Fascinating People, Fascinating Places

In the Spring of 2019, Scottish police launched investigations into incidents at two football matches. In the first, Aberdeen fans were accused of using colorful language to suggest that English football manager Steven Gerrard was an Orange man. A few weeks later, Aberdeen’s own manager Derek McInnes was targeted with similar chants from Celtic fans. The fact that fans from Aberdeen – a largely secular city could find themselves on either side of this type of incident is indicative of the fact that many of us have little understanding of the subject. For one thing, when you remove the accompanying pejoratives, any actual member of the Orange Order would be quite proud of his membership and his heritage. But it’s this kind of conflict, based around misunderstanding and prejudice that I was all too familiar with having grown up in the 1980s. On one hand, we saw in the news how the IRA a nominally Catholic terrorist group would plant bombs and do battle with nominally protestant groups like the UVF. But somehow, in the back and forth, amid accusations of doing right and wrong, a group of people known as the Orange Order would get drawn into the conflict seemingly just for holding commemorative marches. Meanwhile, outspoken firebrand protestant politician Ian Paisley was often held up by rivals as the archetypal Orange man even though he had long since left the group. Incidentally, the apparently extremist Paisley went on to form a close friendship with former IRA leader Martin McGuinness. The stereotypes you hear are of presbyterian, Scots Irish doing battle with Irish Catholics. But anyone with even a cursory knowledge of Irish history could tell you this was an inaccurate oversimplification. As someone with mixed Irish and English, Catholic, and Protestant heritage, I’ve always been curious to learn more about the Orange Order. Who they are, what are their origins, and what they actually believe. And above all, to understand the group in the context of its origins versus what it represents today. I was fortunate enough to find an expert in the field. Dr. Jonathan Mattison, Curator of the Museum of Orange Heritage. Music from Pixabay.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

Heroes of Space. Part I I have always had a fascination with heroic figures. In the modern world, it's difficult to think of a task requiring more courage and skill than flying as a test pilot -- unless of course you decide to go into space. Jim Wetherbee is one man who did both. A decorated Navy veteran, NASA pilot and commander, he later brought his skills to the private sector. It was here that he realized his experience could provide valuable lessons not just to businesses but to private citizens conducting mundane every day tasks. His book: Controlling Risk in a Dangerous World, provides not just incredible anecdotes from his extraordinary career. It also provides valuable guidance that each of us can apply to our every day lives. In this episode I have the honor to talk to the real-life spaceman who lived every kid's dream.  I highly recommend Jim's book "Controlling Risk in a Dangerous World" which you can find on his official website: Jim Wetherbee as well as retailers including Amazon. Available in both hardcover and paperback, here is an overview: Jim Wetherbee, the only five-time Space Shuttle commander, presents thirty techniques that astronauts use—not only to stay alive in the unforgiving and deadly environment of space, but also to conduct high-quality operations and accomplish complex missions. These same techniques, based on the foundational principles of operating excellence, can help anyone be successful in high-hazard endeavors, ordinary business, and everyday life. Controlling Risk shows you how to embrace these techniques as a way of operating and living your life, so you can predict and prevent your next accident, while improving performance and productivity to take your company higher. You can also learn more about Jim at his official website: https://www.jimwetherbee.com/about-1 Episode Credits: Jim Wetherbee Capitan US Navy Ret., NASA Astronaut sound from Pixabay.com Cover art: Space Shuttle Columbia launching. Public domain.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

In this episode, I delve deeper into the world of UFOs beyond the Hollywood flying saucers. I talk to four experts from the fields of academia, journalism, and research who have thoroughly investigated the phenomena either as skeptics or experiencers. Featuring: Professor of History Professor Greg Eghigian of The Pennsylvania State University Clas Svahn of https://www.ufo.se/ Bill Konkolesky author of Experiencer: Raised in Two Worlds https://www.amazon.com/Experiencer-Raised-Worlds-William-Konkolesky/dp/0557115809 and State Director of MUFOn Michigan State Chapter https://www.guidestar.org/profile/30-0186467 Robert Sheaffer author of Bad UFOs: Critical Thinking About UFO https://www.amazon.com/dp/1519260849/ref=cm_sw_su_dp http://debunker.com/ Audio: A five-minute clip of Orson Wells' 1938 War of the Worlds Broadcast Mercury Theatre - Orson Welles - CBS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Pixabay.com Gimbal is a US military video of an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) United States Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Maj. Gen. John A. Samford's Statement on Flying Saucers Department of Defense, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

In this episode, I delve deeper into the world of UFOs beyond the Hollywood flying saucers. I talk to four experts from the fields of academia, journalism, and research who have thoroughly investigated the phenomena either as skeptics or experiencers. Featuring: Professor of History Professor Greg Eghigian of The Pennsylvania State University Clas Svahn of https://www.ufo.se/ Bill Konkolesky author of Experiencer: Raised in Two Worlds https://www.amazon.com/Experiencer-Raised-Worlds-William-Konkolesky/dp/0557115809 and State Director of MUFOn Michigan State Chapter https://www.guidestar.org/profile/30-0186467 Robert Sheaffer author of Bad UFOs: Critical Thinking About UFO https://www.amazon.com/dp/1519260849/ref=cm_sw_su_dp http://debunker.com/ Audio: A five-minute clip of Orson Wells' 1938 War of the Worlds Broadcast Mercury Theatre - Orson Welles - CBS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Pixabay.com Gimbal is a US military video of an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) United States Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Maj. Gen. John A. Samford's Statement on Flying Saucers Department of Defense, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

Tamara Jones is a prominent civil rights activist and outspoken critic of well-documented instances of racism and corruption involving the Kansas City Police Force. More controversially, she is the Minister of Justice for The New Black Panther Party and is involved in The New Black Panthers for Self Defense -- two groups condemned by the American Defence League, and The Southern Poverty Law Center as anti-semitic, racist, and anti-government groups. I spoke to Tamara about her experiences in Kansas City and the ideology of these groups.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

In season 3 I talk to Shirley Phelps of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church. Here is a preview.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/support

Dan investigates NASA with astronauts Jim Wetherbee and Steve Hawley plus space historian Dr. Cathleen Lewis. He delves into the phenomena of UFOs with Penn State Professor Greg Eghigian, author Robert Sheaffer, MUFON state director for Michigan Bill Konkelsky, and UFO Sweden's Clas Svahn. He talks to the Minister of Justice for the New Black Panthers Tamara Jones, and Shirley Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church. Then examines the Irish rebellion of 1798 with Carlow Historical Society's John Kelly and Professor Thomas Bartlett. He talks to Doctor Who actor David Gooderson plus BBC director Michael E Briant, in addition to experts on Gallipoli. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/support

Dan explores the space race and interviews NASA astronauts Jim Wetherbee and Steve Hawley as well as space historian Dr Cathleen Lewis -- curator of International Space Programs and Spacesuits at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum (NASM) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/support

Coming in March 2022. Dan investigates the UFO phenomena on Fascinating People, Fascinating Places. Guests include Professor Greg Eghigian of Penn State University,  MUFON state director of Michigan William Konkolesky, author Robert Sheaffer, and journalist and Vice Chairman of UFO-Sweden Clas Svahn.  Art and music courtesy of Pixabay.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

Fascinating People, Fascinating Places. During season 3, Dan Mainwaring talks to NASA astronauts, The New Black Panther Party, WestBoro Baptist Church, explores the 1798 Irish rebellion, examines UFOs, and more. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/support

The Romanian revolution of 1989 was the result of the country’s long tradition of simultaneously resisting and embracing outside forces and influences. It’s a process that stretches back to the second century AD when the Roman Emperor Trajan conquered the area and plundered its gold. Goths, Hun, Bulgars, Magyars, and Ottomans followed. Each group was fiercely resisted before being driven out by heroic figures like Vlad The Impaler. But each invasion force left its legacy producing a nation that is more heterogeneous than its neighbors. Like the surrounding Slavic countries Romania embraced Orthodox Christianity. But unlike its Yugoslavian, Bulgarian and Ukrainian neighbors it used the Latin alphabet. Indeed, Romanian is the language most closely tied to modern Italian, while the majority of the Balkan nations speak in Slavic, Turkic, or Greek. Sound Effects: Pixabay BBC John Simpson BBC1 News English: Address from the Brandenburg Gate (Berlin Wall). Full text at Wikisource Date12 June 1987SourceUniversity of Virginia Miller Center for Public Affairs President Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech. Transcript available.[1] Date26 June 1963SourceKennedy Presidential Library[2]AuthorJohn F. Kennedy --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

On 28 June 1914, a young Serb named Gavrilo Princip sat outside a Delicatessen in Sarajevo, reflecting on his role in a botched assassination attempt on Archduke Ferdinand – heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire. To his surprise, the intended target suddenly came back into view. This time there would be no mistake. He calmly approached the car and fired two shots. One at Ferdinand, the other at his wife Sophie. Each proved fatal. This violent crime which led directly to the outbreak of World War I, wasn’t the act of a lone wolf gunman.  It was just the latest and most devastating in a series of terrorist acts performed by members of the Serbian Black Hand. In this episode, I explore the shadowy group’s origins, their activities, and how their ultimate dream was realized in 1918 though few of them were alive to see it. This is an original production by www.danielmainwaring.com Audio effects and music Pixabay --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

On the 30 January 1649, a large crowd gathers beneath a hastily erected scaffold at the Palace of Whitehall, at the stroke of 2pm a nameless masked man delivered a single blow to sever the head of Charles II. 700 hundred years after Alfred the Great sought to establish the Kingdom of England, the English monarchy was no more. A commoner and puritan named Oliver Cromwell was now the country’s de facto dictator. But as Cromwell’s parliamentarians celebrated an end to the violent civil war, the King’s 19-year-old son was determined to avenge his slaying and to restore the monarchy. A decade later, the young pretender would assume his father’s throne. In this episode, I examine the life of King Charles II, from his earliest days, through his exile, his triumphant return, and the remainder of his troubled reign. This is an original production brought to you by Daniel Mainwaring's Fascinating People, Fascinating Places Podcast. For more information visit the website www.DanielMainwaring.com Additional material provided by Dorsey Jackson - https://youtu.be/DxFyjYpKUVE of Dorsey Jackson Global at Compound City Covert art is a bust of Emperor Caligula, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek made by Louis Le Grand in March 2007 Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en). Audio effects and music Pixabay --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

Coming in January I reflect on Romania 1989 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message

On 1 April 527 AD, an extraordinary event unfolded in the ancient city of Constantinople -- known to the modern world as Instanbul. A 37 year old woman -- a former actress and prostitute dressed in the imperial regalia of Rome -- was crowned as empress of Byzantium -- the Eastern branch and largest remnant of the Roman Empire. But unlike many women who’ve been awarded such titles, Theodora wasn’t just a consort or wife of the Emperor. She was at her husband’s behest and equal partner in the imperial household. She was also the most legitimately powerful woman to dominate Roman or Byzantine history. In this episode, I seek to discover the story behind the empress. Her early life, her struggles and to separate the fact from the fiction. This is an original production brought to you by Daniel Mainwaring's Fascinating People, Fascinating Places Podcast. For more information visit the website www.DanielMainwaring.com Additional material provided by Dorsey Jackson - https://youtu.be/DxFyjYpKUVE of Dorsey Jackson Global at Compound City Covert art is a bust of Emperor Caligula, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek made by Louis Le Grand in March 2007 Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-SA 3.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en). Audio effects and music Pixabay --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daniel-mainwaring5/message