“Did you know the city of Saint Paul used to be called ‘Pig’s Eye’?”

It’s a favorite “fun fact” repeated by local know-it-alls, (note: as “know-it-alls” ourselves, we use that term with respect), confirmed by every book written to date on the history of Saint Paul. It’s a great story. There’s just one problem with it: most of it is not true.

Join us as we learn the TRUE story of “Pig’s Eye” Parrant and the naming of Saint Paul.

To see images related to this episode (including a really helpful map of sites discussed), find links to other resources, and see our sources cited, check out our show notes here.

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At the time of this episode's release, Minnesotans of all walks of life are suffering greatly as ICE continues to stop, harass, and detain people regardless of their citizenship status. Normal life in Minnesota has been interrupted, as schools have been forced to close or go virtual, as people live in fear of leaving their homes or going to work. The good news is Minnesotans are organized and activated, there are many, many ways that YOU can help. We urge everyone listening to head to StandWithMinnesota.com. You can donate to dozens of grassroots organizations doing work on the ground, help pay rent for families who are affected, seek out legal training or advice, find ways to volunteer or direct actions to participate in, and so much more.

No matter who you are, where you live, or what your resources are, there are ways that you can make a difference and help people right now.

StandWithMinnesota.com

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, there have been zero recorded fatal bear attacks in Minnesota. However, that’s not technically true.

Join us for the harrowing tale of the fatal bear attack THEY don’t want you to know about, which occurred in Mankato in 1934.

To see images related to this episode, find links to other resources, and see our sources cited, check out our show notes here.

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(Content Warning: animal death, fatal bear attack)

Additional music used in this episode:

“Monkeys Spinning Monkeys,” by Kevin MacLeod. (Free Music Archive) Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 International License.

“Scary Forest,” by Serge Quadrado. (Free Music Archive) Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

During WWII, one of the most daunting engineering challenges facing the military was how to design a bomb that could actually hit its intended target. University of Minnesota professor of psychology B. F. Skinner believed that he had the answer: the US could train pigeons to guide missiles. Aiding him in this Quixotic quest would be an unlikely partner: General Mills (yes, the cereal company).

Join us for the stranger-than-fiction story of "Project Pigeon," a top secret collaboration between General Mills, the US military, and one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century. We'll explore how B. F. Skinner's quest to train pigeons to guide bombs led to everything from the development of one of the most important concepts in modern psychology, to the invention of the touch screen.

To see images related to this episode, find links to other resources, and see our sources cited, check out our show notes here.