Revisionist History

Malcolm Gladwell revisits the fate of human remains from the 9/11 attacks that were taken to Freshkills landfill, once the world's largest dump, and examines the ongoing battle between those who view the material as impersonal dust and those who insist it contains the remains of the dead. The episode explores questions of dignity, memory, and how society resolves conflicts over the final disposition of fragmented human remains after mass tragedy.

Revisionist History presents the first episode of First America, a new Pushkin podcast hosted by Rebecca Nagle. This episode reexamines the last grievance of the Declaration of Independence—the charge that King George incited “merciless Indian Savages”—and argues that hunger for Indigenous land was a primary driver of the American Revolution, not just taxation. Nagle sits down with Western Shoshone historian Ned Blackhawk to discuss how Native American resistance shaped early US democracy, unearthing a hidden chapter of the nation’s founding.

Revisionist History brings an episode from NPR's Planet Money telling the story of Afro Sheen, the product behind the iconic Afro hairstyle. Afro Sheen did more than make Black afros shine — it financed the television show Soul Train and fueled the civil rights movement, thanks to entrepreneur George Johnson. For decades, Joan and George Johnson ran Johnson Products Company, a Black hair care company in Chicago, and helped turn Black haircare into a multi-billion-dollar industry. But although they helped create that industry, they no longer have a part in it.

In this episode of Revisionist History, Malcolm Gladwell connects the 1993 New York City mayoral election to the 2016 presidential election through the lens of Staten Island and Rudy Giuliani. The 'Staten Island problem' — the borough's unique and often overlooked political character — is examined as a factor in both outcomes. Gladwell explores how the forgotten borough became a bellwether for national shifts.

Malcolm Gladwell examines the formation of the Wu-Tang Clan on Staten Island during the borough's secession movement in the early 1990s. The episode explores the hidden history of the group and its place in the hip-hop scene of that era.

In the third installment of 'The Staten Island Problem,' Malcolm Gladwell delves into the fierce local battle over Staten Island's possible secession from New York City, using newly discovered audio recordings of community debates. To understand the dynamics, he introduces the 'Tuvalu Effect,' a historical analogy drawn from a remote Polynesian island. The episode further explores the human side of the debate through the voices of Staten Island residents themselves.

After the Supreme Court ruled on aspects of New York City government, Staten Island emerged as a loser, sparking a new secession movement led by a local artist. Malcolm Gladwell delves into the borough's unique psychology, connecting it to the legacy of the Fresh Kills landfill, once the largest garbage dump in the world.

A recounting of the conflict between the first Black mayor of New York City and the borough president of Staten Island, set against a backdrop of a riot, a mysterious sea voyage, and a secession movement. Malcolm Gladwell delves into the politics and personalities behind Staten Island's attempt to break away from New York City.

Malcolm Gladwell revisits his 2016 episode "A Good Walk Spoiled," which criticized exclusive country clubs in Los Angeles for gatekeeping public resources and reinforcing class division. A decade later, City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian heard the episode and championed a ballot measure to address the issue, bringing Gladwell's critique from podcast to policy. The episode explores how media can catalyze civic change and examines the ongoing tension between private exclusivity and public access in Los Angeles.

A trailer for a new five-part Revisionist History series timed to America's 250th anniversary. Malcolm Gladwell will explore the near-breakup of New York City in the early 1990s, when Staten Island threatened to secede. The story weaves together Rudy Giuliani's rise, peak homicide, the Wu-Tang Clan, a young Donald Trump, and the city's first Black mayor. The series uses this forgotten borough's crisis to ask what a democracy should do when it seems to be coming apart.

Malcolm Gladwell and producer Ben investigate the power of food names, exploring the 1990s 'Frankenfood' debacle that doomed the Flavr Savr tomato and whether the lab-grown meat industry is making the same mistake today.

Malcolm Gladwell introduces a new podcast project, Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise, exploring the era following the Civil War when America grappled with fundamental questions of citizenship, voting rights, and belonging. Journalist Kai Wright tells the story of Frederick Douglass navigating a transformed political landscape after Lincoln's death, examining why the promise of Reconstruction remained unfulfilled despite ending slavery and expanding voting rights.

Malcolm Gladwell revisits a Season 2 episode and recounts a pivotal phone call that led to a collaboration with President Barack Obama, previewed in the next episode. The episode explores how a seemingly small moment of contact set in motion an unexpected professional partnership.

Malcolm Gladwell introduces a crossover episode featuring the premiere of "The News," a new season from the Peabody-nominated podcast Scene on Radio. John Biewen explores the systemic crisis in American news media: declining trust, the collapse of local journalism business models, and the proliferation of misinformation. The episode argues that media dysfunction is inseparable from America's broader failures to address major crises.

Malcolm Gladwell investigates how a single line in a building code proposal from a fire inspector in Glendale, Arizona cascaded into a devastating impact on how housing is built across the entire United States. Working with Stephen Smith, Executive Director of the Center for Building in North America, the episode explores the unintended consequences of regulatory decisions and how small bureaucratic choices can reshape entire industries.

A 31-minute exploration of Air Force pilot James Fleming's Medal of Honor-winning rescue mission during the Vietnam War. In 1968, Fleming flew a dangerous close-air-support mission to save a pinned-down Green Beret team in the Vietnamese jungle, facing overwhelming North Vietnamese Army forces, low fuel, and intense enemy fire. His split-second decision to refuse turning back—despite impossible odds—exemplifies the kind of ordinary courage that has sustained the American experiment through its crises.

When Dan received a diagnosis of advanced metastatic prostate cancer, he faced a paralyzing choice: every doctor offered a different treatment recommendation. This episode follows how he navigated conflicting expert opinions, how he ultimately chose which doctor to trust, and how that decision likely saved his life. Dan, a crisis communications specialist, reveals that trust is not intuitive—it's the result of a careful, deliberate process.

Jim Balsillie, the former co-CEO of Research in Motion, reflects on the critical mistake that led to Blackberry's downfall, once the fastest growing company in the world.

In this cross-post from Cautionary Tales, host Tim Harford tells the story of William McGonagall—often called the worst poet in the world. McGonagall's clumsy verse made him a laughing stock in 19th-century Scotland, yet his notoriety has outlasted many more talented poets. The episode re-examines whether his work might have been misunderstood and what we can learn from such spectacular artistic failure. McGonagall's relentless output and imperviousness to ridicule reveal a strange kind of creative courage.

Music producer Irv Gotti, known for hits with Jay-Z, Ja Rule, and Ashanti, was brought in by Sony to craft a big record for Jennifer Lopez. He delivered, creating a major hit. But then he made a mistake that would derail his career. Malcolm Gladwell examines the events and consequences of that single error, exploring the nature of professional missteps.

General David Goldfein, former Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, and Dr. Heather Wilson, former Secretary of the Air Force, reflect on the worst day in their professional careers and the leadership lessons that emerged from tragedy. Drawing from their book 'Get Back Up: Lessons in Servant Leadership,' they explore how responding to catastrophic failure shaped their understanding of accountability and resilience in high-stakes environments.

A preview episode from the podcast What Went Wrong exploring The Shawshank Redemption's unlikely journey from box office disappointment to the highest-rated film on IMDb. The episode examines how a movie that failed commercially became a beloved American classic and the mistakes and challenges that shaped its path.

Michael Lynton, former head of Sony Pictures Entertainment, sits down with Malcolm Gladwell to discuss a pivotal mistake: greenlighting The Interview, a comedy film that sparked an international incident when North Korea hacked Sony in retaliation. Lynton reflects on the decision-making process, the consequences, and what he learned about corporate accountability and risk assessment in the age of geopolitics.

Richard Pryor redefined comedy by telling the truth, even when it scorched him. And today, we’re sharing a preview of a new podcast, Big Lives, and a special episode about Pryor.

Since Andrew Jarecki’s latest documentary The Alabama Solution debuted on HBO, it has stunned viewers with a story about a group of men seeking justice.

Did Disney make an anti-Disney movie? Ben and Malcolm engage in a bit of literary sleuthing to find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Screenwriter Gary Goldman claimed the creators of the Disney franchise Zootopia stole his story. Malcolm investigates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Valley of Shadows is a new Pushkin true crime podcast that digs into a nearly 30-year old secret buried in the California desert. On June 11, 1998, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy Jon Aujay went for a run in California’s Devil’s Punchbowl park...and never came back.

Despite his disdain for birthdays, Malcolm finds himself celebrating ten years of Revisionist History by looking back on the making of the show with producers past and present. And, of course, his mother.

A journalist reporting from some far-flung remote location. A massive blackout. Ticketless entry to a huge sporting event. Behind some of the most technologically complex scenarios is a network making it possible to connect.

Malcolm recently went on the podcast of one of his favorite comedians, Hasan Minhaj. He enjoyed the experience so much, he wanted to share the conversation with you! Enjoy.

Today, we bring you our holiday epic from last year.When Arnold Schwarzenegger decided he wanted to direct a feature film, the choice of material was obvious: He would remake a 1945 holiday classic. Easier said than done. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For nearly 200 years, we have credited the most famous poem of the Christmas season to Clement Clarke Moore. But what if we got the wrong man? This holiday season: A centuries old family feud, a bold claim from an English professor, and the true meaning of Christmas.

Malcolm and Liliana Segura, a criminal justice reporter at Intercept, sat down for an episode of The Intercept Briefing to discuss The Alabama Murders, the inherent cruelty of the death penalty, and the concerning rise of executions in America. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holman Correctional Facility. January 2024. Over three decades after the murder of Elizabeth Sennett, the failure cascade comes to an end, but not before claiming one more life.

Manhattan, NY December. 2022. What do you do, after the state has tried to execute you, but failed? Kenny Smith’s legal team calls Kate Porterfield. A psychologist who specializes in trauma.

Holman Correctional Facility. November 2022. The State of Alabama tries to execute Kenneth Smith. Get early, ad-free access to the full season of The Alabama Murders by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

Holman Correctional Facility. June 2010. John Forrest Parker is put to death by lethal injection. He didn’t appear to suffer. But did he? Get early, ad-free access to the full season of The Alabama Murders by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

Colbert County. May 1989. One of the men charged with Elizabeth Sennett’s murder stands trial. But the prosecution’s case has problematic inconsistencies. His fate comes down to the jury’s decision –– at least at first.

Florence, Alabama. 1988. After a horrifying murder takes place, an anonymous caller names three young men as suspects. But speculation swirls about the victim’s husband. Get early, ad-free access to the full season of The Alabama Murders by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

In a small town in the northwest corner of Alabama, a cascade begins with a man and an affair. Get early, ad-free access to the full season of The Alabama Murders by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

Florence, Alabama. 1988. A preacher has an affair. A woman is murdered. One death cascades into more, stretching across decades and leaving no one untouched — victims, bystanders, perpetrators, and those just trying to help.

In 2019, Malcolm just wanted an excuse to hang out with Randy Newman so they sat down at the piano together and tried to answer the question: If you disagree with someone — if you find what they think appalling — is there any value in talking to them?

Malcolm’s habit of reading footnotes leads him to the psychologist Alan Elms, which leads him to the one song Elvis couldn’t sing. We revisit this 2018 episode as part of our encore music series. Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

Why does country music make you cry, but rock and roll doesn’t? We revisit a musical interpretation of a divided America in this episode from 2017. Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

How does genius emerge? Kicking off our summer series, Malcolm digs into the Revisionist History archive to revisit Elvis Costello’s song “Deportee” and explore the power of innovation. Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

Starting next week, we revisit four of Malcolm’s favorite episodes from the Revisionist History archives, all about music. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our season finale, we team up with the Culinary Institute of America to reverse engineer the secret recipe for Thomas’s English Muffins. You can read our top secret muffin recipe here. Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

Seven people knew the recipe for a half-a-billion dollar muffin. Then, one of them tried to leave. Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

What if we picked the wrong animal? Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm. Pushkin+ subscribers can access ad-free episodes, full audiobooks, exclusive binges, and bonus content for all Pushkin shows.

Malcolm and Lucie discover that they experience something very differently. If you suspect you might have a problem recognizing faces and you want to get involved in the research they’re doing at Dr.

Malcolm sits down with the linguist John McWhorter, to discuss his new book, Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words.

The world's most famous interviewer has a problem with interviewing. Revisionist History is here to help. Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

Malcolm investigates the origins of what the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services believes (and doesn’t believe) about viruses. Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

You might think unbelievably loud, shrill sirens on ambulances and fire trucks are just a fact of life. But what if we got the facts all wrong? In this episode we ask how we got here in the first place.

PAW Patrol is in trouble. Like Ryder and the pups, Malcolm comes to the rescue. Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

Five years ago a police officer tried to stop Derek Chauvin from murdering George Floyd. Why didn’t he try harder? Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.

Five years ago the entire world watched Derek Chauvin murder George Floyd. What did we miss? Get ad-free episodes to Revisionist History by subscribing to Pushkin+ on Apple Podcasts or Pushkin.fm.