The contemporary opioid epidemic is just the latest in a long history of Big Pharma–fueled crises in the U.S., argues David Herzberg in his new book, White Market Drugs. But people seeking to solve the crisis often turn to solutions that history has shown don’t work, resulting in a failed war on drugs, a growing […]
A Hidden History of 1990s Feminism
In the summer of 1998, Time magazine asked, “Is Feminism Dead?” In reality, it was very much alive. On the margins of mainstream media coverage, lesbians, women of color, and international coalitions were paving the way for 21st-century feminism, including the 2017 Women’s March and the #MeToo movement. On today’s show, guest host Nan Enstad explores […]
The Global Struggle for a Living Wage with Annelise Orleck
Back in 2009, the United States ushered in the new decade with a federal minimum wage of $7.25. Ten years later in 2020, it hasn’t risen at all—even as the costs of housing, education, and healthcare have skyrocketed. To explore the issue of stagnant and poverty wages, guest host Nan Enstad is joined by historian […]
The Myth of Free Enterprise in American History
What is “free enterprise” and how has it shaped American politics? That’s the topic of today’s episode with Lawrence Glickman, author of Free Enterprise: An American History. He spends the hour unpacking the history, narrative, and myth of free enterprise—and how it has shaped our common sense and political attitudes since the New Deal—with guest […]
Black History, Religious Faith, and Political Struggle with Randal Jel...
Religious leaders have been at the forefront of the fight for racial justice in Madison and around the country—and have been for over a century—but we don’t often consider the relationship between faith stories and political struggle. For today’s episode, guest host Nan Enstad explores this history with Randal Jelks, author of Faith and the […]
Teen Activism and Protest with Dawson Barrett
Young people have been part of every major social movement in US history, from the American Revolution to the civil rights movement and beyond. For today’s show, guest host Nan Enstad talks to Dawson Barrett, a history professor and self-identified “cheerleader for anyone who’s raising trouble.” They spend the hour exploring the rich history of […]
