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July 16, 2025 101 mins

This week we deep dive into the most intense geomagnetic storm in recorded history that happened in 1959 and how the Red Scare of the 1950s directly led to the founding of the now iconic Renaissance Pleasure Faire. A listener email informs us of how Nixon's airborne toilet is memorialized in Seattle.


San Diego Comic Con Panels:

I'm Me and It's This Game's Fault!

Friday July 25, 2025 8:00pm - 9:00pm

Room 29AB

Middle Eastern/North African Representation in Media

Saturday July 26, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm

Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina


Episode Tabs:

Eyewitness Reports of the Great Auroral Storm of 1859

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20050210157/downloads/20050210157.pdf

The Surprisingly Radical Roots of the Renaissance Fair

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-surprisingly-radical-roots-of-the-renaissance-fair-180982918/


Listener Tabs:

The Bay Area's most hazardous playground has to be seen to be believed

https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/berkeley-adventure-playground-19462017.php


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