Past Present

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential candidacy.  Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·       Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is running for president , with some support both from Democrats and Republicans . Neil referred to this TIME interview , a...

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the failed attempt of the Ocean Gate submersible to explore the Titanic wreckage. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·       The world watched as a multimillion dollar search for the submersible Titan transpired and failed . Natalia drew...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the indictment of former President Donald Trump. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·       Former President Donald Trump has been indicted related to the mishandling of classified documents and other charges. Neil referred to this New Yo...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil the new documentary about the Duggar family, Shiny Happy People .  Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·       The Duggar family, who became famous on their reality show 19 Kids and Counting , is back in the spotlight due to a new documentary . Ni...

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the role of car dealers in U.S. political culture. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·       Car salesmen play an underappreciated role in GOP power politics, a recent Slate article argued. Niki cited this data reported in The Verge , an...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the life and legacy of rock star Tina Turner.  Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·       Tina Turner , at age 83, died last week . Neil drew on this Guardian article about Turner's genre-crossing body of work and this New Yorker essay ,...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss Martha Stewart's appearance on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Support Past Present on Patreon:  https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·       Martha Stewart, at age 82, is the oldest model to appear on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue...

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the history of camping in the United States. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·       Camping has a long history as a form of recreation – and more . Natalia drew on this New Yorker review of historian Phoebe Young's book on camping , a...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the continued cutbacks and collapses of digital media companies. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·       Buzzfeed is the most recent company to announce massive layoffs . Natalia cited Derek Thompson's Atlantic newsletter , and Niki re...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss Tucker Carlson's dismissal from Fox News. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·          Fox News personality Tucker Carlson was summarily fired earlier this week, intensifying turmoil at the conservative news network. Niki covered this in...

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the push to rollback child labor laws in the United States. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·          Republican legislatures have begun to chip away at protective child labor laws across the country. The New York Time s has also repo...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the expulsion of two representatives from the Tennessee state legislature. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·          When two Democratic lawmakers were expelled from the Tennessee legislature, discussion turned to the state of democra...

In this rerun episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the history of spring break and other topics.  Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the history of children's story hour.  Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast On this week's Past Present episode, Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, and Neil J. Young discuss the history of children's story hour.   Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·          "Drag que...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the politics and political future of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·          Speculation about a 2024 presidential run by Governor Ron DeSantis is filling media across the political spectrum. Natalia r...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·          Fueled by social media panic , depositors ran to withdraw from Silicon Valley Bank this month. Neil drew on this institutional history of the bank at Mediu...

In this episode, Neil, Niki, and Natalia discuss the life and legacy of disability rights activist Judith Heumann. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·          Disability rights activist Judith Heumann died earlier this month . Natalia recommended the documentary Crip Camp and this JST...

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the Supreme Court's deliberation over the cancellation of student loan debt. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·          The Supreme Court seems poised to strike down President Biden's student loan forgiveness policy . Natalia referred...

In this episode, Niki, Natalia, and Neil discuss Jimmy Carter's life and legacy.  Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·          President Jimmy Carter recently announced that he is entering hospice care . Natalia referenced this New York Times essay by Carter biographer Kai Bird, and Ni...

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss ChatGPT. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·          The suddenly ubiquitous artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT is making many people nervous. Niki referred to this New Yorker article and this City Journal essay . Neil and Natalia dre...

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the history of menopause.  Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   ·          A New York Times magazine article about menopause recently went viral. Natalia drew from this Next Avenue review of Gail Collins' book. Neil referenced Menopause: Th...

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the history of the Advanced Placement program. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Florida governor Ron DeSantis has denounced the Advanced Placement African American Studies course as being too "woke." We drew on Annie Abrams' forthcoming...

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the history of the sleepover – and why they have become so complicated for parents today. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   Parents have strong feelings about sleepovers . Niki referred to this Glamour roundup of sleepovers in pop cultur...

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss the "nepo baby" phenomenon. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show: Everyone seems to be talking about " nepo babies ." Niki referred to Adam Bellow's Atlantic article about the promise of an updated nepotism. Natalia cited this New York Times e...

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the political controversy over regulating gas stoves. Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast Here are some links and references mentioned during this week's show:   The Biden administration raised the possibility of a ban on gas stoves in new construction . Niki referred to this VICE article about the culture-war...