A herder in 9th century Ethiopia discovers a stimulating plant, after observing his goats behaving strangely. The pope weighs in on whether a bitter new beverage really was invented by Satan. A stall selling hot drinks takes 1650s London by storm. And drinking coffee becomes a deadly habit in Ottoman Istanbul…

A Noiser production, written by Addison Nugent.

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In medieval Italy, a woman’s death is blamed on the two-pronged utensils she uses at her wedding banquet. In 17th century France, a fed-up cardinal issues a decree to tackle bad table manners. British colonial taxes lead Americans to invent a unique way of using cutlery. And a spy sneaks into a workshop in Sheffield to uncover the secrets of steel…

A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.

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A high stakes summit between Henry VIII and his French counterpart leaves behind a mountain of dirty dishes. The decline of wood burning in homes changes how we clean crockery. An inventor of weapons turns his hand to more domestic pursuits. And a visionary woman in Chicago unveils a world-changing machine…

A Noiser production, written by Addison Nugent.

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In the hills of northern Spain, lamps help an anthropologist and his young daughter make an incredible discovery. Rushlights illuminate the early modern period. A French king seeks a new mistress in the dazzlingly lit Palace of Versailles. And theatregoers are astounded by a new use of electricity, as artificial lighting arrives with a crackle…

A Noiser production, written by Addison Nugent.

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A murderous emperor builds the grandest bath complex ever seen in Ancient Rome. The arrival of a new disease spells trouble for the bathhouses of Tudor London. An excitable Victorian clergyman extolls the virtues of skinny dipping. And World War Two plays a surprising role in kickstarting the hot tub craze…

A Noiser production, written by Addison Nugent.

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In Ancient Persia, ingenious ice houses refrigerate food in one of the hottest deserts on earth. Bronze Age sites on Orkney reveal the secrets of early cold storage systems. A well-known sea captain becomes the face of a global frozen food brand, with a little help from the Inuit of northern Canada. And cooling technology becomes a matter of life and death when US President James A. Garfield is shot…

A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris.

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A wasp leads to the invention of paper in ancient China. Rich Europeans have to find another way to decorate their walls when coal fires ruin their valuable tapestries. Anger over wallpaper helps ignite the French Revolution. And a silent killer is found hiding in plain sight on nursery walls across Victorian Britain…

A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris.

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Join domestic historian Ruth Goodman as she guides you through the surprising, often epic stories behind everyday objects in your home. Double glazed windows? We owe those to a French king’s odd fascination with oranges. The minty fresh toothpaste by your sink? Well, if you lived in ancient Greece, you’d be washing your teeth with ground up bones and oyster shells. And wallpaper? It seems innocent enough, but in the Victorian era, it was downright deadly. 

Discover the extraordinary in the ordinary every Tuesday, wherever you get your podcasts. 

Brought to you by award winning podcasters, Noiser. Hosted by Ruth Goodman.

For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or if you’re on Spotify or Android, head to noisier.com/subscriptions. 

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