Killer Biographies: William Hutchinson Norris

For thousands of years people all over the world have chewed gum or gum-like substances. Still, the invention of the modern chewing gum industry took place in the United States in the 1800s, and while you may be familiar with names like William Wrigley, Jr., an exiled Mexican General was also responsible for the gum you enjoy today. Hear the incredible true story of how chewing gum evolved from the naturally occurring flavorless birch bark tar to the chemically crafted Lebron James’ Lightning Lemonade Bubblicious Bubble Gum.

Listen to the first two seasons of Killer Means Awesome to hear more incredible true stories.  Season one features amazing tales about recently discovered shipwrecks and Season two highlights biographies of people you really should know!

The magical sound of slide guitar is a modern invention. Though long associated with American blues music, the location of its earliest pioneers may surprise you! Tune into Killer Means Awesome to find out who invented the musical technique, who set the standard for playing, and why you should never, ever let guitarist Ry Cooder drive you through the mountains.

Listen to the first two seasons of Killer Means Awesome to hear more incredible true stories.  Season one features amazing tales of recently discovered shipwrecks and season two highlights biographies of people you really should know!

Diminutive in stature but a giant in the world of inventions, the brilliant Grace Hopper talked her way into the Navy after Pearl Harbor and went on to become arguably the most pivotal innovator at the dawn of the information age.

Listen to the first two seasons of Killer Means Awesome to hear more incredible true stories.  Season one features amazing tales about recently discovered shipwrecks and Season two highlights biographies of people you really should know!

From its earliest, primitive versions in the 1940s to the powerful, high-tech devices of today, the fabled 'black box' on airplanes has captured both the public imagination and the careful attention of engineers and investigators. Perhaps no other device does more to unravel the mystery of a plane crash than the flight recorder, which is built to withstand explosions, fires, water exposure, and intense deep-sea pressure. For the full history of this fascinating device -- including the incredible lengths which investigators go to in order to recover it after a crash -- check out the latest episode of Killer Means Awesome!

Listen to the first two seasons of Killer Means Awesome to hear more incredible true stories.  Season one features amazing tales of recently discovered shipwrecks and season two highlights biographies of people you really should know!

In 1856 William Henry Perkin was an 18 year old college student on spring break when he accidentally invented a method for creating synthetic purple dye, a storied color which also happened to be the most coveted in all of Europe.  Still, no one could have imagined William’s home experiment would inadvertently usher in the first science-based industry, making William rich and famous, bringing color to the masses, and ultimately changing the world.

Listen to the first two seasons of Killer Means Awesome to hear more incredible true stories.  Season one features amazing tales about recently discovered shipwrecks and Season two highlights biographies of people you really should know!

The Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann was the first person to synthesize LSD in 1938.  From an accidental LSD trip to today’s worldwide renaissance in government-sanctioned research, perhaps no psychedelic has triggered more controversy and headlines than LSD.  What started as the brainchild of the young chemist looking for new medicines, LSD has been used in psychiatry, religious ceremonies, the creative arts, and even CIA spy-craft!  

Listen to the first two seasons of Killer Means Awesome to hear more incredible true stories.  Season one features amazing tales about recently discovered shipwrecks and Season two highlights biographies of people you really should know!

Introducing the newly branded Killer Means Awesome podcast and Season #3: Killer Inventions!

Listen to the first two seasons of Killer Means Awesome to hear more incredible true stories.  Season one features amazing tales about recently discovered shipwrecks and Season two highlights biographies of people you really should know!

As an expert draftsman, inventor, and scientist, Lewis Howard Latimer helped Alexander Graham Bell patent the telephone and became Thomas Edison’s most trusted partner. Credited with inventing carbon filaments for light bulbs, the first air conditioner, and improvements for elevators and railroad car toilets, Latimer also found time to learn French, write poetry, play multiple instruments, and publish the first book ever written on electrical lighting. That he was the son of slaves, had no formal education, and joined the Navy at 16 in order to fight in the Civil War makes his life story that much more impressive!

Killer Biographies is now season two of the Killer Means Awesome podcast.  Check out season one to hear amazing true tales of recently discovered shipwrecks.  Season three features  stories behind famous invention

Get out of the way, it’s Fighting Shirley Chisholm coming through!  Chisholm was ‘unbought and unbossed’ — from childhood poverty and time split between Barbados and Brooklyn to a pioneering career in U.S. politics and a historic run for President in 1972 … this is the story of the first black woman elected to Congress. 

Killer Biographies is now season two of the Killer Means Awesome podcast.  Check out season one to hear amazing true tales of recently discovered shipwrecks.  Season three features  stories behind famous invention

The original work hard, play hard executive, Cleopatra is known for high profile liaisons with Roman leaders Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. Ruling over a vast Egyptian empire for more than two decades, she is arguably the most powerful woman in human history. Her incredible story, complete with forced exile, murder, incest, and a secret drinking club is even more dramatic than the Shakespearean play about her life!

If you are a fan of Killer Biographies check out the Killer Shipwrecks episodes from Season 1!