OK Corral, Wyatt Earp, Hope Diamond

The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (originally aired October 15, 2019) Guest: Marshall Trimble, Official Arizona State Historian Much of our identity is built on our collective history, and here in the U.S., a big part of that history is the Wild West. Historian Marshall Trimble tells us the real story behind one the most famous gunfights of the 19th century, the Gunfight at O.K. Corral. Vigilante Justice on the Western Frontier Guest: Andrew C. Isenberg, Hall Distinguished Professor of American History, University of Kansas, and author, "Wyatt Earp: A Vigilante Life" Wyatt Earp, lawman, gunfighter, and U.S. marshal, was not the perfect role model that much of Hollywood made him out to be. Instead, he was a complicated example of frontier vigilantism and cowboy justice.  The Curse of the Hope Diamond (originally aired on September 6, 2019) Guest: Richard Kurin, Distinguished Scholar and Ambassador-at-Large, Smithsonian Institution, and author, "Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem" Drawing millions of visitors every year, the Hope Diamond is the crowning jewel of the Smithsonian Institute. It’s famous for its deep blue color and impressive size, but the diamond is also known for something more sinister—a deadly curse befalling those who cross its path. Richard Kurin of the Smithsonian Institute weighs in on the legendary history of this infamous treasure.  New Species of Leech Discovered in Washington  (originally aired on September 6, 2019) Guest: Sebastian Kvist, Assistant Professor, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, and Associate Curator of Invertebrates, Royal Ontario Museum A new species of bloodsuckers was recently discovered in Washington, D.C., and no, it’s not Congress. These leeches are part of an exhibit at the Smithsonian that examines the medicinal and ecological roles of these invertebrates.