Say It With History: Stories That Shaped the Past with Holley Snaith

Bluegrass and the Grand Ole Opry: Shaping the Sound of Nashville

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 07:00:45 +0000

Women have long helped shape bluegrass and country music, even when their contributions were not always given equal attention. Singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Pam Gadd reflects on her career from bluegrass festivals to the Grand Ole Opry, sharing stories of Wild Rose, Earl Scruggs, Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, and the changing opportunities for women in country music.

Key Topics

Women’s roles in bluegrass and country music
The formation and significance of the all-female band Wild Rose
Meeting and playing banjo with Earl Scruggs
Performing with Porter Wagoner on the Grand Ole Opry
Working with Dolly Parton and other country music legends
Finding an authentic voice as a musician and songwriter
Passing country and bluegrass traditions to new generations

Guest Bio

Pam Gadd is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and educator whose career spans bluegrass and country music. A founding member of Wild Rose, she has performed with artists including Porter Wagoner and Patty Loveless and appeared extensively on the Grand Ole Opry. Today, she continues to perform, record, and teach banjo, mandolin, and guitar.

Connect with Pam: Facebook | Instagram

Pam’s Music: Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Channel

Pam’s Work: Wild Rose Performing “Home Sweet Highway” | Porter Wagoner & Pam Gadd Sing “The Queen of the Silver Dollar” | Pam Gadd & Dolly Parton Perform “Applejack”

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

The Myth of the Hollywood War Hero: Lew Ayres, Conscience, and World War II

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 07:00:32 +0000

Lew Ayres is best remembered for All Quiet on the Western Front, but his life and career extended far beyond the role that made him famous. Film scholar Lesley L. Coffin explores Ayres’s Hollywood career, his controversial decision to become a conscientious objector during World War II, his intellectual and spiritual pursuits, and what his story reveals about celebrity, public perception, and the persistence of Hollywood myths.

Key Topics

Lew Ayres and All Quiet on the Western Front
His career within Hollywood’s studio system
Becoming a conscientious objector during World War II
Misconceptions surrounding his wartime service
Ayres’s letters, unpublished writings, and intellectual interests
His return to Hollywood and later career
Celebrity, public image, and the creation of Hollywood myths

Guest Bio

Lesley L. Coffin is a film scholar, journalist, interviewer, and critic with a master’s degree in star studies from New York University. She is the author of Hitchcock’s Stars: Alfred Hitchcock and the Hollywood Studio System and Lew Ayres: Hollywood’s Conscientious Objector, published by University Press of Mississippi.

Connect with Lesley: LinkedIn

Lew Ayres: Hollywood’s Conscientious Objector: University Press of Mississippi | Bookshop Ebook

Books Mentioned: The Stars Appear by Richard Dyer Maccann Bookshop

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Unit 731: War Crimes and the Cover-Up of Wartime Atrocities

Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:00:50 +0000

Unit 731 remains one of the most disturbing and lesser-known chapters of World War II. Historian Jenny Chan explores Japan’s secret biological warfare program, the role of the U.S. government in its postwar history, and why these atrocities remained largely unfamiliar to Western audiences for decades.

Key Topics

Unit 731 and Japan’s biological warfare program
The U.S. government’s role in the postwar aftermath
Why these atrocities remained little known in the West
World War II in the Asia-Pacific region
Media narratives and the shaping of public memory
Preserving and teaching difficult histories

Guest Bio

Jenny Chan is the director of Pacific Atrocities Education, a nonprofit dedicated to researching and teaching the history of World War II atrocities in the Asia-Pacific region. Her work encompasses subjects including Unit 731, the Nanjing Massacre, the invasion of Manchuria, and the “comfort women” system through research, publications, digital archives, and educational

Connect with Jenny: Website | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube

Books Mentioned: Marutas of Unit 731 by Jenny Chan Paperback

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

The Man Behind the Legend: Joe DiMaggio, Fame, and American Memory

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 07:00:25 +0000

Joe DiMaggio became one of America’s most recognizable sports figures, but the man behind the public image remains more complicated than the legend. Researcher Kelly Lacroix explores DiMaggio’s relationship with fame and the press, his marriage to Marilyn Monroe, and the enduring myths that have shaped how he is remembered in American culture.

Key Topics

Joe DiMaggio’s rise from baseball star to cultural icon
His complicated relationship with fame and the media
Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe
Myths and misconceptions surrounding his life
The intersection of sports and Hollywood history
How celebrity and cultural memory shape historical reputations

Guest Bio

Kelly Lacroix is a French-born researcher and film professional based in the United Kingdom. A longtime student of classic Hollywood, she has spent the past five years researching Joe DiMaggio through her Finding Joe DiMaggio project, examining the gap between the public mythology surrounding him and the man behind the legend.

Connect with Kelly: Instagram | Threads | Facebook

Items from the Estate of Joe DiMaggio—Hunt Auction House: View Lots

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

The Power Behind the American Founding: Elizabeth Willing Powel and Women’s Influence in Early America

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 07:00:53 +0000

Elizabeth Willing Powel occupied a fascinating place within the political and social world of America’s founding generation. Historian Samantha Snyder explores Powel’s relationships with figures such as George Washington and John Adams, the ways women exercised influence through correspondence, conversation, hospitality, and social networks, and why Powel’s role in the early republic deserves greater recognition.

Key Topics

Elizabeth Willing Powel’s life and legacy
Women’s influence during the American founding
Powel’s relationships with George Washington and John Adams
Politics and society in early Philadelphia
Correspondence, hospitality, and social networks as forms of influence
Challenging misconceptions about women’s roles in the founding era

Guest Bio

Samantha Snyder is a Research Librarian at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon and author of the forthcoming A Remarkable Woman: Elizabeth Willing Powel and the Founding of the American Republic. She has spent nearly a decade researching Powel’s life, drawing on archival research and public history to recover her place in the story of the American founding.

Connect with Samantha: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Lauren Bacall: The Making of a Hollywood Legend

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:00:11 +0000

Lauren Bacall became an icon of Hollywood almost overnight, but her life and career extended far beyond the image created during her early years. Film historian Anthony Uzarowski explores Bacall’s rise to fame, her legendary relationship with Humphrey Bogart, and her decades-long effort to establish herself as an actress and public figure on her own terms.

Key Topics

Lauren Bacall’s rise to fame during Hollywood’s Golden Age
The creation of her distinctive public image
Bacall’s relationship and career with Humphrey Bogart
Building an identity and career beyond Bogart’s legacy
Her transition between Hollywood and Broadway
The challenges and reinventions of a seven-decade career
The woman behind the enduring “Queen of Cool” image

Guest Bio

Anthony Uzarowski is a film historian and author of Lauren Bacall: The Queen of Cool. His other books include Jessica Lange: An Adventurer’s Heart and Ava Gardner: A Life in Movies, and his writing on film and the arts has appeared in The Guardian, Turner Classic Movies, Film International, and other publications.

Connect with Anthony: Instagram

Lauren Bacall: The Queen of Cool: Hardcover | Ebook | University Press of Mississippi

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Family History Research: How Documents and Archives Reveal the Past

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 07:00:26 +0000

Family history can reveal far more than names, dates, and family trees. Author Ben Robinson explores how letters, photographs, and archival records helped him reconstruct the life of his great-grandmother Charlotte and uncover a larger family story shaped by two world wars, resilience, and change across the twentieth century.

Key Topics

Using letters, photographs, and archives to uncover family history
Moving beyond names and dates to reconstruct individual lives
Women’s voices and experiences in family history
Family life during World War I and World War II
Balancing historical evidence with fictionalized storytelling
Preserving family stories for future generations
The connections between personal history and larger historical events

Guest Bio

Ben Robinson is a British writer, educator, and author of Finding Charlotte, a part-fictionalized historical memoir inspired by the life of his great-grandmother. Drawing on more than 100 family letters, documents, and photographs, his work explores family, war, memory, and the ways personal stories can illuminate the broader past.

Connect with Ben: Instagram

Finding Charlotte: Books-A-Million | Amazon

Shows Mentioned: The Narrow Road to the Deep North (2025)

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

The Power Behind the Presidency: Missy LeHand and Martha Washington

Fri, 31 Jul 2026 07:00:42 +0000

Marguerite “Missy” LeHand was one of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s closest and most influential aides, yet her role in his presidency has often been misunderstood or overlooked. Author Kathryn Smith explores LeHand’s partnership with FDR, the importance of Warm Springs in their story, and the broader ways women exercised influence behind the scenes of American political power.

Key Topics

Missy LeHand’s life and partnership with Franklin D. Roosevelt
Her influence within the Roosevelt White House
Myths and misconceptions surrounding Missy’s role
The significance of Warm Springs in FDR and LeHand’s story
Women working behind the scenes of presidential power
Parallels between Missy LeHand and Martha Washington
Bringing historical figures to life through research and performance

Guest Bio

Kathryn Smith is a journalist, historian, author, and speaker whose work explores overlooked people and stories in American history. She is the author of The Gatekeeper: Missy LeHand, FDR, and the Partnership that Defined a Presidency, Gertie, Baptists and Bootleggers, and Methodists and Moonshiners. She also co-authors the Missy LeHand Mystery series with Kelly Durham.

The Gatekeeper: Paperback | Ebook

Connect with Kathryn: Website | Facebook | Substack

Explore Kathryn’s Other Works: Evening Post Books

Books Mentioned: The Washingtons by Flora Fraser Paperback | Ebook

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Palm Springs History: How O’Donnell Golf Club Shaped the Desert City

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:00:14 +0000

O’Donnell Golf Club has been part of Palm Springs history since 1929, reflecting the growth of golf, tourism, and community life across the Coachella Valley. General Manager Alexandra Phillips explores the club’s remarkable past, its connections to figures including Gene Sarazen and Bob Hope, and the traditions, architecture, and preservation efforts that continue to shape its place in Palm Springs today.

Key Topics

The history of O’Donnell Golf Club and golf in Palm Springs
O’Donnell’s national historic designation and architecture
Gene Sarazen, Bob Hope, and other figures connected to the club
The history of Inspiration Point and the Easter Sunrise tradition
O’Donnell’s role in the Palm Springs community
Historic preservation and stewardship of the property
Balancing O’Donnell’s legacy with its future

Guest Bio

Alexandra Phillips, MBA, PGA, CMAA, is the General Manager of O’Donnell Golf Club, the oldest golf club in the Coachella Valley. A former professional golfer, she combines her experience in the sport with executive leadership and a commitment to preserving O’Donnell’s history while guiding the historic club into its next chapter.

Connect with O’Donnell Golf Club: Website | Instagram

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

The Making of Modern Publishing: Bennett Cerf, Random House, and the Rise of a Literary Empire

Fri, 17 Jul 2026 07:00:26 +0000

Bennett Cerf helped transform American publishing while becoming a cultural figure in his own right. Author Gayle Feldman explores the Random House cofounder’s remarkable life, from his relationships with some of the twentieth century’s most influential writers to the landmark Ulysses censorship case and his place at the intersection of publishing, television, Hollywood, Broadway, and American culture.

Key Topics

Bennett Cerf and the founding of Random House
The transformation of American publishing in the twentieth century
Cerf’s relationships with Truman Capote, Gertrude Stein, Ayn Rand, Dr. Seuss, and other writers
The Ulysses censorship case and freedom of expression
Cerf’s friendships and connections across publishing and popular culture
His television fame on What’s My Line?
The cultural influence and legacy of Random House

Guest Bio

Gayle Feldman is an author and longtime publishing journalist whose work has appeared in Publishers Weekly, The Bookseller, The New York Times, and other publications. She is the author of Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He Built, the result of more than twenty-three years of research and more than 200 interviews.

Connect with Gayle: Website

Nothing Random: Hardcover | Ebook | Penguin Random House

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

The Forgotten World War: The Global Story of the American Revolution

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:00:16 +0000

The American Revolution was not simply a war fought within the Thirteen Colonies. Author Derek Baxter explores the Revolution as a global conflict, tracing battles and alliances across Europe, the Caribbean, India, and beyond and revealing how international support helped make American independence possible.

Key Topics

The American Revolution as a global conflict
The crucial roles of France and Spain
Cuba’s connection to the victory at Yorktown
Revolutionary-era conflict in the Caribbean, Europe, and India
The international alliances that supported American independence
Why the global dimensions of the Revolution faded from popular memory
Visiting historic sites connected to the Revolution around the world

Guest Bio

Derek Baxter is a writer whose work combines history with travel and firsthand exploration of historic places. He is the author of In Pursuit of Jefferson: Traveling through Europe with the Most Perplexing Founding Father and The Forgotten World War: Exploring the Secret History of the American Revolution, from Spain to India and Back Again.

Connect with Derek: Website | Instagram | Facebook

The Forgotten World War: Hardcover | Ebook | Amazon

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Minnie Pearl and the Hidden History of Nashville: Country Music, Culture, and Legacy

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 07:00:35 +0000

Behind Minnie Pearl’s trademark hat, price tag, and cheerful “Howdy!” was Sarah Cannon, a savvy performer who carefully created one of country music’s most enduring characters. Historian Mary Ellen Pethel explores Cannon’s journey to the Grand Ole Opry, the woman behind Minnie Pearl, and the lasting influence she had on country music, comedy, and Nashville’s cultural history.

Key Topics

Sarah Cannon and the creation of Minnie Pearl
Minnie Pearl’s rise to fame at the Grand Ole Opry
The differences between Sarah Cannon and her famous persona
Myths and misconceptions surrounding Minnie’s career
Women, comedy, and country music
Minnie Pearl’s influence on Nashville and later generations of performers
Preserving Nashville history through Nashville Sites and public history

Guest Bio

Mary Ellen Pethel is an author, historian, and educator at Belmont University and executive director of Nashville Sites, a digital public history platform exploring the city’s past. She is the author of six books and co-author, with Don Cusic, of Howdy! The Minnie Pearl Story, a biography of Sarah Cannon and the remarkable career she created as Minnie Pearl.

Connect with Mary Ellen: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Howdy! The Minnie Pearl Story: The University of Tennessee Press | Hardcover | Ebook

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Jo van Gogh and Vincent van Gogh: The Woman Who Built an Artist’s Legacy

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:00:50 +0000

Vincent van Gogh is often remembered as the isolated, misunderstood artist whose genius was recognized only after his death, but his legacy did not emerge on its own. Author Joan Fernandez explores the remarkable role of Jo van Gogh-Bonger in preserving and promoting Vincent’s work, challenging familiar myths and revealing how her persistence, strategy, and storytelling helped transform him into one of the world’s most recognizable artists.

Key Topics

Jo van Gogh-Bonger’s role in building Vincent van Gogh’s legacy
Challenging the myth of the isolated “mad genius”
Preserving and promoting Vincent’s art after his death
Jo’s life as a widow, mother, and advocate for Vincent’s work
Strategy, storytelling, and the creation of an artistic legacy
Recovering overlooked women from the historical record
Balancing historical evidence and imagination in historical fiction

Guest Bio

Joan Fernandez is a historical fiction author and speaker whose work explores the intersection of history, storytelling, and marketing. Drawing on three decades of experience in corporate marketing, she is the author of Saving Vincent: A Novel of Jo van Gogh, which explores Jo van Gogh-Bonger’s role in preserving and building Vincent van Gogh’s legacy. She also writes the Substack Digging In with Joan Fernandez.

Connect with Joan: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Substack

Saving Vincent: Paperback | Ebook | Simon & Schuster

Books Mentioned: Heroines of Mercy Street by Pamela Toler Paperback | Ebook

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Material Culture Explained: How Objects Tell Hidden Histories

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:00:25 +0000

Objects can reveal dimensions of the past that written records alone cannot always capture. Public historian Laura Smith explores the power of material culture, how everyday artifacts can illuminate overlooked histories, and the ways museums use objects to encourage observation, conversation, and deeper connections with the people who came before us.

Key Topics

Material culture as a tool for understanding history
What everyday objects can reveal about the past
Learning how to “read” historical objects
Using artifacts to uncover overlooked stories
The emotional and human connections created by physical objects
How museums use collections to encourage conversation and reflection
Material culture at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House

Guest Bio

Laura Smith is a public historian whose work focuses on using material culture to encourage observation, conversation, and connection with the past. She serves as Program and Collections Assistant at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House and as Vice Chair of the Manassas Historic Resources Board. She also contributes to the field through independent historical writing.

Books Mentioned: History Through Material Culture by Leonie Hannan and Sarah Longair Paperback

Connect with Laura: Instagram | LinkedIn | Substack

Woodlawn and Pope-Leighey House: Website

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Women in Historic Preservation: Saving America’s Landmarks and Legacy

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 07:00:52 +0000

Long before historic preservation became a formal profession, women were leading efforts to save buildings, landscapes, and community histories across America. Public historian Amanda Roper explores women’s often-overlooked role in the preservation movement, from the campaign to save George Washington’s Mount Vernon to the broader ways women have shaped cultural memory and influenced what Americans choose to preserve.

Key Topics

Women’s role in the history of historic preservation
The women who helped save George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Preservation efforts before the field became professionalized
Historic places as keepers of cultural memory and identity
How preservation shapes the stories Americans remember
Recovering underrepresented voices in public history
The evolving role of women in preservation

Guest Bio

Amanda Roper is a public historian whose work focuses on historic preservation and underrepresented stories in American history. She has worked with institutions including the National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and National Trust for Historic Preservation and is a 2025–2026 Research Fellow at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon. She is currently researching and writing Saving America’s Past: Women in Preservation, a history of women’s contributions to the American preservation movement.

Books Mentioned: Black Majority by Peter Wood Paperback | Ebook

Connect with Amanda: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

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Listen on YouTube: Channel

Julius Caesar Explained: The Fall of the Roman Republic and the Rise of Empire

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 07:00:55 +0000

Julius Caesar’s rise transformed Rome and helped bring centuries of republican government to an end. Professor Phil Mathew explores Caesar’s military leadership and political ambition, the importance of loyalty and intelligence in his campaigns, and how ancient sources have shaped the line between the historical Caesar and the legend that followed him.

Key Topics

Julius Caesar’s rise to military and political power
The forces contributing to the fall of the Roman Republic
Caesar’s leadership and relationship with his soldiers
Military intelligence and strategy during the Gallic War
Loyalty, ambition, and power in ancient Rome
Separating myth from historical evidence in ancient sources
Caesar’s legacy and the transformation of the Roman world

Guest Bio

Phil Mathew is a professor of history at Joliet Junior College specializing in the military and political history of Ancient Greece and Rome. His research interests include warfare and society, relationships between soldiers and commanders, and intelligence gathering in the Roman army. His graduate research at Norwich University examined Julius Caesar’s use of military intelligence during the Gallic War.

Books Mentioned: Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy Paperback | Ebook

Connect with Phil: LinkedIn

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Classic Hollywood Films Explained: Why They Still Matter Today

Fri, 29 May 2026 07:00:35 +0000

Classic Hollywood may belong to another era, but its films continue to shape how we think about gender, celebrity, culture, and society. Writer and cultural critic Simone O. Elias explores the bold storytelling of the Pre-Code era, actresses such as Judy Holliday and Joan Blondell, and why a new generation continues to find meaning in films made decades before they were born.

Key Topics

Why Classic Hollywood continues to resonate with younger audiences
The freedom and bold storytelling of the Pre-Code era
Women and changing gender roles on screen
Judy Holliday, Joan Blondell, and other distinctive Hollywood women
How classic films addressed social and cultural issues
Connections between Golden Age Hollywood and modern popular culture
Viewing film history through a Gen Z perspective

Guest Bio

Simone O. Elias is a writer and cultural critic whose work explores Classic Hollywood, feminism, mental health, and Jewish identity. Her work has appeared on Turner Classic Movies and in Psychology Today, The Forward, and the San Francisco Chronicle. She is the author of Old Films, Young Eyes, which examines Classic Hollywood and its continuing influence on contemporary culture.

Connect with Simone: Website | Instagram | YouTube

Old Films, Young Eyes: Bookshop | McFarland

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Teaching Critical Thinking: How Students Learn to Think, Not Just Memorize

Fri, 22 May 2026 07:00:31 +0000

Civics education is increasingly about more than memorizing the branches of government or dates in a textbook. Educator Keith Pakela explores how students are learning to think critically about democracy and the political system, the gaps teachers see in civic understanding, and how new technologies such as AI are changing the classroom.

Key Topics

How civics and government are taught today
Moving from memorization toward critical thinking
What students understand about democracy and the political system
Gaps in civic knowledge among young people
Creating space for productive classroom discussions
Teaching students how to think rather than what to think
The opportunities and challenges of AI in education

Guest Bio

Keith Pakela is an educator who teaches government and civics at both the high school and college levels. An AP Government teacher and adjunct professor, his work focuses on helping students develop a stronger understanding of American government, democracy, and civic engagement.

Connect with Keith: LinkedIn

Books Mentioned: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin Paperback | Ebook | Hardcover

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Anna May Wong and Early Hollywood: Race, Representation, and Asian American History

Fri, 15 May 2026 07:00:58 +0000

Anna May Wong became Hollywood’s first Asian American movie star, achieving international fame while confronting an industry that repeatedly confined her to stereotypes. Author Katie Gee Salisbury explores Wong’s rise during the Jazz Age, her decision to seek greater opportunities in Europe, and how she challenged Hollywood’s expectations while forging a career that continues to shape conversations about representation today.

Key Topics

Anna May Wong’s rise in early Hollywood
Asian American representation during Hollywood’s Golden Age
The stereotypes and roles that limited Wong’s career
Her decision to leave Hollywood for Europe
Wong’s international career and celebrity
Challenging myths surrounding her life and legacy
Her lasting influence on Asian American performers and representation

Guest Bio

Katie Gee Salisbury is the author of Not Your China Doll, a biography of pioneering actress Anna May Wong. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Believer, and other publications, and she delivered the TED Talk “As American as Chop Suey.” A fifth-generation Chinese American originally from Southern California, her work explores Asian American history, identity, and representation.

Not Your China Doll: Hardcover | Ebook | Website

Recommended Films: Song (1928)

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

World War I Fighter Aces: Myth vs Reality in Early Air Combat

Fri, 08 May 2026 07:00:10 +0000

The fighter ace became one of the most enduring heroic figures to emerge from World War I, but these legends often obscured more complicated human stories. Historian Abby Whitlock explores how pilots such as Arthur Rhys Davids were transformed into symbols of heroism, and how class, media, masculinity, and national identity shaped who was remembered and how their stories were told.

Key Topics

The creation of the World War I fighter ace myth
Arthur Rhys Davids and the making of a wartime hero
Media and propaganda in shaping public perceptions of aviators
Social class and whose stories were remembered
Masculinity and national identity during World War I
Morale, mental health, and the experiences behind heroic narratives
How the image of the fighter pilot evolved after the war

Guest Bio

Abby Whitlock is a historian, writer, and cultural heritage professional specializing in First World War aviation and its cultural legacy. Her research examines the fighter pilot archetype, mental health, and the transformation of individuals into national symbols. She has presented her work for organizations including the Royal Air Force Museum, Society for Military History, and Great War Aviation Society.

Books Mentioned: Käte & the Red Baron: Käte Oltersdorf & Manfred von Richthofen – Her “Restless Patient” by Lance J Bronnenkant PhD and Reinhard Schröder Oberst Amazon

Connect with Abby: Website | Bluesky | LinkedIn

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Sigrid Schultz and Nazi Germany: Journalism, Resistance, and Reporting the Truth

Fri, 01 May 2026 07:00:34 +0000

Sigrid Schultz reported from Germany as the Nazis rose to power, confronting censorship, propaganda, and the dangers of telling uncomfortable truths. Historian Pamela Toler explores Schultz’s remarkable career as an American foreign correspondent, the strategies she used to continue reporting from Nazi Germany, and what her story reveals about women in journalism and the importance of a free press.

Key Topics

Sigrid Schultz’s career as a foreign correspondent in Germany
Reporting on the rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany
Navigating censorship, propaganda, and threats to journalists
Schultz’s use of a pseudonym to report what she could not publish openly
Women’s changing roles in twentieth-century journalism
Recovering Schultz’s story from the historical record
The relationship between a free press and democracy

Guest Bio

Pamela D. Toler is a historian, author, and speaker who writes popular history with an emphasis on overlooked people and perspectives. She is the author of ten books, including Women Warriors: An Unexpected History, Heroines of Mercy Street, and The Dragon from Chicago: The Untold Story of an American Reporter in Nazi Germany, which chronicles the life and career of Sigrid Schultz.

The Dragon from Chicago: Bookshop | Beacon Press

Books Mentioned: Fighting Words by Nancy F. Cott Hardcover

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

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Hollywood Musicals and American History: How Film Reflects Society

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:00:17 +0000

Hollywood musicals have long reflected the changing moods of American life. Film historian Miles Eady explores four landmark musicals that trace the genre from Depression-era escapism and wartime unity to postwar uncertainty and the rebellious spirit of the 1960s, revealing how song, spectacle, and storytelling can serve as a mirror of American history.

Key Topics

The evolution of the Hollywood musical across the twentieth century
Depression-era musicals and the appeal of escapism
Hollywood musicals during World War II
Postwar America and changing themes on screen
The cultural shifts and rebellious energy of the 1960s
How musicals reflected changing American values and attitudes
Film as a window into broader social and cultural history

Guest Bio

Miles Eady is a film historian, writer, and public speaker specializing in Hollywood musicals. His work explores the history and cultural impact of the movie musical, from its vaudeville and Broadway roots through Hollywood’s Golden Age and beyond. He has presented at the British Film Institute and appeared on BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking.

Movies Mentioned

42^nd Street (1933)

This Is The Army (1943)

It’s Always Fair Weather (1955)

Hair (1979)

Connect with Miles: Website

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Lafayette and the American Revolution: Celebrating 250 Years

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:00:19 +0000

Nearly two centuries after his celebrated return to the United States, the Marquis de Lafayette remains an enduring figure in the story of the American Revolution. Public history advocate Kat Smith explores Lafayette’s legacy, the commemoration of his 1824–1825 American tour, and how Virginia is preparing to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence through VA250.

Key Topics

The Marquis de Lafayette and his connection to the American Revolution
Lafayette’s celebrated return to America in 1824–1825
Commemorating the Lafayette Bicentennial
Virginia’s preparations for America’s 250th anniversary
Connecting local and state history to the larger Revolutionary story
Using digital storytelling to engage new audiences with history

Guest Bio

Kat Smith is a community builder and public history advocate who serves as Senior Advisor for Social Media and Communications for the VA250 Commission and Social Media Manager for the American Friends of Lafayette. A sixth-generation Virginian, she uses digital storytelling and public engagement to connect audiences with Lafayette, the American Revolution, and Virginia history.

VA250: Website

Lafayette 200: Website

Books Mentioned

Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette by Celine Castrovilla: Bookshop Hardback

Connect with Kat: LinkedIn | Instagram | TikTok

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Listen on YouTube: Channel

Black Panther Party Women: Activism, Leadership, and the Stories History Missed

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:00:57 +0000

Women were central to the Black Panther Party, serving as organizers, educators, leaders, and architects of its community programs. Historian Madison Givens explores their often-overlooked contributions, how race and gender shaped their experiences within the movement, and the ways their activism expanded ideas about leadership, community care, and political change.

Key Topics

Women’s leadership within the Black Panther Party
The role of women as organizers, educators, and community builders
Race, gender, and power within the movement
Community programs and grassroots activism
Challenging popular perceptions of the Black Panther Party
Why women’s contributions have often been overlooked
The legacy of Black Panther women and their activism

Guest Bio

Madison Givens is a historian, educator, and creator of The History Queen and the Women Walked series. A PhD candidate in History at the University of Memphis, her work focuses on the intersections of race, gender, and power in modern history while making historical scholarship accessible to broader audiences.

Books Mentioned

Killing the Black Body by Dorothy Roberts: Bookshop Paperback | Ebook

Connect with Madison: LinkedIn | Instagram

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Marion Davies: The Real Story Behind the Hollywood Icon

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:00:55 +0000

Marion Davies was one of the brightest stars of early Hollywood, yet her achievements have often been overshadowed by her relationship with William Randolph Hearst and the mythology surrounding Citizen Kane. Biographer Lara Gabrielle explores the actress, comedienne, businesswoman, and philanthropist behind the legend, revealing how Davies built a career and identity that were distinctly her own.

Key Topics

Marion Davies’s rise during Hollywood’s silent and early sound eras
Her talents as an actress and comedienne
Davies’s relationship with William Randolph Hearst
Citizen Kane and the myths surrounding her legacy
Women, independence, and power in early Hollywood
Davies’s philanthropy and life beyond the screen
Separating Hollywood mythology from the historical record

Guest Bio

Lara Gabrielle is a biographer and film historian specializing in classic Hollywood. She is the author of Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies and host and curator of Movies at Mechanics’ at San Francisco’s Mechanics’ Institute. Her extensive research has helped bring renewed attention to Davies’s career, character, and legacy.

Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies

Bookshop: Hardback | Ebook | CD-Audio

Books Mentioned

Clara Bow: Runnin’ Wild by David Stenn: Bookshop Paperback | Ebook

Connect with Lara: Website | Instagram | X | Bluesky

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Bianca’s Cure: Science, Medicine, and Life in Renaissance Florence

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Renaissance Florence was a center of extraordinary innovation, but medicine and science remained deeply intertwined with tradition, experimentation, and suspicion. Author and scientist Gigi Berardi explores the world behind Bianca’s Cure, examining women’s roles in scientific and medical history, the search for treatments for diseases such as malaria, and the mysteries surrounding Bianca Cappello and Francesco de’ Medici.

Key Topics

Medicine and scientific knowledge in Renaissance Florence
Women’s overlooked contributions to science and healing
Bianca Cappello and Francesco de’ Medici
Malaria and the historical search for effective treatments
Artemisia, traditional medicine, and scientific discovery
The intersection of medicine, politics, and power
Using historical fiction to explore gaps in the historical record

Guest Bio

Gigi Berardi is an author, scientist, Fulbright scholar, and professor at Western Washington University who also teaches in Florence. With a background spanning biology, planning, and the arts, she is the author of Finding Balance, FoodWISE, and Bianca’s Cure, which draws on the history of science and medicine in Renaissance Florence.

Biance’s Cure

Bookshop: Paperback | Ebook

Books Mentioned

Daughters of Alchemy by Meredith Ray: Amazon Hardcover | Kindle

The Only Woman in the Room: A Novel by Marie Benedict: Bookshop Paperback

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell: Bookshop Paperback | Ebook

Connect with Gigi: Website | X | Instagram

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

The Limits of Limelight: Phyllis Fraser, Fame, and Reinvention

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:00:45 +0000

Phyllis Fraser arrived in 1930s Hollywood alongside her famous cousin Ginger Rogers but ultimately forged a very different path for herself. Author Margaret Porter explores Fraser’s experiences within the studio system, the influence of Ginger and Lela Rogers, and her reinvention from aspiring actress to literary figure, revealing the opportunities and limitations women encountered during Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Key Topics

Phyllis Fraser’s journey from Oklahoma to Hollywood
Her relationships with Ginger Rogers and Lela Rogers
The realities facing young actresses in 1930s Hollywood
Women working within the Hollywood studio system
Lela Rogers’s influence behind the scenes
Phyllis’s decision to pursue a life beyond acting
Reinvention, ambition, and women’s choices during the Golden Age

Guest Bio

Margaret Porter is a USA Today bestselling author of historical and contemporary fiction. Her historical novels include The Limits of Limelight, inspired by Phyllis Fraser, Beautiful Invention: A Novel of Hedy Lamarr, and The Myrtle Wand. With backgrounds in British history, theater, and film, she brings extensive historical research to her fiction and writing about the past.The Limits of Limelight

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle

Bookshop: Paperback

Books Mentioned

A History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill: Bookshop

Margaret’s Novels: View her books

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

War Stories and Media Narratives: What We Get Wrong About the Military

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:00:57 +0000

The story of military service extends far beyond those who wear the uniform. Journalist and author Jennifer Barnhill explores the often-overlooked experiences of military families, from the advocacy of Sybil Stockdale and the League of Wives to the challenges faced by military spouses and families today, revealing how their stories broaden our understanding of service and sacrifice.

Key Topics

The overlooked experiences of American military families
Sybil Stockdale and the League of Wives
Women’s advocacy within military communities
The unseen roles and sacrifices of military spouses
How military policies affect families in everyday life
Preserving military family stories in the historical record
Rethinking traditional narratives of service and sacrifice

Guest Bio

Jennifer Barnhill, MPA, is a journalist, researcher, and advocate whose work focuses on military families and policy. A former Military.com columnist and 2025 Armed Forces Insurance Navy Spouse of the Year, she is the author of The Military Stories You’ve Been Told and the Ones You Need to Hear, which combines reporting, historical context, and personal testimony to illuminate the experiences of military families.

The Military Stories You’ve Been Told and the Ones You Need to Hear

Bookshop: Paperback | Ebook

Connect with Jennifer: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Broadway’s Golden Age: How Musical Theatre Shaped American Culture

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:00:45 +0000

The Golden Age of Broadway transformed American musical theater and produced shows that continue to influence the stage today. Podcast host Brandon Davis explores the rise of the mid-century musical, the cultural impact of productions such as Oklahoma! and West Side Story, and how Broadway reflected changing ideas about American life, identity, and society.

Key Topics

The rise of Broadway’s Golden Age
How the American musical evolved during the mid-twentieth century
Oklahoma! and its influence on musical theater
West Side Story and changing approaches to storytelling
Broadway’s relationship with American culture and social change
Why Golden Age musicals continue to resonate today

Guest Bio

Brandon Davis is the host of Front Row Classics, a podcast celebrating classic film and entertainment history. Launched in 2015, Front Row Classics has been part of NPR Illinois since 2019, where Brandon shares his passion for classic entertainment and its cultural legacy.

Connect with Brandon: Front Row Classics Podcast | Instagram | X | Bluesky | Facebook

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

African Women in Ancient History: Queens, Leaders, and Untold Stories

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:00:29 +0000

Across African history, women ruled kingdoms, led armies, challenged empires, and shaped the societies around them. Historian Katy Clark explores the lives of queens, consorts, and warriors featured in African Women of the Ancient World, examining their leadership, resilience, and the challenges of recovering women’s stories from the distant past.

Key Topics

Women’s leadership across African history
Hatshepsut and female power in ancient Egypt
Queen Amanirenas and the challenge to Rome
Queen Nzinga Mbande and resistance to Portuguese expansion
Dahia al-Kahina and the history of North Africa
Separating history, tradition, and legend when studying ancient women
Recovering women whose stories have often been overshadowed

Guest Bio

Katy Clark is a historian and author specializing in women’s history. She is the creator of Remember the Ladies, where she highlights women and their contributions throughout history, and the author of African Women of the Ancient World: Queens, Consorts, and Warriors.

African Women of the Ancient World: Queens, Consorts, Warriors, Women

Bookshop: Hardback

Connect with Katy: Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Medium

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Growing Up Roosevelt: Family, Legacy, and Life Inside a Presidential Dynasty

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 08:00:02 +0000

To the world, Eleanor Roosevelt was a First Lady, diplomat, humanitarian, and one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. To Nina Roosevelt Gibson, she was Grandmère. Drawing from her memoir Growing Up Roosevelt, Nina shares personal memories of life with her grandmother at Val-Kill, their travels together, and the family experiences that reveal a more intimate side of Eleanor Roosevelt.

Key Topics

Growing up with Eleanor Roosevelt at Val-Kill
Val-Kill as a family home and important place in Eleanor’s life
Traveling with Eleanor as a child and teenager
Eleanor’s relationships with family, friends, and world leaders
The private woman behind the public figure
Eleanor’s compassion, humanitarianism, and commitment to others
The values and lessons Nina carries from her grandmother

Guest Bio

Nina Roosevelt Gibson is an author, psychologist, and granddaughter of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. The daughter of their youngest son, John Roosevelt, she spent formative years living at Val-Kill and traveling with Eleanor Roosevelt. In her memoir, Growing Up Roosevelt, Nina shares personal memories of her grandmother, family life, and the remarkable people and experiences that shaped her childhood.

Growing Up Roosevelt

Amazon: Hardcover | Kindle

Bookshop: Hardback | Ebook

The Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill: https://ervk.org/growing-up-roosevelt/

The Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill: Learn More About Their Work & Mission

Books Mentioned

Exodus by Leon Uris: Bookshop Paperback

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

The Theatre of Grief: Edwin Booth, Tragedy, and the American Stage

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 08:00:04 +0000

Edwin Booth was one of America’s most celebrated Shakespearean actors, but his life and legacy were forever altered by his brother John Wilkes Booth’s assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Historian Elizabeth M. Reese explores Edwin’s remarkable theatrical career, the burden of the Booth family name, and his efforts to rebuild his life and reputation amid grief, fame, and a nation struggling with the aftermath of the Civil War.

Key Topics

Edwin Booth’s rise as one of America’s leading Shakespearean actors
The Booth family and nineteenth-century American theater
The impact of Lincoln’s assassination on Edwin’s life and career
Edwin’s relationship with his brother John Wilkes Booth
Rebuilding his career and the Booth family reputation
Grief, public memory, and national healing after the Civil War
Edwin Booth’s lasting influence on American theater

Guest Bio

Elizabeth M. Reese is a historian whose work explores public memory, family, and grief. A longtime public historian, she is the author of Marquis de Lafayette Returns and has written for TIME, The New York Times, and the Journal of the American Revolution. She is currently writing a book examining Edwin Booth’s influence on American theater and his life in the aftermath of Lincoln’s assassination.

Books Mentioned

America’s Original Sin by John Rhodehamel: Amazon Hardback | Kindle | Bookshop

Booth by Karen Joy Fowler: Bookshop Paperback | Bookshop Ebook

Othello Recording from Edwin Booth: YouTube

Connect with Elizabeth: Website | Instagram | Bluesky | Substack

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Adele Astaire: Grace, Glamour, and a Life Beyond the Stage

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 08:00:44 +0000

Before Fred Astaire became a Hollywood legend, he shared the stage with his equally talented sister, Adele Astaire. Author Eliza Knight explores Adele’s remarkable career as a celebrated performer in New York and London, her partnership with Fred, and the life she built after stepping away from the stage at the height of her fame.

Key Topics

Adele and Fred Astaire’s early career as a brother-sister act
Adele’s success on Broadway and the London stage
Her personality, talent, and appeal to audiences
Adele’s relationship and partnership with Fred
Her decision to leave the stage and marry Lord Charles Cavendish
Researching Adele’s life for historical fiction
Recovering Adele’s place in twentieth-century entertainment history

Guest Bio

Eliza Knight is an award-winning USA Today and international bestselling author of historical fiction. She is the creator of the history blog History Undressed, host of the History, Books and Wine podcast, and author of Starring Adele Astaire, a historical novel inspired by the life and career of Adele Astaire.

Starring Adele Astaire

Amazon: Paperback | Kindle

Bookshop: Paperback | Ebook

Books mentioned

The Frozen River by Ariel Lohan: Bookshop Paperback | Bookshop Ebook

Connect with Eliza: Website | History, Books & Wine Podcast | Facebook | Instagram | Amazon Author Page

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Women and Welfare in American History: The Untold Stories Behind Social Policy

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 07:00:02 +0000

Women played a central but often overlooked role in building and administering America’s social safety net. Historian Alycia Asai explores how women transformed traditions of community care and charity into professional social work, the influence of figures such as Frances Perkins, and how debates over welfare and public assistance have evolved over time.

Key Topics

Women’s role in the development of America’s social safety net
The evolution of charity work into professional social work
Welfare administration as a career path for women
Frances Perkins and the Social Security Act of 1935
Gender and the history of public assistance
How historical debates over welfare continue to resonate today

Guest Bio

Alycia Asai is an independent historian and host of Civics and Coffee: A History Podcast. She earned her master’s degree from Sonoma State University, where she studied the evolution of the American social safety net with a focus on women in welfare administration. Trained in oral history, her writing has appeared in Inside History and Nursing Clio.

Alycia's Masters Thesis: Beyond Bureaucrats: The Sonoma County Women Behind Implementing Welfare Reform & the Affordable Care Act

Nursing Clio Piece: Hidden Casualties

Books Mentioned

Creating a Female Dominion in American Reform, 1890-1935 by Robyn Muncy: Bookshop

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Ancient Egypt Beyond the Pyramids: Daily Life, Culture, and Hidden Histories

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Ancient Egypt was about far more than pharaohs, pyramids, and monumental tombs. Egyptologist and museum educator Melissa in De Nile explores the everyday lives of ancient Egyptians, the role of animals in Egyptian culture, the fascinating history of Amarna, and how historians and archaeologists separate evidence from enduring myths.

Key Topics

Daily life in Ancient Egypt
Dogs and animals in Egyptian society and culture
The history and mysteries of Amarna
Common myths and misconceptions about Ancient Egypt
How archaeology helps reconstruct everyday life
Making Ancient Egyptian history accessible beyond academia

Guest Bio

Melissa in De Nile is an Egyptologist, archaeologist, museum educator, and history content creator. She launched Melissa in De Nile in 2020 to make Ancient Egyptian art, archaeology, and history engaging and accessible to wider audiences through social media, digital content, and museum education.

Books mentioned

⁠Mummies in the Morning⁠ by Mary Pope Osborne: Amazon | Bookshop

⁠Mummies and Pyramids⁠ by Mary Pope Osborne & Will Osborne: Bookshop

⁠Come, Tell Me How You Live⁠ by Agatha Christie Mallowan: Bookshop

Nefertiti: A Novel ⁠by Michelle Moran: Amazon | Bookshop

Connect with Holley: ⁠Buy Me A Coffee⁠ | ⁠Website ⁠| ⁠LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Why America Feels So Divided: Civics, Polarization, and Democracy Explained

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Civic education shapes how Americans understand their government, history, and role in democracy. Educator and writer Paul Rader explores the importance of civics, the roots of modern political polarization, and how a stronger understanding of history can encourage more informed and constructive civic engagement.

Key Topics

The importance of civic education
Understanding American government and democracy
The historical roots of political polarization
How polarization affects civic participation
The role of history in understanding contemporary politics
Encouraging informed and constructive civic engagement

Guest Bio

Paul Rader is an educator, writer, and host of the Politics with Paul podcast. He is the author of Why Independents Rarely Win Elections: And How They Could Become More Competitive and founder of Detoxify American Politics, a nonpartisan civic education initiative focused on strengthening civic awareness and engagement.

Connect with Paul: Linktree | Website | Detoxify American Politics | Politicswith Paul Podcast | LinkedIn

Paul’s Book: Why Independents Rarely Win Elections: And How They Could Become More Competitive | Kindle Version

Reads mentioned: Why Parties?: The Origin and Transformation of Political Parties in America by John Aldrich | The Federalist Papers

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Bruce Springsteen and the Vietnam War: Music, Memory, and American History

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Episode Description

Music can preserve powerful connections to memory, place, and the people who shape our lives. Historian and curator Melissa Ziobro explores the legacy of Bruce Springsteen, from preserving his archives and curating Springsteen: His Hometown to researching his connections to the Vietnam War, while examining the broader relationship between music, memory, and American history.

Key Topics

Preserving and interpreting Bruce Springsteen’s legacy
The creation of Springsteen: His Hometown
Springsteen’s personal connections to the Vietnam War
Music as a source of memory and historical storytelling
New Jersey history and the legacy of Fort Monmouth
The role of archives and museums in preserving music history

Guest Bio

Melissa Ziobro is a historian, curator, and Director of Curatorial Affairs at Monmouth University’s Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music. She previously worked as a historian, archivist, and curator for the U.S. Army at Fort Monmouth and later joined the faculty at Monmouth University. Her work explores music, military, and New Jersey history.

Connect with Melissa: LinkedIn | Springsteen Archives | Monmouth Profile

Melissa’s Books: Fort Monmouth: The U.S. Army’s House of Magic (2024) | The Battlin’ Bastards of Bravo (2025)

Books mentioned: Don’t Stop: Why We (Still) Love Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours by Alan Light

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Female Spies of the American Revolution: Hidden Histories Revealed

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Women played important but often difficult-to-document roles in intelligence gathering during the American Revolution. Historian and author Aly Riley explores female espionage, Revolutionary intelligence networks, the mystery surrounding Agent 355, and the challenges of reconstructing the lives of women whose contributions were rarely preserved in the historical record.

Key Topics

Women and espionage during the American Revolution
Revolutionary-era intelligence networks
The enduring mystery of Agent 355
Recovering women’s stories from limited historical records
Separating evidence from legend in the history of espionage
Bringing overlooked women back into the Revolutionary narrative

Guest Bio

Aly Riley is an American historian and author who earned her master’s degree in history from Monmouth University in 2021. She is the author of She Spies, which explores women and espionage during the American Revolution, and Spirits and Secrets.

Connect with Aly: LinkedIn | Instagram | She Spies

Books mentioned: Invisible Ink: Spycraft of the American Revolution by John A. Nagy | 1776 by David McCullough

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

The Gilded Age and Its Legacy: How History Shapes Modern Pop Culture

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

History does not always fit neatly into political, social, or cultural categories. Historian Matthew Hild discusses his wide-ranging work, from the labor struggles and political movements of the Gilded Age to researching popular figures such as Andy Gibb and Olivia Newton-John, and what these subjects reveal about the many ways we understand and tell the American story.

Key Topics

Labor, politics, and society during the Gilded Age
Why the Gilded Age continues to resonate today
Connecting academic history with popular storytelling
Researching the life and career of Andy Gibb
Olivia Newton-John and popular culture
Making history accessible to broader audiences

Guest Bio

Matthew Hild is the Civic Education and Learning Initiatives Manager and a Lecturer of History at Georgia Tech. He is the author or co-author of seven books covering American labor, political, and cultural history, with work spanning the Gilded Age to modern popular culture.

Connect with Matt: LinkedIn | Georgia Tech Profile | Amazon Author Page | Andy Gibb Book

Book mentioned: Equality: An American Dilemma, 1866-1896 by Charles Postel

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

Pat Nixon: The Enigmatic First Lady and Her Untold Story

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Often portrayed as reserved or overlooked, Pat Nixon played a significant role as First Lady during a period of political and social change. Biographer Heath Hardage Lee explores the woman behind the public image, from Pat’s Western upbringing and international diplomacy to her views on women’s issues, marriage, and the demands of public life.

Key Topics

Pat Nixon’s upbringing and the experiences that shaped her
Her role in international diplomacy as First Lady
Pat’s views on women’s rights and the changing role of women
Her public image and relationship with the media
Pat and Richard Nixon’s marriage and life in politics
Myths and misconceptions surrounding her life and legacy

Guest Bio

Heath Hardage Lee is an award-winning historian, biographer, and curator. She is the author of The League of Wives and The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: Washington’s Most Private First Lady, the first commercial biography of Pat Nixon in nearly four decades. She also serves on the boards of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE) and Biographers International Organization (BIO).

Heath’s Links

Website: https://heathleeauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heath_hlee/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathleeauthor

The Mysterious Mrs. Nixon: Amazon link

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

Listen on YouTube: Channel

The Power of Storytelling: How Communities Preserve Their History

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:06:00 +0000

Local history can reveal how communities are shaped by faith, activism, and the experiences of everyday people. Public historian Shae Corey explores the power of oral history and community storytelling, drawing on her research into religious activism and neighborhood life in Washington, D.C.

Key Topics

Oral history and the importance of preserving lived experience
Religious activism and its influence on Washington, D.C., communities
The history behind The Holy Local podcast
Combining archival research with community memory
Digital storytelling as a tool for public history
Preserving histories that can be overlooked in traditional narratives

Guest Bio

Shae Corey is a historian whose research focuses on religious activism and its role in shaping urban communities. She earned her master’s degree in Public History from American University and is pursuing a PhD in History at George Mason University. She is also the creator of The Holy Local, a podcast exploring the history and legacy of Washington, D.C.’s Church of the Saviour community.

Shae’s Links

Website: www.shaecorey.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaecatherinecorey/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shae-corey-34902a168/
Holy Local Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/39seO22mrCfssARdiRF8Bz?si=ed96b9090aad4a33

Books Recommended by Shae

Foul Bodies: Cleanliness in Early America by Kathleen M. Brown Amazon link

Holley’s Links

Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/sayitwithhistory
Website: www.holleysnaith.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holleysnaith/
Listen on YouTube: Channel

The Price of Stardom: Fame and Identity in Old Hollywood

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 11:06:00 +0000

Behind the glamour of Classic Hollywood was a studio system that carefully controlled the images, careers, and personal lives of its stars. Historical fiction author Martin Turnbull explores the world behind the silver screen, the human cost of fame, and how his research brings the people and places of Hollywood’s Golden Age to life.

Key Topics

The glamour and realities of Hollywood’s Golden Age
How the studio system shaped and controlled its stars
The people and history behind The Garden of Allah series
Researching and writing historical fiction
The personal cost of fame and maintaining a public image
Separating Hollywood myth from historical reality

Guest Bio

Martin Turnbull is a historical fiction author and Classic Hollywood expert originally from Melbourne, Australia. After moving to Los Angeles in the 1990s, he developed a deep knowledge of the city and its entertainment history through his work as a researcher and tour guide. His novels, including The Garden of Allah series, explore the people, places, and stories of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Martin’s Links

Website: https://martinturnbull.com/
X: https://x.com/TurnbullMartin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martinturnbullauthor/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/martinturnbull.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gardenofallahnovels
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/turnbullauthor/

Garden of Allah Novels

Amazon link

Books Mentioned

By Myself and Then Some by Lauren Bacall

Holley’s Links

Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/sayitwithhistory
Website: www.holleysnaith.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holleysnaith/
Listen on YouTube: Channel

Saving the Eleanor Roosevelt School

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 11:06:00 +0000

The Eleanor Roosevelt School in Warm Springs, Georgia, represents an important chapter in the history of Black education and the Rosenwald School movement. Voncher Walker shares the school’s remarkable history, its connections to Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, and the work she and her brother Debron are undertaking to preserve the property for future generations.

Key Topics

The history of the Eleanor Roosevelt School
The Rosenwald School movement and Black education in the South
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s connections to the school
The challenges of historic preservation
Preserving historic places through community investment and partnerships

Guest Bio

Voncher Walker is an entrepreneur and investor who, with her brother Debron Walker, purchased the historic Eleanor Roosevelt School in Warm Springs, Georgia, in 2020. She is working to preserve the 1936 school and transform it into a museum, event space, and educational tourism destination that honors its history and legacy.

Links

Eleanor Roosevelt School: http://erso1936.com
YouTube Video: Siblings acquire a National Treasure, Eleanor Roosevelt - Last Rosenwald School
Voncher’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its_voncher/
Voncher’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@its_voncher

Books Recommended by Voncher

The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter Godwin Woodson Amazon link
Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin Amazon link
Growing Up Roosevelt by Nina Roosevelt Gibson Amazon link

Holley’s Links

Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/sayitwithhistory
Website: www.holleysnaith.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holleysnaith/
Listen on YouTube: Channel

Introducing Say It With History: Conversations That Shaped The Past with Holley Snaith

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

I am Holley Snaith—historian, writer, and your host. Say It With History is a show about the people, stories, and unexpected threads of the past that shape how we think, create, and connect today.

In each episode, I sit down with authors, artists, podcasters, educators, and creatives whose work is rooted in history—but always speaking to the present. From overlooked historical figures and cultural movements to the way history shows up in books, films, classrooms, and everyday conversations, we’ll explore it all with curiosity, depth, and a little bit of fun.

If you love a good story, enjoy thoughtful conversations, and want to see how history lives in the world around us, you’re in the right place.

Follow or subscribe so you never miss a conversation. Thanks for being here—I cannot wait to explore the past with you.

Website: www.holleysnaith.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holleysnaith/

Listen on YouTube: Channel