History For Weirdos

• Episode 148: The 1954 Guatemalan Coup d'état

  Okay, buckle up, because History For Weirdos is back! Also check out our brand new merch here!! **If you want to skip ahead and get to the story itself, go to the 20:20 mark** This week's History for Weirdos dives into the bananas – literally – story of the 1954 Guatemalan coup. Picture this: Guatemala, 1950s, a newly elected president, Jacobo Árbenz, with a wild idea: giving unused land back to the people. Sounds kinda nice, right? Not to the United Fruit Company, the mega-corp basically running the country like their own personal banana republic (pun intended, always). UFCO had been low-balling their land's value for taxes for years, and Arbenz's reforms, while offering compensation, were based on THOSE lowballed tax values. The Company freaked and decided a little "regime change" was in order. So, how do you convince the most powerful nation on Earth to overthrow a democratically-elected government because your bottom line is threatened? Easy! You scream "COMMUNISM!" at the top of your lungs during the height of the Red Scare. UFCO, with its tentacles wrapped around powerful figures in the U.S. government (some serious "swamp" vibes, even for the '50s), launched a propaganda blitz, painting Árbenz as a Soviet puppet. The CIA, never ones to shy away from a little covert chaos, jumped in, cooked up some "rebel" forces, and poof – democracy extinguished, all to keep those sweet, sweet banana profits flowing. It's a tale of corporate greed, Cold War paranoia, and the sheer, unadulterated weirdness of international politics. We are going to have a good time with this one. - Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts. Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇 Email: [email protected] IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos Website: historyforweirdos.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• We're Back!

  We're coming back Weirdos! We'll have brand new episodes starting on March 17th (St Patricks Day)! Our first episodes will take you from Ancient Egypt to the CIA and everything in between. Buckle up because ITS ABOUT TO GET WEIRD. We also have a merch store! Check it out here: https://www.redbubble.com/people/HFWPodcast/explore?asc=u&page=1&sortOrder=recent Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Episode 147: Was Grace Marks Innocent?

  Welcome back, Weirdos to another spine-tingling episode of History for Weirdos! This week, we're unraveling the baffling case of Grace Marks, a young Irish-Canadian maid who found herself entangled in a gruesome double homicide that shocked 19th-century Canada. In 1843, Upper Canada was rocked by the brutal murders of Thomas Kinnear, a wealthy farmer, and his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery. The prime suspects? None other than the seemingly innocent Grace Marks and her fellow servant, James McDermott. But did this unassuming maid truly play a part in this bloody crime, or was she merely a pawn in a deadly game? Join us as we sift through the conflicting accounts, the whispers of a possible conspiracy, and the psychological labyrinth of a young woman trapped in a web of deceit. Was Grace a cold-blooded killer, a manipulated accomplice, or simply an innocent bystander caught in the wrong place at the wrong time? - This is the last episode we will be airing before our hiatus. Thank you so much for supporting the show, it means the world to us both. We are not sure when we will be back but we need a bit of time to recharge. Until then, stay weird! - Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts. Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇 Email: [email protected] IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos Website: historyforweirdos.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Episode 146: South America's Greatest Liberator - Simon Bolivar

  He's been called "The George Washington of South America," but Simón Bolívar was so much more than that! This week on History For Weirdos, we're diving deep into the life and times of this revolutionary figure who led the fight for independence in several South American countries. From his privileged upbringing to his daring military campaigns, we'll uncover the complexities of Bolívar's character and explore the lasting impact he had on the continent. Get ready for tales of battlefield triumphs, political intrigue, and a relentless pursuit of liberty that shaped the destiny of nations. But that's not all, Weirdos! We'll also delve into some of the lesser-known aspects of Bolívar's life, including his rumored love affairs and the bizarre circumstances surrounding his death. Was he truly a visionary leader or a power-hungry dictator? Join us as we unravel the enigma of Simón Bolívar and uncover the truth behind the legend.  - Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts. Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇 Email: [email protected] IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos Website: historyforweirdos.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Episode 145: The Fantastic Life of Dolores Del Rio

  Hey Weirdos! Buckle up for a trip back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, but not the way you remember it from your high school history class. This week, we're digging into the life of Dolores Del Rio, a Mexican actress who became a silent film sensation and one of the biggest stars of the 1920s and 30s. Now, you might be scratching your head wondering why you've never heard of this trailblazing Latina, and that's precisely why we're putting her in the HFW spotlight! Dolores's story is a wild ride of glamour, prejudice, and ultimately, triumph. We're talking scandalous love affairs, political intrigue, and a career that spanned continents and decades. Imagine a time when Hollywood was just finding its footing, and a young woman from Durango, Mexico, arrives on the scene, captivating audiences with her beauty and talent. Dolores defied stereotypes, becoming a symbol of elegance and sophistication during a time when Latinx representation was scarce. But her journey was far from easy. Join us as we uncover the challenges she faced, the triumphs she celebrated, and the lasting impact she had on both Hollywood and Mexican cinema. Get ready to uncover a hidden corner of Hollywood history, as we explore the fascinating and often forgotten life of Dolores Del Rio. - Thank you for listening Weirdos! Show the podcast some love by rating & subscribing on whichever platform you use to listen to podcasts. Your support means so much to us. Let's stay in touch 👇 Email: [email protected] IG/Threads: @historyforweirdos Website: historyforweirdos.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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