Baseball has always been a central part of American culture, but did you know that it has an integral part in American history as well? From civil rights to globalization, elements of baseball have mirrored and even led these movements through time. Today, Mary is joined by Adam Cushing, BRI's COO and self-proclaimed baseball aficionado, and Dr. Vincent Cannato, professor of history at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, to discuss some of the most important movements reflected in baseball and America’s love of the game.

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/take-me-out-to-the-ball-game-how-does-baseball-mirror-history

How much of the Pilgrims' story is a myth, and what exactly is important to remember about the meal they shared with local Native Americans? Mary is joined by Tony and Kirk to delve into the Pilgrims' harrowing journey to Plymouth and first winter to understand and appreciate the larger themes of what we commemorate as Thanksgiving today.

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/what-is-the-significance-of-the-first-thanksgiving-today

We keep hearing about the Freemasons in pop culture movies and books, but how much do we actually know about how they fit into U.S. history? This episode, Gary and Haley are joined by Brad Kohanke, Freemason historian and author, to discuss insights on the Free Mason’s beliefs and values up through the present. Where do we see Masonic symbols around us, and what do they mean?

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/how-do-the-freemasons-fit-into-u-s-history

They always say “learn from the past,” but looking at the vastness of history, this is a daunting task. This week, Gary is joined by guest Kirk Higgins, Director of Content, to look at the decisions of Benedict Arnold, a prominent American Revolutionary military hero who defected to the British side in 1780. How can looking at Arnold’s own virtues and vices teach us how we can make good decisions? 

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/hero-to-traitor-benedict-arnold-vice

 Do you believe in ghosts? To kick off season four with spirit, Mary and Gary examine some of America's most haunting tales—both fiction and nonfiction—to discover larger revelations about our own humanity. Ghosts, spirits, phantoms, and apparitions: why do they have such a prominent role in our past and present?

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/ghost-stories-in-american-history

BRI's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BillofRightsInst

Do your rights end at the schoolhouse door? In a special episode of Fabric of History, Mary and Gary are joined by Nick Capodice, co-host and Education Outreach Producer for Civics 101, the podcast refresher course on the basics of how democracy works. What do the decisions of cases like Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. teach us about the relationship between students’ rights and schools’ ability to enforce protocol? And what exactly is the difference between on-campus and off-campus speech?

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/resources/school-students-and-speech-a-constitution-day-special-with-civics-101s-nick-capodice-viewing-guide/

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They say all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and they are probably right. Join Gary, Eryn, and guest Kirk as they explore the many varieties of amusement Americans have enjoyed throughout the centuries, from Vaudeville to sports. What role does leisure time have in our everyday lives? Does amusement serve a grander purpose that affects other areas of our lives?

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/why-is-leisure-time-so-important

BRI's YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3xmvV1O

Is yesterday history? What about last week? At some point, the past eventually becomes history, but where exactly do we draw the line? Join Mary, Gary, Eryn, and special guest Matthew Housiaux, Reporter on the White House and State and Local Governments at The Kiplinger Letter, as they discuss the complex relationship between history and journalism. What does "good journalism" mean, and how does a diligent approach to consuming and recording current events help future historians?

Kiplinger: https://www.kiplinger.com/

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/journalism-the-first-draft-of-history

BRI's YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3xmvV1O

From James Bond to Jason Bourne, we are culturally obsessed with spies. But are our perceptions of American spies and intelligence agencies true to life? Join Mary, Eryn, and special guest Vince Houghton, Director of the National Cryptologic Museum and former Historian and Curator at the International Spy Museum, as they explore spying's evolution through American history. How do we ensure the intelligence community is responsible while also having the autonomy to do its job effectively?

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/spies-good-bad-or-in-between

BRI's YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3xmvV1O

If you lived around the time of the Revolutionary War, where would you go to stay informed? Odds are it would have been the local pub. Join Mary, Gary, and Eryn as they discuss the impacts pubs and other public gathering places had on American discourse. Why were these places so pivotal for the discussion of ideas? Where do Americans gather today for their discussions?

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/ye-olde-publick-house-dialogue

BRI's YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3xmvV1O