Cover art for podcast Sidedoor

Sidedoor

192 EpisodesProduced by Smithsonian Institution Website

More than 154 million treasures fill the Smithsonian’s vaults. But where the public’s view ends, Sidedoor begins. With the help of biologists, artists, historians, archaeologists, zookeepers and astrophysicists, host Lizzie Peabody sneaks listeners through the Smithsonian’s side door, telling storie… read more

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Farewell

February 22nd, 2024

0:39

An important message from RadioPublic

Monkeyin' Around on the Devil's Island

March 27th, 2024

28:24

It started as a rumor in the cafeteria of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama: monkeys on an island in the Pacific were doing something no one had ever seen them do before. But when researchers went …

Face Value

March 13th, 2024

31:54

Money is power. But who's on our money - or isn’t - can be just as powerful. While Lady Liberty has graced American coins and dollars for most of our …

Jeepers Leapers!

February 28th, 2024

13:30

Did you know a person born on February 29 is called a "leapling"? This special episode is hopping with Leap Day trivia! Like, why do we need an extra day every four years anyway? And will I get paid for working an extra …

Til Death Do Us Part?

February 14th, 2024

29:20

They say love is eternal. What about heartbreak? This Valentine’s Day, we bring you some of Japanese theater’s most popular tales of scorned lovers …

To Sidedoor, With Love

January 31st, 2024

36:22

From brontosauruses with bronchitis to birds on a wire to flying space rocks and a botched heist at 20 thousand feet. In this episode, Lizzie and Sidedoor producer James run all around the Smithsonian to answer …

Tails of Bravery

January 17th, 2024

46:31

As long as there have been wars, animals have joined their human companions on the battlefield. But a few have served so bravely they’ve been memorialized at the Smithsonian. In honor of these furry and feathered war …

The Milkmaid Spy

January 3rd, 2024

28:55

Virginia Hall dreamed of being America’s first female ambassador. Instead, she became a spy. Joining the ranks of the U.S.’s first civilian spy network, she operated alone in occupied France, where she built French …

Auld Lang What?

December 20th, 2023

21:18

It’s a song we often hear at the start of the new year. But what does “auld lang syne” even mean? And how did it come to be associated with New …

Welcome Back, Otter

December 6th, 2023

26:07

North American River Otters are popping up in places they haven't been seen in decades and nobody really knows why. As we search for answers we discover a trail of fish heads, poop splats and cuddle parties.

Guests:

Wrinkled Radicals

November 22nd, 2023

31:20

When Maggie Kuhn was forced to retire from the job she loved at age 65, her colleagues gave her a sewing machine as a parting gift. Outraged, she …

Farewell Giant Pandas

November 8th, 2023

29:23

All three Giant Pandas are leaving the Smithsonian's National Zoo for China by the end of the year. What's up with that?! We sat down with the director of the Zoo, Brandie Smith, to find out why the pandas are leaving, …

Resurrected: Spooked at the Smithsonian

October 25th, 2023

37:54

The Smithsonian Institution was founded on principles of reason and scientific inquiry. So why is the Smithsonian home to countless tales of unexplained phenomena and—dare we say—ghost sightings? Inspired by an …

CSI: Southern Pacific

October 11th, 2023

38:56

Looks like these criminals used correct postage, 'cause justice is about to be delivered. Okay, there are no snappy one-liners in this crime scene …

Cellphones Rock

September 27th, 2023

28:22

Cellphones put the power of the world at our fingertips. With the touch of a finger, you can instantly connect with your doctor, have food delivered to your office or simply obliterate your niece at Words with Friends. …

The 'Gentle Anarchy' of the Muppets

September 13th, 2023

33:32

Icky Gunk. Moldy Hay. Kermit. You might recognize one of these names. Before Kermit joined Miss Piggy and Big Bird, he was kicking it with Sam and …

It's Season 10!

September 6th, 2023

1:45

Sidedoor returns for its tenth season on Wednesday, September 13th!

A Wild Ride on the Pony Express

August 30th, 2023

30:17

In 1860 the fastest way to get a message to a family member, partner, or colleague wasn’t by text but by hoof…specifically, a pony’s. In just ten …

The Hungerford Deed

August 17th, 2023

29:08

When a 200-year-old legal document anonymously arrived at his office, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives conservator William Bennett assumed it would …

Tyrannosaurus FX

August 2nd, 2023

24:45

When you imagine the sound of a dinosaur, you probably think of a scene from the Jurassic Park movies. How do sound designers make these extinct …

Special: People Eating People

July 19th, 2023

13:36

A Smithsonian researcher has made a discovery we couldn't wait to sink our teeth into — what might be the earliest evidence of our human ancestors …

The Toxic Book of Faces

July 5th, 2023

33:14

Before the invention of photography, only the rich could afford to have portraits of themselves. But in the early 1800s, a device called the …

Building a Movement

June 21st, 2023

30:18

America has a long history of clustering heavy industry and toxic facilities in communities where people of color live. But in the 1980s, a series of …

Recording the World

June 7th, 2023

36:21

In 1948, Moses Asch set out with an ambitious project: to document the world’s sounds! 75 years later, that project has grown into one of the world’s most eclectic, iconic and LARGEST repositories of recorded sound… …

The Funk List

May 24th, 2023

27:43

Women have long fueled America's greatest scientific achievements. But when you go searching for information about these women scientists, you'll likely come up short. Only 19% of articles on Wikipedia are about women. …

Get Off My Lawn

May 10th, 2023

29:52

Nowhere in the world are lawns as revered as they are in the United States. The picture-perfect patch of grass is so deeply rooted in the American …

Bill Nye the Sidedoor Guy

April 26th, 2023

26:12

As a kid, Bill Nye spent whole days wandering the halls of Smithsonian museums. Now the Science Guy is back… to find his own blue lab coat and …

Space Marathon

April 12th, 2023

33:01

Until the 1970s, women were barred from competing in U.S. marathons because of the belief that the "violent movements" would wreak havoc on their …

Monsoon Mood

March 29th, 2023

29:18

We think of paintings as art, but can they also be a source of data? 300 years ago, a young prince inherited the throne in Udaipur, India, and brought with him some newfangled ideas about art. His court artists created …

Lights Out

March 15th, 2023

30:47

Most people in North America can't see the Milky Way. The reason? We're ensconced in a luminous fog of artificial lighting 24/7. The evolution of …

The Phantom Violins

March 1st, 2023

35:32

When Sidedoor listener Cliff Hall bought a used violin, he found a tattered note tucked alongside the century-old instrument. Obsessed with this …

It’s Season Nine!

February 22nd, 2023

1:40

Sidedoor returns for its ninth season on Wednesday, March 1st!

Love Letters

February 9th, 2023

13:41

They bring out the voyeur in us. And the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art is full of them. In three short letters, we offer a glimpse of tender …

The Cabbage Patch Kids Riots

January 25th, 2023

34:30

In 1983, the Cabbage Patch Kids were released, causing widespread pandemonium in toy stores and in the media. How did a children's toy inspire such …

King's Speech

January 11th, 2023

36:11

This MLK Day we're digging into the story behind Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech —from its first draft to a rhyming poem and, finally, to the speech we all know today.

This episode was previously released in …

The Monumental Imagination of Augusta Savage

December 28th, 2022

27:39

Public monuments to honor Black Americans in the 1930s: that was the vision of Augusta Savage, a Harlem Renaissance sculptor who has been called one …

A Very Merry Sidedoor

December 14th, 2022

38:16

What is it about a mistletoe that says “smooch?” And what the heck is figgy pudding anyway? The holidays are here again, and with them come songs, …

Lucy Hicks Anderson

November 30th, 2022

26:30

Known for her smashing parties, lighter-than-air souffles and comedic wit, Lucy Hicks Anderson never let anyone tell her how to live her life – not even the courts. When her gender was put on trial in the 1940s, …

Reservation Math: Navigating Love in Native America

November 16th, 2022

33:41

If you’ve heard the phrase, “full blooded,” you’re already familiar with the concept of blood quantum. But Native Americans are the only peoples in …

Wronging the Wrights

November 2nd, 2022

34:59

It took pride, deceit, and a giant catapult to set off the feud between the Wright brothers and the Smithsonian. On December 17, 1903, the Wrights …

Who Built the White House?

October 19th, 2022

24:42

"I wake up every morning in a house built by slaves." After Michelle Obama said those words at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, thousands of Americans flooded the White House Historical Association with calls. …

Spooked at the Smithsonian

October 5th, 2022

37:20

The Smithsonian Institution was founded on principles of reason and scientific inquiry. So why is the museum home to countless tales of unexplained phenomena and —dare we say — ghost sightings? Inspired by an apparition …

Did Meat Make Us Human?

September 21st, 2022

25:25

Eating meat is what made us human. At least, that's one of the leading theories to explain how our brains got so big. The theory says that our human …

Love in the Time of Emoji

September 7th, 2022

28:49

When LOL just isn't enough to respond to a friend's killer joke, emoji are there for you. But for many people, there isn't an emoji to represent them or the things they want to say. This has pushed activists, designers, …

Dynamo Dot

August 24th, 2022

29:55

Dorothy Liebes was a whirlwind in the weaving world. Throughout the 1930s, she spun luxury fabrics so bold and colorful that their style could only …

Sumo Wrestlers vs. Firefighters

August 10th, 2022

24:38

In 19th century Japan, two sumo wrestlers faced down dozens of firefighters in a brawl so epic it inspired a Kabuki play. But the story of what really happened —and who the heroes are— is all a matter of perspective. …

Culture in Crisis

July 27th, 2022

36:08

"This is a war not only for the territory. This is war against our culture," says Ihor Poshyvailo, director of the Maidan Museum in Kiev, Ukraine. …

Hubble Trouble

July 13th, 2022

31:07

As NASA releases the James Webb Space Telescope's first images, we focus our lens on its predecessor: the Hubble Space Telescope. Prepare for liftoff, as we explore how America's first large space telescope went from a …

A Star-Spangled Bonus Episode

July 4th, 2022

14:14

Which came first, the flag or the song? Sidedoor is celebrating this Independence Day with a special bonus episode: the story behind our Star-Spangled Banner. Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History military …

Get Off My Lawn

June 29th, 2022

29:44

Nowhere in the world are lawns as revered as they are in the United States. The picture-perfect patch of grass is so deeply rooted in the American …

The Sex Lives of Giant Pandas

June 15th, 2022

32:07

Whether it's live on the Smithsonian’s National Zoo's panda cam or in front of a crowd, possibly no other animal's sex life is as closely watched as the giant pandas' is. And there's a reason. These cuddly-looking black …

It’s Season Eight!

June 8th, 2022

1:05

Sidedoor returns for its eighth season on Wednesday, June 15th!

Bonus: Yes She Did!

June 1st, 2022

26:16

We’re hard at work producing the next season of Sidedoor, but just in case you can’t get enough Smithsonian podcasts we’re sharing a special guest episode of Portraits, from the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. …

Bonus: Black Feminism Re-rooted

May 18th, 2022

18:24

We’re hard at work producing the next season of Sidedoor, but just in case you can’t get enough Smithsonian podcasts, we’re sharing a special guest …

Bonus: Moonshine

May 4th, 2022

28:46

We’re hard at work producing the next season of Sidedoor, but just in case you can’t get enough Smithsonian podcasts, we’re sharing a special guest episode of AirSpace, from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space …

The Hungerford Deed

April 20th, 2022

27:56

When a 200-year-old legal document anonymously arrived at his office, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives conservator William Bennett assumed it would …

The Many Inventions of Beatrice Kenner

April 6th, 2022

29:11

An accident that nearly killed Beatrice Kenner when she was five years old scarred her face for life, but it also gave her a determination to create …

Broad Stripes, Bright Stars and White Lies

March 23rd, 2022

29:51

Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag. At least, that's what we were taught in school. But when historians go searching… there’s no proof to be …

Take Who Out to the Ball Game?

March 9th, 2022

30:22

Baseball fan or not, you know this song…or at least, you think you do. “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is one of the top three most recognizable songs in the country, next to “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Happy …

Raven and the Box of Daylight

February 23rd, 2022

29:49

Before here was here Raven was a white bird, and the world was in darkness. So begins the story passed down among the Tlingit people of the Pacific Northwest since time immemorial. This origin story has survived by …

King's Speech

February 9th, 2022

35:34

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream Speech is one of the most famous speeches in the world. But it almost didn’t happen. If you look at King's typed manuscript of his speech —which is currently on display at the …

The Robot in the Mirror

January 26th, 2022

32:06

It’s easy to think artificial intelligence is objective. It doesn’t have emotions. It operates based on cold hard calculations. But artificial …

The Fugitive Brewer

January 12th, 2022

29:25

A skill for brewing beer and $100 reward for her capture. Those were the clues in an old newspaper ad that got Smithsonian brewing historian Theresa …

Edison’s Demon Dolls

December 29th, 2021

26:19

In 1890, Americans were delighted when they heard the news that Thomas Edison was using his phonograph technology to give voice to porcelain dolls. …

Chiura Obata’s Glorious Struggle

December 15th, 2021

33:32

When Chiura Obata painted “Moonlight Over Topaz, Utah,” he was a prisoner at the camp: one of 120,000 Japanese Americans to be incarcerated during World War II. The painting shows a dreamy moonlit desert, with just a …

Love in the Time of Emoji

December 1st, 2021

27:50

When LOL just isn't enough to respond to a friend's killer joke, emoji are there for you. But for many people, there isn't an emoji to represent them or the things they want to say. This has pushed activists, designers, …

Light of Freedom

November 17th, 2021

27:49

There’s a new sculpture at the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden: a giant torch that’s strikingly familiar – and entirely unique. …

King of the Herbs

November 3rd, 2021

29:36

It’s a wild herb that countless cultures have used for centuries as a wonder drug to cure any ailment. It's so rare and valuable that it’s been dug …

Bloodsuckers!

October 20th, 2021

30:35

Leeches don’t get a lot of love. They’re slimy, wriggly, and, well, they suck — blood that is. But there’s a lot to learn about the lowly leech. Led by a troupe of Smithsonian experts, we’ll discover how these toothy …

Make Way for Elephants

October 6th, 2021

29:10

The endangered Asian Elephant may be a conservation success story as its rapid decline appears to be stabilizing. But this has created a new set of problems. With little remaining habitat, these elephants have nowhere …

It’s Season Seven!

September 29th, 2021

1:29

Sidedoor returns for its seventh season on Wednesday, October 6th!

Bonus: Patsy Mink

September 22nd, 2021

7:09

A new season of Sidedoor is just two weeks away! In the meantime, we’re sharing a special guest episode from Wonder Media Network’s podcast, “Encyclopedia Womannica.” In this episode, you’ll hear about the life of Patsy …

Bonus: Happy Birthday to Us

August 18th, 2021

28:49

The “Men of Progress” painting, from 1862, shows the first Secretary of the Smithsonian surrounded by a group of scientists and inventors credited with “altering the course of contemporary civilization.” But what may be …

Olympic Bonus: Shredding Skateboarding’s Glass Ceiling

July 23rd, 2021

35:05

This summer – for the first time ever - skateboarding will be an Olympic sport. In honor of its Olympic debut, we’re revisiting one of our favorite episodes: the story of how the best women skateboarders stood …

The Battle of Blair Mountain

July 14th, 2021

28:53

100 years ago, in the hills of West Virginia, Black, white and European immigrant coal miners banded together to demand better pay and safer working conditions and were met with machine guns. While the story made …

Ode to Cicadas

June 30th, 2021

30:21

Every 17 years, the notorious Brood X cicadas crawl out of the earth by the billions to deafen Washington D.C. After nearly two decades underground, they spend their few short weeks in the sun singing, mating, and dying …

The Goddess of Broadway

June 16th, 2021

25:26

When Diosa Costello took the stage in the 1939 production of “Too Many Girls,” she became the first Puerto Rican performer to tread the boards on Broadway. She was fearless, funny, and brimming with talent. She never …

The Artist Critics Love to Hate

June 2nd, 2021

31:30

LeRoy Neiman was a colorful man, both figuratively and literally. His handlebar mustache, long cigar, and sketchpad were fixtures at the sidelines of …

BONUS: Confronting the Past

May 26th, 2021

23:45

One hundred years ago this week, from May 31 and June 1, 1921, a mob targeted and destroyed nearly 40 blocks of a wealthy black neighborhood in North …

Best of the Rest III

May 19th, 2021

28:33

Groucho and Freddy. Oryx and ostriches. Cats and dinosaurs. These things go together like… well, they really don’t go together at all. These are fun-sized stories in one goodie bag of an episode. It’s Sidedoor’s third …

On The Money

May 5th, 2021

29:34

We carry portraits around all the time: pocket-sized history lessons in the form of dollars and cents. The recent decision to put Harriet Tubman on …

BONUS: The 1957 Pandemic That Wasn’t

April 28th, 2021

27:35

In 1918, a flu pandemic killed more than 50 million people worldwide. Forty years later, it nearly happened again. This week on Sidedoor we go back to a time when the viruses were winning, and we remember one man, Dr. …

Holding out for a Herring

April 21st, 2021

30:44

Henrietta the river herring is not a particularly glamorous fish. But she’s got grit. Every summer, she swims out to the Atlantic ocean, and every …

Hot Bird Summer

April 7th, 2021

27:23

Every spring, for as long as records have been kept, a crowd of hundreds of black crowned night herons descend on the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, mating, eating and generally causing a ruckus. Many of the keepers at the …

America's Unknown Celebrity Chef

March 24th, 2021

32:34

When Lena Richard cooked her first chicken on television, she beat Julia Child to the screen by over a decade. At a time when most African American …

A Very Cold Case

March 10th, 2021

32:41

American newspaper publisher and all-around eccentric, Charles Francis Hall, was an unlikely candidate to become an Arctic explorer. Nevertheless, he made three trips to the frozen north, until he died there under …

Life is Hard, Let's Meditate!

February 24th, 2021

27:22

As Americans approach a full year of pandemic life, there’s an overwhelming sense of anticipation: when can we get vaccinated? What will life look …

Reservation Math: Navigating Love in Native America

February 10th, 2021

33:20

If you’ve heard the phrase, “full blooded,” you’re already familiar with the concept of blood quantum. But Native Americans are the only peoples in …

Sing a Song of Protest

January 27th, 2021

30:09

As an up-and-coming young blues singer in the 1950s, Barbara Dane faced a choice: fame and fortune, or her principles. She left the mainstream music …

How Wonder Woman Got Her Groove Back

January 13th, 2021

31:50

Wonder Woman is the best known female superhero of all time, but she’s been through a lot. The brainchild of a psychologist, Wonder Woman hit the …

Edison’s Demon Dolls

December 16th, 2020

25:58

In 1890, Americans were delighted when they heard the news that Thomas Edison was using his phonograph technology to give voice to porcelain dolls. …

Bonus Episode: Tempest in a Teacup

December 2nd, 2020

34:20

This week, we have an episode from the NHPR podcast “Outside/In” about passenger pigeons. The passenger pigeon is one of the world’s most symbolic …

Bonus Episode: That Time the FBI Called

November 18th, 2020

24:25

This week, we’re sharing an episode of ‘Detours,’ a new podcast from our friends at GBH and PRX. The podcast shares surprising stories that unfold …

The Gorilla Epidemic

October 14th, 2020

31:10

When a highly-contagious mystery illness spread through the world’s mountain gorilla population, biologists feared the entire species could be lost. …

Dress Coded

September 30th, 2020

28:52

Dress codes have been around a long time—from the old days of long skirts and bloomers to today’s regulation-length shorts. But while the specifics …

Appalachia Goes Beijing

September 16th, 2020

24:16

When Abigail Washburn and Wu Fei first jammed together, “it was magic.” Fei was shocked to meet an American banjo player so curious about China’s …

The People's Insect

September 2nd, 2020

27:51

To look at them, you might think, “Monarch butterflies aren’t going anywhere fast.” But each year, these beauties complete one of the most remarkable migrations in the animal kingdom, soaring more than a mile high to …

Bonus Ep: Cult of True Womanhood

August 26th, 2020

36:51

Bonus Episode | This week, we wanted to share “And Nothing Less,” the new short series from our colleagues at the National Park Service and PRX. It …

The Riverkeeper

August 19th, 2020

24:55

Fred Tutman is the voice of the river. Specifically, Maryland’s Patuxent River.  As the Riverkeeper, his job is to protect and preserve all 110 miles …

Votes for Hawaiians

August 5th, 2020

31:50

100 years ago this month, the 19th Amendment was ratified into the American Constitution. It’s widely remembered as the moment American women gained the right to vote, but history tells a more complex story. For …

Apollo 12's Really Close Call

July 22nd, 2020

28:26

On November 14, 1969, just four months after Apollo 11’s “giant leap for mankind,” the Apollo 12 Saturn V rocket took off for the moon. Seconds …

Take Who Out to the Ball Game?

July 8th, 2020

29:04

Baseball fan or not, you know this song…or at least, you think you do. “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is one of the top three most recognizable songs in the country, next to the “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Happy …

Shredding Skateboarding’s Glass Ceiling

June 24th, 2020

30:23

When Mimi Knoop entered her first skateboarding competition at 24 years old, she never anticipated leaving her mark on the sport forever. But in the …

America’s Unknown Celebrity Chef

June 10th, 2020

32:27

When Lena Richard cooked her first chicken on television, she beat Julia Child to the screen by over a decade. At a time when most African American …

Young Harriet

May 27th, 2020

26:39

In 2017, a photograph of Harriet Tubman surfaced that had been lost to history for more than a century. In a feature of the National Portrait Gallery’s Portraits podcast, we hear the story behind this picture, and how …

The People's Insect

May 13th, 2020

27:21

To look at them, you might think, “Monarch butterflies aren’t going anywhere fast.” But each year, these beauties complete one of the most remarkable migrations in the animal kingdom, soaring more than a mile high to …

Best of the Rest II

April 29th, 2020

32:03

A perplexing tattoo. Ancient erotica. Killer bees on the loose. This episode is full of short stories we’ve been eager to tell, but couldn’t… until …

Birds, Birds, Birds!

April 15th, 2020

25:53

Three billion birds have gone missing since 1970. And conservation biologist Pete Marra considers it his life’s work to make sure more don’t slip …

The Milkmaid Spy

April 1st, 2020

28:36

Virginia Hall dreamed of being America’s first female ambassador. Instead, she became a spy. Joining the ranks of the U.S.’s first civilian spy network, she operated alone in occupied France, where she built French …

The Last Man To Know It All

March 18th, 2020

27:49

Alexander von Humboldt might not be a name you know, but you can bet you know his ideas. Back when the United States were a wee collection of …

Outer Space & Underwear

March 4th, 2020

28:36

In the Venn diagram of life, it’s hard to imagine what spacecraft and women’s underwear might have in common. And that’s probably what NASA engineers …

We're Back!

February 26th, 2020

2:25

Get ready for season five! Our new season begins on Wednesday, March 4th. Journey with Lizzie through our many side doors for a behind-the scenes view of the Smithsonian.

Cars, Stars, and Rock 'n' Roll

January 22nd, 2020

29:18

Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III is no administrative assistant. He’s the head of the largest museum, education, and research complex in the world. He’s also the first historian to lead the Smithsonian. In our …

Ponzi's Scheme

January 8th, 2020

28:57

Nearly 100 years ago, Charles Ponzi stumbled across a loophole in the international postal system and turned it into one of the most infamous scams …

The Worst Video Game Ever?

December 25th, 2019

26:35

Deep within the National Museum of American History’s vaults is a battered Atari case containing what’s known as “the worst video game of all time.” …

Finding Cleopatra

December 11th, 2019

26:51

Edmonia Lewis was the first American woman of color to achieve international fame as a sculptor. Her 3,000-pound masterwork, “The Death of …

Adam Rippon's Olympic Mesh-capades

November 27th, 2019

21:44

When professional athletes face the end of their career, many look ahead with uncertainty and wonder:
“What’s next?” But when Adam Rippon stood on the Olympic podium in 2018, making history as the first openly gay …

Apollo 12's Really Close Call

November 13th, 2019

27:55

On November 14, 1969, just four months after Apollo 11’s “giant leap for mankind,” the Apollo 12 Saturn V rocket took off for the moon. Seconds …

Dynamite!

October 30th, 2019

33:40

In its heyday, dynamite was a transformative tool; it could blast rock quarries, excavate tunnels, and demolish buildings with power and reliability …

This Episode Smells

October 16th, 2019

26:33

Smell connects us to memories of the people and the places of our lives. But what if it could connect us to a past we’ve never experienced? That's …

The Dinosaur War

October 2nd, 2019

30:01

Behind the fossilized teeth, bones, and claws displayed in the National Museum of Natural History’s new Fossil Hall is the story of two men and a …

The Woman in the Frame

September 18th, 2019

29:01

Did you know that Martha Washington was essential to America’s Revolutionary War effort? Or that Eleanor Roosevelt was the driving force behind the …

Field Trip!

September 4th, 2019

28:21

Sidedoor hits the road, sneaking behind the scenes for the ultimate Smithsonian field trip we never took as kids. Lizzie and producer Justin O'Neill …

Memory, Myth & Miniatures

August 21st, 2019

23:17

David Levinthal is a New York-based artist whose photography depicts “the America that never was but always will be.” He uses toys to recreate iconic …

The Wild Orchid Mystery

August 7th, 2019

22:55

You probably know orchids as the big, colorful flowers found in grocery stores and given as housewarming gifts. But those tropical beauties represent …

Things You'd Never Tell Your Parents

July 24th, 2019

20:03

Regie Cabico has been called the "Lady Gaga of Spoken Word poetry"—he's outspoken, provocative and iconoclastic. The son of Filipino immigrants living in rural Maryland, Regie says he’ll never be “entirely American or …

Space Jocks & Moon Rocks

July 10th, 2019

26:23

When NASA’s Apollo 11 mission sent the first astronauts to the moon 50 years ago, there were many things we didn’t know. Like whether the moon’s …

The Worst Video Game Ever?

June 26th, 2019

25:48

Deep within the National Museum of American History’s vaults is a battered Atari case containing what’s known as “the worst video game of all time.” …

The Dinosaur War

June 12th, 2019

29:32

Behind the fossilized teeth, bones, and claws displayed in the National Museum of Natural History’s new Fossil Hall is the story of two men and a …

Update: Meet the New Voice of Season Four!

June 5th, 2019

2:12

With our fourth season’s launch quickly approaching, take a moment to meet the new voice of Sidedoor!

Season Four of the Smithsonian's Sidedoor podcast launches on June 12, 2019. Subscribe now!

Aloha, Y’all

April 24th, 2019

29:22

Close your eyes and think of Hawaii. That sound you undoubtedly hear? Well, that’s the ocean. But that other sound floating on the breeze—that’s the steel guitar, an indigenous Hawaiian invention that has influenced …

Good as Gold

April 10th, 2019

21:08

Glittering treasures, gleaming coins, and eye-catching jewelry…gold can be all of these things, but in some parts of the world it's also an enduring …

Abraham Lincoln: Prankster-in-Chief

April 1st, 2019

32:34

We all know Abraham Lincoln, right? Well, we know one side of him—the grave-faced leader of a troubled country—but behind the face on the penny lies …

The Feather Detective

March 27th, 2019

27:10

In 1960, investigators found dark bits of feather stuck inside a crashed airplane's engines. They needed someone to figure out what bird they belonged to—and how that bird took down a 110,000-pound plane. Enter Roxie …

Singing the Gender-Bending Blues

March 13th, 2019

26:58

Gladys Bentley loved women, wore men's clothing, and sang bawdy songs that would make sailors blush...and did it openly in the 1920s and 1930s. This …

The Silence of the Frogs

February 27th, 2019

26:06

In the mid-1990s, investigators identified a mysterious and seemingly unstoppable killer. Its name? Chytrid. Its prey? Frogs. Since then, the disease …

Cheech Marin Gets Artsy

February 13th, 2019

26:24

In the 1970s and ’80s, Cheech Marin was famous for being half of the stoner comedy duo "Cheech and Chong." Today, he’s a passionate advocate for Chicano art and is raising awareness around a uniquely Mexican American …

50 Shades of Gray Whales

January 30th, 2019

25:27

Happy New Year! We’re busy working on a new batch of Sidedoor episodes and while you wait, we wanted to re-share a story we like from the fall, just …

Amelia Earhart's Revolutionary Flight Club

December 26th, 2018

26:38

You know Amelia Earhart, but did you know she was just one of a daring group of women aviators who defied both expectations and gravity in the 1920s? They called themselves the Ninety-Nines, and they’re still flying …

Inventor, Photographer...Murderer

December 12th, 2018

27:31

Meet Eadweard Muybridge, a pioneering and eccentric photographer from the 1800s whose work changed how people understood movement, and paved the way for the invention of motion pictures. But this inventor, artist, and …

This Color Is Who I Am

November 28th, 2018

27:30

Artist Frank Holliday's social circle in the 1980s was a who's who of New York City cool: Andy Warhol, Cyndi Lauper, RuPaul, Keith Haring, and even …

That Brunch in the Forest

November 14th, 2018

25:19

In 1621, a group of Pilgrims and Native Americans came together for a meal that many Americans call "The First Thanksgiving." But get this—it wasn't the first, and the meal itself wasn't so special either. The event was …

Seriously Seeking Sasquatch

October 31st, 2018

26:09

Inside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural history is the skeleton of Grover Krantz—an accomplished anthropologist, tenured professor…and …

Slavery, Freedom & Grandma’s House

October 17th, 2018

21:48

What if you found out that your grandmother’s house was going on display at a museum? The. Whole. House. That’s what happened to the Meggett sisters, …

50 Shades of Gray Whales

October 3rd, 2018

24:54

From 6,000-year-old cave paintings to silver screen stars in movies like Free Willy, whales have long captured the human imagination. And it makes …

Update: Passing the Mic!

October 1st, 2018

2:12

Our dear host Tony Cohn is leaving *Sidedoor *to travel the world, so we want to take a minute to introduce you to the new voice of the show, Haleema Shah.

A Right to the City

September 19th, 2018

24:45

In Washington, D.C., the neighborhood of Anacostia was once dismissed as the wrong side of the river. Now, it is turning into a housing hotspot as the city sees an influx of newer, wealthier residents. It’s called …

The World's Deadliest Animal

September 5th, 2018

25:11

The world’s deadliest animal isn’t the tiger, the snake, or even the alligator—it’s the mosquito. These tiny insects spread diseases that kill over 700,000 people each year. But what can we do to stop them? In search of …

The Mystery Bones of Witch Hill

August 22nd, 2018

22:13

It begins a bit like a *Scooby Doo *episode: archaeologists digging at a place called “Witch Hill” discover mysterious human remains in an ancient …

The Curse of the Hope Diamond

August 8th, 2018

27:18

The Hope Diamond is one of the most iconic items in the Smithsonian's collections, but this glittering gem is rumored to have a dark side. French …

Season Three Update!

August 2nd, 2018

1:18

Tony sneaks away from the mosquitoes and frogs of Panama to make a special announcement: Sidedoor
season three launches on Wednesday, August 8! Get ready for even more amazing
stories from every corner of …

Red, White and Brew

July 4th, 2018

25:31

How much do you know about the history of American home brewing? In this episode of Sidedoor you'll meet the Smithsonian's first brewing historian, …

Discovering the World’s Oldest Winery

June 27th, 2018

26:06

Sidedoor host Tony Cohn gets the opportunity of a lifetime: fly to Armenia and crawl into a deep, dark cave in search of long-lost wine. But we’re …

Best of the Rest

June 6th, 2018

30:38

Big Bird in space. Saving a multi-million-dollar painting. Smokey the *real* Bear. These are some of the stories we've been itching toshare, but …

Don't Call Me Extinct

May 23rd, 2018

25:55

Extinct species don’t usually get a do-over…but don’t tell that to the scimitar-horned oryx. Erased from the wild for three decades, these desert antelope are back in the Central African country of Chad with a thriving …

Cherokee Story Slam

May 9th, 2018

23:59

Talking animals? A bag of fire ants? Secret dancing superpowers? In this episode, Robert Lewis, an acclaimed Cherokee storyteller, spins stories about a legendary troublemaker: Jistu the Rabbit. Along the way, we visit …

Painting Michelle Obama

April 25th, 2018

24:59

The day that Amy Sherald heard that she had been chosen to paint the official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama, she called her mom to tell her …

Murder Is Her Hobby

April 11th, 2018

25:37

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been hard at work on a batch of stories you’re going to love. So this week, we're sharing one of our favorite eps from the fall. Heiress, divorcée … mother of forensic science? Frances …

A Crane with a Crush

March 28th, 2018

21:59

Chris Crowe, an animal keeper for the Smithsonian, has an unlikely bond with Walnut, a female white-naped crane. Despite their obvious differences, she chose him as her mate. For Crowe, their relationship has high …

Discovering the World’s Oldest Winery

March 14th, 2018

25:28

Sidedoor host Tony Cohn gets the opportunity of a lifetime: fly to Armenia and crawl into a deep, dark cave in search of lost wine. But we’re not …

America's First Food Spy

February 28th, 2018

26:16

In the 1800s, the American diet was mostly made up of meats, potatoes, cheese, and perhaps the occasional green bean. Fruits and other veggies? Not so much. But that all changed thanks to a group of 19th century food …

Killer Viruses and One Man's Mission to Stop Them

February 14th, 2018

21:32

In 1918, a flu pandemic killed more than 50 million people worldwide. Forty years later, it nearly happened again. This week on Sidedoor, we go back to a time when the viruses were winning, and we remember one man, Dr. …

Enslaved and Muslim in Early America

January 31st, 2018

29:47

Today, the US population is about 1% Muslim, but in the late 1700s that number was likely closer to 5%. Who were these early Muslim-Americans, where …

Sidedoor Presents: AirSpace

January 17th, 2018

17:58

Join Sidedoor in welcoming AirSpace, a new gravity-defying podcast from the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Hosts Emily Martin and Matt Schindell join Tony to share a few upcoming stories, including what’s …

If These Bones Could Talk

January 3rd, 2018

26:55

While we’re hard at work on some exciting new things, we wanted to start the new year off with one of our favorites from 2017: If These Bones Could …

The Many Lives of Owney the Dog

December 20th, 2017

24:27

120 years ago, Owney was a global celebrity. He was also a dog. And no, he didn’t juggle plates or dance on two legs, Owney was famous for simply riding trains with the US mail. So, climb aboard the Sidedoor Express and …

This One's for Dilla

December 6th, 2017

27:59

Even if you’ve never heard his name, you’ve probably heard his sound. J Dilla was a prolific hip-hop artist who collaborated with many hip-hop greats …

LIVE! Cookin' Up Stories

November 22nd, 2017

27:16

Does your ham sandwich have something to say? Quite possibly. Food can be a powerful storytelling tool. Many chefs, like authors, carefully craft …

The Hungry Hungry Hippo Baby

November 8th, 2017

21:01

A hippo, an orangutan, and a scientist walk into a milk bar... or so our story goes. In January 2017, a baby hippo was born at the Cincinnati Zoo six weeks premature and some 30 pounds underweight. Her name was Fiona, …

Murder Is Her Hobby

October 25th, 2017

25:04

Heiress, divorcée … mother of forensic science? Frances Glessner Lee was not your average 19th century woman. Using the skills that high-society ladies were expected to have -- like sewing, crafting, and knitting -- …

Confronting the Past

October 11th, 2017

24:52

In 1921, a riot destroyed almost 40 blocks of a wealthy black neighborhood in North Tulsa, Oklahoma. No one knows exactly how many people died, no …

Grandma Turned Me into a Ghost

September 27th, 2017

21:12

Haunted by her not-so-nice grandmother, a young woman finds herself turning into a ghost. Writer Anelise Chen reads her essay “Who Haunts,” and …

The Man Who Defied Gravity

September 13th, 2017

24:35

In the late 1800s, Paul Cinquevalli was one of the most famous and thrilling entertainers in the world. Tales of his juggling and balancing exploits …

Artist in Dissidence

August 30th, 2017

17:35

An artist steps in front of a camera and drops a priceless 2000-year-old vase onto the floor, smashing it into a million pieces. This is Ai Weiwei, …

LIVE! Unintended Consequences

August 16th, 2017

29:18

Catty gossip that led to a presidential scandal, the earliest mavericks of American cinema, and the risque Roman origins of a favorite Disney character. This week, we bring you tales of small things that snowballed and …

The Mean, Green, Water-Cleaning Machine

August 2nd, 2017

23:11

In the early 1980s, a scientist invented a machine that could naturally filter out pollution from rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. So, why …

The Art of War

July 19th, 2017

23:11

In this episode, we look at artists whose work has helped reveal the human side of war. You’ll hear about a famous artist who got his start sketching …

Bonus: Ale to the Chief

July 12th, 2017

12:48

In this mini-episode, Sidedoor host Tony Cohn interviews Sam Kass, former Obama White House chef and one of the people responsible for the first beer ever known to be brewed at the White House.

Red, White and Brew

July 5th, 2017

25:09

How much do you know about the history of American home-brewing? In this episode of Sidedoor you'll meet the Smithsonian's first brewing historian, …

If These Bones Could Talk

June 21st, 2017

26:28

Explorer, scholar and 19th Century Smithsonian darling Robert Kennicott seemed destined to lead a full and adventurous life. Then, at the age of 30, …

Guess Who's Back

June 7th, 2017

1:44

Sidedoor is back-- tell a friend! New season begins on Wednesday, June 21st.

Leave a Message at the Beep

February 1st, 2017

2:12

Tony shares a special thanks and an exciting update for our upcoming season. Share your thoughts by emailing sidedoor@si.edu or leave a message at 202-633-4120.

Shake It Up

January 18th, 2017

23:54

Transforming things we take for granted: An astronomer who has turned the night sky into a symphony; an architecture firm that has radically …

You Do You

January 4th, 2017

19:31

Identity in a complex world: A look at the many roles each person plays in daily life; a group of lesbian feminists create an entirely new culture, …

Gaming the System

December 21st, 2016

21:41

Bending the rules: People sending their children through the U.S. Postal Service; a Sikh man in the early 1900s tries to use the Supreme Court's …

Butting Heads

December 7th, 2016

18:31

Squabbles big and small: A dining room turns two besties into lifelong enemies; a researcher embraces the panda craze; and why some dinosaur skulls …

Mid Season Update

November 30th, 2016

0:37

A quick update from Tony about the show.

Masters of Disguise

November 23rd, 2016

18:01

Tales of deception and trickery: A sneaky orchid seeks sexually frustrated pollinator; a battle fought by decoys; and a gender-bending zombie …

Confronting the Past

November 9th, 2016

22:25

A 1921 riot destroyed almost 40 blocks of a wealthy black neighborhood in North Tulsa, Oklahoma. No one knows how many people died, no one was ever …

Tech Yourself

October 26th, 2016

20:56

Technology's grip on us: The 4-1-1 on what's behind your selfie; an artist's computer simulation shows humans aren't as unique as we think; and how …

Special Delivery

October 26th, 2016

22:09

The payoff is all in the delivery: Sending mail via cruise missile; preparing a strong-willed orangutan for primate parenthood; and failing to land a joke from the "gag file" of Phyllis Diller.

Season 1 Tease

October 25th, 2016

0:45

Sidedoor, a new podcast from the Smithsonian, is launching October 26th, 2016. Start subscribing now on iTunes!

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