In this episode, Odd Salon Fellow Amy Widdowson looks at the lasting legacy of the Smithsonian dinosaur collection, and the rival Victorian paleontologists who spared no efforts in undoing the other. What happens when you combine the mid-1800s rush to excavate fossils during the Bone Wars, the inherently human desire to discover, name, categorize a…

In this episode, Odd Salon Fellow Sahil M Bansal explores a story on the line between historical fact and folklore, and the exceptional 16th century relationship between India’s Mughal Emperor Akbar, and his witty advisor, Birbal. Emperor Akbar ascended the throne at the young age of 14, after the tragic loss of his father. Ruling over a vast terri…

In this episode, opera singer Marisa Lenhardt looks into the history and legacy of one of opera’s most audacious singers, who counterbalanced her stage time with sword fighting. A sword-fighting bisexual opera singer who set fire to a convent to get her lover out? [yawn] But she could SING. King Louis XIV and Paris Opera thought so, and the first n…

In this episode, Odd Salon Fellow Barbara North looks at the colorful world of competitive and performative swimming ladies in the Victorian era. When we think about 1800s London, "ladies swimwear" is not typically the first thing that comes to mind. What if we told you it was such a hot topic it was brought up for discussion in the House of Lords?…

In this episode, Odd Salon Fellow Stuart Gripman shares the true story of the scientifically undignified pranks of one of America’s greatest ornithologists, driven to his wits’ end by an unruly rival. In 1818, a not-yet famous John James Audubon was visited by a brilliant yet egotistical and sometimes churlish naturalist named Constantine Rafinesqu…

In this episode, Odd Salon Fellow Kelly Jensen takes us on an ill-fated sea voyage that would go on to inspire one of literature’s greatest works. In 1820, two thousand miles into the Pacific Ocean, the whaleship Essex was attacked and sunk by an angry whale. Twenty survivors packed into three tiny boats and headed for land. Their horrifying, ill-s…

In this episode, Odd Salon Fellow Eva Galperin brings us a love story with code breaking, featuring Shakespeare, espionage, eccentric millionaires, and the greatest cryptographer you’ve never heard of. Elizebeth Friedman began her career as we all wish we could: by accepting the somewhat dubious invitation of an eccentric millionaire. She went on t…

In this episode, Odd Salon Fellow and resident geologist Miles Traer tells a story of extraordinary persistence and scientific dedication and groundbreaking research into the composition of our very planet. Before the turn of the 20th century, Earth’s interior belonged to the poets. Questions of how planets form, how they evolve, and even where lif…

In this episode, Odd Salon Fellow Beth Abdallah sorts fact from fiction in the mysterious tale of two green skinned children who appeared one day on the outskirts of a small village in England. This remarkable story of two mysterious children has captivated people across the world for a thousand years. With roots in history and a tradition in folkl…

We are excited to introduce the Odd Salon podcast: Stories from the odd corners of history, science, art, and adventure. After nearly a decade on the live stage, we've invited our cadre of speakers to join us for a season's worth of new and updated stories for your listening pleasure, starting this November. Subscribe to find all our episodes, and …