Axelbank Reports History and Today

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Koritha Mitchell about her book, "From Slave Cabins to the White House: Homemade Citizenship in African American Culture." Dr. Mitchell's book explores the ways in which African-Americans have had to look within themselves and their own homes to find a sense of belonging. She argues that while citizenship is bestowed on white Americans from birth,...

In this episode, listen as author Julie Satow takes us on a historical tour of The Plaza Hotel. Her book, "The Plaza: The Secret History of America's Most Famous Hotel," takes an unforgettable dive into the world of luxury, celebrities, scandal and ambition. The Plaza isn't just a hotel, it's where guests, condo owners and workers have converged for over a century as they...

In this episode, we talk with one of the foremost historians on modern Europe, Dr. Robert Gellately, about his book, "Hitler's True Believers: How Ordinary People Became Nazis." He explains not only how Hitler took power, but how his personality, economic program, and world events helped him win the support of millions of people. Dr. Gellately describes how Germany's post-WWI s...

In this episode, we talk with the author of, "Oh, Florida! How America's Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country." Listen as the veteran newspaper reporter and one of the foremost experts on "The Sunshine State" explains the origins of the "Florida Man." From scary animals, to Disney World, to hurricanes to climate change, Florida makes news day-in, day...

In this episode, we talk with former Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer about what it was like to endure his time in office as his city was targeted by the "Unite the Right" rallies. He describes how an inefficient government arrangement make it difficult to keep people safe, and how First Amendment law effectively hamstrung the city as it tried to allow for free speech but keep conflict...

In this episode, we speak with Keri Leigh Merritt, the author of "Masterless Men: Poor Whites and Slavery in the Antebellum South." While much of southern history rightly focuses on the impact slavery had on African-Americans, Merritt explains how important it is to also understand the impact it had on poor whites. Her scholarship shows how slavery's echoes are heard today not just...

On this episode, we speak with author Chris McGreal, a brilliant reporter who wrote, "American Overdose: An American Tragedy in Three Acts." You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn't felt the impact of America's most dangerous drug. McGreal explains how it was a crisis that was manufactured by greedy salespeople eager to get people hooked. How did living pain-free b...

In this episode, we speak with author Sarah Milov about America's relationship with cigarettes. She wrote "The Cigarette: A Political History," which explores why they're still legal, how their sizable lobby operates and how the industry has battled the "non-smoker." Cigarettes kill many times more people than cars and guns, yet they still hold a sizable place in Amer...

On our first episode, we speak with Kate Brower, the author of "Team of Five: The Presidents Club in the Age of Trump." She is the perfect first guest for our show, because presidential history is my favorite. Her books are filled with incredible behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the lives of presidents. Listen in as we explore why "The presidents club" matters to us all, in a...