Ripples of Rebels

After WWII, hundreds of Nazi scientists weren’t punished—they were welcomed into the United States under Operation Paperclip . Nazi researchers like Wernher von Braun helped build America’s rocket programs, company towns, and even shaped the founding of government agencies like NASA. We dive deep into how U.S. eugenics programs inspired Hitler’s policies, how powerful American families funded that...

Who would have thought an anarchist & activist could be up for Sainthood? In this episode we explore the incredible life of Pacifist Nun Dorthy Day, how she’s challenged norms in life & in the path to Sainthood, and learn about the other women she has inspired to keep fighting the good fight. Ripples of Rebels is working to bring credible educational resources with intersectional, diverse perspect...

Today we dive into the cobblestone streets of 1899 New York City, where a ragtag army of working-class kids—many orphaned, homeless, and dirt poor—took on two of the most powerful men in American media: Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. These “Newsies,” armed with nothing but determination, organized a strike that shook the foundations of corporate journalism. But this story isn’t just...

Today we dive into one of the most infamous pieces of economic legislation in American history: the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 . Backed by Senator Reed Smoot and Representative Willis Hawley, this law was intended to protect American jobs and industries during the early days of the Great Depression. Instead? It made a bad situation much, much worse. We break down: • What a tariff actually is—...

In the depths of the Great Depression, a group of fearless women rode on horseback across the rugged Appalachian Mountains, delivering books to families who had never owned one before. Among them was Rose Farmer Thomas , a dedicated librarian who braved treacherous terrain and deep-seated resistance to bring literacy and hope to isolated communities. In this episode of Ripples of Rebels , we uncov...

Before you come for the spellings of Nickle— the 555th were named after the “Buffalo Nickle”, which isn’t ever spelt how we spell the metal or currency nickel. However I used both for SEO reasons ;)For more information on the Triple Nickles, you can visit museums in Pendleton, Oregon, where they have aviation history on all of this, as well as history commemorating the Triple Nickles at the Pendle...

What would you do if a company took over your town or country, while defended by one of the most powerful countries in the world? Would you fall in line, even when the wages were barely above slave wages? Would you watch in silence as police forces rounded up your neighbors and executed them just for being locals who opposed the company takeover? Would you step aside as they destroyed every last p...

Thank you to everyone who has subscribed and/or pledged so far! I really appreciate it. You might’ve heard something called the “Pale of Settlement” referenced in current events more recently— I know I have. So in this episode we travel through time, starting in biblical times, leading to present day, discussing how the Pale of Settlement has made a huge ripple throughout time. From possibly murde...

What did America look like before the creation of public lands & federal agencies? Learn about how they helped pull us out of the Great Depression, and how much the contribute to our economy today on Episode 2 of Ripples of Rebels. Learn more about public land creation’s impacts on indigenous communities here: Parks. Podcast Donate to Public Lands or organizations that support public lands here: •...

Most people know the classic Cinderella story—rags to riches, a fairy-tale ending. But what if Cinderella wasn’t rescued by a prince? What if she picked up a pen, and joined the revolution? Join as we dive into the untold story of a woman who refused to stay silent. Have questions or suggestions? Feel free to comment or send me a message: Citations: • Hochschild, Adam. Rebel Cinderella: From Rags...