Noble Blood

NASA's Skylab was one of the greatest scientific achievements of the 1970s. But in 1979, the 77-ton space station suddenly began to fall. As the world watched, it slowly lost altitude, becoming an uncontrolled, public countdown to disaster. On this week’s Very Special Episodes, Dana Schwartz revisits the strange, tense, and darkly funny story of Skylab’s final days — including the Australian teenager who found himself at the center of NASA’s worst-case scenario. * On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Listen to VSE wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is a production of iHeartPodcasts and School of Humans See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While sailing from France to the New World, Marguerite de La Rocque and her lover were punished, marooned on an island where they would be tormented by natural forces and, according to some stories, demons. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to Dana Schwartz's conversation with Kal Penn on his podcast Earsay: An Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club , where they dive into Remain: A Supernatural Love Story, a genre-bending collaboration between M. Night Shyamalan and Nicholas Sparks. Together, they discuss how two masters of their respective genres surprisingly complement each other and geek out over the intimate details that make books feel alive — from ATM passwords to beef bourguignon. Listen to Earsay: An Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most glamorous members of the Kennedy clan, Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy dazzled and scandalized British society. But her story would ultimately end in tragedy. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lord Darnley, the husband of Mary Queen of Scots, was murdered under mysterious circumstances. How Mary reacted, and what happened next, would lead to her undoing. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the Battle of Culloden, the Bonnie Prince Charlie needed to escape to safety. His salvation would come in the form of a young woman named Flora MacDonald, who would become an indelible piece of romantic Scottish history. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a courtesan, Veronica Franco would entertain Henry III of Valois in her Venetian home. But her greatest accomplishments would be a literary career that defied public expectation and defended her honor from men who would mock and diminish her. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1820, a group of desperate radicals came up with a violent plan for complete social and political reform in England: murdering the entire cabinet at a nearby dinner party. But their scheme—known as the Cato Street Conspiracy—was over before it even began. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On her deathbed, the unmarried "Virgin Queen" Elizabeth I declared that her successor would be King James VI of Scotland. Or at least, that's the story that we've been told. In her new book THE STOLEN CROWN, historian Tracy Borman, Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, discusses the bombshell new discoveries that reveal that the Stuart Dynasty was built on a lie. (For more, here's Tracy for History Extra's Life Lessons from History) Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Æthelflæd's father was Alfred the Great, King of the Anglo-Saxons, and he married her to the leader of Mercia to seal an alliance. But Æthelflæd's husband would become sickly, and she would become a formidable leader in her own right. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does William the Conqueror get all of the credit when Æthelstan was king of a united England in 927? David Woodman (Professor of History at Cambridge University) joins us to talk about his new book The First King of England. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi Noble Blood listeners! We're excited to share with you a sneak peek at iHeartPodcasts’ newest season of SNAFU with Ed Helms. SNAFU with Ed Helms: Your favorite history podcast is back with even more SNAFUs -- one per episode, to be precise. With guests like Nick Kroll, Jenna Fisher and Angela Kinsey, Paul Scheer, Jordan Klepper, Mike Schur, and more, it's part history lesson, part hangout pod, and part group therapy for humanity. Listen to season 4 of SNAFU with Ed Helms on the iHeartRadio App or wherever you get your podcasts! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Peter the Great's son and heir was on trial for treason, the emperor instructed the jury to treat him as they would any other man. If he were to be convicted, the sentence would be death. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clara Ward was a "dollar princess" from Michigan who married a Belgian prince. But her adventurous spirit soon had her eloping with a Hungarian musician and she lives a life that scandalized and captivated Europe in equal measure. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The bloody murder of an adultrous brother and wife was just the beginning for the Malatesta family, whose family tree would be dotted with murders and betrayals for decades. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Dante's Inferno, Dante meets two lovers, Paolo and Francesca. Francesca was married to Paolo's brother, but the two had a secret affair, until they were discovered and things took a deadly turn. But theirs is just one of the many murders and betrayals in the Malatesta family tree... Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frederick II was celebrated as a "renaissance man" who championed education and the arts. But his conflicts with the Pope would lead to multiple excommunications. Actor and historian Peter Weller (RoboCop, author of Leon Battista Alberti in Exile) joins the show to discuss his complicated legacy. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Martha Ray was 18, she met the Earl of Sandwich. The married Earl took Martha as his mistress, and they spent years living together as husband and wife. But their arrangement wasn't without friction, and in the end, their story would be a tragedy neither could have imagined. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story' and its sequel 'Immortality: A Love Story' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Baron von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge, he was met with a dismal sight. The soldiers were starving, undisciplined, and freezing. The Baron had a daunting task ahead of him: give them a fighting chance against the British. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Virginia Woolf compared her to a giant cucumber plant. Had she read that, Margaret Cavendish might have thought it a compliment. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 'A Room of One's Own,' Virginia Woolf writes of Margaret Cavendish's reputation: "Evidentally the crazy Duchess became a bogey to frighten clever girls with." Dismisses as mad in her own time, and untalented later, Cavendish remains something of an enigma, a strange proto-feminist, proto-science fiction writer who remained entirely untamed. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Arthur is arguably the most famous monarch in British history, the subject of countless films and books of both non-fiction and fantasy. But there's one tiny, but important question worth asking: did he even exist? Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Juan Carlos I had an astonishingly eventful life and ruled as King of Spain for nearly four decades. But a tragic event when he was a teenager maybe have been the defining incident of his life. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beethoven wrote an effusive, romantic letter, to a woman identified only as his "Immortal Beloved." Her (or his!) identity remains a matter of debate, but it turns out Beethoven had some other "beloveds" as well... Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Beethoven died, his secretary published an effusively romantic letter the composer had written to someone identified only as his "Immortal Beloved." Beethoven had a type -- namely: noble, and unavailable. But the true identity of the letter's intended recepient has mystified music historians. Support Noble Blood: — Bonus episodes, stickers, and scripts on Patreon — Order Dana's book, ' Anatomy: A Love Story ' and its sequel ' Immortality: A Love Story ' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.