The History of the Podcast
One dreary, cold winter night, Aaron called up Max and twisted his arm to go out for a drink. Over some delightful cocktails, the two former English-majors turned physician bemoaned a perceived distance from their former creative selves. The path through medical school winds far away from the liberal arts ethos. Science and rationality replaced arguments about poetry and literature. Aaron wanted to start a creative project and that fateful night became a brainstorming session.
Max, being a self-described podcast addict, brought up the idea of starting a show. Aaron was convinced and the gears started to turn. Though neither of them knew which way a microphone was supposed to face, they decided to forge ahead as one does in the 21st century, by Googling how to podcast.
It's not clear how Mike became aware of the project. Since he's a purveyor of calculus-based physics one might assume he'd built a device that enables him to hear thoughts. One shift, while Aaron and Max were working alongside him in the emergency room, Mike leaned in and offered to join the show. The originators were momentarily skeptical but once Mike pulled a guitar out of nowhere and started strumming the theme song it all came together. From thenceforth, the Poor Historians Podcast was careening towards reality.
The idea of traveling through the stories of medical history was natural. Their work as physicians is built on the generations before that fumbled their way through medical science. With a deep and varied well of subject material to draw upon, coupling their empathy and humanity with well-cultivated senses of humor, Aaron, Max and Mike, became the Poor Historians Podcast. The misadventures thus began.
At the first year anniversary of the show, guests started to appear and, before they knew it, the co-hosts were speaking with authors, medical museum curators, and fellow history podcasters, broadening the offerings of the show with additional types of content.
During the second year of the show, Alba arrived. With her background in improv comedy and penchant for voice acting, Alba was welcomed with open arms to join the cast of the show, bringing a new voice and perspective to the show. With her medical adjacent background as patient simulator and masters student in medical social work, Alba additionally fit well to balance out the show's profile. When the docs get carried away in medical terminology, Alba is there to reign them in. She has been an amazing addition to the Poor Historians Podcast, for sure.
In October of 2024, after 3 + years of production, the Poor Historians Podcast came to an end with the final episode about the Victorian-era surgeon, Dr. John Hunter. We invite any fans of the show to enjoy our archived episodes.
Thank you all for the good times with this show!
Max, being a self-described podcast addict, brought up the idea of starting a show. Aaron was convinced and the gears started to turn. Though neither of them knew which way a microphone was supposed to face, they decided to forge ahead as one does in the 21st century, by Googling how to podcast.
It's not clear how Mike became aware of the project. Since he's a purveyor of calculus-based physics one might assume he'd built a device that enables him to hear thoughts. One shift, while Aaron and Max were working alongside him in the emergency room, Mike leaned in and offered to join the show. The originators were momentarily skeptical but once Mike pulled a guitar out of nowhere and started strumming the theme song it all came together. From thenceforth, the Poor Historians Podcast was careening towards reality.
The idea of traveling through the stories of medical history was natural. Their work as physicians is built on the generations before that fumbled their way through medical science. With a deep and varied well of subject material to draw upon, coupling their empathy and humanity with well-cultivated senses of humor, Aaron, Max and Mike, became the Poor Historians Podcast. The misadventures thus began.
At the first year anniversary of the show, guests started to appear and, before they knew it, the co-hosts were speaking with authors, medical museum curators, and fellow history podcasters, broadening the offerings of the show with additional types of content.
During the second year of the show, Alba arrived. With her background in improv comedy and penchant for voice acting, Alba was welcomed with open arms to join the cast of the show, bringing a new voice and perspective to the show. With her medical adjacent background as patient simulator and masters student in medical social work, Alba additionally fit well to balance out the show's profile. When the docs get carried away in medical terminology, Alba is there to reign them in. She has been an amazing addition to the Poor Historians Podcast, for sure.
In October of 2024, after 3 + years of production, the Poor Historians Podcast came to an end with the final episode about the Victorian-era surgeon, Dr. John Hunter. We invite any fans of the show to enjoy our archived episodes.
Thank you all for the good times with this show!