Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly

The podcast returns after an unintentionally long interlude! In this episode of  Public History with Jake and Justin,  we talk with filmmaker Mark Frederick about his 2024 documentary, "Blair County - A People's History."  This feature-length documentary details the story of a Central Pennsylvania community against the backdrop of numerous dramatic moments from American history including the Frenc...

It's been a crazy year in American politics - one that rivals any in the country's history for chaotic twists and turns.  In this episode of  Public History with Jake and Justin,  we talk with Dr. Evan Kutzler of Western Michigan University about the role that historians have taken on in our nation's politics in the last decade. What role should historians have in the national discourse? When does...

This month marked the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on D-Day and the resulting Battle of Normandy. In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin , Justin and I discussed stories from D-Day and the meaning of this particular anniversary as we continue to lose the World War II generation to the ravages of time. We chat about how we first remember learning a...

In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we review one of our favorite movies about Sputnik, rocketry, coal mining, and West Virginia - the 1999 film "October Sky." This year marks 25 years since the film came out and we thought it would be the perfect time to talk about this film. It tells the story of Homer Hickam, a teenager from a mining town in West Virginia who becomes interes...

In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, it's the end of the school year and we are handing out superlatives to our favorite museums. Justin and I share our opinions about museums we've visited across the United States and around the world. In this episode we discuss: Museum superlatives! Categories such as: Most Innovative Exhibits Coolest Hidden Gem Class Clown Bucket List Museum...

In our newest episode in the "Making a Public Historian" series, we chat with Becky Oakes, a historian with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In this role, Becky seeks to inspire innovation by telling the stories of past and present inventors, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers, as well as maintaining a robust repository of institutional history. Becky previously served as the US...

In this episode of  Public History,  we are sharing the story of the Workman family of Wiconisco, Pennsylvania and their ties to the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in May 1864. Josiah and Franklin Workman were young soldiers in the 96th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry who lost their lives during the fighting on May 10, 1864. Their story is one that reveals the legacy of tragedy left behind in...

In this episode of  Public History,  we conclude our reviews of the Apple TV+ miniseries "Manhunt" with guest co-host Rich Condon. We also discuss NPR's investigation into the nation's historical markers.    In this episode, we talk about:  Manhunt's significant departures from historical fact  Edwin Stanton's frequent flyer miles  Writers who talk down to television viewers  Historical markers an...

In this episode of  Public History,  we talk to author and public historian Ryan Quint about his new book,  Dranesville: A Northern Virginia Town in the Crossfire of a Forgotten Battle, Dec. 20, 1861. His previous book,  Determined to Stand and Fight: The Battle of Monocacy, July 9, 1864,  was published in 2017.    You can purchase the book here! Or find a Kindle version here.   In this episode, w...

In this pod we discuss episodes 3 and 4 of the Apple TV+ limited series "Manhunt" about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after the Lincoln assassination in 1865. We are joined by our friend and fellow public historian Rich Condon to discuss the show's portrayal of the early stages of Reconstruction.    In this show you'll hear:  Our unvarnished opinions about Manhunt Laments about too much artistic...

In our first conversation of our Making a Public Historian series, we chat with Maureen Lavelle who currently works as the History Programs Manager for the City of Boise Department of Arts and History.    We discuss her career journey as a public historian, her unique experiences in the National Park Service, and her advice for aspiring young historians with an interest in working with the public....

In the inaugural episode of the pod, Jake and Justin discuss the first two episodes of the Apple TV+ limited series "Manhunt." This show, based on James Swanson's book of the same name, follows the hunt for John Wilkes Booth following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in April 1865.    In the show, you'll hear about:  A beardless, not grumpy enough Edwin Stanton Attempts to steal Dani...

Welcome to "Public History with Jake & Justin," the podcast where the past is never far behind. Join us as we delve into the ever-changing world of public history. In this show we will examine how the public consumes history at museums, historic sites, national parks, battlefields and through popular culture.  With over a decade of experience in public history, Jake has spent years sharing stories...