Fabric of History
From the Bill of Rights Institute, Fabric of History weaves together U.S. history, Founding Principles, and what all of this means to us today. Join Mary, Kirk, and Haley as they delve into the most controversial, inspirational, and hilarious moments of history and strive to find the common thread between them. The Bill of Rights Institute engages, educates, and empowers individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. Check out our educational resources and programs on our website mybri.org. Don't forget to visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to stay connected.
Episodes
42 episodes
The Life and Legacy of Theodore Roosevelt
Although Theodore Roosevelt’s energetic personality is remembered today by most Americans as almost larger than life, who really was Roosevelt the person, not the legend? In our last episode of Season 5, Mary and Kirk are joined by Tony William...
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Season 5
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Episode 39
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40:10
The Spell of a Good Story: Harry Potter's Magical Universe
As Emma Watson says in the HBO special “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts,” “there’s something about Harry Potter that makes life richer.” In this episode of Fabric of History, Mary, Kirk, and Haley explore the meaning of ...
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Season 5
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Episode 38
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31:10
The Oregon Trail: The Game vs. Reality
What happens when a pop culture depiction of history is better known than the history itself? The well-known Oregon Trail computer game created in the 1970s brings players on a tumultuous journey from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oreg...
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Season 5
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Episode 37
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44:14
Was the Revolutionary War America's First Civil War?
As an American in the 21st century, it’s incredibly easy to look back on the Revolutionary War and joke about the "redcoats," but would you really have been a patriot if you lived at that time? In a special episode of Fabric of History, Mary is...
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Season 5
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Episode 36
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49:17
What Are NFTs and How Can They Impact Our Lives?
Question: What do a piece of art, a medical record, and a top 40 song have in common? Answer: They can all be NFTs. In this episode, Mary, Kirk, and Haley, break down what exactly NFTs, or non-fungible tokens are, and their real-life applicatio...
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Season 5
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Episode 35
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29:12
Hollywood: The Origins, the Image, & the Legacy
What is Hollywood to you? Is it watching a movie that transports you to another world, a tabloid full of colorful celebrity stories, or the larger-than-life neighborhood in Los Angeles? In this episode of Fabric of History, Mary, Kirk, and Hale...
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Season 5
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Episode 34
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31:27
The Highest Court in the Land: How Has the Supreme Court Evolved Through History?
It’s uncommon to look at the front page of any newspaper and not see an article about impending Supreme Court nominations and debates. But was this always the case? Were proceedings of the Supreme Court as publicized throughout American history...
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Season 5
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Episode 33
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32:20
Lawless Piracy & the Struggle for Power in North America
Lawless bandits, high sea adventure, and buried treasure! When we dress up as pirates on Halloween, do our humorous sayings and elaborate costumes bear any resemblance to the real pirates that once terrorized North America? In this episode of F...
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Season 5
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Episode 32
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36:38
Remembering Gary Colletti
BRI Staff share their memories of Gary Colletti, cherished friend and colleague, who passed away on November 5, 2021.In Memory of Gary Colletti 1975-2021 : https://billofrightsinstitute.org/in-memory-of-gary-collettiVisit our ep...
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Season 4
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Episode 31
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27:37
Lizzie Borden: The Murders, the Trial, & the Media Frenzy
Lizzie Borden, the famous woman from Fall River, Massachusetts, who went to trial for brutally murdering her father and step-mother, was acquitted, so why does the age-old rhyme vividly describe her wielding an ax, and why do so many of us beli...
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Season 4
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Episode 30
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36:46
Take Me Out to the Ball Game! How Does Baseball Mirror History?
Baseball has always been a central part of American culture, but did you know that it has an integral part in American history as well? From civil rights to globalization, elements of baseball have mirrored and even led these movements through ...
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Season 4
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Episode 29
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25:45
What's the Significance of the First Thanksgiving Today?
How much of the Pilgrims' story is a myth, and what exactly is important to remember about the meal they shared with local Native Americans? Mary is joined by Tony and Kirk to delve into the Pilgrims' harrowing journey to Plymouth and first win...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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29:07
How Do the Freemasons Fit into U.S. History?
We keep hearing about the Freemasons in pop culture movies and books, but how much do we actually know about how they fit into U.S. history? This episode, Gary and Haley are joined by Brad Kohanke, Freemason historian and author, to discuss ins...
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Season 4
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Episode 27
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39:00
Hero to Traitor: Benedict Arnold & Vice
They always say “learn from the past,” but looking at the vastness of history, this is a daunting task. This week, Gary is joined by guest Kirk Higgins, Director of Content, to look at the decisions of Benedict Arnold, a prominent American Revo...
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Season 4
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Episode 26
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34:15
Ghost Stories in American History
Do you believe in ghosts? To kick off season four with spirit, Mary and Gary examine some of America's most haunting tales—both fiction and nonfiction—to discover larger revelations about our own humanity. Ghosts, spirits, phantoms, and a...
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Season 4
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Episode 25
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27:41
School, Students, & Speech: A Constitution Day Special w/ Civics 101's Nick Capodice
Do your rights end at the schoolhouse door? In a special episode of Fabric of History, Mary and Gary are joined by Nick Capodice, co-host and Education Outreach Producer for Civics 101, the podcast refresher course on the basics of how democrac...
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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27:33
Why Is Leisure Time So Important?
They say all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and they are probably right. Join Gary, Eryn, and guest Kirk as they explore the many varieties of amusement Americans have enjoyed throughout the centuries, from Vaudeville to sports. What r...
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Season 3
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Episode 24
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42:00
Journalism: The First Draft of History
Is yesterday history? What about last week? At some point, the past eventually becomes history, but where exactly do we draw the line? Join Mary, Gary, Eryn, and special guest Matthew Housiaux, Reporter on the White House and State and Local Go...
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Season 3
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Episode 23
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29:19
Spies: Good, Bad, or In-Between?
From James Bond to Jason Bourne, we are culturally obsessed with spies. But are our perceptions of American spies and intelligence agencies true to life? Join Mary, Eryn, and special guest Vince Houghton, Director of the National Cryptologic Mu...
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Season 3
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Episode 22
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45:56
Ye Olde Publick House & Dialogue
If you lived around the time of the Revolutionary War, where would you go to stay informed? Odds are it would have been the local pub. Join Mary, Gary, and Eryn as they discuss the impacts pubs and other public gathering places had on ...
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Season 3
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Episode 21
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23:34
Yellow Journalism, Sensationalism, and Media Tycoons
While “fake news” has become a concern in recent years, America has seen its periods of untrustworthiness in media before. In this episode, Mary, Gary, and Eryn explore the agendas of media tycoons like Pulitzer and Hearst during the age of “ye...
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Season 3
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Episode 20
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34:22
Prohibition and the Role of Government
What does prohibition tell us about the balance between personal freedom and regulation? Join Mary, Gary, and Eryn as they discuss how one of the Constitution's limited amendments led to prohibiting the “manufacture, sale, or transportati...
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Season 3
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Episode 19
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35:51
Remember the Ladies: Women's Right to Vote
What was the seminal moment in the votes for women movement? Join Mary and special guest Dr. Emily Krichbaum, History Department Chair at the Columbus School for Girls and founder of Remember The Ladies, as they delve into women’s progression o...
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Season 3
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Episode 18
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38:12
Democracy and War Profiteering
They say to “never let a crisis go to waste,” but does that include war? Embodied in characters like “Daddy Warbucks” from the musical Annie, war profiteering has been an integral part of American history since the Civil War. In this episode, M...
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Season 3
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Episode 17
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29:04
Boss Tweed, New York City, and the Political Machine
Does democracy always foster moral success, or can the systems in place actually help those with devious intentions? To kick off our first episode of season three, Mary, Gary, and Eryn explore these questions by examining the life of Boss Tweed...
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Season 3
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Episode 16
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33:58