An obscure, little known gun fight over land speculation in central California in May 1880 helped shaped local residents opinions about the railroad industry for a generation. Tune in this week as I dive into the story of the Mussel Slough Tragedy and explore how the fight between local settlers and the Southern Pacific Railroad highlights the conflicts over land, resources, and corporate power during the Gilded Age.

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Activists fighting for female suffrage faced a series of hurdles during their decades-long battle before they achieved victory. Suffrage was a campaign that had many starts and stops and was filled with tensions over race and class. Join me this week as I dive into a bit of this history: where did female suffrage stand after Reconstruction? Why did the movement splinter? And where did it end up in the Gilded Age? Find out all of this and more! 

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Join me as I sit down with Dr. Austin McCoy to explore the cultural and musical evolution of De La Soul, highlighting their innovative contributions to hip hop from the 1980s to today. Discover how their work challenged norms, expanded definitions of black masculinity, and influenced future artists, all woven with personal insights and historical context.

To learn more about Dr. McCoy visit his website here. 

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Industrialists of the Gilded Age were addicted to consumption. While some spent vast sums of money on public projects, several dedicated their time and energy into building palatial estates to demonstrate just how rich and powerful they had become. Competing for the attention and respect of the classic elites, the newly elite built mansions that emulated their European neighbors. Tune in as I explore the opulence and cultural significance of Gilded Age mansions, their architectural styles, and the social ambitions behind their construction. 

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Lucretia "Crete" Garfield outlived her president husband by almost forty years, yet most only know her as the widowed First Lady from the Gilded Age. Join me this week as I explore the life and legacy of Lucretia Garfield - including her early life, her marriage to James Garfield, and her work to ensure her husband's legacy. 

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Sitting down with me this week is author Shannon McKenna Schmidt to discuss her book You Can't Catch Us: Lady Bird Johnson's Trailblazing 1964 Campaign Train and the Women Who Rode with Her. Our conversation covers the preparation and significance of Johnson's tour, Lady Bird's unique style compared to her husband LBJ, her role as a trailblazer for women, and the security challenges faced during the tour. Tune in to learn about this and so much more - and then snag a copy of the book for yourself wherever fine books are sold. 

To learn more about Shannon, visit her website here. 

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Settle in as I wrap up my coverage of Charles Guiteau - the infamous presidential assassin of James Garfield. In this episode, I dive into how Guiteau came to the decision that the only way to fix the country's political problems was through murdering the President of the United States, his meticulous planning, and review the trial, The United States v. Charles Guiteau. 

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Charles Guiteau is infamous for his role in the assassination of President James Garfield. A man who believed he was destined for greatness and who thought he was on a mission from God, Guiteau was a complicated figure that deserves more analysis. Join me this week as I start to explore the life of the troubled Charles Guiteau - learn about his childhood and time in the Oneida community, as well as how he became a lawyer. Be sure to tune in next week to learn more about the plot to kill President James Garfield! 

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In this conversation, Dr. Elizabeth Block discusses her book Gilded Age Fashion: More Than 50 Iconic Looks and the Stories Behind Them exploring the intricate relationship between women's fashion and social dynamics during the late 19th century. She highlights how the social calendar dictated fashion choices and the significance of material culture in understanding the era. Dr. Block also delves into the communication aspect of fashion, the fashion faux pas of the time, and the accuracy of costumes in the HBO series 'The Gilded Age.' 

Learn more about Dr. Block at her website here. 

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Join me for the concluding chapter of President James Garfield. After spending nearly two decades in Congress, James Garfield became the dark horse candidate for the 1880 presidential election. Yet, he would serve only a few months before being struck down by an assassin's bullet - and medical malpractice. Tune into learn about the few achievements of Garfield's brief presidency and the notorious shooting that claimed the life of a president in his prime. 

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How did a New York City subway shooting in 1984 normalize white rage and create a media ecosystem that celebrates greed? Join me as I sit down with historian Heather Ann Thompson to discuss her latest book,  Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage. Tune in to learn about what happened that December day in 1984, how the media helped create an alternative narrative, how one mother refused to let her son be turned into a villain, and how the shooting influenced our current political moment. 

To learn more about Dr. Thompson's incredible scholarship, visit her website here. 

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