Best Peshtigo Podcasts (2025)

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Peshtigo - The Forgotten Story of America's Deadliest Wildfire 54:01

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23d ago54:01

54:01

On the night of October 8, 1871, a wall of fire roared out of the Wisconsin woods and erased the town of Peshtigo in a matter of minutes. More than 1,200 people were killed, making it the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history - yet its story was overshadowed almost immediately by the Great Chicago Fire burning the same night. In this episode, Jake tak…

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Rewatching It's a Wonderful Life in 2025 54:19

8d ago54:19

54:19

In this special holiday episode, Jake, Justin, and Molly gather to talk about It's a Wonderful Life - not just as a Christmas classic, but as a deeply historical film shaped by war, economic depression, and the unsettled, unstable world of 1946. What starts as a cozy movie night quickly turns into a wide-ranging conversation about community, capita…

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Episode 73: The Christmas Tree 34:09

8d ago34:09

34:09

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! It’s been a while since we have been able to record. Life has been wild since Thanksgiving between work and family stuff. Today, we have the Teen Daughter with us. I wanted today’s episode to be festive with this going live the week of Christmas. I have the history of the Christmas tree a…

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"Destination Freedom" with Public Historian EJ Murphy 35:51

16d ago35:51

35:51

In this episode, Jake sits down with public historian EJ Murphy of the Destination Freedom Project at the Waverly Community House to talk about abolition, the Underground Railroad, and the way slavery's political shockwaves reached even the smallest Northern communities before the Civil War. Jake and EJ dig into how Waverly became a key stop on a r…

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Previewing America 250 46:29

1M ago46:29

46:29

In this episode, we look ahead to America's 250th anniversary and ask what this milestone should mean in 2026 and beyond. The conversation ranges from the messy, decade-long road to revolution to the very local ways towns like Frederick, Maryland, are already marking the moment with traditions like Repudiation Day. Along the way, the crew wrestles …

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Episode 72: The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) 1:02:45

28d ago1:02:45

1:02:45

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today, we’re stepping back into the 1940s, to a moment in World War II when the United States desperately needed pilots. Not just any pilots, but more pilots. Faster and in larger numbers than ever before. What came next was an unexpected revolution in military aviation. This is the story…

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Death by Lightning - A Public History Podcast Review 1:01:31

1M ago1:01:31

1:01:31

In this episode, we dive into Netflix's Death by Lightning, the gripping new series about President James Garfield's short presidency, his assassination, and the troubled mind of his killer, Charles Guiteau. Drawing from Candice Millard's acclaimed book Destiny of the Republic, the show brings to life an era of bare-knuckle politics, deep factional…

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From Mauch Chunk to Jim Thorpe - A Pennsylvania town's dramatic 20th century rebrand 1:09:34

1M ago1:09:34

1:09:34

In the 1950s, the once–thriving town of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania was fading fast. Local newspaperman Joe Boyle was determined to revive it - and a chance meeting in 1953 with the widow of legendary athlete Jim Thorpe set off one of the strangest civic reinvention stories in American history. This episode unpacks how Mauch Chunk became Jim Thorpe, …

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Episode 71: Petticoat Ranger- The Life of Doris Elizabeth Brown Wheeler 29:47

1M ago29:47

29:47

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom. Today’s story is about a woman I stumbled upon in my research about someone else. I found this woman interesting and deserving of her own episode rather than a highlight in someone else’s. Here is the back story of how I found Doris. I found a list of names I made 3 years ago. My list con…

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Episode 70: It’s Halloween Folks! 10:52

2M ago10:52

10:52

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Happy Halloween, and until next time—stay curious, and stay safe. All the things: Music: Scary Horror Music SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras https://pixabay.com/music/scary-childrens-tunes-scary-horror-music-118577/ Logo Artwork: Strawbeary Studios https://www.youtube.com/@StrawbearyStudios/feat…

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Walking Tours and Community History with Matt Maris of Local Historia 25:07

2M ago25:07

25:07

In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we're joined by Matt Maris, public historian and founder of Local Historia, a history-focused small business based in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Matt has built a reputation for creating immersive walking tours and community-based history programs that bring the past to life while strengthening …

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Episode 69: The Headless Horseman 18:41

2M ago18:41

18:41

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! In honor of Halloween, we will dive into the eerie life — or rather, afterlife — of one of the most infamous figures in American folklore: The Headless Horseman. The Headless Horseman — a figure that has galloped through the imaginations of generations — is best known from Washington Irvi…

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Episode 68: Elizabeth Packard- a woman who couldn’t take it any longer 34:45

3M ago34:45

34:45

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today, we dive into the remarkable life of Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard — a woman whose courage not only challenged the 19th-century mental health system but also became a beacon for women's rights and legal reform. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Packard https://www.wo…

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Episode 67: Miep Gies- A woman who just wanted to do the right thing 44:12

3M ago44:12

44:12

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today we’re focusing on a woman whose quiet courage changed the course of history — Miep Gies. You might know her as the woman who helped hide Anne Frank and her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. But Miep’s life story is much richer than that moment alone. It’s a story…

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Episode 66: Jennie Wade- Civilian Casualty of the Battle of Gettysburg 45:49

4M ago45:49

45:49

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today, we travel back to the blood-soaked fields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania — July, 1863. The Civil War is raging. Muskets crack. Cannons thunder. And amid the chaos, a 20-year-old woman kneads bread dough in her sister’s kitchen. Her name is Jennie Wade, she will become the only direct …

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Episode 65: The Great Fire of 1871- Peshtigo, WI 46:55

4M ago46:55

46:55

Send us a text Hello and welcome to Breakfast with Mom! Today we talk about one of the most destructive fires in American history, The Peshtigo Fire of 1871. Please leave of a review of this episode wherever you listen- it helps us to reach new listeners. Sources- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peshtigo,_Wisconsin https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Re…

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Episode 64: Harry Allan FKA Nell Pickerell 1:03:43

5M ago1:03:43

1:03:43

Send us a text Hello and welcome to Breakfast with Mom! Today we talk about the complicated life of Harry Allan. People can sometimes be compared to an onion and how we have many layers. With Harry there were definitely layers. Sources: https://www.cascadepbs.org/culture/2019/03/nell-pickerell-transgender-youth-knute-berger/ https://www.kuow.org/st…

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Episode 63: Cement City, Dallas, Texas 37:56

5M ago37:56

37:56

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom West Dallas is an area consisting of many communities and neighborhoods in Dallas, Texas, United States. West Dallas lies just west of Downtown Dallas, north of Oak Cliff, and east of Irving and Grand Prairie. Largely lying in the Trinity River floodplain, the area's history has been large…

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Episode 62: Mia Zapata- Cherished daughter - sister - artist - friend - git 1:05:59

6M ago1:05:59

1:05:59

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today’s episode is something I have wanted to cover for a while and with this being the 32nd anniversary of the death of Mia Zapata and thought this would be the best time to dive into her life, death and legacy. Mia Katherine Zapata was an American musician who was the lead vocalist for …

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Episode 61: Florence Clementine Thornton Butt- Better than Walmart 26:47

6M ago26:47

26:47

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today I want to tell you about Florence Clementine Thornton Butt, she was an American businesswoman best known as the founder of what would become the H-E-B Grocery Company, one of the largest privately owned supermarket chains in the United States. Resources: https://www.findagrave.com/m…

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Episode 60: Sadie “The Goat” Farrell 29:34

7M ago29:34

29:34

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! This one will be a short but sweet episode. Sadie "The Goat" Farrell is a legendary figure in New York City's 19th-century criminal folklore, renowned for her audacity, cunning, and fierce independence. Her story, though steeped in myth, offers a glimpse into the gritty underworld of the …

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Rose Hill Manor with Amanda Venable and Kari Saavedra 38:56

7M ago38:56

38:56

In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we talk with two dedicated public historians doing vital work at one of the Frederick, Maryland's most important historic sites. We're joined by Amanda Venable, Museum Manager at Rose Hill Manor Park and Museums, and Kari Saavedra, Recreation Manager of Natural and Cultural Heritage for Freder…

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Episode 59: something fun! 47:18

7M ago47:18

47:18

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! stories: https://www.reddit.com/r/offbeat/comments/1kqs9dg/man_sues_whataburger_for_almost_1m_over_noonion/ https://www.reddit.com/r/offbeat/comments/1krcj2e/florida_man_shoots_neighbors_cow_5_times_after_it/ https://www.reddit.com/r/offbeat/comments/1kud3fj/hot_diggity_dog_wienermobiles_…

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Episode 58: A League of Their Own- Hall of Fame pt 2 52:31

8M ago52:31

52:31

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom Today I have three more Hall of Fame inductees I want to tell you about. All my resources can be found in the show notes. The lasting legacies of Arleene Johnson Noga, June Peppa and Sophia Kurys for women in sports continue to inspire. Their dedication to excellence, leadership, and commu…

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Episode 57: A League of Their Own- Hall of Fame pt 1 40:03

8M ago40:03

40:03

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom Today I have three Hall of Fame inductees I want to tell you about. Claire Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claire_Schillace https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145625803/claire-joan-donahoe https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/11548982/?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://www.aagpbl.…

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Episode 56: The Queen of Baseball 59:25

9M ago59:25

59:25

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom Today we are continuing our girls of baseball series. This is the story of the OG girl ball player Lizzie Murphy, a trailblazing figure in American baseball history. Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzie_Murphy https://www.milb.com/news/lizzie-murphy https://riheritagehalloffame.…

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Episode 55: A League of Their Own 41:21

9M ago41:21

41:21

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom With the start of baseball season I thought it fitting that we would do our next series on the organization that came to be known as The Women’s American Baseball League or All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In today’s episode I will tell you about the birth and demise of the…

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Episode 54: The One With The Teen Daughter's School Project pt 2 1:13:37

10M ago1:13:37

1:13:37

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom Today we have a returning quest at our table. With us we have the Teen Daughter! In today’s episode the Teen will share with us a project she just presented in her AP Seminar class. For those that would like further reading of the sources cited here please let me know by sending us an emai…

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Episode 53: Constance Kent and The Murder at Road Hill House 50:41

10M ago50:41

50:41

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today I want to tell you about Constance Kent and the murder of her almost 4 year old half brother Francis Saville Kent. Trigger warning, today’s story will tell about child murder, please take heed when listening. Constance Kent was an English woman whose name became widely known due to …

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Episode 52: Mildred Burke- The Queen of the Ring 52:20

10M ago52:20

52:20

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today I want to tell you about Mildred Burke, a woman wrestler whose wrestling career spanned two decades. My resources can be found in the show notes. Mildred Burke was an American professional wrestler who made significant contributions to the development of women's wrestling in the mid…

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Episode 51: Mary Lillian Ellison-The Fabulous Moolah 24:13

11M ago24:13

24:13

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today I want to tell you about Mary Lillian Ellison, known as The Fabulous Moolah. Mary Lillian Ellison was an iconic professional wrestler whose career spanned more than five decades, making her one of the most influential and groundbreaking figures in the history of women's wrestling. Y…

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Episode 50: Ethel Johnson- A Bad Mama Jama 32:59

11M ago32:59

32:59

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today I want to introduce everyone to Ethel Blanche Hairston AKA Ethel Johnson. Ms. Ethel was an American professional wrestler whose ring name was Ethel Johnson. She debuted at age 16, becoming the first African-American women's champion. She was a fan favorite, billed as "the biggest at…

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Episode 49: Emma Koehler- Brewess of San Antonio 1:04:33

12M ago1:04:33

1:04:33

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Happy New Year everyone. This is the first episode for our 2025 season! Today I want to introduce Emma Bentzen Koehler. Emma Bentzen Koehler, was an entrepreneur and president of the San Antonio Brewing Association, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on February 25, 1858 to her parents, Ulr…

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The Weight of Place: Codie Eash on Seminary Ridge and Civil War Memory 1:23:43

12M ago1:23:43

1:23:43

In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we sit down with our friend and esteemed public historian, Codie Eash, Director of Education and Interpretation at the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Codie's expertise in tackling the complexities of Civil War memory, race, religion, and the enduring significance of Gettysb…

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Episode 48: The One Where I’m The Mom- Again! 1:28:18

1y ago1:28:18

1:28:18

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! This is the last episode for 2024!! With us today we have returning guests the “Adult Daughter” and the “Teen Daughter”. Today we thought we would play another round of Am I the A-Hole. We had some much fun the last time so we’re doing it again. Thank you for joining us for this special e…

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A Pennsylvania soldier in the Battle of the Bulge - Letters from War 33:59

1y ago33:59

33:59

On December 16, 1944, German military forces launched a surprise counter-offensive against the United States Army in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium. The attack, which penetrated deeply into American lines, became known to history as the Battle of the Bulge. One of the American soldiers who faced this Nazi onslaught was a 20-year-old citizen-soldier…

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Episode 47: The One With The Teen Daughter's School Project trigger warning 1:08:41

1y ago1:08:41

1:08:41

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today we have a special quest at our table. With us we have the Teen Daughter! In today’s episode the Teen will share with us a project she just presented in her AP Seminar class. All the things: Music: "Electronic Rock (King Around Here)" by Alex Grohl https://pixabay.com/music/search/el…

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Blair County: A People's History with Filmmaker Mark Frederick 52:56

1y ago52:56

52:56

The podcast returns after an unintentionally long interlude! In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we talk with filmmaker Mark Frederick about his 2024 documentary, "Blair County - A People's History." This feature-length documentary details the story of a Central Pennsylvania community against the backdrop of numerous dramatic mo…

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Episode 46: The Original Pink Ladies- Lady Pinkertons Part 4 17:07

1y ago17:07

17:07

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! This is our 4th and final episode for our Pink Ladies series. Today I want to tell you about a lesser known Lady Pink named Elizabeth H Baker. It is not known when Elizabeth H. Baker was born the exact date and location of her birth remain uncertain. She was raised in a period when women’…

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Episode 45: The Original Pink Ladies- Lady Pinkertons Part 3 37:40

1y ago37:40

37:40

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! This is part 3 of our Pink Ladies series. Mary Louvestre was an African-American Union spy in Norfolk, Virginia, during the United States Civil War. She delivered details of plans for the conversion of the wrecked USS Merrimack to an ironclad that would be named the CSS Virginia and which…

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Bonus Episode: The One Where I’m The Mom 1:00:52

1y ago1:00:52

1:00:52

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! This is the bonus episode we promised you!! With us today we have the “Adult Daughter” and the “Teen Daughter”. Today we thought we’d do something fun and read from Reddit’s Am I the A-hole. Mom and I will take turns reading the scenario and the others will comment. Stick around for a bon…

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Episode 44: The Original Pink Ladies- Lady Pinkertons Part 2 48:51

1y ago48:51

48:51

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! As we mentioned in our last episode we will be highlighting the female Pinkerton Detectives. Today is dedicated to Hattie Lawton. Hattie was Pinkerton’s second — and often called the best — female detective. Described as both “delicate and driven,” she was renowned at the agency for her s…

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Episode 43: The Original Pink Ladies- Lady Pinkertons Part 1 1:14:42

1y ago1:14:42

1:14:42

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! The next few episodes of Breakfast with Mom we will highlight the first female Pinkerton detectives. Today is dedicated to the very first woman to be hired by Allan Pinkerton and one that would be a lifelong friend of Allen’s. She was even buried in his family plot. Kate Warne was an Amer…

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Episode 42: Diving Girl Sonora Webster 1:02:29

1y ago1:02:29

1:02:29

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! The history of diving girls is a fascinating chapter in the world of entertainment and athleticism, dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Diving girls, also known as "high divers" or "swan divers," were performers who specialized in diving from great heights into small bo…

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Episode 41: Dr. Robert Huse’s 1990 Unsolved Murder 53:06

1+ y ago53:06

53:06

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today’s episode will be a little different than what we normally cover. This will most likely be a long one, so sit back and relax with a nice cup of coffee or tea. Resources for today’s episode will come from https://texasobituaryproject.org/ and Newspaper.com exact links will be in the …

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Episode 40: Marilyn Monroe’s Family we don’t know about 45:23

1+ y ago45:23

45:23

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Do you recognize the following names: Norma Jean Baker Gladys Pearl Baker Charles Stanly Gifford Today I want to tell you a story about Norma Jean Baker aka Marilyn Monroe, not the story we have all heard time and time again. Resources can be found below. Resources: https://michelle-morga…

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Episode 39: Elizabeth Cochran aka Nellie Bly 24:12

1+ y ago24:12

24:12

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom. Today I want to tell you about a female journalist from the mid- 19th century. Nellie Bly, born Elizabeth Jane Cochran on May 5, 1864, in Cochran's Mills, Pennsylvania to Michael Cochran and Mary Jane Kennedy. She was one of 15 children in her family, and her father was a wealthy landowne…

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Episode 38: Seneca Village- NYC 43:35

1+ y ago43:35

43:35

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today I want to tell you about Seneca Village. Seneca Village was a community in the early 19th century located in what is now Central Park, New York City. Established around the 1820s, it was one of the first predominantly African American communities in the city. The village was home to…

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Episode 37: Denver Recap 53:05

1+ y ago53:05

53:05

Send us a text Hello and welcome back to Breakfast with Mom! Today Mom and talk about our Denver trip! All the things: Music: "Electronic Rock (King Around Here)" by Alex Grohl https://pixabay.com/music/search/electronic%20rock%20king Logo Artwork: Strawbeary Studios https://www.youtube.com/@StrawbearyStudios/featured Episode was researched, writte…

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Politics and Public History with Dr. Evan Kutzler 52:36

1+ y ago52:36

52:36

It's been a crazy year in American politics - one that rivals any in the country's history for chaotic twists and turns. In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we talk with Dr. Evan Kutzler of Western Michigan University about the role that historians have taken on in our nation's politics in the last decade. What role should histo…