Saturday Matinee: History Snacks

Summary

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History Daily – "Saturday Matinee: History Snacks"

Episode Released: July 11, 2026
Main Hosts: Kenny Curtis, Emily Everhart, Jillian Hughes

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Overview

This Saturday Matinee episode of History Daily features a cross-promoted episode from History Snacks, a fun, kid-friendly history podcast. The main theme focuses on the infamous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE that buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, explored through both archaeological evidence and the vivid eyewitness letters written by Pliny the Younger. With a tone that's equal parts educational, conversational, and full of puns, the episode captures the sudden destruction of Pompeii, why the eruption is memorable, and how we know the extraordinary details of the disaster through ancient eyewitnesses.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Blockbuster Exhibition That Sparked Curiosity ([01:08])

• The episode opens with host Lindsay Graham reminiscing about attending the iconic "Pompeii 79" exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts as a child, marveling at the preserved figures from Pompeii.
• This segment highlights the impact of blockbuster museum exhibits (citing King Tut's tour in America) and their role in making ancient history feel immediate and human.
• Notable Quote:

  "The exhibits weren't dusty artifacts sequestered behind glass... but out in the open, life size plaster casts of these ancient dead staged like a family caught in its last breath and close enough to touch. It was an image simple and powerful enough for anyone to understand, even a five year old boy." – Narrator ([02:03])

Introduction to History Snacks & What to Expect ([07:22])

• History Snacks is described as "the podcast where cool people talk about old stuff," delivered in a friendly, casual style.
• The hosts set up the episode as a deep dive into volcanoes—specifically Vesuvius—and the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum.“We are going to talk about volcanoes, I promise.” – Emily Everhart ([07:51])

What Is a Plinian Eruption? ([08:41])

• Emily Everhart explains “Plinian eruption," named after Pliny the Younger, as a sudden, violent, and highly destructive type of volcanic event—much more dangerous than the slow lava flows often shown in videos.
• The most recent U.S. analog: Mount St. Helens in 1980, which featured the largest landslide in recorded history.
• Notable Quote:

  "That's because, while all volcanic eruptions are dangerous, some are far more dangerous than others. What happened at Mount Vesuvius was a Plinian eruption." – Emily Everhart ([09:12])

How We Know What Happened: The Plinys & Their Eyewitness Account ([10:11])

• The story shifts to the Roman Empire in 79 CE, introducing Pliny the Elder (admiral, scientist) and his nephew Pliny the Younger, who witnessed and later described the eruption.
• The word 'Plinian' comes from Pliny the Younger’s detailed writings.
• The Plinys and family are at their villa when the eruption begins:

  “They're chilling in a villa. They're chilling like villains in a villa. They're... they're villa villains.” – Kenny Curtis & Emily Everhart bantering ([11:06])

The Rescue Attempt & the Inferno at Pompeii ([12:35])

• Pliny the Elder, taking command due to his naval post, launches a rescue mission by ship—compelled by a plea from his friend Rectina.
• Debris, falling rocks, and fiery cinders thwart their landing, as described in Pliny the Younger's letters:

  “He was now so close to the mountain that the cinders, which grew thicker and hotter the nearer he approached, fell into the ships together with pumice stones and black pieces of burning rock.” – Kenny Curtis reading Pliny’s account ([16:03])

• Despite the danger, Pliny the Elder insists “fortune favors the bold” and lands elsewhere to assist another friend, Pompanienus ([16:32])

Surreal Reactions: Baths and Naps in Crisis ([17:08])

• In an effort to calm his companions, Pliny the Elder absurdly takes a bath and even a nap while pumice falls—a darkly comic moment that drives home the human side of crisis.
• Memorable Exchange:

  “A bath? … What part of burning rocks and falling cinders indicates that this is the time to chill and take a bubble bath?” – Kenny Curtis ([17:17])

The Tragic Outcome ([18:54])

• The group must decide whether to stay indoors, risking collapse, or escape—the latter with pillows strapped to their heads. Attempting to flee, Pliny the Elder succumbs to the ash’s effects and dies; some of his companions escape to tell the tale.

Pliny the Younger & Mother Survive ([19:34])

• Pliny the Younger's writing to Tacitus is discussed—the only first-hand account to survive.
• The hosts retell Pliny’s and his mother’s experience: enduring violent earthquakes, the nightmarish darkness, and showers of ash, yet managing to survive.
• Vivid Description:

  “The chariots which we had ordered to be drawn out were so agitated backwards and forwards... The sea seemed to roll back upon itself... On the other side, a black and dreadful cloud broken with rapid zigzag flashes revealed behind it, variously shaped masses of flame...” – Pliny the Younger, read by Guest/Additional Narrator ([23:18])

Why So Little Survives and the Importance of Eyewitness Testimony ([19:41])

• Emily laments that Tacitus’ full history is lost, and we're lucky Pliny’s letters survived—most ancient writings did not.
• Pliny’s curiosity and detail give us rare insight into not just the destruction, but what people thought and felt.

Reflections & Modern Connections ([26:08])

• The hosts highlight that technological advances allow us to predict and monitor volcanic eruptions today—unlike in ancient Rome, where the very idea that Vesuvius was a volcano was unknown to Pompeii’s residents.
• Kids are encouraged to be glad for modern volcanology!
• Memorable Quote:

  “I'm gonna go write a letter to a volcanologist and thank them for keeping an eye on the volcanoes for us.” – Kenny Curtis ([26:36])

Closing & Encouragement to Dig Further ([27:10])

• The hosts encourage listeners to research more about Pliny the Elder, Pliny the Younger, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius, and Mount St. Helens.
• Playful advice to suggest less "death mountains" next season.
• Notable Exchange:

  “But maybe less death mountains.” – Kenny Curtis
  “Yeah, maybe fewer death mountains. Fair point.” – Emily Everhart ([27:10])

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Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “Plinian eruptions are sudden and violent and incredibly destructive.”
  – Emily Everhart ([09:12])

• “He was now so close to the mountain that the cinders, which grew thicker and hotter the nearer he approached, fell into the ships together with pumice stones and black pieces of burning rock.”
  – Pliny the Younger’s letter, read by Kenny Curtis ([16:03])

• “A bath? I'm sorry, but what part of burning rocks and falling cinders indicates that this is the time to chill and take a bubble bath?”
  – Kenny Curtis ([17:17])

• “The chariots which we had ordered to be drawn out were so agitated backwards and forwards… The sea seemed to roll back upon itself… On the other side, a black and dreadful cloud broken with rapid zigzag flashes revealed behind it, variously shaped masses of flame…”
  – Pliny the Younger, read by Guest/Additional Narrator ([23:18])

• “I'm gonna go write a letter to a volcanologist and thank them for keeping an eye on the volcanoes for us.”
  – Kenny Curtis ([26:36])

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Segment Timestamps

• [01:08] – Reminiscence about the 1979 "Pompeii" exhibit and the impact of blockbuster exhibitions
• [07:22] – Introduction to History Snacks and episode setup
• [08:41] – What is a "Plinian" eruption and why Vesuvius matters
• [10:11] – Introducing Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger; how their writings define our understanding
• [12:35] – Pliny the Elder’s rescue mission amidst volcanic chaos
• [16:03] – Pliny's vivid description of the eruption (“cinders, pumice stones, burning rock”)
• [17:08] – Pliny's surreal calm: taking a bath and nap as disaster looms
• [18:54] – The fateful decision and death of Pliny the Elder
• [19:34] – Surviving the night: Pliny the Younger and his mother’s ordeal
• [23:18] – Dramatic reading: Pliny’s descriptions of earthquakes, ash, and darkness
• [26:08] – Lessons learned: ancient ignorance vs. modern volcanology
• [27:10] – Closing reflections, encouragement to delve deeper, and season wrap-up

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Final Thoughts

This lively, informative episode gives a gripping account of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii, balancing historical detail with humor and humanity. Using Pliny the Younger's letters as a centerpiece, the hosts bring ancient voices to life and connect them to our modern understanding of volcanic disasters. By the end, listeners—kids and adults alike—are left with a greater appreciation of how we know what we know about the past, why some stories survive, and how history makes even ancient tragedies relatable.

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Transcript

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[Narrator]

On January 2, 1979, the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts opened its newest blockbuster exhibit, Pompeii 79. Ad marketing materials trumpeted Pompeii is a blast, and after breaking attendance records in Europe, this exhibition will be on tour for one year in four American Boston, Chicago, New York City, and at the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. You can hear the pride in that announcement. Dallas, Texas, listed right alongside Boston, Chicago and New York. I was five years old then, but I have distinct memories of attending this exhibition. Those poor Pompeians, frozen in the very instant of their terrible and agonizing death, encased in hot ash and preserved so that I could look at them 1,900 years later in a building on the grounds of the State Fair of Texas. But that exhibit was a big deal for more than just me. Three years earlier, King Tut had toured America and taught museums that ancient history could sell tickets like a summer blockbuster. And I remember it lines around the block, corporate sponsors plastering their logos everywhere. And Pompeii AD 79 proved it could happen anywhere, even at a fairground building in Dallas, Texas. But how did they do it? Well, by remembering history is human, which it always is. The exhibits weren't dusty artifacts sequestered behind glass with small brass plaques, but out in the open, life size plaster casts of these ancient dead staged like a family caught in its last breath and close enough to touch. It was an image simple and powerful enough for anyone to understand, even a five year old boy. And that's what we're sharing on today's Saturday matinee. Not just the story of Pompeii, but history told for kids and adults alike with an episode from History Snacks I hope you enjoy. While you're listening, be sure to search for and follow History Snacks. We put a link in the show notes to make it easy for.

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[Emily Everhart]

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[Emily Everhart]

Fantastic.

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[Content Warning / Announcer]

our stories on History Snacks as accurate as possible. This episode contains violent eruptions, ancient scientists, natural disasters, villas by the sea, and stranded sea animals. Extra warning for this there are detailed descriptions of the dangers that occurred during a natural disaster. So if that's gonna upset you, skip this one.

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History Snacks A long time ago, all across the world, there are people making history that you and I would come to know. Grab yourself a snack cause we've got all the facts. These stories are old and delicious. And now it's time for History Snacks. History Snacks.

[Kenny Curtis]

Welcome to History Snacks, the podcast where cool people talk about old stuff.

[Emily Everhart]

Yeah, that's definitely the tagline for this podcast, right?

[Kenny Curtis]

I kind of like that one. Where's the lie? It is old stuff.

[Emily Everhart]

It is old stuff.

[Jillian Hughes]

Yes.

[Kenny Curtis]

All right, how about this one? History Snacks. What if we talked about volcanoes though?

[Emily Everhart]

I don't know.

[Kenny Curtis]

I mean, we are gonna talk about volcanoes though, right?

[Emily Everhart]

Yes.

[Kenny Curtis]

I mean we got the word Pompeii in the title. If we don't talk about volcanoes, that's false advertising.

[Emily Everhart]

We are going to talk about Volcanoes, I promise. We are in fact going to talk about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that buried the Italian cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

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[Kenny Curtis]

Another death mountain on the podcast.

[Emily Everhart]

Well, we know a lot about the eruption of Mount Vesuvius for a couple of reasons. The first is because archaeologists have been excavating the sites of Herculaneum and pompeii for over 100 years and we're still always finding new stuff. And the other is that we have a very famous eyewitness account.

[Kenny Curtis]

Wait, I thought everyone died in the eruption. Like you hear about people who died in the spot they were in on the street. Well, yeah, that doesn't read to me as they had a lot of time to leave and tell people all about it.

[Emily Everhart]

Well, that's true, but let's talk about this.

[Kenny Curtis]

Dun dun dun.

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[Emily Everhart]

Okay, first we have to understand what a Plinian eruption is.

[Kenny Curtis]

Yeah, let's talk volcanoes, baby.

[Emily Everhart]

Yeah, so a Plinian eruption is a specific kind of volcanic eruption. I know you've seen videos of some recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland, right?

[Kenny Curtis]

You know, yeah, the lava's all scraped slow and oozy, coming out of a crack in the ground.

[Emily Everhart]

That's right. Do they seem particularly scary to you?

[Kenny Curtis]

Not really. I mean, powerful for sure, but not terrifying.

[Emily Everhart]

Well, that's because while all volcanic eruptions are dangerous, some are far more dangerous than others. What happened at Mount Vesuvius was a Plinian eruption. Plinian eruptions are sudden and violent and incredibly destructive. The last one to happen in the United States was the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington in 1980. And that eruption is generally considered to be the most destructive volcanic eruption in U.S. history.

[Kenny Curtis]

Yeah, and I heard that Mount St. Helens didn't just have a volcanic eruption, but also the largest landslide in recorded history.

[Emily Everhart]

Yeah, it did. Yes. And we have pictures of that one. So if you're up to it, you can grab a grown up and look at some of the pictures from the eruption of Mount St. Helens. But I gotta warn you, it is pretty scary stuff.

[Kenny Curtis]

Yeah, that's gonna be a no from me, dawg. I already googled one Death Mountain this season. I'm good.

[Emily Everhart]

Yes, yes, you've definite definitely reached your quota. But that actually might be our closest visual on what it was like when Mount Vesuvius erupted.

[Kenny Curtis]

And obviously we don't have pictures of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius because it was way before photographs were invented. But wait, didn't you say you have an eyewitness account yes, we do.

[Emily Everhart]

We're going to talk about Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger and their experiences during the eruption.

[Kenny Curtis]

Wait, Pliny?

[Emily Everhart]

Pliny?

[Content Warning / Announcer]

Yes.

[Kenny Curtis]

As in Plinian?

[Emily Everhart]

Yes, yes. That is where we get the word for this kind of eruption, Plinian, because Pliny the Younger described it in such detail. Let me set the scene for you. It's 79 CE, and we're in the Roman Empire era.

[Kenny Curtis]

Okay.

[Emily Everhart]

We're in the area of Italy around the Bay of Naples. If you're looking at Italy, which is shaped like a boot, it's at the high ankle pointing forward.

[Kenny Curtis]

Oh, nice geographic reference.

[Emily Everhart]

Thank you. This area is known to the Romans as a nice vacation spot. And that is why Pliny the Elder and his nephew Pliny the Younger are chilling in a villa. They're chilling in a villa. They're chilling like villains in a villa. They're like. They're villa villains.

[Kenny Curtis]

They're villain. They're chilling. A lot of chilling.

[Emily Everhart]

Okay, sorry, sorry.

[Kenny Curtis]

Let's stick to the script here.

[Emily Everhart]

Okay, okay, sorry. Anyway, they're about 13 miles or 21 kilometers away from Mount Vesuvius in a town called Mycenium.

[Kenny Curtis]

Okay. I think I'm visualizing it. All right, there they are. They got their iced drinks. They're sitting in the shade on the patio. Someone is plucking some sort of stringed instrument. It's a vibe.

[Guest/Additional Narrator]

Yeah.

[Emily Everhart]

And they're chilling, right?

[Kenny Curtis]

They're chilling like a villain. You might say.

[Emily Everhart]

Like a villain. Yeah, like in a villain.

[Kenny Curtis]

Because really, where else does one chill but at a villa?

[Emily Everhart]

They are there with Pliny the Younger's mother, who is also Pliny the Elder's sister, Plinia Marcella.

[Kenny Curtis]

Oh, my gosh, another Pliny.

[Jillian Hughes]

Yes.

[Kenny Curtis]

I mean, there's so many names in this world. Could we maybe just branch out a little bit from the family name?

[Emily Everhart]

Well, yeah, there are plenty of plinies here. There are plenty. You might even say we have a plethora of plinies.

[Kenny Curtis]

The puns are punning today, folks.

[Emily Everhart]

Prepare yourselves, please. Okay, I just wanted to plant that in your mind. The three of them are outside, and Plinia Marcella points out a smoke cloud rising from across the bay. Now, Pliny the Elder is known as an early scientist. He's interested in the natural world, so he really wanted to get up close and see what was going on. Pliny the Younger was a teenager and more of a bookworm, so he decided to stay home and study.

[Kenny Curtis]

Okay, I'm going to reserve judgment on who made the better decision until I find out what happens to them all.

[Emily Everhart]

Yeah, that's a good call. Pliny the Elder has a villa on this side of the bay because he is currently commander of the Roman navy for the Bay of Naples. So he's about to hop a ship and check out what's going on when he gets a message from a friend of his, Rectina, who has a villa that's between Vesuvius and the sea at the foot of the mountain. Rectina wrote to Pliny the Elder because she's trapped. Her villa was so close to the volcano and there was no escape for her. But over the sea.

[Kenny Curtis]

Oh no.

[Guest/Additional Narrator]

Yeah.

[Emily Everhart]

So Pliny the Elder sees that lives are in danger and he rounds up the naval ships under his command for a rescue mission to save his friend and anyone else who might need help. But before we get to the rescue mission, we're gonna take a break to pay the bills.

[Kenny Curtis]

Not now. Not before the rescue mission.

[Emily Everhart]

Yes, yes. Though we have a plethora of plenty platitudes to get to. But we're gonna take a quick break.

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[Emily Everhart]

And we're back. So where were we with the Plinys.

[Kenny Curtis]

Okay, so Pliny the Elder's friend asked him for help, Right. He was on a rescue mission, right?

[Emily Everhart]

Right. He organized the Roman navy into a rescue mission. But when they got closer to the mountain, Mount Vesuvius, there were, like, fiery stones falling from the sky and so much debris in the water that they can't make it to shore where he intended to land. At this point, everyone is getting nervous about the atmosphere.

[Kenny Curtis]

Okay, I think that's pretty fair. I mean, I'd be nervous, too. I'm looking at this letter of Pliny the Younger's where we get his account of what happened, and it sounds awful. All right, listen to this. He was now so close to the mountain that the cinders, which grew thicker and hotter the nearer he approached, fell into the ships together with pumice stones and black pieces of burning rock. Yeah, that sounds like the end of the world. That's pretty bad. Not a fan.

[Emily Everhart]

Yeah, I know. And yet Pliny the Elder still decides to go forward. According to his nephew, he says fortune favors the bold and directs the ships to go ashore a little further down the coast, close to the villa of another friend of his, Pompanienus.

[Kenny Curtis]

You know, I was gonna make a joke about Pompanienus name, but at this point, I'm just relieved there's someone else in the story not named Pliny.

[Emily Everhart]

Fair point. Pompanianus is, of course, very upset, and Pliny decides to soothe his fears by trying to play it cool. Right. Like what volcano? That volcano.

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[Guest/Additional Narrator]

Oh, that's really nothing to worry about. It's all good.

[Emily Everhart]

Don't worry. He goes so far as to actually ask for a bath and then sit down to eat a meal as the volcano is spewing fire in the background.

[Kenny Curtis]

A bath? I'm sorry, but what part of burning rocks and falling cinders indicates that this is the time to chill and take a bubble bath?

[Emily Everhart]

Not just that, but at this point, Pumice was falling from the sky and piling up around houses. Pliny responds to this by taking a nap.

[Kenny Curtis]

What? A nap? That's even worse than a bath.

[Emily Everhart]

Yeah, he takes a nap. And this one's not just for show either. According to Pliny the younger, people actually hear him snoring.

[Kenny Curtis]

Pliny, my dude, what are you doing? Wake up.

[Emily Everhart]

To be fair, it is the middle of the night at this point, but still Pompanianus and his companions have to argue amongst themselves as to whether or not to wake Pliny up. They finally do it because the rocks are piling so high that they won't be able to get his door open if they wait any longer.

[Kenny Curtis]

Oh my goodness, this is so stressful.

[Emily Everhart]

And at this point things are really dire. The group he came to rescue have to debate what to do. Should they trust that their house will keep them safe or attempt to leave and find somewhere out in the open that won't collapse on them While the tremors are shaking the earth? They end up deciding to tie pillows to their heads to try and find somewhere where there's less danger. They think that maybe they can take the ships back across the bay, but by the time they get there, the water is too choppy and it would be too dangerous to be in the sea. There is apparently a sudden explosion and the party starts running, but Pliny the Elder starts to have trouble breathing because of all of the ash in the air and collapses. No, unfortunately, Pliny the Elder dies and they had to leave him there in order to escape.

[Kenny Curtis]

Oh my gosh, this is horrible. Did the others get away?

[Emily Everhart]

Well, we don't know the specifics, but some of them must have survived as Pliny the Younger wasn't there for this, but he knows what happened, so he must have gotten the story from somebody who was still there. We really don't know how many people survived the eruption. We only have some evidence of refugees from Pompeii in other cities, but we don't know the exact numbers. The written account we have is Pliny the Younger writing all this about 30 years later to Tacitus, a senator and well known history writer. At the end of his letter, Pliny hopes that the complete account that will come from Tacitus will be better than his own rememberings.

[Kenny Curtis]

So what did Tacitus write about this then?

[Emily Everhart]

We don't know. The book he apparently wrote about it has been lost.

[Jillian Hughes]

What?

[Emily Everhart]

I know it's so frustrating, but we've lost more writing from antiquity than we haven't. The only account of the eruption we have is from Pliny the Younger at this point, and we're really lucky to have it. Pliny the Younger signs off his letter by saying he and his mother also had a terrifying time, but he won't bore Tacitus with the details.

[Kenny Curtis]

Pliny bore us with the details we want to know.

[Emily Everhart]

No, Tacitus must have written back saying the same thing, because then we get a second letter from Pliny about the experience from him and his mother.

[Kenny Curtis]

Thank you, Tacitus, for being curious.

[Emily Everhart]

Pliny the Younger spent the day studying and they weren't really worried about anything, really. But at some point in the night, there was a violent earthquake that overturned everything around them. He gets up to wake his mother just as she rushes into his bedroom to get him, and they both sit for a while in the courtyard out in the open, so, you know, nothing can collapse on top of them. Pliny the Younger is clearly related to the elder here because he starts reading to pass the time and making notations in his books.

[Kenny Curtis]

Okay, even though that does sound a little bit unhinged in the territory of the whole bath and nap thing, I kind of get it. I mean, this has got to be scary. Like you're in a small, confined space with the buildings all around you, wobbling on their foundations, and there's nothing you can do but pretend to be calm.

[Emily Everhart]

Yeah, that's fair. A friend of theirs finds them there hours later and tells them they are being too calm. And the three of them decide it's not safe to stay in their town anymore.

[Mood Sponsor]

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[Kenny Curtis]

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[Content Warning / Announcer]

drinks are now at McDonald's with refreshers like the Strawberry Watermelon Refresher and the Mango Pineapple Refresher with popping Boba to crafted sodas like the Sprite Berry Blast mixed with berry flavors and cold foam. Who knew ice cold drinks could be so fire six? All new drinks are here now at McDonald's.

[Emily Everhart]

Refreshers contain caffeine. I'm actually gonna read to you what he wrote directly because he actually said it really well. Okay.

[Guest/Additional Narrator]

The chariots which we had ordered to be drawn out were so agitated backwards and forwards, though upon the most level ground that we could not keep them steady even by supporting them with large stones. The sea seemed to roll back upon itself and to be driven from its bank by the convulsive motion of the earth. It is certain, at least the shore was considerably enlarged and several sea animals were left upon it. On the other side, a black and dreadful cloud broken with rapid zigzag flashes revealed behind it, variously shaped masses of flame. These last were like sheet lightning, but much larger.

[Grainger Advertiser]

Whoa.

[Kenny Curtis]

That's really intense. The ground is shaking so much they can't even keep a chariot on the road.

[Emily Everhart]

I know.

[Kenny Curtis]

The sea is rolling into itself and lightning and fire are spewing from the mountain again. This is really end of the world stuff we got going on here.

[Emily Everhart]

Exactly. And they're about 13 miles from Vesuvius. They're across a whole bay. Pliny and his mom, Plinia, don't want to leave the area entirely because the elder Pliny is still missing and they don't want to go without him. Plinia tells her son to leave her there because she says she can't make it very far. But Pliny the Younger refuses and takes her by the hand, pulling her farther away from the volcano. They reach a point, though, where neither of them want to keep going because they don't want to abandon Pliny the Elder.

[Kenny Curtis]

Aww. I wouldn't abandon you either, dad. I'd get you out of there.

[Emily Everhart]

Thank you. I wouldn't abandon you anyway. The friend tries to get them to keep going away from the danger, telling them that wherever Pliny the Elder is, he would want them both to survive even if he does not. But they both refuse, and the friend leaves them sitting by the side of the road, away from the crowds fleeing the destruction.

[Kenny Curtis]

Okay, all right. Let me just calm down, take a deep breath here.

[Emily Everhart]

Well, don't worry. I can calm your fears now because they both make it out alive. And I'm only saying that because the next part is pretty scary. They're covered in a cloud of ash, and Pliny the Younger says it's not the darkness of night, but the darkness of a closed room with the candle blown out. Then there's suddenly light. But Pliny says he only knows that because there's fire coming. And he's right. There's a huge explosion with bright flames, but it doesn't make it all the way across the bay to them. They're enveloped in another cloud of ash so thick that they have to dust off every few minutes or else be buried. But then things calm down, the light of day returns, the earthquakes quiet, and Plinia and Pliny the Younger return to their villa in Mycenium to wait for news of Pliny the Elder.

[Kenny Curtis]

Okay, even though they weren't injured, I mean, that's still so scary. I don't think I realized how dangerous volcanoes can be.

[Emily Everhart]

Yeah, they are very dangerous. But we have a lot of good technology now that lets us monitor volcanoes with a lot of accuracy. Historians think the ancient people of Pompeii didn't even know that Mount Vesuvius was a volcano, even though they knew what volcanoes were. Today, we can see the warning signs of a volcano far ahead of time.

[Kenny Curtis]

That's really good to know. I'm gonna go write a letter to a volcanologist and thank them for keeping an eye on the volcanoes for us. That seems like really important work to me right now.

[Emily Everhart]

Yeah, I agree. And that's it for this season of History Snacks. But producer Emily will keep you entertained with some short bites of Info Weekly until we can get next season going. We'll likely return in September with another full season. In the meantime, let us know what you thought of this season. Grab an adult and give us a review. If you have a suggestion for what to cover next, let us know.

[Kenny Curtis]

But maybe less death mountains.

[Emily Everhart]

Yeah, maybe fewer death mountains. Fair point.

[Content Warning / Announcer]

Because this is History Snacks. We didn't have time to talk about so many things, but if you want to know more about the topics we talked about in the episode. You can look up Pliny the Younger or the Elder, Pompeii and Herculaneum, Mount Vesuvius and Mount St. Helen. Grab your adult or a librarian and get to researching History Snacks High in

[Emily Everhart]

the fiber of knowledge History Snacks is

[Content Warning / Announcer]

hosted by Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes, written by Emily Everhart with expert fact checking by Meredith Safran, sound design by Scotty Beam, who also composed our theme song along with Gwyn Aaron. Emily Everhart is our senior producer.

[Mood Sponsor]

This episode sponsored by Mood okay, this is actually genius. Are you ever overwhelmed with choices at the dispensary? What if I told you that you could shop cannabis by the exact mood you want tonight? With Mood, you don't shop by Strain names or confusion, you shop by how you want to feel. Want to relax after work, sleep better, feel more creative, or be more social? Mood makes it simple. Pick the Feeling and Mood recommends products to match. Mood has gummies, flour, pre rolls and edibles designed around your Mood. I tried Mood's Sleepy Gummies and within an hour I felt calm, settled and ready for bed. No dispensary run, no second guessing, just a smooth, relaxing experience delivered to my door. It's federally legal, third party tested and backed by a 100 day satisfaction guarantee. Go to Mood M O O D.com that's M-O O D.com however you want to feel tonight. Mood helps you get there.