Podcasts by In The Past Lane - The Podcast About History and Why It Matters

041 Saratoga: The Tipping Point of the American Revolution from 2017-10-10T01:49:12

This week marks the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga,

So I’ll speak with Dean Snow, author of a new book titled, Listen

040 Little Rock 1957 and the Problem of Civil Rights Memory from 2017-09-26T15:46:54

This week we look at a story that calls into question just how successful the Civil Rights Movement really was. It’s the iconic story of the Little Rock Nine, the courageous African American stu...

039 Ken Burns and Coming to Terms with The Vietnam War from 2017-09-17T03:43:01

This week I speak with America's most acclaimed documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns, about his new project, The Vietnam War. This 10-part, 18-hour epic debuts on PBS on September 17, 2017. Vietnam ...

038 Classroom Wars! The History Behind the Fights over Bilingual Ed and Sex Ed in US Public Schools from 2017-09-11T03:54:28

It's September, so this history podcast is rolling out its annual back-to-school episode. This go around, we address the question: What do the controversies in the 1960s and 1970s surrounding se...

037 The History Unfolded Project and What Americans Knew About The Holocaust from 2017-09-01T02:29:33

This week at In The Past Lane, the history podcast, we respond to the virulent anti-semitism that was on display during the neo-Nazi and white supremacist march in Charlottesville,VA by bringing...

036 The Myth of Libertarianism in US History from 2017-08-22T01:54:25

This week we take on the topic of libertarianism, an ideology that in recent years has gained many adherents, including political conservatives and people in business, especially the high tech i...

035 Albert Cashier, Transgender Soldier in the American Civil War from 2017-08-11T16:43:13

President Trump's announcement via Twitter that transgender personnel would no longer be allowed to serve in the US armed forces provides an excellent opportunity to take a look at the history o...

034 The Zenger Trial and the Birth of the Free Press in America from 2017-08-01T15:40:10

With the mainstream news media under siege these days, and with some people – including one particularly powerful and influential person – denouncing it as so-called “fake news,” this seems like...

033 The Ten Commandments in US History: The Making of an American Icon from 2017-07-23T05:01:19

This week at In The Past Lane, the podcast about history and why it matters, we look at the fascinating history of the Ten Commandments in the U.S. You might think that a history of the Ten Comm...

032 How Baseball Became America’s National Pastime from 2017-07-14T22:46:07

This week we step up to the plate to take on the origins and history of baseball, and how the sport has both reflected and shaped American society. 

Among the many things we'll discuss: <...

031 America’s Forgotten Colony in Cuba from 2017-07-07T20:19:35

This week, In the Past Lane explores the fascinating and little-known story of an American colony that developed on a small island off Cuba following the Spanish American War of 1898.  The Isle ...

030 Presidents and the Media: The History of Political Spin from 2017-07-02T13:45:16

This week at In The Past Lane, we talk about the American presidency – specifically the history of how US presidents have endeavored to communicate their positions on key issues of the day. To u...

029 Spies, Traitors,&Saboteurs: Civil Liberties in Times of National Crisis from 2017-06-17T19:52:48

This week, In The Past Lane is in Chicago to check out a cool history exhibition and speak with John Russick of the Chicago History Museum. The exhi...

028 The Crises of the 1790s and the Making of US National Identity from 2017-05-31T14:55:10

In this episode, we dive into the tumultuous and critically important years of the 1790s, a time when the very fate of the new republic hung in the balance. 

First, I’ll do a short set-up...

027 JFK at 100 - The Legacy and Memory of a President from 2017-05-21T04:05:15

In this episode, in recognition of John F. Kennedy's 100 birthday -- I know, 100?, Really? -- we dive into the life and legacy of the nation's 35th President. Every couple of years, we read abou...

026 The Spanish American War&The Birth of US Imperialism from 2017-05-07T04:16:42

In this episode, we take a close look at a small war that had a massive impact on American history - the Spanish American War that began in 1898. In fact, the US is still dealing with its effect...

025 Who Was Thomas Jefferson? from 2017-04-22T20:27:59

In this episode, we take a close look at another Founding Father - Thomas Jefferson (Episode 23 focused on Alexander Hamilton). And why not? Jefferson was born in the month of April – April 13th...

024 The Path to War: The US and World War I from 2017-04-07T19:15:48

This week we mark the 100th anniversary of the US entry into The Great War, or what we’ve come to know as World War I. The US declaration of war in April 1917 marked a decisive turning point in ...

023 Alexander Hamilton: The Man, The Myth, and yes, The Musical! from 2017-03-22T05:23:31

In this episode of ITPL, we focus on Alexander Hamilton. You may have noticed that Hamilton has become the hottest Founder in recent years – and it’s all due to the smash Broadway hit, “Hamilton...

022 The History of Mass Incarceration in America - part 2 from 2017-03-07T23:43:48

Why are so many Americans in prison? Right now, there are 2.3 million Americans held in US prisons. That's a HUGE number, relative to the overall US population. The US makes up just 5% of the wo...

021 The History of Mass Incarceration in America - part 1 from 2017-02-07T17:00

How did it come to pass that in the United States that we imprison more people than any nation in the world? That's right - the US comprises 5% of the world's population, but it holds 25% of the...

020 African American Soldiers in the Civil War from 2017-01-06T01:40:38

In this episode of ITPL, we focus on the experiences of African Americans who joined the Union Army during the Civil War and the profound impact they had on the wa...

019 The Hidden History of Indian Slavery in America from 2016-12-15T20:10:40

This week at ITPL, I speak with historian Andres Resendez about his new book, The Other Slavery: The Uncovered History of Indian Slavery in America. The enslaving of native peoples in the Americ...

018 The Rise of Conservative Media from 2016-10-25T22:24:34

This week at In The Past Lane, we talk to historian Nicole Hemmer about her new book, Messengers of the Right: Conservative Media and the Transformation of American Politics (Penn Press...

017 American Revolutions from 2016-10-08T04:20:38

This week at In The Past Lane, we take a new look at a familiar event - the American Revolution. Think you know this key chapter in American history? Think again. For as our special guest, histo...

016 Women and the White House - Convention Edition! from 2016-07-26T16:12:20

This week, as the Democratic National Convention prepares to make history by nominating a woman for the presidency, In The Past Lane takes a close look at women who have sought the nation’s high...

015 The History of the Republican Party - Convention Edition! from 2016-07-19T23:28:15

This week, in honor of the G.O.P. Convention, In The Past Lane explores the fascinating history of the Republican Party. I speak with historian Heather Cox Richardson, author of a superb history...

014 What the Declaration of Independence Declared (and Declares Today) from 2016-07-03T06:26:04

It's the Independence Day weekend edition of In The Past Lane! Happy July 4th to all! This week, we take a close look at the document at the heart of the July 4th celebration -- the Declaration ...

013 Why We Pledge Allegiance, Betsy Ross,&More from 2016-06-14T20:07:08

This week, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Flag Day, we take a look at several intriguing flag-related stories. Here’s the lineup: 1. Why Do We Pledge Allegiance? Here’s the little-known st...

012 The History of Gay Liberation in the US from 2016-06-06T14:52:54

June is Pride Month in the US, so in this episode we examine the history of the gay rights struggle. Here's the lineup: 1) a short piece on the notion of "hidden history." 2) an interview with A...

011 Scandal! in American History from 2016-05-17T20:08:54

Who doesn't love a good scandal - so long as it doesn't involve them? This week at In The Past Lane we examine the important -- and often positive -- role scandals have played in American histor...

010 Harriet Tubman on the Twenty&More from 2016-04-29T18:13:48

This week at the In The Past Lane history podcast, we take up some timely questions: Who was Harriet Tubman and why did the U.S. Treasury Dept. choose her as the first woman to appear on the $20...

009 Taxes and Tax Revolts in US History and More from 2016-04-15T21:30:16

This week at In The Past Lane, in honor (if that's the right word) of Tax Day, we take a close look at the history of the fraught relationship between Americans and their taxes. This episode fea...

008 How America Got Cool from 2016-04-03T01:34:25

This week In The Past Lane looks into the little known and yet hugely significant development of the ice and refrigeration industries in US history.
1) first we tell the story of Frederick...

007 Irish Terrorists and Spies in America&More from 2016-03-17T14:11:57

With St. Patrick's Day (March 17) being celebrated this week, In The Past Lane takes a look at some fascinating Irish American history.
1) We start with a feature piece on why Americans in...

006 Why Do We Hold Political Primaries? from 2016-03-02T20:37:37

This week at In The Past Lane, the American history podcast, we take a look at the history behind something that's dominating the news these days: political primaries. Their origin dates not to ...

005 Where Have You Gone, Robert F. Kennedy? from 2016-02-16T17:00

This week at In The Past Lane, the podcast about history and why it matters, we take a close look at Robert F. Kennedy. Here's the lineup: 1) First up, it's a short feature on the basics of the ...

004 The Abolitionist Movement&More from 2016-02-13T02:53:57

This week at In The Past Lane, the American history podcast, we focus on the movement to abolish slavery. We start with a thinkpiece titled, "The Daunting Challenge the Abolitionists Faced in Ta...

003 Prohibition and Other Prohibitions in US History from 2016-02-05T17:00

This week's episode focuses on American prohibitions. That’s right, Prohibitions in the plural. Even though Americans think of themselves as a people who have always prized individual liberty, h...

002 The Statue of Liberty&Immigration History from 2016-01-30T13:36:07

In this episode of In The Past Lane, the American history podcast, we look at a little-known aspect of American immigration history - the story behind the Statue of Liberty and how it came to sy...

001 Death and The Civil War / Mercy Street PBS Ep 1 Review from 2016-01-22T20:38:25

This week at In The Past Lane, the American history podcast, we take on the American Civil War. Not the whole thing but rather a specific aspect of this massive military conflict: medicine and d...