Dr. Esmacher's History Podcast

Dr. Esmacher's History Podcast

By Dr. Melissa EsmacherEducationCourses
Download on the App Store

Dr. Esmacher's History Podcast episodes

  • World War II and American Food Culture: Project Wrap-Up

    In this episode, Dr. Esmacher and Jaime discuss the research process, what they learned, and where they'd like to take this project in the future.

    This episode is part of "World War II and American Food Culture," researched, written, and produced by Dr. Melissa Esmacher (History Professor, El Paso Community College) and student research assistant Jaime Sparks. This project was part of the EPCC-UTEP Mellon Humanities Collaborative, 2025-26, funded by the Mellon Foundation.

    48 min
  • World War II and American Food Culture Episode 3: "How Does Your (Victory) Garden Grow?"

    This episode covers the phenomenon of victory gardens, which encouraged Americans to grow and eat their own food during World War II.

    This episode is part of "World War II and American Food Culture," researched, written, and produced by Dr. Melissa Esmacher (History Professor, El Paso Community College) and student research assistant Jaime Sparks. This project was part of the EPCC-UTEP Mellon Humanities Collaborative, 2025-26, funded by the Mellon Foundation.

    6 min
  • World War II and American Food Culture Episode 2: "Food Is Fuel"

    In this episode, the issue of nutrition is the main focus. The field of nutrition science grew in the interwar period and impacted American ability to fight and win World War II.

    This episode is part of "World War II and American Food Culture," researched, written, and produced by Dr. Melissa Esmacher (History Professor, El Paso Community College) and student research assistant Jaime Sparks. This project was part of the EPCC-UTEP Mellon Humanities Collaborative, 2025-26, funded by the Mellon Foundation.

    8 min
  • World War II and American Food Culture Episode 1: "Food Will Win the War"

    In this episode, U.S. entry into World War II in 1941 sparks rationing of food. How much did the U.S. have to worry about food in comparison to the other countries at war?

    This episode is part of "World War II and American Food Culture," researched, written, and produced by Dr. Melissa Esmacher (History Professor, El Paso Community College) and student research assistant Jaime Sparks. This project was part of the EPCC-UTEP Mellon Humanities Collaborative, 2025-26, funded by the Mellon Foundation.

    8 min
  • Introduction: World War II and American Food Culture

    This teaser introduces the project "World War II and American Food Culture," researched, written, and produced by Dr. Melissa Esmacher (History Professor, El Paso Community College) and student research assistant Jaime Sparks. This project was part of the EPCC-UTEP Mellon Humanities Collaborative, 2025-26, funded by the Mellon Foundation.

    3 min
  • The Transformation of the American West
    In this episode, we cover the transformation of the American West between the Civil War and 1900, including the Homestead Act, the impact of the Second Industrial Revolution on western settlement, conflict between settlers and Native Americans, and rapid changes in Native American life.
    35 min
  • The Gilded Age
    In this episode, we look at why the 1870s-1890s gets nicknamed the Gilded Age, the Second Industrial Revolution, robber barons and monopolies, and the experience of the working classes.The first episode in Season 2: U.S. History from 1877-1941.
    43 min
  • The War on Terror
    In this episode, I talk about the impact of 9/11 - the larger pattern of terrorism against the U.S., the Bush Doctrine, our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the War on Terrorism's impact on civil liberties at home and abroad thanks to the Patriot Act.
    30 min
  • A Rapidly Changing World: The 1990s
    In this episode, I discuss the impact of computers and the internet, the roaring 1990s economy (before the bubble bursts), changing immigration patterns, and a snapshot of rising minority groups and the unique situations they faced in the 1990s.I promise I get to the Lewinsky scandal and impeachment next time!
    38 min

About Dr. Esmacher's History Podcast

From the publisher's feed

A podcast originally created in Spring 2020 as part of a shift of education to online in the wake of COVID-19. Dr. Melissa Esmacher is a professor of History and a librarian at El Paso Community…