Fabric of History

Jun 07 2022 42 ep. 32 mins 16

Fabric of History Podcast artwork

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.

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The Life and Legacy of Theodore Roosevelt

Jun 07 2022 40 mins

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 Williams, BRI Senior Teaching Fellow, to explore Roosevelt’s personal and professional life and what it is about him that continues to fascinat

The Spell of a Good Story: Harry Potter's Magical Universe

May 24 2022 31 mins

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 this phrase and why Harry Potter has had such a lasting impact on so many people’s lives. What is it about the human themes set in a m

The Oregon Trail: The Game vs. Reality

May 04 2022 44 mins

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, Oregon in the mid-1800s, but how accurate to history is it? In this special episode of Fabric of History, Mary is joined by Dr. Andrew Fisher, a

Was the Revolutionary War America's First Civil War?

Apr 19 2022 49 mins

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 joined by Dr. Rebecca Brannon, Associate Professor of History and Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies at James Madison University in Harris

What Are NFTs and How Can They Impact Our Lives?

Apr 05 2022 29 mins

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 applications outside of enthusiast communities. Why are NFTs so revolutionary, and how are they changing concepts of ownership and social interaction?

Hollywood: The Origins, the Image, & the Legacy

Mar 17 2022 31 mins

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 Haley go back to the very beginning of show business in the once sleepy backwater of California to discover why Hollywood has endured and thrive

The Highest Court in the Land: How Has the Supreme Court Evolved Through History?

Mar 09 2022 32 mins

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 as they are now? In this week’s episode of Fabric of History, Mary, Kirk, and Haley explore what the Constitution actually says about t

Lawless Piracy & the Struggle for Power in North America

Feb 22 2022 36 mins

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 Fabric of History, Mary, Kirk, and Haley discuss piracy's rise and fall in the Mediterranean and American Colonies, Blackbeard’s fierce tac

Remembering Gary Colletti

Jan 04 2022 27 mins

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-colletti Visit our episode page for additional resources: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/podcasts/remembering-gary-colletti

Lizzie Borden: The Murders, the Trial, & the Media Frenzy

Dec 14 2021 36 mins

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 believe she did it? In this episode, Mary, Kirk, and Haley break down the facts of the murders and explore why a century-old case captures our i