Author: Brendan Dowd

  • Dr. Dante Lauretta joins the podcast to talk asteroids!

    Dr. Dante Lauretta joins the podcast to talk asteroids!

    Let’s land on an asteroid! OSIRIS-REx Mission Leader Dr. Dante Lauretta joins the podcast to talk his new book The Asteroid Hunter: A Scientist’s Journey to the Dawn of Our Solar System. Space! Asteroids! Come listen! Buy The Asteroid HunterCheck out the OSIRIS-REx page

  • Vagabond Princess by Ruby Lal

    Vagabond Princess by Ruby Lal

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Vagabond Princess: Her Instagram account would have been awesome. Quick synopsis: The biography of Mughal Princess and writer Gulbadan Begum from the 1500s.    Fact for Non-History People: Royal couriers were super-fast back in the day. A good rider with a solid horse could cover around 350 miles on a great…

  • The Asteroid Hunter by Dante Lauretta

    The Asteroid Hunter by Dante Lauretta

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Asteroid Hunter: Who knew space could be so anxiety inducing? Quick synopsis: A firsthand account of the OSIRIS-REx space mission by its leader, Dante Lauretta.    Fact for Non-History People: Asteroid Bennu might kill us all on September 24, 2182. Fact for History Nerds: About 17 meteorites hit Earth every…

  • Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul (Netflix)

    Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul (Netflix)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Big Vape: If you beat them, you can still join them. Quick synopsis: The story of the e-cigarette, Juul. Fact for Non-History People: Juul was valued at $38 billion at its height. Fact for History Nerds: By July 2022, Juul was valued at $450 million. My Take on Big Vape: I…

  • Author Jane Tippett joins the podcast to talk Edward VIII!

    Author Jane Tippett joins the podcast to talk Edward VIII!

    Let’s abdicate! Author Jane Tippett joins the podcast to talk her book Once a King: The Lost Memoir of Edward VIII. Come listen to the drama! Buy Once a KingCheck out Jane’s website

  • Plentiful Country by Tyler Anbinder

    Plentiful Country by Tyler Anbinder

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Plentiful Country: Irish need apply. Quick synopsis: A look at how Irish immigrants fleeing the Irish Potato Famine prospered once they reached the U.S.    Fact for Non-History People: England did not stop exporting food out of Ireland during the famine. Fact for History Nerds: Approximately 1 million Irish died during…

  • Once a King by Jane Tippett

    Once a King by Jane Tippett

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Once a King: Lots of drama with little accountability. Quick synopsis: A look at the unpublished memoir of Edward VIII of England. You know, the one who quit. Fact for Non-History People: Edward was paid $75,000 in 1947 to write 3 articles on his childhood. In today’s dollars, that’s… a lot.…

  • Can I Tell You a Secret? (Netflix)

    Can I Tell You a Secret? (Netflix)

    Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Can I Tell You a Secret?: The secret is that you should skip this. Quick synopsis: The story of a series of harassment cases against women on social media in the UK. Fact for Non-History People: None. Fact for History Nerds: Still none. My Take on Can I Tell You a…

  • North Korea Expert and Author Sung-Yoon Lee joins the podcast!

    North Korea Expert and Author Sung-Yoon Lee joins the podcast!

    Let’s visit the Hermit Kingdom! North Korea Expert and Author Sung-Yoon Lee joins the podcast to talk about his book The Sister: North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong the Most Dangerous Woman in the World. Come listen! Buy The Sister