Media

Stranger in a Strange Land episode of We Didn’t Start the Fire: the History Podcast. The 1960s is supposed to be sci-fi’s golden age. But when we look back at some of the era’s books, it turns out some of them are a little strange. Stranger in a Strange Land might seem like an interesting premise, but really it’s just a 14 year old’s very confusing wet dream… But how does a book like this inspire Charles Manson’s cult? What’s its connection to scientology? And did the book invent the waterbed?! Dr Cara Rodway is back to chat all these strange things and more!

Psycho episode of We Didn’t Start the Fire: The History Podcast.
It’s the groundbreaking 1960 movie that’s essentially a cheapie slasher film… of COURSE it’s time for us to chat about Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic Psycho. It’s become both a meme and a cult staple, but how did they film *that* shower scene? Why is it black and white? What happened to Anthony Perkins? And why were all those remakes made? Cara Rodway is back to chat all things Psycho!

Peyton Place episode of We Didn’t Start the Fire: The History Podcast.
It’s 1956 and Peyton Place is “the extraordinary new novel that lifts the lid off a small New England town”. It includes incest, abortion, adultery and murder and inspired a film and a soap opera. It might be one of the darkest and most intense books we’ve ever heard of and Dr Cara Rodway really wanted to chat about it, so she’s back for a record breaking fourth Fire appearance. 

Dacron episode of We Didn’t Start the Fire: The History Podcast.
Welcome to damp cloth utopia! Plastic is coming to save us all and you can even go canoeing without wetting your suit! But what the heck is Dacron? Why is it a miracle fabric? And how is it shaping the fashion disasters of the late 20th century? The expert of all things American, Dr Cara Rodway, is back for a record third time to help us figure it all out.

The King and I episode of We Din’t Start the Fire: The History Podcast.
This jaunty look at 1800s Thailand is the final musical that Billy thought worth mentioning in his Cold War breakdown. But does The King and I deserve spot 20 in Billy’s song, or is it just a handy rhyme for next week’s Catcher in the Rye? Back again is musical superfan Dr Cara Rodway from the British Library and, in a shocking We Didn’t Start The Fire first, our guest isn’t convinced.

South Pacific episode of We Didn’t Start the Fire: The History Podcast.
We’re five lyrics in, and Katie and Tom are getting musical. Literally, if you make it to the end. Dr Cara Rodway (Chair of the British Association for American Studies by day, musical nerd by night) gives a pretty convincing case for why the soundtrack has spent more weeks at UK number 1 than any other song. Even one of Billy’s.