The Preamble

In this solo episode, Sharon shares the prolific life and career of vintage musical icon Lawrence Welk. Welk, a household name, and host of his own show (that you probably only watched at your grandma’s house), was one of the wealthiest entertainers in the U.S before his death in the early 1990s. He came from humble beginnings, growing up on a farm in North Dakota with his German immigrant parents and several siblings. Over the course of his long musical career, Welk became the sound of an era; his “champagne music” stirring nostalgia in a generation who socialized at public dance halls and waltzed the night away. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Dr. Keisha Blain joins Sharon to talk about voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. In her new book, Until I Am Free, Dr. Blain chronicles the life of Fannie Lou Hamer, a change-maker who has been set on the back shelf of history. Fannie Lou gave a powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention in 1964 at a time when Black voter suppression and violence against Black Americans was practiced across the country, especially in the South. Learn about how the Civil Rights Movement isn’t an event we can leave to history, but a significant era that’s still impacting Black American voters today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Lee Ann Miller joins Sharon to hear the connection between Edward R. Murrow, famous American Broadcast Journalist, and a North Carolina Quaker community that organized and ran a large portion of the Underground Railroad. Listen in as Sharon gives details about Quakers and the ways in which they shaped American history dating all the way back to the 1600s. By the 1850s, in Jamestown, North Carolina, Quakers were actively working for the abolition of slavery, which included building a false-bottom wagon to ferry enslaved Americans into free states. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Sharon sits down with Jennifer Anderson, a registered dietitian and the founder of Kids Eat In Color, to talk about public health and nutrition misinformation. Jennifer advocates for moving away from fear-based messaging around food and consumption habits in order to help develop a perspective of curiosity and open-mindedness. She also shares with Sharon her tips on how to know when an information source is using emotional manipulation to promote health products or specific types of eating styles. Join Sharon and Jennifer to brush up on your nutrition information; it may not always be as complicated the media makes it out to be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this solo episode, Sharon dives into the history of one of New York’s most prominent families during the birth of the nation: the Schuylers. Certainly, Hamilton has made famous the Schuyler sisters, but did you know that Angelica, Eliza, and Peggy were just three of the fifteen children born to Philip and Catherine Schuyler? Follow along as Sharon unfurls the Schuyler family tree and shares stories of a foiled kidnapping and the family's surprising connection to the Statue of Liberty and one of our nation’s most recognized poems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Sharon chats with Dr. Michelle Coombs, the Scientist-in-Charge of the U.S. Geological Survey's Alaska Volcano Observatory. Michelle shares volcano facts with Sharon, and talks about the active volcanoes in Alaska and how volcano scientists track them to mitigate fly hazards and keep people safe from ash clouds. Together, they discuss the different types of volcanoes and how scientists and geologists work to piece together the mysteries of the earth around us and its fascinatingly diverse geological formation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Sharon tells Austin Graff fascinating stories about New Mexico and its 60-year journey in becoming a U.S state. New Mexico - or the land of enchantment, as some call it - is home to ancient cultures and breathtaking landscapes. The region has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years and some of the artifacts found in New Mexico date back to the time of the Egyptian pyramids. Unfortunately, due to prejudice against Indigenous and Hispanic people, Congress was hesitant to add New Mexico as a state. Join Sharon and Austin as they uncover how New Mexico became a state and explore the many wonders within its borders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Sharon is joined by TIME correspondent, Charlotte Alter, to discuss millennials in politics. Charlotte shares her thoughts about how the unique political climate of the past 20 years--as millennials hit young adulthood--has affected the way they view government, politics, and social issues. Together, Sharon and Charlotte tackle the reasons why it’s been difficult for millennials to carve out their own political paths, and share ways in which they can turn over political power to a more diverse and younger generation of change makers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Sharon shares the fascinating story behind New Jersey’s Hadrosaurus foulkii, the first full dinosaur skeleton to be discovered anywhere in the world. The skeleton was unearthed in 1858 when naturalist William Parker Foulke was vacationing in Haddonfield, New Jersey. At the time, very few people had heard the term “dinosaur” but Foulke and his comrade, paleontologist Joseph Leidy, spent the next few years uncovering, researching, and sharing the two-story tall “Bulky Lizard” with museum crowds of visitors who were in awe of the prehistoric creature. And here we are, still fascinated with dinosaurs today! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Sharon sits down with Nicole Walters to talk about Nicole’s incredible journey of becoming a successful entrepreneur and television star. Nicole shares how she built a mulit-million dollar business after having only $24 in her bank account. As well, Sharon and Nicole talk about the importance of humility, learning new things and expressing empathy when hearing others’ perspectives. In this lively episode, join Sharon and Nicole as they chat like old friends while also sharing some wisdom and hilarious stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices