History Talk, the history podcast from Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective

Long before the recent initiatives to strengthen the border wall with Mexico and contentious debates surrounding immigration and deportation, the U.S. and Mexico have had a tangled history of both animosity and cooperation. From the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War to the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement, what can history tell us about the current state of affairs and prospects for the future between the U.S. and Mexico? Join us as hosts Brenna Miller and Jessica Blissit discuss U.S.-Mexican relations with three experts: Dr. Elena Albarran (Miami University), Dr. Mathew Coleman (Ohio State University), and Dr. Lilia Fernandez (Rutgers University).

An in-text version of this episode can be found at: https://origins.osu.edu/historytalk/shifting-borders-many-sides-us-mexican-relations

In recent years, Russia has gained prominence on the world stage. From hosting the Olympics, to regional interventions, to allegations of interference in foreign elections, the country's international activities suggest that its leadership is on a mission to shape world affairs. But what exactly does Russia want? And how does this compare to its ambitions in the past? In this episode of History Talk, hosts Jessica Blissit and Brenna Miller talk to two experts—Stephen Norris and Gerry Hudson—about the Russian perspective on world affairs and the role that power, prestige, and influence play in shaping the country's foreign objectives.

Guests:

Stephen Norris - Professor of history and Interim Director, Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies at Miami University in Ohio.

Gerry Hudson - Ohio State University Mershon Center Associate and Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Wittenberg, specializing in Russian politics and Russian foreign policy.

An in-text version of this episode can be found at: https://origins.osu.edu/historytalk/russia-and-world

Today, urban and rural areas seem more distant than ever. Pitted against one another on a range of economic, political and social issues, many attributed the outcome of the 2016 election to the frustrations of just 15% of rural American voters. But is the divide that clear? Are the differences that stark? And are conflicts between rural and urban areas a new phenomenon? Explore the history of rural-urban conflicts with hosts Brenna Miller and Jessica Blissit as they speak with three experts on rural-urban relations: Steven Conn, Clay Howard, and Mark Partridge. Discover the long history of conflict, animosity, and rare moments of cooperation and shared goals.

An in-text version of this episode can be found at: https://origins.osu.edu/historytalk/fault-lines-urban-rural-divide-america

In March 2017 Nevada became the first state in 40 years to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment—a provision written to address discrimination on the basis of sex. Now, in an atmosphere of renewed national attention on issues affecting women, this proposed amendment could be just two states short of addition to the United States Constitution. Explore the long history of the ERA with hosts Jessica Blissit and Brenna Miller as they speak with three historians: Kimberly Hamlin, Susan Hartmann, and Katherine Marino. Find out why it stalled and how for nearly a century the ERA has garnered both passionate supporters and ardent opponents.

Guests:

Kimberly Hamlin - Associate Professor of History and Director of the American Studies Program at Miami University in Ohio specializing in gender, women, and science.

Susan Hartmann - Emeritus Professor in the the Ohio State University Department of History specializing in American and women’s history.

Katherine Marino - Assistant Professor in the departments of History and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the Ohio State University specializing in the history of women, gender, and sexuality in the Americas and transnational feminism.

An in-text version of this text can be found at: https://origins.osu.edu/article/are-women-people-equal-rights-amendment-then-and-now

Zoos are some of the world’s most visited attractions. Yet they often make headlines for controversial reasons such as in 2016 when the Cincinnati Zoo shot and killed a gorilla after a child fell into the animal’s enclosure or in 2017 when poachers killed a rhinoceros at a Paris Zoo for its horns. While schoolchildren and adults alike may delight at the prospect of a trip to the zoo, historically zoos have represented far more than a fun way to spend an afternoon. Explore zoos past and present in this episode of History Talk where hosts Brenna Miller and Jessica Blissit speak with McMaster University historians Drs. Daniel Vandersomers and Tracy McDonald.

An in-text version of this episode can be found at:https://origins.osu.edu/historytalk/caged-humans-and-animals-zoo

As the struggle between members of the Standing Rock Reservation and their allies against the Dakota Access Pipeline continues, History Talk takes a look at the long-term patterns of Native American relations with the U.S. government. Hosts Jessica Blissit and Brenna Miller and guests David Nichols, Christine Ballengee Morris, and Daniel Rivers discuss the specific environmental and sovereignty concerns surrounding construction of the DAPL, as well as how this issue fits into the larger history of Native American treaties, resistance, and protests.

Guests:

David Nichols - Associate Professor of History and specialist in early American and Native American history at Indiana State University.

Daniel Rivers - Associate Professor of History specializing in 20th century LGBT communities, Native American history, sexuality, and protest movements at the Ohio State University.

Christine Ballengee Morris - Professor in the Ohio State University’s Arts Administration, Education and Policy Department and American Indian Studies Coordinator for OSU.

An in-text version of this episode can be found at:https://origins.osu.edu/historytalk/native-sovereignty-and-dakota-access-pipeline

For more on the Standing Rock protests, see David Nichols' article for Origins: Current Events in Historical Perspective, "Treaties and Sovereign Performances, from Westphalia to Standing Rock," at: https://origins.osu.edu/article/treaties-and-sovereign-performances-westphalia-standing-rock

As the world considers how to respond to climate change, China has emerged as the great paradox. With its fast-growing economy, China has become the leading producer of CO2 (though not on a per-capita basis). Simultaneously, it has become the world's leading producer of green and renewable energy. In this episode of History Talk, hosts Jessica Blissit and Brenna Miller talk to three experts—David Pietz, Betsy Brunner, and Ruth Mostern—about the problems facing China today, the short and long-term history of China’s relationship to the environment, and what global role China might play in the coming years in confronting climate change.

An in-text version of this episode can be found at: https://origins.osu.edu/historytalk/greening-china

In this episode of History Talk, hosts Brenna Miller and Jessica Blissit speak with three experts on North Korea: Deborah Solomon, Mitchell Lerner, and Youngbae Hwang. Westerners tend to think of North Korea as an isolated "Hermit Kingdom" led by crazy dictators, but what is the view from inside Pyongyang? Join us as we discuss when and how North Korea got its nickname, debate its accuracy, and find out what's shaping North Korea's decisions.

An in-text version of this episode can be found at: https://origins.osu.edu/historytalk/north-korea-myth-hermit-kingdom

In this episode of History Talk, hosts Jessica Blissit and Brenna Miller interview three experts on American politics—Kimberly Hamlin, Marc Horger, and Paula Baker—in the wake of the 2016 presidential election. Together, they reflect on the nature of political campaigns, the role of race, class, and gender in American politics, and what has caused and what can be done about the growing cultural and political divide occurring across the country. Join us as we consider the ways that the campaign and Donald Trump’s victory both fit and defy historical trends in American politics, and where we go from here.

An in-text version of this episode can be found at: https://origins.osu.edu/historytalk/americas-post-election-political-landscape

Since the 1970s, the "War on Drugs" has absorbed billions of dollars, fueled armed interventions overseas, imprisoned millions of individuals, and stigmatized inner city communities--all without appearing to have produced a measurable impact on actual drug use. In this episode of History Talk, hosts Patrick Potyondy and Mark Sokolsky interview three experts on the history of drug and alcohol regulation in America: Scott Martin on 19th century temperance and alcohol prohibition, Steven Siff on the illegalization and legalization of marijuana, and Clay Howard on the “urban crisis” of the 1980s and drugs, race, and disparities in enforcement. In each segment, they consider why drugs were made illegal in the first place, whether the fight is worth the cost, and what insights history may have for addressing drug use in America today.

An in-text version of this episode can be found at: https://origins.osu.edu/historytalk/hooked-drugs-prohibition-and-american-cities