Tales of History and Imagination

Tales of History and Imagination

Author: Simone Whitlow Language: English Episodes: 100
Simone Whitlow hosts Tales of History and Imagination, a podcast dedicated to unearthing those peculiar, overlooked stories that conventional history books often skip. Each episode feels like a conversation about a fascinating secret, whether it's delving into the life of an obscure figure who tried to alter our very concept of time or examining the panic caused by a legendary beast in eighteenth-century France. You'll encounter the clever pranksters and the enigmatic side characters-the individuals who played brief but unforgettable cameo roles on the world's stage. Rather than re-treading well-worn narratives, this show seeks out perspectives rarely considered, finding the extraordinary within the ordinary march of events. Listening to this podcast is an exercise in curiosity, where major historical moments are often reframed through a surprising, human lens. It’s for anyone who suspects the past is far weirder and more wonderful than they were taught, blending rigorous research with a storyteller's sense of wonder. The result is a consistently engaging mix that sits at the crossroads of history, culture, and sheer human imagination.
Episodes
The Cancellation of Ilda Orme [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:40
The American actress Ilda Orme knew a thing or two about being cancelled, a long, long time before social media put the cancel button in the hands of the public at large. Her cancellers, she suspected were two hateful fo…
Archias The Exile Hunter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:04
On, or around 11th June 323 BC Alexander the Great died in Babylon. While there are mysteries surrounding his passing - did an Indian holy man prophesy his passing a year prior while self immolating in Alexander’s presen…
The Fall and Rise of Aimee Semple McPherson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:51
On May 18th 1926 the evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson took a trip to Santa Monica Beach, California to work, seek inspiration and have a little fun in the sun. However, the day would end in tragedy when Aimee disappeare…
The Ace of Spies - Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:51
Hi all, welcome back (again) - sorry it’s a week later than planned… a few ongoing voice issues from the cold. This week we conclude the tale of Sidney Reilly and the ‘Red Terror.’ Sources Include: R.H. Bruce-Lockhart ‘M…
The Ace of Spies - One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:17
Hi all, welcome back - sorry it’s a week later than planned… I had a nasty cold. This week we’re in Russia just after the October Revolution. The Bolsheviks have taken over, plunging the nation even further into disarray…
The Greenbrier Ghost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:04
Hi all, Happy Holidays! This year I’ve got a ghost story for you all. Today we travel to Greenbrier County, West Virginia in 1897. Sources Include: Again this week I’ve gone from a handful of online articles, a few onlin…
John Frum… Messiah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:42
This week we travel to Tana Island, Vanuatu (then the New Hebrides) in the midst of World War Two. God has returned - and not a moment too soon. Having abandoned them decades earlier, just as bad men with awful intention…
How Margaret Sanger & Katharine Dexter McCormick Saved the World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:04
This week, how do I sum this up? I was freewheeling a little today, but have I got a tale of resistance, and a weird little man for you all. Anthony Comstock was a weird, joyless guy - and his ‘Comstockery’ ruined many o…
Admin: A Slight Change of Plans… [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43
Hi there all, just dropping a quick note, before I return to the writing desk… USA I’m aghast… and worried, and saddened by recent turns of events. And tonight I just wanted to send you all my love (well, obviously not a…
Murder in Room 1046 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:22
This week, it’s Halloween! So, naturally I’ve got a tale of… well, historic hotel rooms in Kansas City, Missouri… And a notorious murder carried out in Room 1046 of the Hotel President.. Sources Include: This fantastic a…