It's a History Podcast

Join me each week as I take a look at all things history! Whether it be a person, a place, event, or just something really interesting, I will cover many of the stories our past has to offer.

077: The Doctor of Auschwitz: A Conversation With Kit Sergeant

Hello! In this weeks epsiode we are joined by Kit Sergeant to talk about her most recent release "The Doctor of Auschwitz".  Link to the book: https://www.amazon.com/Doctor-Auschwitz-Powerful-Womans-Courage-ebook/dp/B0FCW3Q55J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2GWFFZSEXYG74&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.WyDTZNn8Ty0BWapLxHaadoI3Lj4zTIAN4dYXM1UpSWIxUS_jiqD16cYE8WDLIL6eA0SHfrEH-2wtP2_VKjlxjyp1Au-eETpVm8B8Sw3wJY0k-AdJaCAlylsNYfZxYluULp6QelOGU7rvMGBsUJU397Cmn28fdq1Fug7OkHNoiDsImTS6w7OSxAdt4E7xm1zunK64_64RPnpusdAnCVBQVuKR0xybzBTkIENBveqXdiI.ypsAIl2Cruy-VWTp42umaGvKtbEremXUGFMaSj71QNc&dib_tag=se&keywords=kit+sergeant&qid=1764728297&sprefix=kit+sergeant+%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1  Kit's Website: https://www.kitsergeant.com/?p=1177 If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

12-03
22:48

076: Black Friday: Gold Market Crash, Army Versus Navy Football Game, and Retailer Moniker

Hello! In this weeks episode We take a look at the Black Friday, one of the busiest days in retail, and the shoping season.   Sources for today include an article from PBS titled Black Friday, September 24th 1869 And an article titled Whats the Real History of Black Friday by Sarah Pruitt   If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

11-26
07:49

075: A Biography Of A Mountain: A conversation with Matthew Davis

Hello! In this weeks episode I am joined by Author Matthew Davis to discuss his most recent release "A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore.  "A Biography of A Mountain combines history with reportage, bringing the complicated and nuanced story of Mt. Rushmore to life, from the land's origins as sacred tribal ground; to the expansion of the American West; to the larger-than-life personality of Gutzon Borglum, the artist who carved the presidential faces into the mountain; and up to the politicized present-day conflict over the site and its future. Exploring issues related to how we memorialize American history, Davis tells an imperative story for our time." You can find This book at the link below! https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-biography-of-a-mountain-the-making-and-meaning-of-mount-rushmore-matthew-davis/a673d2a460c7a617?ean=9781250285102&next=t    If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

11-19
01:01:50

074: The History of Federal Holidays

Hello! In this weeks episode we are looking at the history of Federal Holidays, How these holidays were created and why.  Sources for today's episode include:  An article from congress.gov titled federal holidays:evolution and current practices. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R41990 The national museum of the american indian  A proclamation on indigenous peoples day, 2024   If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!     

11-12
11:07

073: McNamara at War: A Conversation With William Taubman

Hello! In this episode I am joined by William "Bill" Taubman to discuss his and his brother Philip Taubmans most recent release, "McNamara at War: A New History". I Loved reading this book and I have linked below where the book can be found. Thank you again to Bill for coming on the show! https://bookshop.org/p/books/mcnamara-at-war-a-new-history-philip-taubman/574930c9f2b483a3?ean=9781324007166&next=t  https://williamtaubmanbooks.com  If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

11-11
34:21

072: Candy Corn and Penny Candy: A Fall Favorite and The Nostalgic Candy Bins

Hello! In this Short and "sweet" episode we take a look at your favorite (or most hated) fall candy and how Candy Corn helped to shape the Penny Candy loss leader model.   Sources for today's episode include: An article from History.com titled Who invented candy corn by Becky Little. https://www.history.com/articles/candy-corn-invented   An article from the tasting table titled The nostalgic History of penny candy stores by Lisa Curran Matte. https://www.tastingtable.com/1295086/nostalgic-history-penny-candy-stores/ If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

10-29
05:51

071: Memento Mori: From Ancient Greece to Modern Day: How We Acknowledge Death Through Art

Hello! In this weeks Episode, we explore Memento Mori. Memento Mori is a latin phrase that translates to "remember that you will die". Todays episode looks at the token of Memento Mori that are typically pieces of art, poetry, and literature, that serve as a physical reminder of the core sentiment of Memento Mori. In this episode, Death, corpses, and some other disturbing imagery is discussed.    Sources for today's episode include: Multiple articles from Science Museum  https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/memento-mori And Sherman's Flatbush Memorial Chapel and their entry on how embalming is done.   If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

10-22
12:21

070: Heinrich Schleimann: From Business Man to Controversial Amateur Archeologist

Hello! In this weeks episode we are looking at the controversial figure of Heinrich Schliemann and his part in the history of Archeology.   Sources for today's episode include  An article titled The World of Schleimann His life. His discoveries. His legacy written by James Simon Galeri A presentation from a history and civilization course written by Professor Mark Damen   

10-15
13:02

069: The History of Corn Mazes: Labyrinths, Hedge Mazes, and A Dinosaur Named Cornelius

Hello! In today's episode we take a look at the history of corn mazes. While Corn Mazes are relatively new, mazes have been a fun past time for hundreds, if not thousands of years. We also take a look at the myth of the labryth and the uncovering of the location of the actual labrinth.   Sources for today's episode include:   An article titled The Winding History of the Maze by Natasha Geiling from smithsonian magazine  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/winding-history-maze-180951998/   An article titled Myths of the Labyrinth: Uncovering the myths of the labyrinth and the minotaur by andrew shapland https://www.ashmolean.org/article/myths-of-the-labyrinth If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

10-08
10:45

068: A Brief History of Honeymoons: Bridal Tours, Niagara Falls, and Modern Day

Hello! In this fourth and final instalment of the wedding series we take a look at honeymoons. Honeymoons as we know them today are a relatively recent addition to the wedding tradtion, but we can trace the practice back to the 5th century. If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!     

10-01
06:20

067: The Wedding Dress: Victorian Beginnings, Hollywood Influence, and Modern Day

Hello! In this thrid instalment of the wedding series, we are looking at the history of wedding dresses. Often atributed to Queen Victoria, our modern tradition of wearing white is just that, modern. Listen to todays epsiode to learn all about the history of the wedding dress. If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

09-24
06:14

066: The History of Marriage and Weddings: The Transfer of Wealth and Property, The Introduction of Love, and Modern Day

Hello! In the second Instalment of the wedding series, we are looking at marriage itself. For most of history marriage was more of a transactional agreement then an endevour of love. But just when did love become one of the main aspects of weddings? Thats what we explore in todays episode. If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

09-17
14:55

065: A Brief History of Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties

Hello! Welcome to the Short and Sweet four part series on Weddings! We are kicking off this series on a breif, yet informative episode on bachelor and bacelorette parties.  Due to my own wedding (Yay!) These epsiodes will be a bit shorter and a bit lighter then somem of my usual content. I hope you guys enjoy this look at how our current wedding culture got to where it is today!   A Quick and Dirty History of the Bachelorette Party by Carly hill https://museumhack.com/quick-dirty-history-bachelorette-party/   How Did Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties Get Started by Isobel Whitcomb  https://www.livescience.com/bachelor-bachelorette-parties-history.html   Stag Nights and Hen Dos: A Brief History of Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties from History Extra https://www.historyextra.com/period/modern/stag-nights-hen-dos-history-bachelor-bachelorette-wedding-party-tradition-origins/   If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

09-10
05:09

064: The History of Crochet: Ambiguous Beginnings, Tambour Embroidery, and Irish Lace

Hello! In this weeks Episode we take a look at the history of crochet! Crochet has a bit of an ambigious history, but we can trace the origins of crochet to Tambour Embroidery and how the art of crochet transitioned into a way to make immitation lace. We also spend a good amount of today's episode looking at Irish Lace.  If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!      Sources for today's episode include:  The history of crochet By Ruthie Marks An article titles Irish crochet Lace 150 years of tradition that is published by the Lacis Museum of lace and textiles An article titled Crochet from Arizona State University  An article titled Crochet Through History by Dora Ohrenstein.  

09-03
11:21

063: Knitting History: 10th Century Finds, Knitting Guilds, And Modern Day Knitting

Hello! In this weeks episode, as a companion to last weeks episode, we are going to be taking a look at the history of knitting. As one of the oldest fiber arts we have, knitting has a rich history of being used for necessity and as a fun past time. Today's epsiode will explore how knitting has evolved from the first iterations we have from the 10th century to modern day. Sources for today's episode include the youtube video History of Knitting: 10th century to modern times hosted by the Gail Borden Public Library featuring Knitting Historian Liz Kristan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG3E44jsstY  And an article titled The History of Hand Knitting from the Victoria And Albert Museum If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

08-27
12:30

062: With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Own Stories; A Conversation with Nicole Nehrig

Hello! In this weeks episode I have a conversation with Special Guest Nicole Nehrig about her most recent release With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Own Stories. Over teh course of todays episode we discuss the hidden work that goes into fiber arts, how it has evolved over time, and how fiber arts like knitting and crochet create community.  I had such a blast talking with Nicole about her book and I hope you guys enjoy our conversation!  If you are interested in purchasing With her Own Hands for yourself, The book is out NOW!  Here is the Link to Nicoles Website: https://nicolenehrig.com    If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

08-20
37:21

061: Victorian Era Laundry: How Laundry Was Washed, The Soap Used to Clean It, The Various Ways to Bleach Fabric, And Personal Hygiene in The Victorian Era

Hello! In this weeks Episode we are going down one of the many rabbit holes I wanted to go down while researching GIlded Age Summer. Just how did those Ladies go about laundering those gowns. In true Rabbit Hole Nature, I go from Laundry to how soap works, to how Urine was used as a cleaner, to personal hygeine. We definetly go on a journey today.   Sources for today's episode include:    Thunderbay museum with an article titled The Land of Milk and Urine? A Brief History of Textile Bleaching.   A Victorian lady's guide to cleaning dresses of muslin, silk, velvet, and lace by Mimi Mathews    https://www.mimimatthews.com/2017/11/26/a-victorian-ladys-guide-to-cleaning-dresses-of-muslin-silk-velvet-and-lace/   The yale school of medicine with an article titled why soap world by Ferris Jabr https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/why-soap-works/ Multiple articles from the american cleaning institute including:   Soaps and detergents History https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/understanding-products/why-clean/soaps-detergents-history If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

08-13
14:06

060: Alva and Consuelo Vanderbilt Part 3: Life after Separation, Involvement in the Women's Suffrage Movement, A Marriage Annulment, and A Lasting Legacy

Hello! In todays episode we are fininhing up our coverage on Alva and Consuelo Vanderbilt. Both Alva and Consuelo had led some pretty impressive lives, each due to different circumstances, and in todays episode we look at Consuelos life after the Duke where she really focuses in on her phinthropic work. We also look at Alvas rather impressive involvment in the Womens Suffrage movement.    Sources for today's episode include the husband hunters: American Heiresses Who Married Into the British Aristocracy by Anne Decourcy   and   Consuelo and alva Vanderbilt: The story of a mother and a Daughter in the Gilded Age by Amanda Mackenzie Stuart   If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

08-06
37:40

059: Alva and Consuelo Vanderbilt Part 2: Marriage to the Duke of Marlborough, Learning the Ins and Outs of English Society, and The Downfall of a Loveless Marriage

Hello! In this weeks episode we are continuing our look at Alva and Conseulo Vanderbilt. This weeks episode focuses on the marriage between the Duke and newly minted Duchess Consuelo. The Begining of the end came rather quickly for these two and we most definetly discuss that in this episode.  Sources for today's episode include the husband hunters: American Heiresses Who Married Into the British Aristocracy by Anne Decourcy Consuelo and alva Vanderbilt: The story of a mother and a Daughter in the Gilded Age by Amanda Mackenzie Stuart   If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!   

07-30
31:49

058: Alva and Consuelo Vanderbilt Part 1: Social Climbing, Scandalous Divorce, and Arranged Marriage; The Complicated Story of One of the Most Notorious Mother Daughter Pairs of the Gilded Age

Hello! In this Weeks Episode we are starting our look at Alva and Consuelo Vanderbilt, two of the most well known Gilded Age figures. In this first epsiode of the series we take a look at Alva and her childhhod, Alva meeting Willie K. Vanderbilt, their marriage (and Divorce), and Alvas role in Consuelos marriage.   Sources for today's episode include The Husband Hunters: American Heiresses Who Married Into the British Aristocracy by Anne Decourcy Consuelo and alva Vanderbilt: The story of a mother and a Daughter in the Gilded Age by Amanda Mackenzie Stuart   If you would like to send me any questions, comments, or ideas for future podcast episodes please email me at itsahistorypodcast@gmail.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Threads @itsahistorypodcast Thank you for listening!     

07-23
30:46

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