Episodios

  • Future-Focused Research with Dr. David Sholl

    Future-Focused Research with Dr. David Sholl
    Jun 18 2025
    16 m
  • Tracks Across America with Simon Cordery

    Tracks Across America with Simon Cordery
    Jun 11 2025
    Alan Lowe speaks with Dr. Simon Cordery about the transformative role of railroads in American history. From the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1828 to a national network by 1916, Cordery details how rail shaped commerce, industry, and infrastructure. He also explores regulation, from early oversight efforts to the 1980 Staggers Act, which revitalized the struggling industry. The conversation touches on Amtrak’s dependence on subsidies, the challenges of expansion, and the promise of high-speed rail. Cordery also previews his book on Albert Pullman, a largely forgotten innovator behind the Pullman Company’s early success and a symbol of overlooked entrepreneurial ambition. Guest Bio Dr. Simon Cordery is Chair of the History Department at Iowa State University and a leading scholar of American labor and transportation history. He previously served as department chair at Western Illinois University and Monmouth College. Dr. Cordery has authored several acclaimed books, including Mother Jones: Raising Cain and Consciousness and The Iron Road in the Prairie State: The Story of Illinois Railroading. His forthcoming work, Gilded Age Entrepreneur: The Curious Life of American Financier Albert Benton Pullman, explores the overlooked legacy of the elder Pullman brother and offers fresh insight into the entrepreneurial spirit of 19th-century America. Show Highlights
    • (2:14) When railroads first arrived in America and how quickly they spread
    • (6:18) Changes in the business world that supported and continued railroad expansion
    • (7:16) The impact of government oversight as the industry develops
    • (14:47) When deregulation of the railroad industry occurred and the effects it had
    • (19:46) The effects railroads had on labor organization and the labor market in America
    • (22:32) How railroad expansion affected how we keep time throughout the U.S.
    • (24:28) The effect of digital technology on the American railroad industry
    • (31:47) Is high-speed rail a profitable enterprise?
    • (35:23) Simon Cordery’s upcoming book, Gilded Age Entrepreneur: The Curious Life of American Financier Albert Benton Pullman
    Links Referenced
    • Mother Jones: Raising Cain and Consciousness: https://www.amazon.com/Mother-Jones-Raising-Consciousness-Biography/dp/0826348106
    • The Iron Road in the Prairie State: The Story of Illinois Railroading: https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Road-Prairie-State-Railroading-ebook/dp/B017SJ126Q
    • Gilded Age Entrepreneur: The Curious Life of American Financier Albert Benton Pullman: https://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Age-Entrepreneur-American-Financier-ebook/dp/B0DVMQHYWP
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    40 m
  • General MacArthur’s War Path with Walter Borneman

    General MacArthur’s War Path with Walter Borneman
    Jun 4 2025
    Alan talks with historian Walter Borneman about his book MacArthur at War: World War II in the Pacific. They examine General Douglas MacArthur’s early career, his leadership in the Philippines, and his strategic command from Australia. Borneman discusses MacArthur’s evolving coordination with the Navy, his key role in island-hopping operations, and his push to reclaim the Philippines. They also explore MacArthur’s late awareness of the atomic bomb, his post-war leadership as Supreme Commander in Japan, and his legacy as a pioneering military strategist and symbol of American resolve during World War II. Guest Bio Walter Borneman is an award-winning historian and author with a passion for bringing pivotal moments in American history to life. He earned his history degree from Western State College of Colorado and a law degree from the University of Denver. Borneman is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King and Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America. Show Highlights
    • (1:22) Why MacArthur assumed the role of Field Marshal in the army of the Philippines
    • (7:36) The evolution of MacArthur’s role in Australia and the Pacific Command
    • (12:24) MacArthur’s role in formulating and then implementing the island-hopping plan
    • (15:07) Why Walter thinks the Battle of Leyte Gulf may have been the greatest victory ever won by the United States Navy
    • (17:39) MacArthur’s role in planning the invasion of the Japanese home islands
    • (20:05) When he learned about the atomic bomb and his views on its use in the war
    • (22:13) Why he was appointed the supreme commander of the Allied powers in Japan
    • (25:22) How Walter Boneman would define MacArthur’s legacy in World War II
    • (27:20) What Walter is working on next
    Links Referenced
    • The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King: https://www.amazon.com/Admirals-Nimitz-Halsey-King-Five-Star-ebook/dp/B007ME5GYC
    • Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America: https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Man-Transformed-Presidency-America-ebook/dp/B0026772GK/
    • MacArthur at War: World War II in the Pacific: https://www.amazon.com/MacArthur-War-World-II-Pacific-ebook/dp/B0151YQV20/
    • American POTUS: https://americanpotus.org/
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    30 m
  • AMSEcast with guest Tom Zoellner

    AMSEcast with guest Tom Zoellner
    May 31 2025

    Given the centrality of uranium to the story of the Manhattan Project, the creation of Oak Ridge, and the ongoing nuclear renaissance, I thought it would be good to learn more about that element, so I spoke on our podcast, AMSEcast, with Tom Zoellner about his fascinating book, Uranium: War, Energy, and the Rock that Shaped the World. I started by asking why uranium is so unique and so suited to creating the chain reactions that are central to both nuclear energy production and the workings of nuclear weapons.
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    4 m
  • Inside the National Air and Space Museum with Margaret Weitekamp

    Inside the National Air and Space Museum with Margaret Weitekamp
    May 28 2025
    Alan Lowe speaks with Dr. Margaret Weitekamp of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum about its transformation ahead of America’s 250th anniversary. They explore how new exhibits, immersive storytelling, and iconic artifacts like the Wright Flyer, Space Shuttle Discovery, and Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit bring aviation and space history to life. Weitekamp discusses the museum’s role as both a public institution and research center, preserving innovations from early flight to modern space exploration. She also reflects on international collaboration, private sector contributions, and how triumph and tragedy alike shape our understanding of humanity’s journey beyond Earth. Guest Bio Dr. Margaret Weitekamp is the curator and department chair of the space history department at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. She holds a BA from the University of Pittsburgh and earned her MA and PhD in history from Cornell University. A former Mellon Fellow in the humanities, she also served as the American Historical Association’s NASA Aerospace History Fellow at NASA Headquarters. Since joining the museum in 2004, she has led major curatorial efforts and became department chair in 2019. Dr. Weitekamp is a widely published author, including Space Craze and Spaceships: An Illustrated History of the Real and the Imagined. Show Highlights
    • (2:09) The goals of the renovation and when it’s going to be completed
    • (6:28) The Udvar-Hazy Center
    • (8:09) What Margaret Weitekamp does at the National Air and Space Museum
    • (10:49) Key moments of American flight innovation documented at the museum
    • (18:50) Artifacts on display that tell the story of American innovation in getting to the moon
    • (22:12) The space shuttle’s impact on our understanding of Earth and space
    • (25:58) How the museum communicates with NASA about adding to their collection
    • (29:32) The role of international competition versus collaboration in forwarding innovation
    • (32:48) The private sector’s role in space innovation and how the museum interacts with it
    • (34:57) How satellites are used and what American innovations have contributed to them
    • (38:35) The way the Air and Space Museum teaches about unmanned missions like Voyager
    • (41:13) What we’ve learned from past mistakes, such as the Challenger explosion
    • (44:59) What’s made the biggest impression on Margaret since she’s been at the museum
    • (47:11) What we should keep in mind when looking at the next 250 years of space innovation
    • (49:51) How to follow what’s going on at the National Air and Space Museum
    Links Referenced
    • Spaceships: An Illustrated History of the Real and the Imagined: https://www.amazon.com/Spaceships-2nd-Illustrated-History-Imagined/dp/1588347265/
    • Space Craze, America’s Enduring Fascination With Real and Imagined Space Flight: https://www.amazon.com/Space-Craze-Americas-Fascination-Spaceflight/dp/1588347257
    • National Air and Space Museum: https://airandspace.si.edu
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    53 m
  • Inside the Invention Factory with Kathleen Carlucci

    Inside the Invention Factory with Kathleen Carlucci
    May 21 2025
    Kathleen Carlucci, director of the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park, joins AMSEcast to discuss Edison’s lasting impact on American innovation. From his early love of telegraphy to his system-wide inventions in sound, light, and film, Edison redefined how ideas were developed and assembled skilled teams in the world’s first “invention factory.” Carlucci highlights his resilience, collaborative spirit, and ability to turn failure into progress. Visitors to the Center can explore original artifacts, interactive exhibits, and hands-on demonstrations that bring Edison’s legacy to life, reminding us that with perseverance, innovation is within anyone’s reach. Guest Bio Kathleen Carlucci is the Director of the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park, where she leads efforts to preserve and share the legacy of one of America’s greatest inventors. With degrees in history and secondary education, she combines her passion for storytelling with a strong background in management and customer service. Kathleen has played a key role in enhancing the museum experience through engaging tours, educational programs, and community outreach. Her work ensures that visitors of all ages connect with Thomas Edison’s innovations and are inspired by his enduring message of curiosity, perseverance, and the power of hands-on learning. Show Highlights
    • (1:14) Edison’s process for thinking up ideas and bringing them to fruition
    • (2:40) How Edison overcame hearing loss to accomplish so much
    • (3:42) Edison’s improvements to the telegraph and telephone
    • (6:36) How Edison organized and staffed his Menlo Park lab
    • (9:51) Why he moved to West Orange, NJ, and what became of Menlo Park
    • (12:28) Edison’s work with light bulbs, motion picture technology, and batteries
    • (19:03) What Edison would do when he hit a wall on a project
    • (20:39) Lessons from Menlo Park that future innovators should learn
    • (22:43) What a tour of the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park includes
    Links Referenced
    • Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park: https://www.menloparkmuseum.org/
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    28 m
  • A Library of Treasures in American History with Josh Levy

    A Library of Treasures in American History with Josh Levy
    May 14 2025
    Dr. Josh Levy is a historian of science and technology at the Library of Congress. In this episode of AMSEcast, he highlights key figures and artifacts from all across America’s innovation history. From Samuel Morse’s early telegraph designs to George Washington Carver’s advocacy for sustainable farming, Levy reveals stories of invention and resilience. He also discusses aviation pioneer Lt. Thomas Selfridge and Claude Shannon’s groundbreaking work in information theory. Josh and Alan finish with Gladys West, whose geoid calculations became foundational for GPS. Her later recognition reflects how major technological advances often depend on unsung, collaborative contributions across generations. Guest Bio Dr. Josh Levy is the historian of science and technology in the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress, where he helps uncover and share the stories behind key figures in American innovation. He holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Illinois and brings years of teaching experience at both high school and college levels, including the University of South Florida, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the College of Micronesia. Since joining the Library of Congress in 2020, Dr. Levy has curated collections that illuminate the complex, collaborative nature of scientific and technological breakthroughs. Show Highlights
    • (1:50) What led Samuel Morse to invent the telegraph
    • (4:03) Morse’s letter regarding the telegraph
    • (7:36) Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver
    • (8:47) Carver’s letter to John Washington, Booker T. Washington’s brother
    • (12:02) Alfred Graham Bell’s interest in aviation
    • (15:02) Thomas Selfridge
    • (17:28) Claude Shannon, the Father of the Information Age
    • (18:46) Shannon’s schematic of Theseus, the maze-solving robotic mouse
    • (20:11) Gladys West’s impact on GPS technology
    Links Referenced
    • Library of Congress website: https://loc.gov
    • For specific questions about manuscripts at the Library of Congress: https://ask.loc.gov/manuscripts
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    28 m
  • Sailing the High Seas of History with Peter Armstrong

    Sailing the High Seas of History with Peter Armstrong
    May 7 2025
    Alan is joined by Peter Armstrong, president of Mystic Seaport Museum, to continue our celebration of 250 years of American innovation. Peter reflects on his 25 years in museum leadership and shares insights into Mystic’s long shipbuilding history. The museum, the largest maritime museum in the U.S., features historic vessels like the Charles W. Morgan, clipper ships, and a converted diesel-electric steamboat. From Fresnel lenses to nuclear submarines, Peter highlights how the museum preserves maritime heritage while embracing modern innovation. Guest Bio Peter Armstrong has been president of Mystic Seaport Museum since 2020, the largest maritime museum in the United States. With over 25 years in museum leadership, Peter previously served as senior director of museum operations and education at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Before moving to the U.S., he held key roles at the UK’s National Museum of Arms and Armor, which includes iconic sites like the Tower of London. Peter brings a deep passion for history, education, and preservation to every project, making him a leading voice in connecting heritage with innovation. Show Highlights
    • (1:30) How Mystic became a hub for shipping and shipbuilding
    • (3:02) What you can see and do at the Mystic Seaport Museum
    • (5:55) What makes whaling ships and clipper ships different from any other types of ships
    • (9:26) When and how steamboat technology made its way to the United States
    • (14:00) How the Fresnel lens revolutionized lighthouses
    • (15:34) Where America builds its ships today
    • (17:53) Where you can learn more about the Mystic Seaport Museum
    Links Referenced
    • Website: https://mysticseaport.org
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    22 m