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

Education has the power to open doors - and from 1935 to 1965 the New Farmers of America helped introduce rural Black youth to the world. Join me as I sit down with Dr. Bobby J. Smith to discuss his latest book Black Farm Boys: The Untold Story of the New Farmers of America which explores the origins of the organization and traces its impact and legacy on Black youth in agriculture. In this conversation, Dr. Smith and I discuss: How the New Farmers of America (NFA) played a pivotal role in the

He was one Rhode Island's richest Black entrepreneurs. His death sent shockwaves into the small, coastal community of Newport. Initially ruled a suicide, rumors of family disputes, financial mismanagement, and concerns about a new addition to the household prompted authorities to dive deeper. What they exposed was a horrific story of greed and manipulation. Prepare yourself for the Gilded Age case of Benjamin J. Burton. And check out the novel A Harbor of Deceit mentioned during the episode. S

There has been a lot of talk lately about fascism, communism, and authoritarianism in U.S. politics, but what does the history tell us? Join me as I welcome historian Jackson van Uden to discuss his research on authoritarianism and its long thread through American history. Discover the distinctions between authoritarianism, fascism, and communism, and how these concepts manifest in various political contexts. Our conversation reflects on historical examples, including the founding era, Reconstru