The Real Story of Thanksgiving - Bonus Holiday Episode

Something You Should Know

Mike Carruthers | OmniCastMedia

Science, Social Sciences, Self-improvement, Education, Health & Fitness

4.6 • 4K Ratings

🗓️ 12 November 2025

⏱️ 25 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It all started with a colossal Thanksgiving mistake — one that accidentally created an entire industry. The birth of the frozen meal business began with a Thanksgiving blunder. Listen and you’ll hear how that blunder turned into a billion-dollar idea. https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/a22792044/thanksgiving-fun-facts/ The story of Thanksgiving is full of myths and misconceptions. Much of what we think we know about that first feast — from the turkey to the Pilgrims’ attire — simply isn’t true. Historian Peter Mancall, professor of history and anthropology at the University of Southern California, joins me to reveal the real story behind Thanksgiving: what actually happened, how it evolved into a national holiday, and why it landed on the fourth Thursday in November. Finally, let’s talk about your Thanksgiving table. Chances are there’s at least one dish you eat out of obligation, not enthusiasm. Turns out, you’re not alone. More Americans are swapping out the traditional menu for new favorites — and I’ll tell you what’s replacing turkey in many homes around the country. https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/a22792044/thanksgiving-fun-facts/ PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! AG1: Head to ⁠⁠⁠https://DrinkAG1.com/SYSK ⁠⁠⁠ to get a FREE Welcome Kit with an AG1 Flavor Sampler and a bottle of Vitamin D3 plus K2, when you first subscribe! INDEED: Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now! QUINCE: Give and get timeless holiday staples that last this season with Quince. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! DELL: It’s time for Black Friday at Dell Technologies. Save big on PCs like the Dell 16 Plus featuring Intel® Core™ Ultra processors. Shop now at: ⁠ https://Dell.com/deals ⁠ NOTION: ⁠⁠Notion brings all your notes, docs, and projects into one connected space that just works . It's seamless, flexible, powerful, and actually fun to use! Try Notion, now with Notion Agent, at: ⁠https://notion.com/something⁠ PLANET VISIONARIES: In partnership with Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative, this… is Planet Visionaries. Listen or watch on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Today on something you should know, a special holiday bonus episode. With Thanksgiving fast
0:09.2	approaching, you probably think you know the story of the first Thanksgiving. Pilgrims, Native
0:14.8	Americans, a big turkey dinner, everyone getting along. Well, not exactly. The story is a lot more complicated and a lot more
0:23.7	interesting. The food was different. The reason for the feast wasn't what you think. And even the
0:29.4	meaning of Thanksgiving has changed over time. So what really happened at that first Thanksgiving?
0:35.9	So one of the things that we know that happens is that each of them,
0:40.3	that the Pilgrims on the one hand and the natives,
0:42.3	the other hand, each of them seem pretty eager to trade with the other.
0:46.3	So that initial moment is not a moment of enormous suspicion.
0:52.3	It seems more a moment of, hey, what can you do for me?
0:56.9	We'll dig into all of that right after this.
1:01.8	Of the Regency era, you might know it as the time when Bridgeton takes place.
1:07.5	Or it's the time when Jane Austen wrote her books.
1:10.1	The Regency era was also an explosive time
1:12.7	of social change, sex scandals,
1:14.9	and maybe the worst king in British history.
1:18.1	Vulgar history's new season
1:19.3	is all about the Regency era,
1:21.2	the balls, the gowns,
1:22.7	and all the scandal.
1:24.2	Listen to Vulgar History,
1:25.6	Regency era,
	...

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