In 1938 Orson Welles produced a series of radio dramas, including one based on “War of the Worlds.” The broadcast aired the night before Halloween and caused a mass panic. But why did so many listeners believe the show was real? Tune in to find out.

Show Notes Here

Nikolai Vavilov traveled to 64 countries gathering seeds and plants and established the first seed bank. Stalin had the botanist sentenced to death, but his seed bank endured: Other scientists guarded the stores from rats, starving Russians and...

The response to humor starts with electrical activity, potentially translating to physical responses that make up laughter. Science still can’t pin down what makes one thing amusing and another not (which is pretty funny). Tune in to learn more.

It's tough to predict the future. Instead, the future looks a lot like it does now: Faster data transfer rates, more social networking, ubiquitous mobile devices -- and possibly dumber people from using all this stuff.

In the second portion of their interview with author David McCullough, Sarah and Deblina, focus specifically on their favorite parts of his new book "The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris." Tune in to learn more about McCullough's research process.

Episode 167: Steve goes crazy with the chatting! Some exciting Swedish news, Steve gets shot in the face, Steve's radio work, Australian boxing, eco scammers, and the ongoing LEETNESS of Steve's rock n roll lifestyle!...

In 1820, most of the drugs listed in the American Pharmacopoeia were plant-based; by 1960, it was a mere 5 percent. Yet in the late 20th century this trend reversed. Why? Join Josh and Chuck as they get to the root of ethnobotany and plant-based...

An acclaimed African-American contralto, Marian Anderson was barred from singing in Constitution Hall in 1939. She sang at the Lincoln Memorial instead. The concert was broadcast around the country -- and also heard by a young Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 1913, 13-year-old Atlanta factory worker Mary Phagan stopped in for her pay -- and was never seen alive again. Authorities charged Jewish superintendent Leo M. Frank with murder. But did Frank kill Mary Phagan, or was he framed? Tune in to...

A condition known as chromhidrosis can be jarring: The sufferer excretes colored sweat from the eccrine or the apocrine sweat glands. Join Josh and Chuck as they explore this somewhat understood, but still bafflingly mysterious medical condition.

Episode 166: The Social Contract: In this episode of The Great Southern Stand with Steve Parker, Steve discusses the social contract and it's place in our modern world. Drunken teens, don't walk on the grass, Doctor's phones and...

SPAM is a canned meat product made from pork shoulder and ham. First introduced in 1937, this iconic food has spread to stores across the world. But what exactly is it, how did it get here -- and why is its shelf life "indefinite?" Tune in to find...

Show Notes Here

The false Dmitriy was actually one of three imposters claiming to be the son of Ivan the Terrible. So what made his story seem more believable to the Russian populace? Join Sarah and Deblina as they examine the curious tale of the False Dmitriy.

The Bayeux Tapestry is considered the one of the most important images of the Medieval Age. It’s a stunning piece of art, and it covers a crucial event in Western history: The Norman Conquest of Britain. Tune in to learn more about the Bayeux...

Wildfires consume an annual average of 5 million acres in the US. But what causes wildfires? How do they become so powerful? More importantly, how do we fight them? Join Josh and Chuck as they take you to the frontlines of the fight against...

While it’s kind of perverted in the West, the concept of karma is a central tenet of several Eastern religions. Karma isn't just good or bad -- it’s a natural law. Join Josh and Chuck to learn more about karma in this religiously respectful episode.