Encore: Electric Chair | The War Becomes Electric | 2

American Innovations

Wondery

Steven Johnson, History, Kids & Family, Education For Kids, Science

4.6 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 25 March 2021

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

After his unceremonious departure from Edison Electric, Nikola Tesla found himself broke and dejected, but more determined than ever to share his alternating current system with the world. And thanks to the help of one man who really believed in his work -- a man with vision, money and power -- he’d soon have his chance.

Tesla had Edison in his sites, and the War of the Currents was about to get deadly.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to American innovations,
0:03.6	add free on Amazon Music, download the app today.
0:07.2	O Listener Note, this episode originally aired in 2019.
0:11.6	This episode of American Innovations contains some descriptions of animal cruelty,
0:22.2	and is not suitable for everyone. Please be advised.
0:25.2	It's May 16, 1888. At an auditorium in New York City,
0:32.4	Nikola Tesla is standing backstage, and he is sweating through his shirt.
0:37.4	Not because of the heat, but because tonight he's going to address the American
0:42.6	Institute of Electrical Engineers about the power and potential of his alternating
0:47.6	current system. Over the last year, he's gone from digging ditches to attracting
0:52.6	investors to securing patents for his breakthrough system.
0:56.6	His technology works, and it works well.
0:59.6	Now, Tesla just needs to convince people to give it a chance.
1:03.6	But, unlike his former boss, Thomas Edison, promoting himself to the press is not Tesla's
1:09.4	idea of a good time. Fortunately, he's had some help.
1:13.1	The editor of Electrical World Magazine has become a fan of Tesla's innovations.
1:17.6	He's published stories about the brilliance of the AC induction motor,
1:21.6	and tonight he has convinced Tesla to debut his work for this gathering of
1:26.4	influential engineers. It's a crucial PR move.
1:30.2	If there's any hope for the future of AC, this has to go well.
1:34.8	Tesla settles his nerves and steps on to the stage.
1:38.8	Good evening, gentlemen. The subject which I now have the pleasure of
	...

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