In this final episode with Bruce, we discuss the rise of the paperback, the heyday of 20th century publishing, science fiction’s origins in magazines, and the meaning of books and reading. Also, some good old fashioned speculation on the future of reading and literacy: Why haven’t ebooks overtaken physical books in popularity? How is social media affecting literacy? And are writers being reduced to simple soundbites and Good Reads quote pages and bad graphic design posters?

What were presidental and congressional elections like in the pre-internet era? What were the clichés and labels of political discussions of the time? This and much more discussed as we examine politics in the mid-20th century.

Many of us in the Midwest grow up with California dreams. So this podcast is about what this dreaming consists of, where it comes from, and how it is or is not achieved. Some people do make this dream come true. Some people make it to Denver or Alaska, but two of the four of us, Matt and Justin, made it all the way to San Diego and L. A., with some detours.

Why did millions of Americans flock to NBC on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1964 and remain rapt viewers until Batman destroyed their showrunning savoir faire? What do writers like Ian Fleming, Stan Lee, and John Le Carre, have in Common? How did organizations like MI6, CIA, KGB, U.N.C.L.E., THRUSH and SPECTRE become commonplace lingo with the moviegoing public?

Computers in the 50s and 60s were glorified calculators, existing as giant mainframes in large rooms, before the personal computer revolutions of the 70s and 80s. See how these dramatic changes affected the lives of normal citizens through the lens of an english professor at a university who brought computers to the classroom in the early 80s and sent his first email in 1983, travelled to Africa with a laptop in the 90s, and still plays with the latest gadgets to this day.

What is schooling in a democratic society? Focus on the schooling this Akron boy received in the 1960s, from grade school to junior and senior high and the differences and similarities between now and then--through the eyes of a boy, dad, now a grandpa.

Bruce reflects on his experiences of the day Kennedy died, and what occurred in the heart of the nation and the news media as remembered through the eyes of a young boy growing up in Akron, Ohio. Justin Edwards co-hosts this week and they get into what the assassination meant for America, and how our “Camelot” was never the same.

Disney played a prominent role in establishing animation as a mainstream medium for children and adults, but lesser examined might be their impact on American culture through television, live action film, and Walt Disney’s obsession with creating a total experience such as Disneyland.

TV played a surprisingly subversive role in diversifying musical genres and introducing some American pop and folk groups and Motown R&B stars that people otherwise may not have heard. We review shows such as Hootenanny, Shindig and Hullabaloo from the 60s, and examine how they broke the hold of AM radio formats and advertisers on programming.

Sputnik was a 58 cm (23 in) diameter polished metal sphere, with four external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses. It was visible all around the Earth and its radio pulses were detectable. A surprise launch. As was its success. Learn how the launch of Sputnik affected American culture, arts and politics.