Martin Luther King

Origin of Everything

History Series / 3 Seasons

Every aspect of our daily reality, whether its the words we use, the pop culture we love, the technology that get us through the day, or even the identities we give ourselves, emerge from thousands of intersecting histories. And on this show, we're going to explore them ALL! . . . Okay, maybe not ALL, but you get the idea.

6m 37s

The Problem with Museums

S3 E1 / 12m 14s

Are museum collections ethical? How did these institutions end up with their vast array of artifacts and remains from every corner of the globe? Well, chances are there was some definite shadiness involved. Danielle examines this complicated debate and looks closely at the cases of Saartjie Baartman and Chang and Eng Bunker.

The Rise of Beer

S3 E2 / 12m 21s

People across the globe love beer. A LOT. Danielle traces the history of beer and how we got from fermented corn to the craft beers so many enjoy today. She looks not just at the science of brewing, but also the various fermented beverages that cropped up around the world over the centuries.

The Science Behind Why We Love Boy Bands

S3 E3 / 12m 11s

Everybody, rock your body and get ready to scream! Today Origin is looking at all things boy band! Danielle traces the history of boy ensembles from early Beatlemania to today, examines the markers of a classic boy band, and explains the science behind this particular type of fandom.

Why Does "Straight" Mean Heterosexual?

S3 E4 / 8m 7s

When did we start defining sexual orientation and how did that result in "straight" becoming a synonym for "heterosexual"? Today Danielle follows the winding history of the word through medical terms, lavender linguistics, and community slang.

The Rise of E-Cigarettes: Why is Everyone Vaping?

S3 E5 / 10m 43s

E-Cigarettes are everywhere. Vaping has become so ubiquitous that "vape" was Oxford Dictionaries word of the year in 2014. Today, Danielle looks at how and why vaping took off. She examines the early 20th century prototypes for electric vaporizers and smokeless, non-tobacco cigarettes. She also compares the marketing and debates surrounding e-cigarettes to that of their tobacco counterparts.

Why Are There 12 People on a Jury?

S3 E6 / 11m 8s

When picturing a jury, you probably imagine 12 people - no more, no less. But did you know there is no hard and fast rule about how many members are required on a jury? Today, Danielle looks at the differences between petit and grand juries and the historical accidents that have lead many to believe that juries MUST have twelve members.

What Does It Mean to Be a "Good" Student?

S3 E7 / 6m 36s

What does it mean to say someone is a "good" student? Today Danielle breaks down the stereotype of the perfect student and why grades alone don't define children. She also examines the systems and barriers that stop young girls and students of color from reaching their fullest potential.

Where did Advice Columns Come From?

S3 E8 / 8m 5s

Writing to a complete stranger about your most pressing, personal issues seems a bit odd. But that's exactly what the advice column is! From their origin as the Google of the 1600s to the booming renaissance of today, Danielle examines the strange history of advice columns.

Economic Lessons from Past Pandemics

S3 E9 / 10m 11s

Today, Danielle (from the safety of her Chicago flat) looks back at a few of the world's biggest pandemics. From the Black Death of the 1300s to the 17th c. Plague and the 1918 Spanish Flu, Danielle explores the human and economic tolls of past pandemics and what we can learn to prepare for life during and after COVID-19.

6 Surprising Facts About the 19th Amendment

S3 E10 / 12m 9s

2020 marks 100 years of National Suffrage for women in the United States! Today Danielle looks back on the long road to ratification for the 19th Amendment. She explains how the Seneca Falls Convention wasn't seen as important at the time and how some of the most famous suffragists of the time wrote a whole history book to ensure they were remembered.

How We Discovered Germs

S3 E11 / 9m 7s

Humanity didn't always know about the invisible viruses, bacteria, and microbes that can cause disease. But that doesn't mean we didn't come up with some truly bizarre ideas. From the four humors and miasma theory to bloodletting and trepanation, Danielle traces humanity's winding road to the Germ Theory of Disease that revolutionized the medical profession.

Concentration Camps Are Older Than World War II

S3 E12 / 10m 7s

The history of the World War II concentration camps extends back to the late 19th. century and the invention of barbed wire and the automatic rifle. Danielle looks at the grim origin of concentration and internment camps and the various countries (including Spain, Great Britain, and the United States), who used similar tactics long before the Nazi Regime.

How Did Pride Become a Parade?

S3 E13 / 7m 24s

June is Pride Month and if not for coronavirus streets around the world would be filled with the LGBTQIA Community living loud and proud. But how did the New York City Stonewall Riots turn into a month-long celebration? And specifically, how did we get from picketed protests like the Annual Reminder in Philadelphia to massive parades and parties around the world?

Why Do We Say "Latino"?

S3 E14 / 6m 39s

When you hear "Latino" you probably think of people from Latin America - places like Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, etc. But where exactly did the history of that word come from, and has it always meant Central America and South America as well as the Caribbean? Danielle traces the origin of the term "Latino" and the debates that still surround it as well as the term "Hispanic" and "Latinx."

The Racist Origins of U.S. Law

S3 E15 / 12m 58s

Laws are intended to maintain order and promote justice, but what happens when those laws promote and spread discrimination and bigotry? Today Danielle analyzes the discriminatory history of US law, tracing its origins in colonialism and chattel slavery up through the Jim Crow era and today's mass incarceration.

Why Do We Shake Hands?

S3 E16 / 8m 37s

Will we ever shake hands again?! With the current state of the world, no one can really say. But that got us wondering... why do we shake hands in the first place? Today, Danielle traces the history of the handshake from Babylonia and the early Greeks to the present.

The Homophobic Origins of U.S. Law

S3 E17 / 10m 53s

Laws are intended to maintain order and promote justice, but what happens when those laws promote and spread discrimination and bigotry? Today Danielle analyzes the homophobic history of US law, tracing its origins in colonialism all the way to present-day court cases like Obergefell v. Hodges. This is the second video in our examination of legal discrimination in the United States.

History of Socialism in America

S3 E18 / 9m 20s

"Socialism" is one of THE most divisive words in America and it has been for a long time. With Democratic Socialism gaining more and more popularity, Danielle takes a look back at the long complicated history of Socialism in America. From the Utopian Socialist communities of the 19th century to the labor strikes and Anarchist Bombings of 1919 that helped fuel the Red Scare.

Why Do We Say "African American"?

S3 E19 / 8m 26s

Language is constantly changing and ethnonyms are no exception. From "Negro" to "Colored" and "African American" to "Black," the people and cultures of African origin living in the United States have had many names. Today Danielle looks at the etymology and reclamation surrounding Black history and identity.

HIV/AIDS: What Can We Learn From America's Last Epidemic?

S3 E20 / 11m 52s

America's last major epidemic was the HIV/AIDS crisis of 1980s and 1990s. In order to better understand our current circumstances, Danielle is looking back at the legacies of action and inaction surrounding HIV/AIDS and how the government's response then informs our approach to COVID-19 now.

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