The Missing Chapter: History's Forgotten Stories

Any financial advisor will tell their clients to strike while the iron’s hot.  We’re seeing trends toward a certain stock, it’s low, make sure you buy now, as many as you can!  Or eh, not so sure about this investment in this market, you better sell while you still can get something for your investment. For today’s episode, we’re talking some sketchy insider trading secrets…don’t get your hopes up, I’m not a financial advisor and you’re not about to get rich from this episode, but you’re sure to tear up when you hear what commodity was the topic of heated discussion, and bitter financial loss.  Grab your coffees, it’s time for the Missing Chapter. 

A warm crackling fire, the aroma of a turkey bronzing in the oven… is there a more American holiday than Thanksgiving? I’m not sure if there is, and let me add this to the picture you’re painting for our listeners… What’s on the television? Well, that would be the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, of course! It’s as iconic to this holiday as the mashed potatoes and the apple pie. You’re absolutely right! On this bonus episode of The Missing Chapter, we’ll lay out the history of and the story behind the world’s most famous parade and we’ll usher in Thanksgiving like only we can! Happy Thanksgiving Missing Chapter fans… settle in while the Phils serve up a hearty helping of stories past.

George Washington, Martha Washington, General Philip Schuyler, Lafayette, Benjamin Rush…what do these people have in common?  Well, quite a bit, but the known similarities isn’t what our focus is on this podcast.  We harness the unknown.  Well, in this episode of the Missing Chapter, let’s do just that.  We’re going to look at how these individuals faired during the American Revolution, some better than others of course, but one individual is credited by many historians for being the best surgeon, American or British, in the Revolution altogether.  This man has a great story, with incredible ties to our local communities in Central New York.  Find out more about this unknown historical figure on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

Boy it sure seems like technology is really taking off lately huh?  I say that in the most literal sense because now you can go to your local Target or Wal-Mart and buy a toy that uses technology that was unthinkable only a few decades ago.  To think when I was a kid that I would be able to take a remote control and manipulate a toy helicopter high into the air, and even watch the flight once it comes back down…no way, that’s the thing for sci-fi movies, not real life.  Well, here we are, and now my own kids have drones with AI that fly themselves and just by holding their hand to the side, below, and above, their 3” diameter drone can stay in flight for as long as the battery can stay at a constant charge.  To kids, that’s normalcy, to adults, that is ludicrous!  New technology, amazing, right?  Here’s the problem, it may new to us, but it certainly isn’t new to the world.  In fact, it’s old news, because the Nazis were using drones in 1944.  Yup, you heard me right.  Welcome to the Missing Chapter Podcast everyone, let’s get to it.

History comes in all facets - from artwork, to major accomplishments, huge catastrophes, and everything in between. Historically speaking, the big screen has provided opportunities for history to come alive! And if you're a follower of the Missing Chapter, you know we love our movies! So why not bring back the Top 5 - The Top 5 Historic and Iconic Movie Cars of all time. There is surely to be controversy and most likely, a follow-up episode to this Top 5!

Let us know what you think!

3 simple piano keys… used to create one of the most iconic Hollywood scores in history; one that can invoke a response from its listeners, unlike many others of its kind. In 1978, 2 friends set out to create a scary story and, in the process, produced a groundbreaking film that would change the landscape of movie-making forever, as well as the holiday it portrays.

The leaves have changed, the air is cold & crisp, jack-o-lanterns adorn every household window.  A killer has decided to return home again. Horror unlike anything before it – a story like only The Missing Chapter Podcast could bring you.  

Happy Halloween!

A superstition, according to Oxford Dictionary, is a widely held but unjustified belief in supernatural causation leading to certain consequences of an action or event, or a practice based on such a belief.  Wow, that’s a mouthful.  In essence, it’s something that we do out of habit, or maybe out of fear of bad luck.  Don’t step on a crack or you’ll break your mothers back.  You just spilled the salt.  Quick, throw a pinch over your right shoulder.  Hey, hold your breath, we’re going past a cemetery.  Knock on wood, this is going to be a good episode! Let’s hope there aren’t any black cats crossing our path today because I’m certainly not walking under any ladders.  Yeah, fingers crossed, hey, at least it’s not Friday the 13th - but it is almost Halloween, and what better way to spend this weekend than with your hosts of the Missing Chapter.

When unearthing evidence of the past, it is unbelievable to read the lengths that governments will go to spy on other sovereign nations.  I’m sure your mind went right to Cold War era espionage, which, if you’ve been a listener of the Missing Chapter for any period of time, you would know that’s one of our favorite eras and topics to talk about.  Of all the spy-tech that came out of that time period, what I’m about to tell you will probably shock you as much as it shocked me the first time I heard about it.  The use of a certain animal to spy on foreign nationals…no, I’m not talking about messenger pigeons, or crows, or the loyal and obedient man’s best friend, I’m talking about an animal that is known for its disobedience and training resistance, but I won’t share with you what animal it is just yet, well, at least not right meow.  Welcome to the Missing Chapter everyone, let’s get to it.

The man was a grudge-holder and today… he was already fuming. The smell of smog, the oppressive heat & humidity, the unmerciful rush hour traffic. The overwhelming tidal wave of sidewalk commuters pushing and bumping into him as he left his office for the day. He was exhausted, frustrated, and simply put…wanted to be home. Standing on the street curb, he waved frantically at the handsome cabs that raced by him. The city’s archaic system of horse-drawn carriages was dirty, noisy, ineffective and only compounded the man’s anger. The city was congested and simply traveling from one city block to another was not only cumbersome… but next to impossible.

On this episode of The Missing Chapter Podcast, we jump into a tale where our destination is the fame and financial success that one man’s grudge will take him on, and where it’s “fair” to say, that his story is sure to entertain.

If you are new to the Missing Chapter Podcast, first of all, welcome to our classroom!  For those of you who are veterans to the Missing Chapter, you know we love our coffee.  Specifically, we love our Utica Coffee Roasting Company coffee.  Almost every one of our episodes highlights a coffee from our beloved roasters in the heart of downtown Utica.  If you are a listener outside of our central NY area, you may or may not be familiar with Utica, NY.  So let the Phils introduce you and educate you on the history of this city with some very curious and interesting origins!

We love highlighting the unknown, the obscure, the forgotten - that has been and continues to be our mission for this podcast.  Many of the stories we discover and are amazed and bewildered by their obscurity and their anonymity sometimes.  Why don’t we know more about some of these stories?  Well, this time, a story came to us - by means of our very special guest today, Dr. Marsha Gordon, Professor and Director of Film Studies at NC State University and she is here today to explain one of the most fascinating stories we’ve ever heard, from one of the most fascinating women we’ve never heard of.  Grab your coffees, and join us today on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

Chances are that if you apply for a job as a secretary you possess certain skills.  Things like:  multi-tasking, taking phone calls, and… typing. Bette Graham Nesmith, however, was not a good typist when she accepted her position as executive secretary at the Texas Bank and Trust in 1956. And yes, the job description included extensive typing, especially in this day and age before computers and even word processors. Using a basic, simple typewriter in 1956 one mistake (a wrong letter, a grammatical error, a punctuation slip) could require starting the entire document all over again. 

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the term Renaissance man as someone who has wide interests and is an expert in several areas.  The discussion in the Missing Chapter classroom today is a man that certainly fits the bill.  His knowledge in a variety of fields, combined with his humble beginnings, has given him a mind that many historians have called brilliant, inventive, and history-making. 

History is full of accidental discoveries, including Teflon, Velcro, x-rays, and plastic.  Today we are going to explore the world of music.  Rock and Roll music and the electric guitar to be exact.  Have you ever wondered how a rock guitarist can get their instrument to howl through a 12 bar blues or scream over top of the thundering bass and drums?  Many of those sounds have been created using special effects with a wide variety of foot pedals that a musician can switch on and off as needed, but it wasn’t always that easy.  It all started with a little accident, “oops,” sorry about that...

Just when you think you’ve heard it all, you stumble upon a story that makes you say, no way, come on, really?  Has this ever happened to you?  Well it just happened to me - and let me tell you, it’s bizarre.  Upon researching and studying our country’s origins, I came across a very, uh, peculiar, strange, and I don’t know, puzzling founding father.  Of all the framers of the Constitution, there is one that stands out.  And oddly, you probably have never either heard his name before, or know his completely eccentric life, but I’m almost certain that you know the phrase that he coined.  We the people of the United States - there it is, one of the most famous quotes of our past, present, and future.  We’ve seen it everywhere, heard it on numerous occasions, and now, you’ll get to know the man behind it.  The very, well, bizarre man behind it.  Hold on to your coffees, everyone, it’s about to get weird.

History iis full of people who set out with grand ambitions – lofty goals of fortune and fame. Others came across these shared desires by chance and their success reached heights even they could never have anticipated.

A simple mid-western boy graduated from Purdue University in 1928, with a degree in soil management & crop production. Upon his graduation, he began working as a county agricultural agent, and managed a 12,000-acre farm.

The same question perplexed this young farmer that every farmer starting out had to answer:  What should I grow?

Somewhere along the way, he decided on breeding a new variety of… corn. In the process of growing his corn crops and expanding his fields, this young man partnered with a friend named, Charlie Bowman. Together they spent decades crossbreeding more than 30,000 corn hybrids. Finally, in 1965, the duo settled on what they considered to be the “perfect kernel.”

The perfect kernel for “popping” that is.

In many of our episodes the past 3 seasons, we have kept the main character or punchline hidden until the end.  But on this episode, I’m going to hide the main character right out in the open. A guy by the name of Josephus Daniels.  Ring a bell?  Hmm. Well the story isn’t so much about what this individual accomplished, and I mean, accomplished he was, but it’s more about what his name is synonymous with.  And what if I told you that your favorite history podcast has a vague connection to him?  And so do you, every time you listen in to one of our episodes.  What am I referring to?  Well, you’ll have to continue to listen and stick with us.  I got my cup of joe and I hope you do too.  Cheers everyone, let’s get started.

Memorialized in song by the late Gordon Lightfoot, the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975 is considered one of the worst maritime disasters in history and the worst that the Great Lakes has ever seen. A grizzled sea captain, a boat that boasted to be one of the largest of its kind, and a crew of some 28 sailors set out on Lake Superior on a grey, windy November day. They departed Wisconsin on a voyage that would find them sailing into the history books, folk legend, and lore.

But what happened really happened that day and could it have been avoided? Do we know any more today than we did almost 48 years ago and how does the story of a doomed freighter fit into the story of our nation and the history book of The Missing Chapter Podcast?

The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead

When the skies of November turn gloomy

With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more

Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty

That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed

When the gales of November came early.

At the end of the American Revolution, the newly formed U.S. Congress was deep in debt. During that time, in order to settle debts, many states ended up selling some land to compensate.  In 1784, the province of North Carolina chose to do just that.  They voted to give away 29 million acres of land. So what would they do with all that land? Why wouldn't they just dig their roots deep into North Carolinian culture? Well, there's more to that - as well as their attempt behind creating an entirely new state. Would it work? What would they call this new state? And how would the cards fall? Tune in to find out - on today's Missing Chapter Short!

One of the most fulfilling aspects of teaching is seeing a student begin to recognize their gift and begin to fulfill their purpose.  From students that are historians through and through and want to pursue teaching, to mechanically-minded individuals that love working on cars and plan on being successful auto mechanics and technicians, to art students that have their artwork being bought from outside sources, it’s an honor to see and fulfilling as a teacher to watch their students’ gifts take shape before our very eyes.  For some people, it takes a lot of trial and error to tease out their gift, whereas for others, their purpose is recognized early on.  Well, an individual born in Ireland in the mid-18th century not only found his gift, but built upon it continually and eventually utilized it so much that one of his creations is one of the most recognizable objects in the world, and I’m guessing no one even knows his name.  His gift might be hiding in plain sight, but after today’s episode, his name surely won’t be hidden any longer.  Welcome to the Missing Chapter, everyone, let’s get to it.

In May of 1905, a 26-year old clerk in Bern, Switzerland was on his nightly commute home from work. As was his usual routine, he boarded the trolley and made himself comfortable for the relaxing ride home. The clerk found himself deep in thought and engrossed in a nagging question that he had been unable to solve for years. The trolley navigated its way through the center of town and past Bern’s famous clock tower – known as the Zytglogge or “time bell.” It had been constructed in the 1200s as part of the medieval city’s west gate. The actual clock itself dates from the 1400s and had dominated the Swiss city’s primary square since then. At that moment, as the trolley passed by the clock, and the tired clerk’s eyes fell on the clock tower, the answer to the question that had vexed him for years, suddenly came to him and the world would change – forever. Find out more on this "short" of the Missing Chapter!

You know, some of the greatest discoveries and inventions came from someone who started with a question.  How do we solve this problem?  What would happen if we mixed this with that?  How can we make this part of life easier for ordinary people? Many times, it’s just sheer curiosity that becomes the vehicle for discovery.  Now, in the 1960s, I think it’s safe to say that amidst the cold war, the united states was developing and testing some pretty dangerous inventions.  Sure, would there be positive outcomes, of course, however, getting through the initial series of trial and error could be at the expense of human life.  So the question at hand on any invention or discovery is, is it worth it?  On today’s episode of the Missing Chapter, we’re going deeper - deep into the earth’s surface to uncover a 1960s project that used one of the most powerful weapons to ever exist for peaceful and scientific purposes.  Is it successful in its mission?  Or is this a really questionable idea with catastrophic consequences?

You’ve probably heard this before, but what makes ordinary people do extraordinary things?  Does extraordinary require an intrinsic or extrinsic motivator?  Is it something that is hidden within someone and is only activated when it is absolutely necessary?  Is it based on survival, doing whatever it takes to continue to live?  Or is it based on the love of another person, or correcting an injustice, or simply for a social, political, religious cause?  It’s hard to say, and honestly, if you’re looking for answers to those questions, unfortunately, I don’t think this episode will provide that, however, what we can do is provide an example of an extraordinary hero, an unsung hero, and all this person had to do was air her dirty laundry.  Wait, what does dirty laundry have to do with being a hero?  Well, hopefully this episode of the Missing Chapter will educate and motivate, and show our listeners that something as simple as airing your dirty laundry, in the most literal sense mind you, can actually be used as a tool for a cause greater than the courageous person carrying out the act.  Let’s continue this conversation, welcome to the Missing Chapter classroom, everyone, let’s get started.

History can be understood in a good novel.  It can be taught by good storytellers.  It can be visualized by good documentaries.  But the sacredness can only be felt by experiencing the site first hand. We have had the opportunity and blessing to visit many historic sites around the country and around the world.  And in these summer months, why not take the time to visit historic locations that will not just entertain, but will educate. Our goal on this podcast and of course in our profession, is to do both - educate AND entertain - so today, we bring you the Top 5.  The Phil’s Top 5 historic places to visit this summer. The car is packed…jump in and let’s go on a summer road trip together… on The Missing Chapter Podcast!

The story of America and the struggles our country endured in its early years, is the story of its people. If we are to learn from history and appreciate the stories and grow from our early ancestors, its necessary to hear the accounts of what they endured.

In many ways, Mary Jemison’s birth and start in the New World with her family, represented the birth of new colonies and a new democratic nation. She faced unimaginable hardships and endured amazing hindrances early on, but ultimately persevered and found happiness with a Native American tribe in Upstate New York.

But, if life is any indicator, another chapter in our country’s story is about to be written and this will mean changes for Mary and the life she knows and has come to love. In this chapter, The Missing Chapter, maybe learn something about yourself, as you learn more about “Two Falling Voices.”

In the fall of 1743 (33 years before the birth of the United States of America), somewhere on the stormy, turbulent Atlantic Ocean, a child was born. Thomas and Jane Jemison were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, while aboard the ship, William & Mary.  She would be named Mary and Mary would embark on a separate journey… a voyage, in and of itself, that commenced as soon as their vessel docked in Philadelphia and the Jemison family stepped foot in the New World.

Mary Jemison’s voyage, in many ways, traces the course of colonial and pre-colonial America. Her trials and tribulations, her victories, and her tragedies are shared by the settlers rooted in the colonies during this time. It is an incredible story of survival, an inspirational story of overcoming obstacles and pioneering a life that is both fruitful and fulfilling. Either way, it’s a story that only one podcast can bring to you the way it should be…The Missing Chapter Podcast.

The 2nd book of Genesis describes what life was like before sin entered the world. No sin…so no evil, no disease, no shame, no guilt, no poverty, no famine, no tension and hostility between humans and animals or humans and God Himself for that matter.  Then of course, the perfect Garden of Eden, and humanity thereafter, became tainted, diseased with the entangling pains of sin when Eve ate the forbidden fruit.  Adam, influenced by Eve, and Eve, tempted and deceived by Satan the serpent, now have set the course of humanity and the environment as a whole.  Sin has entered and the Garden of Eden is no more. 

As depressing as the story goes, there’s an even better redemption story comes later, but that’s for another episode.  Today, though, humanity is still dealing with the weight of sin and the brokenness of the world.  Sometimes we get a glimpse of the Garden of Eden, partaking in flourishing feasts and almost gluttonous holiday celebrations, whereas, unfortunately, we see the evidence of the fall of man in the famines that plague a vast portion of the planet.

So what kind of plans can we as a human race conjure up to prevent famine and increase food production to compete with the vast rise in global population? Well, for this episode of the Missing Chapter, we're going to focus on a "GLOWING" idea to increase food production...and let me say, it's probably not what you'd expect.

The complicated relationship that existed between the United States and its Soviet advisory, Joseph Stalin, was one that changed with almost every shift in the global climate of the 1930s and 1940s. From defending the eastern front from Adolf Hitler’s advances in World War II to the negotiating table of the Paris Peace Conference, few leaders from history have had a more divisive legacy in our nation’s past than Stalin, himself. The dictator that most historians accredit with killing more than 20 million people is the same leader whose forces altered the course of war with his unwavering defense of the Russian city of Stalingrad. By 1947, however, with the ushering in of the Cold War, it was undeniable that Joseph Stalin was the primary communist opponent that the United States government had to concern itself with. Therefore, upon his death in 1953, U.S. foreign policy makers waited with baited breath on who his successor would be and what this would mean for the American people.

We’ve done a bunch of top 5’s - and we’ve gotten great feedback on them.  We’ve also had a great deal of guests on our show, from colleagues to students to historians and editors of worldwide magazines and nationally-renowned books.  Today, we’re combining the best of both worlds. 

That’s right!  We’re taking a top 5 and mixing it with a guest speaker.  Welcome to the Top 5 Weirdest Traditions…it’s a top 5, it’s a Missing Chapter Chat, and it’s our friend and colleague’s first time on the Podcast.  So join us today in welcoming historian, coach, and friend of ours, Justice Parker to today’s episode of the Missing Chapter.

Oh if these walls could talk - how many times have you heard that?  Well, how would you react if I told you that the office walls of a certain US ambassador were talking - to spying KGB members outside the US embassy in Moscow.  Now wait a second, how could this have happened?  And isn’t this the sort of stuff we see on Bond films and sci-fi movies?  That kind of stuff doesn’t really happen right?  Oh it does, and it did all throughout the cold war.  In this instance, the brilliant technology especially for mid-20th century standards, the preparation, and sneakiness is most certainly film-worthy, and it’s the topic of conversation on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

In the days following September 2, 1945, there were few labels more abhorrent than that of ‘Nazi.’ As the events of the Holocaust and Adolf Hitler’s genocide against Europe’s Jewish community and other groups and minorities came to light, anyone associated with the Nazi’s or anyone linked to their repulsive deeds were put on trial and held accountable for their actions. SS officers and Nazi officials scattered throughout Europe in a frantic race to escape prosecution. They assumed false identities and took refuge in the few countries that sympathized with their ideologies and whose extradition laws kept them safe. Subsequently, in the years after World War II, Nazi hunters like the famed Simon Wiesenthal would scour the ends of the earth trying to find these criminals and bring them to justice.

For some 1,600 German, Nazi elite - scientists, engineers - however, one government in particular recruited them… welcomed them, embraced them after 1945. They didn’t have to hide their entities. The resumes they built during WWII is what set them apart from their colleagues. This country and the project they were being chosen for… might surprise you. What lengths were countries willing to go to during the height of the Cold War, under the threat of the Nuclear Age, when they willingly signed… A Deal with the Devil.

Any historian or history buff will tell you, there are certain people throughout history that used their gift of leadership for great things.  Some, on the other hand, have used this gift for well, not so great things.  On this episode of the Missing Chapter, we’re taking a look back almost a millennia in time, to the 13th century, where we see a very, shall we say, skillful and strategic leader who used his leadership not to bring out the best in others, but as a means of conquest.  And we’re talking about one of the largest contiguous empires man has ever seen…the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan.  I’m sure many of our listeners know their fair share of Genghis Khan stories, or at the very least, are aware of the brutality that he was known for and the fear that he struck into anyone in his path.  But maybe, just maybe, there’s a story of a walled city that he came upon that gave him pause.  What to do next?  Turn back around?  Try to scale the walled city?  Surrender?  Well, knowing him, he’s most definitely not surrendering, but what he does next will make you wonder how someone could be so clever, and so evil simultaneously.  Welcome to the Missing Chapter everyone, let’s get started.

The shadowy figure emerged from the staircase onto the roof of the hospital – the tallest building in Tokyo at the time. The series of lies and bluffs that he had used to this point had, in fact, worked gaining him access to the spot in the city skyline he would need to complete his mission.

From beneath his kimono, he drew a small movie camera and began to pan the view before him, albeit draped under the cover of night. This included the harbor and the industrial district of Tokyo – which was comprised of munitions plants and military factories. After several minutes of filming and picture taking, the man puts the camera back under his kimono, retreats from the roof, and quietly makes his way back down the stairs – as if he had never even been there.  It was late and in less than 24 hours, he would be taking the field with his teammates in front of thousands of adoring fans.  

Sound like a Cold War spy thriller, a Hollywood action film… or just another amazing episode of your favorite podcast? In the world of espionage, question everything, except what you’re about to hear now on The Missing Chapter. 

Historical Coincidences was a big hit with our fan base, so guess what, it’s a part II.  That's right, the sequel!  And are sequels ever as good as the original? Well, in this case, it is! We had a blast talking about the original top 5, so let’s expand on that initial episode and get into the coincidental, the odd, and maybe even get a little weird. It’s the part II episode of history’s most coincidental events, welcome to the Missing Chapter!

In the United States, the Roaring 20’s represented an era of great change and growth. Music, industry, arts & literature, entertainment and fashion were evolving at an extraordinary pace and out of this a hot new item emerged. Decorated with a recently discovered miracle substance, this accessory would change the way people were able to tell time. However, no one could have known that this miracle substance would claim the lives of dozens of young women. This story will not only give insight about workplace safety, but a whole new meaning to the phrase “glow-in-the-dark.”

Here in Central NY, we are in close proximity to many historic sites and cities…Cooperstown, Albany, Saratoga, Niagara Falls, and of course New York City just to name a few.  We’ve mentioned it before in previous episodes - we really are centrally located to many places that have some serious historical significance!  It’s a playground for historians!  One of the best parts of being so historically located, though, is that we are continuously learning more about our area and the people who have made a significant impact on our state, our nation, and in some respects, our world as a whole.  Well, on today’s episode, we’re looking forward to sharing a story about a man who really changed the world, and he’s from upstate NY, in Lewis County.  Did I get your attention?  Are you on pins and needles yet?  Listen in to this episode of the Missing Chapter and let’s find out who this person is and what kind of impact he really had worldwide.

Happy April Fool's Day, everyone!  Some of us are doing what most people do on April 1st...nothing really out of the ordinary - while others, however, are using today’s date and continued tradition as an excuse to pull some of the most ridiculous, albeit clever pranks on everyone from family, friends, grandparents, teachers, classmates…no one is off limits on April 1st because hey, that’s what we do on April fools day because it’s not only just allowed, it’s encouraged! 

But have you ever stopped and asked yourself why we actually participate in this anyway?  I’m guessing that anyone who’s actually pranking people and participating in this tradition really don’t care to ask themselves why they’re doing this, but us history nerds love it!

So, why DO we partake in this weird, odd, and kind of obscure “holiday” - wait, is it a holiday?  Either way, where the heck does all of this come from?  Find out today on this Missing Chapter Short!

Sung an estimated 10 million times each year, and recorded an estimated 7,000 times by various artists and churches, Amazing Grace is one of the most popular songs in history.  It has brought people to tears, myself included, it has inspired thousands to overcome adversity, it has motivated civil rights activists and encouraged those suffering from injustice and hatred, and has become a rallying cry for Christians throughout the world that it’s only by the grace of God that we’ve overcome anything our lives hand out.  Many of us know the song, but I would guess that only a select few know the history of the song and its unbelievably fascinating and inspiring origins.  From sinful ways to singing hymns of gratitude, the focus of today’s episode is not only on the magnitude of the song, but the power behind the saving grace of God and the redemption story so widely known throughout the world, and the author of the song was no exception.  Cheers to all of our coffee-consuming listeners, let’s get into another Missing Chapter.

The year is 1947, Jackie Gleason is seated at a bar having a drink. Next to him, his good friend and fellow entertainment icon… Frank Sinatra. Gleason motions to the bartender. “Have you tried Jack Daniel’s?” he asks his rat pack associate. Sinatra shakes his head no and tries it that night, for the very first time. His introduction to the Tennessee distilled whiskey, in many ways, will be the country’s introduction – to the liquor and the brand. For years after this night, Sinatra would drink Jack Daniel’s on stage, where he would often refer to it as “the nectar of the gods and the best booze in the world.”  And… it becomes what it is today – a major, multinational corporation.

Frank Sinatra played an integral role in helping make Jack Daniel’s a household name, synonymous with whiskey, the world over. A name that is not renowned, not well-known, not associated with the drink, however, is Nathan “Nearest” Green and to properly understand the company, the business, the empire that developed, that is Jack Daniel’s, it’s imperative that you know his story and the impact he had on the brand. That’s why we’re here. So poor a yourself a drink – maybe stick with coffee – and sit back and relax for another edition of The Missing Chapter Podcast.

The Bank of England is one of the oldest financial institutions in the world, tasked with maintaining monetary stability in the United Kingdom. Since 1734 it has occupied a 3.4-acre site in London’s Threadneedle Street, where the iconic building conceals eight subterranean vaults filled with precious gold.

The bank prides itself on having never been robbed at any point in its 329-year history. However, it is rumored that the bank’s defenses were actually breached in the 19th century when a citizen of London was able to successfully gain access… to the main gold vault. According to the bank’s website, this incredible discovery was the source of considerable embarrassment to its esteemed, Victorian directors.

From the time I picked up my first basketball to the time I took off my uniform and sneakers for the last time, I dreamt of one thing - cutting down the nets.  The symbolism and emotion involved in that moment is just as the title suggests - it’s the dream!  Any basketball player knows what I’m talking about.  As my dad has always said, there’s only one team that ends their season with a win, and that’s the Champion.  My sisters were fortunate enough to experience this twice - winning 2 state and federation championships in their career back to back.  It means you are at the pinnacle, a cut above the rest, and all of your hard work, dedication, practice, and obstacles overcome paid off.  You are officially a champion.  And what does every winning team do at the end of the championship game?  Cut down the nets.  

Now, personally, I cut down a net once, but it wasn’t a championship game, and I didn’t do it with a pair of scissors, but I’ll fill you in on that later.  But for today’s episode of the Missing Chapter, we talk about the historic and for some, the best part of March Madness.  But here’s the question…why do champions cut down the nets?  Where in the world did this tradition come from?  And why don’t we know more?  Welcome to the March Madness edition of the Missing Chapter everyone, let the games begin.

Welcome to today’s episode of the Missing Chapter.  Today we take a look at the life of a true pioneer.  But rather than carving new paths on the ground, this person carved the skies.  She overcame obstacles like discrimination against her African American background, the fact that she was a woman, and surviving an aviation accident.  She was incredibly talented in her field - so much so that she became known across the country and throughout the world as one of the most acrobatic pilots known in the flying world.  A female pilot is known as an aviatrix, and this pioneering and daredevil woman, is more than just a female pilot, she amazes crowds with her aviaTRICKS!  Welcome to a Missing Chapter Short, everyone!  Enjoy!

Hey Missing Chapter fans, the Phils are back with another listener-favorite, the Top 5. It’s one of our favorite kinds of episodes, too, and today we got a great one!  Top 5 Historical Coincidences - the times in history that baffle the mind, the stories that make you say, “no way, how is that possible?”

So hopefully you have your favorite coffee brewed and your volume turned up because it’s the Missing Chapter everyone, let’s rock and roll!

It was a dark night, October 10th, 1809, when an unassuming man stopped at a small, modest log cabin lodging house known as Grinder’s Stand. Differing versions of that night have this particular man arriving with several other associates – others, alone. Traveling to Washington, D.C., this mysterious individual had financial matters to settle and, by many accounts, reasons to be guarded and cautious. He rented a room for the night and retired to bed. Later that evening, the innkeeper’s wife, Mrs. Grinder, was startled by several gunshots and the horrifying emergence of her new guest, severely wounded and crawling on the floor, begging for water. Mortified by this ghastly site, she froze, too afraid to help and instead, the man was found dead at daybreak.

Whew!  Now if that sounds more like the beginning chapter to a mystery novel or a scary movie than it does a history-based podcast… you’re right! But after you hear the rest of the story, including the mystery man’s identity, the fate of his body, and the controversy that still simmers today… you’ll realize it’s another exciting episode of The Missing Chapter Podcast – Mystery Edition!  So welcome history fans, and mystery, fans… maybe today you can help us solve this 115-year old, whodunit?

The U.S. Civil War is one of the most intriguing, impactful events in not only our nation’s history, but consequently world history. Within these 4 years, one single occurrence could have altered the outcome of the struggle and ultimately the fate of the Union.

In September of 1862, the war was still young and both sides were experiencing moral-lifting victories and crushing defeats. Confederate general Robert E. Lee had the reputation as an accomplished, formidable advisory to the Union forces and was living up to this status. He seized the initiative in the early fall and began advancing north for a possible all-out invasion. It was a pivotal time in the war. If Lee could score a decisive victory, European nations, such as England or France, might recognize the Confederacy, and the war for all intents and purposes – would be over. The South would be a triumphant independent nation and President Abraham Lincoln’s dream of a unified country would be lost.

I think it’s safe to assume that all of our listeners at some point have experienced the social contagion that is so memorable, you may even get a physical reaction to the thought of it - the cringy awkwardness of one of the facets of the early pre-teen and teenage years - the middle school dance.  The music is blasting, the lights are flashing, to a completely void, lonely, and awkward dance floor.  Who makes the first move?  Who asks someone to dance?  Who breaks the ice and just goes for it in the middle of the dance floor?  This is a tug of war that middle schoolers experience the first half hour of every middle school dance to ever exist, anywhere in the world.  Ok, that may be hyperbole, but you know what isn’t exaggerated?  The contagiousness of dance, and on this episode of the Missing Chapter, we look at one of the most bizarre occurrences in all of history - dancing that breaks out into such a continued frenzy, that people actually died into plague-like proportions.  Oh, this is going to be a wild one, get yourself a cup of coffee and let’s get to it.

It's the moment we have been previewing and plugging for quite some time now - it's the Hometown History Episode - and we are proud to announce that today we have special guest and guests Dawn McKinney and her "fun 5th Period Class" from Lincoln, California!  We have some eager students ready to share their story and we are honored to have such a passionate educator with us today to share what turns out to be quite the unknown story of a "hoodlum" named "Rattlesnake Dick" and the amazing story of the ups and downs of the Gold Rush!

What an honor and a pleasure to get to know Dawn and her students and this episode surely won't disappoint!  Enjoy!

The history of the U.S. space program is the story of American pioneers; brave men and women who boldly went where no one before them had gone. Their names have become synonymous with bravery and courage – Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Jim Lovell.  We shared in their accomplishments – Apollo 11 - held our breath in their struggles – Apollo 13 – and wept in their disasters – Challenger.

But some of the most amazing, most unbelievable stories surrounding our space program are some to the most obscure – perfect for an inquisitive podcast devoted to exposing lesser-known stories from history. For instance, did you know that America’s most iconic cartoon character was also a crew member on the mission that set the stage for the moon landing? Or that that same illustrated beagle is the moniker gifted to NASA members who go above and beyond for the betterment of the program?

On this episode of The Missing Chapter, the unique relationship that exists between America’s establishment to explore the stars… and a beloved star here on earth.

Have you ever truly paid attention to what is in the food that you eat? This isn’t just a case of counting calories, or watching your salt and sugar intake. Dating as far back as biblical times, people were unknowingly being poisoned just by doing something that was a necessity……eating. Today we welcome a colleague and friend of ours, Science teacher Melissa Fisher, as she shares a story, based in science, about a man who challenged the food industry and advocated for the health and safety of the American consumer.  

A great journalist is someone who can objectively bring a news story that not only catches the attention of the reader, but many times exposes some unknown truths that the masses don’t know.  This kind of journalism not only creates great talking points, but can sometimes be the best way to learn as lots of these stories spread like wildfire.  I immediately think of the works of Tom Brokaw, Walter Cronkite, or how about Upton Sinclair, exposing the truths of the meat packing industry.  Well, on this episode of the Missing Chapter, we have someone who was so curious about mental health, and the treatment of patients that suffered from these kinds of ailments, that she actually became a patient herself.  Welcome to the Missing Chapter everyone, grab your coffees and let’s get started.