Thomas Edison didn’t invent the lightbulb, but he created something more important: the grid. Edison's system of power plants and wires brought lightbulbs to homes and offices and revolutionized modern life.

Edison was adamant that direct current (DC) should power America, and attacked competitors who said that alternating current (AC) was better. This sparked a bitter war between Edison and his rivals - and prompted Edison to become involved in the first case of a murderer being sent to the electric chair.

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Thomas Alva Edison helped transform America and the world. He registered over one thousand patents before he died in 1931 - and we can thank him for advances in electric power, communications technology, music recording and even the movies. But his biggest breakthrough doesn't get nearly enough attention.

In many ways, Edison invented modern inventing. Join Business History hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith as they trace the life story of a scrappy young boy with bad hearing who almost singlehandedly invented R&D.

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It's hard to make money running an airline - but Southwest was profitable every year for nearly five decades. How did it manage it? Business History hosts Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith explore how a carrier with just four airplanes shuttling across Texas revolutionized flying by offering free whisky, cheap late-night tickets and free-for-all seating allocation.

Southwest developed a winning formula that forced its competitors to change how they did business - but then the Southwest model fell apart. Find out why.

Key books: Hard Landing by Thomas Petzinger Jr; Nuts by Kevin and Jackie Frieberg

Other sources: The Theory of Economic Regulation by George Stigler; Fortune Magazine: The Rapid Descent of Southwest Airlines; Southwest Airlines: When Herb Met Rollin.

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Was the world's most lovable car originally made just to please Hitler? And what links Thomas Edison and the electric chair? From Jacob Goldstein and Robert Smith of Planet Money fame comes Business History, a new show uncovering amazing stories from the history of business.

From sandals to suits, Business History brings to life the greatest innovations, the boldest entrepreneurs and the craziest mavericks in the annals of commerce and finance. We’ll explain why some company stocks soar, while other business ideas crash, and share the valuable lessons.

Starting November 5, listen to Business History wherever you get podcasts and get it ad-free with a Pushkin+ subscription - sign up on Business History Apple Podcasts show page or at pushkin.fm/plus

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