During the 1990s a doll that taught kids about American History became a major force within the crowded toy market. The 18 inch historically accurate dolls were expensive and only available by mail order, but they managed to capture the imagination of an entire generation and in the process made inventor Pleasant Rowland incredibly wealthy. On this episode of History of the 90s we look back at the cultural phenomenon of American Girl.

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Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@that90spodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Guest info:

Emilie Zaslow, professor at Pace University in New York and author of Playing With America's Doll: Cultural Analysis of the American Girl Collection

www.emiliezaslow.com

Dominique Jean-Louis, the chief historian of the Center for Brooklyn History at the Brooklyn Public Library. Previously as a curator of history exhibits at the New York Historical Museum she worked on an exhibit that focused on the history and significance of Black Dolls in American history.

X: @DominiqueJL15

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On January 1, 1994, masked indigenous rebels burst from the

The Zapatista Army declared war on the Mexican Government demanding basics rights for the diverse Mayan communities who lived in extreme poverty through out the region. 

The rebellion, which captured the world’s attention thanks in part to the Zapatista’s charismatic leader, coincided with the enactment of the North American Free Trade Agreement and was disastrous for Mexican President Carlos Salinas who had promised his trade partners that Mexico was a modern, peaceful democratic country.

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Guest Info:

Neil Harvey, Professor New Mexico State University and

The Chiapas Rebellion; The Struggle for Land and Democracy

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Hey, it's Kathy and I wanted to give you a little teaser for another great podcast that you can now binge in full! Check out A Most Audacious Heist wherever you podcast: https://link.chtbl.com/heist

Everyone’s gotta start somewhere. Daniel enjoys his first taste of crime and the thrill of getting away with it. And a privileged young Sisi takes her freedom for granted not realizing she’s about to be caught in a trap. Is their destiny already written in the stars?   

Contact:

Facebook: @BlanchardHouseStories

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X (formerly Twitter): @BlanchardTweets

Blanchard House website: blanchard-house.com

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When The WB found success with the teen drama's 7th Heaven and Buffy the Vampire Slayer the fledgling new network decided to fully embrace the genre. On this episode we continue our look back at some of the iconic teen dramas that helped put The WB on the map during it's 11 year run and created core memories for the millennials who grew up watching them.

Sources for this episode include:

Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise and Fall of The WB and UPN

By Susanne Daniels and Cynthia Littleton

If hearing about Dawson's epic breakdown at the end of season three wasn't enough, you can watch it here.

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When The WB launched in January 1995 it's initial block of programming focused on comedy with four new sitcoms including The Wayans Brothers. But it wasn't comedy that would come to define the short lived television network. Instead The WB became known as the home of the teen drama. Over the next two episode we look back at some of the most iconic teen dramas ever seen on television. From Seventh Heaven and Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Dawson's Creek and Charmed, this is the story of The WB.

Sources for this episode include:

Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise and Fall of The WB and UPN

By Susanne Daniels and Cynthia Littleton

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Instagram: @that90spodcast

Email: [email protected]

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Canada's Kurt Browning made history at the 1988 World Figure Skating Championships when he became the first person to successfully land a quadruple jump in competition.

He went on to dominate men's figure skating into the 1990s, winning a record breaking four world titles, including three in a row from 1989 to 1991.

On this episode Kurt Browning joins us to talk about his amazing career and what it was like to be a superstar skater in the 90s.

Guest Info:

Kurt Browning Stars On Ice

Instagram: @kb. on.ice

X: @KurtBrowning

SHOW INFO:

Show Info: 

Instagram: @that90spodcast  

TikTok: @90spodcast 

Email: [email protected] 

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When Tupac Shakur was gunned down in September 1996 it ended his short but monumental career as a rapper and actor. But his death did not stop his popularity and influence from continuing to grow.

In this episode of History of the 90s we’re looking back at the extraordinary life and career of one of the most influential and controversial figures in hip-hop history.

Guest Info:

Ian Steaman, award-winning screenwriter and former music industry executive

www.iansteaman.com

Instagram: @ian.steaman

SHOW INFO:

Show Info: 

Instagram: @that90spodcast  

TikTok: @90spodcast 

Email: [email protected] 

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This year marks 35 years since Nelson Mandela was released from prison and apartheid was dismantled in South Africa.

To mark the anniversary we are revisiting an episode that looks at some of aspects of the anti-apartheid struggle that you might not know: pirate radio and protest songs.

Pirate radio was a weapon used by the African National Congress to inspire black South Africans and to counter propaganda and misinformation by the apartheid government. While protest songs performed by western musicians played a pivotal role in raising awareness in the rest of the world about the injustices in South Africa.

Songs mentioned in episode:

Biko, by Peter Gabriel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luVpsM3YAgw

Free Nelson Mandela, by The Special AKA https://youtu.be/FmKiq0mQd8c?si=5J-EdHYYZU4rbusW

Sun City, by Artists United Against Apartheid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BIvf-ZlJNc

Guest Info:

Sekibakiba Peter Lekgoathi (Ph.D.)

Associate Professor of History

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

SHOW INFO:

Show Info: 

Instagram: @that90spodcast  

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Email: [email protected] 

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It’s a summer night in 1998. Vienna, Austria. And petty thief Daniel Blanchard is about to carry out the heist of a lifetime. Stealing a crown jewel. The last remaining diamond Sisi Star.

His plan? A daring night-time parachute jump.

Daniel is no ordinary thief. His heists are ingenious, meticulously planned; his escapes from the law defy belief. And Daniel knows that if he can get his hands on the star, it will launch him into the criminal big-leagues.

Daniel’s exploits unleash a relentless game of cat-and-mouse, as police track him across continents yet vanishes from their grasp. 

What he doesn’t know is that the Sisi Star has a history. A dark history. Its original owner, the legendary Empress Elisabeth of Austria, used it to carve her own legacy of absolute beauty and power. That pursuit drove her to her very limits. 

And now Daniel’s fate is fixed to that same star. But how long can Sisi’s star stay lucky for Daniel? 

This is A Most Audacious Heist – it’s the story of a master thief, an intercontinental manhunt, and the jewel that changes everything.

Contact:

Facebook: @BlanchardHouseStories

Instagram: @BlanchardHouseStories

X (formerly Twitter): @BlanchardTweets

Blanchard House website: blanchard-house.com

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During the 1990s TV’s approach to LGBTQ+ characters underwent a dramatic transformation.

Groundbreaking storylines on numerous shows including My So Called Life, Roseanne, Ellen and Will and Grace played a crucial role in increasing queer representation on television.

On this Episode of History of the ‘90s we look back at some of the characters and shows that helped bring more queer content into the mainstream.

GUEST INFO:

Stephen Tropiano, Professor and Program Director of Ithaca College’s JB Pendleton Center in Los Angeles. Author of The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV

Ron Becker, Professor of Media and Communication and Strategic Communication at Miami University. Author of Gay TV and Straight America

SHOW INFO:

Show Info: 

Instagram: @that90spodcast  

TikTok: @90spodcast 

Email: [email protected] 

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