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PODCAST

American History Hotline

Bob Crawford searches for the best historians and experts to answer listener questions about American history — from the Revolutionary War to rock & roll feuds. Got a question? Send it to AmericanHistoryHotline@gmail.com.

history

All Episodes

34:35

America Loves Trains. Why Can’t We Build Them...

American History Hotline ·

2026/01/07

It takes decades to build a new subway line in the United States. Meanwhile, China is building entire high-speed rail networks in just a few years. So, how did America's once-great love of trains getderailed? We use New York City’s Second Avenue Subway as a test case to answer this bigger question: Why is building trains in America so hard compared to places like China? Bob calls up Dan McNichol, author of Second Avenue Subway: Building the Most Famous Thing Never Built in New York City, and

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38:00

Can We Add a Fifth Face to Mount Rushmore? The...

American History Hotline ·

2025/12/31

Could a new president ever be carved into Mount Rushmore? It depends on who you ask. We call up historian Matthew Davis (author of A Biography of a Mountain: The Making and Meaning of Mount Rushmore) to learn about the history of the monument and what its future might hold. It’s a story with a lot of surprising twists and turns, from the hills of Georgia to the sacred mountains of South Dakota. How does Mount Rushmore reflect America’s battles over who and what America chooses to

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29:10

Are These Really the Best Movies of the 21st Century?...

American History Hotline ·

2025/12/24

What is the greatest movie of the 21st century? The New York Times says it’s Parasite, but not everyone agrees. We call up Rotten Tomatoes correspondent Mark Ellis to debate the NYT’s list of the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century and explore how cinema has changed in the past 25 years. Mark says it’s an era of “hopeless films in a time of hopelessness.” Grab some popcorn and silence your phone (unless you’re using it to play this podcast) and sit back as we tear

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55:04

Death by Lightning: What Netflix Got Right (and...

American History Hotline ·

2025/12/17

Netflix’s Death by Lightning is gripping, dramatic and TRUE. Or is it? We call up historian and New York Times bestselling author Alexis Coe for a lightning round fact check of Netflix’s new James A. Garfield series Death by Lightning. What does the series gets right? What does it bend for dramatic effect? And how does it rank compared to other presidential biopic(esque) series? We'll hit all the highlights: The assassination of President James A. Garfield The portrayal of Chester A

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32:48

Was Johnny Appleseed a Real Person? The Man Behind...

American History Hotline ·

2025/12/10

Was Johnny Appleseed a real person or just another American tall tale? We get to the core of the issue with author William Kerrigan (Johnny Appleseed and the American Orchard: A Cultural History) to see how one man's true story inspired an enduring folk legend. In this episode Bob and William explore how John Chapman's religious revival led him to pioneer apple nurseries across Pennsylvania and Ohio. Just like some hybrid apples, Chapman was a mix of naturalist and capitalist. He bought vast tracts

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35:05

The Surprising History of Vaccines in America with...

American History Hotline ·

2025/12/03

Many Americans have turned their backs on the vax, but early Early Americans would literally have killed for some vaccines. In this episode, we explore the history of America's first vaccines, which can be traced to a mandate from none other than General George Washington.Dr. Kathryn Olivarius (author of Necropolis: Disease, Power, and Capitalism in the Cotton Kingdom) explains the surprising story of how vaccines shaped American life — from smallpox inoculations during the Revolution to

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33:36

Why Were There So Many Serial Killers in 1970s America?

American History Hotline ·

2025/11/26

Was it the rise of hitchhiking? Lead in the water pipes? Or was it something a little darker in our culture? Bob rings up private investigator and host of the podcast Hell & Gone: Murder Line — Catherine Townsend — to learn why there were so many serial killers in America during the 1970s. From Ted Bundy to the Night Stalker and John Wayne Gacy, we dive into the “golden age” of serial killers to see how difficult it was to catch predators in a world before DNA testing,

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38:33

Is Thanksgiving a Feast of Lies?! Historian David J....

American History Hotline ·

2025/11/19

We all have that relative that tells us there was actually no green bean casserole at the first Thanksgiving. Yeah, we know, Grandma! But how much do we really know about that first feast between the Pilgrims and the Indians? Well, a lot. But the story most of us learned in school is completely wrong. AuthorDavid J. Silverman, (This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving) joins us to carve up the myths about Turkey Day and serve a nice

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25:02

When Murder Was Legal …ish

American History Hotline ·

2025/11/12

In 1859, Congressman Daniel Sickles murdered Philip Barton Key (son of the man who wrote The Star-Spangled Banner) in a fit of jealous rage just steps from the White House. The resulting trial became America’s first true media circus, and gave rise to the “crime of passion” defense. In short, it basically became legal to kill a man for sleeping with your wife. While this wasn't technically a law, it was the "Unwritten Law" for way longer than you might think. Chris DeRose, author

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35:35

How Did Big Tech Take Over Our Elections?

American History Hotline ·

2025/11/05

You won't see it on the ballot, but it's always the winner in American elections. That's right, we're talking about big tech. From Facebook to Google and AI, technology not only has the power to affect the outcomes of our elections ... it's already doing it! Who could have seen this coming? Well, we're glad you asked, because Roger McNamee has been ringing alarm bells since you were playing Snake on your Nokia. Roger joins Bob to talk about the evolution of technology in politics, from the rise of

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26:44

Why Won't Daylight Saving Time Die?

American History Hotline ·

2025/10/29

Set it and forget it! That's what most Americans want to do with their clocks. They want standard time year-round. So, why are we stuck with Daylight Saving Time? And where did it come from in the first place? Some say it was Benjamin Franklin. But if we Scooby-Doo this thing and pull off the mask to see who's really behind this whole clock caper it's ... (gasp) ... CAPITALISM! Tune in an hour earlier ... or is it later? ... for this episode. GUEST: Chad Orzel, author of the book, A Brief History of

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45:11

Hunting Witches: What Started the Salem Witch Trials?

American History Hotline ·

2025/10/22

Which witch is which? You probably heard a lot of lawyers saying that in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. That was the year of America's largest witch hunt ever. But what sparked this mass hysteria that led to false accusations, sham justice and wrongful executions? Teenagers, of course. Bob is joined by historian Emerson Baker (A Storm of Witchcraft) to explore how religion, politics, and panic fueled the Salem Witch Trials. A time when no one was above suspicion! Guest: Emerson Baker, author of A

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47:24

Hail to the Cheapskate: How Presidents Made (and...

American History Hotline ·

2025/10/15

How did America’s presidents really make—and manage—their money? Bob Crawford sits down with financial expert and author Megan Gorman to explore the personal finances of presidents from George Washington to Donald Trump. Drawing from her new book, All the Presidents’ Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money, Gorman reveals who thrived, who failed, and what their choices say about leadership, power, and legacy. Discover why Thomas Jefferson died in debt,

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36:30

What Was Columbus REALLY Like?

American History Hotline ·

2025/10/08

A complicated man in complicated times? A genocidal enslaving maniac? Or something in between? Bob voyages back in time with biographer Matthew Restall (The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus) to learn about the REAL Christopher Columbus. Together, they separate the flesh-and-blood navigator from the larger-than-life symbol of European conquest, examining Columbus’s ambitions, his treatment of Indigenous peoples, and how his image has been used for centuries to celebrate—and

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44:08

Blackface's Lasting Legacy in America with Tyrone Howard

American History Hotline ·

2025/10/01

What’s so wrong about a white person painting their face black to entertain a crowd? Well, it helps to understand the history of blackface in America to understand its harmful legacy. Bob and Tyrone Howard trace how 19th-century minstrel shows dehumanized Black Americans, reinforced racist stereotypes, and shaped American culture, politics, and entertainment for generations. They also explore why it's important to learn about the history of slavery, even if it makes you feel guilty or

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39:59

Why Watergate Didn't Bother Lynyrd Skynyrd / Ozzy vs....

American History Hotline ·

2025/09/24

Did Ozzy bite the head off a bat? Is there a political message in Sweet Home Alabama? Bob Crawford sits down with music critic and author Mark Kemp to dissect some rock legends and myths. We'll dive into Lynyrd Skynyrd’s iconic Sweet Home Alabama, unpack the band’s response to Neil Young’s critiques of the South and talk about Ozzy Osbourne's propensity for biting the head off winged creatures. Mark Kemp also helps us understand the intersection of Southern rock and American

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18:14

Dueling in Early America: Hamilton, Burr, and Honor...

American History Hotline ·

2025/09/17

This episode demands satisfaction! Why did Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr meet on the dueling ground—and how common were duels in early America? HistorianLindsay Chervinsky joins Bob Crawford on American History Hotline to explore the surprising history of dueling in the United States. From European traditions to the honor culture of the American South, duels shaped politics, reputation, and even presidential legacies. Learn why Andrew Jackson fought so many duels, how Abraham Lincoln

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26:37

Buffalo Soldiers: The History Behind Bob Marley’s...

American History Hotline ·

2025/09/10

Buffalo Soldier, dreadlock RastaThere was a Buffalo SoldierIn the heart of AmericaStolen from Africa, brought to AmericaFighting on arrival, fighting for survival Most people know the phrase Buffalo Soldier from Bob Marley’s famous reggae song—but what’s the real history behind it? On this episode of American History Hotline, host Bob Crawford talks with Cale E. Carter IIto uncover the true story of the Buffalo Soldiers. Discover who these Black regiments were, how they earned

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40:16

Why Do Third Parties Fail?

American History Hotline ·

2025/09/03

Spoilers ahead! No, not those type of spoilers. We're talking about third party presidential candidates and the reasons third parties can't get a footing in American politics. So, why do third parties fail? And could the current toxicity of both major American political parties create an opening for a centrist third party? GUEST: Michael Cullinane, professor of U.S. History and the Lowman Walton Chair of Theodore Roosevelt Studies at Dickinson State University in North Dakota. He’s also author

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21:34

Episode Title Redacted: From the Files of the CIA

American History Hotline ·

2025/08/29

Who was America's most successful spy? What happens to a spy that's captured? How can you tell if your child is lying? We interrogate a former member of the CIA to get some info about American intelligence. GUEST: Brittany Butler, former targeting officer within CIA’s Directorate of Operations, Counterterrorism Center. Author ofThe Syndicate Spy: A Juliet Arroway Novel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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31 results

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