What do Ludwig van Beethoven, Black Sabbath, and Lemmy Kilmister have in common?

More than you think.

In this episode of the Everyday History Podcast, we dive deep into the true origins of heavy metal, and it doesn’t start where you think it does. We’re tracing the genre all the way back to classical composers, through the blues, and into the gritty industrial streets of England where metal was forged.

Along the way, we break down how distortion was accidentally invented, how a factory accident helped create the signature metal sound, and how bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple pushed rock to its absolute limits.

We’ve also got a Personal Lore Time on the one and only Lemmy, plus a Top 5 list of insane metal facts you probably haven’t heard before.

If you’ve ever wondered how we got from orchestras to headbanging… this is the episode for you.

New episodes every week. Live recordings every Tuesday.

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Smoke'em if ya gottem!

Beer is older than writing, older than the wheel, and possibly one of the reasons civilization exists at all.

In this episode of the Everyday History Podcast, we take a deep dive into the complete history of beer, from prehistoric fermentation and ancient Mesopotamian brewing to medieval monasteries, industrial brewing revolutions, and the modern craft beer explosion.

Along the way we explore how beer shaped religion, economics, science, and culture across thousands of years.

You’ll hear about:

• The earliest evidence of beer from prehistoric societies
• Beer in ancient Sumer and Egypt (including beer as worker wages)
• Medieval monks and the rise of hops
• The creation of the Bavarian purity law, the Reinheitsgebot
• Scientific breakthroughs inspired by brewing research from Louis Pasteur
• The rise of industrial breweries like Anheuser-Busch
• The massive impact of Prohibition in the United States
• And the craft beer renaissance that reshaped the industry

Beer has fueled workers, inspired scientists, sparked revolutions in brewing technology, and created traditions that still exist today.

Pour a drink and join us as we explore how one fermented beverage helped shape human history.

New episodes of Everyday History every week.