The Missing Chapter Podcast

I think everyone would agree with me when I say that we’d all like to be better stewards of our money.  Maybe we didn’t need that $6.00 latte this past Monday, Tuesday, and uh Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.  I mean, my goodness, that’s $30 a week in caffeinated beverages, who would ever do that?  Certainly, not your caffeine-addicted, coffee aficionados known as the Phils.  But in all honesty, just like anything in life, a little over a lot of time, adds up to a lot.  Someone resisting the latte every week can save upwards of $1,500!  My goodness, what would that equate to if you invested that in a long-term portfolio earning compounded interest?  That’s a nice little retirement right there.  But what if you could get that kind of 30 year investment, say in 2 or 3 year turnaround?  Wow, that kind of investment, does that even exist?  Well, they kind of do…and they kind of don’t simultaneously.  What the heck am I talking about?  Grab a coffee, or your $6 latte and let’s write another Missing Chapter.

His conquests rewrote the history books, as well as the maps of continents. He was feared throughout Europe and his tactics would redefine military strategies for decades to come. Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power out of the French Revolution and the period of upheaval that saw French royalty overthrow, as well as beheaded. Nothing stood in his way, except… four-legged furry animals, renowned for their cuteness. Historians will tell you that Napoleon’s greatest miscalculations came when he invaded the frozen tundra of Russia, when in reality, his greatest defeat and most humiliating loss happened early at the hands or rather ‘paws’ of one of nature’s sweetest creatures.

What better way to usher in spring than with a hot cup of your favorite coffee and a story from your favorite podcast? Hop to it Missing Chapter fans… it’s time for another episode. 

Whether you’re from upstate NY like us, a listener from the south, our California friends, or even for some of our international listeners, I would guess that when I mention the Adirondack Chair, that provides a specific style rather than a generalized term.  It’s the same instance as if I said the term car vs. a 1956 Ford Crown Victoria - the specifics conjures up a different visual.  Well, the Adirondack Chair specifically is known throughout the world as not just a chair, but a specific kind of chair that has relaxation, vacation, and getaway built into its DNA.  But where did this style of chair come from?  Who invented it?  And how was it so brilliantly branded that it attaches an almost visceral feeling at the mere mention of it? Find out more on this Missing Chapter Short!

Have you ever thought about the unintended consequences of our decisions we make every day, good or bad? Stopping to get a coffee on your way to work has an unintended consequence of seeing an entirely different group of people on the highway. Going back in the house because you forgot something has an unintended consequence of you walking into work with a new set of people. Well, what if I told you that there was an unintended consequence that took place following the decision by NATO to sanction the USSR? This decision had quite the impact for the citizens of the former Soviet Union that will have present day consequences. And let me tell you, we are digging deeper into this story today, coffees in hand, and when I say deeper, I mean deeper. I hope you're ready, welcome to the Missing Chapter everyone, let's get started.

Hello listeners, welcome to the Missing Chapter.  If you’re familiar to our podcast at all, you know we just introduced a new segment - the MC profile.  On today’s episode of the Missing Chapter, we’re highlighting an individual I’m almost certain you’ve never heard of.  A brilliant individual that takes science to a level that boggles the mind.  His knowledge depth went so deep that our own present-day military uses his ideas to go even deeper than we could ever imagine - hypothetically and in the most literal sense as well because this gentleman, invented something that will allow our navy to hide in the depths of the ocean floor and navigate the seas undetected.  Who was he?  And what did he invent?  Stick with us and find out.  Welcome to the Missing Chapter, everyone, let’s get started!

Well, everyone, because of all of our loyal listeners and fans, we have officially surpassed 100,000 plays! It’s hard to believe - 100,000!  When we started this podcast 4 seasons ago, we could never imagine we’d be here so quickly, or be here at all! But here we are and we wanted to give you a bonus episode today to celebrate our way to 100k!

Welcome to the Missing Chapter, everyone, grab your coffees and let’s share some experiences, laughs, bloopers, and some announcements, on this bonus episode of the Missing Chapter.

“I’ll get you my pretty… and your little dog too!”  As far as iconic Hollywood quotes and villains go… you would be hard-pressed to come up with two more perfect examples in cinematic history.

Not many people would recognize the name or photograph of actress Margaret Hamilton, but just about everyone knows the famous movie role she played, and the subsequent lines she delivered. Bedecked in green make-up and a black pointed hat, this pleasant face transformed into the Wicked Witch of the West in MGM’s version of 1939 classic - The Wizard of Oz.

The stereotype with today’s youth is that they always have their heads down on their phones, they’re always playing video games, and they never have anything to say. Well, Phil and I decided to put this label to the test and what better place to do it than Canajoharie high school’s very own job fair. Our student contestants sat down for a little impromptu discussion on everything from their favorite song to where they’ve always wanted to travel to. We’re usually the ones doing the talking, but on today’s very special episode of the Missing Chapter Podcast, we hand the microphone over to our students, and listen to what they have to say. 

You know how the game goes - Start with everyone along the starting line, when you say 'Green Light' everyone will move towards the finish line, when you say 'Red Light' everyone must immediately stop. If players are still moving when you call 'Red Light', they must go back to the starting line. And if you’re thinking about playing this game in a real life scenario, it probably goes something like this - You’re in a real hurry and hope that every intersection is cleared of traffic and a glowing green light is awaiting for you to pass through unobstructed, and every red light magically and hurriedly changes its tone so you don’t even have to take your foot off the gas while crowds of people await for your royal highness to pass through the intersection.  And let’s not even get started about the yellow light - which, in modern day traffic, has changed it’s purpose from being a warning for slowing down to a welcoming for flooring it and speeding up.  But here’s the question - why do we use those three colors?  Have they always meant the same thing?  That’s what we’re here for - to answer the questions you may not have even asked yourself, and to do so in Missing Chapter fashion.  Grab your coffees, and let’s add another chapter to the history textbooks.

Hollywood’s depiction of pirates, swashbucklers, and buccaneers is often glamorized and fictionalized to the point, where it’s difficult to differentiate between villain and hero. The history and reality of pirates is often much more obvious, but no less thrilling and entertaining.

Enter into today’s episode, arguably the most successful but least-known, pirate to sail the seven seas. His exploits would net him an estimated tens of millions of dollars in stolen treasure, make him the most-wanted outlaw of the British crown, and inspire countless stories, books, and plays.

And now his exploits will have inspired a podcast… the story behind the pirate whose life not only sounds like a Hollywood script, but actually was. Pour yourself a cup of coffee as we sail the seven seas on this edition of The Missing Chapter Podcast.

Welcome to this episode of the Missing Chapter - and the segment we refer to as the Missing Chapter Profile.  We’re going to take some time today and highlight someone of great musical stature.  He has an immediately recognizable voice, and for any Italian family, his songs are a staple in any household, especially while cooking or baking.  And for you Yankee fans, there’s nothing more nostalgic than when this man caps off a good Yankees victory at Yankee Stadium - that’s right, it’s the voice, the sultan of swoon, ol blue eyes, Frank Sinatra.  Come fly with me as we share some of Sinatra’s ups and downs, knowns and unknowns, and some surprising, and even shocking, facts about today’s Missing Chapter Profile, Frank Sinatra.  Let the little town blues just melt away, and we’ll make a brand new start of it, on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

I hope to rekindle what it was like as a kid for some of our listeners here - or maybe for our younger audience, trigger more of a recent memory - the Crane Game.  You might not know it by name, but the epiphany of what this game is will happen immediately when I say this - the game with the claw!

But this isn’t an episode about toys, although we’ve done a few of those, this is an episode about a covert, CIA operation to use this crane game concept to reach an object at the bottom of the ocean floor. 

What are they looking for?  How would they do it?  And why do they want it?  Pour yourself a cup of coffee and tune in, another chapter is about to be written, on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

Well, here we are in the snow-covered hills of upstate NY.  It’s a balmy 14 out this morning, my windshield was covered with an impenetrable microscopic ice, which is somehow impervious to a massive steel and plastic ice scraper, I almost took a header coming down my steps from said ice, and I still can’t feel my hands from pumping gas this morning with a chill that seems like it came from Arendelle castle.  What I envision now that gives me solace…watching fireworks on the 4th of July after a beautiful summer day spent outside barbecuing with burgers and…dogs.  The hot dog.  It’s a summer and baseball staple in our country.  It’s a stadium tradition, it’s a barbecue necessity, and it’s a cornerstone of our culture, good or bad I guess.  But there is some controversy surrounding this questionable meat…who stakes claim to making the first hot dog?  Well, that’s up for debate, and I’m excited to have that discussion with my good friend here Phil Horender, on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

There are great quotes from American history and then there are Mark Twain quotes. There are great writers from American History and then there is Mark Twain.

An astonishing and profound author, whose collection of works impacted U.S. history as much as the commentary he was making on it. From his humble upbringing to his amazing journey through life. The chapters of his days, read like one of his ground-breaking, iconic stories and, in the process, gives us our new episode format for 2024… The Missing Chapter Profile – Samuel Langhorne Clemens.

Some of what you may have known and lots of what you don’t know about one of our nation’s most cherished storytellers.

From relatives to neighbors, family to strangers, what other response is so commonly known around the world than what happens following someone’s sneeze.  God bless you gesundheit, blesh you, salud - whatever your response, this is something so commonly used that it spans across continents, religions, ethnicities, and cultures - how is that possible?  And better yet, how is it that so many people across the world use this response yet if I had asked anyone who used that response, “hey, may I ask you, why do we say God bless you after someone sneezes” I honestly don’t know if someone would know the true origins of it.  I thought I did, until I realized what I thought was surrounded in sheer myth.  And that’s the origin of this episode, a simple question…collectively, why do we all have that shared experience and where did that come from?  You’re about to find out because you’re listening to the Missing Chapter and we’re starting right now.

If any of our listeners have flown before, you’ve probably noticed two schools of flying patrons - those that love it and spend their time casually reading their favorite book or appear to have the best slumber of their lives, and those that have to take a valium washed down with a swig of vino to get their heart rates back to normal pumping levels.  Me, personally, I fall somewhere in the middle.  I love flying, but when the bottom of your belly falls out from turbulence, I immediately wish I had taken that valium.  Anytime someone like the latter group gets a little anxious about the trip, and the fact that you’re 30,000 feet in the air without a parachute, going around 500 mph, it always helps to have the calming voice of the pilot, or the easy, calming nature of the flight attendant.  And that right there, is the focus of today’s episode.  The flight attendant: an airline’s idea to calm its passengers has become not only a common occurrence, but a requirement for all flights.  I hope your seatbacks and tray tables are in the upright position because we’re about to take off on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

History is draped in mystery, speculation, and intrigue and certain events in our nation’s past lend themselves to these fascinations. Maybe none more so than assassinations and, in particular, those of President John F. Kennedy and President Abraham Lincoln. Today’s episode of The Missing Chapter delves into the latter. A renowned actor, a beloved leader and a nation still divided with a gaping wound. But beneath what we already know about this tragic and history-altering occurrence is a story much deeper. A secret society with ambitions of a new nation, separate from the one just preserved. Members hell-bent on preserving the brutal and inhumane institution of slavery and willing to do anything to achieve their objectives. A story you don’t know on the podcast that brings them to you… The Missing Chapter. 

John Macarthur, in his book Reckless Faith says, “Federal agents don’t learn to spot counterfeit money by studying the counterfeits. They study genuine bills until they master the look of the real thing. Then when they see the bogus money they recognize it.”  How true is that?  And what’s behind the note itself.  How about this?  What’s behind the story of counterfeit money altogether?  Well, stick with us, as we take a moment in this new year to, pun intended, look more closely at the history of the counterfeit, and hopefully, have a great time while we do it.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, keep focused on the road if you’re driving, and Happy New Year everyone, it’s another episode of the Missing Chapter.

Holiday traditions are in the details… Whether it be the specific way you decorate the Christmas tree, the precise angle the wreath is hung on the door, the Christmas card that gets mailed to friends and family has to be perfect. Undoubtedly, a large portion of the holiday season gets spent on… gifts. Finding gifts, buying gifts, and wrapping gifts.

Decades ago, most gift givers would cover packages with brown shipping paper or newspaper, even fabric. The brown shipping was usually what the post office would accept when those packages were shipped to that special someone. The latter, fabric, was also preferred, but could be rather pricey. Fast forward to 2023, the gift wrap industry in the United States is a nearly $3 billion market, in part, because of some quick thinking by a Kansas City, Missouri entrepreneur a century ago. 

Ahh, it’s almost Christmas.  Hear the fire crackle, see the sparkling lights of the decorations inside and out, the smell of balsam around the house, hot chocolate in hand, and the beautiful traditional sounds of one of our favorite Christmas songs of all time - Morse Code.  Wait, wait, what?  Morse Code?  Yup, that confusion that just struck your ears was the same confusion that some sailors experienced some 100 years ago when they expected to hear Morse Code, but in fact heard the first radio broadcast of all time and sure enough, it was a Christmas song.  What Christmas song you might ask?  Stick with us after the break and grab your coffees, and hot chocolates too I guess, as we wish you a Merry Christmas, and a happy episode of the Missing Chapter.

Hey, everyone, tis the season!  Merry Christmas from the Phils at the Missing Chapter!  And with the Christmas spirit, comes the music, the holiday festivities, and the quintessential customs.  Our families hold dear to some of our Christmas traditions.  Would you be surprised, though, if I told you that some of the more popular traditions don’t have a biblical backing - that they may not have been a part of the original Christmas at all?  Some of these common scenes, sayings, and traditions have moved away from what the history actually was to now what we would consider common misconceptions.  So grab your coffees, or for this episode only, maybe a hot chocolate, and let’s get into some of the most common Christmas Misconceptions.

FDR is President, minimum wage is .30/hour, the digital calculator celebrated its first year, a gallon of gas is a hefty .15, and the Allied forces cross the English Channel to invade Normandy…the year? 1944.  The place, Mattoon, Illinois, and this small town is experiencing great panic and fear over a mysterious illness that seems to be randomly selecting as its next victim.  What kind of symptoms does this illness create, what did the authorities do about it, and how did it all conclude? Lots of questions, but fewer answers…why?  Because it’s today’s Missing Chapter Mystery.  Let’s hope you have your coffees ready, because we’re getting started right now.

New territory for The Missing Chapter Podcast – the Vikings. A grizzled, hardened Norseman whose impressive resume warrants an episode in and of itself. It includes the unification of both Denmark and Norway. Reigning as king of these two Scandinavian countries in the late 10th-century, this monarch not only brought these fragmented tribes under his control, he also converted the Danes to Christianity.

There… that’s all there is to know then, right? Why isn’t this episode of The Missing Chapter podcast a short? Because, this is only the beginning to today’s story, and from here our story takes a strange and unexpected turn. One in which we’ll find ourselves in the world of technology and, more specifically, electronics. No one could have predicted this partnership and no one could bring you this remarkable tale like we can… The Missing Chapter Podcast. 

Any financial advisor will tell their clients to strike while the iron’s hot.  We’re seeing trends toward a certain stock, it’s low, make sure you buy now, as many as you can!  Or eh, not so sure about this investment in this market, you better sell while you still can get something for your investment. For today’s episode, we’re talking some sketchy insider trading secrets…don’t get your hopes up, I’m not a financial advisor and you’re not about to get rich from this episode, but you’re sure to tear up when you hear what commodity was the topic of heated discussion, and bitter financial loss.  Grab your coffees, it’s time for the Missing Chapter. 

A warm crackling fire, the aroma of a turkey bronzing in the oven… is there a more American holiday than Thanksgiving? I’m not sure if there is, and let me add this to the picture you’re painting for our listeners… What’s on the television? Well, that would be the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, of course! It’s as iconic to this holiday as the mashed potatoes and the apple pie. You’re absolutely right! On this bonus episode of The Missing Chapter, we’ll lay out the history of and the story behind the world’s most famous parade and we’ll usher in Thanksgiving like only we can! Happy Thanksgiving Missing Chapter fans… settle in while the Phils serve up a hearty helping of stories past.

George Washington, Martha Washington, General Philip Schuyler, Lafayette, Benjamin Rush…what do these people have in common?  Well, quite a bit, but the known similarities isn’t what our focus is on this podcast.  We harness the unknown.  Well, in this episode of the Missing Chapter, let’s do just that.  We’re going to look at how these individuals faired during the American Revolution, some better than others of course, but one individual is credited by many historians for being the best surgeon, American or British, in the Revolution altogether.  This man has a great story, with incredible ties to our local communities in Central New York.  Find out more about this unknown historical figure on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

Boy it sure seems like technology is really taking off lately huh?  I say that in the most literal sense because now you can go to your local Target or Wal-Mart and buy a toy that uses technology that was unthinkable only a few decades ago.  To think when I was a kid that I would be able to take a remote control and manipulate a toy helicopter high into the air, and even watch the flight once it comes back down…no way, that’s the thing for sci-fi movies, not real life.  Well, here we are, and now my own kids have drones with AI that fly themselves and just by holding their hand to the side, below, and above, their 3” diameter drone can stay in flight for as long as the battery can stay at a constant charge.  To kids, that’s normalcy, to adults, that is ludicrous!  New technology, amazing, right?  Here’s the problem, it may new to us, but it certainly isn’t new to the world.  In fact, it’s old news, because the Nazis were using drones in 1944.  Yup, you heard me right.  Welcome to the Missing Chapter Podcast everyone, let’s get to it.

History comes in all facets - from artwork, to major accomplishments, huge catastrophes, and everything in between. Historically speaking, the big screen has provided opportunities for history to come alive! And if you're a follower of the Missing Chapter, you know we love our movies! So why not bring back the Top 5 - The Top 5 Historic and Iconic Movie Cars of all time. There is surely to be controversy and most likely, a follow-up episode to this Top 5!

Let us know what you think!

3 simple piano keys… used to create one of the most iconic Hollywood scores in history; one that can invoke a response from its listeners, unlike many others of its kind. In 1978, 2 friends set out to create a scary story and, in the process, produced a groundbreaking film that would change the landscape of movie-making forever, as well as the holiday it portrays.

The leaves have changed, the air is cold & crisp, jack-o-lanterns adorn every household window.  A killer has decided to return home again. Horror unlike anything before it – a story like only The Missing Chapter Podcast could bring you.  

Happy Halloween!

A superstition, according to Oxford Dictionary, is a widely held but unjustified belief in supernatural causation leading to certain consequences of an action or event, or a practice based on such a belief.  Wow, that’s a mouthful.  In essence, it’s something that we do out of habit, or maybe out of fear of bad luck.  Don’t step on a crack or you’ll break your mothers back.  You just spilled the salt.  Quick, throw a pinch over your right shoulder.  Hey, hold your breath, we’re going past a cemetery.  Knock on wood, this is going to be a good episode! Let’s hope there aren’t any black cats crossing our path today because I’m certainly not walking under any ladders.  Yeah, fingers crossed, hey, at least it’s not Friday the 13th - but it is almost Halloween, and what better way to spend this weekend than with your hosts of the Missing Chapter.

When unearthing evidence of the past, it is unbelievable to read the lengths that governments will go to spy on other sovereign nations.  I’m sure your mind went right to Cold War era espionage, which, if you’ve been a listener of the Missing Chapter for any period of time, you would know that’s one of our favorite eras and topics to talk about.  Of all the spy-tech that came out of that time period, what I’m about to tell you will probably shock you as much as it shocked me the first time I heard about it.  The use of a certain animal to spy on foreign nationals…no, I’m not talking about messenger pigeons, or crows, or the loyal and obedient man’s best friend, I’m talking about an animal that is known for its disobedience and training resistance, but I won’t share with you what animal it is just yet, well, at least not right meow.  Welcome to the Missing Chapter everyone, let’s get to it.

The man was a grudge-holder and today… he was already fuming. The smell of smog, the oppressive heat & humidity, the unmerciful rush hour traffic. The overwhelming tidal wave of sidewalk commuters pushing and bumping into him as he left his office for the day. He was exhausted, frustrated, and simply put…wanted to be home. Standing on the street curb, he waved frantically at the handsome cabs that raced by him. The city’s archaic system of horse-drawn carriages was dirty, noisy, ineffective and only compounded the man’s anger. The city was congested and simply traveling from one city block to another was not only cumbersome… but next to impossible.

On this episode of The Missing Chapter Podcast, we jump into a tale where our destination is the fame and financial success that one man’s grudge will take him on, and where it’s “fair” to say, that his story is sure to entertain.

If you are new to the Missing Chapter Podcast, first of all, welcome to our classroom!  For those of you who are veterans to the Missing Chapter, you know we love our coffee.  Specifically, we love our Utica Coffee Roasting Company coffee.  Almost every one of our episodes highlights a coffee from our beloved roasters in the heart of downtown Utica.  If you are a listener outside of our central NY area, you may or may not be familiar with Utica, NY.  So let the Phils introduce you and educate you on the history of this city with some very curious and interesting origins!

We love highlighting the unknown, the obscure, the forgotten - that has been and continues to be our mission for this podcast.  Many of the stories we discover and are amazed and bewildered by their obscurity and their anonymity sometimes.  Why don’t we know more about some of these stories?  Well, this time, a story came to us - by means of our very special guest today, Dr. Marsha Gordon, Professor and Director of Film Studies at NC State University and she is here today to explain one of the most fascinating stories we’ve ever heard, from one of the most fascinating women we’ve never heard of.  Grab your coffees, and join us today on this episode of the Missing Chapter.

Chances are that if you apply for a job as a secretary you possess certain skills.  Things like:  multi-tasking, taking phone calls, and… typing. Bette Graham Nesmith, however, was not a good typist when she accepted her position as executive secretary at the Texas Bank and Trust in 1956. And yes, the job description included extensive typing, especially in this day and age before computers and even word processors. Using a basic, simple typewriter in 1956 one mistake (a wrong letter, a grammatical error, a punctuation slip) could require starting the entire document all over again. 

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines the term Renaissance man as someone who has wide interests and is an expert in several areas.  The discussion in the Missing Chapter classroom today is a man that certainly fits the bill.  His knowledge in a variety of fields, combined with his humble beginnings, has given him a mind that many historians have called brilliant, inventive, and history-making. 

History is full of accidental discoveries, including Teflon, Velcro, x-rays, and plastic.  Today we are going to explore the world of music.  Rock and Roll music and the electric guitar to be exact.  Have you ever wondered how a rock guitarist can get their instrument to howl through a 12 bar blues or scream over top of the thundering bass and drums?  Many of those sounds have been created using special effects with a wide variety of foot pedals that a musician can switch on and off as needed, but it wasn’t always that easy.  It all started with a little accident, “oops,” sorry about that...

Just when you think you’ve heard it all, you stumble upon a story that makes you say, no way, come on, really?  Has this ever happened to you?  Well it just happened to me - and let me tell you, it’s bizarre.  Upon researching and studying our country’s origins, I came across a very, uh, peculiar, strange, and I don’t know, puzzling founding father.  Of all the framers of the Constitution, there is one that stands out.  And oddly, you probably have never either heard his name before, or know his completely eccentric life, but I’m almost certain that you know the phrase that he coined.  We the people of the United States - there it is, one of the most famous quotes of our past, present, and future.  We’ve seen it everywhere, heard it on numerous occasions, and now, you’ll get to know the man behind it.  The very, well, bizarre man behind it.  Hold on to your coffees, everyone, it’s about to get weird.

History iis full of people who set out with grand ambitions – lofty goals of fortune and fame. Others came across these shared desires by chance and their success reached heights even they could never have anticipated.

A simple mid-western boy graduated from Purdue University in 1928, with a degree in soil management & crop production. Upon his graduation, he began working as a county agricultural agent, and managed a 12,000-acre farm.

The same question perplexed this young farmer that every farmer starting out had to answer:  What should I grow?

Somewhere along the way, he decided on breeding a new variety of… corn. In the process of growing his corn crops and expanding his fields, this young man partnered with a friend named, Charlie Bowman. Together they spent decades crossbreeding more than 30,000 corn hybrids. Finally, in 1965, the duo settled on what they considered to be the “perfect kernel.”

The perfect kernel for “popping” that is.

In many of our episodes the past 3 seasons, we have kept the main character or punchline hidden until the end.  But on this episode, I’m going to hide the main character right out in the open. A guy by the name of Josephus Daniels.  Ring a bell?  Hmm. Well the story isn’t so much about what this individual accomplished, and I mean, accomplished he was, but it’s more about what his name is synonymous with.  And what if I told you that your favorite history podcast has a vague connection to him?  And so do you, every time you listen in to one of our episodes.  What am I referring to?  Well, you’ll have to continue to listen and stick with us.  I got my cup of joe and I hope you do too.  Cheers everyone, let’s get started.

Memorialized in song by the late Gordon Lightfoot, the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald in 1975 is considered one of the worst maritime disasters in history and the worst that the Great Lakes has ever seen. A grizzled sea captain, a boat that boasted to be one of the largest of its kind, and a crew of some 28 sailors set out on Lake Superior on a grey, windy November day. They departed Wisconsin on a voyage that would find them sailing into the history books, folk legend, and lore.

But what happened really happened that day and could it have been avoided? Do we know any more today than we did almost 48 years ago and how does the story of a doomed freighter fit into the story of our nation and the history book of The Missing Chapter Podcast?

The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead

When the skies of November turn gloomy

With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more

Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty

That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed

When the gales of November came early.

At the end of the American Revolution, the newly formed U.S. Congress was deep in debt. During that time, in order to settle debts, many states ended up selling some land to compensate.  In 1784, the province of North Carolina chose to do just that.  They voted to give away 29 million acres of land. So what would they do with all that land? Why wouldn't they just dig their roots deep into North Carolinian culture? Well, there's more to that - as well as their attempt behind creating an entirely new state. Would it work? What would they call this new state? And how would the cards fall? Tune in to find out - on today's Missing Chapter Short!

One of the most fulfilling aspects of teaching is seeing a student begin to recognize their gift and begin to fulfill their purpose.  From students that are historians through and through and want to pursue teaching, to mechanically-minded individuals that love working on cars and plan on being successful auto mechanics and technicians, to art students that have their artwork being bought from outside sources, it’s an honor to see and fulfilling as a teacher to watch their students’ gifts take shape before our very eyes.  For some people, it takes a lot of trial and error to tease out their gift, whereas for others, their purpose is recognized early on.  Well, an individual born in Ireland in the mid-18th century not only found his gift, but built upon it continually and eventually utilized it so much that one of his creations is one of the most recognizable objects in the world, and I’m guessing no one even knows his name.  His gift might be hiding in plain sight, but after today’s episode, his name surely won’t be hidden any longer.  Welcome to the Missing Chapter, everyone, let’s get to it.

In May of 1905, a 26-year old clerk in Bern, Switzerland was on his nightly commute home from work. As was his usual routine, he boarded the trolley and made himself comfortable for the relaxing ride home. The clerk found himself deep in thought and engrossed in a nagging question that he had been unable to solve for years. The trolley navigated its way through the center of town and past Bern’s famous clock tower – known as the Zytglogge or “time bell.” It had been constructed in the 1200s as part of the medieval city’s west gate. The actual clock itself dates from the 1400s and had dominated the Swiss city’s primary square since then. At that moment, as the trolley passed by the clock, and the tired clerk’s eyes fell on the clock tower, the answer to the question that had vexed him for years, suddenly came to him and the world would change – forever. Find out more on this "short" of the Missing Chapter!

You know, some of the greatest discoveries and inventions came from someone who started with a question.  How do we solve this problem?  What would happen if we mixed this with that?  How can we make this part of life easier for ordinary people? Many times, it’s just sheer curiosity that becomes the vehicle for discovery.  Now, in the 1960s, I think it’s safe to say that amidst the cold war, the united states was developing and testing some pretty dangerous inventions.  Sure, would there be positive outcomes, of course, however, getting through the initial series of trial and error could be at the expense of human life.  So the question at hand on any invention or discovery is, is it worth it?  On today’s episode of the Missing Chapter, we’re going deeper - deep into the earth’s surface to uncover a 1960s project that used one of the most powerful weapons to ever exist for peaceful and scientific purposes.  Is it successful in its mission?  Or is this a really questionable idea with catastrophic consequences?

You’ve probably heard this before, but what makes ordinary people do extraordinary things?  Does extraordinary require an intrinsic or extrinsic motivator?  Is it something that is hidden within someone and is only activated when it is absolutely necessary?  Is it based on survival, doing whatever it takes to continue to live?  Or is it based on the love of another person, or correcting an injustice, or simply for a social, political, religious cause?  It’s hard to say, and honestly, if you’re looking for answers to those questions, unfortunately, I don’t think this episode will provide that, however, what we can do is provide an example of an extraordinary hero, an unsung hero, and all this person had to do was air her dirty laundry.  Wait, what does dirty laundry have to do with being a hero?  Well, hopefully this episode of the Missing Chapter will educate and motivate, and show our listeners that something as simple as airing your dirty laundry, in the most literal sense mind you, can actually be used as a tool for a cause greater than the courageous person carrying out the act.  Let’s continue this conversation, welcome to the Missing Chapter classroom, everyone, let’s get started.

History can be understood in a good novel.  It can be taught by good storytellers.  It can be visualized by good documentaries.  But the sacredness can only be felt by experiencing the site first hand. We have had the opportunity and blessing to visit many historic sites around the country and around the world.  And in these summer months, why not take the time to visit historic locations that will not just entertain, but will educate. Our goal on this podcast and of course in our profession, is to do both - educate AND entertain - so today, we bring you the Top 5.  The Phil’s Top 5 historic places to visit this summer. The car is packed…jump in and let’s go on a summer road trip together… on The Missing Chapter Podcast!

The story of America and the struggles our country endured in its early years, is the story of its people. If we are to learn from history and appreciate the stories and grow from our early ancestors, its necessary to hear the accounts of what they endured.

In many ways, Mary Jemison’s birth and start in the New World with her family, represented the birth of new colonies and a new democratic nation. She faced unimaginable hardships and endured amazing hindrances early on, but ultimately persevered and found happiness with a Native American tribe in Upstate New York.

But, if life is any indicator, another chapter in our country’s story is about to be written and this will mean changes for Mary and the life she knows and has come to love. In this chapter, The Missing Chapter, maybe learn something about yourself, as you learn more about “Two Falling Voices.”

In the fall of 1743 (33 years before the birth of the United States of America), somewhere on the stormy, turbulent Atlantic Ocean, a child was born. Thomas and Jane Jemison were blessed with a beautiful baby girl, while aboard the ship, William & Mary.  She would be named Mary and Mary would embark on a separate journey… a voyage, in and of itself, that commenced as soon as their vessel docked in Philadelphia and the Jemison family stepped foot in the New World.

Mary Jemison’s voyage, in many ways, traces the course of colonial and pre-colonial America. Her trials and tribulations, her victories, and her tragedies are shared by the settlers rooted in the colonies during this time. It is an incredible story of survival, an inspirational story of overcoming obstacles and pioneering a life that is both fruitful and fulfilling. Either way, it’s a story that only one podcast can bring to you the way it should be…The Missing Chapter Podcast.

The 2nd book of Genesis describes what life was like before sin entered the world. No sin…so no evil, no disease, no shame, no guilt, no poverty, no famine, no tension and hostility between humans and animals or humans and God Himself for that matter.  Then of course, the perfect Garden of Eden, and humanity thereafter, became tainted, diseased with the entangling pains of sin when Eve ate the forbidden fruit.  Adam, influenced by Eve, and Eve, tempted and deceived by Satan the serpent, now have set the course of humanity and the environment as a whole.  Sin has entered and the Garden of Eden is no more. 

As depressing as the story goes, there’s an even better redemption story comes later, but that’s for another episode.  Today, though, humanity is still dealing with the weight of sin and the brokenness of the world.  Sometimes we get a glimpse of the Garden of Eden, partaking in flourishing feasts and almost gluttonous holiday celebrations, whereas, unfortunately, we see the evidence of the fall of man in the famines that plague a vast portion of the planet.

So what kind of plans can we as a human race conjure up to prevent famine and increase food production to compete with the vast rise in global population? Well, for this episode of the Missing Chapter, we're going to focus on a "GLOWING" idea to increase food production...and let me say, it's probably not what you'd expect.