The Nifty Fifty Show
Have you ever gone on a road trip or looked at a map and wondered...what makes that place different from all others? In this podcast, I talk about the stories that give places their identity. The Nifty Fifty Show is the perfect companion for the road warrior, armchair traveler, and the curious, as well as the perfect antidote to the dreaded word "flyover." So pull out a map, and let's get going!
Episodes
9 episodes
The Hurricane Party Makes a Good Story
Some parties are infamous, becoming legends. The Hurricane Party of 1969--while Hurricane Camille roared on shore--is one of those parties. But what really happened in Pass Christian, Mississippi all those years ago? Were there really a bunch o...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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26:51
The Bonapartes in America
The name Napoléon evokes France instantly. But what if he had closer ties to the United States...? While Napoléon never came to the US (he thought about it for a hot second), his family did. Two brothers, Joseph and Jérôme, would spend some tim...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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28:27
Reverse the River!
The Chicago River pops up in the news every March when it's dyed green. Have you ever wondered why Lake Michigan isn't subsequently green? You'd be forgiven for thinking that the Chicago River emptied in Lake Michigan, but that's not the case a...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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19:08
The Gallstone in Omaha's Gut
Borders are one of mankind's enduring geographic obsessions. Sometimes, natural features lend a hand to form them...until they decide to switch places overnight like the Missouri River did in 1877, stranding a little part of Iowa on the wrong s...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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17:36
The Flushing Remonstrance
Freedom of religion is often touted in the American public arena. But where did it come from? This episode answers that question: Flushing, New York. When Quakers find refuge in a tiny farming village to the east of New York City, Peter Stuyves...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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22:48
Yankton: A Mother City Full of Cement
The United States is full of small cities, spread out over a vast landscape. One of these towns is Yankton, South Dakota. It's likely that more people look at it from a plane than visit it. However, Yankton is full of surprises. It has two nick...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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16:00
All the Windows in Oklahoma City
Ever wonder why we don't have supersonic planes? Just ask Oklahoma City in 1964. The military and the FAA joined up for Operation Bongo II, subjecting the people of Oklahoma City to over 1,200 sonic booms for roughly six months. The result was ...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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22:50
Utah's Salty Stage: the Great Salt Lake
There's nothing like flying in or out of Salt Lake City and seeing the vast expanse of the Great Salt Lake and its barren surroundings. As the western boundary to Utah's most populous region, the lake has seen its fair share of strange events. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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19:33