The Olympics have always been controversial: Rio’s infrastructure problems and the zika virus in 2016; political boycotts of Los Angeles in 1984 and Moscow in 1980; apartheid South Africa being banned from participation from 1964 to 1992; and, perhaps the most famous of all, the 1936 Berlin games, held under Hitler’s Nazi government and chock…
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Dr. Emily Twarog enlightens us about the “9to5 Job Survival Hotline,” an early effort to combat sexual harassment in the workplace. We bust the myth that women were passive in their reactions to workplace abuse, and show how sophisticated organizations, like 9to5, had a huge impact on American culture. Episode 440. Links: 9to5: Winning Justice…
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Heather Cox Richardson tells us about Red Cloud, a Native American leader who deserves more fame and glory. Dr. Richardson gives us a sophisticated understanding of why Red Cloud was important and what he means for American history as a whole! Episode 439. Links mentioned in the show: Basic Health International: Please help end cervical…
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Dr. Heather Cox Richardson explains the historical issues that have underpinned oligarchy, democracy, and the continuing fight for the soul of America. She traces the story of the American paradox – the competing claims of equality and subordination woven into the nation’s fabric and identity. One of our very best shows, and essential listening for…
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Do you remember the famous scene in the Godfather Part II, when the young Vito Andolini comes through the Ellis Island Immigration Processing Center and has his name changed to Vito Corleone by an immigration officer? A similar story is told by many descendants of immigrants in the United States. If you’re an American, is…
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Historian Timothy Galsworthy explains the details and complications of the famous Republican “Southern Strategy” in the election of 1960. He tells us how this strategy was developed much earlier than most people realize, and how Nixon had to use a tense balancing act to woo southern voters who traditionally hated the Republican party. Episode 436.…
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It’s a Monday Myth day! A little extra credit to give you a Buzzkill boost for the start of your week! In the early days of email, a wonderfully-constructed tale flew around the interwebs. It was about a medical emergency, a heroic rescue, and a family’s gratitude. It attracted our attention here at the Buzzkill…
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Dr. Einav Rabinovitch-Fox tells us how the rise of mass media culture made fashion a vehicle for women to assert claims over their bodies, femininity, and social roles. As women employed new clothing styles, they expanded feminist activism beyond formal organizations and movements and reclaimed fashion as a realm of pleasure, power, and feminist consciousness.…
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Ever been stuck on a train station platform, waiting and waiting for a train that was supposed to arrive half an hour ago? It’s a pain. What’s also a pain is hearing (over and over again) one of the most common historical myths that prompted me to start this podcast years ago. That is, the…
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Jason Steinhauer joins us to talk over the brilliant ideas and analyses in his new book, “History Disrupted: How Social Media and the World Wide Web Have Changed the Past.” A gripping conversation that’s at the cutting edge of where history and “e-history” are now, and what might lie in store in the future. Listen…
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