Get ready to cozy up by the fire, maybe with a mug of wassail, as your favorite word nerds, Alex and Kelly, dive into the frost-covered origins of the word that gives us the "Yuletide" season. In this special Christmas episode, we're not just celebrating—we're excavating the deep, fascinating history of "Yule", tracing its roots back through Old English gēol and the Old Norse jól, a midwinter festival that predates the Christian Christmas by centuries. Prepare for a linguistic journey that takes us far from silent nights and into the noisy, fiery celebrations of the ancient Germanic and Nordic peoples!

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Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
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He was the "Singing Cowboy," the wholesome, guitar-wielding hero who saved the day, got the girl, and never forgot to sing a song. But Gene Autry's journey from an Oklahoma railroad telegrapher to one of the biggest media stars of the 20th century is a staggering story of ambition, talent, and business genius. In this episode, we unpack the remarkable life of the only person to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for each field he conquered: Records, Radio, Movies, Television, and Live Performance.

We trace Autry's rise from his early days as "Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy" on radio, eventually scoring the first-ever Gold Record for the sentimental hit, "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine." Then came Hollywood, where he essentially invented the musical Western genre. We'll explore the enduring appeal of his simple, straightforward persona—a good-guy cowboy who promoted honesty, fair play, and a positive American spirit during the Great Depression. We'll also look at his enduring partnership with his famous horse, Champion, and his sidekick, the comedic Smiley Burnette.

While fans remember his 93 films and his signature song, "Back in the Saddle Again," the true breadth of Autry’s legacy is stunning. We dive into his pivotal service as a pilot during World War II, his pioneering move into television with The Gene Autry Show, and his remarkable second career as an astute businessman who owned hotels, radio stations, and, most famously, founded the Los Angeles Angels Major League Baseball franchise.

Finally, we explore how this cowboy became forever linked to Christmas, discussing the stories behind his holiday classics, including "Here Comes Santa Claus" and the perennial favorite, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Join us as we celebrate the life of the entertainer who truly did it all.

Drop us a quick text and we’ll reply in the next episode!

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Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
Subscribe and listen to learn about people you've heard of, but don't know much about.
Someday we'll all live in Dirt Nap City, so you should probably go ahead and meet the neighbors!

Join us for a deep dive into the extraordinary life and musical legacy of Irving Berlin—the man widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. From his humble beginnings as a Russian Jewish immigrant named Israel Baline, Berlin's journey to becoming the composer of the nation's unofficial soundtrack is nothing short of inspirational.

In this 300-word episode, we explore how this self-taught genius, who famously couldn't read music beyond a basic level, wrote over 1,500 songs that defined American popular culture across six decades. You’ll hear about the creation of timeless classics like "God Bless America," which became a patriotic anthem; the festive perennial "White Christmas" (the best-selling single of all time for decades).

Learn about his unique "transposing piano" —a special instrument that allowed him to work around his musical limitations—and how his unparalleled ear for simple, catchy melodies made his songs instantly relatable and enduring. We celebrate a composer whose work transcended genre, from ballads and patriotic marches to Tin Pan Alley standards and Broadway scores, ensuring that Irving Berlin's melodies will continue to resonate for generations.

Tune in to hear why The New York Times called Irving Berlin "the greatest songwriter of all time."

Drop us a quick text and we’ll reply in the next episode!

Support the show

Dirt Nap City is the podcast about the most interesting dead people in history.
Subscribe and listen to learn about people you've heard of, but don't know much about.
Someday we'll all live in Dirt Nap City, so you should probably go ahead and meet the neighbors!