During a time when tensions were high and grudges were rampant, the city of Berlin had been caught in the crossfire of former allies now at odds. The newly established United States Airforce was called on to bring food and necessities to these people who had, until very recently, been considered enemies. It was a great humanitarian effort for those who were in dire straits, but would it be enough to sustain the West Berliners while they held out to build their own democratic and free government? Tune in to learn how two sticks of gum changed history, as we take a breath of dead air with Gail Halvorsen.

Sources:

Cherny, Andrei. The Candy Bombers: The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America’s Finest Hour. CNIB, 2014.

Halvorsen, Gail S., and Denise H. Williams. The Candy Bomber. Cedar Fort Publishing & Media, 2022.

Tunnell, Michael O. Candy Bomber. Charlesbridge, 2014.

She was a true prodigy in every sense of the word. Her fingers flew over the black and white keys, nimble with grace surprising for such a young lady. The melody flowing from her hands matched her movements as the enraptured audience held their breath. It was enchanting. Her brother had indeed awed them before with his performance, but she captivated them just as well. While her brother would become a name famously known throughout her country, and the world, she continued to feed her love of music even when she couldn’t perform as she once did. Join us as we take a breath of dead air with Maria Anna Mozart.

Sources

https://www.ritacharbonnier.com/mozarts-sister-q-a/

https://herhalfofhistory.com/2025/02/20/14-8-nannerl-mozart-sister-of-wolfgang-amadeus/

https://interlude.hk/maria-anna-mozart-the-bittersweet-story-of-mozarts-prodigy-sister/

https://robertgreenbergmusic.com/music-history-monday-the-other-mozart-kid/#:~:text=Leopold%20Mozart%20%E2%80%93%20Dad%20%E2%80%93%20was%20born,to%20actually%20earn%20his%20salary).

https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/key-dates/visit-child-mozart-1763-1764#:~:text=Key%20Dates,and%20everyone%20flocked%20after%20him.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/anibal-seminara/los-juegos-de-brian

License code: JN6FVYTX4BTDCTQT

In 2008, a newspaper man, named Wil Haygood, was on a mission to interview a very specific person. After spending a multitude of hours making calls and searching, he finally was able to make contact with the man who had seen more history happen than Wil had even hoped for. This man had not been a politician, a musician, or a rich statistician. Nope! This man had been a butler. A butler to presidents of the United States, to be exact. What was it like to be a butler in the most distinguished household in the country? Join us as we discuss this and take a breath of dead air with Eugene Allen.

Sources

Daniels, Lee, director. The Butler. 2013.

Haygood, Wil. “A Butler Well Served by This Election.” Washington Post, www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/a-butler-well-served-by-this-election/2019/01/02/b2a805a6-07b1-11e9-88e3-989a3e456820_story.html. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.

Haygood, Wil. The Butler: A Witness to History. 2018.

Nagle, Bethany. “The Life of Eugene Allen.” White House Historical Association, www.whitehousehistory.org/the-life-of-eugene-allen. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-mcelroy/pocket-watch

License code: ADO7J0RJHQ50S6B8