Sidedoor
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 stories that can’t be heard anywhere else. Check out si.edu/sidedoor and follow @SidedoorPod for more info.
- Update frequency
- every 13 days
- Average duration
- 26 minutes
- Episodes
- 230
- Years Active
- 2016 - 2025
Enslaved and Muslim in Early America
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 did they go, and why didn’t we all learn about the…
00:29:47 |
Wed 31 Jan 2018
Sidedoor Presents: AirSpace
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 storie…
00:17:58 |
Wed 17 Jan 2018
If These Bones Could Talk
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 Talk. Explorer, scholar and 19th Century Smithsonia…
00:26:55 |
Wed 03 Jan 2018
The Many Lives of Owney the Dog
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 …
00:24:27 |
Wed 20 Dec 2017
This One's for Dilla
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 – from Questlove to Erykah Badu to Eminem. In thi…
00:27:59 |
Wed 06 Dec 2017
LIVE! Cookin' Up Stories
Does your ham sandwich have something to say? Quite possibly. Food can be a powerful storytelling tool. Many chefs, like authors, carefully craft meals or menus to transform a dining experience into …
00:27:16 |
Wed 22 Nov 2017
The Hungry Hungry Hippo Baby
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. H…
00:21:01 |
Wed 08 Nov 2017
Murder Is Her Hobby
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,…
00:25:04 |
Wed 25 Oct 2017
Confronting the Past
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 one was ever convicted, and no one really talked abo…
00:24:52 |
Wed 11 Oct 2017
Grandma Turned Me into a Ghost
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 discusses the ways in which our families shape our pers…
00:21:12 |
Wed 27 Sep 2017
The Man Who Defied Gravity
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 spanned continents. But by the mid 20th century, h…
00:24:35 |
Wed 13 Sep 2017
Artist in Dissidence
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, and the resulting photographs are one of his most w…
00:17:35 |
Wed 30 Aug 2017
LIVE! Unintended Consequences
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 …
00:29:18 |
Wed 16 Aug 2017
The Mean, Green, Water-Cleaning Machine
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 isn't it everywhere today? In this episode, we expl…
00:23:11 |
Wed 02 Aug 2017
The Art of War
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 Civil War soldiers and landscapes, and how he was…
00:23:11 |
Wed 19 Jul 2017
Bonus: Ale to the Chief
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.
00:12:48 |
Wed 12 Jul 2017
Red, White and Brew
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, Theresa McCulla, and learn about the role of women,…
00:25:09 |
Wed 05 Jul 2017
If These Bones Could Talk
Explorer, scholar and 19th Century Smithsonian darling Robert Kennicott seemed destined to lead a full and adventurous life. Then, at the age of 30, on an expedition to Russian Alaska in 1866, Kennic…
00:26:28 |
Wed 21 Jun 2017
Guess Who's Back
Sidedoor is back-- tell a friend! New season begins on Wednesday, June 21st.
00:01:44 |
Wed 07 Jun 2017
Leave a Message at the Beep
Tony shares a special thanks and an exciting update for our upcoming season. Share your thoughts by emailing [email protected] or leave a message at 202-633-4120.
00:02:12 |
Wed 01 Feb 2017
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