Unusual White House Pets

Unusual White House Pets

Author: iHeartPodcasts December 8, 2025 Duration: 34:05
No dogs or cats here! A number of unorthodox pets have arrived at the White House and become part of the first family in very unusual ways throughout history.

Podcast Episodes
SYMHC Classics: SS Princess Sophia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:11
This 2018 episode covers the sinking of the SS Princess Sophia, a massive tragedy for both Canada and the United States. But it was also really overshadowed by the end of World War I and the flu pandemic. See omnystudio.…
Behind the Scenes Minis: Mountains and Glaciers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:36
Tracy shares her experiences watching the show "Molly of Denali." The discussion then turns to glacier surge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Walter Harper and the Summiting of Denali, Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:32
The final stages of the expedition to summit Denali were grueling for Walter Harper and the rest of the team. And after that accomplishment, Harper's life was tragically short.
Walter Harper and the Summiting of Denali, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:51
While working as a guide in his youth, Walter Harper met and worked for a man named Hudson Stuck. Their friendship would lead to Walter becoming the first person to reach the summit of Denali.
SYMHC Classics: Washington Irving [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:54
This 2021 episode covers Washington Irving, who is often associated with Halloween. But his writing had a significant influence on the way Christmas is celebrated in the U.S.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform…
Behind the Scenes Minis: Raccoon Cranberries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:14
Tracy wonders whether Jack the turkey went to the bathroom in the White House. Holly talks about how much she dislikes people arguing over food preferences. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Cranberries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:28
The cranberries we typically eat are native to North America, though they are also grown in other places. How did they become a standard part of the holiday table?
SYMHC Classics: Nutcracker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:55
This 2021 episode covers how The Nutcracker is a Russian adaptation of a German story that wasn’t really a Christmas staple in its home country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Behind the Scenes Minis: Much Charles, Many Dogs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:19
Tracy shares how her Charles Sumner research yielded a three-part episode. Holly mentions that while there's not a lot of scholarly work about Cassius Coolidge's life, he is featured in a lot of newspaper mentions from h…
Cassius Coolidge and Dogs Playing Poker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:33
Cassius Marcellus Coolidge’s most well-known art is the Dogs Playing Poker series. He was a true Renaissance man, and even patented a style of kitsch art.