History Unplugged Podcast

Explore the rise of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie as trailblazing musicians who revolutionized jazz. Learn about their humble beginnings, personal challenges, and societal impact. Delve into the hidden truths behind their public personas and the legacy they left in American music history.

Legal scholar Roy E. Brownell II discusses America's potential presidential succession crisis, highlighting historical debates on executive succession, flaws in the 1792 Presidential Succession Act, ambiguities in defining incapacity, and the impact of past presidential deaths on succession laws. The podcast explores the development of succession acts after historical crises, leading to the 25th Amendment addressing health emergencies and presidential assassinations.

Robert Kershaw, author of Dünkirchen 1940, discusses the German perspective on the Dunkirk evacuation. Topics include Hitler's halt order, misconceptions of German blitzkrieg tactics, and the logistical success of the evacuation. The episode challenges traditional heroic narratives and emphasizes the importance of diverse viewpoints in historical analysis.

Explore the global manhunt for a Confederate ship that terrorized Union supply lines, culminating in a dramatic naval battle. Learn about the overlooked naval warfare strategies of the Civil War and the intense chase between the CSS Alabama and the USS Kearsarge. Delve into the technological advancements in Civil War naval vessels and the challenges faced by the Confederate ship. Witness the all-or-nothing duel that ended the threat of the Confederacy on the high seas.

Debating the removal of historical statues, discussing the complexities of judging past figures by today's standards, exploring the differences in celebrating or condemning statue removals, and examining the criteria for communities to remove statues in a healthy manner.

Explore the heroic efforts of Marconi operators during the Titanic tragedy, with contrasting actions of heroes and villains. Dive into maritime protocol and the impact of wireless communication on rescue operations. Challenge myths and reveal the human stories behind the tragedy. Discover conspiracy theories, heroic Morse code transmissions, and the real-life perspectives of individuals involved in the disaster.

Discover the Viking journeys from Scandinavia to Rome, Russia, and America, debunking racial purity myths and exploring their inclusive culture. Delve into the allure of Viking tales, their impact on global history, and the controversies surrounding Viking artifacts in Oklahoma. Learn about their military technology, community bonds, and how their adventurous spirit still inspires us today.

Exploring the history of work hours and the shift from a 15-hour work week to the modern 40-hour work week. Discussing how work defines our identity and values. Delving into the evolution of work from hunter-gatherer societies to modern times. Reflecting on ancient perspectives on work and fulfillment, and the impact of automation on traditional job structures.

Before 9/11, before Pearl Harbor, another unsuspected foreign attack on the United States shocked the nation and forever altered the course of history. In 1916, Pancho Villa, a guerrilla fighter who commanded an ever-changing force of conscripts in northern Mexico, attached a border town in New Mexico. It was a raid that angered Americans, and President Woodrow Wilson ordered the Punitive Expedition in which the US Army invaded Mexico and defeated General Villa's troops, but failed to capture him. This event may have been the catalyst for America’s entry into World War One and permanently altered U.S.-Mexican border policy.Jeff Guinn, author of the new book "War on the Border," joins us to discuss this critically important event in American history. The “Punitive Expedition” was launched in retaliation under Pershing’s command and brought together the Army, National Guard, and the Texas Rangers—who were little more than organized vigilantes. The American expedition was the last action by the legendary African-American “Buffalo Soldiers.” It was also the first time the Army used automobiles and trucks, which were of limited value in Mexico, a country with no paved roads or gas stations. Curtiss Jenny airplanes did reconnaissance, another first. One era of warfare was coming to a close as another was beginning. But despite some bloody encounters, the Punitive Expedition eventually withdrew without capturing Villa.Although the bloodshed has ended, the US-Mexico border remains as vexed and volatile an issue as ever.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the start of the 1860 presidential campaign, a handful of fired-up young Northerners appeared as bodyguards to defend anti-slavery stump speakers from frequent attacks. The group called themselves the Wide Awakes. Soon, hundreds of thousands of young white and black men, and a number of women, were organizing boisterous, uniformed, torch-bearing brigades of their own. These Wide Awakes—mostly working-class Americans in their twenties—became one of the largest, most spectacular, and most influential political movements in our history. To some, it demonstrated the power of a rising majority to push back against slavery. To others, it looked like a paramilitary force training to invade the South.Today’s guest, Jon Grinspan (author of “Wide Awake: The Forgotten Force That Elected Lincoln and Spurred the Civil War”) examines how exactly our nation crossed the threshold from a political campaign into a war. We look at the precarious relationship between violent rhetoric and violent actions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.