Carl Erik Fisher discusses his own struggle with alcoholism and his search to find answers in the policies, people and treatments of both the recent and distant past.
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Who we build monuments to and why it matters
Paul M. Farber of the National Monument Audit joins us to discuss a recent study of 50,000 monuments across the U.S. and what the research shows about who we memorialize and who we leave out.
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For historians, the past Is written in pencil
James M. Banner, Jr. is founder of the National History Center of the American Historical Association, and he joins us to talk about why history is never really set in stone.
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The science of your dreams
Neuroscientist Sidarta Ribeiro joins us to discuss how dreams are connected to how we learn and even how we understand our existence.
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How We Politicize The Past
Princeton University historian Matthew Karp joins us to discuss how both sides of the political spectrum have used history lessons for wildly divergent purposes, and what that means for the truth.
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The Vice President Who Set The Stage For Civil War
Baylor University historian Robert Elder joins us to talk about Vice President John C. Calhoun, a man who argued that slavery was a “positive good” and set the stage for the South to secede from the Union.
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The Black Roots Of Beer Culture
James Bennett II joins us to talk about why beer is often conflated today with a rich, white world and why something as simple as the backyard BBQ is essential to understanding how America chooses to drink.
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What Does The Alamo Really Represent?
Author Bryan Burrough joins us to talk about arguably the state’s most famous story – The Alamo – and why its role in preserving slavery is often written out of Texas lore.
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A Case For A Great Migration Back To The South
New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow joins us to talk about his ideas for how to create lasting social change, honor culture and memory, and fight back against systemic racism.
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How The Quest For Flavor Drove Evolution
Rob Dunn, professor of applied ecology at North Carolina State University joins us to talk about why we prefer cooked food, the various ways we taste, and how our pursuit of a good meal might’ve led to starting the first fire.
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A 50-Year Look At American Immigration
Sarah R. Coleman, assistant professor of history at Texas State University, joins us to work through near-term policy options and to talk about ideas for improving the conditions in the countries migrants are fleeing.
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The Brilliant Women Walt Disney Drew From
Nathalia Holt joins us to talk about Disney’s Golden Age and the women who fought gender discrimination behind the scenes.
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