Robert Brent Toplin

History Is Relevant

History EN ↓ 27 episodes

This podcast links the past to the present. The programs seek new perspectives on current events by examining the history that brought us to where we are today. The host, Robert Brent Toplin, is a university-based professor of history. He has published a dozen books and more than 200 articles, and he has commented on history, politics, and film in several nationally broadcast television and radio programs.

Author

Robert Brent Toplin

Episodes

How a University Professor Made America Great 02.09.2025 15:47

From World War II until recent times, a partnership between government and universities contributed significantly to the United States’ emergence as the world’s most innovative, productive, and prosperous country. The story of that success is complex, yet one person played a crucial role in building the foundations of U.S. preeminence in science and technology. An examination of Vannevar Bush’s pl...

Tariff Man Ignores Lessons from a Century of History 27.08.2025 17:50

Donald Trump called himself “Tariff Man. He claimed, “Trade wars are good and easy to win.” Trump said tariff is “the most beautiful word in the dictionary.” Economists strongly disagree. Why does Trump reject expert opinion, and what could happen if his trade wars continue? This podcast notes how high tariffs in 1930 intensified the Great Depression. The podcast considers why Donald Trump holds s...