The start of the school year prompts Mary, Gary, and Eryn to reflect on the broader concept of education and how schooling has evolved throughout history. They'll explore how educational structures reflected the times during which they were implemented and what modern-day schooling says about our values today. Has the purpose of education changed over time? And what should the future of education look like?

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/why-educate

Check out our Fall Seminars and Events: https://billofrightsinstitute.arlo.co/w/upcoming/

For our first ever Fabric of History interview, Mary brings fellow BRI staff member Tony Williams on to discuss his book The Pox and the Covenant, a fascinating look at Boston’s 1721 smallpox epidemic and the far-reaching effects it had on colonial society and the relationship between science and religion. How did Puritan minister Cotton Mather and others employ new scientific methods to mitigate the epidemic? And what unlikely role did a young Benjamin Franklin have in response to them?

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/the-pox-and-the-covenant

Check out our Fall Seminars and Events: https://billofrightsinstitute.arlo.co/w/upcoming/

To continue our celebration of the 19th Amendment's ratification, Mary, Gary, and Eryn discuss the seminal works of Mary Wollstonecraft and her daughter, Mary Shelley. They’ll explore how both women were icons in their own rights, as Wollstonecraft famously advocated for enhanced female education in A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, while Shelley authored the sci-fi classic, Frankenstein. Learn how this mother-daughter pair proved to be an empowering force in the early struggle for women’s rights and equality!

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/the-two-marys

Check out our Fall Seminars and Events: https://billofrightsinstitute.arlo.co/w/upcoming/

With the Democratic and Republican National Conventions fast approaching, Mary, Gary, and Eryn take a look at the history behind these pivotal electoral systems. From the elitist presidential nominating processes that defined much of the 19th and 20th centuries, to the more inclusive systems of the modern era, the roles of party caucuses, primaries, and conventions have shifted considerably over time. How have today’s elections come to represent the voice of the people?

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/caucuses-to-conventions

Check out our Fall Seminars and Events: https://billofrightsinstitute.arlo.co/w/upcoming/

We hear the phrase "The American Dream" all the time, but what does it actually mean? In this episode of Fabric of History, Mary, Gary, and Eryn explore this question by tracing the origins of one of the most successful families in American history, the Vanderbilts. What do the legacies of some of its most prominent members teach us about integrity and human nature?

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/the-vanderbilts-and-the-american-dream

Check out our Fall Seminars and Events: https://billofrightsinstitute.arlo.co/w/upcoming/

Join Mary, Gary, and Eryn as they celebrate and reflect on the fascinating life of Amelia Earhart, a true American trailblazer. They’ll delve into the famed aviator’s cultural influence as a pioneering female figure, as well as the mysterious—and still unresolved—circumstances surrounding her disappearance in 1937, in the midst of a daring effort to circumnavigate the globe.

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/amelia-earhart-the-legend-and-the-person

The 4th has many different meanings for many different groups in America. Some see it as a time to celebrate with barbecues, others ask deep questions about the prevalence of slavery conflicting with the ideas of freedom for all presented in the Declaration of Independence, many do both! Mary, Gary, and Eryn explore these themes and more.

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/why-do-we-celebrate-the-fourth-of-july

In the final episode of season one, Mary, Gary, and Eryn travel back in time to the 1960s and listen to some of the most iconic songs from the period. They'll discuss how music and protest influenced each other during these pivotal years in American history, and how those involved in social change use music to convey their messages. What about this music made it so powerful back then and continues to inspire people today?

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/1960s-songs-for-a-generation

Mary, Eryn, and guest Kirk will discuss who exactly the bearded presidents of the late 1800s were and why they are largely forgotten today. They'll tie facial hair to a broader question of how appearance in our leaders has changed throughout the years, and what it says about society.

Visit our episode page for additional resources:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/beyond-the-beard

Join Mary, Gary, and Eryn as they choose to go to the moon. They'll discuss the true motivations behind the famous "space race," the future of humans in space, and reveal which one of them would make a terrible lab partner in the process.

View our episode page for additional details:
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/educate/educator-resources/fabric-of-history/space-and-beyond/