KALA-FM

Relevant or Irrelevant

History EN ↓ 630 episodes

In this weekly show, hosts John Kealey and Jay Swords examine events of history through the discussion of books, journal articles, papers, and presentations, then historians and history buffs ask the question, what is relevant or irrelevant in today’s world. For more than a decade, this show has aired over-the-air on KALA-FM in the Quad Cities. Now, we're bringing it here to make listening easier than ever!

Author

KALA-FM

Category

History

Podcast website

kalafm885.com

Latest episode

Jul 11, 2026

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Episodes

BONUS: Dinosaurs In Missouri 23.07.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  Dr. Peter Makovicky, professor in the Department Of Earth And Environmental Sciences at The University Of Minnesota, joins the "ROI" panelists to discuss "Dinosaurs In Missouri" for the 467th edition in this program series. The host for this episode is John Kealey, and the history buffs are Jay Swords and Ed Broders. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, D...

Dinosaurs In Missouri 23.07.2022

Dr. Peter Makovicky, professor in the Department Of Earth And Environmental Sciences at The University Of Minnesota, joins the "ROI" panelists to discuss "Dinosaurs In Missouri" for the 467th edition in this program series. The host for this episode is John Kealey, and the history buffs are Jay Swords and Ed Broders. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, USA...

BONUS: Muslims In The Heartland 16.07.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  Dr. Edward Curtis, William M. And Gail M. Plater Chair Of Liberal Arts At Indiana University, Indianapolis (Indiana), joins the "ROI" program to discuss "Muslims In The Heartland." The host for the 466th episode in this series is Jay Swords.  Ed Broders is this week's "history buff." This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, USA!

Muslims In The Heartland 16.07.2022

Dr. Edward Curtis, William M. And Gail M. Plater Chair Of Liberal Arts At Indiana University, Indianapolis (Indiana), joins the "ROI" program to discuss "Muslims In The Heartland." The host for the 466th episode in this series is Jay Swords.  Ed Broders is this week's "history buff." This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, USA!

BONUS: What Islamophobia Tells Us About America 09.07.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  Dr. Caleb Elfenbein, associate professor of history and religious studies at Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, is the guest for "ROI" episode 465.  Dr. Elfenbein joins the team to talk about "Fear In Our Hearts:  What Islamophobia Tells Us About America." The host for this edition is John Kealey.  History buffs are Brett Monnard and Rick Sweet. This program is recorded at KALA-F...

What Islamophobia Tells Us About America 09.07.2022

Dr. Caleb Elfenbein, associate professor of history and religious studies at Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, is the guest for "ROI" episode 465.  Dr. Elfenbein joins the team to talk about "Fear In Our Hearts:  What Islamophobia Tells Us About America." The host for this edition is John Kealey.  History buffs are Brett Monnard and Rick Sweet. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose Univ...

FlexSchool 02.07.2022

Jacqui Byrne, founder of FlexSchool, and Brett Monnard, FlexSchool history teacher, join the "Relevant Or Irrelevant" program to discuss "FlexSchool:  Serving Neurodiverse Students." The host for the 464th edition in this series is John Kealey, and Rick Sweet is this week's history buff. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, USA!

BONUS: FlexSchool 02.07.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  Jacqui Byrne, founder of FlexSchool, and Brett Monnard, FlexSchool history teacher, join the "Relevant Or Irrelevant" program to discuss "FlexSchool:  Serving Neurodiverse Students." The host for the 464th edition in this series is John Kealey, and Rick Sweet is this week's history buff. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, USA!

How A Handful Of Prehistoric Geniuses Launched Humanity's Technological Revolution 25.06.2022
BONUS: How A Handful Of Pre-Historic Geniuses Launched Humanity's Technological Revolution 25.06.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  Dr. Nicholas Longrich, senior lecturer in Evolutionary Biology at The University Of Bath (UK), joins the "ROI" team to discuss "How A Handful Of Pre-Historic Geniuses Launched Humanity's Technological Revolution." The host for the 463rd edition of this series is John Kealey, and history buffs are Terri Toppler and Ed Broders. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose Univ...

Love, Labor And Longing In French Louisiana 18.06.2022

Dr. Sophia White, professor of American Studies at The University Of Notre Dame (Indiana), is the guest for "ROI" episode #462.  She joins the team to discuss her book "Voices Of The Enslaved:  Love, Labor And Longing In French Louisiana." The host for this edition is John Kealey, and the history buffs are Terri Toppler and Ed Broders. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, D...

BONUS: Love, Labor And Longing In French Louisiana 18.06.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  Dr. Sophia White, professor of American Studies at The University Of Notre Dame (Indiana), is the guest for "ROI" episode #462.  She joins the team to discuss her book "Voices Of The Enslaved:  Love, Labor And Longing In French Louisiana." The host for this edition is John Kealey, and the history buffs are Terri Toppler and Ed Broders. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Am...

BONUS: History Of Scandinavian Immigration To The United States 11.06.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  Dr. Anna Peterson, associate professor of history at Luther College (Iowa), joins the "ROI" group to discuss the "History Of Scandinavian Immigration To The United States."   The host for episode 461 is John Kealey, and history buffs are Terri Toppler and Ed Broders. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, USA!

History Of Scandinavian Immigration To The United States 11.06.2022

Dr. Anna Peterson, associate professor of history at Luther College (Iowa), joins the "ROI" group to discuss the "History Of Scandinavian Immigration To The United States."   The host for episode 461 is John Kealey, and history buffs are Terri Toppler and Ed Broders. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, USA!

BONUS: Black Wall Street 100 04.06.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  Hannibal Johnson, author and consultant specializing in diversity, equity and inclusion issues (Oklahoma), is the guest for "ROI" episode 460.  This edition's discussion topic is:  "Black Wall Street 100:  An American City Grapples With Its Historical Racial Trauma." The host for this episode is Jay Swords.  History buffs are Rick Sweet and Brett Monnard. This program is recorde...

Back Wall Street 100 04.06.2022

Hannibal Johnson, author and consultant specializing in diversity, equity and inclusion issues (Oklahoma), is the guest for "ROI" episode 460.  This edition's discussion topic is:  "Black Wall Street 100:  An American City Grapples With Its Historical Racial Trauma." The host for this episode is Jay Swords.  History buffs are Rick Sweet and Brett Monnard. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. A...

BONUS: The Broadcast 41: Women And The Anti-Communist Blacklist 28.05.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  The 458th edition of "Relevant Or Irrelevant" welcomes Dr. Carol Stabile, professor and acting dean at The University Of Oregon.  Dr. Stabile joins the "ROI" panelists to discuss:  "The Broadcast 41:  Women And The Anti-Communist Blacklist." Jay Swords is the host for episode 458.  Rick Sweet and Brett Monnard are history buffs for this edition. This program is recorded at KALA-...

The Broadcast 41: Women And The Anti-Communist Blacklist 28.05.2022

The 458th edition of "Relevant Or Irrelevant" welcomes Dr. Carol Stabile, professor and acting dean at The University Of Oregon.  Dr. Stabile joins the "ROI" panelists to discuss:  "The Broadcast 41:  Women And The Anti-Communist Blacklist." Jay Swords is the host for episode 458.  Rick Sweet and Brett Monnard are history buffs for this edition. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose Uni...

Invisible Wounds: Mental Illness And Civil War Soldiers 21.05.2022

Dr. Dillon Carroll, author and history faculty member at Butte College (California), is the guest for "Relevant Or Irrelevant" episode #457.  Dr. Dillon joins the "ROI" team to discuss "Invisible Wounds:  Mental Illness And Civil War Soldiers." The host for episode #457 is John Kealey.  History buffs are Rick Sweet and Ed Broders. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, Davenp...

BONUS: Invisible Wounds: Mental Illness And Civil War Soldiers 21.05.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  Dr. Dillon Carroll, author and history faculty member at Butte College (California), is the guest for "Relevant Or Irrelevant" episode #457.  Dr. Dillon joins the "ROI" team to discuss "Invisible Wounds:  Mental Illness And Civil War Soldiers." The host for episode #457 is John Kealey.  History buffs are Rick Sweet and Ed Broders.

Iowa's Remarkable Soils 14.05.2022

Dr. Kathleen Woida, author, adjunct professor at The University Of Iowa, and retired member of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, joins the "Relevant Or Irrelevant" panelists to talk about "Iowa's Remarkable Soils:  The Story Of Our Most Valuable Resource And How We Can Save It." The host for this program is John Kealey.  History buffs for this episode are Rick Sweet and Ed Broders....

BONUS: Iowa's Remarkable Soils 14.05.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  Dr. Kathleen Woida, author, adjunct professor at The University Of Iowa, and retired member of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, joins the "Relevant Or Irrelevant" panelists to talk about "Iowa's Remarkable Soils:  The Story Of Our Most Valuable Resource And How We Can Save It." The host for this program is John Kealey.  History buffs for this episode are Rick Swe...

Looking For The North American Invasion In Mexico City 07.05.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  Dr. Thomas Connors, associate professor of history at The University Of Northern Iowa, joins the "ROI" team to discuss "Looking For The North American Invasion In Mexico City" for the 455th episode in this series. The host for this program is John Kealey.  History buffs for this episode are Rick Sweet and Ed Broders. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, D...

BONUS: Looking For The North American Invasion In Mexico City 07.05.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  Dr. Thomas Connors, associate professor of history at The University Of Northern Iowa, joins the "ROI" team to discuss "Looking For The North American Invasion In Mexico City" for the 455th episode in this series. The host for this program is John Kealey.  History buffs for this episode are Rick Sweet and Ed Broders. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, D...

BONUS: Lit Circle: 'The Tyranny Of Merit' By Michael Sandel 30.04.2022

BONUS DISCUSSION:  The "ROI" Lit Circle discusses 'The Tyranny Of Merit,' by Michael Sandel.  This is the 454th edition of "Relevant Or Irrelevant." The host for this program is Jay Swords.  Guests include Jay, Brett Monnard and Terri Toppler. This program is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, USA!

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