Chapters: SIU Student History

George joins Ben and Josh to discuss the very mixed record of Richard Nixon on Civil Rights. Before being president, Martin Luther King and Black newspapers had praised Nixon for his Civil Rights Records. However, his hesitation on speaking with black leaders during his campaign against John F Kennedy, and later his Southern Strategy in his next campaign quickly changed how he was viewed by the Bl...

In Chapter's second narrative style podcast, SIU advertising student Ryan takes us through a brief history of the troubled town of Cairo, IL.  

Usual co-host Josh shares his senior research: exploring the microcosm of American culture that was WCIL radio in the mid twentieth century. Ben and Josh discuss the power the radio station had in contributing to newly emerging liberal ideas in the 1950s and 60s in a region of the country which you may not expect to find them. 

Ben and Josh listen in to a historical retelling of the 1916 Irish Rebellion as told by SIU history student Davis Tige. Davis sits down to give an overview and backstory to the rebellion before jumping into a day-by-day narrative told through the eyes of the Irish. 

SIU history student Sean sits down with Ben and Josh to discuss the importance three separate mining disasters in southern Illinois had on a national level. Sean argues that these three tragedies could likely have been prevented with better regulations and abilities to enforce them. As some politicians advocate for the expansion of these industries, at the very least these disasters should serve a...

Brock, Ben, Josh, and Ryan are joined by a guest from the past! Well kind of. Brock continues the history of psychedelics, including Nixon's war on drugs, and their recent revival for research in their potential medical uses. Part 2 of 2!

SIU Senior Brock Renshaw sits down with Ben, Josh, and guest co-host Ryan to discuss the fascinating history of psychedelic drugs, including natural hallucinogens found in Meso-America to Dr. Albert Hoffman's discovery of LSD in the 1930s and 40s. Brock focuses on the early and middle twentieth century where psychedelics were being studied for their medical benefits, at least until a couple of gov...

2020 Chapters host Ben and overseeing instructor, Professor Joseph Sramek sit down and talk about the upcoming debut Chapters, a podcast celebrating and sharing student historical research.