https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/war-survival-stories--7284132
Some survived by hiding. Others crossed impossible distances, trusted strangers, or endured conditions that pushed the limits of human resilience. Each story reveals what war leaves behind long after the fighting moves on: broken families, impossible choices, and memories that refuse to fade. When survival depends on what you do in the next few minutes, how far would you go to make it home?]]>enHistoryCopyright OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENThttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/eac88a38013de797b8f4254fc45eaf3c.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/war-survival-stories--7284132Sun, 01 Nov 2026 08:02:14 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTOBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTcreators@obomedia.comYears ago, somewhere between a collapsing city and a distant front line, ordinary people discovered how quickly normal life could disappear. War Survival Stories enters those moments when escape routes close, supplies vanish, and a single decision can...
Some survived by hiding. Others crossed impossible distances, trusted strangers, or endured conditions that pushed the limits of human resilience. Each story reveals what war leaves behind long after the fighting moves on: broken families, impossible choices, and memories that refuse to fade. When survival depends on what you do in the next few minutes, how far would you go to make it home?]]>false2d6c8b2f-3e2f-5ca1-bcfd-230b0a5dec2fepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-war-wound-that-pushed-him-into-politics-then-exile--74835126
The War Wound That Pushed Him Into Politics, Then Exile

This episode explores the life of Ernst Schlange, a man who navigated the turbulent political landscape of post-World War I Germany, from his early legal career to his involvement with the Nazi Party. It examines the choices that led him to a position of power in Party and the internal conflicts that ultimately led to his downfall within the party.

Person: Ernst Schlange
Born: September 1, 1888
Location: Gut Schwaneberg, Gross
Education: Law and Political Science
Party Affiliation: German National People's Party, Deutschsoziale Partei, Nazi Party

- Ernst Schlange was born on an estate in Gross and studied law and political science, earning a doctorate.
- Despite a hunting accident that injured his left hand and exempted him from conscription, Schlange volunteered for the Second Garde-Grenadier Regiment.
- In June 1915, on the Eastern Front, he sustained severe wounds, losing his right arm and lung, and was awarded the Iron Cross.
- After the war, Schlange joined various political parties, including the Nazi Party in 1922, and continued his political activities even when the party was banned.
- In March 1925, he was appointed Gauleiter of Gau Gross-Party, but his advocacy for legal means and restraint put him at odds with the party's more confrontational elements.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835126Mon, 02 Nov 2026 08:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA German lawyer, exempted from conscription, volunteers for the Western Front and suffers a severe war wound. His recovery leads him into Nazi politics, but his legalistic approach puts him at odds with the party. The War Wound That Pushed Him Into...
The War Wound That Pushed Him Into Politics, Then Exile

This episode explores the life of Ernst Schlange, a man who navigated the turbulent political landscape of post-World War I Germany, from his early legal career to his involvement with the Nazi Party. It examines the choices that led him to a position of power in Party and the internal conflicts that ultimately led to his downfall within the party.

Person: Ernst Schlange
Born: September 1, 1888
Location: Gut Schwaneberg, Gross
Education: Law and Political Science
Party Affiliation: German National People's Party, Deutschsoziale Partei, Nazi Party

- Ernst Schlange was born on an estate in Gross and studied law and political science, earning a doctorate.
- Despite a hunting accident that injured his left hand and exempted him from conscription, Schlange volunteered for the Second Garde-Grenadier Regiment.
- In June 1915, on the Eastern Front, he sustained severe wounds, losing his right arm and lung, and was awarded the Iron Cross.
- After the war, Schlange joined various political parties, including the Nazi Party in 1922, and continued his political activities even when the party was banned.
- In March 1925, he was appointed Gauleiter of Gau Gross-Party, but his advocacy for legal means and restraint put him at odds with the party's more confrontational elements.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1000falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-altered-family-surname-that-let-a-grandfather-vanish-and-remake-a-life--74835124
The altered family surname that let a grandfather vanish and remake a life

This episode explores the hidden history behind a famous name, tracing its origins from a deliberate act of concealment to its unexpected emergence in the world of music and beyond. It delves into the layers of identity and displacement that shaped a unique artistic journey.

Date: May 14, 2014
Location: Zelenchukskaya Station
Person: Demis Roussos
Event: Asteroid named "Demisroussos"

- A grandfather from Chania, Crete, left for Egypt in the early 1900s to start a new life and avoid being found after taking an underage bride.
- To prevent his wife's family from tracing him, he changed his surname from Ventouris to Roussos upon settling in Alexandria.
- His son, George Roussos, born in Alexandria, married Olga, whose family had been displaced from Chios after the Asia Minor catastrophe.
- Their son, Artemios Ventouris-Roussos, known as Demis, was born in 1946 and grew up immersed in Greek Orthodox, jazz, and Arabic music.
- The Suez Crisis in 1956 forced the Roussos family to leave Alexandria, losing their possessions and relocating to Athens when Demis was ten years old.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835124Sun, 01 Nov 2026 08:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA family's altered surname in early 20th-century Crete allows a man to vanish and remake a life, creating a musical legacy. How did a name meant to conceal become a global music phenomenon? The altered family surname that let a grandfather vanish...
The altered family surname that let a grandfather vanish and remake a life

This episode explores the hidden history behind a famous name, tracing its origins from a deliberate act of concealment to its unexpected emergence in the world of music and beyond. It delves into the layers of identity and displacement that shaped a unique artistic journey.

Date: May 14, 2014
Location: Zelenchukskaya Station
Person: Demis Roussos
Event: Asteroid named "Demisroussos"

- A grandfather from Chania, Crete, left for Egypt in the early 1900s to start a new life and avoid being found after taking an underage bride.
- To prevent his wife's family from tracing him, he changed his surname from Ventouris to Roussos upon settling in Alexandria.
- His son, George Roussos, born in Alexandria, married Olga, whose family had been displaced from Chios after the Asia Minor catastrophe.
- Their son, Artemios Ventouris-Roussos, known as Demis, was born in 1946 and grew up immersed in Greek Orthodox, jazz, and Arabic music.
- The Suez Crisis in 1956 forced the Roussos family to leave Alexandria, losing their possessions and relocating to Athens when Demis was ten years old.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1382falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-merch-table-why-one-man-died-and-another-broke--74835122
The Merch Table: Why One Man Died and Another Broke

This episode explores the events of November 13, 2015, at Le Bataclan in Paris, focusing on the fate of the Eagles of Death Metal's merchandise manager and the impact on the band's frontman. It raises questions about the asymmetry of who survived and what that survival meant.

Event: Le Bataclan attack
Date: November 13, 2015
Location: Paris, France
Band: Eagles of Death Metal
Victim: Nick Alexander

- The merchandise table was fully stocked with T-shirts, tour programs, and enamel pins when the shooting began.
- Nick Alexander, the merchandise manager for Eagles of Death Metal, was at his table when the attack started.
- Jesse Hughes, frontman of Eagles of Death Metal, was born in Greenville, South Carolina, and grew up in Palm Desert, California.
- Hughes and Josh Homme formed Eagles of Death Metal in 1998, a band known for its sharp riffs and bawdy humor.
- Homme previously helped Hughes through a serious drug addiction, paying for his rehabilitation.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835122Sat, 31 Oct 2026 08:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAt a Paris rock show, a band's merchandise manager is trapped when gunmen attack - how does ordinary commerce become a deadly trap? The Merch Table: Why One Man Died and Another Broke This episode explores the events of November 13, 2015, at Le...
The Merch Table: Why One Man Died and Another Broke

This episode explores the events of November 13, 2015, at Le Bataclan in Paris, focusing on the fate of the Eagles of Death Metal's merchandise manager and the impact on the band's frontman. It raises questions about the asymmetry of who survived and what that survival meant.

Event: Le Bataclan attack
Date: November 13, 2015
Location: Paris, France
Band: Eagles of Death Metal
Victim: Nick Alexander

- The merchandise table was fully stocked with T-shirts, tour programs, and enamel pins when the shooting began.
- Nick Alexander, the merchandise manager for Eagles of Death Metal, was at his table when the attack started.
- Jesse Hughes, frontman of Eagles of Death Metal, was born in Greenville, South Carolina, and grew up in Palm Desert, California.
- Hughes and Josh Homme formed Eagles of Death Metal in 1998, a band known for its sharp riffs and bawdy humor.
- Homme previously helped Hughes through a serious drug addiction, paying for his rehabilitation.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1389falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-prison-doctor-who-delivered-fifty-babies-and-stayed-when-ordered-out--74835119
The Prison Doctor Who Delivered Fifty Babies and Stayed When Ordered Out

This episode explores the extraordinary life of Dr. Kazue Togasaki, a Japanese American physician who delivered fifty babies in a World War II internment camp. It examines the contradictions of her situation and the resilience that defined her path in medicine.

Person: Kazue Togasaki
Date: June 29, 1897 (birth)
Location: Tanforan Assembly Center, San Bruno, California
Event: World War II internment

- Kazue Togasaki was born in San Bruno in 1897, the eldest of nine children in a Japanese immigrant family.
- At age nine, she translated for Japanese immigrant women in a makeshift hospital after the 1906 San Bruno earthquake.
- Despite racial segregation in schools and discrimination in hospital employment, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Stanford in 1920.
- She then became a registered nurse in 1924 and pursued a public health degree in 1927.
- In 1933, at 35, she earned her medical degree from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, becoming one of the earliest Japanese American women to do so.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835119Fri, 30 Oct 2026 08:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Japanese American doctor is forced into an internment camp, where the US government demands she deliver babies in a converted horse racetrack. The Prison Doctor Who Delivered Fifty Babies and Stayed When Ordered Out This episode explores the...
The Prison Doctor Who Delivered Fifty Babies and Stayed When Ordered Out

This episode explores the extraordinary life of Dr. Kazue Togasaki, a Japanese American physician who delivered fifty babies in a World War II internment camp. It examines the contradictions of her situation and the resilience that defined her path in medicine.

Person: Kazue Togasaki
Date: June 29, 1897 (birth)
Location: Tanforan Assembly Center, San Bruno, California
Event: World War II internment

- Kazue Togasaki was born in San Bruno in 1897, the eldest of nine children in a Japanese immigrant family.
- At age nine, she translated for Japanese immigrant women in a makeshift hospital after the 1906 San Bruno earthquake.
- Despite racial segregation in schools and discrimination in hospital employment, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Stanford in 1920.
- She then became a registered nurse in 1924 and pursued a public health degree in 1927.
- In 1933, at 35, she earned her medical degree from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, becoming one of the earliest Japanese American women to do so.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1089falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-eyelid-surgery-that-tried-to-hide-him-and-lost--74835118
The Eyelid Surgery That Tried to Hide Him and Lost

In this episode we follow the choices and obstacles surrounding one man’s refusal to leave his California home during wartime and the legal fight that followed. It traces why he altered his appearance, who took his case, and what risks those defenders faced in challenging military orders.

Person: Fred Korematsu
Date: May 30, 1942
Location: San Leandro, California
Event: Refusal to report to assembly center
Organization: ACLU Northern California chapter

- He had surgery on his eyelids, adopted the name Clyde Sarah, and claimed Spanish-Hawaiian ancestry to avoid exclusion.
- He was arrested at age twenty-three on a San Leandro street corner and taken to a San Leandro jail.
- Ernest Besig, ACLU Northern California director, sought a test case and recruited Korematsu from his cell.
- National ACLU leadership refused to support the case, citing fears of appearing unpatriotic during wartime.
- Besig assigned Wayne M. Collins to represent Korematsu and proceeded without national backing.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835118Thu, 29 Oct 2026 08:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA 23-year-old American gets eyelid surgery and refuses removal from California-how did his attempt to hide him expose the government? The Eyelid Surgery That Tried to Hide Him and Lost In this episode we follow the choices and obstacles...
The Eyelid Surgery That Tried to Hide Him and Lost

In this episode we follow the choices and obstacles surrounding one man’s refusal to leave his California home during wartime and the legal fight that followed. It traces why he altered his appearance, who took his case, and what risks those defenders faced in challenging military orders.

Person: Fred Korematsu
Date: May 30, 1942
Location: San Leandro, California
Event: Refusal to report to assembly center
Organization: ACLU Northern California chapter

- He had surgery on his eyelids, adopted the name Clyde Sarah, and claimed Spanish-Hawaiian ancestry to avoid exclusion.
- He was arrested at age twenty-three on a San Leandro street corner and taken to a San Leandro jail.
- Ernest Besig, ACLU Northern California director, sought a test case and recruited Korematsu from his cell.
- National ACLU leadership refused to support the case, citing fears of appearing unpatriotic during wartime.
- Besig assigned Wayne M. Collins to represent Korematsu and proceeded without national backing.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1208falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-mandarin-tutor-who-became-a-colonial-target--74835115
The Mandarin Tutor Who Became a Colonial Target

In this episode, we follow the life and institutional role of Khouw Kim An as he navigates Dutch colonial structures, Chinese communal leadership, and shifting loyalties during wartime occupation. We trace the decisions, relationships, and offices that placed him at the intersection of empires and ask what made him a target in 1942.

Person: Khouw Kim An
Date: February 10, 1930 (Grand Gold Star), 1942 (internment)
Location: Batavia and Tjimahi prison
Family: Khouw Tian Sek (grandfather), Khouw Tjeng Tjoan (father), Phoa Tji Nio (wife)
Institution: Majoor der Chinezen; Kong Koan (Chinese Council of Batavia)

- Born in Batavia in 1875 into the Khouw family, five generations entrenched in Chinese colonial administration.
- Received a classical Chinese education, learned Mandarin and Hokkien while contemporaries Westernized.
- Married into the Phoa family around 1893, linking two leading Chinese institutional lineages and settling in Buitenzorg.
- Rose through colonial ranks: Luitenant (1905), Kapitein (1908), and positioned as successor to Majoor Tio Tek Ho.
- Awarded the Grand Gold Star for Loyalty and Merit in 1930, yet by 1942 was detained without charge alongside colonial leaders.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835115Wed, 28 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Mandarin-educated scion faces Dutch colonial power in 1930 and dies in prison fifteen years later - how did his language betray him? The Mandarin Tutor Who Became a Colonial Target In this episode, we follow the life and institutional role of...
The Mandarin Tutor Who Became a Colonial Target

In this episode, we follow the life and institutional role of Khouw Kim An as he navigates Dutch colonial structures, Chinese communal leadership, and shifting loyalties during wartime occupation. We trace the decisions, relationships, and offices that placed him at the intersection of empires and ask what made him a target in 1942.

Person: Khouw Kim An
Date: February 10, 1930 (Grand Gold Star), 1942 (internment)
Location: Batavia and Tjimahi prison
Family: Khouw Tian Sek (grandfather), Khouw Tjeng Tjoan (father), Phoa Tji Nio (wife)
Institution: Majoor der Chinezen; Kong Koan (Chinese Council of Batavia)

- Born in Batavia in 1875 into the Khouw family, five generations entrenched in Chinese colonial administration.
- Received a classical Chinese education, learned Mandarin and Hokkien while contemporaries Westernized.
- Married into the Phoa family around 1893, linking two leading Chinese institutional lineages and settling in Buitenzorg.
- Rose through colonial ranks: Luitenant (1905), Kapitein (1908), and positioned as successor to Majoor Tio Tek Ho.
- Awarded the Grand Gold Star for Loyalty and Merit in 1930, yet by 1942 was detained without charge alongside colonial leaders.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1079falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-camel-treatise-that-lent-a-fascist-his-credibility--74835112
The camel treatise that lent a fascist his credibility

In this episode, we follow a single veterinary textbook and the two lives of its author as they run in parallel: the meticulous fieldwork on camel disease and the deliberate organizing of fascist groups at home. What happens when professional trust becomes the vehicle for political influence?

Person: Arnold Spencer Leese
Date: Treatise published 1927
Location: British India and England
Event: Founding of the Imperial Fascist League, 1929
Topic: A Treatise on the One-Humped Camel in Health and in Disease

- Qualified at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1903, posted to India by 1907 to work with camels few Western vets had studied.
- Published first paper on camel disease in 1909; a parasite named Thelazia leesei honored his work.
- Served as a Veterinary Officer during WWI, then completed a rigorous camel treatise consulted for fifty years.
- By 1923 he wrote Fascism for Old England, joined the British India, and by 1924 helped elect fascist local councillors in Stamford.
- Founded and funded the Imperial Fascist League in 1929, preferring a small, ideologically "correct" organization over mass membership.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835112Tue, 27 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA respected camel veterinarian in British India kept a definitive textbook on clinic shelves for decades - while its author, Arnold Spencer Leese, was simultaneously building fascist networks in England; how did the veterinary credibility shield his...
The camel treatise that lent a fascist his credibility

In this episode, we follow a single veterinary textbook and the two lives of its author as they run in parallel: the meticulous fieldwork on camel disease and the deliberate organizing of fascist groups at home. What happens when professional trust becomes the vehicle for political influence?

Person: Arnold Spencer Leese
Date: Treatise published 1927
Location: British India and England
Event: Founding of the Imperial Fascist League, 1929
Topic: A Treatise on the One-Humped Camel in Health and in Disease

- Qualified at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1903, posted to India by 1907 to work with camels few Western vets had studied.
- Published first paper on camel disease in 1909; a parasite named Thelazia leesei honored his work.
- Served as a Veterinary Officer during WWI, then completed a rigorous camel treatise consulted for fifty years.
- By 1923 he wrote Fascism for Old England, joined the British India, and by 1924 helped elect fascist local councillors in Stamford.
- Founded and funded the Imperial Fascist League in 1929, preferring a small, ideologically "correct" organization over mass membership.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1107falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-lecture-he-gave-in-ruins-that-rebuilt-a-city--74835111
The Lecture He Gave in Ruins that Rebuilt a City

This episode explores the life of Stanisław Panczakiewicz, an engineer whose repeated response to imprisonment and displacement was to return to building and teaching. It examines the formative experiences that shaped his unwavering commitment to reconstruction.

Person: Stanisław Panczakiewicz
Date: January 18, 1945
Location: Warsaw
Occupation: Engineer
Event: Escape from POW camp

- Stanisław Panczakiewicz escaped a prisoner of war camp in January 1945 and, within days, co-organized a school in war-torn Warsaw.
- His father, Ludwik, was an architect and construction entrepreneur in a partitioned Poland, instilling in Stanisław the belief that construction was a form of assertion.
- In 1916, Panczakiewicz joined the Polish Legions, fighting for Polish independence under Austro-Hungarian command.
- During the 1917 Oath Crisis, he was interned at Zegrze for refusing to swear loyalty to the Central Powers, a refusal that led to conditional release.
- After studying engineering in Paris, he returned to independent Poland in 1926 and became the youngest head of the body shop at Central Powers Workshops (CWS), designing the first Polish series-produced cars.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835111Mon, 26 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAfter escaping a POW camp, an engineer walks into the ruins of Warsaw and immediately begins teaching machine construction. This pattern of rebuilding defined his life. The Lecture He Gave in Ruins that Rebuilt a City This episode explores the...
The Lecture He Gave in Ruins that Rebuilt a City

This episode explores the life of Stanisław Panczakiewicz, an engineer whose repeated response to imprisonment and displacement was to return to building and teaching. It examines the formative experiences that shaped his unwavering commitment to reconstruction.

Person: Stanisław Panczakiewicz
Date: January 18, 1945
Location: Warsaw
Occupation: Engineer
Event: Escape from POW camp

- Stanisław Panczakiewicz escaped a prisoner of war camp in January 1945 and, within days, co-organized a school in war-torn Warsaw.
- His father, Ludwik, was an architect and construction entrepreneur in a partitioned Poland, instilling in Stanisław the belief that construction was a form of assertion.
- In 1916, Panczakiewicz joined the Polish Legions, fighting for Polish independence under Austro-Hungarian command.
- During the 1917 Oath Crisis, he was interned at Zegrze for refusing to swear loyalty to the Central Powers, a refusal that led to conditional release.
- After studying engineering in Paris, he returned to independent Poland in 1926 and became the youngest head of the body shop at Central Powers Workshops (CWS), designing the first Polish series-produced cars.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1159falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-comintern-promise-that-abandoned-a-revolt--74835108
The Comintern Promise That Abandoned a Revolt

This episode explores the story of Merse, a Daur nobleman from Hulunbuir, whose life and disappearance are documented in a single KGB folder. It raises questions about the fate of individuals caught between competing empires and the promises of revolutionary movements.

Person: Merse
Date: 1989 (file release), 1934 (final notation)
Location: Hulunbuir, Soviet Union
Status: Formally rehabilitated in 1989

- Merse, born in 1894, was a trilingual Daur nobleman from Hulunbuir, a borderland region claimed by three empires.
- He graduated from the Russian Language Institute in Beijing in 1917 and returned to open a school teaching Daur children in their own language.
- In 1925, he co-founded the Inner Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, strategically named to appeal to both Moscow and the Republic of China.
- A Comintern agent, Ivan P. Stepanov, promised Soviet backing and supplies for an armed uprising of Barga Mongols in Hulunbuir.
- Merse, at 34, agreed to lead the revolt, which became known as the Hulunbuir Uprising in 1928.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835108Sun, 25 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Daur nobleman navigates three empires, founding parties and leading an uprising. A Soviet file reveals his disappearance after a Comintern promise. The Comintern Promise That Abandoned a Revolt This episode explores the story of Merse, a Daur...
The Comintern Promise That Abandoned a Revolt

This episode explores the story of Merse, a Daur nobleman from Hulunbuir, whose life and disappearance are documented in a single KGB folder. It raises questions about the fate of individuals caught between competing empires and the promises of revolutionary movements.

Person: Merse
Date: 1989 (file release), 1934 (final notation)
Location: Hulunbuir, Soviet Union
Status: Formally rehabilitated in 1989

- Merse, born in 1894, was a trilingual Daur nobleman from Hulunbuir, a borderland region claimed by three empires.
- He graduated from the Russian Language Institute in Beijing in 1917 and returned to open a school teaching Daur children in their own language.
- In 1925, he co-founded the Inner Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, strategically named to appeal to both Moscow and the Republic of China.
- A Comintern agent, Ivan P. Stepanov, promised Soviet backing and supplies for an armed uprising of Barga Mongols in Hulunbuir.
- Merse, at 34, agreed to lead the revolt, which became known as the Hulunbuir Uprising in 1928.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1207falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-quietly-chosen-name-defied-the-soviet-state--74835105
A Quietly Chosen Name Defied the Soviet State

This episode explores the life of Mykhailo Drai-Khmara, a Ukrainian scholar and poet, whose personal choices and academic pursuits put him at odds with the Soviet state. It delves into the discrepancies surrounding his death and the deliberate obscuring of his legacy.

Person: Mykhailo Drai-Khmara
Born: October 10, 1889
Birthplace: Cherkasy Oblast, central Ukraine
Languages: 19
Literary Group: Ukrainian Neoclassicists

- Mykhailo Drai-Khmara's family had Cossack roots, with his father being a wealthy peasant and judicial counsellor in Mali Kanivtsi.
- He pursued an extensive education, attending institutions like the Pavlo Galagan Collegium and Kyiv University, followed by postgraduate study abroad.
- During his student years, he quietly added "Khmara" (Ukrainian for cloud) to his surname "Drai," a subtle assertion of Ukrainian identity.
- He became a prominent figure in Ukrainian academia, heading the Slavic studies department at the Institute of Linguistics and collaborating on the development of Ukrainian as a scientific language.
- Drai-Khmara published one poetry collection, "Sprout," in 1926, and was in the process of translating Dante's "The Divine Comedy" when he was arrested.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835105Sat, 24 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA scholar's quiet act of naming himself Ukrainian becomes a defiant stand against the Soviet state's attempts to erase his identity. A Quietly Chosen Name Defied the Soviet State This episode explores the life of Mykhailo Drai-Khmara, a...
A Quietly Chosen Name Defied the Soviet State

This episode explores the life of Mykhailo Drai-Khmara, a Ukrainian scholar and poet, whose personal choices and academic pursuits put him at odds with the Soviet state. It delves into the discrepancies surrounding his death and the deliberate obscuring of his legacy.

Person: Mykhailo Drai-Khmara
Born: October 10, 1889
Birthplace: Cherkasy Oblast, central Ukraine
Languages: 19
Literary Group: Ukrainian Neoclassicists

- Mykhailo Drai-Khmara's family had Cossack roots, with his father being a wealthy peasant and judicial counsellor in Mali Kanivtsi.
- He pursued an extensive education, attending institutions like the Pavlo Galagan Collegium and Kyiv University, followed by postgraduate study abroad.
- During his student years, he quietly added "Khmara" (Ukrainian for cloud) to his surname "Drai," a subtle assertion of Ukrainian identity.
- He became a prominent figure in Ukrainian academia, heading the Slavic studies department at the Institute of Linguistics and collaborating on the development of Ukrainian as a scientific language.
- Drai-Khmara published one poetry collection, "Sprout," in 1926, and was in the process of translating Dante's "The Divine Comedy" when he was arrested.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1043falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-pocket-watch-that-deflected-a-fatal-musket-ball--74835102
The Pocket Watch That Deflected a Fatal Musket Ball

This episode explores the life of John Taylor, a prominent figure in 19th-century American religious history, and the mysterious pocket watch that played a role in his survival during a violent attack. What connects a damaged watch to a life spent as a fugitive?

Person: John Taylor
Date: June 27, 1844
Location: Carthage Jail, Illinois
Event: Musket ball attack

- John Taylor was born in Milnthorpe, England, in 1808 and became a Methodist preacher by age seventeen.
- He emigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1832, where he met and married Leonora Cannon.
- Taylor and his wife converted to the Latter-day Saint church after meeting apostle Parley P. Pratt in 1836.
- By 1838, Taylor was ordained an apostle and took on multiple civic and religious roles in Nauvoo, Illinois, including city councilman and newspaper editor.
- On June 27, 1844, Taylor was locked in a second-floor jail cell with Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and Willard Richards, as a mob approached.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835102Fri, 23 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTFour musket balls rip a jail cell; two men die, a third lives and a pocket watch is damaged - why? The Pocket Watch That Deflected a Fatal Musket Ball This episode explores the life of John Taylor, a prominent figure in 19th-century American...
The Pocket Watch That Deflected a Fatal Musket Ball

This episode explores the life of John Taylor, a prominent figure in 19th-century American religious history, and the mysterious pocket watch that played a role in his survival during a violent attack. What connects a damaged watch to a life spent as a fugitive?

Person: John Taylor
Date: June 27, 1844
Location: Carthage Jail, Illinois
Event: Musket ball attack

- John Taylor was born in Milnthorpe, England, in 1808 and became a Methodist preacher by age seventeen.
- He emigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1832, where he met and married Leonora Cannon.
- Taylor and his wife converted to the Latter-day Saint church after meeting apostle Parley P. Pratt in 1836.
- By 1838, Taylor was ordained an apostle and took on multiple civic and religious roles in Nauvoo, Illinois, including city councilman and newspaper editor.
- On June 27, 1844, Taylor was locked in a second-floor jail cell with Joseph and Hyrum Smith, and Willard Richards, as a mob approached.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1361falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-call-that-told-his-mother-he-was-coming-home--74835099
The call that told his mother he was coming home

This episode explores the story of Bar Kupershtein, a twenty-one-year-old paramedic and security guard at the Supernova music festival, and the profound decisions he made during a sudden assault. It delves into his family's history and the moments leading up to his disappearance.

Person: Bar Kupershtein
Date: October 6-7, 2023
Location: Supernova music festival, Negev desert
Event: Hamas assault
Family: Kupershtein

- Bar Kupershtein was twenty-one years old, working security and as a paramedic at the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im.
- He was the eldest of five children and the primary support for his family, as his father, Tal, was wheelchair-bound after a stroke.
- Bar was a volunteer paramedic with Yedidim and a combat soldier in the IDF's Nahal Brigade.
- In the predawn hours of October 7, Bar called his mother, Julie, to say he was packing up and coming home.
- After the Hamas assault began, Bar made the decision to repeatedly go back under fire to save more people.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835099Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA young paramedic at a music festival calls his mother to say he's coming home, but a sudden assault forces him to make a life-altering choice. The call that told his mother he was coming home This episode explores the story of Bar Kupershtein,...
The call that told his mother he was coming home

This episode explores the story of Bar Kupershtein, a twenty-one-year-old paramedic and security guard at the Supernova music festival, and the profound decisions he made during a sudden assault. It delves into his family's history and the moments leading up to his disappearance.

Person: Bar Kupershtein
Date: October 6-7, 2023
Location: Supernova music festival, Negev desert
Event: Hamas assault
Family: Kupershtein

- Bar Kupershtein was twenty-one years old, working security and as a paramedic at the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im.
- He was the eldest of five children and the primary support for his family, as his father, Tal, was wheelchair-bound after a stroke.
- Bar was a volunteer paramedic with Yedidim and a combat soldier in the IDF's Nahal Brigade.
- In the predawn hours of October 7, Bar called his mother, Julie, to say he was packing up and coming home.
- After the Hamas assault began, Bar made the decision to repeatedly go back under fire to save more people.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1088falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-acceptance-letter-that-let-her-leave-topaz-and-made-a-life-possible--74835067
The acceptance letter that let her leave Topaz and made a life possible

This episode explores the life of Yoshiko Uchida, from her forced relocation during World War II to her prolific career as an author and artist. It examines how a single opportunity shaped her path and allowed her to build a lasting legacy.

Person: Yoshiko Uchida
Date: November 24, 1921
Location: Alameda, California
Event: Japanese American internment
Order: Executive Order 9066

- Yoshiko Uchida was born in Alameda, California, to Japanese immigrant parents who were both university graduates.
- She was a student at UC Berkeley when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led to her father's questioning and the issuance of Executive Order 9066.
- The Uchida family was ordered to the Tanforan Racetrack, a converted horse racing facility, and housed in a horse stall.
- They were later moved to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah, where Yoshiko taught school inside the camp.
- In 1943, an acceptance letter to a graduate program at Smith College provided Yoshiko with an exit pass from Topaz, while her family remained.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835067Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn American citizen is forced into a horse stall at Tanforan Racetrack, then an internment camp, until an acceptance letter offers a way out. The acceptance letter that let her leave Topaz and made a life possible This episode explores the life...
The acceptance letter that let her leave Topaz and made a life possible

This episode explores the life of Yoshiko Uchida, from her forced relocation during World War II to her prolific career as an author and artist. It examines how a single opportunity shaped her path and allowed her to build a lasting legacy.

Person: Yoshiko Uchida
Date: November 24, 1921
Location: Alameda, California
Event: Japanese American internment
Order: Executive Order 9066

- Yoshiko Uchida was born in Alameda, California, to Japanese immigrant parents who were both university graduates.
- She was a student at UC Berkeley when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor led to her father's questioning and the issuance of Executive Order 9066.
- The Uchida family was ordered to the Tanforan Racetrack, a converted horse racing facility, and housed in a horse stall.
- They were later moved to the Topaz War Relocation Center in Utah, where Yoshiko taught school inside the camp.
- In 1943, an acceptance letter to a graduate program at Smith College provided Yoshiko with an exit pass from Topaz, while her family remained.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1059falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/executive-order-9066-opened-the-white-house-for-a-baby--74835065
Executive Order 9066 opened the White House for a baby

This episode explores the life of a woman born in a federal internment camp during World War II, tracing her journey from confinement to a career within the US government. It raises the question of how such a beginning shapes a life.

Person: Doris Kazue Okada Matsui
Date: September 25, 1944
Location: Poston, Arizona
Order: Executive Order 9066
President: Franklin D. Roosevelt

- On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the removal of anyone deemed a military threat from designated zones.
- This order led to the removal of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans, over 60% of whom were American citizens by birth.
- Ten camps were built across seven states, with Poston in western Arizona becoming the largest, housing over 17,000 Japanese Americans.
- Doris Kazue Okada was born in the Poston internment camp and spent her first 61 days there before her family's release.
- She later married Robert Takeo Matsui, who also had a history with the camps, and she eventually volunteered for a presidential campaign in 1992.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835065Tue, 20 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA baby born in a federal internment camp in the Arizona desert grows up to work in the White House. This is the story of Executive Order 9066. Executive Order 9066 opened the White House for a baby This episode explores the life of a woman born...
Executive Order 9066 opened the White House for a baby

This episode explores the life of a woman born in a federal internment camp during World War II, tracing her journey from confinement to a career within the US government. It raises the question of how such a beginning shapes a life.

Person: Doris Kazue Okada Matsui
Date: September 25, 1944
Location: Poston, Arizona
Order: Executive Order 9066
President: Franklin D. Roosevelt

- On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the removal of anyone deemed a military threat from designated zones.
- This order led to the removal of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans, over 60% of whom were American citizens by birth.
- Ten camps were built across seven states, with Poston in western Arizona becoming the largest, housing over 17,000 Japanese Americans.
- Doris Kazue Okada was born in the Poston internment camp and spent her first 61 days there before her family's release.
- She later married Robert Takeo Matsui, who also had a history with the camps, and she eventually volunteered for a presidential campaign in 1992.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1112falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-bronze-horse-gave-a-boy-a-reason-to-survive--74835062
A bronze horse gave a boy a reason to survive

This episode tells the story of Aarnout Alexander Loudon, a Dutch boy interned during World War II, who later became a powerful figure in European industry. It explores how a simple object and a mother's determination shaped a life defined by resilience and the pursuit of influence.

Person: Aarnout Alexander Loudon
Date: 1942
Location: Dutch East Indies
Event: Japanese internment camps
Object: Bronze horse

- Aarnout Loudon was five years old when he was interned in a Japanese camp near Batavia in 1942.
- His mother, Henriëtte, gave him a small bronze horse with the instruction to carry it, a symbol of continuity and a connection to his absent father.
- Aarnout's father, Hugo Loudon, was separated from his family and later died at sea when the Jun'yō Maru, a Japanese transport ship carrying prisoners, was sunk by an Allied torpedo.
- After the war, Aarnout returned to the Netherlands, completed a law degree, and served in the horse artillery, a branch of the military named after the animal his mother gave him.
- Aarnout Loudon went on to become a significant figure in European industry, building institutions and sitting on boards of major financial and industrial bodies.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835062Mon, 19 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA five-year-old boy is given a small bronze horse by his mother in a camp. Can this token of continuity become his reason to survive? A bronze horse gave a boy a reason to survive This episode tells the story of Aarnout Alexander Loudon, a Dutch...
A bronze horse gave a boy a reason to survive

This episode tells the story of Aarnout Alexander Loudon, a Dutch boy interned during World War II, who later became a powerful figure in European industry. It explores how a simple object and a mother's determination shaped a life defined by resilience and the pursuit of influence.

Person: Aarnout Alexander Loudon
Date: 1942
Location: Dutch East Indies
Event: Japanese internment camps
Object: Bronze horse

- Aarnout Loudon was five years old when he was interned in a Japanese camp near Batavia in 1942.
- His mother, Henriëtte, gave him a small bronze horse with the instruction to carry it, a symbol of continuity and a connection to his absent father.
- Aarnout's father, Hugo Loudon, was separated from his family and later died at sea when the Jun'yō Maru, a Japanese transport ship carrying prisoners, was sunk by an Allied torpedo.
- After the war, Aarnout returned to the Netherlands, completed a law degree, and served in the horse artillery, a branch of the military named after the animal his mother gave him.
- Aarnout Loudon went on to become a significant figure in European industry, building institutions and sitting on boards of major financial and industrial bodies.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>993falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-crash-that-left-a-limp-changed-his-life-forever--74835037
The crash that left a limp changed his life forever

This episode explores the early life and political rise of Oswald Mosley, a man of extraordinary ability whose choices led to a state suspending its own rules. It delves into the documented account of how this promising political talent navigated crucial forks in his path.

Person: Oswald Mosley
Date: October 6, 1936
Location: Berlin, London
Status: Member of Parliament
Event: Wedding in Berlin

- Oswald Mosley, a British baronet, married in Joseph Goebbels' Berlin home with Adolf Hitler present.
- On the same afternoon, thousands in London protested Mosley's uniformed movement marching through a Jewish neighborhood.
- Mosley was once the youngest Member of Parliament and was described as "dark, aquiline, flashing, with defiance in his eye and contempt in his forward chin."
- He was expelled from Sandhurst for riotous retaliation before being commissioned into the Sixteenth Queen's Lancers.
- A flying demonstration for his mother and sister resulted in a crash, leaving him with a permanent limp.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835037Sun, 18 Oct 2026 08:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA British baronet exchanges wedding vows in Berlin with Hitler as a witness, while in London, thousands fight to stop his uniformed movement. How did this political figure cross a line that could not be walked back? The crash that left a limp...
The crash that left a limp changed his life forever

This episode explores the early life and political rise of Oswald Mosley, a man of extraordinary ability whose choices led to a state suspending its own rules. It delves into the documented account of how this promising political talent navigated crucial forks in his path.

Person: Oswald Mosley
Date: October 6, 1936
Location: Berlin, London
Status: Member of Parliament
Event: Wedding in Berlin

- Oswald Mosley, a British baronet, married in Joseph Goebbels' Berlin home with Adolf Hitler present.
- On the same afternoon, thousands in London protested Mosley's uniformed movement marching through a Jewish neighborhood.
- Mosley was once the youngest Member of Parliament and was described as "dark, aquiline, flashing, with defiance in his eye and contempt in his forward chin."
- He was expelled from Sandhurst for riotous retaliation before being commissioned into the Sixteenth Queen's Lancers.
- A flying demonstration for his mother and sister resulted in a crash, leaving him with a permanent limp.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1005falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-hacksaw-blade-frees-a-prisoner--74835027
A hacksaw blade frees a prisoner

This episode details the early life and wartime experiences of Frank Pickersgill, a Canadian intellectual who became a secret agent. It explores the choices he made that led him into one of the most dangerous intelligence operations of World War II.

Person: Frank Pickersgill
Date: August 8, 1944
Location: Paris, France
Organization: Special Operations Executive (SOE)
Mission: Establish the Archdeacon resistance network

- Frank Pickersgill, a classics graduate from Winnipeg, cycled across Europe in 1934, documenting his observations in letters home.
- In 1938, he returned to Europe as a freelance journalist, meeting Jean-Paul Sartre in Paris and planning to translate his work.
- After Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Pickersgill, a British subject in occupied France, was interned at Stalag 220, a civilian camp.
- He escaped Stalag 220 by sawing through a window bar with a hacksaw blade smuggled in a loaf of bread.
- In London, he turned down a desk job with the Canadian Army to join the Canadian Army Corps, subsequently recruited by the British SOE.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835027Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA civilian fluent in French and German is recruited by the SOE to establish a resistance network in occupied France during WWII. His survival hinges on his ability to evade capture. A hacksaw blade frees a prisoner This episode details the early...
A hacksaw blade frees a prisoner

This episode details the early life and wartime experiences of Frank Pickersgill, a Canadian intellectual who became a secret agent. It explores the choices he made that led him into one of the most dangerous intelligence operations of World War II.

Person: Frank Pickersgill
Date: August 8, 1944
Location: Paris, France
Organization: Special Operations Executive (SOE)
Mission: Establish the Archdeacon resistance network

- Frank Pickersgill, a classics graduate from Winnipeg, cycled across Europe in 1934, documenting his observations in letters home.
- In 1938, he returned to Europe as a freelance journalist, meeting Jean-Paul Sartre in Paris and planning to translate his work.
- After Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Pickersgill, a British subject in occupied France, was interned at Stalag 220, a civilian camp.
- He escaped Stalag 220 by sawing through a window bar with a hacksaw blade smuggled in a loaf of bread.
- In London, he turned down a desk job with the Canadian Army to join the Canadian Army Corps, subsequently recruited by the British SOE.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1294falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-red-baron-a-name-a-lie-a-war--74835025
The Red Baron: A Name, A Lie, A War

This episode explores the enigmatic life of Robert Bartini, a brilliant Soviet aircraft designer whose origins remain shrouded in conflicting accounts. It delves into the various versions of his early life, from his birth city to his parentage, and how these shifting identities shaped his journey.

Person: Robert Bartini
Date: 1968
Location: Soviet Black Sea coast
Topic: Soviet aircraft design

- In 1968, a 71-year-old man began building a machine that violated engineering consensus, designed to take off vertically from open water and hunt American nuclear submarines.
- Robert Bartini, the designer, spent ten years as a prisoner of the same state that later tasked him with this advanced project.
- Bartini's epitaph in Moscow states he kept his oath to ensure "red planes flew faster than black ones."
- His birthplace, Fiume in 1897, was a port in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now known as Rijeka on the Croatian coast.
- Bartini's parentage is contested, with accounts naming a nobleman, Baron Ludovico Orosdy, or his brother Philippe, as his biological father, and his mother drowning after his birth.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835025Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Soviet aircraft designer builds a vertical take-off jet for the military - but who is he, really? The Red Baron: A Name, A Lie, A War This episode explores the enigmatic life of Robert Bartini, a brilliant Soviet aircraft designer whose...
The Red Baron: A Name, A Lie, A War

This episode explores the enigmatic life of Robert Bartini, a brilliant Soviet aircraft designer whose origins remain shrouded in conflicting accounts. It delves into the various versions of his early life, from his birth city to his parentage, and how these shifting identities shaped his journey.

Person: Robert Bartini
Date: 1968
Location: Soviet Black Sea coast
Topic: Soviet aircraft design

- In 1968, a 71-year-old man began building a machine that violated engineering consensus, designed to take off vertically from open water and hunt American nuclear submarines.
- Robert Bartini, the designer, spent ten years as a prisoner of the same state that later tasked him with this advanced project.
- Bartini's epitaph in Moscow states he kept his oath to ensure "red planes flew faster than black ones."
- His birthplace, Fiume in 1897, was a port in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now known as Rijeka on the Croatian coast.
- Bartini's parentage is contested, with accounts naming a nobleman, Baron Ludovico Orosdy, or his brother Philippe, as his biological father, and his mother drowning after his birth.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1452falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-notation-that-sealed-his-fate-amnesty-was-refused--74835018
The Notation That Sealed His Fate: Amnesty Was Refused

This episode tells the story of Potapy Emelianov, a peasant priest whose journey to a forbidden faith led to his imprisonment in the Gulag. It explores the bureaucratic decision that sealed his fate and the circumstances that made him a target.

Person: Potapy Emelianov
Date: March 24, 1928
Location: Soviet Karelia
Status: Imprisoned
Case: Counterrevolutionary activity

- Potapy Emelianov, born around 1889, came from a family of Old Believers, a community separate from the Russian Orthodox Church.
- He was tonsured as a monk and given the name Potapy after being received into the Russian Orthodox Church around 1901.
- Potapy encountered a library before 1918 and began reading Church Fathers, leading him to a theology of papal primacy.
- On June 29, 1918, he formally professed his faith and became a Greek Catholic priest in communion with Rome.
- By January 1927, he was the last remaining free priest of the Russian Greek Catholic Church in the Soviet Karelia before his arrest.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835018Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Soviet bureaucrat's quiet notation in a file condemns a peasant priest to the Gulag, marking him as beyond mercy for his forbidden faith. The Notation That Sealed His Fate: Amnesty Was Refused This episode tells the story of Potapy Emelianov,...
The Notation That Sealed His Fate: Amnesty Was Refused

This episode tells the story of Potapy Emelianov, a peasant priest whose journey to a forbidden faith led to his imprisonment in the Gulag. It explores the bureaucratic decision that sealed his fate and the circumstances that made him a target.

Person: Potapy Emelianov
Date: March 24, 1928
Location: Soviet Karelia
Status: Imprisoned
Case: Counterrevolutionary activity

- Potapy Emelianov, born around 1889, came from a family of Old Believers, a community separate from the Russian Orthodox Church.
- He was tonsured as a monk and given the name Potapy after being received into the Russian Orthodox Church around 1901.
- Potapy encountered a library before 1918 and began reading Church Fathers, leading him to a theology of papal primacy.
- On June 29, 1918, he formally professed his faith and became a Greek Catholic priest in communion with Rome.
- By January 1927, he was the last remaining free priest of the Russian Greek Catholic Church in the Soviet Karelia before his arrest.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1214falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-vacant-seat-moved-kamall-into-the-european-parliament--74835015
A vacant seat moved Kamall into the European Parliament

This episode explores the complex journey of Syed Kamall, from his family's origins as indentured laborers to his unexpected entry into the European Parliament. It delves into the forces that shaped his political philosophy and career.

Person: Syed Kamall
Date of birth: February 15, 1967
Place of birth: Hornsey
Political party: Conservative Party
Education: University of Liverpool, London School of Economics, City University London

- Syed Kamall's family history traces back to indentured laborers from India transported to British Guiana in the 19th century.
- His father migrated from Georgetown to London in the 1950s, settling in the working-class borough of Edmonton.
- Kamall joined the Conservative Party at age twenty in 1987, despite not fitting the typical demographic for the party in his background.
- He pursued parallel careers in academia, publishing a book on EU telecommunications policy, and local Conservative politics throughout the 1990s.
- After multiple electoral losses, Kamall secured a seat in the European Parliament in 2005 when Theresa Villiers vacated her position to join the House of Commons.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835015Wed, 14 Oct 2026 08:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTBorn to Guyanese immigrants in working-class London, a young man joins the Conservative Party. His political journey takes an unexpected turn when a vacant seat in the European Parliament becomes available. A vacant seat moved Kamall into the...
A vacant seat moved Kamall into the European Parliament

This episode explores the complex journey of Syed Kamall, from his family's origins as indentured laborers to his unexpected entry into the European Parliament. It delves into the forces that shaped his political philosophy and career.

Person: Syed Kamall
Date of birth: February 15, 1967
Place of birth: Hornsey
Political party: Conservative Party
Education: University of Liverpool, London School of Economics, City University London

- Syed Kamall's family history traces back to indentured laborers from India transported to British Guiana in the 19th century.
- His father migrated from Georgetown to London in the 1950s, settling in the working-class borough of Edmonton.
- Kamall joined the Conservative Party at age twenty in 1987, despite not fitting the typical demographic for the party in his background.
- He pursued parallel careers in academia, publishing a book on EU telecommunications policy, and local Conservative politics throughout the 1990s.
- After multiple electoral losses, Kamall secured a seat in the European Parliament in 2005 when Theresa Villiers vacated her position to join the House of Commons.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>969falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-intake-meeting-note-that-said-to-use-it-let-him-walk--74835011
The intake meeting note that said "to use it" let him walk

In this episode, we follow the sequence of recorded moments and institutional choices that followed a boy from school hallways to Hart Street, tracing how words in files shaped responses over five years. What chain of decisions allowed those warnings to accumulate without stopping him?

Date: 29 July 2024
Location: Hart Street, Meols Cop, Southport, Merseyside
Person: Axel Muganwa Rudakubana
Age at intake quote: 12
Diagnosis: Autism spectrum disorder (February 2021)

- At a specialist school admission meeting in October 2019, a twelve‑year‑old told staff he brought a knife “to use it,” and the statement was recorded.
- After bringing a knife to school approximately ten times and being expelled from Range High, he began at The Acorns School but was enrolled despite the admission note.
- In December 2019 he returned to Range High with a hockey stick marked with names, assaulted a pupil, and was found with a knife; he pleaded guilty in February 2020.
- The Acorns School excluded him after the conviction and switched to sending work home, leaving him without regular education or supervision.
- In February 2021 he was diagnosed with autism; that diagnosis changed how institutions described risk and influenced subsequent referrals, including multiple Prevent referrals.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835011Tue, 13 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA 12-year-old told school staff “to use it” about a knife; years later he entered a children's Taylor Swift workshop. How did that note shape every decision? The intake meeting note that said "to use it" let him walk In this episode, we follow...
The intake meeting note that said "to use it" let him walk

In this episode, we follow the sequence of recorded moments and institutional choices that followed a boy from school hallways to Hart Street, tracing how words in files shaped responses over five years. What chain of decisions allowed those warnings to accumulate without stopping him?

Date: 29 July 2024
Location: Hart Street, Meols Cop, Southport, Merseyside
Person: Axel Muganwa Rudakubana
Age at intake quote: 12
Diagnosis: Autism spectrum disorder (February 2021)

- At a specialist school admission meeting in October 2019, a twelve‑year‑old told staff he brought a knife “to use it,” and the statement was recorded.
- After bringing a knife to school approximately ten times and being expelled from Range High, he began at The Acorns School but was enrolled despite the admission note.
- In December 2019 he returned to Range High with a hockey stick marked with names, assaulted a pupil, and was found with a knife; he pleaded guilty in February 2020.
- The Acorns School excluded him after the conviction and switched to sending work home, leaving him without regular education or supervision.
- In February 2021 he was diagnosed with autism; that diagnosis changed how institutions described risk and influenced subsequent referrals, including multiple Prevent referrals.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1528falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-typewriter-she-found-in-poston-published-a-country-back-its-story--74835007
The typewriter she found in Poston published a country back its story

In this episode, we follow a young American-born writer confined at the Poston relocation camp as she produces the camp newspaper and serializes a detective story that keeps readers waiting for resolution. We explore how her fiction and reporting documented life behind the wire and raised a quiet challenge to the logic that imprisoned her community.

Person: Hisaye Yamamoto
Date: 1942-1943
Location: Poston (Colorado River Relocation Center), Arizona
Event: Publication of the Poston Chronicle and the serialized story "Death Rides the Rails to Poston"
Topic: Japanese American incarceration, camp journalism, serialized mystery fiction

- She was twenty years old, born in Redondo Beach on August 23, 1921, and writing fiction under the pen name Napoleon.
- Executive Order 9066 led to her and her family’s forced removal in spring 1942 despite American birth certificates.
- Poston housed over seventeen thousand people at its peak in tar-paper barracks surrounded by barbed wire and administered by the War Relocation Authority.
- A typewriter already present at Poston became the tool she used to report, edit, and publish the Poston Chronicle.
- She serialized Death Rides the Rails to Poston in the camp paper, delivering weekly hooks that promised resolution to an audience living without legal recourse.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835007Mon, 12 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA twenty-year-old inside barbed wire finds a typewriter at Poston and publishes a serialized mystery in the camp newspaper - how did that expose them? The typewriter she found in Poston published a country back its story In this episode, we...
The typewriter she found in Poston published a country back its story

In this episode, we follow a young American-born writer confined at the Poston relocation camp as she produces the camp newspaper and serializes a detective story that keeps readers waiting for resolution. We explore how her fiction and reporting documented life behind the wire and raised a quiet challenge to the logic that imprisoned her community.

Person: Hisaye Yamamoto
Date: 1942-1943
Location: Poston (Colorado River Relocation Center), Arizona
Event: Publication of the Poston Chronicle and the serialized story "Death Rides the Rails to Poston"
Topic: Japanese American incarceration, camp journalism, serialized mystery fiction

- She was twenty years old, born in Redondo Beach on August 23, 1921, and writing fiction under the pen name Napoleon.
- Executive Order 9066 led to her and her family’s forced removal in spring 1942 despite American birth certificates.
- Poston housed over seventeen thousand people at its peak in tar-paper barracks surrounded by barbed wire and administered by the War Relocation Authority.
- A typewriter already present at Poston became the tool she used to report, edit, and publish the Poston Chronicle.
- She serialized Death Rides the Rails to Poston in the camp paper, delivering weekly hooks that promised resolution to an audience living without legal recourse.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1006falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-manuscript-finished-behind-barbed-wire-that-proved-his-loyalty--74835004
The Manuscript Finished Behind Barbed Wire That Proved His Loyalty

In this episode, we follow the life and writing of Toshio Mori from his nursery in San Leandro to the Topaz War Relocation Center, tracing how a completed manuscript and a shelved book intersected with wartime America. What did finishing a novel behind barbed wire mean for his claim to belonging?

Person: Toshio Mori
Date: March 3, 1910 (birth)
Location: Topaz War Relocation Center, Millard County, Utah
Event: Completion of the novel Send These the Homeless in 1942
Manuscript: Yokohama, California held by Caxton Printers with foreword promised by William Saroyan

- Born to Hidekichi Mori and Yoshi Takaki, Toshio worked in his family nursery in San Leandro before writing in the evenings.
- In 1938 his short story "The Brothers" appeared in The Coast and his work was included in New Directions in Prose and Poetry.
- By 1941 he had a full manuscript titled Yokohama, California with William Saroyan slated to write the foreword and Caxton Printers holding the text.
- After Pearl Harbor and Executive Order 9066, Mori and his family were sent to Topaz where he continued to write inside tarpaper barracks surrounded by barbed wire.
- In 1942 he completed Send These the Homeless, a finished novel written in the camp that remains unpublished and held in an archive.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835004Sun, 11 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Japanese-American writer hides a novel in an internment camp. How did that manuscript expose him? The Manuscript Finished Behind Barbed Wire That Proved His Loyalty In this episode, we follow the life and writing of Toshio Mori from his...
The Manuscript Finished Behind Barbed Wire That Proved His Loyalty

In this episode, we follow the life and writing of Toshio Mori from his nursery in San Leandro to the Topaz War Relocation Center, tracing how a completed manuscript and a shelved book intersected with wartime America. What did finishing a novel behind barbed wire mean for his claim to belonging?

Person: Toshio Mori
Date: March 3, 1910 (birth)
Location: Topaz War Relocation Center, Millard County, Utah
Event: Completion of the novel Send These the Homeless in 1942
Manuscript: Yokohama, California held by Caxton Printers with foreword promised by William Saroyan

- Born to Hidekichi Mori and Yoshi Takaki, Toshio worked in his family nursery in San Leandro before writing in the evenings.
- In 1938 his short story "The Brothers" appeared in The Coast and his work was included in New Directions in Prose and Poetry.
- By 1941 he had a full manuscript titled Yokohama, California with William Saroyan slated to write the foreword and Caxton Printers holding the text.
- After Pearl Harbor and Executive Order 9066, Mori and his family were sent to Topaz where he continued to write inside tarpaper barracks surrounded by barbed wire.
- In 1942 he completed Send These the Homeless, a finished novel written in the camp that remains unpublished and held in an archive.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1245falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-lieutenant-colonel-s-commission-made-the-prisoner-the-prosecutor--74835001
The Lieutenant Colonel's Commission Made the Prisoner the Prosecutor

In this episode, we tell the story of Jacobus Sinninghe Damsté, a Surabaya lawyer who survived forced labor on Maluku airfields and the notorious Sumatra Railway, and who was later commissioned to prepare indictments in Tokyo; what does the record’s silence about his inner life and that surprising appointment reveal? The episode traces his prewar civic life, wartime captivity, and the choices that led a civilian prisoner to become a prosecutor.

Person: Jacobus Sinninghe Damsté (Koos)
Location: Surabaya; Maluku Islands; Pekanbaru, Sumatra; Tokyo
Date: 1943-1946 (captivity and Tokyo commission), 1920s-1941 (prewar career)
Occupation: Lawyer; Surabaya city councillor; president of the Simpang Club; later wrote memoirs and ran Netherlands Security Service
Event: Building airfields in Maluku and cutting the Sumatra Railway; later given a lieutenant colonel's commission to prepare the Dutch indictment

- Koos arrived in Maluku in April 1943 and spent eight months building airfields for the occupying forces after a life as a Surabaya lawyer.
- Transfers in captivity took him to Jakarta in January 1944 and to Pekanbaru in May 1944, where he worked on the Sumatra Railway described in the record as notorious.
- Before the war he was a civic figure: law graduate from Groningen, legal consultant to a German industrial subsidiary, city councillor, and head of colonial clubs in Surabaya.
- His first wife died in 1935; he remarried in 1938 and had three sons-Willem (Pim), Cornelis (Hans), and Dick-details the record notes without elaboration.
- After surviving fifteen months on the railway, he was given a lieutenant colonel’s commission and directed to Tokyo to prepare the Dutch indictment against Japanese war criminals.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74835001Sat, 10 Oct 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Surabaya lawyer-turned-prisoner is handed a lieutenant colonel’s commission in Tokyo and asked to draft the Dutch indictment - how did that appointment expose him? The Lieutenant Colonel's Commission Made the Prisoner the Prosecutor In this...
The Lieutenant Colonel's Commission Made the Prisoner the Prosecutor

In this episode, we tell the story of Jacobus Sinninghe Damsté, a Surabaya lawyer who survived forced labor on Maluku airfields and the notorious Sumatra Railway, and who was later commissioned to prepare indictments in Tokyo; what does the record’s silence about his inner life and that surprising appointment reveal? The episode traces his prewar civic life, wartime captivity, and the choices that led a civilian prisoner to become a prosecutor.

Person: Jacobus Sinninghe Damsté (Koos)
Location: Surabaya; Maluku Islands; Pekanbaru, Sumatra; Tokyo
Date: 1943-1946 (captivity and Tokyo commission), 1920s-1941 (prewar career)
Occupation: Lawyer; Surabaya city councillor; president of the Simpang Club; later wrote memoirs and ran Netherlands Security Service
Event: Building airfields in Maluku and cutting the Sumatra Railway; later given a lieutenant colonel's commission to prepare the Dutch indictment

- Koos arrived in Maluku in April 1943 and spent eight months building airfields for the occupying forces after a life as a Surabaya lawyer.
- Transfers in captivity took him to Jakarta in January 1944 and to Pekanbaru in May 1944, where he worked on the Sumatra Railway described in the record as notorious.
- Before the war he was a civic figure: law graduate from Groningen, legal consultant to a German industrial subsidiary, city councillor, and head of colonial clubs in Surabaya.
- His first wife died in 1935; he remarried in 1938 and had three sons-Willem (Pim), Cornelis (Hans), and Dick-details the record notes without elaboration.
- After surviving fifteen months on the railway, he was given a lieutenant colonel’s commission and directed to Tokyo to prepare the Dutch indictment against Japanese war criminals.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1251falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-swastika-the-skull-and-the-uncharged-traitor--74834997
The Swastika, The Skull, and The Uncharged Traitor

This episode explores the story of a human skull used as a drinking vessel at Worcester College, Oxford, and its connection to George Henry Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers, a man who openly embraced eugenics and Nazi ideology before World War II. It examines how his family's legacy and beliefs shaped his worldview and the unsettling journey of the skull.

Person: George Henry Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers
Date: 1946
Location: Worcester College, Oxford
Object: Silver-rimmed human skull
Topic: Eugenics

- In 1946, a human skull was donated to Worcester College, Oxford, and used as a drinking vessel in the common room.
- The donor, George Henry Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers, was interned during World War II but never charged with treason.
- George was born in 1890, the grandson of Augustus Pitt Rivers, founder of the Pitt Rivers Museum, who built his reputation on systematically collecting objects to rank human cultures.
- After inheriting his family's estate and collections, George published "The World Significance of the Russian Revolution" in 1920, an anti-Semitic and anti-Bolshevik work.
- By 1937, George was openly wearing a golden swastika badge in England, two years before the country went to war with Germany.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834997Fri, 09 Oct 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn Oxford college drinks from a human skull, unaware of its dark origins tied to a British aristocrat's Nazi sympathies and race theories. The Swastika, The Skull, and The Uncharged Traitor This episode explores the story of a human skull used...
The Swastika, The Skull, and The Uncharged Traitor

This episode explores the story of a human skull used as a drinking vessel at Worcester College, Oxford, and its connection to George Henry Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers, a man who openly embraced eugenics and Nazi ideology before World War II. It examines how his family's legacy and beliefs shaped his worldview and the unsettling journey of the skull.

Person: George Henry Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers
Date: 1946
Location: Worcester College, Oxford
Object: Silver-rimmed human skull
Topic: Eugenics

- In 1946, a human skull was donated to Worcester College, Oxford, and used as a drinking vessel in the common room.
- The donor, George Henry Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers, was interned during World War II but never charged with treason.
- George was born in 1890, the grandson of Augustus Pitt Rivers, founder of the Pitt Rivers Museum, who built his reputation on systematically collecting objects to rank human cultures.
- After inheriting his family's estate and collections, George published "The World Significance of the Russian Revolution" in 1920, an anti-Semitic and anti-Bolshevik work.
- By 1937, George was openly wearing a golden swastika badge in England, two years before the country went to war with Germany.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1222falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-blank-signed-deposit-slip-that-sent-him-to-internment--74834994
The blank signed deposit slip that sent him to internment

In this episode, we follow the life interrupted: a self-taught rose breeder and longtime bookmaker’s clerk pulled from his garden and held without charge during World War II. What decisions, documents and distant ties led authorities to suspect espionage?

Person: Frank Riethmuller
Date: Arrested August 20, 1940; born February 10, 1884
Location: Eastern Road, Turramurra; internment at Long Bay, Orange, Hay
Occupation: Confidential clerk (bookmaker’s penciller); rose breeder
Health: Chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis

- He worked two or three days a week at racetracks for two employers and earned roughly £1,000 a year.
- His employer Frank Alldritt gave him a signed blank bank document to handle deposits without audit.
- He traveled to Europe in 1928 and studied German in Berlin in 1931 but canceled a planned 1937 trip to Germany.
- He began deliberate rose breeding at age fifty-four and kept a nursery bed where a new rose sat during his internment.
- On August 20, 1940, police found maps of strategic sites in his home and arrested him under National Security Regulation 26.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834994Thu, 08 Oct 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA veteran rose-breeder with German roots is arrested in his Turramurra garden over blank deposit slips and maps-how did that expose him? The blank signed deposit slip that sent him to internment In this episode, we follow the life interrupted: a...
The blank signed deposit slip that sent him to internment

In this episode, we follow the life interrupted: a self-taught rose breeder and longtime bookmaker’s clerk pulled from his garden and held without charge during World War II. What decisions, documents and distant ties led authorities to suspect espionage?

Person: Frank Riethmuller
Date: Arrested August 20, 1940; born February 10, 1884
Location: Eastern Road, Turramurra; internment at Long Bay, Orange, Hay
Occupation: Confidential clerk (bookmaker’s penciller); rose breeder
Health: Chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis

- He worked two or three days a week at racetracks for two employers and earned roughly £1,000 a year.
- His employer Frank Alldritt gave him a signed blank bank document to handle deposits without audit.
- He traveled to Europe in 1928 and studied German in Berlin in 1931 but canceled a planned 1937 trip to Germany.
- He began deliberate rose breeding at age fifty-four and kept a nursery bed where a new rose sat during his internment.
- On August 20, 1940, police found maps of strategic sites in his home and arrested him under National Security Regulation 26.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1370falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/four-notebooks-full-of-math-launched-armstrong-to-the-moon--74834992
Four notebooks full of math launched Armstrong to the Moon

This episode explores the life of the man whose calculations made the Apollo 11 mission possible, detailing his early life, the circumstances that led him to assume a new identity, and the challenges he faced in sharing his groundbreaking work.

Person: Aleksandr Ignatyevich Shargei (Yuri Vasilyevich Kondratyuk)
Date: 1897 (birth)
Location: Poltava, Ukraine (birth)
Event: First World War, Russian Revolution

- Aleksandr Ignatyevich Shargei was born in Poltava in 1897 to a father who studied physics and mathematics and a mother from noble lineage.
- During the First World War, while serving on the Caucasian Front, Shargei, not yet twenty, began filling four notebooks with calculations for lunar trajectories.
- His central idea was that a spacecraft could leave part of itself in lunar orbit, send a smaller vessel to the surface, and rejoin the larger craft for the return.
- In 1917, the Russian Revolution and subsequent civil war led Shargei to lose all his documents and legal identity after deserting the White Army.
- In 1921, Shargei assumed the identity of Yuri Vasilyevich Kondratyuk, a man who had died of tuberculosis, to survive in a state hostile to those without legal identity.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834992Wed, 07 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA man calculates the lunar trajectory that will take humanity to the Moon, but a revolution forces him to erase his identity to survive. Four notebooks full of math launched Armstrong to the Moon This episode explores the life of the man whose...
Four notebooks full of math launched Armstrong to the Moon

This episode explores the life of the man whose calculations made the Apollo 11 mission possible, detailing his early life, the circumstances that led him to assume a new identity, and the challenges he faced in sharing his groundbreaking work.

Person: Aleksandr Ignatyevich Shargei (Yuri Vasilyevich Kondratyuk)
Date: 1897 (birth)
Location: Poltava, Ukraine (birth)
Event: First World War, Russian Revolution

- Aleksandr Ignatyevich Shargei was born in Poltava in 1897 to a father who studied physics and mathematics and a mother from noble lineage.
- During the First World War, while serving on the Caucasian Front, Shargei, not yet twenty, began filling four notebooks with calculations for lunar trajectories.
- His central idea was that a spacecraft could leave part of itself in lunar orbit, send a smaller vessel to the surface, and rejoin the larger craft for the return.
- In 1917, the Russian Revolution and subsequent civil war led Shargei to lose all his documents and legal identity after deserting the White Army.
- In 1921, Shargei assumed the identity of Yuri Vasilyevich Kondratyuk, a man who had died of tuberculosis, to survive in a state hostile to those without legal identity.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1524falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/seven-words-in-gulag-silence-silenced-a-world--74834991
Seven words in Gulag silence silenced a world

This episode explores the life of Roberta Gropper, a German communist who, while imprisoned in a Soviet labor camp, uttered seven words that would echo through history. It delves into her journey from a factory worker to a parliamentarian and the circumstances that led her to the Gulag.

Person: Roberta Gropper
Date: 1939
Location: Soviet labor camp
Event: Encounter with Margarete Buber-Neumann

- Roberta Gropper began working at a cigarette factory in Ulm, Germany, at age thirteen in 1911.
- By 1919, she helped found the local Communist Party in Ulm, driven by her experiences with poverty.
- She became a deputy in the Reichstag for Berlin by July 1930, at the age of thirty-two.
- Her association with the Neumann-Remmele faction, which opposed pro-Stalin elements, led to her losing party functions and her parliamentary seat by 1932.
- After fleeing Nazi Germany, she arrived in Moscow in 1935 and was arrested by the NKVD in November 1937, charged with membership in an anti-Soviet grouping.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834991Tue, 06 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA German communist, imprisoned in the Soviet Gulag, faces a moral dilemma when asked to expose the camp's horrors to the world. Seven words in Gulag silence silenced a world This episode explores the life of Roberta Gropper, a German communist...
Seven words in Gulag silence silenced a world

This episode explores the life of Roberta Gropper, a German communist who, while imprisoned in a Soviet labor camp, uttered seven words that would echo through history. It delves into her journey from a factory worker to a parliamentarian and the circumstances that led her to the Gulag.

Person: Roberta Gropper
Date: 1939
Location: Soviet labor camp
Event: Encounter with Margarete Buber-Neumann

- Roberta Gropper began working at a cigarette factory in Ulm, Germany, at age thirteen in 1911.
- By 1919, she helped found the local Communist Party in Ulm, driven by her experiences with poverty.
- She became a deputy in the Reichstag for Berlin by July 1930, at the age of thirty-two.
- Her association with the Neumann-Remmele faction, which opposed pro-Stalin elements, led to her losing party functions and her parliamentary seat by 1932.
- After fleeing Nazi Germany, she arrived in Moscow in 1935 and was arrested by the NKVD in November 1937, charged with membership in an anti-Soviet grouping.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1037falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-child-s-voice-calling-her-name-opened-the-door-to-rescue--74834988
The child's voice calling her name opened the door to rescue

This episode recounts the harrowing events of November 26, 2008, focusing on Sandra Samuel, a nanny from Goa, and her connection to a family caught in the Mumbai terror attacks. It explores the inexplicable decision that led her to risk her life amidst gunfire.

Event: Mumbai terror attacks
Date: November 26, 2008
Location: Nariman House, Colaba, Mumbai
Person: Sandra Samuel
Victims: Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka Holtzberg

- Sandra Samuel, a widowed nanny from Goa, had been working for the Holtzberg family at Nariman House since 2003.
- Nariman House was a Jewish community center in Mumbai, one of ten locations simultaneously attacked by Lashkar-e-Taiba.
- On the night of the attack, Sandra Samuel was in a laundry room, hiding from armed men moving through the building.
- She heard the two-year-old child, Moshe, calling her name from an upper floor where his parents lay motionless.
- Despite the ongoing threat and gunfire, Samuel opened the door and climbed the stairwell towards the child.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834988Mon, 05 Oct 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA two-year-old boy stands over his motionless parents, his pants soaked in blood, as a nanny hides one floor below during a Mumbai terror attack. The child's voice calling her name opened the door to rescue This episode recounts the harrowing...
The child's voice calling her name opened the door to rescue

This episode recounts the harrowing events of November 26, 2008, focusing on Sandra Samuel, a nanny from Goa, and her connection to a family caught in the Mumbai terror attacks. It explores the inexplicable decision that led her to risk her life amidst gunfire.

Event: Mumbai terror attacks
Date: November 26, 2008
Location: Nariman House, Colaba, Mumbai
Person: Sandra Samuel
Victims: Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka Holtzberg

- Sandra Samuel, a widowed nanny from Goa, had been working for the Holtzberg family at Nariman House since 2003.
- Nariman House was a Jewish community center in Mumbai, one of ten locations simultaneously attacked by Lashkar-e-Taiba.
- On the night of the attack, Sandra Samuel was in a laundry room, hiding from armed men moving through the building.
- She heard the two-year-old child, Moshe, calling her name from an upper floor where his parents lay motionless.
- Despite the ongoing threat and gunfire, Samuel opened the door and climbed the stairwell towards the child.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1195falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-book-on-the-desk-that-cost-a-hand--74834986
The Book on the Desk That Cost a Hand

This episode explores the life of Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour, a Shia cleric and diplomat, and the events leading up to a targeted attack that left him severely injured. It delves into the complex political landscape and the formation of a powerful organization.

Person: Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour
Date: 1984
Location: Damascus, Syria
Event: Assassination attempt
Organization: Hezbollah

- Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour was born in Iran in 1947 and trained as a Shia cleric in Najaf, Iraq.
- He became part of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's inner circle during Khomeini's exile.
- Mohtashamipour received military training at a Fatah camp in Lebanon during the 1970s.
- In 1982, he was appointed Iran's ambassador to Syria at the age of 34.
- He used his diplomatic pouch to transport materials from Iran into Lebanon, merging six organizations into what became Hezbollah.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834986Sun, 04 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA diplomatic gift arrives for an Iranian ambassador in Damascus, but opening the package reveals a deadly assassination attempt. The Book on the Desk That Cost a Hand This episode explores the life of Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour, a Shia cleric and...
The Book on the Desk That Cost a Hand

This episode explores the life of Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour, a Shia cleric and diplomat, and the events leading up to a targeted attack that left him severely injured. It delves into the complex political landscape and the formation of a powerful organization.

Person: Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour
Date: 1984
Location: Damascus, Syria
Event: Assassination attempt
Organization: Hezbollah

- Ali Akbar Mohtashamipour was born in Iran in 1947 and trained as a Shia cleric in Najaf, Iraq.
- He became part of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's inner circle during Khomeini's exile.
- Mohtashamipour received military training at a Fatah camp in Lebanon during the 1970s.
- In 1982, he was appointed Iran's ambassador to Syria at the age of 34.
- He used his diplomatic pouch to transport materials from Iran into Lebanon, merging six organizations into what became Hezbollah.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1046falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/her-birth-certificate-declared-her-american-but-a-fence-held-her-captive--74834984
Her birth certificate declared her American, but a fence held her captive

This episode covers the story of Wendy Masako Yoshimura, born in a World War II internment camp, and how her life led her from painter to fugitive. It explores the complex legal case she became entangled in and the government's role in her family's internment.

Person: Wendy Masako Yoshimura
Date: January 17, 1943
Location: Manzanar Internment Camp, California
Event: World War II Japanese American internment
Status: Fugitive

- Wendy Masako Yoshimura was born in Manzanar Internment Camp, a facility built by the US government to detain American citizens of Japanese descent during World War II.
- Her parents, both American-born citizens, were interned at Manzanar in February 1942 solely due to their Japanese ancestry.
- After the camp closed, her family relocated to Etajima, Japan, where Wendy grew up speaking Japanese as her first language.
- Upon returning to the United States at age thirteen, she was placed in second grade due to her inability to speak English.
- After earning a fine arts degree, she rented a garage in Berkeley where police later discovered a "massive bomb factory" and notes detailing a plan to kidnap or assassinate Robert McNamara.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834984Sat, 03 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTBorn in a US internment camp, a woman's birth certificate declared her American, but a fence held her captive. How did that expose them? Her birth certificate declared her American, but a fence held her captive This episode covers the story of...
Her birth certificate declared her American, but a fence held her captive

This episode covers the story of Wendy Masako Yoshimura, born in a World War II internment camp, and how her life led her from painter to fugitive. It explores the complex legal case she became entangled in and the government's role in her family's internment.

Person: Wendy Masako Yoshimura
Date: January 17, 1943
Location: Manzanar Internment Camp, California
Event: World War II Japanese American internment
Status: Fugitive

- Wendy Masako Yoshimura was born in Manzanar Internment Camp, a facility built by the US government to detain American citizens of Japanese descent during World War II.
- Her parents, both American-born citizens, were interned at Manzanar in February 1942 solely due to their Japanese ancestry.
- After the camp closed, her family relocated to Etajima, Japan, where Wendy grew up speaking Japanese as her first language.
- Upon returning to the United States at age thirteen, she was placed in second grade due to her inability to speak English.
- After earning a fine arts degree, she rented a garage in Berkeley where police later discovered a "massive bomb factory" and notes detailing a plan to kidnap or assassinate Robert McNamara.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1163falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-carpenter-s-hand-tool-changed-an-architect-s-life--74834981
A carpenter's hand tool changed an architect's life

This episode explores the journey of George Nakashima, an MIT-trained architect whose life took an unexpected turn from global travels to an internment camp, where he discovered a new path through woodworking. It delves into the influences and experiences that shaped his unique approach to furniture making.

Person: George Nakashima
Date: 1905
Location: Spokane, Washington
Event: Internment at Camp Minidoka
Topic: Woodworking

- George Nakashima, born in 1905 to Japanese immigrants, earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Washington in 1929 and a Master of Architecture from MIT in 1931.
- Instead of a conventional career, he sold his car for a round-the-world steamship ticket, traveling to France, North Africa, and Japan, where he met Le Corbusier and worked under Antonin Raymond.
- In 1937, while overseeing construction of the Golconde Dormitory in Puducherry, India, Nakashima built his first furniture without prior woodworking training.
- In March 1942, he was sent to Camp Minidoka in Hunt, Idaho, as an "enemy alien" under Executive Order 9066.
- Inside the internment camp, Nakashima was taught traditional Japanese hand tools and joinery by Gentaro Hikogawa, a Japanese carpenter also interned there.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834981Fri, 02 Oct 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn architect sells his car for a steamship ticket, disappearing for a decade before internment as an enemy alien. A carpenter's hand tool changes his life. A carpenter's hand tool changed an architect's life This episode explores the journey of...
A carpenter's hand tool changed an architect's life

This episode explores the journey of George Nakashima, an MIT-trained architect whose life took an unexpected turn from global travels to an internment camp, where he discovered a new path through woodworking. It delves into the influences and experiences that shaped his unique approach to furniture making.

Person: George Nakashima
Date: 1905
Location: Spokane, Washington
Event: Internment at Camp Minidoka
Topic: Woodworking

- George Nakashima, born in 1905 to Japanese immigrants, earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Washington in 1929 and a Master of Architecture from MIT in 1931.
- Instead of a conventional career, he sold his car for a round-the-world steamship ticket, traveling to France, North Africa, and Japan, where he met Le Corbusier and worked under Antonin Raymond.
- In 1937, while overseeing construction of the Golconde Dormitory in Puducherry, India, Nakashima built his first furniture without prior woodworking training.
- In March 1942, he was sent to Camp Minidoka in Hunt, Idaho, as an "enemy alien" under Executive Order 9066.
- Inside the internment camp, Nakashima was taught traditional Japanese hand tools and joinery by Gentaro Hikogawa, a Japanese carpenter also interned there.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1161falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-lawyer-who-dismantled-his-own-empire--74834978
The Lawyer Who Dismantled His Own Empire

In this episode, we follow the life of Carel Huibert Valchaire de Villeneuve from his arrival in the Dutch East Indies in 1920 to his role as honorary consul of independent Indonesia at his death in 1974. The episode tracks his shifts from colonial lawyer to municipal politician, IOB president, civilian camp manager under Japanese occupation, decorated survivor, and postwar adviser-so how did those roles reshape him and the empire he served?

Person: Carel Huibert Valchaire de Villeneuve
Dates: 1920 arrival in the Indies; February 1944-14 months interned; 1974 death
Location: Semarang; Cimahi internment camp; Barcelona
Role: Lawyer, IOB president, Semarang municipal councillor, camp manager, honorary consul of Indonesia
Event: Meeting with President Roosevelt during ILO conference; leadership in independence-era negotiations

- He arrived in the Indies in 1920 as a 22-year-old Leiden doctorate and joined Scheltema, a firm tied to the Ethical Policy lineage.
- By 1934 he sat on the IOB board and ran for its presidency, later becoming IOB president in 1937 and a Volksraad member.
- In February 1944 he was interned at Cimahi and assumed camp management, acting as liaison between prisoners and Japanese authorities.
- After liberation he received two foreign medals for bravery and took on politically exposed advisory roles during the transition to Indonesian independence.
- Between July 1946 and January 1947 he lost his youngest son, issued a public statement against Dutch business interests, resigned a nine-year presidency, and accepted a high-profile advisory position.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834978Thu, 01 Oct 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA corporate lawyer in Japanese-occupied Java becomes camp manager at Cimahi-how did colonial lawyer Carel de Villeneuve expose the empire's seams? The Lawyer Who Dismantled His Own Empire In this episode, we follow the life of Carel Huibert...
The Lawyer Who Dismantled His Own Empire

In this episode, we follow the life of Carel Huibert Valchaire de Villeneuve from his arrival in the Dutch East Indies in 1920 to his role as honorary consul of independent Indonesia at his death in 1974. The episode tracks his shifts from colonial lawyer to municipal politician, IOB president, civilian camp manager under Japanese occupation, decorated survivor, and postwar adviser-so how did those roles reshape him and the empire he served?

Person: Carel Huibert Valchaire de Villeneuve
Dates: 1920 arrival in the Indies; February 1944-14 months interned; 1974 death
Location: Semarang; Cimahi internment camp; Barcelona
Role: Lawyer, IOB president, Semarang municipal councillor, camp manager, honorary consul of Indonesia
Event: Meeting with President Roosevelt during ILO conference; leadership in independence-era negotiations

- He arrived in the Indies in 1920 as a 22-year-old Leiden doctorate and joined Scheltema, a firm tied to the Ethical Policy lineage.
- By 1934 he sat on the IOB board and ran for its presidency, later becoming IOB president in 1937 and a Volksraad member.
- In February 1944 he was interned at Cimahi and assumed camp management, acting as liaison between prisoners and Japanese authorities.
- After liberation he received two foreign medals for bravery and took on politically exposed advisory roles during the transition to Indonesian independence.
- Between July 1946 and January 1947 he lost his youngest son, issued a public statement against Dutch business interests, resigned a nine-year presidency, and accepted a high-profile advisory position.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1399falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/elsa-s-trust-fund-enables-luca-s-return--74834975
Elsa's trust fund enables Luca's return

This episode introduces the Scorpioni, a group of foreign women in 1930s Florence who believe their influence can shape history. It explores their lives, their adopted child Luca, and the shifting political landscape that will test their convictions.

Period: 1935-1940
Location: Florence, Italy
Group: The Scorpioni
Key Figure: Lady Hester Random
Child: Luca

- Lady Hester Random, widow of a British ambassador, carries a photograph of herself with Benito Mussolini, believing it makes her untouchable.
- The Scorpioni, a group of expatriate women in Florence, gather for tea and debate art, convinced history will conform to their preferences.
- Luca, an out-of-wedlock son, is taken in by Mary Wallace, one of the quieter members of the Scorpioni.
- Elsa Morganthal, an American, young, recently widowed, and Jewish, establishes a financial trust for Luca to honor a debt to his deceased mother.
- As World War II begins, the British Scorpioni relocate to San Gimignano, while Luca is sent to an Austrian boarding school.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834975Wed, 30 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTIn 1935 Florence, a group of expatriate women, the Scorpioni, believe their social standing makes them untouchable as Europe fractures. Elsa's trust fund enables Luca's return This episode introduces the Scorpioni, a group of foreign women in...
Elsa's trust fund enables Luca's return

This episode introduces the Scorpioni, a group of foreign women in 1930s Florence who believe their influence can shape history. It explores their lives, their adopted child Luca, and the shifting political landscape that will test their convictions.

Period: 1935-1940
Location: Florence, Italy
Group: The Scorpioni
Key Figure: Lady Hester Random
Child: Luca

- Lady Hester Random, widow of a British ambassador, carries a photograph of herself with Benito Mussolini, believing it makes her untouchable.
- The Scorpioni, a group of expatriate women in Florence, gather for tea and debate art, convinced history will conform to their preferences.
- Luca, an out-of-wedlock son, is taken in by Mary Wallace, one of the quieter members of the Scorpioni.
- Elsa Morganthal, an American, young, recently widowed, and Jewish, establishes a financial trust for Luca to honor a debt to his deceased mother.
- As World War II begins, the British Scorpioni relocate to San Gimignano, while Luca is sent to an Austrian boarding school.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1203falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-prison-that-took-its-builder-s-name--74834973
The Prison That Took Its Builder's Name

This episode explores the extraordinary story of Andrei Tupolev, a pioneering Soviet aircraft designer who, despite being unjustly imprisoned, continued his groundbreaking work. It delves into the complex question of how an individual can continue to create for a system designed to destroy them.

Person: Andrei Tupolev
Date: October 21, 1937
Location: Soviet Union
Status: Arrested
Topic: Aircraft design

- Andrei Tupolev, a leading Soviet aircraft designer, held 78 aviation world records at the time of his arrest.
- His father, Nikolai Ivanovich Tupolev, was expelled from Saint Petersburg University in 1881 under suspicion of revolutionary ties.
- Tupolev himself was arrested in 1911 for alleged involvement in student demonstrations and banished for three years.
- He joined the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) and designed the TB-one, a technically advanced heavy bomber, and the Maksim Gorki, the largest aircraft flying anywhere on earth.
- Tupolev was arrested on charges of sabotage, espionage, and assisting the Russian Fascist Party, none of which were supported by evidence.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834973Tue, 29 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Soviet aircraft designer with 78 world records is imprisoned on fabricated charges, yet continues to build planes for the state that arrested him. The Prison That Took Its Builder's Name This episode explores the extraordinary story of Andrei...
The Prison That Took Its Builder's Name

This episode explores the extraordinary story of Andrei Tupolev, a pioneering Soviet aircraft designer who, despite being unjustly imprisoned, continued his groundbreaking work. It delves into the complex question of how an individual can continue to create for a system designed to destroy them.

Person: Andrei Tupolev
Date: October 21, 1937
Location: Soviet Union
Status: Arrested
Topic: Aircraft design

- Andrei Tupolev, a leading Soviet aircraft designer, held 78 aviation world records at the time of his arrest.
- His father, Nikolai Ivanovich Tupolev, was expelled from Saint Petersburg University in 1881 under suspicion of revolutionary ties.
- Tupolev himself was arrested in 1911 for alleged involvement in student demonstrations and banished for three years.
- He joined the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) and designed the TB-one, a technically advanced heavy bomber, and the Maksim Gorki, the largest aircraft flying anywhere on earth.
- Tupolev was arrested on charges of sabotage, espionage, and assisting the Russian Fascist Party, none of which were supported by evidence.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1348falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-jailhouse-confession-that-sent-korolev-to-kolyma--74834969
The jailhouse confession that sent Korolev to Kolyma

In this episode, we follow Sergei Korolev's rise from a curious boy at an airshow to the hidden Chief Designer of the Soviet space program and the brutal years that interrupted it. We trace the arrests, the coerced statements, and the injuries that followed-how did a single jailhouse confession set the path to Kolyma?

Person: Sergei Korolev
Date: Arrested June 27, 1938; photograph published January 16, 1966
Location: Lubyanka prison; Kolyma gold mines, Siberia
Mentor: Andrei Tupolev
Colleague: Valentin Glushko

- At sixteen Korolev joined the Society of Aviation and by seventeen designed and flew his first glider, K-five.
- He co-founded GIRD and helped launch the USSR's first hybrid rocket on August 18, 1933, and the first liquid-fueled rocket on November 25, 1933.
- In 1937-38 institute leaders Kleymyonov and Langemak were arrested, tortured, and forced to sign confessions that named colleagues.
- Korolev was arrested June 27, 1938, taken to Lubyanka, tortured, and sent to Kolyma to work in gold mines.
- He returned to Moscow in late 1939 as a reduced-sentence prisoner, with scurvy, lost teeth, and a damaged jaw.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834969Mon, 28 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTThe jailed engineer who built the Soviet space program whispered a confession in a cell; how did that moment expose him to Kolyma and a secret state? The jailhouse confession that sent Korolev to Kolyma In this episode, we follow Sergei...
The jailhouse confession that sent Korolev to Kolyma

In this episode, we follow Sergei Korolev's rise from a curious boy at an airshow to the hidden Chief Designer of the Soviet space program and the brutal years that interrupted it. We trace the arrests, the coerced statements, and the injuries that followed-how did a single jailhouse confession set the path to Kolyma?

Person: Sergei Korolev
Date: Arrested June 27, 1938; photograph published January 16, 1966
Location: Lubyanka prison; Kolyma gold mines, Siberia
Mentor: Andrei Tupolev
Colleague: Valentin Glushko

- At sixteen Korolev joined the Society of Aviation and by seventeen designed and flew his first glider, K-five.
- He co-founded GIRD and helped launch the USSR's first hybrid rocket on August 18, 1933, and the first liquid-fueled rocket on November 25, 1933.
- In 1937-38 institute leaders Kleymyonov and Langemak were arrested, tortured, and forced to sign confessions that named colleagues.
- Korolev was arrested June 27, 1938, taken to Lubyanka, tortured, and sent to Kolyma to work in gold mines.
- He returned to Moscow in late 1939 as a reduced-sentence prisoner, with scurvy, lost teeth, and a damaged jaw.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1361falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-ferry-captain-drew-away-the-leader-and-left-survivors-behind--74834967
The Ferry Captain Drew Away the Leader and Left Survivors Behind

In this episode, we follow the moments on and around the MS Thorbjørn as the AUF leader Eskil Pedersen and eight others left Utøya while gunfire continued and most camp members remained on the island. We trace Pedersen’s background, the ferry crossing, and the public questions that followed: what does a leader owe when survival and responsibility collide?

Person: Eskil Pedersen
Event: Utøya massacre, July 22, 2011
Location: Utøya island / MS Thorbjørn ferry
Deaths: 69 on Utøya; 2 in Oslo
Organization: Arbeidernes Ungdomsfylking (AUF)

- Pedersen was the national leader of the AUF, elected at age 26 and the first openly gay person in that role.
- The MS Thorbjørn carried Pedersen, his aide, and seven others away from Utøya while shooting and mass fleeing continued.
- Breivik had memorized photographs of three primary targets; Pedersen was one of them.
- Pedersen said he believed the whole country was under attack and that he boarded the ferry because he feared docking would mean certain death.
- Public debate centered on whether Pedersen’s departure was instinctive survival, adherence to orders, or a leader abandoning those in his care.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834967Sun, 27 Sep 2026 08:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTThe ferry captain pulled away from Utøya with the AUF leader on board - how did that expose him? The Ferry Captain Drew Away the Leader and Left Survivors Behind In this episode, we follow the moments on and around the MS Thorbjørn as the AUF...
The Ferry Captain Drew Away the Leader and Left Survivors Behind

In this episode, we follow the moments on and around the MS Thorbjørn as the AUF leader Eskil Pedersen and eight others left Utøya while gunfire continued and most camp members remained on the island. We trace Pedersen’s background, the ferry crossing, and the public questions that followed: what does a leader owe when survival and responsibility collide?

Person: Eskil Pedersen
Event: Utøya massacre, July 22, 2011
Location: Utøya island / MS Thorbjørn ferry
Deaths: 69 on Utøya; 2 in Oslo
Organization: Arbeidernes Ungdomsfylking (AUF)

- Pedersen was the national leader of the AUF, elected at age 26 and the first openly gay person in that role.
- The MS Thorbjørn carried Pedersen, his aide, and seven others away from Utøya while shooting and mass fleeing continued.
- Breivik had memorized photographs of three primary targets; Pedersen was one of them.
- Pedersen said he believed the whole country was under attack and that he boarded the ferry because he feared docking would mean certain death.
- Public debate centered on whether Pedersen’s departure was instinctive survival, adherence to orders, or a leader abandoning those in his care.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1500falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-fifty-pounds-of-gelignite-hidden-in-shadow-v-detonated-and-killed-four--74834964
The fifty pounds of gelignite hidden in Shadow V detonated and killed four

In this episode, we follow the morning of 27 August 1979 when Shadow V left harbor and an explosion ripped the boat apart. We trace who was aboard, how the device was placed and detonated from shore, and the choices that followed-what does survival demand when others beside you do not return?

Date: 27 August 1979
Location: County Sligo coast
Event: Explosion on Shadow V
Device: fifty pounds of gelignite
Victims: Lord Mountbatten; Dowager Baroness Brabourne; Paul Maxwell; Nicholas Knatchbull

- Eight people boarded Shadow V for a routine lobster-pot run that morning.
- The bomb was packed into the hull and detonated by a remote held on shore.
- Aboard were members of the Mountbatten/Knatchbull family, their twin sons, and a fifteen-year-old boat-boy.
- The blast reduced the vessel to debris visible from shore and killed four people instantly.
- Three survivors included Patricia Knatchbull, her husband John, and the twin who lived while his brother did not.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834964Sat, 26 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA family lobster-run off County Sligo explodes when fifty pounds of gelignite hidden in Shadow V is detonated from shore, leaving four dead and three alive-how did that expose them? The fifty pounds of gelignite hidden in Shadow V detonated and...
The fifty pounds of gelignite hidden in Shadow V detonated and killed four

In this episode, we follow the morning of 27 August 1979 when Shadow V left harbor and an explosion ripped the boat apart. We trace who was aboard, how the device was placed and detonated from shore, and the choices that followed-what does survival demand when others beside you do not return?

Date: 27 August 1979
Location: County Sligo coast
Event: Explosion on Shadow V
Device: fifty pounds of gelignite
Victims: Lord Mountbatten; Dowager Baroness Brabourne; Paul Maxwell; Nicholas Knatchbull

- Eight people boarded Shadow V for a routine lobster-pot run that morning.
- The bomb was packed into the hull and detonated by a remote held on shore.
- Aboard were members of the Mountbatten/Knatchbull family, their twin sons, and a fifteen-year-old boat-boy.
- The blast reduced the vessel to debris visible from shore and killed four people instantly.
- Three survivors included Patricia Knatchbull, her husband John, and the twin who lived while his brother did not.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>926falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-huyton-suite-s-title-hid-the-wire-that-confined-him--74834962
The Huyton Suite's Title Hid the Wire That Confined Him

This episode explores the life of Hans Gál, a renowned composer whose career was abruptly halted when he was interned in a British camp during World War II. It delves into the circumstances that led to his classification as an "enemy alien" and how he continued to create music under confinement.

Person: Hans Gál
Date: 1940
Location: Huyton Internment Camp, Liverpool
Status: Enemy Alien
Topic: Internment of musicians

- Hans Gál, a 50-year-old Jewish refugee, was classified as an "enemy alien" by the British government in 1940.
- He composed "The Huyton Suite, Opus 92" while interned in a British camp near Liverpool.
- Gál had previously fled Vienna in 1938 after his works were banned in Nazi Germany.
- His early career included studying with Richard Robert and Eusebius Mandyczewski, and winning the Austrian State Prize for Composition in 1915.
- Before his internment, Gál was a respected composer and scholar, appointed director of the Mainz Conservatory in 1929 with endorsements from prominent musicians.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834962Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Jewish composer, fleeing Nazi persecution, finds himself branded an "enemy alien" and interned in a British camp during WWII. His music becomes his only refuge. The Huyton Suite's Title Hid the Wire That Confined Him This episode explores the...
The Huyton Suite's Title Hid the Wire That Confined Him

This episode explores the life of Hans Gál, a renowned composer whose career was abruptly halted when he was interned in a British camp during World War II. It delves into the circumstances that led to his classification as an "enemy alien" and how he continued to create music under confinement.

Person: Hans Gál
Date: 1940
Location: Huyton Internment Camp, Liverpool
Status: Enemy Alien
Topic: Internment of musicians

- Hans Gál, a 50-year-old Jewish refugee, was classified as an "enemy alien" by the British government in 1940.
- He composed "The Huyton Suite, Opus 92" while interned in a British camp near Liverpool.
- Gál had previously fled Vienna in 1938 after his works were banned in Nazi Germany.
- His early career included studying with Richard Robert and Eusebius Mandyczewski, and winning the Austrian State Prize for Composition in 1915.
- Before his internment, Gál was a respected composer and scholar, appointed director of the Mainz Conservatory in 1929 with endorsements from prominent musicians.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1244falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-linoleum-sheet-he-carved-turned-army-surplus-into-art-and-schoolbooks--74834960
The Linoleum Sheet He Carved Turned Army Surplus into Art and Schoolbooks

This episode explores the life of Chiura Obata, a Japanese American artist who, despite being interned during World War II, found a way to create and educate within the camps. It delves into the profound question of whether his art, particularly a painting titled "New Moon Over Topaz, Utah," represents an act of peace or a quietly expressed fury.

Person: Chiura Obata
Date: 1942
Location: American West Coast
Event: Japanese American incarceration

- Chiura Obata, a 56-year-old master artist, was among the 120,000 people of Japanese descent forcibly removed from their homes in 1942.
- Inside the detention and relocation camps, Obata established a school, offering 95 classes a week to 600 students, funded from his own pocket.
- Some of the relief prints Obata created in the camp were carved into surplus linoleum, material provided by the government.
- Obata, born in Okayama, Japan, in 1885, began formal sumi-e training at age seven and won a prestigious art award as a teenager in Tokyo.
- Before his internment, Obata organized a sale of his artwork and donated the proceeds to a scholarship fund for students affected by the war.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834960Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Japanese American artist, imprisoned during WWII, transforms army surplus into art and schoolbooks. His serene work questions peace and fury. The Linoleum Sheet He Carved Turned Army Surplus into Art and Schoolbooks This episode explores the...
The Linoleum Sheet He Carved Turned Army Surplus into Art and Schoolbooks

This episode explores the life of Chiura Obata, a Japanese American artist who, despite being interned during World War II, found a way to create and educate within the camps. It delves into the profound question of whether his art, particularly a painting titled "New Moon Over Topaz, Utah," represents an act of peace or a quietly expressed fury.

Person: Chiura Obata
Date: 1942
Location: American West Coast
Event: Japanese American incarceration

- Chiura Obata, a 56-year-old master artist, was among the 120,000 people of Japanese descent forcibly removed from their homes in 1942.
- Inside the detention and relocation camps, Obata established a school, offering 95 classes a week to 600 students, funded from his own pocket.
- Some of the relief prints Obata created in the camp were carved into surplus linoleum, material provided by the government.
- Obata, born in Okayama, Japan, in 1885, began formal sumi-e training at age seven and won a prestigious art award as a teenager in Tokyo.
- Before his internment, Obata organized a sale of his artwork and donated the proceeds to a scholarship fund for students affected by the war.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1385falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/two-books-built-a-language-from-a-prison-cell--74834958
Two Books Built a Language From a Prison Cell

This episode explores the extraordinary story of Petrus Zoetmulder, a Jesuit priest who, while interned during World War II, created a seminal work on Old Javanese. It delves into the influences and decisions that led him to this unique undertaking.

Person: Petrus Josephus Zoetmulder
Date: 1942
Location: Cimahi prison camp, Java
Topic: Old Javanese language
Status: Interned civilian

- Petrus Zoetmulder was born in Utrecht, Netherlands, in 1906, into a family with a strong tradition of religious service.
- In 1925, he entered the Jesuit novitiate and was advised by Father Willekens to study Old Javanese for his mission in Java.
- He studied Old Javanese under Professor C.C. Berg in Java and later earned a cum laude doctorate from the University of Leiden in 1935.
- Zoetmulder returned to Java after fleeing German occupation in Belgium and surviving a perilous journey across the globe.
- Upon his internment by Japanese forces in 1942, he chose to bring only two scholarly books into the Cimahi prison camp.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834958Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Dutch priest in a Japanese prison camp keeps two books on an ancient language- which will he choose? Two Books Built a Language From a Prison Cell This episode explores the extraordinary story of Petrus Zoetmulder, a Jesuit priest who, while...
Two Books Built a Language From a Prison Cell

This episode explores the extraordinary story of Petrus Zoetmulder, a Jesuit priest who, while interned during World War II, created a seminal work on Old Javanese. It delves into the influences and decisions that led him to this unique undertaking.

Person: Petrus Josephus Zoetmulder
Date: 1942
Location: Cimahi prison camp, Java
Topic: Old Javanese language
Status: Interned civilian

- Petrus Zoetmulder was born in Utrecht, Netherlands, in 1906, into a family with a strong tradition of religious service.
- In 1925, he entered the Jesuit novitiate and was advised by Father Willekens to study Old Javanese for his mission in Java.
- He studied Old Javanese under Professor C.C. Berg in Java and later earned a cum laude doctorate from the University of Leiden in 1935.
- Zoetmulder returned to Java after fleeing German occupation in Belgium and surviving a perilous journey across the globe.
- Upon his internment by Japanese forces in 1942, he chose to bring only two scholarly books into the Cimahi prison camp.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1078falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-internationale-drowned-a-fascist-s-words--74834953
The Internationale Drowned a Fascist's Words

This episode explores the life of Alexander Raven Thomson, the chief ideologue of British fascism, from his intellectual development to his detailed plans for a corporate state, and the disconnect between his precise designs and the chaotic reality of the movement.

Person: Alexander Raven Thomson
Date: 1935
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Affiliation: British Union of Fascists
Work: The Corporate State

- Alexander Raven Thomson, born in Edinburgh in 1899, was the grandson of a celebrated Scottish architect.
- He pursued extensive studies in Scotland, the United States, and Heidelberg University, covering mechanical engineering, science, and philosophy.
- Thomson's early political commitment was to the Communist Party of Great Britain, which he left after rejecting historical materialism.
- He developed his ideology by synthesizing Oswald Spengler's historical framework with Maurice Maeterlinck's model of insect communal structures.
- As Director of Policy for the British Union of Fascists, he authored "The Corporate State," a plan to replace the British parliamentary system with twenty industrial corporations feeding into a single National Corporation.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834953Tue, 22 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTIn 1935, a British fascist ideologue attempts to speak in Aberdeen, Scotland, but a singing crowd drowns out his words. The Internationale Drowned a Fascist's Words This episode explores the life of Alexander Raven Thomson, the chief ideologue...
The Internationale Drowned a Fascist's Words

This episode explores the life of Alexander Raven Thomson, the chief ideologue of British fascism, from his intellectual development to his detailed plans for a corporate state, and the disconnect between his precise designs and the chaotic reality of the movement.

Person: Alexander Raven Thomson
Date: 1935
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Affiliation: British Union of Fascists
Work: The Corporate State

- Alexander Raven Thomson, born in Edinburgh in 1899, was the grandson of a celebrated Scottish architect.
- He pursued extensive studies in Scotland, the United States, and Heidelberg University, covering mechanical engineering, science, and philosophy.
- Thomson's early political commitment was to the Communist Party of Great Britain, which he left after rejecting historical materialism.
- He developed his ideology by synthesizing Oswald Spengler's historical framework with Maurice Maeterlinck's model of insect communal structures.
- As Director of Policy for the British Union of Fascists, he authored "The Corporate State," a plan to replace the British parliamentary system with twenty industrial corporations feeding into a single National Corporation.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1257falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-steel-plate-forced-aside-by-bare-hands-saved-a-life--74834952
A steel plate forced aside by bare hands saved a life

This episode explores the extraordinary journey of Franz Stampfl, an Austrian coach caught in the internment policies of wartime Britain. It delves into his fight for survival and the unexpected path that led him to shape athletic history.

Person: Franz Stampfl
Date: July 1940
Location: Atlantic Ocean
Event: Sinking of the SS Arandora Star
Status: Interned alien

- Franz Stampfl, a coach from Vienna, was interned by the British government as an "enemy alien" in 1940.
- He was placed on the SS Arandora Star, a converted luxury liner transporting deportees towards Canada.
- The ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat, sinking in thirty minutes.
- Stampfl swam for eight hours in oil-black Atlantic water after forcing a steel plate aside with his bare hands to escape the sinking vessel.
- After being rescued, he was not repatriated but sent to internment camps in Britain and then transported to Australia.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834952Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA coach from Vienna, interned as an enemy alien, survives a torpedoed ship in the Atlantic only to face more captivity. His athletic history is about to begin. A steel plate forced aside by bare hands saved a life This episode explores the...
A steel plate forced aside by bare hands saved a life

This episode explores the extraordinary journey of Franz Stampfl, an Austrian coach caught in the internment policies of wartime Britain. It delves into his fight for survival and the unexpected path that led him to shape athletic history.

Person: Franz Stampfl
Date: July 1940
Location: Atlantic Ocean
Event: Sinking of the SS Arandora Star
Status: Interned alien

- Franz Stampfl, a coach from Vienna, was interned by the British government as an "enemy alien" in 1940.
- He was placed on the SS Arandora Star, a converted luxury liner transporting deportees towards Canada.
- The ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat, sinking in thirty minutes.
- Stampfl swam for eight hours in oil-black Atlantic water after forcing a steel plate aside with his bare hands to escape the sinking vessel.
- After being rescued, he was not repatriated but sent to internment camps in Britain and then transported to Australia.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1381falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-german-banknote-that-carried-a-soldier-s-name-and-saved-a-witness--74834949
The German banknote that carried a soldier's name and saved a witness

In this episode, we follow a single banknote and the life it touches as it moves from a U.S. private to a twenty-one-year-old survivor at the end of World War II. The story traces the decisions, movements, and small proofs that kept a witness alive and asks what it cost her to keep them.

Person: Lily Ebert
Date: 1945
Location: a dirt road in Germany
Event: a U.S. Army private wrote his name on a German banknote and gave it to a liberated prisoner
Origin town: Bonyhád, Hungary

- Lily was twenty-one at liberation, eldest of six children from Bonyhád, carrying responsibilities and loss.
- In July 1944 the Engelman family were deported to Auschwitz; three siblings and their mother were killed on arrival.
- Lily and two sisters were selected for forced labor, later sent to a munitions factory near Leipzig.
- At the end of a forced march, Private Hayman Shulman used a German note to write a name and handed it to Lily when he had no other paper.
- Lily kept the folded banknote for seventy-seven years as a name, a witness, and a link to a soldier she could not yet trace.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834949Sun, 20 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA soldier pressed a German banknote with a hurried name into the hands of a liberated prisoner on a dirt road in 1945-how did that note expose them? The German banknote that carried a soldier's name and saved a witness In this episode, we follow...
The German banknote that carried a soldier's name and saved a witness

In this episode, we follow a single banknote and the life it touches as it moves from a U.S. private to a twenty-one-year-old survivor at the end of World War II. The story traces the decisions, movements, and small proofs that kept a witness alive and asks what it cost her to keep them.

Person: Lily Ebert
Date: 1945
Location: a dirt road in Germany
Event: a U.S. Army private wrote his name on a German banknote and gave it to a liberated prisoner
Origin town: Bonyhád, Hungary

- Lily was twenty-one at liberation, eldest of six children from Bonyhád, carrying responsibilities and loss.
- In July 1944 the Engelman family were deported to Auschwitz; three siblings and their mother were killed on arrival.
- Lily and two sisters were selected for forced labor, later sent to a munitions factory near Leipzig.
- At the end of a forced march, Private Hayman Shulman used a German note to write a name and handed it to Lily when he had no other paper.
- Lily kept the folded banknote for seventy-seven years as a name, a witness, and a link to a soldier she could not yet trace.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1340falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-old-party-organizer-who-told-lenin-to-move-stalin-s-body--74834947
The Old Party Organizer Who Told Lenin to Move Stalin's Body

This episode explores the extraordinary life of Dora Abramovna Abramovna, a woman who, at 77, made a shocking claim at the 22nd Soviet Party Organizer. We trace her journey from a gifted student to a seasoned revolutionary, revealing the experiences that led her to that pivotal moment.

Person: Dora Abramovna Abramovna
Date: October 1961
Event: 22nd Soviet Party Organizer
Location: Novozybkov, Chernihiv Governorate (birthplace)

- Dora Abramovna, born in 1884, was a gifted student who, by age 15, joined a local social-democratic circle and undertook "technical tasks" for an underground network.
- She joined the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party in 1902 at 18, using the pseudonym Sonya, and was arrested multiple times for her activism.
- In 1904, at 19, she lived in Geneva for eight months in the same apartment as Vladimir Lenin and Nadezhda Krupskaya.
- Her early political life involved forged passports, prison cells, and charges, including a murder charge in 1905 for which she was convicted and sentenced to one year.
- After 1917, she became a delegate to the Seventh All-Russian Social and by 1928, was director of the Leningrad State Pedagogical Institute, shaping teacher education for a generation.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834947Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:05 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA 77-year-old woman claims Lenin spoke to her, demanding Stalin's body be moved. The Soviet Party Organizer must decide if they believe her. The Old Party Organizer Who Told Lenin to Move Stalin's Body This episode explores the extraordinary...
The Old Party Organizer Who Told Lenin to Move Stalin's Body

This episode explores the extraordinary life of Dora Abramovna Abramovna, a woman who, at 77, made a shocking claim at the 22nd Soviet Party Organizer. We trace her journey from a gifted student to a seasoned revolutionary, revealing the experiences that led her to that pivotal moment.

Person: Dora Abramovna Abramovna
Date: October 1961
Event: 22nd Soviet Party Organizer
Location: Novozybkov, Chernihiv Governorate (birthplace)

- Dora Abramovna, born in 1884, was a gifted student who, by age 15, joined a local social-democratic circle and undertook "technical tasks" for an underground network.
- She joined the Russian Social-Democratic Labour Party in 1902 at 18, using the pseudonym Sonya, and was arrested multiple times for her activism.
- In 1904, at 19, she lived in Geneva for eight months in the same apartment as Vladimir Lenin and Nadezhda Krupskaya.
- Her early political life involved forged passports, prison cells, and charges, including a murder charge in 1905 for which she was convicted and sentenced to one year.
- After 1917, she became a delegate to the Seventh All-Russian Social and by 1928, was director of the Leningrad State Pedagogical Institute, shaping teacher education for a generation.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1053falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dressmaker-s-ledger-that-hid-the-sisters-secret-school--74834945
The dressmaker's ledger that hid the sisters' secret school

This episode explores the life of Anna Abrikosova, a woman whose faith led her to establish a clandestine religious community in Soviet Russia. It delves into her family background, education, and the decisions that shaped her path, ultimately leading to a confrontation with the state.

Person: Anna Abrikosova
Date: July 23, 1936
Location: Butyrka prison hospital
Event: Founding of a Greek-Catholic Dominican congregation
Status: Vatican review since 2002

- Georgii Friedman discovered women praying at a dresser that belonged to a congregation officially erased 38 years prior.
- Anna Abrikosova, born into the celebrated Abrikosov confectioner family, was educated by an English governess and attended Girton College, Cambridge.
- She converted to Catholicism in the Byzantine Rite in Paris in 1908, a decision that would later define her community in Russia.
- Her cousin Vladimir Abrikosov, whom she married, was ordained a Greek-Catholic priest by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky.
- Anna founded a congregation of Greek-Catholic Dominican sisters in her Moscow apartment, running a clandestine school and translating Catholic books.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834945Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTIn 1974, a Soviet jazz musician found old women praying at a dresser, revealing a congregation the state erased decades earlier. How did a dressmaker's ledger expose them? The dressmaker's ledger that hid the sisters' secret school This episode...
The dressmaker's ledger that hid the sisters' secret school

This episode explores the life of Anna Abrikosova, a woman whose faith led her to establish a clandestine religious community in Soviet Russia. It delves into her family background, education, and the decisions that shaped her path, ultimately leading to a confrontation with the state.

Person: Anna Abrikosova
Date: July 23, 1936
Location: Butyrka prison hospital
Event: Founding of a Greek-Catholic Dominican congregation
Status: Vatican review since 2002

- Georgii Friedman discovered women praying at a dresser that belonged to a congregation officially erased 38 years prior.
- Anna Abrikosova, born into the celebrated Abrikosov confectioner family, was educated by an English governess and attended Girton College, Cambridge.
- She converted to Catholicism in the Byzantine Rite in Paris in 1908, a decision that would later define her community in Russia.
- Her cousin Vladimir Abrikosov, whom she married, was ordained a Greek-Catholic priest by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky.
- Anna founded a congregation of Greek-Catholic Dominican sisters in her Moscow apartment, running a clandestine school and translating Catholic books.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1424falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-sandbag-that-bore-hostage-and-survived-738-days--74834944
The Sandbag That Bore "HOSTAGE" and Survived 738 Days

This episode explores the story of Avinatan Or, a man taken hostage by Hamas, focusing on his life before captivity and the extraordinary measures he took to maintain his sanity and identity while held underground. It delves into the silent struggle of a man using his engineering mind to survive an unimaginable ordeal.

Person: Avinatan Or
Date: October 7, 2023
Location: Nova music festival, Kibbutz Re'im
Event: Hamas assault
Captivity Duration: 738 days

- Avinatan Or, a 30-year-old chip designer for Nvidia and former elite Israeli soldier, was captured during the Hamas assault on the Nova music festival.
- He and his partner, Noa Argamani, attempted to evade militants in the woods before being found, with Argamani dragged onto a motorcycle and Or taken on foot into Gaza.
- Hamas classified Or as a captured soldier due to his IDF service, a distinction that impacted his treatment and future negotiations.
- During his captivity, Or used a Rubik's Cube and his engineering discipline to mentally map his surroundings and maintain his cognitive function in a windowless cell.
- He managed to briefly surface once, where he pressed the word "HOSTAGE" into a sandbag before being caught, beaten, and dragged back underground.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834944Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA man held captive for 738 days presses the word "HOSTAGE" into a sandbag in the dark, hoping it will be found. This act of defiance becomes his only message to the world. The Sandbag That Bore "HOSTAGE" and Survived 738 Days This episode...
The Sandbag That Bore "HOSTAGE" and Survived 738 Days

This episode explores the story of Avinatan Or, a man taken hostage by Hamas, focusing on his life before captivity and the extraordinary measures he took to maintain his sanity and identity while held underground. It delves into the silent struggle of a man using his engineering mind to survive an unimaginable ordeal.

Person: Avinatan Or
Date: October 7, 2023
Location: Nova music festival, Kibbutz Re'im
Event: Hamas assault
Captivity Duration: 738 days

- Avinatan Or, a 30-year-old chip designer for Nvidia and former elite Israeli soldier, was captured during the Hamas assault on the Nova music festival.
- He and his partner, Noa Argamani, attempted to evade militants in the woods before being found, with Argamani dragged onto a motorcycle and Or taken on foot into Gaza.
- Hamas classified Or as a captured soldier due to his IDF service, a distinction that impacted his treatment and future negotiations.
- During his captivity, Or used a Rubik's Cube and his engineering discipline to mentally map his surroundings and maintain his cognitive function in a windowless cell.
- He managed to briefly surface once, where he pressed the word "HOSTAGE" into a sandbag before being caught, beaten, and dragged back underground.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1159falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-public-defection-created-the-free-syrian-army--74834943
A public defection created the Free Syrian Army

This episode explores the journey of a Syrian Air Force colonel who publicly defected, triggering a revolution and the formation of the Free Syrian Army. It examines the challenges he faced in leading a fractured movement and the ultimate cost of his actions.

Person: Riad al-Asaad
Date: July 4, 2011
Location: Syria
Organization: Syrian Air Force
Event: Public Defection

- Riad al-Asaad, a Syrian Air Force colonel, made a public defection on camera on July 4, 2011, after decades of service to the Assad regime.
- Twenty-five days after his defection, al-Asaad declared the Free Syrian Army (FSA) into existence.
- By March 2012, eight months after its declaration, the FSA had grown to 75,000 fighters, largely due to the weight of a senior military defection in a military-centric state.
- Al-Asaad agreed to a UN-backed ceasefire in spring 2012, but the regime continued firing, leading him to declare the Annan plan a failure.
- In 2012, fellow FSA officer Colonel Kasim Saaduddin publicly disputed al-Asaad's effective control of the FSA.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834943Wed, 16 Sep 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Syrian Air Force colonel's public defection ignites a civil war, but his vision for a Free Syrian Army faces internal dissent and external pressures. A public defection created the Free Syrian Army This episode explores the journey of a Syrian...
A public defection created the Free Syrian Army

This episode explores the journey of a Syrian Air Force colonel who publicly defected, triggering a revolution and the formation of the Free Syrian Army. It examines the challenges he faced in leading a fractured movement and the ultimate cost of his actions.

Person: Riad al-Asaad
Date: July 4, 2011
Location: Syria
Organization: Syrian Air Force
Event: Public Defection

- Riad al-Asaad, a Syrian Air Force colonel, made a public defection on camera on July 4, 2011, after decades of service to the Assad regime.
- Twenty-five days after his defection, al-Asaad declared the Free Syrian Army (FSA) into existence.
- By March 2012, eight months after its declaration, the FSA had grown to 75,000 fighters, largely due to the weight of a senior military defection in a military-centric state.
- Al-Asaad agreed to a UN-backed ceasefire in spring 2012, but the regime continued firing, leading him to declare the Annan plan a failure.
- In 2012, fellow FSA officer Colonel Kasim Saaduddin publicly disputed al-Asaad's effective control of the FSA.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1164falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-leave-form-that-forced-her-to-prove-her-loyalties--74834940
The Leave Form That Forced Her to Prove Her Loyalties

This episode explores the life of Violet Kazue de Cristoforo, an Americans poet whose family was forcibly removed from their home during World War II. It delves into the impossible choices faced by Japanese Americans during this period.

Person: Violet Kazue de Cristoforo
Date: 1942
Location: Fresno, California
Event: Forced removal of Japanese Americans
Document: Leave clearance questionnaire

- Kazue Yamane was born in Hawaii to Japanese immigrant parents who later sent her to Hiroshima, Japan, for primary education.
- She returned to California at age thirteen, navigating both Japanese Americans and broader Americans cultures.
- Before World War II, she married Shigeru Matsuda, opened a Japanese bookstore, and became an established haiku poet in the kaiko style.
- Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the forced removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.
- In April 1942, a pregnant Kazue, recovering from surgery, was ordered to evacuate Fresno with her family to a converted fairground.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834940Tue, 15 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA celebrated poet gives birth in a horse stall on Americans soil, classified as a threat by her own government. Her Japanese ancestry is her only crime. The Leave Form That Forced Her to Prove Her Loyalties This episode explores the life of...
The Leave Form That Forced Her to Prove Her Loyalties

This episode explores the life of Violet Kazue de Cristoforo, an Americans poet whose family was forcibly removed from their home during World War II. It delves into the impossible choices faced by Japanese Americans during this period.

Person: Violet Kazue de Cristoforo
Date: 1942
Location: Fresno, California
Event: Forced removal of Japanese Americans
Document: Leave clearance questionnaire

- Kazue Yamane was born in Hawaii to Japanese immigrant parents who later sent her to Hiroshima, Japan, for primary education.
- She returned to California at age thirteen, navigating both Japanese Americans and broader Americans cultures.
- Before World War II, she married Shigeru Matsuda, opened a Japanese bookstore, and became an established haiku poet in the kaiko style.
- Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the forced removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.
- In April 1942, a pregnant Kazue, recovering from surgery, was ordered to evacuate Fresno with her family to a converted fairground.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>956falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-misread-telegram-undid-a-german-spy--74834938
A Misread Telegram Undid a German Spy

This episode explores the life of Hermann Görtz, a German agent who became a fugitive in wartime Ireland. It delves into the circumstances that led him to a fateful decision in Dublin Castle, and the question of what he knew about his impending deportation.

Person: Hermann Görtz
Date: May 23, 1947
Location: Dublin Castle, Ireland
Status: German agent
Event: Operation Mainau

- Hermann Görtz, a German lawyer with a doctorate in international law, served on the Eastern Front in WWI and earned the Iron Cross First Class.
- In 1927, Görtz visited Ireland and developed an affection for the country, later seeking out members of Clan na Gael.
- In 1935, Görtz was arrested in Britain after his landlady misread a telegram about his "bicycle combination" as a motorcycle theft.
- He was convicted under the Official Secrets Act for possessing documents related to RAF Manston and sentenced to four years.
- After his release and deportation to Germany in 1939, Görtz was employed by the Abwehr and given the mission Operation Mainau.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834938Mon, 14 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA German lawyer parachutes into neutral Ireland with a mission, but his past as a spy is exposed by a landlady's misread telegram. A Misread Telegram Undid a German Spy This episode explores the life of Hermann Görtz, a German agent who became a...
A Misread Telegram Undid a German Spy

This episode explores the life of Hermann Görtz, a German agent who became a fugitive in wartime Ireland. It delves into the circumstances that led him to a fateful decision in Dublin Castle, and the question of what he knew about his impending deportation.

Person: Hermann Görtz
Date: May 23, 1947
Location: Dublin Castle, Ireland
Status: German agent
Event: Operation Mainau

- Hermann Görtz, a German lawyer with a doctorate in international law, served on the Eastern Front in WWI and earned the Iron Cross First Class.
- In 1927, Görtz visited Ireland and developed an affection for the country, later seeking out members of Clan na Gael.
- In 1935, Görtz was arrested in Britain after his landlady misread a telegram about his "bicycle combination" as a motorcycle theft.
- He was convicted under the Official Secrets Act for possessing documents related to RAF Manston and sentenced to four years.
- After his release and deportation to Germany in 1939, Görtz was employed by the Abwehr and given the mission Operation Mainau.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1592falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-cafe-ledger-that-let-him-pose-as-a-japanese-major--74834936
The Café Ledger That Let Him Pose as a Japanese Major

In this episode, we follow how a man built and abandoned multiple lives across continents, then resurfaced as a self-styled Japanese major organizing in Black communities. What clues did everyday records-like a café ledger-leave behind that could unravel his false identity?

Person: Satokata Takahashi / Naka Nakane
Date: 1934 (deportation) and 1926-1932 (six-year disappearance and reappearance)
Location: Detroit; Moose Jaw; Tacoma; Kitsuki
Event: Deportation of a man with no U.S. entry records
Topic: Creation and maintenance of a false identity across decades

- Born Naka Nakane in 1870 in Kitsuki, Japan, raised in a former samurai family and taught English by a missionary.
- Naturalized as a British subject, ran the Carlton Cafe (1912) and La Hale Lodge (1918) in Moose Jaw while engaging politically with provincial officials.
- Abandoned his family and debts in 1926 and vanished from records for six years before reappearing under a new name.
- Reemerged in early 1930s Detroit as Satokata Takahashi, claiming Imperial Japanese Major rank and speaking in Black churches.
- Federal agents in 1934 deported a man who, by official papers, had never legally entered the United States.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834936Sun, 13 Sep 2026 08:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA man claiming to be Major Satokata Takahashi moves through Depression-era Detroit posing as a Japanese officer-how did the café ledger expose him? The Café Ledger That Let Him Pose as a Japanese Major In this episode, we follow how a man built...
The Café Ledger That Let Him Pose as a Japanese Major

In this episode, we follow how a man built and abandoned multiple lives across continents, then resurfaced as a self-styled Japanese major organizing in Black communities. What clues did everyday records-like a café ledger-leave behind that could unravel his false identity?

Person: Satokata Takahashi / Naka Nakane
Date: 1934 (deportation) and 1926-1932 (six-year disappearance and reappearance)
Location: Detroit; Moose Jaw; Tacoma; Kitsuki
Event: Deportation of a man with no U.S. entry records
Topic: Creation and maintenance of a false identity across decades

- Born Naka Nakane in 1870 in Kitsuki, Japan, raised in a former samurai family and taught English by a missionary.
- Naturalized as a British subject, ran the Carlton Cafe (1912) and La Hale Lodge (1918) in Moose Jaw while engaging politically with provincial officials.
- Abandoned his family and debts in 1926 and vanished from records for six years before reappearing under a new name.
- Reemerged in early 1930s Detroit as Satokata Takahashi, claiming Imperial Japanese Major rank and speaking in Black churches.
- Federal agents in 1934 deported a man who, by official papers, had never legally entered the United States.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1559falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-pewter-plate-revealed-the-world-s-first-photograph--74834934
The Pewter Plate Revealed the World's First Photograph

In this episode, we follow the moment a man recognizes a faint rooftop image on a pewter plate and trace the life and work that plate connects to. What does the plate reveal about the man who found it and the world around him?

Person: Helmut Gernsheim
Date: 1952
Event: HMT Dunera deportation to Australia (summer 1940)
Work: New Photo Vision (manuscript written in camp, published 1942)
Location: Hay internment camp, New South Wales

- A pewter plate the size of a dinner tray sat misidentified in a private collection for over a century until 1952.
- Helmut Gernsheim, a Jewish refugee and photographer, was classified as a “friendly enemy alien” and deported on the HMT Dunera.
- The Dunera voyage lasted fifty-seven days; internees were held below decks and had luggage looted.
- Inside Hay camp, Gernsheim lectured, wrote a manuscript that became New Photo Vision, and continued photographing after release.
- Gernsheim built a career photographing Baroque monuments in London, earning praise from Kenneth Clark and Nikolaus Pevsner.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834934Sat, 12 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Jewish refugee turned intern on a troopship holds a pewter plate and recognizes the world's oldest photograph-how did that image expose him? The Pewter Plate Revealed the World's First Photograph In this episode, we follow the moment a man...
The Pewter Plate Revealed the World's First Photograph

In this episode, we follow the moment a man recognizes a faint rooftop image on a pewter plate and trace the life and work that plate connects to. What does the plate reveal about the man who found it and the world around him?

Person: Helmut Gernsheim
Date: 1952
Event: HMT Dunera deportation to Australia (summer 1940)
Work: New Photo Vision (manuscript written in camp, published 1942)
Location: Hay internment camp, New South Wales

- A pewter plate the size of a dinner tray sat misidentified in a private collection for over a century until 1952.
- Helmut Gernsheim, a Jewish refugee and photographer, was classified as a “friendly enemy alien” and deported on the HMT Dunera.
- The Dunera voyage lasted fifty-seven days; internees were held below decks and had luggage looted.
- Inside Hay camp, Gernsheim lectured, wrote a manuscript that became New Photo Vision, and continued photographing after release.
- Gernsheim built a career photographing Baroque monuments in London, earning praise from Kenneth Clark and Nikolaus Pevsner.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1120falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-curriculum-change-that-turned-a-rector-into-a-target--74834932
The Curriculum Change That Turned a Rector into a Target

In this episode, we follow Bolesław Przybyszewski’s rise from prisoner of war to rector and the curricular battle that put him in the middle of Moscow’s cultural politics. What choices and changes at the conservatory made him vulnerable to the state?

Person: Bolesław Przybyszewski
Date of birth: February 22, 1892
Location: Moscow Conservatory
Event: Curriculum changes driven by RAMP pressure
Status: Sentenced by the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR on August 21, 1937

- He arrived in Russia as an interned enemy subject, settled in Orsk, and chose to remain during chaotic civil war years.
- By 1920 he was publicly defending his famous father’s reputation in print while living far from home.
- He joined the Communist Party, rose through cultural posts, and became rector of the Moscow Conservatory in 1929 at age 37.
- The Russian Association of Proletarian Musicians pushed a new curriculum that cut core music hours and added political-economic studies.
- Konstantin Saradzhev and others at the conservatory criticized the reduced hours in key disciplines as pernicious.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834932Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Moscow Conservatory rector cuts practice hours for a new curriculum and is suddenly marked by the state-how did that expose him? The Curriculum Change That Turned a Rector into a Target In this episode, we follow Bolesław Przybyszewski’s rise...
The Curriculum Change That Turned a Rector into a Target

In this episode, we follow Bolesław Przybyszewski’s rise from prisoner of war to rector and the curricular battle that put him in the middle of Moscow’s cultural politics. What choices and changes at the conservatory made him vulnerable to the state?

Person: Bolesław Przybyszewski
Date of birth: February 22, 1892
Location: Moscow Conservatory
Event: Curriculum changes driven by RAMP pressure
Status: Sentenced by the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR on August 21, 1937

- He arrived in Russia as an interned enemy subject, settled in Orsk, and chose to remain during chaotic civil war years.
- By 1920 he was publicly defending his famous father’s reputation in print while living far from home.
- He joined the Communist Party, rose through cultural posts, and became rector of the Moscow Conservatory in 1929 at age 37.
- The Russian Association of Proletarian Musicians pushed a new curriculum that cut core music hours and added political-economic studies.
- Konstantin Saradzhev and others at the conservatory criticized the reduced hours in key disciplines as pernicious.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1479falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-swiss-passport-that-branded-him-an-enemy-of-the-ussr--74834930
The Swiss Passport That Branded Him an Enemy of the USSR

In this episode, we follow the arc of a famous actor whose every practical choice to survive during wartime intersected with bureaucracy and suspicion. The episode traces his career, the inherited Swiss passport, and the interrogation that made that passport the pivot of his fate - could a neutral nationality be treated as a crime?

Person: Eugeniusz Bodo
Date: 20 October 1942 (sentence issued)
Location: Butyrki prison; transit depot in Kotlas
Origin: Łódź; Warsaw; Lwów
Document: Swiss passport in the name Junod

- Born Bohdan Eugène Junod, he built a Polish stardom under the stage name Eugeniusz Bodo
- His father Teodor Junod was Swiss and passed Swiss citizenship and a passport to his son
- Bodo fled east to Lwów, joined Tea-Jazz, toured the Soviet Union and recorded in Russian in 1940
- Arrested after Germany invaded the USSR in June 1941, interrogations began with his navy-blue Swiss passport
- NKVD officer Pyotr Fedotov noted the passport and signed the key document that would define the case

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834930Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Swiss passport in Soviet hands brands Poland’s biggest star an enemy of the USSR - how did six letters on a document become a death sentence? The Swiss Passport That Branded Him an Enemy of the USSR In this episode, we follow the arc of a...
The Swiss Passport That Branded Him an Enemy of the USSR

In this episode, we follow the arc of a famous actor whose every practical choice to survive during wartime intersected with bureaucracy and suspicion. The episode traces his career, the inherited Swiss passport, and the interrogation that made that passport the pivot of his fate - could a neutral nationality be treated as a crime?

Person: Eugeniusz Bodo
Date: 20 October 1942 (sentence issued)
Location: Butyrki prison; transit depot in Kotlas
Origin: Łódź; Warsaw; Lwów
Document: Swiss passport in the name Junod

- Born Bohdan Eugène Junod, he built a Polish stardom under the stage name Eugeniusz Bodo
- His father Teodor Junod was Swiss and passed Swiss citizenship and a passport to his son
- Bodo fled east to Lwów, joined Tea-Jazz, toured the Soviet Union and recorded in Russian in 1940
- Arrested after Germany invaded the USSR in June 1941, interrogations began with his navy-blue Swiss passport
- NKVD officer Pyotr Fedotov noted the passport and signed the key document that would define the case

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1399falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-legal-name-change-that-let-hala-become-lea-reshaped-her-career-and-identity--74834926
The legal name change that let Hala become Léa reshaped her career and identity

In this episode, we follow the moments that shaped a life: a legal name change in Paris, migration from Beirut to France, and the choices that steered a journalism career. We ask what that change cost and how it shaped public and private identity.

Person: Léa Salamé (born Hala Léa Salamé)
Date of birth: 27 October 1979
Location: Beirut (birth), Paris (family moved 1984)
Event: Legal name change in Paris before first internship and broadcast
Education: Lycée Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague; École alsacienne; Panthéon-Assas University; Sciences Po; New York University

- At age five her family left Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War and settled in Paris in 1984.
- She became a French citizen in 1988 and later attended Sciences Po and NYU, where she was in New York on 11 September 2001 and was injured.
- Before any public career, she legally changed the name on her birth certificate from Hala to Léa in a Paris government office.
- Early media access included an internship supervised by Jean-Pierre Elkabbach at La Chaîne parlementaire and an on-air role at Public Sénat.
- She rejected a written offer of €50,000 a month from BFM TV and accepted €25,000 a month at France 2, shortly before France 2’s audience rose.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834926Wed, 09 Sep 2026 08:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA refugee child turned journalist legally changed her name from Hala to Léa before her first broadcast-how did that legal name change expose her? The legal name change that let Hala become Léa reshaped her career and identity In this episode, we...
The legal name change that let Hala become Léa reshaped her career and identity

In this episode, we follow the moments that shaped a life: a legal name change in Paris, migration from Beirut to France, and the choices that steered a journalism career. We ask what that change cost and how it shaped public and private identity.

Person: Léa Salamé (born Hala Léa Salamé)
Date of birth: 27 October 1979
Location: Beirut (birth), Paris (family moved 1984)
Event: Legal name change in Paris before first internship and broadcast
Education: Lycée Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague; École alsacienne; Panthéon-Assas University; Sciences Po; New York University

- At age five her family left Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War and settled in Paris in 1984.
- She became a French citizen in 1988 and later attended Sciences Po and NYU, where she was in New York on 11 September 2001 and was injured.
- Before any public career, she legally changed the name on her birth certificate from Hala to Léa in a Paris government office.
- Early media access included an internship supervised by Jean-Pierre Elkabbach at La Chaîne parlementaire and an on-air role at Public Sénat.
- She rejected a written offer of €50,000 a month from BFM TV and accepted €25,000 a month at France 2, shortly before France 2’s audience rose.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1157falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-book-that-drew-the-blade-that-killed-him--74834925
The book that drew the blade that killed him

This episode explores the life and mysterious death of a prolific Bangladeshi writer, tracing the events that led to a brutal attack and his subsequent demise. It delves into the impact of his work and the questions surrounding his final days.

Person: Humayun Azad
Date of birth: April 28, 1947
Date of death: August 12, 2004
Location of death: Munich
Cause of death: Not officially established

- Humayun Azad changed his surname from Azad to Azad, meaning "free" in Bengali, in 1988 as a declaration.
- He earned a doctorate in linguistics from the University of Edinburgh in 1976 and became a full professor at the University of Dhaka by 1986.
- His 1992 feminist treatise, "Naree," was banned in 1995 but the ban was lifted by the High Court of Bangladesh in 2000.
- In 2003, excerpts from his novel "Pak Sar Jamin Sad Bad," a critique of Islamic extremist ideology, led to threats and calls for its ban.
- One week before the machete attack, a member of parliament publicly called for the novel's ban and for blasphemy law to be applied to Humayun Azad.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834925Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA professor survives a machete attack after publishing a controversial novel, only to be found dead months later in Munich with no clear cause of death. The book that drew the blade that killed him This episode explores the life and mysterious...
The book that drew the blade that killed him

This episode explores the life and mysterious death of a prolific Bangladeshi writer, tracing the events that led to a brutal attack and his subsequent demise. It delves into the impact of his work and the questions surrounding his final days.

Person: Humayun Azad
Date of birth: April 28, 1947
Date of death: August 12, 2004
Location of death: Munich
Cause of death: Not officially established

- Humayun Azad changed his surname from Azad to Azad, meaning "free" in Bengali, in 1988 as a declaration.
- He earned a doctorate in linguistics from the University of Edinburgh in 1976 and became a full professor at the University of Dhaka by 1986.
- His 1992 feminist treatise, "Naree," was banned in 1995 but the ban was lifted by the High Court of Bangladesh in 2000.
- In 2003, excerpts from his novel "Pak Sar Jamin Sad Bad," a critique of Islamic extremist ideology, led to threats and calls for its ban.
- One week before the machete attack, a member of parliament publicly called for the novel's ban and for blasphemy law to be applied to Humayun Azad.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1112falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-pen-the-government-handed-him-wrote-his-first-article--74834924
The pen the government handed him wrote his first article

This episode explores the early life of Albert Saijo, a Japanese American writer who began his career while interned during World War II. It delves into the complex circumstances surrounding his first published work and the tensions that shaped his perspective.

Person: Albert Saijo Saijo
Date: December 7, 1942
Location: Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Wyoming
Event: Publication of first article
Order: Executive Order 9066

- Albert Saijo was named after his father's wealthy industrialist employer, Albert Saijo Holden.
- His mother, Asano, was a picture bride who wrote columns for Japanese-American newspapers and participated in haiku groups.
- The Saijo family was first taken to the Pomona Assembly Center before being transferred to Heart Mountain.
- The Heart Mountain Echoes, the camp's school newspaper, was supervised by the War Relocation Authority.
- Saijo's later editorials in the Echoes explicitly linked internment to imprisonment and racial discrimination.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834924Mon, 07 Sep 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Japanese American teen in a WWII internment camp publishes his first article - but will the government that imprisoned him allow it? The pen the government handed him wrote his first article This episode explores the early life of Albert...
The pen the government handed him wrote his first article

This episode explores the early life of Albert Saijo, a Japanese American writer who began his career while interned during World War II. It delves into the complex circumstances surrounding his first published work and the tensions that shaped his perspective.

Person: Albert Saijo Saijo
Date: December 7, 1942
Location: Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Wyoming
Event: Publication of first article
Order: Executive Order 9066

- Albert Saijo was named after his father's wealthy industrialist employer, Albert Saijo Holden.
- His mother, Asano, was a picture bride who wrote columns for Japanese-American newspapers and participated in haiku groups.
- The Saijo family was first taken to the Pomona Assembly Center before being transferred to Heart Mountain.
- The Heart Mountain Echoes, the camp's school newspaper, was supervised by the War Relocation Authority.
- Saijo's later editorials in the Echoes explicitly linked internment to imprisonment and racial discrimination.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1145falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-secret-memo-saved-15-345-lives-from-a-german-estate--74834921
A secret memo saved 15,345 lives from a German estate

This episode explores the complex life of Johan Bernhard Hjort, a Norwegian lawyer and former fascist co-founder, whose actions during World War II led to a significant rescue operation. It delves into the contradictions of his past and the motivations behind his wartime efforts.

Person: Johan Bernhard Hjort
Date: October 26, 1944
Location: German estate
Lives saved: 15,345
Affiliation: Nasjonal Samling (National Unity party)

- Johan Bernhard Hjort, a Norwegian supreme court lawyer, co-founded the fascist Nasjonal Samling party in 1933.
- In 1935, he proposed reintroducing a constitutional clause that would exclude Jews from Norway.
- By 1936, Hjort's relationship with the party began to shift after a chaotic rally and a meeting with Heinrich Himmler.
- In February 1937, Hjort resigned from Nasjonal Samling, before the German occupation of Norway began.
- After the German invasion in 1940, Hjort, as a conscripted sergeant, attempted to use his German family connections to stop Vidkun Quisling's coup.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834921Sun, 06 Sep 2026 08:00:02 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA civilian internee on a German estate sends a secret memo through diplomatic channels, requesting the transfer of Norwegian prisoners to Sweden. His actions will expose the true nature of wartime rescue operations. A secret memo saved 15,345 lives...
A secret memo saved 15,345 lives from a German estate

This episode explores the complex life of Johan Bernhard Hjort, a Norwegian lawyer and former fascist co-founder, whose actions during World War II led to a significant rescue operation. It delves into the contradictions of his past and the motivations behind his wartime efforts.

Person: Johan Bernhard Hjort
Date: October 26, 1944
Location: German estate
Lives saved: 15,345
Affiliation: Nasjonal Samling (National Unity party)

- Johan Bernhard Hjort, a Norwegian supreme court lawyer, co-founded the fascist Nasjonal Samling party in 1933.
- In 1935, he proposed reintroducing a constitutional clause that would exclude Jews from Norway.
- By 1936, Hjort's relationship with the party began to shift after a chaotic rally and a meeting with Heinrich Himmler.
- In February 1937, Hjort resigned from Nasjonal Samling, before the German occupation of Norway began.
- After the German invasion in 1940, Hjort, as a conscripted sergeant, attempted to use his German family connections to stop Vidkun Quisling's coup.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1602falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/four-words-exposed-a-leader-s-secret-knowledge--74834918
Four words exposed a leader's secret knowledge

This episode explores the life of Balthazar Johannes Vorster, a prominent figure in South African history whose name was quietly removed from a university building decades after his influence. It delves into the circumstances surrounding his internment during World War II and his later political ascent, revealing the complex legacy of a man whose actions shaped a nation.

Person: Balthazar Johannes Vorster
Date: 1915 (birth), 1942 (internment), 1965 (Nelson Mandela's imprisonment)
Location: Stellenbosch University, Jamestown (Cape Province), Koffiefontein (Northern Cape)
Organization: Ossewabrandwag (Ox-Wagon Sentinel)
Event: Anglo-Boer War, Second World War

- Balthazar Johannes Vorster was the fifteenth child of an Afrikaner farming family, born in 1915 in the rural Cape Province.
- He attended Stellenbosch University in the 1930s, becoming chairman of the debating society and leader of the junior National Party branch.
- In 1938, the Ossewabrandwag was founded, an organization that became explicitly pro-Nazi and conducted sabotage against South Africa's war infrastructure during World War II.
- Vorster joined the Ossewabrandwag after 1939, rising to the rank of general in its paramilitary wing, the Stormjaers.
- In 1942, he publicly stated, "We stand for Christian nationalism which is an ally of National Socialism," leading to his internment by his own government in a detention camp.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834918Sat, 05 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA leader's past is hidden when a university removes his name, but a financial scandal and a four-word commission finding expose his secret knowledge. Four words exposed a leader's secret knowledge This episode explores the life of Balthazar...
Four words exposed a leader's secret knowledge

This episode explores the life of Balthazar Johannes Vorster, a prominent figure in South African history whose name was quietly removed from a university building decades after his influence. It delves into the circumstances surrounding his internment during World War II and his later political ascent, revealing the complex legacy of a man whose actions shaped a nation.

Person: Balthazar Johannes Vorster
Date: 1915 (birth), 1942 (internment), 1965 (Nelson Mandela's imprisonment)
Location: Stellenbosch University, Jamestown (Cape Province), Koffiefontein (Northern Cape)
Organization: Ossewabrandwag (Ox-Wagon Sentinel)
Event: Anglo-Boer War, Second World War

- Balthazar Johannes Vorster was the fifteenth child of an Afrikaner farming family, born in 1915 in the rural Cape Province.
- He attended Stellenbosch University in the 1930s, becoming chairman of the debating society and leader of the junior National Party branch.
- In 1938, the Ossewabrandwag was founded, an organization that became explicitly pro-Nazi and conducted sabotage against South Africa's war infrastructure during World War II.
- Vorster joined the Ossewabrandwag after 1939, rising to the rank of general in its paramilitary wing, the Stormjaers.
- In 1942, he publicly stated, "We stand for Christian nationalism which is an ally of National Socialism," leading to his internment by his own government in a detention camp.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1140falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-exemption-that-failed-to-protect-a-man--74834915
The Exemption That Failed to Protect a Man

This episode explores the journey of Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack, a Bauhaus artist and teacher, as he navigates the complexities of pre-war Europe and the British internment policies despite an official exemption. It raises the question of what it truly costs a person to carry a lifetime of work and experience through such upheaval.

Person: Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack
Date: October 1939
Employer: Dulwich College
Invention: Farbenlichtspiele (colour-light plays)

- Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack was officially exempted from enemy alien internment by the British government in October 1939.
- He was a teacher whose work focused on the relationship between color and music, having studied at the Debschitz-Schule and the Bauhaus.
- At the Bauhaus, he developed "Farbenlichtspiele," a machine that projected moving colored light through geometric stencils, timed to his own music.
- Ludwig studied under notable artists like Johannes Itten, Paul Klee, and Wassily Kandinsky, and even ran his own unofficial color course.
- After being dismissed from institutions in Germany due to political shifts, he left for England in 1936 under the Quaker Subsistence Program.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834915Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:00:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA British exemption should protect a man, but a Bauhaus artist finds himself aboard a troopship-what will become of him? The Exemption That Failed to Protect a Man This episode explores the journey of Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack, a Bauhaus artist and...
The Exemption That Failed to Protect a Man

This episode explores the journey of Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack, a Bauhaus artist and teacher, as he navigates the complexities of pre-war Europe and the British internment policies despite an official exemption. It raises the question of what it truly costs a person to carry a lifetime of work and experience through such upheaval.

Person: Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack
Date: October 1939
Employer: Dulwich College
Invention: Farbenlichtspiele (colour-light plays)

- Ludwig Hirschfeld-Mack was officially exempted from enemy alien internment by the British government in October 1939.
- He was a teacher whose work focused on the relationship between color and music, having studied at the Debschitz-Schule and the Bauhaus.
- At the Bauhaus, he developed "Farbenlichtspiele," a machine that projected moving colored light through geometric stencils, timed to his own music.
- Ludwig studied under notable artists like Johannes Itten, Paul Klee, and Wassily Kandinsky, and even ran his own unofficial color course.
- After being dismissed from institutions in Germany due to political shifts, he left for England in 1936 under the Quaker Subsistence Program.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1181falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-fifteen-year-old-name-she-chose-that-survived-a-gulag--74834913
The Fifteen‑Year‑Old Name She Chose That Survived a Gulag

In this episode, we follow Natalya Yevgenevna Semper from Moscow salons to Soviet prisons, tracing the choices and practices that shaped her life before and during her sentence. What role did a self‑chosen name and a life of language play in the years that followed?

Person: Natalya Yevgenevna Semper (born Sokolova)
Date: Arrest July 1949; sentence ten years; released April 1955
Location: Moscow; Lubyanka; Butyrka; Vyatlag labor camp
Occupation: Translator, reviewer, Egyptological scholar
Education: Second Moscow State University; Moscow State Linguistic University

- At fifteen she deliberately adopted the pseudonym Nelly Semper and used it publicly and professionally for life.
- Raised in an artistically saturated Moscow household with a Bolshoi dancer mother and an artist father, she absorbed culture as atmosphere.
- She trained in modern and Oriental languages, working by 1935 at VOKS and later with writer Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky.
- Despite the Great Terror and the suspicious role of cultural institutions, she continued translating, teaching herself additional languages and writing memoirs.
- In July 1949 two agents arrested her without warning under Article 58; she passed through Lubyanka and Butyrka before a ten‑year labor camp sentence.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834913Thu, 03 Sep 2026 08:00:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Moscow translator seized in 1949 faces Article 58 and a decade in a Gulag-how did the name she chose at fifteen help expose her inner survival? The Fifteen‑Year‑Old Name She Chose That Survived a Gulag In this episode, we follow Natalya...
The Fifteen‑Year‑Old Name She Chose That Survived a Gulag

In this episode, we follow Natalya Yevgenevna Semper from Moscow salons to Soviet prisons, tracing the choices and practices that shaped her life before and during her sentence. What role did a self‑chosen name and a life of language play in the years that followed?

Person: Natalya Yevgenevna Semper (born Sokolova)
Date: Arrest July 1949; sentence ten years; released April 1955
Location: Moscow; Lubyanka; Butyrka; Vyatlag labor camp
Occupation: Translator, reviewer, Egyptological scholar
Education: Second Moscow State University; Moscow State Linguistic University

- At fifteen she deliberately adopted the pseudonym Nelly Semper and used it publicly and professionally for life.
- Raised in an artistically saturated Moscow household with a Bolshoi dancer mother and an artist father, she absorbed culture as atmosphere.
- She trained in modern and Oriental languages, working by 1935 at VOKS and later with writer Sigizmund Krzhizhanovsky.
- Despite the Great Terror and the suspicious role of cultural institutions, she continued translating, teaching herself additional languages and writing memoirs.
- In July 1949 two agents arrested her without warning under Article 58; she passed through Lubyanka and Butyrka before a ten‑year labor camp sentence.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1302falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-letter-to-stalin-that-brought-him-home-to-die--74834911
The letter to Stalin that brought him home to die

This episode explores the life of Yusif Vazirov, a prolific writer and diplomat, tracing his journey from his birth in Azerbaijan to his return to the Soviet Union and the unresolved mystery surrounding his most famous work.

Person: Yusif Vazirov
Born: September 12, 1887
Birthplace: Shusha, Azerbaijan
Profession: Novelist, diplomat, lawyer
Pen Name: Chamanzaminli

- Yusif Vazirov used at least fifteen pen names before the age of twenty, each carefully chosen, such as "Badbakht" (the Unlucky One) and "Stradayushiy" (Sufferer).
- He made a private vow to use the pen name Chamanzaminli, honoring the three brothers who nursed him through typhoid and sheltered his father.
- Vazirov studied engineering, then law, graduating in 1915, training that would prove crucial later in his life.
- In 1907, he met Berta Maiseyeva, identified by researchers as the prototype for Nino in the novel Ali and Nino.
- After the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic dissolved, Vazirov, a diplomat for a non-existent country, worked in a Paris automobile factory and wrote for a small journal.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834911Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:24:19 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA novelist and diplomat returns to the Soviet Union after years abroad, believing it a "long-awaited shore," only to face the regime's growing machinery. The letter to Stalin that brought him home to die This episode explores the life of Yusif...
The letter to Stalin that brought him home to die

This episode explores the life of Yusif Vazirov, a prolific writer and diplomat, tracing his journey from his birth in Azerbaijan to his return to the Soviet Union and the unresolved mystery surrounding his most famous work.

Person: Yusif Vazirov
Born: September 12, 1887
Birthplace: Shusha, Azerbaijan
Profession: Novelist, diplomat, lawyer
Pen Name: Chamanzaminli

- Yusif Vazirov used at least fifteen pen names before the age of twenty, each carefully chosen, such as "Badbakht" (the Unlucky One) and "Stradayushiy" (Sufferer).
- He made a private vow to use the pen name Chamanzaminli, honoring the three brothers who nursed him through typhoid and sheltered his father.
- Vazirov studied engineering, then law, graduating in 1915, training that would prove crucial later in his life.
- In 1907, he met Berta Maiseyeva, identified by researchers as the prototype for Nino in the novel Ali and Nino.
- After the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic dissolved, Vazirov, a diplomat for a non-existent country, worked in a Paris automobile factory and wrote for a small journal.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1152falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-fresh-surgical-scar-that-contradicted-her-hostage-video--74834908
The fresh surgical scar that contradicted her hostage video

This episode details the abduction of Mia Schem from the Nova music festival and her subsequent 54-day captivity in Gaza. It explores how a forced video released by her captors presented a stark contrast to the reality of her experience, revealed by a visible injury.

Person: Mia Schem
Date: October 7, 2023
Location: Nova music festival, southern Israel
Event: Civilian abduction
Status: Hostage for 54 days

- Mia Schem, a 21-year-old French-Israeli tattoo artist, sent a text message from a field in southern Israel stating, "They are shooting at us please come save us."
- She was attending the Nova music festival, an outdoor rave near Re'im, close to the Gaza border.
- Mia and her friend Elia Toledano were in Elia's car when Hamas militants breached the border fence and attacked the festival.
- Mia was shot in the arm at point-blank range by a Hamas militant and then taken into Gaza along with Elia.
- On October 16, Hamas released a hostage video of Mia, where she stated she was being treated with care, but a fresh surgical scar on her arm was visible.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834908Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:24:15 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA young tattoo artist is abducted from a music festival, and her forced hostage video becomes the first glimpse into a brutal captivity. But a fresh surgical scar tells a different story. The fresh surgical scar that contradicted her hostage video...
The fresh surgical scar that contradicted her hostage video

This episode details the abduction of Mia Schem from the Nova music festival and her subsequent 54-day captivity in Gaza. It explores how a forced video released by her captors presented a stark contrast to the reality of her experience, revealed by a visible injury.

Person: Mia Schem
Date: October 7, 2023
Location: Nova music festival, southern Israel
Event: Civilian abduction
Status: Hostage for 54 days

- Mia Schem, a 21-year-old French-Israeli tattoo artist, sent a text message from a field in southern Israel stating, "They are shooting at us please come save us."
- She was attending the Nova music festival, an outdoor rave near Re'im, close to the Gaza border.
- Mia and her friend Elia Toledano were in Elia's car when Hamas militants breached the border fence and attacked the festival.
- Mia was shot in the arm at point-blank range by a Hamas militant and then taken into Gaza along with Elia.
- On October 16, Hamas released a hostage video of Mia, where she stated she was being treated with care, but a fresh surgical scar on her arm was visible.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1190falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-market-stall-that-kept-paying-rent-while-he-vanished--74834906
The Market Stall That Kept Paying Rent While He Vanished

This episode tells the story of Elkana Bohbot, a logistics manager and aspiring ice cream shop owner, whose life takes an unexpected turn on October 7, 2023. It explores the harrowing experience of being held captive and the profound impact on his family.

Person: Elkana Bohbot
Date: October 7, 2023
Location: Tel Aviv, Mevaseret Zion, Gaza
Event: Nova Festival attack

- Elkana Bohbot, a 34-year-old logistics manager, planned to open a gourmet ice cream stall in Tel Aviv.
- On the morning of October 7, 2023, he was working at the Nova Festival, where his company built the stage.
- He called his mother, Ruhama, at 7:50 AM, stating he was helping others evacuate and would come home soon.
- His wife, Rivka, warned him about terrorists in pickup trucks disguised as Israeli military vehicles.
- At noon, a friend confirmed Elkana's capture via a Hamas video showing him bound and injured alongside other Nova hostages.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834906Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:24:11 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA market stall in Tel Aviv keeps paying rent for 738 days, even though its owner, a logistics manager, has vanished. His family learns he is a Gaza hostage. The Market Stall That Kept Paying Rent While He Vanished This episode tells the story of...
The Market Stall That Kept Paying Rent While He Vanished

This episode tells the story of Elkana Bohbot, a logistics manager and aspiring ice cream shop owner, whose life takes an unexpected turn on October 7, 2023. It explores the harrowing experience of being held captive and the profound impact on his family.

Person: Elkana Bohbot
Date: October 7, 2023
Location: Tel Aviv, Mevaseret Zion, Gaza
Event: Nova Festival attack

- Elkana Bohbot, a 34-year-old logistics manager, planned to open a gourmet ice cream stall in Tel Aviv.
- On the morning of October 7, 2023, he was working at the Nova Festival, where his company built the stage.
- He called his mother, Ruhama, at 7:50 AM, stating he was helping others evacuate and would come home soon.
- His wife, Rivka, warned him about terrorists in pickup trucks disguised as Israeli military vehicles.
- At noon, a friend confirmed Elkana's capture via a Hamas video showing him bound and injured alongside other Nova hostages.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1006falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-manzanar-name-that-turned-a-scientist-into-a-forest-builder--74834905
The Manzanar Name That Turned a Scientist into a Forest-builder

In this episode, we trace the life choices that led Gordon Hisashi Hisashi from Manzanar to the National Academy of Sciences and then to planting nearly a million trees in Eritrea. What drove him to choose mangroves, Eritrea, and to keep the name Manzanar for the project?

Person: Gordon Hisashi Hisashi
Date of birth: December 17, 1927
Event: Imprisonment at Manzanar Relocation Camp
Location: Terminal Island, East San Pedro; Manzanar; Red Sea coast of Eritrea
Achievement: Elected to the National Academy of Sciences; co-recipient of Rosenstiel Award

- At age fourteen Hisashi was removed from Terminal Island under Executive Order 9066 and sent to Manzanar, where he played baseball and saxophone in the camp jazz band.
- After Manzanar closed in 1945 he resumed education, earning a B.S, in biochemistry (USC, 1951) and a Ph.D, in biophysics from Caltech (1955) under Max Delbrück.
- Hisashi’s postdoctoral work included labs with Gunther Stent and Theodore Puck, and he joined Brandeis faculty in 1958, later directing the W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center.
- He shared the Rosenstiel Award with Stanley Cohen and Rita Levi-Montalcini and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1984, while remaining active in high-level biomedical research.
- In his mid-fifties he left institutional science to establish a mangrove reforestation project on Eritrea’s Red Sea coast, naming it Manzanar and planting trees in saltwater and desert conditions.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834905Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:24:07 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Japanese American scientist from Manzanar names a Red Sea mangrove project after the camp - will she build it? The Manzanar Name That Turned a Scientist into a Forest-builder In this episode, we trace the life choices that led Gordon Hisashi...
The Manzanar Name That Turned a Scientist into a Forest-builder

In this episode, we trace the life choices that led Gordon Hisashi Hisashi from Manzanar to the National Academy of Sciences and then to planting nearly a million trees in Eritrea. What drove him to choose mangroves, Eritrea, and to keep the name Manzanar for the project?

Person: Gordon Hisashi Hisashi
Date of birth: December 17, 1927
Event: Imprisonment at Manzanar Relocation Camp
Location: Terminal Island, East San Pedro; Manzanar; Red Sea coast of Eritrea
Achievement: Elected to the National Academy of Sciences; co-recipient of Rosenstiel Award

- At age fourteen Hisashi was removed from Terminal Island under Executive Order 9066 and sent to Manzanar, where he played baseball and saxophone in the camp jazz band.
- After Manzanar closed in 1945 he resumed education, earning a B.S, in biochemistry (USC, 1951) and a Ph.D, in biophysics from Caltech (1955) under Max Delbrück.
- Hisashi’s postdoctoral work included labs with Gunther Stent and Theodore Puck, and he joined Brandeis faculty in 1958, later directing the W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center.
- He shared the Rosenstiel Award with Stanley Cohen and Rita Levi-Montalcini and was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1984, while remaining active in high-level biomedical research.
- In his mid-fifties he left institutional science to establish a mangrove reforestation project on Eritrea’s Red Sea coast, naming it Manzanar and planting trees in saltwater and desert conditions.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1257falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-wartime-stall-that-shaped-a-scholar-s-fight-for-justice--74834903
The Wartime Stall That Shaped a Scholar's Fight for Justice

In this episode, we follow the arc from a toddler’s confinement in a converted horse stall to a lifetime of questions about citizenship, labor, and structural power. It traces the places and decisions that shaped Evelyn Nakano Glenn’s path and asks how those beginnings pushed her into a career of naming systemic injustice.

Person: Evelyn Nakano Glenn
Date: February 19, 1942 (Executive Order 9066)
Location: Turlock Assembly Center; Gila River War Relocation Center; Heart Mountain
Event: Forced removal and incarceration of people of Japanese ancestry
Topic: Labor, citizenship, and structural confinement

- Two-year-old Evelyn lived in a converted horse stall at the Turlock Assembly Center that still smelled of animals.
- Executive Order 9066 authorized forced removal of people of Japanese ancestry from the Pacific Coast.
- The family was moved from Turlock to Gila River, Arizona, then to Heart Mountain, Wyoming, all before she was five.
- Postwar displacement sent the family to Chicago, redirecting the community’s geographic and social ties.
- Evelyn became a sociologist who focused on structural questions-labor, citizenship, and how confinement operates beyond fences.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834903Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:24:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA two-year-old newborn in a horse stall at Turlock grows into a sociologist who confronts how a nation confines its own - how did that stall expose her? The Wartime Stall That Shaped a Scholar's Fight for Justice In this episode, we follow the...
The Wartime Stall That Shaped a Scholar's Fight for Justice

In this episode, we follow the arc from a toddler’s confinement in a converted horse stall to a lifetime of questions about citizenship, labor, and structural power. It traces the places and decisions that shaped Evelyn Nakano Glenn’s path and asks how those beginnings pushed her into a career of naming systemic injustice.

Person: Evelyn Nakano Glenn
Date: February 19, 1942 (Executive Order 9066)
Location: Turlock Assembly Center; Gila River War Relocation Center; Heart Mountain
Event: Forced removal and incarceration of people of Japanese ancestry
Topic: Labor, citizenship, and structural confinement

- Two-year-old Evelyn lived in a converted horse stall at the Turlock Assembly Center that still smelled of animals.
- Executive Order 9066 authorized forced removal of people of Japanese ancestry from the Pacific Coast.
- The family was moved from Turlock to Gila River, Arizona, then to Heart Mountain, Wyoming, all before she was five.
- Postwar displacement sent the family to Chicago, redirecting the community’s geographic and social ties.
- Evelyn became a sociologist who focused on structural questions-labor, citizenship, and how confinement operates beyond fences.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1115falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-denis-facade-rolled-outward-and-made-aalbers-famous--74834900
The DENIS facade rolled outward and made Aalbers famous

This episode explores the story of Albert Frederik Aalbers, an architect who designed the DENIS Bank on Braga Street in Bandung, Dutch East Indies, and the personal cost of his architectural ambition amidst a changing world.

Person: Albert Frederik Aalbers
Location: Bandung, Dutch East Indies
Year: 1935
Building: DENIS Bank
Topic: Colonial Architecture

- Albert Aalbers trained at the Rotterdam Academy of Visual Arts and Techniques, absorbing Dutch expressionism, Frank Lloyd Wright's horizontal logic, and Le Corbusier's open structural thinking.
- After his Rotterdam office collapsed in 1926, Aalbers moved to the Dutch East Indies in 1928 with his wife, initially working for a contractor in Sukabumi.
- In 1930, Aalbers established himself as a freelance architect in Bandung, a city undergoing significant infrastructure investment without a clear purpose, creating an "architecture laboratory."
- The DENIS Bank commission in 1935 required a building on Braga Street, and Aalbers delivered a design featuring six curved horizontal platforms and a central vertical lift tower.
- The design for the DENIS Bank incorporated elements from Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright, but also a unique fluidity that resembled water caught mid-motion.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834900Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:59 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn architect builds a radical bank facade in colonial Indonesia - then the world shuts down around him. What did this architecture cost him? The DENIS facade rolled outward and made Aalbers famous This episode explores the story of Albert...
The DENIS facade rolled outward and made Aalbers famous

This episode explores the story of Albert Frederik Aalbers, an architect who designed the DENIS Bank on Braga Street in Bandung, Dutch East Indies, and the personal cost of his architectural ambition amidst a changing world.

Person: Albert Frederik Aalbers
Location: Bandung, Dutch East Indies
Year: 1935
Building: DENIS Bank
Topic: Colonial Architecture

- Albert Aalbers trained at the Rotterdam Academy of Visual Arts and Techniques, absorbing Dutch expressionism, Frank Lloyd Wright's horizontal logic, and Le Corbusier's open structural thinking.
- After his Rotterdam office collapsed in 1926, Aalbers moved to the Dutch East Indies in 1928 with his wife, initially working for a contractor in Sukabumi.
- In 1930, Aalbers established himself as a freelance architect in Bandung, a city undergoing significant infrastructure investment without a clear purpose, creating an "architecture laboratory."
- The DENIS Bank commission in 1935 required a building on Braga Street, and Aalbers delivered a design featuring six curved horizontal platforms and a central vertical lift tower.
- The design for the DENIS Bank incorporated elements from Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright, but also a unique fluidity that resembled water caught mid-motion.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>945falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-jewish-quota-blocked-his-architecture-dreams-changing-his-life--74834897
A Jewish quota blocked his architecture dreams, changing his life

This episode explores the early life of Simon Wiesenthal, a man who survived five concentration camps and dedicated his life to pursuing justice. It delves into the discrepancies between his autobiographical accounts and documented facts, raising questions about the accuracy of his personal narrative.

Person: Simon Wiesenthal
Date: May 5, 1945
Location: Mauthausen concentration camp
Weight: 41 kilograms
Family losses: 89 relatives

- Simon Wiesenthal was born in 1908 in Buczacz, a town at the edge of empires.
- His father died on the Eastern Front during World War I, and his younger brother died in 1924, leaving him and his mother.
- A Jewish quota prevented him from attending the Polytechnic in Lwów, redirecting his education to Prague.
- During World War II, Wiesenthal and his wife Cyla were transferred to Janowska concentration camp.
- Wiesenthal traded railway intelligence for false papers, allowing Cyla to escape to Warsaw under a false identity.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834897Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:55 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA man rebuilt from a death block dedicates six decades to justice, but his version of events contains contradictions. How did his story change? A Jewish quota blocked his architecture dreams, changing his life This episode explores the early...
A Jewish quota blocked his architecture dreams, changing his life

This episode explores the early life of Simon Wiesenthal, a man who survived five concentration camps and dedicated his life to pursuing justice. It delves into the discrepancies between his autobiographical accounts and documented facts, raising questions about the accuracy of his personal narrative.

Person: Simon Wiesenthal
Date: May 5, 1945
Location: Mauthausen concentration camp
Weight: 41 kilograms
Family losses: 89 relatives

- Simon Wiesenthal was born in 1908 in Buczacz, a town at the edge of empires.
- His father died on the Eastern Front during World War I, and his younger brother died in 1924, leaving him and his mother.
- A Jewish quota prevented him from attending the Polytechnic in Lwów, redirecting his education to Prague.
- During World War II, Wiesenthal and his wife Cyla were transferred to Janowska concentration camp.
- Wiesenthal traded railway intelligence for false papers, allowing Cyla to escape to Warsaw under a false identity.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1341falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-diplomat-who-vanished-four-years-in-rhodesia--74834896
The Diplomat Who Vanished: Four Years in Rhodesia

This episode explores the life of Jamal al-Husayni, a diplomat from Jerusalem who was interned in Southern Rhodesia for four years without trial. It questions the kind of life that leads to such an outcome, revealing a story stranger than it first appears.

Person: Jamal al-Husayni
Period: 1894-1982
Location: Jerusalem, Southern Rhodesia, Beirut
Status: Diplomat, interned without trial
Event: Internment in Southern Rhodesia

- Jamal al-Husayni was born into a prominent Arab family in Jerusalem, deeply embedded in Palestinian Arab public life.
- He was the first student at St. George's School in Jerusalem to wear Western clothes, showing a modern and outward-looking orientation.
- While studying medicine in Beirut, he fled after Ottoman authorities raided his college, narrowly escaping the fate of fellow Arab nationalists who were later hanged.
- At 27, he became Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Arab Congress, traveling to meet Muslim leaders and proposing a two-chamber Legislative Council to the Jewish Agency.
- He petitioned the High Court in 1927 to remove "Eretz Israel" from Palestine postage stamps, arguing it prejudiced Arab claims, but the petition was rejected.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834896Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:52 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA diplomat is interned in Rhodesia for four years without trial, far from Jerusalem. His story reveals what happens when a negotiator's world burns. The Diplomat Who Vanished: Four Years in Rhodesia This episode explores the life of Jamal...
The Diplomat Who Vanished: Four Years in Rhodesia

This episode explores the life of Jamal al-Husayni, a diplomat from Jerusalem who was interned in Southern Rhodesia for four years without trial. It questions the kind of life that leads to such an outcome, revealing a story stranger than it first appears.

Person: Jamal al-Husayni
Period: 1894-1982
Location: Jerusalem, Southern Rhodesia, Beirut
Status: Diplomat, interned without trial
Event: Internment in Southern Rhodesia

- Jamal al-Husayni was born into a prominent Arab family in Jerusalem, deeply embedded in Palestinian Arab public life.
- He was the first student at St. George's School in Jerusalem to wear Western clothes, showing a modern and outward-looking orientation.
- While studying medicine in Beirut, he fled after Ottoman authorities raided his college, narrowly escaping the fate of fellow Arab nationalists who were later hanged.
- At 27, he became Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Arab Congress, traveling to meet Muslim leaders and proposing a two-chamber Legislative Council to the Jewish Agency.
- He petitioned the High Court in 1927 to remove "Eretz Israel" from Palestine postage stamps, arguing it prejudiced Arab claims, but the petition was rejected.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1065falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-man-who-mapped-hell-from-the-inside--74834892
The Man Who Mapped Hell From The Inside

This episode recounts the extraordinary journey of Avraham Shifrin, from his youth as a "Son of an Enemy of the People" to his testimony before the United States Senate. It explores the personal cost of exposing the Soviet Union's hidden geography of captivity.

Person: Avraham Shifrin
Date: 1973
Location: United States Senate
Topic: Soviet Gulag system
Charge: Espionage

- Avraham Shifrin's father was arrested in 1937, leading to Avraham being classified as a "Son of an Enemy of the People."
- During World War Two, Shifrin was assigned to a penal battalion and fought in the assault on Königsberg, earning a medal.
- After the war, Shifrin became a lawyer for the Soviet Ministry of Defense while secretly active in the Zionist movement.
- In 1953, he was arrested on false espionage charges and sentenced to 25 years in the Gulag, serving ten.
- After emigrating to Israel, Shifrin founded a research center and began mapping Soviet prisons and forced labor camps based on survivor testimonies.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834892Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:48 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA man testifies before the US Senate about Soviet Gulag camps, including an atomic reactor, on an Arctic island. No one can prove him wrong. The Man Who Mapped Hell From The Inside This episode recounts the extraordinary journey of Avraham...
The Man Who Mapped Hell From The Inside

This episode recounts the extraordinary journey of Avraham Shifrin, from his youth as a "Son of an Enemy of the People" to his testimony before the United States Senate. It explores the personal cost of exposing the Soviet Union's hidden geography of captivity.

Person: Avraham Shifrin
Date: 1973
Location: United States Senate
Topic: Soviet Gulag system
Charge: Espionage

- Avraham Shifrin's father was arrested in 1937, leading to Avraham being classified as a "Son of an Enemy of the People."
- During World War Two, Shifrin was assigned to a penal battalion and fought in the assault on Königsberg, earning a medal.
- After the war, Shifrin became a lawyer for the Soviet Ministry of Defense while secretly active in the Zionist movement.
- In 1953, he was arrested on false espionage charges and sentenced to 25 years in the Gulag, serving ten.
- After emigrating to Israel, Shifrin founded a research center and began mapping Soviet prisons and forced labor camps based on survivor testimonies.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1280falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-widow-s-photograph-located-karsavin-s-lost-grave--74834890
A Widow's Photograph Located Karsavin's Lost Grave

This episode tells the story of Lev Karsavin, a philosopher whose grave was lost for decades in an abandoned cemetery above the Arctic Circle. It explores how a single photograph, preserved by a widow, ultimately led researchers to its discovery.

Person: Lev Karsavin Karsavin
Date: December 13, 1882 (birth)
Location: Abez, above the Arctic Circle
Period: 19th and 20th centuries
Event: Organized expulsion of Russian intellectuals

- Lev Karsavin was a philosopher who wrote five volumes on European culture and taught in three countries.
- He was sentenced at age sixty-seven for alleged crimes committed decades earlier and transported above the Arctic Circle.
- In 1922, he was among approximately forty-five prominent Russian intellectuals expelled from the country on the "Philosophers' Steamers."
- Karsavin became a leading voice for the Eurasian movement, arguing Russia was its own civilizational type.
- He accepted a chair at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania, in 1928, learning Lithuanian and publishing extensively there.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834890Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:43 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA philosopher's grave above the Arctic Circle is lost to history until a single photograph, kept by a widow, exposes its location. A Widow's Photograph Located Karsavin's Lost Grave This episode tells the story of Lev Karsavin, a philosopher...
A Widow's Photograph Located Karsavin's Lost Grave

This episode tells the story of Lev Karsavin, a philosopher whose grave was lost for decades in an abandoned cemetery above the Arctic Circle. It explores how a single photograph, preserved by a widow, ultimately led researchers to its discovery.

Person: Lev Karsavin Karsavin
Date: December 13, 1882 (birth)
Location: Abez, above the Arctic Circle
Period: 19th and 20th centuries
Event: Organized expulsion of Russian intellectuals

- Lev Karsavin was a philosopher who wrote five volumes on European culture and taught in three countries.
- He was sentenced at age sixty-seven for alleged crimes committed decades earlier and transported above the Arctic Circle.
- In 1922, he was among approximately forty-five prominent Russian intellectuals expelled from the country on the "Philosophers' Steamers."
- Karsavin became a leading voice for the Eurasian movement, arguing Russia was its own civilizational type.
- He accepted a chair at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania, in 1928, learning Lithuanian and publishing extensively there.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1115falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-boy-at-beslan-who-kept-training-and-became-a-champion--74834888
The Boy at Beslan Who Kept Training and Became a Champion

In this episode, we follow the life of Zaurbek Sidakov from the grounds of School Number One in Beslan to the elite mats of international freestyle wrestling. The episode traces his training, key matches, and the question his career cannot answer: what becomes of someone who witnessed the worst thing they ever saw but kept moving forward?

Person: Zaurbek Sidakov
Date: September 1, 2004
Location: School Number One, Beslan, North Ossetia
Event: Beslan school siege
Period: From childhood training to international wrestling competitions

- An eight-year-old Sidakov stood outside the gym as more than a thousand hostages, including his friends and training partners, were forced inside.
- North Ossetia’s wrestling culture is described as inheritance-coaches, small gyms, and community expectation shaped young athletes like him.
- After Beslan, Sidakov continued training; by 19 he earned bronze at the Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand Prix as an unknown.
- In 2016 Sidakov returned to the Yarygin and defeated the reigning Russian national champion, Khusein Suyunchev, to win gold.
- At the 2018 Russian National Championships Sidakov advanced through four matches with decisive scores before meeting Khetag Tsabolov in the final.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834888Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:39 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn eight-year-old stands outside School Number One as armed men herd his teammates inside-how did that Beslan morning shape a champion wrestler? The Boy at Beslan Who Kept Training and Became a Champion In this episode, we follow the life of...
The Boy at Beslan Who Kept Training and Became a Champion

In this episode, we follow the life of Zaurbek Sidakov from the grounds of School Number One in Beslan to the elite mats of international freestyle wrestling. The episode traces his training, key matches, and the question his career cannot answer: what becomes of someone who witnessed the worst thing they ever saw but kept moving forward?

Person: Zaurbek Sidakov
Date: September 1, 2004
Location: School Number One, Beslan, North Ossetia
Event: Beslan school siege
Period: From childhood training to international wrestling competitions

- An eight-year-old Sidakov stood outside the gym as more than a thousand hostages, including his friends and training partners, were forced inside.
- North Ossetia’s wrestling culture is described as inheritance-coaches, small gyms, and community expectation shaped young athletes like him.
- After Beslan, Sidakov continued training; by 19 he earned bronze at the Ivan Yarygin Golden Grand Prix as an unknown.
- In 2016 Sidakov returned to the Yarygin and defeated the reigning Russian national champion, Khusein Suyunchev, to win gold.
- At the 2018 Russian National Championships Sidakov advanced through four matches with decisive scores before meeting Khetag Tsabolov in the final.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1043falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-ring-he-bought-that-kept-him-asking-for-five-hundred-and-five-days--74834885
The ring he bought that kept him asking for five hundred and five days

In this episode, a chronological account follows Eliya Cohen from the hours before October 7 through the months that followed, tracing his abduction at the Nova music festival and the early days in captivity. The story focuses on the timeline, the conditions he endured, and the single purchased object that recurs in the record - what does it mean?

Person: Eliya Cohen
Date: October 7, 2023
Location: Nova music festival, near Kibbutz Re'im
Status: Survived
Event: Abduction and captivity for 505 days

- Cohen attended an open-air trance festival the night before October 7, carrying a pre-purchased ring in his pocket.
- At about 6:20 AM sirens sounded; attendees moved toward a nearby roadside concrete shelter built for rocket fire.
- Gunmen reached the festival; inside or near the shelter Cohen was shot in the leg and put into the back of a pickup truck.
- In captivity he was treated first in a Gaza hospital, then moved into an apartment and later into tunnel systems where he was chained.
- For months the captives subsisted on extreme deprivation: chains that cut into legs, one pitta bread split between four men per day, and surgeries performed without anesthesia.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834885Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:36 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA man with a ring in his pocket is seized at a desert music festival and spends 505 days chained in tunnels; how did that ring expose them? The ring he bought that kept him asking for five hundred and five days In this episode, a chronological...
The ring he bought that kept him asking for five hundred and five days

In this episode, a chronological account follows Eliya Cohen from the hours before October 7 through the months that followed, tracing his abduction at the Nova music festival and the early days in captivity. The story focuses on the timeline, the conditions he endured, and the single purchased object that recurs in the record - what does it mean?

Person: Eliya Cohen
Date: October 7, 2023
Location: Nova music festival, near Kibbutz Re'im
Status: Survived
Event: Abduction and captivity for 505 days

- Cohen attended an open-air trance festival the night before October 7, carrying a pre-purchased ring in his pocket.
- At about 6:20 AM sirens sounded; attendees moved toward a nearby roadside concrete shelter built for rocket fire.
- Gunmen reached the festival; inside or near the shelter Cohen was shot in the leg and put into the back of a pickup truck.
- In captivity he was treated first in a Gaza hospital, then moved into an apartment and later into tunnel systems where he was chained.
- For months the captives subsisted on extreme deprivation: chains that cut into legs, one pitta bread split between four men per day, and surgeries performed without anesthesia.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1312falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-phone-call-that-shattered-an-invisible-ceiling--74834883
The Phone Call That Shattered an Invisible Ceiling

This episode explores the experiences of Joan Aiko Shigekawa, who was interned as a child during World War II, and how those formative years shaped her ability to identify and challenge systemic barriers in her later career. It questions what a person carries out of such an experience and how it influences their life's work.

Person: Joan Aiko Shigekawa
Event: Japanese American internment
Order: Executive Order 9066
Location: Tule Lake
Period: 1942-1973

- Joan Aiko Shigekawa was six years old when her family was confined to the Tule Lake internment camp for eighteen months.
- Her mother, Yoshiko Shigekawa, searched for wood scraps daily to heat their barracks, where Joan’s brother suffered from whooping cough.
- Executive Order 9066 authorized the military removal of people of Japanese ancestry from the Pacific Coast without individual suspicion or evidence.
- After internment, Joan attended Bryn Mawr College, where she developed a keen diagnostic sense for the gap between an institution's claims and its reality.
- In 1973, Joan received a phone call from Ronnie Eldridge of Ms. magazine, offering her the opportunity to produce a television special made by and for women.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834883Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:31 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA six-year-old Japanese American girl is held in a government internment camp during WWII. Decades later, she confronts an invisible ceiling in television. The Phone Call That Shattered an Invisible Ceiling This episode explores the experiences...
The Phone Call That Shattered an Invisible Ceiling

This episode explores the experiences of Joan Aiko Shigekawa, who was interned as a child during World War II, and how those formative years shaped her ability to identify and challenge systemic barriers in her later career. It questions what a person carries out of such an experience and how it influences their life's work.

Person: Joan Aiko Shigekawa
Event: Japanese American internment
Order: Executive Order 9066
Location: Tule Lake
Period: 1942-1973

- Joan Aiko Shigekawa was six years old when her family was confined to the Tule Lake internment camp for eighteen months.
- Her mother, Yoshiko Shigekawa, searched for wood scraps daily to heat their barracks, where Joan’s brother suffered from whooping cough.
- Executive Order 9066 authorized the military removal of people of Japanese ancestry from the Pacific Coast without individual suspicion or evidence.
- After internment, Joan attended Bryn Mawr College, where she developed a keen diagnostic sense for the gap between an institution's claims and its reality.
- In 1973, Joan received a phone call from Ronnie Eldridge of Ms. magazine, offering her the opportunity to produce a television special made by and for women.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1088falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-file-she-photocopied-that-unmasked-the-internment-case--74834881
The File She Photocopied That Unmasked the Internment Case

This episode explores the life of Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga, from her forced removal as a teenager to her later work in the National Archives. It delves into the personal and systemic impacts of the Japanese American internment, and what she discovered that challenged the official narrative.

Person: Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga
Date: June 26, 1942
Location: Los Angeles High School
Event: Japanese American internment
Document: Final Report on Japanese Evacuation from the West Coast

- Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga was a 17-year-old honors student when Executive Order 9066 authorized the removal of over 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast.
- Her high school principal told Japanese American students they did not deserve their diplomas, citing "your people bombed Pearl Harbor."
- Aiko eloped with her sweetheart before forced removal, hoping to keep her family unit together, but was sent to Manzanar, a prison camp in the California high desert, while her parents went to Jerome.
- She gave birth to her first child inside the Manzanar camp and was later released with only twenty-five dollars and a bus ticket.
- In her fifties, Aiko spent years at the National Archives, using her own portable copy machine to cross-reference documents from various government agencies.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834881Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:27 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA young woman is imprisoned in a desert camp during World War II, then spends decades uncovering the bureaucratic truth behind her internment. Her research exposes the hidden facts of a national injustice. The File She Photocopied That Unmasked the...
The File She Photocopied That Unmasked the Internment Case

This episode explores the life of Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga, from her forced removal as a teenager to her later work in the National Archives. It delves into the personal and systemic impacts of the Japanese American internment, and what she discovered that challenged the official narrative.

Person: Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga
Date: June 26, 1942
Location: Los Angeles High School
Event: Japanese American internment
Document: Final Report on Japanese Evacuation from the West Coast

- Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga was a 17-year-old honors student when Executive Order 9066 authorized the removal of over 110,000 people of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast.
- Her high school principal told Japanese American students they did not deserve their diplomas, citing "your people bombed Pearl Harbor."
- Aiko eloped with her sweetheart before forced removal, hoping to keep her family unit together, but was sent to Manzanar, a prison camp in the California high desert, while her parents went to Jerome.
- She gave birth to her first child inside the Manzanar camp and was later released with only twenty-five dollars and a bus ticket.
- In her fifties, Aiko spent years at the National Archives, using her own portable copy machine to cross-reference documents from various government agencies.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1027falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-east-africa-war-showed-what-disease-does--74834877
The East Africa War Showed What Disease Does

This episode explores the career of George Vance Allen, a bacteriologist and college principal, and his experiences during internment. It highlights how his medical background, particularly in tropical diseases, prepared him for the challenges he faced.

Person: George Vance Allen
Date: February 1942
Location: Singapore
Event: Japanese bombardment of Singapore
Period: World War II

- George Vance Allen, a bacteriologist, was interned for three years, seven months, and four days at Changi Prison and Sime Road internment camp.
- His career spanned over twenty years, focusing on diseases prevalent in British Empire territories.
- During World War I, he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in East Africa from 1917 to 1920, witnessing the impact of disease on populations without infrastructure.
- By 1930, Allen was the permanent principal of King Edward VII College of Medicine and Professor of Clinical Medicine in Singapore.
- As the Japanese bombardment of Singapore began in January 1942, Allen transformed the College of Medicine into a blood transfusion center and urged people to grow food, anticipating the breakdown of supply chains.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834877Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:23 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA bacteriologist interned during wartime uses his expertise in tropical disease to keep civilians alive with "inadequate and unlikely sources." How did his methods expose them? The East Africa War Showed What Disease Does This episode explores...
The East Africa War Showed What Disease Does

This episode explores the career of George Vance Allen, a bacteriologist and college principal, and his experiences during internment. It highlights how his medical background, particularly in tropical diseases, prepared him for the challenges he faced.

Person: George Vance Allen
Date: February 1942
Location: Singapore
Event: Japanese bombardment of Singapore
Period: World War II

- George Vance Allen, a bacteriologist, was interned for three years, seven months, and four days at Changi Prison and Sime Road internment camp.
- His career spanned over twenty years, focusing on diseases prevalent in British Empire territories.
- During World War I, he served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in East Africa from 1917 to 1920, witnessing the impact of disease on populations without infrastructure.
- By 1930, Allen was the permanent principal of King Edward VII College of Medicine and Professor of Clinical Medicine in Singapore.
- As the Japanese bombardment of Singapore began in January 1942, Allen transformed the College of Medicine into a blood transfusion center and urged people to grow food, anticipating the breakdown of supply chains.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1154falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-british-arrest-warrant-that-sent-zahedi-into-exile--74834876
The British arrest warrant that sent Zahedi into exile

This episode explores the early life and military career of Fazlollah Zahedi, an Iranian general whose path intertwined with the Pahlavi dynasty and the nationalization of Iran's oil. It questions how a man interned by the British for suspected Nazi ties became a central figure in a major geopolitical event.

Person: Fazlollah Zahedi
Date: May 17, 1892 (birth)
Location: Hamadan, Iran
Event: Operation PONGO
Period: Second World War

- Fazlollah Zahedi was born into a prominent family with ancestral ties to Sufi mystics and an 18th-century ruler, making him a distant relative of Mohammad Mosaddegh.
- His military career began in the Imperial Russian-trained Iranian Cossack Brigade, where his superior officer was Mosaddegh Khan, who later became Mosaddegh Shah.
- By age 25, Zahedi was a brigadier general, suppressing rebellions and holding key positions like Military Governor of Khuzestan and Chief of the National Police.
- In 1941, British officer Fitzroy Maclean arrested Zahedi, then Commanding General of the Isfahan division, under suspicion of organizing an uprising aligned with the Axis powers.
- During the arrest, British officers found German weapons, opium, correspondence from a German agent, and an illustrated register of prostitutes in Zahedi's bedroom.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834876Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:19 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA British commando arrests a powerful general for Nazi collaboration, finding German weapons and opium. This Cold War figure later becomes a key player in a CIA-backed coup. The British arrest warrant that sent Zahedi into exile This episode...
The British arrest warrant that sent Zahedi into exile

This episode explores the early life and military career of Fazlollah Zahedi, an Iranian general whose path intertwined with the Pahlavi dynasty and the nationalization of Iran's oil. It questions how a man interned by the British for suspected Nazi ties became a central figure in a major geopolitical event.

Person: Fazlollah Zahedi
Date: May 17, 1892 (birth)
Location: Hamadan, Iran
Event: Operation PONGO
Period: Second World War

- Fazlollah Zahedi was born into a prominent family with ancestral ties to Sufi mystics and an 18th-century ruler, making him a distant relative of Mohammad Mosaddegh.
- His military career began in the Imperial Russian-trained Iranian Cossack Brigade, where his superior officer was Mosaddegh Khan, who later became Mosaddegh Shah.
- By age 25, Zahedi was a brigadier general, suppressing rebellions and holding key positions like Military Governor of Khuzestan and Chief of the National Police.
- In 1941, British officer Fitzroy Maclean arrested Zahedi, then Commanding General of the Isfahan division, under suspicion of organizing an uprising aligned with the Axis powers.
- During the arrest, British officers found German weapons, opium, correspondence from a German agent, and an illustrated register of prostitutes in Zahedi's bedroom.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>999falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-language-he-learned-on-the-dunera-that-saved-his-career--74834875
The language he learned on the Dunera that saved his career

In this episode, we follow Ernst Kitzinger’s flight from Munich in 1934, his years of unpaid scholarship across Europe, and the startling detour of being interned and shipped to Australia on HMT Dunera. We track the choices, institutions, and moments - including the odd, pivotal decision to learn Russian aboard the Dunera - that shaped a decades-long academic life; what did learning that language enable?

Person: Ernst Kitzinger
Date: 1934-1940 (flight, migration, internment)
Location: Munich; Rome; London; HMT Dunera (voyage to Australia)
Event: Internment as an enemy alien and voyage on HMT Dunera
Topic: Learning Russian while interned

- He defended his doctoral dissertation in Munich and left Germany the next day in 1934 at age 21.
- He worked at the Bibliotheca Hertziana in Rome, then volunteered at the British Museum, producing scholarship without a salary.
- In 1939 he assisted with the Sutton Hoo finds and in 1940 published Early Medieval Art in the British Museum.
- In 1940 Britain classified him as an enemy alien and loaded him onto HMT Dunera with nearly 2,600 internees bound for Australia.
- During the cramped, degrading voyage on the Dunera, he began learning Russian from a fellow internee.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834875Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:15 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Jewish art historian flees 1934 Munich, is interned on the Dunera, and begins learning Russian - how did that language save his career? The language he learned on the Dunera that saved his career In this episode, we follow Ernst Kitzinger’s...
The language he learned on the Dunera that saved his career

In this episode, we follow Ernst Kitzinger’s flight from Munich in 1934, his years of unpaid scholarship across Europe, and the startling detour of being interned and shipped to Australia on HMT Dunera. We track the choices, institutions, and moments - including the odd, pivotal decision to learn Russian aboard the Dunera - that shaped a decades-long academic life; what did learning that language enable?

Person: Ernst Kitzinger
Date: 1934-1940 (flight, migration, internment)
Location: Munich; Rome; London; HMT Dunera (voyage to Australia)
Event: Internment as an enemy alien and voyage on HMT Dunera
Topic: Learning Russian while interned

- He defended his doctoral dissertation in Munich and left Germany the next day in 1934 at age 21.
- He worked at the Bibliotheca Hertziana in Rome, then volunteered at the British Museum, producing scholarship without a salary.
- In 1939 he assisted with the Sutton Hoo finds and in 1940 published Early Medieval Art in the British Museum.
- In 1940 Britain classified him as an enemy alien and loaded him onto HMT Dunera with nearly 2,600 internees bound for Australia.
- During the cramped, degrading voyage on the Dunera, he began learning Russian from a fellow internee.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1262falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-diplomatic-list-that-handed-stajner-back-and-cost-him-decades--74834873
The diplomatic list that handed Štajner back and cost him decades

This episode recounts the harrowing experience of Karlo Štajner, a communist activist who endured decades within the Soviet Gulag system. It explores the arbitrary nature of his imprisonment and the extraordinary circumstances that eventually led to his release.

Person: Karlo Štajner
Date: November 4, 1936
Location: Moscow
Event: Arrest by NKVD
Charge: Counterrevolutionary activity, Gestapo agent, complicity in Sergei Kirov assassination

- Karlo Štajner, a printing worker from Vienna, joined the Austrian communist movement by 1919 and later established an illegal printing house in Zagreb.
- He moved to the Soviet Union in 1932, becoming manager of the Comintern publishing house and marrying Sofya Yefimovna Moiseeva in 1935.
- On November 4, 1936, Štajner was arrested by the NKVD on charges of counterrevolutionary activity and complicity in the assassination of Sergei Kirov, despite no evidence.
- His co-defendants, Filip Filipović and Antun Mavrak, were executed, while Štajner received a ten-year sentence without clear explanation for the difference.
- Štajner was transferred through various Gulag camps, including Solovki and Norilsk, where he endured brutal conditions while his daughter Lida died in Moscow and his wife Sonya was labeled an "enemy's wife."

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834873Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:11 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA printing worker is arrested by the state he served, charged with crimes no record substantiates. His survival hinges on a diplomatic list, but the cost is decades. The diplomatic list that handed Štajner back and cost him decades This episode...
The diplomatic list that handed Štajner back and cost him decades

This episode recounts the harrowing experience of Karlo Štajner, a communist activist who endured decades within the Soviet Gulag system. It explores the arbitrary nature of his imprisonment and the extraordinary circumstances that eventually led to his release.

Person: Karlo Štajner
Date: November 4, 1936
Location: Moscow
Event: Arrest by NKVD
Charge: Counterrevolutionary activity, Gestapo agent, complicity in Sergei Kirov assassination

- Karlo Štajner, a printing worker from Vienna, joined the Austrian communist movement by 1919 and later established an illegal printing house in Zagreb.
- He moved to the Soviet Union in 1932, becoming manager of the Comintern publishing house and marrying Sofya Yefimovna Moiseeva in 1935.
- On November 4, 1936, Štajner was arrested by the NKVD on charges of counterrevolutionary activity and complicity in the assassination of Sergei Kirov, despite no evidence.
- His co-defendants, Filip Filipović and Antun Mavrak, were executed, while Štajner received a ten-year sentence without clear explanation for the difference.
- Štajner was transferred through various Gulag camps, including Solovki and Norilsk, where he endured brutal conditions while his daughter Lida died in Moscow and his wife Sonya was labeled an "enemy's wife."

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1181falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-barbed-wire-that-marked-his-unmarked-grave--74834871
The barbed wire that marked his unmarked grave

This episode explores the life of Pinchus Kahanovich, also known as Der Nister, a prominent Yiddish author whose chosen pseudonym became a literal truth. It examines the forces that led to his unmarked burial and the enduring mystery surrounding his death.

Person: Pinchus Kahanovich (Der Nister)
Born: November 1, 1884
Location: Berdychiv, Ukraine
Died: June 4, 1950

- Pinchus Kahanovich adopted the pseudonym Der Nister, meaning "The Hidden One," as a young writer in 1904, a name reflecting his Kabbalistic approach to truth.
- He began his literary career publishing in Vilna, Warsaw, and Kiev, gaining recognition from figures like I. L. Peretz.
- During a brief period of Soviet cultural policy, Der Nister taught at a Jewish orphanage near Moscow alongside artists like Marc Chagall.
- After returning to the Soviet Union in 1926, his work, dense with Hasidic mysticism, was declared reactionary by the regime, forcing him to publicly renounce his symbolism.
- He survived the 1930s as a translator and children's author, and later began his multi-generational novel, "The Family Mashber," which was universally praised upon its 1939 release.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834871Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:07 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Yiddish writer, "The Hidden One," dies in a Soviet prison, his unmarked grave known only decades later. How did his literary life lead to this fate? The barbed wire that marked his unmarked grave This episode explores the life of Pinchus...
The barbed wire that marked his unmarked grave

This episode explores the life of Pinchus Kahanovich, also known as Der Nister, a prominent Yiddish author whose chosen pseudonym became a literal truth. It examines the forces that led to his unmarked burial and the enduring mystery surrounding his death.

Person: Pinchus Kahanovich (Der Nister)
Born: November 1, 1884
Location: Berdychiv, Ukraine
Died: June 4, 1950

- Pinchus Kahanovich adopted the pseudonym Der Nister, meaning "The Hidden One," as a young writer in 1904, a name reflecting his Kabbalistic approach to truth.
- He began his literary career publishing in Vilna, Warsaw, and Kiev, gaining recognition from figures like I. L. Peretz.
- During a brief period of Soviet cultural policy, Der Nister taught at a Jewish orphanage near Moscow alongside artists like Marc Chagall.
- After returning to the Soviet Union in 1926, his work, dense with Hasidic mysticism, was declared reactionary by the regime, forcing him to publicly renounce his symbolism.
- He survived the 1930s as a translator and children's author, and later began his multi-generational novel, "The Family Mashber," which was universally praised upon its 1939 release.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1286falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-coins-she-counted-bought-a-refugee-s-escape--74834870
The Coins She Counted Bought a Refugee's Escape

This episode explores the early life of Margaret Thatcher, from her childhood in a small Lincolnshire town to her time at Oxford. It examines the formative experiences and contradictions that shaped one of the 20th century's most polarizing figures.

Person: Margaret Hilda Thatcher
Date: October 13, 1925 (birth)
Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire
Parent: Alfred Roberts
Education: Somerville College, Oxford

- Margaret Roberts was born in Grantham, a market town where her father, Alfred Roberts, ran a tobacconist's and grocery.
- Alfred Roberts was a Methodist preacher and alderman who instilled values of hard work and self-reliance in his daughters.
- In 1938, Margaret, aged twelve, and her sister Muriel saved their pocket money to help a Jewish teenager who had fled Nazi Germany.
- Margaret attended Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School, serving as head girl in her final year.
- She studied Chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford, under Dorothy Hodgkin, a future Nobel laureate whose portrait would later hang in 10 Downing Street.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834870Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:23:04 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTIn 1938, two girls in a Grantham corner shop count coins from their pockets to help a Jewish refugee escape Nazi Germany. One will later hold power for over a decade. The Coins She Counted Bought a Refugee's Escape This episode explores the...
The Coins She Counted Bought a Refugee's Escape

This episode explores the early life of Margaret Thatcher, from her childhood in a small Lincolnshire town to her time at Oxford. It examines the formative experiences and contradictions that shaped one of the 20th century's most polarizing figures.

Person: Margaret Hilda Thatcher
Date: October 13, 1925 (birth)
Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire
Parent: Alfred Roberts
Education: Somerville College, Oxford

- Margaret Roberts was born in Grantham, a market town where her father, Alfred Roberts, ran a tobacconist's and grocery.
- Alfred Roberts was a Methodist preacher and alderman who instilled values of hard work and self-reliance in his daughters.
- In 1938, Margaret, aged twelve, and her sister Muriel saved their pocket money to help a Jewish teenager who had fled Nazi Germany.
- Margaret attended Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School, serving as head girl in her final year.
- She studied Chemistry at Somerville College, Oxford, under Dorothy Hodgkin, a future Nobel laureate whose portrait would later hang in 10 Downing Street.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1486falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dizengoff-bomb-hurled-her-across-the-pavement-and-redirected-a-life--74834868
The Dizengoff bomb hurled her across the pavement and redirected a life

In this episode, we follow Carmen Elmakiyes from the moment the Dizengoff Center explosion throws her across the pavement to the choices she makes afterward, tracing how trauma, schooling, and community work shape her trajectory. What did she do with that morning that kept pressing on every room she entered?

Person: Carmen Elmakiyes
Event: Dizengoff Center bombing, Purim 1994
Location: Tel Aviv; grew up in Shikunim, Ashkelon
Education: left school at 16; later completed high school independently and earned a film degree from Kinneret Academic College
Organization: co-founded Not Nice; worked with Ahoti and Libi BaMizrach Coalition

- Standing at an ATM a few meters from the blast, she was thrown several meters and watched children die.
- Medically classified as minor injuries, she nonetheless endured years of psychological rehabilitation and was later exempted from military service.
- Raised in Shikunim as one of nine children to Moroccan immigrant parents, she experienced the structural neglect of public housing.
- Tracked into technical schooling and leaving at sixteen, she later completed schooling independently and trained as a medical clown.
- Volunteering with Mizrahi feminist groups led to directing projects for the Libi BaMizrach Coalition and co-founding Not Nice.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834868Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:59 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA Tel Aviv teen hurled by the Dizengoff Center Purim bombing must rebuild her life-how did that redirect her path? The Dizengoff bomb hurled her across the pavement and redirected a life In this episode, we follow Carmen Elmakiyes from the...
The Dizengoff bomb hurled her across the pavement and redirected a life

In this episode, we follow Carmen Elmakiyes from the moment the Dizengoff Center explosion throws her across the pavement to the choices she makes afterward, tracing how trauma, schooling, and community work shape her trajectory. What did she do with that morning that kept pressing on every room she entered?

Person: Carmen Elmakiyes
Event: Dizengoff Center bombing, Purim 1994
Location: Tel Aviv; grew up in Shikunim, Ashkelon
Education: left school at 16; later completed high school independently and earned a film degree from Kinneret Academic College
Organization: co-founded Not Nice; worked with Ahoti and Libi BaMizrach Coalition

- Standing at an ATM a few meters from the blast, she was thrown several meters and watched children die.
- Medically classified as minor injuries, she nonetheless endured years of psychological rehabilitation and was later exempted from military service.
- Raised in Shikunim as one of nine children to Moroccan immigrant parents, she experienced the structural neglect of public housing.
- Tracked into technical schooling and leaving at sixteen, she later completed schooling independently and trained as a medical clown.
- Volunteering with Mizrahi feminist groups led to directing projects for the Libi BaMizrach Coalition and co-founding Not Nice.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1187falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-diary-that-tracked-every-day-behind-barbed-wire--74834866
The Diary That Tracked Every Day Behind Barbed Wire

This episode explores the story of the Shimomura family, focusing on Toku Shimomura, a midwife, and her grandson Roger, as they navigate forced relocation and incarceration during World War II. It questions how a family's established life was uprooted by government order.

Person: Toku Shimomura
Date: June 26, 1939
Location: Seattle's Central District
Executive Order: 9066
Camp: Minidoka War Relocation Center

- Toku Shimomura, a licensed midwife, delivered her grandson Roger in Seattle's Central District.
- In February 1942, Executive Order 9066 authorized the removal of Japanese American from the West Coast.
- Roger, not yet three, and Toku were among the 120,000 people ordered to leave their homes.
- The Shimomura family was first sent to Camp Harmony, a converted fairground in Puyallup, Washington.
- They were later transferred to the Minidoka War Relocation Center in Idaho, where Toku continued to write in her diary.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834866Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:55 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA professional midwife and her grandson are classified as national security threats, forcing them into a Japanese American incarceration camp. The Diary That Tracked Every Day Behind Barbed Wire This episode explores the story of the Shimomura...
The Diary That Tracked Every Day Behind Barbed Wire

This episode explores the story of the Shimomura family, focusing on Toku Shimomura, a midwife, and her grandson Roger, as they navigate forced relocation and incarceration during World War II. It questions how a family's established life was uprooted by government order.

Person: Toku Shimomura
Date: June 26, 1939
Location: Seattle's Central District
Executive Order: 9066
Camp: Minidoka War Relocation Center

- Toku Shimomura, a licensed midwife, delivered her grandson Roger in Seattle's Central District.
- In February 1942, Executive Order 9066 authorized the removal of Japanese American from the West Coast.
- Roger, not yet three, and Toku were among the 120,000 people ordered to leave their homes.
- The Shimomura family was first sent to Camp Harmony, a converted fairground in Puyallup, Washington.
- They were later transferred to the Minidoka War Relocation Center in Idaho, where Toku continued to write in her diary.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>997falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/covered-windows-hid-the-route-forged-a-congressman--74834865
Covered Windows Hid the Route, Forged a Congressman

This episode explores the early life of Michael Makoto Honda, from his family's forced relocation to an internment camp in 1942 to his father's service in the US military. It examines the contradictions of a nation at war and the impact of policy on American citizens.

Person: Michael Makoto Honda
Date: 1942
Location: Camp Amache, southeastern Colorado
Event: Japanese American internment
Order: Executive Order 9066

- Michael Makoto Honda was one year old when his family was moved in a vehicle with covered windows, preventing them from seeing their route or destination.
- His father, Giichi Honda, served as an intelligence agent for the United States military while his family was simultaneously imprisoned.
- Executive Order 9066, signed by President Franklin Roosevelt, authorized the removal of 120,000 people of Japanese descent, two-thirds of whom were American citizens.
- The Honda family was sent to Camp Amache, also known as the Granada Relocation Center, in southeastern Colorado.
- After their release in 1953, Giichi Honda, despite his military service, returned to California to work as a sharecropper, having lost his farm.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834865Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:52 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTOne-year-old Japanese American boy rides in a covered-window vehicle after being removed from home - how will this internment shape him? Covered Windows Hid the Route, Forged a Congressman This episode explores the early life of Michael Makoto...
Covered Windows Hid the Route, Forged a Congressman

This episode explores the early life of Michael Makoto Honda, from his family's forced relocation to an internment camp in 1942 to his father's service in the US military. It examines the contradictions of a nation at war and the impact of policy on American citizens.

Person: Michael Makoto Honda
Date: 1942
Location: Camp Amache, southeastern Colorado
Event: Japanese American internment
Order: Executive Order 9066

- Michael Makoto Honda was one year old when his family was moved in a vehicle with covered windows, preventing them from seeing their route or destination.
- His father, Giichi Honda, served as an intelligence agent for the United States military while his family was simultaneously imprisoned.
- Executive Order 9066, signed by President Franklin Roosevelt, authorized the removal of 120,000 people of Japanese descent, two-thirds of whom were American citizens.
- The Honda family was sent to Camp Amache, also known as the Granada Relocation Center, in southeastern Colorado.
- After their release in 1953, Giichi Honda, despite his military service, returned to California to work as a sharecropper, having lost his farm.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1388falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-hospital-canteen-that-smuggled-radios-and-sent-him-to-the-kempeitai--74834862
The Hospital Canteen That Smuggled Radios-and Sent Him to the Kempeitai

In this episode, we follow Elizabeth Choy Su-Moi and the months she spent running a canteen and ambulance service that also supplied contraband to Changi Prison. The story traces her life before the war, the risks of smuggling radio parts, and the moment she returned to the Kempeitai seeking her husband-what did that choice cost her and why did she trust their denial?

Person: Elizabeth Choy Su-Moi
Date: October 10, 1943
Location: Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Topic: Smuggling medicine and radio parts into Changi Prison
Event: Elizabeth voluntarily returned to the Kempeitai to ask about her husband

- Born November 29, 1910 in Kudat, eldest of eleven and educated at Raffles College, she funded her studies by teaching.
- Married Choy Khun Heng in August 1941 and ran a hospital canteen and ambulance service after Singapore fell in February 1942.
- For roughly eighteen months the canteen served as a supply line delivering cash, clothing, medicine, letters and radio parts to internees at Changi.
- Possession of a radio by a prisoner carried an execution penalty; every delivery carried that risk and the operation continued until an informant reported them.
- On October 10, 1943 Choy Khun Heng was arrested; Elizabeth visited the Kempeitai twice-first told there was no record, then summoned back and held without charge.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834862Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:47 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA schoolteacher at a Singapore hospital canteen smuggled medicine and radio parts into Changi-then walked into the Kempeitai looking for her husband. The Hospital Canteen That Smuggled Radios-and Sent Him to the Kempeitai In this episode, we...
The Hospital Canteen That Smuggled Radios-and Sent Him to the Kempeitai

In this episode, we follow Elizabeth Choy Su-Moi and the months she spent running a canteen and ambulance service that also supplied contraband to Changi Prison. The story traces her life before the war, the risks of smuggling radio parts, and the moment she returned to the Kempeitai seeking her husband-what did that choice cost her and why did she trust their denial?

Person: Elizabeth Choy Su-Moi
Date: October 10, 1943
Location: Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Topic: Smuggling medicine and radio parts into Changi Prison
Event: Elizabeth voluntarily returned to the Kempeitai to ask about her husband

- Born November 29, 1910 in Kudat, eldest of eleven and educated at Raffles College, she funded her studies by teaching.
- Married Choy Khun Heng in August 1941 and ran a hospital canteen and ambulance service after Singapore fell in February 1942.
- For roughly eighteen months the canteen served as a supply line delivering cash, clothing, medicine, letters and radio parts to internees at Changi.
- Possession of a radio by a prisoner carried an execution penalty; every delivery carried that risk and the operation continued until an informant reported them.
- On October 10, 1943 Choy Khun Heng was arrested; Elizabeth visited the Kempeitai twice-first told there was no record, then summoned back and held without charge.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1056falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-wartime-letter-sent-by-post-nearly-activated-a-shadow-government--74834860
A wartime letter sent by post nearly activated a shadow government

This episode explores the documented record of John Warburton Beckett, from his origins as a boy in Hammersmith to his career as a Labour Member of Parliament, and his eventual transformation into a fascist propagandist. It questions how a man travels so far from where he started.

Person: John Warburton Beckett
Date: 1940
Location: Britain
Organization: MI5
Event: Wartime letter containing a shadow government list

- John Warburton Beckett, once a Labour MP, drafted a list of ministers for a Britain under German occupation, with himself as Home Secretary.
- Thirty-two of the thirty-nine people on Beckett's list were already under MI5 surveillance when the letter was written.
- Beckett was born in Hammersmith in 1894 and left school at 14 after his family's finances collapsed due to a swindler.
- After serving in the war, Beckett founded the National Union of Ex-Servicemen and was elected Labour MP for Gateshead in 1924.
- In 1934, Beckett joined Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists, becoming Director of Publications and editing their newspapers.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834860Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:44 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA wartime letter containing a shadow government list is sent by post, and 32 of 39 names are already under MI5 surveillance. A wartime letter sent by post nearly activated a shadow government This episode explores the documented record of John...
A wartime letter sent by post nearly activated a shadow government

This episode explores the documented record of John Warburton Beckett, from his origins as a boy in Hammersmith to his career as a Labour Member of Parliament, and his eventual transformation into a fascist propagandist. It questions how a man travels so far from where he started.

Person: John Warburton Beckett
Date: 1940
Location: Britain
Organization: MI5
Event: Wartime letter containing a shadow government list

- John Warburton Beckett, once a Labour MP, drafted a list of ministers for a Britain under German occupation, with himself as Home Secretary.
- Thirty-two of the thirty-nine people on Beckett's list were already under MI5 surveillance when the letter was written.
- Beckett was born in Hammersmith in 1894 and left school at 14 after his family's finances collapsed due to a swindler.
- After serving in the war, Beckett founded the National Union of Ex-Servicemen and was elected Labour MP for Gateshead in 1924.
- In 1934, Beckett joined Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists, becoming Director of Publications and editing their newspapers.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1236falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-suitcase-tracked-by-officers-sent-her-east--74834858
The Suitcase Tracked by Officers Sent Her East

In this episode, we follow the moment Anita Lasker was arrested at Breslau station and the small, bureaucratic details that shaped her fate. We trace how a single piece of luggage intersected with Nazi procedures and ask what that reveals about the machinery she walked into.

Person: Anita Lasker
Date: September 1942
Location: Breslau station
Topic: Gestapo arrest and luggage documentation

- A suitcase owned by a seventeen-year-old was loaded onto a train and catalogued by Gestapo officers while its owner was held in handcuffs on the concourse.
- Officers recorded the bag by size, color, and contents, filed paperwork, and returned the luggage to the prison.
- Anita and her sister Renate worked in a paper factory and helped French POWs forge travel documents before attempting to cross into France themselves.
- Their parents, Alfons and his wife, were taken by the Gestapo in April 1942 and transported east; Alfons had been awarded the Iron Cross for WWI service.
- Anita’s account and archival testimony document that the bureaucracy treated the suitcase with more procedural care than it treated Anita’s life.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834858Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:39 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA seventeen-year-old's suitcase is catalogued at Breslau station while she stands cuffed above-how did that bureaucracy expose her? The Suitcase Tracked by Officers Sent Her East In this episode, we follow the moment Anita Lasker was arrested at...
The Suitcase Tracked by Officers Sent Her East

In this episode, we follow the moment Anita Lasker was arrested at Breslau station and the small, bureaucratic details that shaped her fate. We trace how a single piece of luggage intersected with Nazi procedures and ask what that reveals about the machinery she walked into.

Person: Anita Lasker
Date: September 1942
Location: Breslau station
Topic: Gestapo arrest and luggage documentation

- A suitcase owned by a seventeen-year-old was loaded onto a train and catalogued by Gestapo officers while its owner was held in handcuffs on the concourse.
- Officers recorded the bag by size, color, and contents, filed paperwork, and returned the luggage to the prison.
- Anita and her sister Renate worked in a paper factory and helped French POWs forge travel documents before attempting to cross into France themselves.
- Their parents, Alfons and his wife, were taken by the Gestapo in April 1942 and transported east; Alfons had been awarded the Iron Cross for WWI service.
- Anita’s account and archival testimony document that the bureaucracy treated the suitcase with more procedural care than it treated Anita’s life.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1169falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-hermitage-curator-s-arrest-forced-him-to-refuse-a-confession--74834856
The Hermitage Curator's Arrest Forced Him to Refuse a Confession

In this episode, we follow Vladimir Tchernavin’s path from ichthyologist and Arctic researcher to prisoner and refusenik, tracing the moments that turned routine professional choices into accusations. What did his refusal to sign mean inside a system that equated confession with fate?

Person: Vladimir Tchernavin
Person: Tatiana (wife), curator, Section of Applied Arts at the Hermitage Museum
Date: Arrest of Tatiana in January 1931; Vladimir’s death March 31, 1949
Location: Shpalernaya prison (interrogation); Kensington flat (death)
Topic: confession trap; Soviet GPU interrogation methods

- He was a salmon scientist who prioritized research over administration, stepping down from a Murmansk directorship in 1928.
- The GPU reframed ordinary professional records and decisions-publications, posts, correspondence-as evidence of “wrecking.”
- Vladimir watched forty-eight food industry colleagues confess and be executed before he faced the same charges.
- He refused to sign a confession at Shpalernaya despite repeated interrogations and the rotation of interrogators.
- After his refusal, his wife Tatiana was arrested as a pressure tactic while she worked at the Hermitage cataloguing decorative arts.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834856Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:35 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA former Gulag prisoner and Hermitage curator's husband refuses to confess after her arrest, and a salmon scientist's quiet decisions become evidence against him-how did that expose them? The Hermitage Curator's Arrest Forced Him to Refuse a...
The Hermitage Curator's Arrest Forced Him to Refuse a Confession

In this episode, we follow Vladimir Tchernavin’s path from ichthyologist and Arctic researcher to prisoner and refusenik, tracing the moments that turned routine professional choices into accusations. What did his refusal to sign mean inside a system that equated confession with fate?

Person: Vladimir Tchernavin
Person: Tatiana (wife), curator, Section of Applied Arts at the Hermitage Museum
Date: Arrest of Tatiana in January 1931; Vladimir’s death March 31, 1949
Location: Shpalernaya prison (interrogation); Kensington flat (death)
Topic: confession trap; Soviet GPU interrogation methods

- He was a salmon scientist who prioritized research over administration, stepping down from a Murmansk directorship in 1928.
- The GPU reframed ordinary professional records and decisions-publications, posts, correspondence-as evidence of “wrecking.”
- Vladimir watched forty-eight food industry colleagues confess and be executed before he faced the same charges.
- He refused to sign a confession at Shpalernaya despite repeated interrogations and the rotation of interrogators.
- After his refusal, his wife Tatiana was arrested as a pressure tactic while she worked at the Hermitage cataloguing decorative arts.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1286falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-sentence-about-lenin-s-portraits-sent-him-to-the-camps--74834854
The Sentence About Lenin's Portraits Sent Him to the Camps

In this episode, we follow the life and career of Nikolay Punin, an art historian who spent decades defending Russia’s great collections and giving public lectures on Rembrandt and the Impressionists. The episode traces the secret file that grew against him and asks how a casual critique of Lenin’s portraits could become the fatal accusation.

Person: Nikolay Punin
Date of birth: November 28, 1888
Location: Saint Petersburg (Petrograd)/Hermitage
Event: Arrests, secret surveillance file, final exile to Abezlag
Date of death: August 21, 1953

- Punin rose from Saint Petersburg University to head key cultural institutions, including the Hermitage, after the 1917 revolution.
- He spent thirty years protecting Western masterpieces labeled “decadent bourgeois art” and openly opposed their destruction.
- His public lectures on Rembrandt and the Impressionists were documented by Lieutenant Prussakov and entered into a growing secret file.
- The secret file compiled accusations, surveillance notes, and fabricated evidence across years of monitoring in Leningrad.
- A nine-word art-critic sentence about Lenin’s portraits became the formal charge that led to his exile to Abezlag.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834854Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:32 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTAn art critic’s nine-word remark about Lenin’s portraits brands a museum protector as an enemy - how did that sentence expose him? The Sentence About Lenin's Portraits Sent Him to the Camps In this episode, we follow the life and career of...
The Sentence About Lenin's Portraits Sent Him to the Camps

In this episode, we follow the life and career of Nikolay Punin, an art historian who spent decades defending Russia’s great collections and giving public lectures on Rembrandt and the Impressionists. The episode traces the secret file that grew against him and asks how a casual critique of Lenin’s portraits could become the fatal accusation.

Person: Nikolay Punin
Date of birth: November 28, 1888
Location: Saint Petersburg (Petrograd)/Hermitage
Event: Arrests, secret surveillance file, final exile to Abezlag
Date of death: August 21, 1953

- Punin rose from Saint Petersburg University to head key cultural institutions, including the Hermitage, after the 1917 revolution.
- He spent thirty years protecting Western masterpieces labeled “decadent bourgeois art” and openly opposed their destruction.
- His public lectures on Rembrandt and the Impressionists were documented by Lieutenant Prussakov and entered into a growing secret file.
- The secret file compiled accusations, surveillance notes, and fabricated evidence across years of monitoring in Leningrad.
- A nine-word art-critic sentence about Lenin’s portraits became the formal charge that led to his exile to Abezlag.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1118falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-steel-door-refused-the-axe-he-saved-his-granddaughter--74834853
The steel door refused the axe - he saved his granddaughter

This episode recounts the story of Kurt Westergaard, a Danish cartoonist whose single drawing in 2005 led to a life under constant threat and the construction of a panic room in his home. It explores the events that followed, including an axe attack on New Year's Day 2010.

Person: Kurt Westergaard
Date: January 1, 2010
Location: Aarhus, Denmark
Topic: Cartoon controversy
Event: Axe attack

- Kurt Westergaard was a former schoolteacher and psychologist who worked with handicapped children before becoming a staff cartoonist.
- In 2005, Westergaard submitted a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad with a turban shaped into a lit bomb.
- The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) placed Westergaard under personal protection due to credible death threats.
- His home was fortified with steel doors, reinforced glass, surveillance cameras, and a panic room.
- In 2008, PET arrested three men charged with plotting to murder Westergaard, disrupting the plot.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834853Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:29 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA cartoonist's controversial drawing leads to years of armed protection, culminating in a steel door facing an axe attack with his granddaughter inside. The steel door refused the axe - he saved his granddaughter This episode recounts the story...
The steel door refused the axe - he saved his granddaughter

This episode recounts the story of Kurt Westergaard, a Danish cartoonist whose single drawing in 2005 led to a life under constant threat and the construction of a panic room in his home. It explores the events that followed, including an axe attack on New Year's Day 2010.

Person: Kurt Westergaard
Date: January 1, 2010
Location: Aarhus, Denmark
Topic: Cartoon controversy
Event: Axe attack

- Kurt Westergaard was a former schoolteacher and psychologist who worked with handicapped children before becoming a staff cartoonist.
- In 2005, Westergaard submitted a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad with a turban shaped into a lit bomb.
- The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) placed Westergaard under personal protection due to credible death threats.
- His home was fortified with steel doors, reinforced glass, surveillance cameras, and a panic room.
- In 2008, PET arrested three men charged with plotting to murder Westergaard, disrupting the plot.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1171falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-printed-notice-that-gave-them-seven-days-and-took-their-lives-apart--74834852
The printed notice that gave them seven days and took their lives apart

This episode explores the documented life of Kazuko Itoi, an American-born woman whose family managed a Seattle hotel, as she navigates the sudden upheaval of forced removal during World War II. It questions what a government believes it is doing when it interns its own citizens.

Person: Kazuko Itoi
Date: 1942
Location: Seattle, Washington
Order: Executive Order 9066

- Kazuko Itoi was born in Seattle in 1919, an American citizen fluent in English and a graduate of Broadway High School.
- Her parents were Issei immigrants, barred from naturalized citizenship, while Kazuko and her siblings were Nisei, citizens by birthright.
- The family managed the Carrollton Hotel in Seattle's Skid Road district, a working-class establishment near the waterfront.
- Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, West Coast newspapers began publishing editorials calling Japanese Americans a security threat.
- In May 1942, a printed notice was posted in Japanese American neighborhoods, giving families seven days to report to an assembly point.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834852Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:25 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA 1942 executive order forces Japanese Americans from their homes. One woman's detailed record reveals the impact of official policy on ordinary lives. The printed notice that gave them seven days and took their lives apart This episode explores...
The printed notice that gave them seven days and took their lives apart

This episode explores the documented life of Kazuko Itoi, an American-born woman whose family managed a Seattle hotel, as she navigates the sudden upheaval of forced removal during World War II. It questions what a government believes it is doing when it interns its own citizens.

Person: Kazuko Itoi
Date: 1942
Location: Seattle, Washington
Order: Executive Order 9066

- Kazuko Itoi was born in Seattle in 1919, an American citizen fluent in English and a graduate of Broadway High School.
- Her parents were Issei immigrants, barred from naturalized citizenship, while Kazuko and her siblings were Nisei, citizens by birthright.
- The family managed the Carrollton Hotel in Seattle's Skid Road district, a working-class establishment near the waterfront.
- Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, West Coast newspapers began publishing editorials calling Japanese Americans a security threat.
- In May 1942, a printed notice was posted in Japanese American neighborhoods, giving families seven days to report to an assembly point.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1033falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-campus-directory-renames-forty-million-americans--74834848
A campus directory renames forty million Americans

This episode explores the origins of the term "Asian American" and the historical work that accompanied its creation. It delves into the life of Yuji Ichioka, whose personal experience with forced relocation shaped his dedication to self-definition and historical recovery.

Person: Yuji Ichioka
Date: 1968
Location: Berkeley
Event: Founding of the "Asian American" term

- Yuji Ichioka, at six years old, was among 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry removed from their homes and sent to the Topaz War Relocation Center in 1942 under Executive Order 9066.
- After serving in the US Army and earning a history degree, Ichioka entered a doctoral program at Columbia University but left to work as a juvenile probation officer in New York.
- A trip to Japan sparked Ichioka's interest in the Issei, the first generation of Japanese immigrants, whose unread historical records were primarily in Japanese.
- Returning to Berkeley around 1968, Ichioka found a campus transformed by the anti-war, civil rights, and Third World Liberation Front movements.
- Ichioka began using a campus directory to identify students with Asian surnames who were already involved in political organizations, a method that became foundational to a new movement.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834848Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:19 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA man uses a campus directory to identify students with Asian surnames already in political groups, sparking a movement to rename forty million Americans. A campus directory renames forty million Americans This episode explores the origins of...
A campus directory renames forty million Americans

This episode explores the origins of the term "Asian American" and the historical work that accompanied its creation. It delves into the life of Yuji Ichioka, whose personal experience with forced relocation shaped his dedication to self-definition and historical recovery.

Person: Yuji Ichioka
Date: 1968
Location: Berkeley
Event: Founding of the "Asian American" term

- Yuji Ichioka, at six years old, was among 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry removed from their homes and sent to the Topaz War Relocation Center in 1942 under Executive Order 9066.
- After serving in the US Army and earning a history degree, Ichioka entered a doctoral program at Columbia University but left to work as a juvenile probation officer in New York.
- A trip to Japan sparked Ichioka's interest in the Issei, the first generation of Japanese immigrants, whose unread historical records were primarily in Japanese.
- Returning to Berkeley around 1968, Ichioka found a campus transformed by the anti-war, civil rights, and Third World Liberation Front movements.
- Ichioka began using a campus directory to identify students with Asian surnames who were already involved in political organizations, a method that became foundational to a new movement.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1077falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-room-assignment-that-starved-their-charity--74834846
The Room Assignment That Starved Their Charity

In this episode, we follow the arrival of Western civilians at the Weihsien Civilian Assembly Center and the committee work that assigned rooms inside a mission compound pressed into service. The story tracks how everyday decisions about space and rations tested assumptions about faith, education, and civilized behavior, and asks what those choices reveal about the people who made them.

Person: Langdon Brown Gilkey
Person: Eric Liddell
Location: Weihsien Civilian Assembly Center, Shandong Province, China
Date: Autumn 1943 (internment began after December 7, 1941; consolidation in 1943)
Event: Room assignment committee and rationing inside the compound

- Two thousand Western civilians were consolidated into a former Presbyterian mission compound converted into an internment center.
- Langdon Gilkey, twenty-two and a Harvard graduate, served on the committee that assigned rooms inside the overcrowded compound.
- The compound’s buildings, courtyards, and chapel were now encircled by Japanese guards and subject to controlled food rations.
- Internees included missionaries, teachers, businesspeople, diplomats, and figures like Olympic gold medalist Eric Liddell.
- Committee decisions about who got which rooms and how space was allocated created tensions that challenged long-held beliefs about faith and civilized conduct.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834846Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:15 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA room-assignment committee in a Shandong internment camp rationed space and dignity-how did those allocations expose them? The Room Assignment That Starved Their Charity In this episode, we follow the arrival of Western civilians at the...
The Room Assignment That Starved Their Charity

In this episode, we follow the arrival of Western civilians at the Weihsien Civilian Assembly Center and the committee work that assigned rooms inside a mission compound pressed into service. The story tracks how everyday decisions about space and rations tested assumptions about faith, education, and civilized behavior, and asks what those choices reveal about the people who made them.

Person: Langdon Brown Gilkey
Person: Eric Liddell
Location: Weihsien Civilian Assembly Center, Shandong Province, China
Date: Autumn 1943 (internment began after December 7, 1941; consolidation in 1943)
Event: Room assignment committee and rationing inside the compound

- Two thousand Western civilians were consolidated into a former Presbyterian mission compound converted into an internment center.
- Langdon Gilkey, twenty-two and a Harvard graduate, served on the committee that assigned rooms inside the overcrowded compound.
- The compound’s buildings, courtyards, and chapel were now encircled by Japanese guards and subject to controlled food rations.
- Internees included missionaries, teachers, businesspeople, diplomats, and figures like Olympic gold medalist Eric Liddell.
- Committee decisions about who got which rooms and how space was allocated created tensions that challenged long-held beliefs about faith and civilized conduct.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1152falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-surgical-instrument-salesman-who-built-the-blackshirts--74834845
The surgical instrument salesman who built the Blackshirts

In this episode, we follow Neil Francis Hawkins from his early life in commerce to the centre of Britain's fascist movement, tracing the decisions, mergers and internal purges that made him indispensable - and asking what the gaps in the record reveal about the man behind the organisation.

Person: Neil Francis Hawkins
Occupation: Surgical instrument salesman; later BUF Director-General of Organisation: British Fascisti; British Fascisti of Fascists (Blackshirts)
Date: Died Boxing Day 1950; interned and released 1944
Event: Merger talks, internal splits, rise to head of the Blackshirts

- Joined the British Fascisti in the early 1920s and rose to a three-man headquarters committee.
- Allied with E. G. Mandeville Roe to push the group toward corporate-state ideas and anti-Semitism.
- Opened merger talks with the New Party without founder Rotha Lintorn-Orman's approval; a Grand Council vote rejected the merger by one vote.
- Led a mass split in 1932, bringing most members into Oswald Mosley's British Fascisti of Fascists and taking senior administrative posts.
- By 1938 had consolidated power: rivals Joyce and Beckett dismissed, Chesterton resigned, and Hawkins controlled the organisation's structure.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834845Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:11 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA surgical-instrument salesman became the architect of Britain's Blackshirts and sat four years in prison without charge - how did that expose him? The surgical instrument salesman who built the Blackshirts In this episode, we follow Neil...
The surgical instrument salesman who built the Blackshirts

In this episode, we follow Neil Francis Hawkins from his early life in commerce to the centre of Britain's fascist movement, tracing the decisions, mergers and internal purges that made him indispensable - and asking what the gaps in the record reveal about the man behind the organisation.

Person: Neil Francis Hawkins
Occupation: Surgical instrument salesman; later BUF Director-General of Organisation: British Fascisti; British Fascisti of Fascists (Blackshirts)
Date: Died Boxing Day 1950; interned and released 1944
Event: Merger talks, internal splits, rise to head of the Blackshirts

- Joined the British Fascisti in the early 1920s and rose to a three-man headquarters committee.
- Allied with E. G. Mandeville Roe to push the group toward corporate-state ideas and anti-Semitism.
- Opened merger talks with the New Party without founder Rotha Lintorn-Orman's approval; a Grand Council vote rejected the merger by one vote.
- Led a mass split in 1932, bringing most members into Oswald Mosley's British Fascisti of Fascists and taking senior administrative posts.
- By 1938 had consolidated power: rivals Joyce and Beckett dismissed, Chesterton resigned, and Hawkins controlled the organisation's structure.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1354falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-trevi-fountain-s-silence-mourned-a-star--74834837
The Trevi Fountain's Silence Mourned a Star

This episode explores the life of Marcello Mastroianni, an actor whose quiet survival and unique screen presence defied the logic of his own legend, even as his death sparked a final argument among the women in his life.

Person: Marcello Mastroianni
Date: December 19, 1996
Location: Rome, Italy
Event: Trevi Fountain silenced
Films: 147

- On December 19, 1996, Rome's Trevi Fountain was draped in black cloth and its water switched off, an unprecedented act for a private citizen.
- Marcello Mastroianni, born in Fontana Liri, was interned in a German prison camp during World War II before escaping to Venice.
- His first uncredited film appearance was in 1939 in "Marionette," at the age of fourteen.
- Mastroianni starred in Federico Fellini's 1960 film "La Dolce Vita," which featured an iconic scene at the Trevi Fountain.
- He received three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor but never won, though he won Best Actor twice at the Cannes Film Festival.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834837Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:07 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTRome's Trevi Fountain is silenced for the first time in centuries to mourn a star. His private life, however, remains a public battle. The Trevi Fountain's Silence Mourned a Star This episode explores the life of Marcello Mastroianni, an actor...
The Trevi Fountain's Silence Mourned a Star

This episode explores the life of Marcello Mastroianni, an actor whose quiet survival and unique screen presence defied the logic of his own legend, even as his death sparked a final argument among the women in his life.

Person: Marcello Mastroianni
Date: December 19, 1996
Location: Rome, Italy
Event: Trevi Fountain silenced
Films: 147

- On December 19, 1996, Rome's Trevi Fountain was draped in black cloth and its water switched off, an unprecedented act for a private citizen.
- Marcello Mastroianni, born in Fontana Liri, was interned in a German prison camp during World War II before escaping to Venice.
- His first uncredited film appearance was in 1939 in "Marionette," at the age of fourteen.
- Mastroianni starred in Federico Fellini's 1960 film "La Dolce Vita," which featured an iconic scene at the Trevi Fountain.
- He received three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor but never won, though he won Best Actor twice at the Cannes Film Festival.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1074falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-memoir-that-withheld-her-life-for-decades--74834829
The memoir that withheld her life for decades

This episode explores the life of Nadezhda, a woman who navigated the tumultuous 20th century under multiple identities, from her origins in the Russian Empire to her work as a Soviet agent. It delves into the extraordinary circumstances that shaped her and the quiet, yet profound, impact she had as a civilian caught in the machinery of ideological war.

Person: Nadezhda (Esther Markovna Fridgant)
Date: July 26, 1977
Location: London
Event: Interview with William F. Buckley Jr.

- Born Esther Markovna Fridgant in Bershad, Russian Empire, into a family with a rabbi grandfather.
- At fourteen, she renamed herself Nadezhda, meaning hope, and joined the Young Revolutionary International as an anarchist.
- By sixteen, she was actively involved in the October Revolution, helping to occupy the Odessa police station.
- At eighteen, she began working for the Cheka, the Soviet secret police, traveling to Germany under secret instructions.
- In 1929, she operated as "Kirschner" in Shanghai for Soviet military intelligence (GRU), working alongside Richard Sorge.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834829Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:22:03 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA woman who ran a spy network is arrested by the state she served for knowing too much. How did her memoir expose her Cold War past? The memoir that withheld her life for decades This episode explores the life of Nadezhda, a woman who navigated...
The memoir that withheld her life for decades

This episode explores the life of Nadezhda, a woman who navigated the tumultuous 20th century under multiple identities, from her origins in the Russian Empire to her work as a Soviet agent. It delves into the extraordinary circumstances that shaped her and the quiet, yet profound, impact she had as a civilian caught in the machinery of ideological war.

Person: Nadezhda (Esther Markovna Fridgant)
Date: July 26, 1977
Location: London
Event: Interview with William F. Buckley Jr.

- Born Esther Markovna Fridgant in Bershad, Russian Empire, into a family with a rabbi grandfather.
- At fourteen, she renamed herself Nadezhda, meaning hope, and joined the Young Revolutionary International as an anarchist.
- By sixteen, she was actively involved in the October Revolution, helping to occupy the Odessa police station.
- At eighteen, she began working for the Cheka, the Soviet secret police, traveling to Germany under secret instructions.
- In 1929, she operated as "Kirschner" in Shanghai for Soviet military intelligence (GRU), working alongside Richard Sorge.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1751falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-secret-pact-that-traded-a-nation--74834773
The Secret Pact That Traded a Nation

This episode explores the life and mysterious death of Kārlis Ulmanis, Latvia's leader during World War II, who vanished into the Soviet prison system. How did a head of state, who once ruled a nation, meet such an end?

Person: Kārlis Ulmanis
Date: September 20, 1942
Location: Soviet prison transport
Status: Died of dysentery
Event: Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

- Kārlis Ulmanis was born in 1877 into a farming family in the Russian Empire, before Latvia existed as a state.
- After participating in the 1905 Revolution, he fled to the United States, earning an agriculture degree from the University of Nebraska.
- He returned to Latvia in 1913 and became Prime Minister of the Provisional Government after Latvia declared independence in 1918.
- On May 15-16, 1934, Ulmanis dissolved Latvia's parliament and banned all political parties in a bloodless coup.
- In August 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact secretly assigned Latvia to the Soviet sphere of influence, unbeknownst to Ulmanis.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834773Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:21:59 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTLatvia's leader cooperates with occupiers, dissolving his republic and asking for a pension, only to face a one-way journey into the Soviet prison system. This is a WWII civilian wreckage story. The Secret Pact That Traded a Nation This episode...
The Secret Pact That Traded a Nation

This episode explores the life and mysterious death of Kārlis Ulmanis, Latvia's leader during World War II, who vanished into the Soviet prison system. How did a head of state, who once ruled a nation, meet such an end?

Person: Kārlis Ulmanis
Date: September 20, 1942
Location: Soviet prison transport
Status: Died of dysentery
Event: Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

- Kārlis Ulmanis was born in 1877 into a farming family in the Russian Empire, before Latvia existed as a state.
- After participating in the 1905 Revolution, he fled to the United States, earning an agriculture degree from the University of Nebraska.
- He returned to Latvia in 1913 and became Prime Minister of the Provisional Government after Latvia declared independence in 1918.
- On May 15-16, 1934, Ulmanis dissolved Latvia's parliament and banned all political parties in a bloodless coup.
- In August 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact secretly assigned Latvia to the Soviet sphere of influence, unbeknownst to Ulmanis.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1541falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-five-year-old-american-boy-slept-in-a-horse-stall-by-government-order--74834637
A five-year-old American boy slept in a horse stall - by government order

This episode covers the experience of Japanese American families, including the Takeis, who were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated during World War II. It explores the impact of Executive Order 9066 and the question of why American citizens were included in the internment.

Person: George Takei
Date: February 19, 1942
Location: Los Angeles, California
Event: Japanese American internment

- The US government signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the military to designate exclusion zones and remove individuals based solely on Japanese ancestry.
- The Takei family, including four-year-old George, was given days to settle their affairs and lost their home, business, and savings.
- Their first stop was Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, where horse stables were converted into temporary living quarters.
- George Takei, then five, and his family were assigned to a horse stall with wood plank floors and the lingering smell of animals.
- The family was later moved to Rohwer War Relocation Center in Arkansas, a former swamp surrounded by barbed wire and guard towers.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834637Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:21:56 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTIn 1942, the US government reclassified an entire population. Japanese ancestry alone was grounds for removal, forcing thousands into internment camps. A five-year-old American boy slept in a horse stall - by government order This episode covers...
A five-year-old American boy slept in a horse stall - by government order

This episode covers the experience of Japanese American families, including the Takeis, who were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated during World War II. It explores the impact of Executive Order 9066 and the question of why American citizens were included in the internment.

Person: George Takei
Date: February 19, 1942
Location: Los Angeles, California
Event: Japanese American internment

- The US government signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the military to designate exclusion zones and remove individuals based solely on Japanese ancestry.
- The Takei family, including four-year-old George, was given days to settle their affairs and lost their home, business, and savings.
- Their first stop was Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, where horse stables were converted into temporary living quarters.
- George Takei, then five, and his family were assigned to a horse stall with wood plank floors and the lingering smell of animals.
- The family was later moved to Rohwer War Relocation Center in Arkansas, a former swamp surrounded by barbed wire and guard towers.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1391falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-cedar-sign-she-carved-that-outlasted-exile--74834546
The cedar sign she carved that outlasted exile

This episode explores the life of Miwako Kai, a renowned Japanese pianist whose career was interrupted by forced internment during World War II, and the unexpected legacy she created in a new country.

Person: Miwako Kai
Date: 1944
Location: Columbia University
Occupation: Pianist, Library typist
Event: Japanese American internment

- Miwako Kai was born in San Francisco in 1913, into a family prominent in the Japanese commercial community.
- At age eleven, she was placed under the guardianship of American piano teacher Edith Kawasaki, a relationship that ended abruptly when her family moved to Japan.
- In 1932, at nineteen, Kai won the Grand Prize at the first Music Competition of Japan, a prize never awarded again.
- She performed the Japanese premiere of the Schumann Piano Concerto and later competed in the prestigious Third International Chopin Competition in Warsaw.
- After a goodwill tour of the United States in 1939, she returned to California in 1940, planning to stay for one year.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834546Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:21:51 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA celebrated Japanese pianist, once held in a US internment camp, takes a typing job at Columbia University. What she builds there will defy her exile. The cedar sign she carved that outlasted exile This episode explores the life of Miwako Kai,...
The cedar sign she carved that outlasted exile

This episode explores the life of Miwako Kai, a renowned Japanese pianist whose career was interrupted by forced internment during World War II, and the unexpected legacy she created in a new country.

Person: Miwako Kai
Date: 1944
Location: Columbia University
Occupation: Pianist, Library typist
Event: Japanese American internment

- Miwako Kai was born in San Francisco in 1913, into a family prominent in the Japanese commercial community.
- At age eleven, she was placed under the guardianship of American piano teacher Edith Kawasaki, a relationship that ended abruptly when her family moved to Japan.
- In 1932, at nineteen, Kai won the Grand Prize at the first Music Competition of Japan, a prize never awarded again.
- She performed the Japanese premiere of the Schumann Piano Concerto and later competed in the prestigious Third International Chopin Competition in Warsaw.
- After a goodwill tour of the United States in 1939, she returned to California in 1940, planning to stay for one year.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1140falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dictation-that-made-her-a-bestselling-hooker--74834542
The Dictation That Made Her a Bestselling Hooker

In this episode, we follow a single life through a string of public moments and decisions that propelled it into culture. The episode traces how a memoir, an arrest, and a dictation set off a cascade of adaptations and publicity - but what exactly connected them?

Person: Xaviera Hollander
Event: Birth in internment camp; 1974 board game release
Date: 1971 (book publication and deportation)
Location: New York City
Author: Robin Moore (dictation title), Yvonne Dunleavy (ghostwriter)

- Born in a Japanese internment camp in 1943, she later returned to Europe and moved to New York in 1968.
- Hired as a secretary at the Dutch consulate, she resigned to become a call girl and then opened the Vertical Whorehouse.
- By 1971 she was arrested for prostitution and deported from the United States at age twenty-seven.
- The Happy Hooker: My Own Story was published in 1971 from her dictation, credited with a title by Robin Moore and prose shaped by Yvonne Dunleavy.
- Between 1975 and 1980 five actresses portrayed her across multiple films while she appeared in a semi-autobiographical role in 1975.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834542Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:21:47 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA bestselling madam born in a Japanese internment camp sees her life become a board game and five film versions-how did that exposure trace back to a dictation and arrest? The Dictation That Made Her a Bestselling Hooker In this episode, we...
The Dictation That Made Her a Bestselling Hooker

In this episode, we follow a single life through a string of public moments and decisions that propelled it into culture. The episode traces how a memoir, an arrest, and a dictation set off a cascade of adaptations and publicity - but what exactly connected them?

Person: Xaviera Hollander
Event: Birth in internment camp; 1974 board game release
Date: 1971 (book publication and deportation)
Location: New York City
Author: Robin Moore (dictation title), Yvonne Dunleavy (ghostwriter)

- Born in a Japanese internment camp in 1943, she later returned to Europe and moved to New York in 1968.
- Hired as a secretary at the Dutch consulate, she resigned to become a call girl and then opened the Vertical Whorehouse.
- By 1971 she was arrested for prostitution and deported from the United States at age twenty-seven.
- The Happy Hooker: My Own Story was published in 1971 from her dictation, credited with a title by Robin Moore and prose shaped by Yvonne Dunleavy.
- Between 1975 and 1980 five actresses portrayed her across multiple films while she appeared in a semi-autobiographical role in 1975.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1362falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-priest-s-mosley-portrait-hung-and-it-recruited-hamm--74834540
The priest's Mosley portrait hung, and it recruited Hamm

In this episode, we trace the path from a parish photograph to a political life: how a Welsh schoolteacher moved from ordinary provincial stability to internment, conversion, and public agitation. What chain of people, places and moments turned him into a focal point for British fascism?

Person: Edward Jeffrey Hamm
Date: Born 15 September 1915
Location: Wembley parish house (wedding reception), Leeuwkop internment camp, Hyde Park, East End
Event: Wedding with Nazi salute and Mosley portrait; wartime internment under Defence Regulation 18B
Occupation: Schoolteacher; later public speaker and organizer

- Hamm joined the British Union of Fascists in 1935 while a young teacher and later took a teaching post at King’s School in Harrow.
- In 1939 he accepted a teaching position in the Falkland Islands and was arrested in 1940 under Defence Regulation 18B for allegedly promoting fascist ideas among pupils.
- Interned at Leeuwkop in South Africa, he lived alongside German Nazi prisoners, where MI5 files record sustained Nazi ideological influence and his participation in a tunnel escape attempt.
- Returned to Britain in 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Tank Regiment but was discharged as disruptive in 1944 and did not see frontline combat.
- Priest Clement Russell received Hamm into the Catholic Church, kept a Mosley portrait on the parish wall, performed Hamm’s wedding where guests gave a Nazi salute, and within months Hamm began speaking to crowds in Hyde Park and the East End.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/74834540Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:21:42 +0000OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENTA framed portrait of Oswald Mosley hung in a Wembley parish house as a priest married Edward Jeffrey Hamm beneath a Nazi flag-how did that exposure recruit him into Mosley’s fascist network? The priest's Mosley portrait hung, and it recruited Hamm...
The priest's Mosley portrait hung, and it recruited Hamm

In this episode, we trace the path from a parish photograph to a political life: how a Welsh schoolteacher moved from ordinary provincial stability to internment, conversion, and public agitation. What chain of people, places and moments turned him into a focal point for British fascism?

Person: Edward Jeffrey Hamm
Date: Born 15 September 1915
Location: Wembley parish house (wedding reception), Leeuwkop internment camp, Hyde Park, East End
Event: Wedding with Nazi salute and Mosley portrait; wartime internment under Defence Regulation 18B
Occupation: Schoolteacher; later public speaker and organizer

- Hamm joined the British Union of Fascists in 1935 while a young teacher and later took a teaching post at King’s School in Harrow.
- In 1939 he accepted a teaching position in the Falkland Islands and was arrested in 1940 under Defence Regulation 18B for allegedly promoting fascist ideas among pupils.
- Interned at Leeuwkop in South Africa, he lived alongside German Nazi prisoners, where MI5 files record sustained Nazi ideological influence and his participation in a tunnel escape attempt.
- Returned to Britain in 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Tank Regiment but was discharged as disruptive in 1944 and did not see frontline combat.
- Priest Clement Russell received Hamm into the Catholic Church, kept a Mosley portrait on the parish wall, performed Hamm’s wedding where guests gave a Nazi salute, and within months Hamm began speaking to crowds in Hyde Park and the East End.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>940falsefull