-charpentier%2Fclapotis/vZub/7SfFAQ/AQ/86880db7-b04d-4da6-a6d0-7a9a920cdea9/4/8ga3Fx96qk] License code: UFC1IOXIP5RCUBWF Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/brandon-hopkins/inner-workings [https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/uppbeat.io%2Ft%2Fbrandon-hopkins%2Finner-workings/vZub/4yfFAQ/AQ/e1f35043-3d41-46c7-91a1-8540cbf55598/4/bYoVrchxUH] License code: AWKTSAR0YDGTDMZZ

Snapshots of Cereal

Intro: Before Tony the Tiger, Dig’em Frog, Snap, Crackle, and Pop, breakfast was a very different meal. For the wealthy it included large spreads of meats, eggs, and breads. For the poor, breakfast usually consisted of a daily bowl of porridge. But all of that changed just before the turn of the 20th century, when two brothers discovered something new. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with the Kellogg brothers. Sources: “Almanac: Graham Crackers.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, www.cbsnews.com/news/almanac-graham-crackers/ [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/almanac-graham-crackers/]. “Cereal: Accidental Invention That Changed American Breakfast.” History.Com, A&E Television Networks, 27 Aug. 2025, www.history.com/articles/cereal-breakfast-origins-kellogg.  Gross, Terry. “How the ‘battling’ Kellogg Brothers Revolutionized American Breakfast.” NPR, NPR, 8 Aug. 2017, www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/08/08/542145177/how-the-battling-kellogg-brothers-revolutionized-american-breakfast.  “Our Story & Timeline - WK Kellogg Co.” Our Story & Timeline - WK Kellogg Co®, www.wkkellogg.com/who-we-are/our-story. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.  “Sylvester Graham: History: Research Starters: EBSCO Research.” EBSCO, www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/sylvester-graham. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.  Music was obtained through Riverside.

Ep. 34 - Gail Halvorsen, the First Candy Bomber

During a time when tensions were high and grudges were rampant, the city of Berlin had been caught in the crossfire of former allies now at odds. The newly established United States Airforce was called on to bring food and necessities to these people who had, until very recently,  been considered enemies. It was a great humanitarian effort for those who were in dire straits, but would it be enough to sustain the West Berliners while they held out to build their own democratic and free government? Tune in to learn how two sticks of gum changed history, as we take a breath of dead air with Gail Halvorsen. Sources: Cherny, Andrei. The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America’s Finest Hour. CNIB, 2014.  Halvorsen, Gail S., and Denise H. Williams. The Candy Bomber. Cedar Fort Publishing & Media, 2022.  Tunnell, Michael O. Candy Bomber. Charlesbridge, 2014. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/kurtz-martin/untamable-love [https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/uppbeat.io%2Ft%2Fkurtz-martin%2Funtamable-love/vZub/aMbDAQ/AQ/0066298f-1379-44c3-8de5-97155a8545ff/4/l2nWDOysMj] License code: DUWOTINF0ETHY19D