Taking the people of the past at their word. Primary is a biweekly podcast where historian Erin Rock and criminally uninformed Vinnie Squitiro examine an event from history by going straight to the source. Every other week, we’ll look at a different primary source to gain a deeper understanding of w…
A hunk, a hunk of burning… history!? In this episode of Primary, we take a look at a letter written by Elvis Presley, the King himself! Sure, Elvis has a lot of fans, but what is HE a fan of? It turns out he's a fan of America, possibly America's biggest fan, so who better to write a letter to than President Richard Nixon? Erin and Vinnie take Elvis at his word to learn why he would make a great Federal Agent at Large and how he can help Nixon with his pesky counter-culture problem. And if Elvis just so happens to get a new badge for his collection? Well, that's just a bonus! So, thank you for downloading this episode of Primary, thank you very much.
We have a special guest reading the primary source for this episode. Take a guess who it is.
In this episode of Primary, Erin and Vinnie visit America's favorite cartoon duck in the nightmare of all nightmares, complete with a song you'll be mortified to get stuck in your head. The 1942 Walt Disney short "Der Fuehrer's Face" gives us a glimpse into American World War II propaganda and let's us take… Donald Duck at his word. Is that really Donald Duck saluting Hitler? How are there so many swastikas? Is Donald Duck going to be ok?
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Have you ever wondered why bees are always dying, mirrors lose their shine, and dogs gain terrible superpowers? Well, Pliny the Elder has an idea about that and on this episode of Primary we take a look at his 'Natural History' to learn what that idea is! Spoiler Alert: the idea is menstruation. And if Pliny being wrong about one topic isn't enough, we also discover some of the ways he was wrong about elephants! Erin and Vinnie take Pliny the Elder at his word to learn why elephants being wisely prudent about eating contaminated food became a myth about their cowardice AND why ancient people tried to use menstrual discharge to gather asphalt!
Your favorite hosts read through the two passages being discussed this episode. Vinnie takes a nice bath while reading about menstruation and Erin imagines going on an adventure to read about elephants.
They said it couldn't be done, but on this episode of Primary we look at a historical figure even better than Dr. Beanes... Sojourner Truth! In her 1851 speech at the Woman's Rights Convention, she shuts down any and all reasons not to support Women's Rights, but never actually says her famous "Ain't I a woman?" line! How can that be? Well, Erin and Vinnie take Sojourner Truth at her word and ALSO take Frances Dana Gage at Sojourner Truth's word to find out just what a badass Sojourner Truth was and how her speech inspired a slogan that wasn't actually in the speech.
Two distinctly different versions of the "Ain't I A Woman" speech read by your favorite co-hosts with an introduction by your favorite editor. The first reading is the more accurate version published in 1851 and read here by Vinnie. The second is a less accurate version published twelve years later and read here by Erin.
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Vinnie reads the contemptible words of our nation's 7th president regarding the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and his feelings on it and on Native Americans in general.
In this episode of Primary we look into the dark abyss that is Andrew Jackson’s letter to congress with his take on the Indian Removal Act. It turns out, sometimes history is awful, but thankfully we’ve got Alligator and a man with a famous hat to shine a little light of hope. Erin and Vinnie take Andrew Jackson at his word to understand how hundreds of years of conflict could lead a president of the United States to be absolutely giddy at the thought of relocating entire nations of people from their homelands… But, do listen though. Remember the hat!
Erin reads all four verses of "The Defence of Fort McHenry" while trying as hard as she can to not sing to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner
In episode two of Primary we're going all the way back to the War of 1812, examining an event that happened, of course, in the year... 1814? Someone get Francis Scott Key a calendar. Just what would a lawyer and part-time poet be doing at Fort McHenry while rockets are glaring and bombs are bursting? If you answered "Hanging with Dr. Beanes", you're right! Erin and Vinnie take Francis Scott Key at his word to understand how a historic bombardment inspired the creation of our national anthem.
Erin reads the whole of the "Corner Stone" speech. It took much longer than she expected but it was just as whack.
Welcome to our very first episode of Primary! The Civil War: you've heard OF it, but let's hear from someone who actually lived it. Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens has opinions on infrastructure, presidential term lengths, and, oh yeah, slavery, and he is very excited to tell you all about them. But only after you quiet down. Erin and Vinnie take Alexander Stephens at his word to understand the REAL issues that lead to the secession of eleven states and caused the Civil War. Erin also answers the question 'Just what IS a primary source?'
Welcome to our very first episode of Primary!The Civil War: you've heard OF it, but let's hear from someone who actually lived it. Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens has opinions on infrastructure, presidential term lengths, and, oh yeah, slavery, and he is very excited to tell you all about them. But only after you quiet down. Erin and Vinnie take Alexander Stephens at his word to understand the REAL issues that lead to the secession of eleven states and caused the Civil War. Erin also answers the question 'Just what IS a primary source?'
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