Best Traveljunkies Podcasts (2023)

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The Unkindness of History: Lenin in a Theme Park 8:45

1h ago8:45

8:45

In this week's episode, join us on a journey to Krakow, Poland, where a statue of Soviet hero Vladimir Lenin undergoes a bizarre journey from a symbol of communism to a casualty of local disdain. Uncover the surprising twists that lead this statue to an unexpected home in a Wild West-themed park in Sweden. From failed bombings to aphrodisiac-laden …

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Two Billion Euros and the Polish Temple of Memory 9:09

14d ago9:09

9:09

Embark on a riveting journey with this week's episode as we trace the tumultuous odyssey of a priceless painting worth two billion Euros. From Hotel Lambert in 1830s Paris to the clandestine moves during World Wars, this painting, Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Lady with an Ermine,' becomes a symbol of Poland's resilience and identity. Through six generation…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The untold story of Holocaust heroism: 'Under the Eagle' Pharmacy 8:25

21d ago8:25

8:25

Journey back in time to Krakow's darkest hours during the Holocaust, where ordinary heroes emerged from the shadows. Explore the remarkable story of Tadeusz Pankiewicz and his team at the 'Under the Eagle' pharmacy, a symbol of hope in a sea of despair. As walls rose around the ghetto, this unassuming pharmacy became an embassy of solace, a lifelin…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The complicated legacy of Schindler's List 10:21

28d ago10:21

10:21

This episode takes you on a journey through the complex legacy of Spielberg's Schindler's List. Beyond the heroism, we explore the enigmatic truth behind Oskar Schindler, and why it's not quite what it seems. We also contrast it with The Pianist, a Holocaust film that presents a different perspective - the victim's story. Join us to understand how …

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The surprising evolution of Polish food 9:31

1M ago9:31

9:31

1981, Communist Poland At the peak of the Soviet rule in Poland, the country had run into enormous economic hardships. Food became scarce, and citizens marched on the streets protesting against hunger. Everything became rationed, and even then, sometimes the rationed needs could not be met. But this is not the story of the food shortages of Communi…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The Oak Tree that chronicled Poland's Modern History 8:52

1M ago8:52

8:52

Prepare to be transported to the heart of Krakow, Poland, where an ancient Oak tree holds secrets of a nation's tumultuous history. Step back in time to November 6, 1939, when shadows of tyranny descended upon Poland, targeting its intellectual backbone. Unveil the riveting account of sacrifice, resilience, and a silent sentinel the Oak of Freedom …

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The Strange Polish notion of Holocaust Envy 8:44

2M ago8:44

8:44

Explore the chilling tale of Cywia Asterblum, a student condemned in 1936 Poland for protesting anti-Semitism, setting the stage for a dark period in history. The episode navigates through the haunting realities of Auschwitz and unveils the controversial 'Memory Laws' in modern Poland. Delving into the eerie concept of Holocaust Envy, the episode r…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Love European Cities? You are walking on Poop 7:36

2M ago7:36

7:36

Discover Krakow's dramatic transformation from devastation to grandeur after the Mongol invasion of 1241. Join us as we delve into the secrets buried beneath its cobbled streets witness the rise, struggles, and innovative solutions of a medieval city grappling with waste management. Uncover how the echoes of the past resonate through its architectu…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The Complicated Legacy of Tintin 9:25

2M ago9:25

9:25

What could possibly be wrong or complicated about the legacy of the one of the most loved boy detectives in the world? Tintin has been and will continue to be a part of the childhood of millions, including mine. But what did a visit to Brussels in Belgium, home to Herge the creator of Tintin, mean for the adult Utsav reading Tintin? This week, we t…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The Neuroscience of Trying New Cuisines 8:08

3M ago8:08

8:08

Imagine the last time you had some horrendous food. Like the kind which not only tastes bad, but also gives you a recoiling diarrohea. The one you take almost a week to properly recover from. Now imagine walking into your home after being drenched in the rain, and being greeted with smell of crisp frying pakoras and piping hot ginger tea. Turns out…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Syncing Senses: The Neuroscience of Music, Grunting, and Eating with Hands 8:26

3M ago8:26

8:26

Think Tennis and Taekwondo. Two sports which could not be more different from each other, but they have one aspect in common. Grunting. But what's the big deal about grunting in sports? And if you thought these two were unrelated, may I introduce Indian classical music in the mix? What could possible connect grunting and Indian classical music? Thi…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Endangered Pasts: Decoding Ancient Bonds between Gujarat & Tamil Nadu 7:39

3M ago7:39

7:39

In July 2023, Coke Studio Bharat dropped a song, Khalasi. It took only a few days for it to rake up over 20 Million listens on YouTube, making it an instant hit. It was a bunch of firsts - A Gujarati song, that too one which is not a Garba song, and comes from a completely different musical tradition. But what if told you that it had something to d…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Architecture as Statecraft: The Story of Jaipur 8:32

3M ago8:32

8:32

This week on "Postcards from Nowhere. we unveil the hidden power of architecture in Jaipur's streets and discover how food-named lanes were tools of statecraft, intricately designed to influence politics and trade and explore how history's complexities defy simplistic narratives, as we delve into the strategic fusion of architecture and power. And …

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Pilgrimage to the Land of the Martyrs ft. Varun Oak-Bhakay 26:06

4M ago26:06

26:06

If you consider yourself patriotic, do you know about Hussaniwala? It's a small village on the border of Indian Punjab and Pakistan and has a fascinating history that shaped both pre and post-independence India. This week, on the eve of our independence day, we speak with Varun Oak-Bhakay, who travelled to Hussainiwala, the Land of the Martyrs. Tun…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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How Salt built the World's Greatest Civilizations - Part 2 7:27

4M ago7:27

7:27

In 1922, The tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered in the Valley of the Kings by excavators led by the Egyptologist Howard Carter. It was the first known largely intact royal burial from ancient Egypt and became one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century. Inside the tomb, amongst thousands of objects, two vials stood out, for…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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How Salt built the World's Greatest Civilizations - Part 1 8:00

4M ago8:00

8:00

Imagine the badlands of Chambal in the 70's, the setting of Sholay and Kaalia pleading to Gabbar for his life - Sardar, maine aapka namak khaya hai. Now imagine the greatest philosopher from China, Confucious reflecting about the nature of that very namak, and how should rulers rule with morality. What connects the two is Salt. This week, we trace …

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The Satyagraha for the Soul of Odia Cuisine 9:20

4M ago9:20

9:20

In this episode of we delve into the little-known Salt Satyagraha in Odisha, which took place before Gandhi's famous Dandi March. Join us as we explore the fight to save the soul of Odia cuisine, uncovering the historical significance of salt and its impact on the region's traditional dishes. Discover the rich culinary heritage of Odisha. And if yo…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The story of Milk from the Highlands of Tibet 9:26

5M ago9:26

9:26

By some counts, at its peak, the Mongol Empire stretched nearly 31 million square kilometres, an area of land roughly the size of the African continent. But what did this Empire led by Genghis Khan eat during the long conquests over highland passes and treachrous mountains? And what could it have to do with a bunch of scientists from the Max Planck…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Cycling through Asia and Europe ft. Pritam Sukumar 28:21

5M ago28:21

28:21

He quit his cushy job at Amazon and travelled from 2015 to 2019. He has jumped into lakes and seas in Argentina (more than a few times), watched soaring condors while trekking in the South of Chile (well, one condor but a really majestic one), walked from the end of Switzerland to the end of France, motorcycled for more than a year in India, cycled…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The Legendary Biryanis of Tamil Nadu 10:48

5M ago10:48

10:48

1957 - Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. A humble betel nut seller decides to start a 4 seater Biryani hotel, with a recipe from his wife. Over 60 years later, that tiny hotel is a sprawling business valued at over 860 crores. So what is so special about the Biryani from Dindigul? Or for that matter of that from Ambur and Chennai? This week, we travel across N…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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How Sangam Landscapes shaped Tamil Food 11:45

6M ago11:45

11:45

27 Women poets, 102 anonymous and a total of 473 poets over centuries created a body of work, which came to define Tamil culture. And then most of it falls into oblivion for much of the second millennium AD. They were preserved by and rediscovered in the monasteries of Hinduism, particularly those related to the Shaivism sect, near Kumbakonam, by c…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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How the Ice Age shaped Indian food 7:38

6M ago7:38

7:38

In the evolution from primates to humans, we lost our hair and developed a layer of fat. But as science is discovering now, we also lost our ability to synthesis a few compounds which were critical for the long term survival of humans. But what if I told you that the last Ice Age had a lot to do with it? This week, we uncover the fascinating story …

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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How India developed a tense relationship with Alcohol 8:23

6M ago8:23

8:23

This week, we travel through time, through stories of Lord Buddha, and verses of Arthashastra to modern times, and understand how India developed a tense relationship with Alcohol. Till then Check out the other episodes, Anne Frank, Lootera and Endless Life of Trees The Trees that built Venice Elm Trees, National Revolutions and Modern Paper Europe…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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HDFC Investverse | Balancing Your Work, Finances, and Hobbies 11:50

6M ago11:50

11:50

Do you wish to buy a new car? Or build the house of your dreams? But don’t know how to plan for your goals financially. Well, worry no more we got you. In today’s episode of Investverse, an investor education initiative by HDFC MF, Anupam will be in conversation with Utsav Mamoria, a consumer insights expert, traveler, and host of the podcast Postc…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Vedic Vices: The Story of 'Chakna' 8:49

7M ago8:49

8:49

The 1949 Prohibition Act in the Bombay Province gave rise to a clandestine alcohol operation in the city called Aunty Bars. Apart from serving locally brewed alcohol, they also saw hawkers selling snacks, which eventually came to be known as Chakna. But Chakna is not a modern invention, and in fact has documented history tracing back to Vedic times…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Colonial Tamil Nadu's Coffee Puranam 8:59

7M ago8:59

8:59

Would you believe me if I said that Tamil Nadu once hated filter coffee? If this sounds absurd, this week we travel in time to colonial Tamil Nadu and discover the story uncover the story of how the state went from hating to loving coffee Till then Check out the other episodes, Anne Frank, Lootera and Endless Life of Trees The Trees that built Veni…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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How food, caste and class defined Tamil worship rituals 8:48

7M ago8:48

8:48

Every year in early January, thousands of people, barefoot walk about 160 miles to the town in Tamil Nadu. They are devotees of the Tamil god Murugan, and carry a specific food item with them. Similarly, in the peak of summer, another set of men take the same journey, but carry a different food item with them. But why do they do so? This week, we t…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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How Buddhism shaped Sri Lankan food 8:56

7M ago8:56

8:56

543 BC, Lord Buddha had left the earth, and his body was cremated in a sandalwood pyre at Kushinagar, in modern-day Uttar Pradesh. His left canine tooth was retrieved from the funeral pyre by his disciple, Khema. Over the decades, it changed hands and found itself in Kandy, Sri Lanka. So important was this tooth, that palaces were built around it. …

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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How caste made foods taboo : The story of cooking dogs. 9:42

8M ago9:42

9:42

Each year, Yulin in the Guangxi province of China catches the worlds attention for its dog meat festival, and receives harsh criticism. Closer home, activists have been trying to ban the dog meat among the tribes of Nagaland, even though the tribes enjoy protection under section 371A of the constitution. This week, we travel back in time, browse th…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Catalonian Human Pyramids, Dahi Handi and Marathi Sants 9:31

8M ago9:31

9:31

On 16 November 2010, UNESCO declared this among the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This is usually seen in the Catalonian region of Spain, the Balearic islands and Valencia. This also has a sibling 7000 kms away on the coast of India. This week, we travel from Catalonia in Spain to the town of Pandharpur in Maharashtr…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The war influenced cuisine of Tamil Eelam 9:21

8M ago9:21

9:21

The midnight of 1st June 1981 is etched into the history of Jaffna. The city witnessed a one of its kind of violence, which was not just physical, but imaginative - aimed to strike at the heart of the city’s soul. And what eventually led to change the fate of a people. This week, we travel to north and eastern Sri Lanka, and discover how the decade…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The famine induced cuisine of North Korea 9:41

8M ago9:41

9:41

27th April 2018 The supreme leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un stepped over the De-militarized Zone (or DMZ) boundary line and entered South Korea. It was the first time since the 1950 Korean War that a North Korean leader had entered South Korean territory. As a symbol of peace, the Kim Jong Un also got a chef from Pyongyang to cook a signature dis…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Genetics, Milk and the Great Indian Sweet Divide 8:48

8M ago8:48

8:48

In the legends of the Puri Jagannath temple, an irate goddess Laxmi is placated by Lord Jagannath by offering her a sweet. Its the same sweet which led to a battle between Odisha and West Bengal with each claiming to be the original inventor of it. But the presence of the sweet itself is a testament of a pattern in sweets in Eastern India, and even…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Rashomon and the Kaavad storytellers of Rajasthan 9:35

9M ago9:35

9:35

In the early 19th century, the Maharaja of Travancore levied an absolutely bizzare tax: Any woman who had come of age and had breasts had to pay a breast tax, and bare her breasts to anyone who was of a higher caste to them. This was one amongst the hundreds of taxes the lower castes had to endure, which put them in a cycle of perpetual debt and po…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Malaria, Leeches and Wayanad Ramayanas 8:47

9M ago8:47

8:47

"Banasura Hill in Wayanad is one of the tallest mountains and is named after Banasura, son of the great demon king Mahabali and himself a legendary king with a thousand arms. But what could he have to do with the fact that Malaria is endemic in Wayanad? Meanwhile, the entire district is known to have leeches, with the exception of the town of Pulpa…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Integral Calculus, Women Circumnavigators and Bougainvillea 8:13

9M ago8:13

8:13

1756, France - A 27 year old man publishes two volumes on integral calculus. His work is recognized by his peers, he gets elected to the Royal Society in London, but his career as a mathematician also ends with those two volumes. A few decades later, a man circumnavigates the globe, but does not immediately get recognition for it. And all this is c…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Egyptian Pharaohs, Incense Trade Routes and Agarbatti 8:33

10M ago8:33

8:33

1470 BC - A five-ship caravan by Egyptian Pharoah Hatshepsut undertakes a unique voyage, possibly the first plant-collecting mission masterminded by a woman. The voyage is successful as the touring party returns with 31 live plants of a certain species. Over 4000 kms away, in a port once considered one of the greatest in the world, an extract of th…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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An Empty Chair, Stalinist Russia and Rave Idli 8:08

10M ago8:08

8:08

1939, Edinburgh. The 7th International Congress of Genetics was being held, but it was not just another scientific conference. It was held after a gap of 4 years, and the most discussed subject had nothing to do with genetics. Everyone was discussing an empty chair. A few decades later, the prime minister of one of the largest nations in the world …

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Black Death, Bahubali and the World's Most Expensive Spice 8:45

10M ago8:45

8:45

After its arrival in Crimea in 1347, it rapidly spread through Constantinople, Spain, France and southern England. By 1350, it devastated Northern France, the British Isles, Germany and the Scandinavian region. It then crept up to Russia, touching Moscow in 1353. It killed an estimated 30% to 65% of European population. Thousands of kilometres in a…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Living Fossils, National Identities and 200 MM year old trees 10:14

10M ago10:14

10:14

This week, we travel from the Wollemi National Park in Australia to the Xingdoushan Nature Conservation Area in China to uncover the story of two living fossils, and how trees can shape national identities. Till then Check out the other episodes of "Ireland Untravelled" Lost Treasures, Dynamite and the Irish Nation : https://ivm.today/3okwxm5 Gaeli…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The tree that built New Zealand 7:54

11M ago7:54

7:54

Sometime around early 1880, Edward Morse, an American zoologist and archaeologist, travelled through Japan. On a train ride between Yoko-hama and Tokyo, he noticed something odd - A shell mound. This discovery revolutionised the field of anthropology and archaeology in Japan. About 1500 kms away from Tokyo, lies the island of Yakushima, in the Kago…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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European Impressionism, Japanese Nationalism and Cherry Blossom Trees 9:08

11M ago9:08

9:08

In the autumn of year 1280, Kublai Khan, the only non-Han to rule China convened a meeting at his summer palace in Shangdu, Inner Mongolia. He wanted to mount and attack on Japan, and eventually did so in 1281. Seven hundred years later, Japan was fighting another war it was losing quickly - World War II. What could possibly connect these two wars …

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Elm Trees, National Revolutions and Modern Paper 9:15

1y ago9:15

9:15

In 1765, colonised America was hit by a British stamp tax. A group of local businessmen in Boston calling themselves the Loyal Nine began meeting in secret to plan a series of protests against the Stamp Act. They gathered under a large tree to protest against the act. Only a few years later in 1790, a similar tree was planted in Vienne in France as…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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The Trees that built Venice 8:44

1y ago8:44

8:44

In 1964, the directors at the National Library of Spain in Madrid made a startling discovery. Owing to an error in the printed catalogue, two hitherto unknown notebooks belonging to a famous inventor were discovered. In Milan, a physicist discovers an interesting hypothesis about trees in the notebooks of the same inventor, and goes out to prove it…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Anne Frank, Lootera and Endless Life of Trees 9:06

1y ago9:06

9:06

On May 18, 2016, students in Islington, north London, gathered to attend a tree-planting ceremony. It had a small plaque explaining that the tree had been planted “in the hope that the young people of Islington will live in a society of mutual understanding and respect for diversity”. The guest of honour was Dr Eva Schloss, an 87-year-old Auschwitz…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Udta Punjab, Falcons and Mahabharat War Formations 9:03

1y ago9:03

9:03

In 1634, on Baisakhi day, a Sikh hunting party set their hawk or Baaz upon the royal Baaz of the Mughals. The Sikh Baaz prevailed, and the Mughal Baaz was captured. Angered by this action, Emperor Shah Jahan from Lahore sent 7,000 soldiers under Mukhlis Khan to attack. The outcome of the war shaped the history of the Sikhs. In 2016, the Bollywood f…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

1
Inuit Throat Singing, Polar Bears and Stillness 9:01

1y ago9:01

9:01

"In January 2022, Tanya Tagaq, a 47 year old Canadian singer released her album - Tongues.The Rolling Stone called her ‘one of the avant-garde’s most dynamic performers. The Pitchfork said that her ‘music joins landscape, culture and resistance.’ Music joining landscape and resistance? This week, we travel to a place which has just 2 people per 100…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Impossible Journeys, Polynesian Navigation and BRT Wildlife Sanctuary 8:56

1y ago8:56

8:56

The island of Satwal in the Pacific Ocean is incredibly small - Just 1 square kilometre and supports a population of 500. And yet, it is home to Mau Piailug, a man who holds the secrets of the some of the most long distance travellers of the world. Travellers who for thousands of years, have traversed vast oceans without any navigational aids. But …

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Led Zeppelin, Harry Potter and Murals of Belfast 9:31

1y ago9:31

9:31

In 1971, Belfast witnessed a rising rock band debut their unnamed fourth album. Despite their first three albums breaking sales records, the album had a very cold reception. Decades later, a British author shopped her book to over ten publishers, all of whom rejected it. This week, in the fifteenth episode of the series Ireland Untravelled, we disc…

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Postcards From Nowhere with Utsav Mamoria

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Ancient Celtic Language, Yetis and the Wood Wide Web 8:42

1y ago8:42

8:42

In 1920, Colonel Charles - Bury was nervous about a diplomatic conversation with the then British Viceroy of India. He wanted to convince the Viceroy to allow a trip to Peak XV, which was suspected to be taller than Mount Kanchenjunga. Back in his home in Ireland, at the Charleville Castle, a 400 year tree waited for his arrival. Charles - Bury tho…

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