Aram Zucker-Scharff

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Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Podcast: Amy Johnson, the first female pilot to fly solo from Britain to Australia (1903-1941).

“Amy Johnson was a heroine of the romantic age of aviation. Her image was one of a petite, photogenic pilot and mechanic, a pioneer feminist and sportswoman; she had a veneer of success in an age needing stars. With hindsight, however, a more complex figure has been revealed. According to a fellow ATA pilot, Lettice Curtis, Johnson was often insecure and unhappy. More seriously her skills as a mechanic and pilot were hands-on; she was neither a fine pilot nor a sound navigator. Amy Johnson took risks, and in the end this killed her. Nevertheless because of the indomitable record-breaking and the mystery surrounding her death she became and remains, a legendary figure.”

The story of Amy Johnson is one of over 200 episodes available from the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography’s podcast archive. New episodes are released every second Wednesday.

Image: British aviatrix Amy Johnson (1903-1941). Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

““My connection to the audience is something I completely cherish and is part of that medium that is really unique.””

– Podcasts are back — and making money.

In Planet Money’s latest episode they explore the fascinating story of how a bottle of Coke stayed priced at a nickle for decades, the longest known sticky price in recorded history. 
Hint: it involves a really unwise contract.

In late 2000 the Clinton administration was preparing for their final economic report. At the time, we were in surplus and economists were projecting that *the entirety of the US Debt would be paid off by 2012.*

In reality, US Debt is by far the highest it has ever been. But back then a federal […]