American Innovations
285 episodes - English - Latest episode: 23 days ago - ★★★★★ - 4K ratingsDNA science. Artificial intelligence. Smartphones and 3D printers. Science and technology have transformed the world we live in. But how did we get here? It wasn’t by accident. Well, sometimes it was. It was also the result of hard work, teamwork, and competition. And incredibly surprising moments.
Hosted by bestselling author Steven Johnson (“How We Got To Now”), American Innovations uses immersive scenes to tell the stories of the scientists, engineers, and ordinary people behind the greatest discoveries of the past century.
You can binge all episodes of American Innovations exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Fighting Coronavirus | Can Your Smartwatch Detect Covid-19? | 11
June 03, 2020 09:00 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBThese days, watches don’t just tell time. Smartwatches like Apple Watch and Fitbit measure your heart rate, count your steps, and track your sleep schedule. According to Dr. Michael Snyder, they can also tell you when you’re getting sick – and potentially spot Covid-19 before you’re even symptomatic. On this episode, Steven talks to Dr. Snyder, who runs the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford, about his new study on whether wearables can predict the onset of C...
Ferris Wheel | Wheel in the Sky | 1
May 28, 2020 09:00 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBThe 1889 World’s Fair in Paris dazzles attendees with the Eiffel Tower. So, when plans begin for the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, the mandate is clear: beat the Tower. America’s architects and engineers compete to win the job – but every proposal they submit is more outlandish and dangerous than the last. And the most dangerous of all? Well, that might be a ride that resembles a twenty-story bicycle wheel, submitted by a young man named George Ferris…. You can binge all episodes...
Fighting Coronavirus | Stopping the Spread of Bad Information | 10
May 26, 2020 09:00 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MBAccording to the World Health Organization, we’re not just in the midst of a pandemic. We’re living through an “infodemic,” where misinformation is more readily available than facts. On this episode, Steven talks to Joan Donovan, who studies misinformation in her role as the Director of the Technology and Social Change Research Project at Harvard Kennedy’s Shorenstein Center. Joan shares how conspiracy theories spread and how each of us can practice good information hygiene. It’s n...
Enemy of All Mankind | A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History's First Global Manhunt | 1
May 21, 2020 09:00 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBOn September 11th, 1695, two ships confronted each other in the middle of the Indian Ocean: one an enormous treasure ship owned by the Grand Mughal of India, and the other a much smaller British pirate ship led by Henry Every. What happened next changed the world. Every and his crew took off with $100 million in loot and sparked the world’s first global manhunt. They also inadvertently set off a chain of events that led to the rise of globalization, the tabloid press, and even de...
Enemy of All Mankind: A True Story of Piracy, Power, and History's First Global Manhunt | 1
May 21, 2020 09:00 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBOn September 11th, 1695, two ships confronted each other in the middle of the Indian Ocean: one an enormous treasure ship owned by the Grand Mughal of India, and the other a much smaller British pirate ship led by Henry Every. What happened next changed the world. Every and his crew took off with $100 million in loot and sparked the world’s first global manhunt. They also inadvertently set off a chain of events that led to the rise of globalization, the tabloid press, and even de...
Fighting Coronavirus | Will We Remember 2020 A Century From Now? | 9
May 19, 2020 09:00 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MBWhile the U.S. has countless WWI memorials, it has almost none dedicated to the 1918 flu pandemic – even though the pandemic claimed six times as many American lives. On this episode, Steven talks to historian Nancy Bristow, author of American Pandemic: The Lost Worlds of the 1918 Influenza Epidemic, about the blind spot in America’s collective memory. Why did we forget the 1918 pandemic? And how well will future generations remember this one? New episodes of “Fighting Coronavirus...
Will We Remember 2020 A Century From Now? | 9
May 19, 2020 09:00 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MBWhile the U.S. has countless WWI memorials, it has almost none dedicated to the 1918 flu pandemic – even though the pandemic claimed six times as many American lives. On this episode, Steven talks to historian Nancy Bristow, author of American Pandemic: The Lost Worlds of the 1918 Influenza Epidemic, about the blind spot in America’s collective memory. Why did we forget the 1918 pandemic? And how well will future generations remember this one? New episodes of “Fighting Coronavirus...
Introducing The Daily Smile
May 18, 2020 08:30 - 4 minutes - 3.85 MBEveryone needs a reminder about just how good people can be. On Wondery’s new series The Daily Smile, host Nikki Boyer brings you stories that will make you feel good each weekday morning. With interviews, inspiring clips, and chats with special guests and passionate friends, The Daily Smile takes you on a journey into goodness, gives you all the feels, and will leave you with a smile on your face. Listen to the full episode: wondery.fm/dailysmileAI
Chewing Gum | The Champion of Chewers | 2
May 14, 2020 09:00 - 41 minutes - 38 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. It’s the early 1890s and thanks to the adoption of chicle, chewing gum is bigger than ever. But it’s still a niche American habit. Men still shun it in favor of tobacco, and women who chew it in public are frowned upon. But that’s all about to change thanks to the newest face on the gum scene. He’s name is William Wrigley Junior and he’s going to teach the world to chew. Support us by supporting our sponsors! Polic...
Fighting Coronavirus | We’re More United Than You Think | 8
May 12, 2020 09:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBCommunication and cooperation across our society are as important as they’ve ever been. This week, Steven talks with Andy Slavitt, the former Medicare and Medicaid chief, who has emerged as one of the most effective communicators during this crisis. Andy and Steven discuss the future of healthcare, how to find trustworthy news sources, and how to make the most of your child’s senior year in isolation. (Hint: Start a podcast together!) Check out Andy Slavitt’s podcast In the Bubble....
Chewing Gum: Snapping and Stretching | 1
May 07, 2020 09:00 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBIt’s the mid-1800s and in Maine, John Bacon Curtis is back from clearing the spruce forests with a crazy idea. He’s going to sell ready-to-chew gum. But his bold plan is only the start of what will become a decades-long search for the ideal chew. It’s a search that will see the nascent gum business butt heads with newspaper tycoons, strike an alliance with oil refineries, and get a helping hand from the self-styled Napoleon of the West. You can binge all episodes of American Innov...
Fighting Coronavirus: Is Social Distancing Enough? | 7
May 05, 2020 09:00 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBIf we really want to reopen our economy, we need to do more than just flatten the curve. In the words of Dr. Jim Kim, the former president of the World Bank, we need to “start coming down the mountain.” And to do that, Dr. Kim says there is only one valid solution: “contact tracing,” one of the most low-tech and labor-intensive weapons in our public health arsenal. On this week’s episode, Steven talks to Dr. Kim about how he convinced Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to invest ...
Fighting Coronavirus: Pandemic DIY | 6
April 28, 2020 09:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBWhen health care workers began running out of protective equipment, makers around the world powered up their 3D printers and got to work. This week, Steven talks to journalist Clive Thompson about the maker movement, an informal network of sewers, tinkerers, and engineers whose ingenuity is bridging supply gaps and increasing the pace of technological innovation, sometimes in a very retro way. Read Clive Thompson’s article, “When Government Fails, Makers Come to the Rescue,” on Wi...
Fighting Coronavirus: Pandemic DIY | 5
April 28, 2020 09:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBWhen health care workers began running out of protective equipment, makers around the world powered up their 3D printers and got to work. This week, Steven talks to journalist Clive Thompson about the maker movement, an informal network of sewers, tinkerers, and engineers whose ingenuity is bridging supply gaps and increasing the pace of technological innovation, sometimes in a very retro way. Read Clive Thompson’s article, “When Government Fails, Makers Come to the Rescue,” on Wi...
Dynamite: Audrey Kurth Cronin on New Technology and Terrorism | 4
April 23, 2020 09:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. Alfred Nobel worked on dynamite in distinctly unglamorous labs, but his ambitions were as grand as his labs were small. He envisioned dynamite transforming cityscapes and connecting rail lines across Europe. When Alfred finally got dynamite right, it did exactly that – but it also led to new and terrifying forms of political violence. On the last episode of our dynamite series, Steven Johnson talks to security expert ...
Fighting Coronavirus: Are Our Kids Alright? | 5
April 21, 2020 09:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBLet’s face it: we’re worried about our kids. How can we protect their mental health? Should the normal rules around screen time still apply? What will school look like come September? This week, Steven talks with Anya Kamenetz, an education correspondent for NPR and author of the book The Art of Screen Time, to get some answers. New episodes of “Fighting Coronavirus” will publish here every Tuesday, or you can listen and subscribe at https://wondery.com/shows/fighting-coronavirus/....
Fighting Coronavirus: Are Our Kids Alright? | 4
April 21, 2020 09:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBLet’s face it: we’re worried about our kids. How can we protect their mental health? Should the normal rules around screen time still apply? What will school look like come September? This week, Steven talks with Anya Kamenetz, an education correspondent for NPR and author of the book The Art of Screen Time, to get some answers. New episodes of “Fighting Coronavirus” will publish here every Tuesday, or you can listen and subscribe at https://wondery.com/shows/fighting-coronavirus/....
Dynamite: The Merchant of Death is Dead | 3
April 16, 2020 09:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. How did Alfred Nobel, the “Merchant of Death,” go from inventing dynamite to establishing the Nobel Peace Prize? The answer lies in a personal ad, a poorly vetted obituary, and a surprising new use for nitroglycerine. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Dynamite: “The Merchant of Death is Dead” | 3
April 16, 2020 09:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBHow did Alfred Nobel, the “Merchant of Death,” go from inventing dynamite to establishing the Nobel Peace Prize? The answer lies in a personal ad, a poorly vetted obituary, and a surprising new use for nitroglycerine.
Fighting Coronavirus: How Can Data Save Lives? | 4
April 14, 2020 09:00 - 28 minutes - 26 MBWhere are new cases being detected? How many beds are available in local hospitals? What’s the growth rate of ICU admissions? These are some of the most urgent questions in the world right now, and they’re being answered by data pioneers like Dr. John Brownstein, the Chief Innovation Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Brownstein talks to host Steven Johnson about his new crowdsourced website, CovidNearYou.org, and how public health data doesn’t just track deaths, but helps p...
Fighting Coronavirus: How Can Data Save Lives? | 3
April 14, 2020 09:00 - 28 minutes - 26 MBWhere are new cases being detected? How many beds are available in local hospitals? What’s the growth rate of ICU admissions? These are some of the most urgent questions in the world right now, and they’re being answered by data pioneers like Dr. John Brownstein, the Chief Innovation Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Brownstein talks to host Steven Johnson about his new crowdsourced website, CovidNearYou.org, and how public health data doesn’t just track deaths, but helps p...
Dynamite: The Loneliest Millionaire | 2
April 09, 2020 09:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. Alfred Nobel had solved the critical problem of detonating nitroglycerine reliably, but his efforts to turn his new "blasting oil" into a successful commercial product create new challenges. An explosion in his Stockholm lab leads to personal tragedy, and draws the ire of local authorities. And a wave of industrial accidents involving nitroglycerine around the globe has critics accusing Alfred of murder. Alfred knows...
Fighting Coronavirus: When Will the Lockdown End? | 3
April 07, 2020 09:00 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBReading the forecast models that track and predict the spread of the coronavirus can feel like a glimpse into the future. And epidemiologists – the scientists behind these models – have suddenly become the most important figures in this fight. Dr. Tara Smith, an epidemiologist and professor at the Kent State University College of Public Health, talks with Steven about what most people misunderstand about these models, whether there’s an end in sight for social distancing, and why th...
Fighting Coronavirus: When Will the Lockdown End? | 2
April 07, 2020 09:00 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBReading the forecast models that track and predict the spread of the coronavirus can feel like a glimpse into the future. And epidemiologists – the scientists behind these models – have suddenly become the most important figures in this fight. Dr. Tara Smith, an epidemiologist and professor at the Kent State University College of Public Health, talks with Steven about what most people misunderstand about these models, whether there’s an end in sight for social distancing, and why th...
Dynamite: The Controlled Explosion | 1
April 02, 2020 09:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBIn 1846, an Italian chemist discovered the volatile compound nitroglycerine, the first major breakthrough in creating man-made explosions since the invention of gunpowder a thousand years earlier. But almost everyone who experiments with the compound thinks it’s too dangerous for any commercial application–everyone except for one brooding, obsessed young Swedish inventor named Alfred Nobel. Nobel dreams of harnessing the chemical’s power to ignite an engineering revolution: blasti...
Fighting Coronavirus: How Can We Protect City Life? | 1
March 31, 2020 09:00 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBWhen public health is threatened on a mass scale, we have a long history of working together to take on the challenge. On this new weekly series, Steven will speak with experts from the worlds of health and technology about how the current moment compares with past pandemics, and what the coming months might look like. On this episode, Steven talks with Richard Florida, a bestselling author on cities and urban rebirth. The population density of cities has always been key to drivin...
Fighting Coronavirus: How Can We Protect City Life? | 2
March 31, 2020 09:00 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBWhen public health is threatened on a mass scale, we have a long history of working together to take on the challenge. On this new weekly series, Steven will speak with experts from the worlds of health and technology about how the current moment compares with past pandemics, and what the coming months might look like. On this episode, Steven talks with Richard Florida, a bestselling author on cities and urban rebirth. The population density of cities has always been key to drivin...
Bruce Gellin On How COVID-19 Could Change Vaccine Development | 6
March 26, 2020 09:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBAs the first in a series on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Steven Johnson speaks with Dr. Bruce Gellin, president of Global Immunization at the Sabin Vaccine Institute in Washington D.C.. Dr. Gellin is also a former director of the National Vaccine Program at the Department of Health and Human Services, and led the creation of HHS’s first pandemic influenza preparedness and response plan. They talk about a very new and pressing challenge: how to speed up vaccine development for COV...
Fighting Coronavirus: Bruce Gellin On How COVID-19 Could Change Vaccine Development | 1
March 26, 2020 09:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBAs the first in a series on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Steven Johnson speaks with Dr. Bruce Gellin, president of Global Immunization at the Sabin Vaccine Institute in Washington D.C.. Dr. Gellin is also a former director of the National Vaccine Program at the Department of Health and Human Services, and led the creation of HHS’s first pandemic influenza preparedness and response plan. They talk about a very new and pressing challenge: how to speed up vaccine development for COV...
Introducing Joe Exotic: Tiger King
March 24, 2020 08:30 - 5 minutes - 5.21 MBJoe Exotic devoted his life to raising and breeding lions, tigers, and other exotic animals at his Oklahoma zoo. He croons ballads, shoots guns, and puts it all on YouTube. But he’s also made a lot of enemies. And the biggest of all is the owner of a big cat sanctuary in Florida named Carole Baskin. The feud between Joe Exotic and Carole gets messy, vicious, and outrageous -- until both of them are pushed far beyond their limits. From Wondery, comes ‘Joe Exotic: Tiger King’, the sto...
Organ Transplant: The Heart Race | 3
March 19, 2020 09:00 - 44 minutes - 41.2 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. In 1967, an unlikely surgeon performs the first human heart transplant – and shocks the world. As others race to replicate his achievement, one surgical team makes a mistake that could spell the end of organ transplants in the United States. Support our sponsors! Policy Genius - In just a few minutes you can find your best price and apply at Policygenius.com. Peloton - Learn more about Peloton’s 30-Day Home Trial at...
Organ Transplant: A Matter of Life and Death | 2
March 12, 2020 09:00 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. By the early 1960s, surgeons have proven that it's possible to transplant kidneys and lungs. Now, with heart disease still the leading cause of death, they've set their sights on performing the first human heart transplant. But first, they've got to overcome the ethical, legal, and surgical challenges of removing a donor's heart before it stops beating for good. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Cali...
Organ Transplant: The Kidney Twins | 1
March 05, 2020 10:00 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBA century ago, organ transplants were the stuff of science fiction. But a handful of experimental surgeons believed that transplants were not just possible – they had the potential to save thousands of lives. Then, in 1954, a man agreed to donate his kidney to his twin brother – and one surgeon finally got his chance to prove the doubters wrong. You can binge all episodes of American Innovations exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+. Find Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podca...
NBC News presents Into America
March 02, 2020 08:30 - 7 minutes - 6.41 MBA new podcast about politics, about policy, and the power that both have in shaping the lives of the American people. Into America is hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, Trymaine Lee, and features the journalists of NBC News. For the first episode, Trymaine heads to East New York, a community that experienced more stops than any other part of New York City under Former Mayor Bloomberg’s stop and frisk policy. In order to have a real shot at the Democratic nomination, Bloombe...
Valium: Mother’s Little Helper | 3
February 20, 2020 10:00 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. Within 10 years of Valium’s introduction, people are starting to realize it’s not quite as harmless as they had been led to believe. Patients are building up a tolerance to it, taking stronger and stronger dosages, and experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they quit. Women, who have been prescribed Valium at twice the rates men have, spearhead the fight to increase regulation. When former First Lady Betty Ford announc...
Valium: The House That Leo Built | 2
February 13, 2020 10:00 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. With Miltown sweeping the nation, pharmaceutical companies around the country want in on the action and vie to create their own versions. At Hoffman La Roche, a brilliant scientist by the name of Leo Sternbach leads the charge. While Roche executives want him to create a copycat drug, Sternbach has bigger ambitions: he wants to invent an entirely new class of tranquilizer. After Roche loses faith in his vision, S...
Valium: Miltown Magic | 1
February 06, 2020 10:00 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBAnxiety. It’s something everyone experiences at some point in their lives, but for centuries doctors had no effective way to treat it. They could send patients on rest cures, order them to do nothing at all, or prescribe barbiturates that depressed the central nervous system, easily leading to overdose and death. Finally, in the mid-1950s, chemists discovered a new class of drugs: the minor tranquilizers. The most famous of these was Valium, which would go on to become the most pre...
Electronic Television: The TVs of The Future | 3
January 30, 2020 10:00 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, television manufacturer LG debuted a TV set that rolls up like a poster. It's a far cry from our grandparents wooden boxes with black and white screens and bunny ear antennas. And despite impressive new television tech, many people these days are turning to phones and tablets to consume their favorite shows and moves. Today we conclude our series on the television with Susan Mu...
Electronic Television: A Great Depression And The World's Fair | 2
January 23, 2020 10:00 - 41 minutes - 38 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. While Philo Farnsworth was building gizmos out of a loft in San Francisco, the Radio Corporation of America was already plotting domination of the yet-to-be television industry under the leadership of a man named David Sarnoff. Sarnoff recognized television’s virtually limitless potential, and he was determined to bring it to the masses — with or without the help of Philo Farnsworth. Sarnoff would rely on inventors l...
Electronic Television: The Picture Radio | 1
January 16, 2020 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.7 MBThe invention of the electronic television was uniquely complicated for its time. So complicated, in fact, that the prevailing narrative is that it couldn’t have been invented by a single person -- let alone Philo Farnsworth. After all, some of the most brilliant minds in the world spent the first quarter of the 20th century working on television systems -- and some even managed to transmit images. But none of those systems were ever able to deliver the quality of images they’d ne...
The Year in Innovation | 6
January 09, 2020 10:30 - 42 minutes - 38.9 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. It's a new year and a new decade, and that means a lot of new innovation and tech to look forward to. But, as we wonder what the future has in store, it's important to look back at the past year and what it has taught us. Author Clive Thompson joins us to talk about the innovations that caught his attention in 2019 and what he's looking forward to in 2020 and beyond. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and...
Kodak Roll Film: Brownie Boom | 3
December 12, 2019 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. After George Eastman cut ties with his chief emulsion-maker-turned-saboteur, Henry Reichenbach, the Kodak company started to falter. Some batches of film literally fell apart on the shelves. Others seemed fine, but yielded blurry, unprintable photos. Eastman had tried to find a suitable replacement for Reichbach, but no one was able to make a stable emulsion at the volume he needed. Eastman was starting to get despera...
Kodak Roll Film: Kodak Fiends | 2
December 05, 2019 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. George Eastman had made technological breakthroughs and forays into the photography market, but his images still weren’t good enough for professional photographers and the photographic process was still too complicated for recreational photographers. Eastman needed to improve his product and simplify his process, but he couldn’t do it alone. His novice chemistry skills had already carried the company as far as they c...
Kodak Roll Film | As Convenient as a Pencil | 1
November 28, 2019 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBToday, if we want to take a photo, we unlock our phone, aim, and click. It can be done on a whim, without a second thought. We document everything from new haircuts to latte art, cute cats to baby’s first smile. But prior to the 1900s, photography was the exclusive domain of professionals and dedicated hobbyists -- people willing to learn complex skills and spend hours on the craft. Responsible for that shift was a man named George Eastman. Armed with a radical vision for what p...
Kodak Roll Film: As Convenient as a Pencil | 1
November 28, 2019 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBToday, if we want to take a photo, we unlock our phone, aim, and click. It can be done on a whim, without a second thought. We document everything from new haircuts to latte art, cute cats to baby’s first smile. But prior to the 1900s, photography was the exclusive domain of professionals and dedicated hobbyists -- people willing to learn complex skills and spend hours on the craft. Responsible for that shift was a man named George Eastman. Armed with a radical vision for what phot...
The Modern Ambulance | 1
November 21, 2019 10:00 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBToday, if you or someone you know experiences a medical emergency, you dial 9-1-1 and a squad of trained medical professionals arrives at your door. But just 55 years ago, that was not the case. Emergency calls were generally dispatched to funeral homes simply because their vehicles were suited to transporting bodies. You’d be lucky if the person transporting you had any first aid training at all. A soldier shot in Vietnam had a better chance of surviving than a housewife in a car ...
Google's Quantum Breakthrough
November 14, 2019 10:30 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. In October, Google announced in a paper in the journal Nature that it built a chip called "Sycamore" that achieved what is known as "quantum supremacy." It's being hailed as a massive step forward in the world of quantum computing. Quantum computing's principles lie in the fascinating world of quantum mechanics, and while it is extremely complicated to understand, the theoretical applications of a quantum computer coul...
Electric Chair | A Matter of Light and Death | 3
October 31, 2019 09:00 - 39 minutes - 35.7 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. In the summer of 1888, just as the electric chair controversy was unfolding, Nikola Tesla moved to Pittsburgh to work for George Westinghouse, fulfilling a year-long commitment he made when Westinghouse purchased Tesla’s AC motor patents. The deal would make Tesla a millionaire, but it would ultimately threaten to topple Westinghouse’s business. Support us by supporting our sponsors! Policy Genius - Go to Policygeni...
Introducing The City: Reno
October 29, 2019 09:00 - 6 minutes - 5.67 MBThe City, USA Today’s critically acclaimed investigative podcast, is back with Season 2. This time, it shines a spotlight on Reno as the city transforms into an offshoot of Silicon Valley. Who decides what kind of city Reno becomes? What is lost and gained in the name of progress? Start listening to The City: Reno today at: http://wondery.fm/TheCityReno
Electric Chair | The War Becomes Electric | 2
October 24, 2019 09:00 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBThis episode is available exclusively for Wondery+ subscribers. After his unceremonious departure from Edison Electric, Nikola Tesla found himself broke and dejected, but more determined than ever to share his alternating current system with the world. And thanks to the help of one man who really believes in his work -- a man with vision, money and power -- he’ll soon have his chance. Tesla has Edison in his sites, and the Current War is about to get deadly. Support us by support...