History often feels segmented—political events in one corner, cultural icons in another—but the stories that endure most powerfully are those that reveal unexpected connections. In this episode, historian Matthew Hild explores the Gilded Age’s lasting grip on American imagination and how it resonates through modern pop culture.

From railroads and labor struggles to the lives of Andy Gibb and Olivia Newton-John, we discuss how his research bridges academic history and popular biography, showing the timeless drive to tell stories that connect past to present.

Matthew Hild is the Civic Education and Learning Initiatives Manager and Lecturer of History at Georgia Tech. He is the author or co-author of seven books on American labor, political, and cultural history. His work spans the Gilded Age through today, with a recent focus on music legends Andy Gibb and Olivia Newton-John.

Connect with Matt: LinkedIn | Georgia Tech Profile | Amazon Author Page | Andy Gibb Book

Book mentioned: Equality: An American Dilemma, 1866-1896 by Charles Postel

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn | Bluesky | Instagram | Medium | Substack

Email: [email protected]