Christory: History Where You Least Expect It

<p>Dr. Christine Contrada is a native New Yorker whose true passion is history.  She has taught countless historical topics over the years at elite liberal arts colleges, public research universities, inner-city and rural community colleges, in continuing education, and for study abroad programs.  No matter where she is, nothing brings her as much joy as getting an adamant naysayer excited about history - and that's the focus of the Christory podcast.<br /><br />Her podcasts weave history and popular culture so she is always searching, wherever she is, for a hidden corner that has some spicy bit of historical significance to share.  Making any historical topic interesting is her favorite challenge.</p>

Christory S2 E9: Where My Taphophiles At?

Heading to Naples for the pizza? Well, don’t forget All Souls Day and bring some to your dear departed because nothing says lovin’ like pizza. Where my taphophiles at because Chistory is riding the runaway Jubilee train to the cemetery through Samhain and rocking the liminal space of transitioning to the dark half of the year like a Gaelic boss.

11-02
20:37

Christory S2 E8: Conjuring up a Holy Summerween

The Conjuring has Christory moving from endless summer to Summerween. We’ve got questions about demons and the papacy has answers. According to some exorcists, demons get especially irritated during holy years, so get your PSL and let’s hit the streets of Rome and see what this jubilee means for some historical demonic sites around town.

09-11
23:36

Christory S2 E7: If In Doubt, Paddle Out

Hurricane Erin is cruising through the Atlantic with 50 foot waves crashing in the eye of the storm. In honor of those who pray for surf, we are duck diving into the history of the boogie board and Christory’s own history riding the waves. Celebrate the dog days of the jubilee summer with a goofy footed historian.

08-19
30:31

Christory S2 E6: Smells Like Both Teen Spirit and Holy Spirit

It smells like Teen Spirit in Rome these days. Christory’s got OG eyes on the Jubilee of Youth and the new pope as he navigates holy Lollapalooza . The Vatican works tirelessly to present an image, but popular culture often has its own ideas. Let’s take a closer look as the jubilee inspired season of our podcast rolls on.

08-08
25:44

Christory S2 E5: The New, Not So Young, Pope

It’s on like Donkey Kong. We’ve got a new pope and Christory is on the ground in Rome watching it go down. The dream is that the first pope from the US of A is walking through the Vatican apartments winking at the nuns like Jude Law in The Young Pope because nothing is more historically fun than a spicy pope.

05-18
20:30

Christory S2 E4: Spicy Popes

From parading around Rome with an elephant to putting a corpse on trial, there is more delightfully devious behavior amongst the 266 popes than in all the seasons of Cops. Hold onto your sock, papal or not and see the Holy See’s dirty laundry in high definition.

04-04
22:02

Christory S2 E3: Ridin' The Typhoid Train

What do Abigail Adams, Prince Albert, Louisa May Alcott, Wilbur Wright, quite possibly Sacagawea and Alexander the Great, and maybe Saladin have in common? They met the grim reaper by hitchin’ a ride on the Typhoid train. Christory's back in the history of disease with a Papal Jubilee twist ( of lime).

02-19
16:43

Christory S2 E2: The Bubonic Plague and One Very Angry Medieval God

Papal Jubilees have been super spreaders. This year it is the Jubilee Flu, in 1350 it was The Plague. Learn more about the disease that killed at least half of Europe. In the Middle Ages God was angry. Today, you’ve got bacteria and hopefully antibiotics.

01-25
21:13

Christory S2 E1: Who Can Pull The Plug on a Papal Jubilee?

The Papal Giubileo has taken Rome by storm. Even the New York Times is afraid the city is going to lose its soul, but this isn’t Rome’s first trip to the invasion rodeo. Napoleon took great pleasure in busting papal cajones, so hold onto your bicorne hats!

01-07
23:48

Christory Episode 13: Remembering 9/11

There are historical events that define generations because they set the world on a different course. The terror attack on September 11, 2001 was such an event. Explore this topic through a historical lens with some personal recollections.

09-10
19:28

Christory Episode 12: True Crime - New York's Mafia Dons Living and Dying by the Sword

Think you know the mob of Hollywood? Just wait until you meet this rowdy cast of characters. Christory's diving back into true crime. Christory's no rat, but these crimes are too juicy not to tell.

08-17
20:03

Christory Episode 11: History of True Crime Long Island Side

If you like true crime, you are not alone. Long before the Gilgo Killer tossed his DNA covered pizza crust into the evidence pile, Long Island has experienced murder and mayhem. Tune in for the history of six crimes that will make you shake your head.

08-03
25:37

Christory Episode 10: Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité and a Side of Baguettes

Happy Bastille Day! No one does a revolution quite like the French when they want bread, and this is the big kahuna. Take a trip to 1793 and the massive medieval fortress where it all went down for this delightfully glutton filled podcast.

07-13
25:38

Christory Episode 9: Freedom with a Side of Hot Dogs

This Independence Day its off to Coney Island, New York for a frank look at the history of America's Playground in its heyday and beyond. From the Cyclone to top dog Joey Chestnut, spread love it's the Brooklyn way.

07-02
23:06

Christory Episode 8: Berlusconi's Off-Brand Bella Figura

Silvio Berlusconi very well might have failed Dr. Contrada's Western Civ final, but he certainly boldly projected his own significance into history. So much that came out of his mouth had the world clutching its pearls, so let's take a look at a controversial historical legacy in its infancy.

06-20
22:07

Christory Episode 7: Natural Disasters in NY History

Mother Nature threw some serious shade at New York this week. This isn't the first time. Curious? Let's explore the natural disasters of the past to sucker punch New York.

06-11
21:10

Christory Episode 6: My Bologna has a First Name - La Rossa, la Dotta, and la Grassa

After destructive flooding in Italy's Emilia-Romagna region, Christory offers an ode to Bologna's history. As work begins on saving this heritage, it is clear it won't be an easy task, but Bologna has spirit. It has earned the colorful nicknames the Red, the Intellectual, and the Fat. This tough little city has come back from far worse. Do you keep hearing about the floods, but find that you are curious about the history of the city? Then you are in the right place!

06-04
22:19

Christory Episode 5: Historical Advice for Queen consort Camilla

Christory still has coronation fever. We've got a remix this week with some unsolicited advice for the new Queen consort. Did she kiss a frog? You be the judge. It's not easy being green, but it's also not easy being a consort. Tune in to find out why.

05-19
22:52

Christory Episode 4: Historical Advice for King Charles III

Christory's got coronation fever. This historian has more unsolicited advice for the new king than M&S has piles of tea towels. What can Charles learn from the monarchs who came before him about? Tune in to find out.

05-13
16:28

Christory Episode 3: From the Monumental to the Minuscule in Sofia

Having trouble making new friends? Can't get over an old toxic flame? You are not alone. The struggle is real, even for nation states. Let's go monument hunting in the corners of Sofia, Bulgaria to explore the city's socialist past on the occasion of International Workers' Day.

05-04
16:41

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