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The Backstory with Patty Steele

iHeartPodcasts
Christmas
Santa Claus
George Washington
Pagan Festivals
Tunguska Explosion
Clement Clark Moore
Eggnog
Christmas Cards
Christmas Trees
Washington Irving
World War II
Queen Elizabeth I
Vesna Volovic
JAT Yugoslav Airlines
General Oliver Howard
Delahaye 145
Cold War
CIA
Nez Perce Tribe
Nazi Germany

Love a good, juicy story that goes beyond what we already know? We're talking scandalous presidential family members, a mass murder at a world-famous architect's home, stolen inventions, nude athletes at the first Olympics, compulsive liars, the arrival of the bikini, and so much more. History fanatic Patty Steele tells you the inside backstories you didn’t know you needed to know.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes272Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Artwork for The Backstory

Latest Episodes

Watching reruns of The Andy Griffith Show and particularly Deputy Barney Fife, to this day make you feel happy. You feel like that part of America’s past was a time of calm and safety. But for Don Knotts, the guy that played Barney Fife, life never f... more

We’ve all had a nasty headache and run to grab some OTC pain relief, only to get thwarted by the childproof wrapping. But 7 still unsolved murders explain why our meds are wrapped so tight feel free to DM me if you have a story you’d like me to cover... more

Breakfast pre-1900 usually involved fried meats, eggs, biscuits, and potatoes. Then a kitchen fail at a health sanitarium led to a whole new way to eat your morning meal. After that, a vicious disagreement between the Kellogg brothers allowed one to ... more

In the 1800s death was a lot more of a regular occurrence in people’s lives. Almost half of all children died by the time they were 5! So . . the Victorians developed some pretty unusual ways of processing that reality.

Feel free to DM me if you ha... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jenny Cockell
Individual who remembers her past life as Mary Sutton, a single mother from Ireland with eight children
Episode: The Backstory: Meeting your children…from a past life

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 147 ratings
  • 4 minutes of ads for 5 minutes!

    4 minutes of ads for 5 minutes of content… LOL WHO THOUGHT ABOUT A 9 min podcast should do this!!! LOL!!! Love ur content but u will unfollow!!! ADS are ok but more time on ads vs content is taking advantage now f your audience

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MrKaiboy524
    United States5 months ago
  • Love

    Love this podcast! I only wish the episodes were longer and went into more detail! However, it has sparked my curiosity and lead me to looking into things more on my own on several occasions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MattyMattMattyMatt
    United States5 months ago
  • Trump watch

    This podcast has a gross commercial for Trump watches. Don’t like that they are promoting a criminal’s merchandise on this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    AHL8400000000
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love

    Wish the it was longer.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    coolkkkid
    United Statesa year ago
  • Wonderful info

    I love your podcast. I do wish ads were a lot shorter, but the overall delivery and content provided is great. Keep doing a wonderful job.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sinclair1995
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Short episodes with great history context.
Host delivers entertaining and informative histories.
Ads can feel lengthy, but content stays compelling.
Engaging storytelling with varied topics.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Backstory: When teaching was tougher than being a nun
Q: Was that a good thing? Do we need more of that now?
The observations raised questions about whether the strict discipline practices benefited education or created constraints that hindered a joyful learning environment.
The Backstory (Replay): Cold War condoms and undercover kitties
Q: What was Operation Acoustic Kitty?
It was a CIA plan that involved implanting microphones and transmitters in cats to use them for eavesdropping on Soviet communications, but it proved impractical due to the independent nature of cats.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Backstory

What is The Backstory about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A history-forward storytelling show that digs into lesser-known or quirky backstories across a broad range of topics. Host Patty Steele guides compact, highly narrative episodes that blend cultural context with colorful details—from Victorian death customs to modern pop culture twists, political scandals, and pivotal moments in technology, sport, and daily life. The format tends to deliver brisk, narrative-first explorations that are easy to fit into a busy day, with a strong emphasis on curiosity, entertaining storytelling, and surprising connections across eras. A notable strength is the host's ability to weave vivid historical context with memorable anecdotes, often turning dense history into accessible, binge-friendly brief episodes.

L... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Backstory?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Backstory:

1. Criminal
2. This Is Actually Happening
3. Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities
4. My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
5. Stuff You Missed in History Class

How many episodes of The Backstory are there?

The Backstory launched 3 years ago and published 272 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Recent guests on The Backstory include:

1. Jenny Cockell

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