The Past and The Curious: A History Podcast for Kids and Families
Mick Sullivan
A History Podcast for Kids! Parents love us, Teachers love us, and most importantly, kids do too!
History can be amazing, inspiring and relevant to anyone. We love to share the stories of Spies, funny foods, George Washington's foibles, early advancements in cartooning and ballooning and much more! A professional music score and important songs accompany nearly every themed episode. Proud Kids Listen Member @pastandcurious
History can be amazing, inspiring and relevant to anyone. We love to share the stories of Spies, funny foods, George Washington's foibles, early advancements in cartooning and ballooning and much more! A professional music score and important songs accompany nearly every themed episode. Proud Kids Listen Member @pastandcurious
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 6, 2018 • 29min
Ep. 17 Spies!
Kate Warne saved Abraham Lincoln's life on the way to his inauguration. John Honeyman may (or may not)have been a double agent who helped George Washington's famous Crossing of the Delaware. We'll hear these stories and much more!
You'll hear hear Amber Estes-Theineman sing the classic "I'm Confessin'" while you're here, too!
Dec 15, 2017 • 21min
Christmas Special - Mummies and Bladders!
Christmastime means two things to us: mummies and bladders.
Join us as we meet a young William Clark, an accidental and enterprising watch salesman named Sears, and the hottest gift of the 1971 holiday season.
Featuring "Kashmir of the Bells" by Squeeze-bot
Dec 7, 2017 • 29min
Ep. 16 Up In The Air!
Have you ever heard about the time Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt ducked out of a dinner to take a flight over Washington DC?
Or about how Bessie Coleman had to go all the way to France to learn how to fly an airplane because no one would teach her in America?
This episode also features the Fred Fischer and Alfred Bryan song from 1910, "Come Josephine In My Flying Machine," which is performed by Mick Sullivan and Suki Anderson.
"Bessie Coleman" read by Kelly Moore (featuring the voice of AJ Cornell)
"Amelia and Eleanor" read by Amber Estes-Thieneman
Production, music and stories by Mick Sullivan
Also featuring incidental music from Squeeze-bot
Nov 24, 2017 • 18min
Bonus Episode: Curious Names
There are a lot of really great names in the past - like, just really cool sounding names. So we're picking a few of our favorites and telling a story or two about them.
This episode features American Revolution figure Button Gwinnet and Harlem Renaissance artist Zora Neale Hurston.But there's a lot more ground we cover than just those two!
Nov 7, 2017 • 26min
Ep. 15 Cartoons!
Everyone loves cartoons! So we’re taking an unusual look at two big moments in cartoon history – when a vaudeville performer and comic-strip writer made animation history on a cold Chicago night, and also the time a cheeky political cartoonist brought down one of the most crooked politicians in history.
Gertie the Dinosaur and Winsor McCay read by Amber Estes-Thieneman
Thomas Nast and Boss Tweed read by Jason Lawrence
On the Sunny Side of the Street performed by Mick Sullivan
The Past and the Curious is a history podcast for kids, families and adults created by a professional museum educator with the help of brilliant friends. We are a proud Kids Listen member and dedicated to nurturing curiosity of the past in everyone.
Written and produced by Mick Sullivan. Don’t steal things you didn’t create.
Oct 23, 2017 • 17min
Bonus Episode: Ghost Ships! A Kids Listen Halloween Sweep
Have you heard of the Mary Celeste? If you've heard of a ghost ship, this is probably the one. In 1872 it was found under sail in the Atlantic Ocean but with absolutely no one on board. What gives? And was this completely unique? It wasn't, but it is certainly the most famous case and we wanted to know more!
Also featuring and original performance of one of our favorite songs "Devil and the Deep Blue Sea," written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1932. Mick Sullivan plays mandolin, guitar, banjo, washboard, bass harmonica and probably some other stuff too.
Oct 6, 2017 • 29min
Ep. 14 Nature Pokers & Women of Science
Women of Science! Join us for some 19th Century STEM stories. Heather Funk tells you about Mary Anning and the origins of "She Sells Sea Shells." Mick Sullivan shares the story of Mary Somerville and the origin of the the word "scientist." Both ladies did remarkable things in the science world at a time when it was pretty uncommon. In addition, Squeeze-bot plays "She Blinded Me with Science," quiz time and more. From Kids Listen member, a History and Music Podcast for young and old alike!
Sep 5, 2017 • 30min
Ep. 13 The Cheesiest
Your favorite history show for the whole family is back and we're bringing the cheese! First, Graham Shelby reads "Andrew Jackson's Big Cheese," while Mick Sullivan shares some fun stories of hardtack, followed by the Civil War parody song "Hard Tack Come Again No More." There's Quiztime, Music and more!
Aug 8, 2017 • 28min
Ep. 12: Shaking Hands with Presidents
When Washington first became president, no one knew what to call him, and he certainly didn't want to shake EVERYONE'S hand. There were some growing pains in Presidential cordiality. Later, Lincoln wishes Jefferson never started the whole "handshake thing." Also, Quiztime and the old song "Lulu's Back in Town" Stories written and music performed by Mick Sullivan. Also featuring the voices of Chaska and Mirabel Power (from Book Power for Kids Podcast)
Jul 6, 2017 • 22min
Ep. 11 Hittin' the Road: Niagara
It's time for the July Kids Listen Sweep! This episode features the story of Annie Edson Taylor, who was the first person to successfully survive Niagara Falls in a barrel. Also, how'd they even start building the first suspension bridge over Niagara? You might be surprised. And if Cole Porter's song "Don't Fence Me In" doesn't make you feel like "Hittin' The Road," what will? Voices: Victoria Reibel and Mick Sullivan. All Music and Instruments: Mick Sullivan. Bad Ideas: Mick Sullivan Good Ideas: also, Mick Sullivan


