The Supreme Court is considered the final authority on constitutional legal matters in the United States - but was this always the case? In her new book, The Political Supreme Court, Dr. Rachel Shelden argues that for the first century of its existence, the Supreme Court was part of the political dialogue. Join me as I sit with Dr. Shelden to explore the historical intertwining of the Supreme Court with American politics in the 19th century including the key figures and pivotal events, illustrat

A secluded summer camp, a group of teenagers left to their own devices, and a faceless murderous stalker watching them from the woods - what could possibly go wrong? For this year's annual Halloween episode, I am diving behind the mask to give you the history of the 1980 horror film Friday the 13th. From the commitment to realistic effects to the addition of a last minute jump scare, learn all about this nearly fifty year old franchise - and why some say it actually serves as a metaphor for the

Is the American experiment in democracy undergoing a temporary setback? Or is it undergoing a racial reckoning 400 years in the making? That is what Dr. Kelly Burton explores in her book The Price of Union: Race, Power, and the Make of American Democracy. Join me as I discuss her book and what motivated Dr. Burton's research - and where she thinks the United States goes from here. In this conversation, Dr. Burton and I discuss: Dr. Burton's book where she argues that America's origins are root

Carving pumpkins, bobbing for apples, and sharing ghost stories are just some of the wholesome Halloween traditions Americans love to enjoy every year, but what were things like during the rapidly changing era known as the Gilded Age? Join me as I explore the festivities of Halloween during the Gilded Age! Learn how the elite used Halloween as another way to celebrate and showcase their wealth and why Spiritualism was a popular religious - and secular - movement. I also highlight the rise of the