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Who Started the Fire?

Who Started the Fire?

Written by: Mark and Jen Martin
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About this listen

Have you ever wondered what all the random, disjointed lyrics in Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire' meant? We did too! Join us each week as we look at the song line by line to discover all of the interesting historical and pop culture events the singer wanted to immortalize. Maybe we'll even find an answer to who started the fire along the way.Mark and Jen Martin World
Episodes
  • Ep. 22 Starkweather Homicide, Children of Thalidomide
    Jan 13 2025

    Two teens shock the US with a multi state crime spree, and a pharmaceutical company's "wonder drug" hits the market, only to ruin thousands of lives.

    Come along with us to two of the darker parts of 1958.

    (We may sound a little off in this one, Jen was recovering from a cold)

    *Content warning: this episode discuses violence, abuse, and unethical medical practices*


    Sources:

    detroitnews.com

    history.com

    “Last Podcast on the Left - Charles Starkweather Part 1”

    “Last Podcast on the Left - Charles Starkeather Part 2”

    wowt.com (Omaha news channel)

    nbcnews.com

    plainshumanities.unl.edu

    murderpedia.org

    wyohistory.org

    “Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine - Thalidomide”

    thalidomidetrust.org

    grunenthal.com

    “Stuff You Missed in History Class - A Brief History of Thalidomide Part 1”

    “Stuff You Missed in History Class - A Brief History of Thalidomide Part 2”

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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • Ep. 21 Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California baseball
    Aug 14 2023

    The year is 1958, and there's a lot going on! This episode we'll look at a potential global crisis, a prominent historical figure, and, most shocking of all, Jen actually talks about baseball!

    Sources:

    britannica.com

    history.com

    Mlb.com


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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Ep. 20 Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, “Bridge on the Kwai”
    Jul 9 2023

    This week we will cover some important topics from 1957. We discuss a Russian Rocket, a Chinese Premier, and one of the most well received war movies of it's time! Come and learn much about these topics... that is until our dog Bailey has some thoughts of his own! 🙄

    Sources:

    britannica.com

    imdb.com

    oscars.org

    bbc.com

    history.nasa.gov

    engineering.purdue.edu

    nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

    astronomy.com

    pbs.org

    history.state.gov

    bbc.com

    nasa.gov


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    1 hr
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