It started with a messy lab and a mysterious mold. But turning “mold juice” into the world’s first antibiotic would take a sick policeman, a market cantaloupe, and an extraordinary wartime collaboration between scientists, governments, and industry. This is the story of how penicillin changed the world.

Guests:

Kevin Brown, Trust Archivist to Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and curator of the Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum at St. Mary’s Hospital; author of Penicillin Man: Alexander Fleming and the Antibiotic Revolution

Diane Wendt, curator in the Division of Medicine and Science at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

A mystery hidden in time. Wrapped in gold. Stowed secretly in Lincoln's pocket. We dig into the family story of a secret message etched inside Abraham Lincoln's pocket watch. Is this a tall tale or a hidden piece of history waiting to be discovered? Join us as we dive into this incredible tale of family lore, historical detective work, and the Smithsonian's decision to open a priceless artifact.  

Guests: 

Lisa Kathleen Graddy, curator of American political history at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

Harry Rubenstein, curator emeritus in the Division of Political History at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

Doug Stiles, great-great-grandson of watchmaker Jonathan Dillon

Chapters:

00:00 | Lincoln’s Pocket Watch | Young Abraham Lincoln buys a watch to mark his transformation into a successful lawyer and rising politician.

~02:00 | A Story Passed Down | Doug Stiles hears a family legend: his Irish ancestor, a watchmaker, etched a secret message inside Lincoln’s watch during the Civil War.

 ~05:00 | The Search Begins | Doug investigates—old photos, museum archives, and a 1906 New York Times story suggest the legend might be real.

~09:00 | Calling the Smithsonian | Curators are skeptical… until a newspaper clipping convinces them to open the watch. The media gathers for a public reveal.

~12:00 | The Opening | A master watchmaker struggles, then finally opens Lincoln’s watch. A hidden inscription is discovered inside.

~15:00 | “Thank God We Have a Government” | The real engraving is revealed, along with unexpected names—including “Jeff Davis.” Lincoln never knew he carried this secret message.

~18:00 | The Legacy in the Watch | Curators and Doug reflect on how a hidden statement of hope traveled with Lincoln through war, Gettysburg, and to his final days.

Sidedoor returns for its twelfth season on Wednesday, November 26th!

Please be advised that new episodes will not be released during the government shutdown. For up-to-date information on the status of the Smithsonian, please visit our website at si.edu. 

Why are capuchin monkeys kidnapping howler monkey babies in Panama? We investigate this bizarre case of primate abduction with researchers working with the Smithsonian to get to the bottom of this bizarre behavior. We'll talk about their discoveries, the social dynamics between capuchins and howler monkeys, and the bizarre island conditions that might be driving this behavior. Is it boredom? Is it social learning? Or is something else entirely at play? Travel with us to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama to uncover this monkey mystery!

Guests: 

Zoë Goldsborough, visiting researcher at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama and a behavioral ecologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior 

Brendan Barrett, visiting researcher at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama and an evolutionary behavioral ecologist and evolutionary anthropologist at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior 

It’s the most recognizable TV theme in America. But Jeopardy’s “Think Music” wasn’t originally written for a game show… It was written for a toddler. In this episode, we trace the unlikely journey of the Jeopardy theme, from Merv Griffin’s living room to over 10,000 episodes across six decades. Along the way, we explore the show’s sonic evolution, including honking buzzers, 80s synths, and orchestral remixes. Featuring Lisa Broffman, Jeopardy’s Consulting Co-Executive Producer.

This episode was written & produced by Casey Emmerling.

Visit the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History to see some of the Jeopardy objects we have in the collection. 

MUSIC FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE

Harry Endivo - Don’t Bore Me Alberto!

Medité - This Round's On Me

Flickering - The Squad

Andreas Dahlbäck - 808 or 909

Trevor Kowalski - Watercolor Motion I

Gavin Luke - The Power of One

Art by Michael Zhang.

This episode of Twenty Thousand Hertz is part of our summer playlist to keep you entertained while Sidedoor is on summer break. We’ll be back in the fall with brand new episodes of Sidedoor.

Ana María Bedoya's work takes her to some unlikely places: steep cliffs, river rapids, and tumbling waterfalls— all in search of vulnerable aquatic plants. 

Through lively stories and conversations with scientists, gardeners, artists, and experts, join the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) for deep dives into everything from food systems and horticulture to botanical breakthroughs in the lab and the field, and the many ways our daily lives are sustained by plants.

This episode of Plant People is part of our summer playlist to keep you entertained while Sidedoor is on summer break. We’ll be back in the fall with brand new episodes of Sidedoor.

Children say it every day in school, but have you ever wondered why we recite the pledge of allegiance? We journey back to the late 1800s to understand how a massive wave of immigration and sagging magazine subscriptions gave rise to this vow of patriotism. From the Civil War to anti-immigrant nativism and Cold War politics, this one pledge tells many stories. 

Guests: 

Debbie Schaefer-Jacobs, curator for the history of education collection at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History

Marc Leepson, author of Flag: An American Biography

When a black bear in Minnesota woke up from hibernation in the middle of winter and attacked three people and a dog, researchers were left with one question: Why?

***

This episode of the Points North podcast is part of our summer playlist to keep you entertained while Sidedoor is on summer break. We’ll be back in the fall with brand new episodes of Sidedoor. 

Credits:
Producer: Ellie Katz
Editor: Morgan Springer
Additional Editing: Michael Livingston, Dan Wanschura
Additional Production: Matthew Mikkelsen of Hayloft Audio
Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Turtles are built like tiny tanks—ancient, armored, and famously tough. But in the modern world, that toughness may be their greatest vulnerability. In part two of our turtle two-parter, we dive into the shadowy world of turtle trafficking, where backyard collectors, international smugglers, and unsuspecting pet owners all play a role. From sting operations to turtle triage, we meet the unlikely defenders working to stop the trade—and care for the reptiles caught in the middle. Because once a turtle is taken from the wild, getting it home again is a lot harder than you’d think.

Guests

Thomas Akre, head of the Turtle Conservation Ecology Lab at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute 

John (JD) Kleopfer, State Herpetologist for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

First Sergeant Tim Dooley, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Special Operations for the Virginia Conservation Police, Department of Wildlife Resources 

Connor Gillespie, Director of Outreach at the Wildlife Center of Virginia  

Dr. Karra Pierce, Director of Veterinary Services at the Wildlife Center of Virginia

Turtles have been around for 200 million years—outliving dinosaurs, surviving ice ages, and basically minding their own business the whole time. Tough on the outside, chill on the inside, they seem built to last. So why are they suddenly disappearing? In part one of this two-part series, we hit the trail in search of one surprisingly elusive reptile: the eastern box turtle. These ancient creatures may seem slow, but their decline is happening fast. And the scariest part? We barely understand what it could mean.

Guests:

Thomas Akre, head of the Turtle Conservation Ecology Lab at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute 

Maxwell Earle, outreach and engagement coordinator for the Turtle Conservation Ecology Lab at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute 

Chris Polinski, lab manager for the Turtle Conservation Ecology Lab at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute