Shows
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyThe Pottsville Maroons and the Stolen 1925 NFL Championship with David FlemingIn this episode of Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly, Jake hosts a conversation with sportswriter and author David Fleming about one of the most remarkable - and unjust - stories in American sports history: the rise and fall of the Pottsville Maroons. Drawing from Fleming's book Breaker Boys, recently re-released in a special 100th anniversary edition, the conversation traces how a football team from a small coal town in Pennsylvania's anthracite region took the fledgling NFL by storm in 1925 - only to have its championship stripped away. You can buy a copy of...
2026-01-261h 00
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyThe Patriot: When the American Revolution Became a Summer BlockbusterIn this episode, Jake finally watches The Patriot - yes, the Mel Gibson blockbuster that a whole generation absorbed as Revolutionary War "history" in the summer of 2000. Joined by Justin and Molly, the conversation turns into a lively (and occasionally horrified) public history breakdown of what the film gets right, what it invents wholesale, and what it reveals about the era that made it as much as the era it claims to depict. The trio digs into the Southern Campaign, the myth of "we won because we hid behind trees," and the film's habit of sanding down...
2026-01-201h 00
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyGreen and Blue - Irish Americans in the American Civil War with Damian ShielsIn this episode, Jake Wynn is joined by historian, archaeologist, and podcaster Damian Shiels for a wide-ranging conversation about Irish immigrants in the Civil War-era United States Army and the long road to Damian's new book, Green and Blue: Irish Americans in the Union Military, 1861–1865. You can purchase the book here Jake and Damian dig into the pension files, soldiers' letters, and overlooked working-class experiences that form the backbone of the book. Along the way, they talk about Irish service beyond the famous "green flag" units, the economic realities that shaped Irish enlistment, and why imm...
2026-01-121h 09
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyThe 1880s battle over Gettysburg's first Confederate monument with Codie EashIn this episode, Jake and Justin are joined by public historian Codie Eash of the Seminary Ridge Museum for a deep dive into one of the most contentious and misunderstood chapters in Gettysburg's postwar history: the fight over Confederate monuments on the battlefield. What feels like a modern debate turns out to be anything but - Union and Confederate veterans arguing bitterly about memory, treason, and reconciliation as early as the 1880s. The conversation centers on the first Confederate monument erected at Gettysburg, why it appeared when it did, and why Union veterans immediately pushed...
2026-01-051h 27
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyRewatching It's a Wonderful Life in 2025In this special holiday episode, Jake, Justin, and Molly gather to talk about It's a Wonderful Life - not just as a Christmas classic, but as a deeply historical film shaped by war, economic depression, and the unsettled, unstable world of 1946. What starts as a cozy movie night quickly turns into a wide-ranging conversation about community, capitalism, trauma, and why Frank Capra's vision of America still hits a nerve nearly eighty years later. The trio digs into the film's historical moment, Jimmy Stewart's wartime experience, and why Bedford Falls feels both comforting and painfully distant in 2025. Along...
2025-12-2354 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly"Destination Freedom" with Public Historian EJ MurphyIn this episode, Jake sits down with public historian EJ Murphy of the Destination Freedom Project at the Waverly Community House to talk about abolition, the Underground Railroad, and the way slavery's political shockwaves reached even the smallest Northern communities before the Civil War. Jake and EJ dig into how Waverly became a key stop on a regional freedom network connecting places like Wilkes-Barre, Montrose, and the Southern Tier of New York. They also talk about the challenges of telling these stories with limited sources, what the Fugitive Slave Act changed on the ground, and why local...
2025-12-1535 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyPeshtigo - The Forgotten Story of America's Deadliest WildfireOn the night of October 8, 1871, a wall of fire roared out of the Wisconsin woods and erased the town of Peshtigo in a matter of minutes. More than 1,200 people were killed, making it the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history - yet its story was overshadowed almost immediately by the Great Chicago Fire burning the same night. In this episode, Jake takes listeners into the story of the disaster and its surprising legacy. This episode of Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly explores: • Jake's role as "Mr. Sadman" — and why grim stories matter...
2025-12-0854 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyPreviewing America 250In this episode, we look ahead to America's 250th anniversary and ask what this milestone should mean in 2026 and beyond. The conversation ranges from the messy, decade-long road to revolution to the very local ways towns like Frederick, Maryland, are already marking the moment with traditions like Repudiation Day. Along the way, the crew wrestles with how we remember the founding, who gets included in that story, and what it means to celebrate a past that was never as simple as the textbooks made it seem. Jake Wynn, Justin Voithofer, and Molly Keilty dig into...
2025-12-0146 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyDeath by Lightning - A Public History Podcast ReviewIn this episode, we dive into Netflix's Death by Lightning, the gripping new series about President James Garfield's short presidency, his assassination, and the troubled mind of his killer, Charles Guiteau. Drawing from Candice Millard's acclaimed book Destiny of the Republic, the show brings to life an era of bare-knuckle politics, deep factionalism, and a presidency undone by one man's delusions. Jake, Justin, and Molly unpack the series, the wild political landscape of the 1880s, and the strange cultural crosscurrents that shaped Garfield's world. This episode of Public History with Justin, Jake, and...
2025-11-241h 01
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyFrom Mauch Chunk to Jim Thorpe - A Pennsylvania town's dramatic 20th century rebrandIn the 1950s, the once–thriving town of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania was fading fast. Local newspaperman Joe Boyle was determined to revive it - and a chance meeting in 1953 with the widow of legendary athlete Jim Thorpe set off one of the strangest civic reinvention stories in American history. This episode unpacks how Mauch Chunk became Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania - a story about boosterism, economic desperation, and a bizarre bid for survival. This is the debut episode of our newly rebranded Public History with Justin, Jake, and Molly, and we're thrilled to welcome co-host Molly Ke...
2025-11-171h 09
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyWalking Tours and Community History with Matt Maris of Local HistoriaIn this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we're joined by Matt Maris, public historian and founder of Local Historia, a history-focused small business based in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Matt has built a reputation for creating immersive walking tours and community-based history programs that bring the past to life while strengthening local identity. Together, we talk about his deep love for Bellefonte's layered stories, how Local Historia began, and the ways that public history can serve as a tool for economic development in small towns across Pennsylvania and beyond. This conversation explores how connecting p...
2025-10-2725 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyRose Hill Manor with Amanda Venable and Kari SaavedraIn this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we talk with two dedicated public historians doing vital work at one of the Frederick, Maryland's most important historic sites. We're joined by Amanda Venable, Museum Manager at Rose Hill Manor Park and Museums, and Kari Saavedra, Recreation Manager of Natural and Cultural Heritage for Frederick County Parks and Recreation. Together, Amanda and Kari are reimagining what interpretation can look like at a site with layers of American history - from the legacy of Maryland's first elected governor, Thomas Johnson, to the lives of enslaved...
2025-06-0338 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyThe Weight of Place: Codie Eash on Seminary Ridge and Civil War MemoryIn this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we sit down with our friend and esteemed public historian, Codie Eash, Director of Education and Interpretation at the Seminary Ridge Museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Codie's expertise in tackling the complexities of Civil War memory, race, religion, and the enduring significance of Gettysburg shines through in this lively conversation. From the unique challenges of interpreting a site as iconic as Seminary Ridge to navigating deeply entrenched myths and modern debates about the Civil War, Codie shares fascinating insights from his years on the front lines of...
2025-01-021h 23
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyA Pennsylvania soldier in the Battle of the Bulge - Letters from WarOn December 16, 1944, German military forces launched a surprise counter-offensive against the United States Army in the Ardennes Forest in Belgium. The attack, which penetrated deeply into American lines, became known to history as the Battle of the Bulge. One of the American soldiers who faced this Nazi onslaught was a 20-year-old citizen-soldier from Pine Grove, Pennsylvania named Irvin Schwartz. In this episode of the Public History podcast, we explore this soldier's experience as an anti-tank gunner during the Battle of the Bulge through the letters he wrote home about his experience in World War II.
2024-12-1633 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyBlair County: A People's History with Filmmaker Mark FrederickThe podcast returns after an unintentionally long interlude! In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we talk with filmmaker Mark Frederick about his 2024 documentary, "Blair County - A People's History." This feature-length documentary details the story of a Central Pennsylvania community against the backdrop of numerous dramatic moments from American history including the French and Indian War, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and the Second World War. In this episode we discuss: The film and how it came about Where you can watch the fil...
2024-11-2952 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyPolitics and Public History with Dr. Evan KutzlerIt's been a crazy year in American politics - one that rivals any in the country's history for chaotic twists and turns. In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we talk with Dr. Evan Kutzler of Western Michigan University about the role that historians have taken on in our nation's politics in the last decade. What role should historians have in the national discourse? When does it cross a line from good history to crass political punditry? How does the work that academic historians differ from public historians during times of national cri...
2024-07-2452 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyD-Day at 80 This month marked the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on D-Day and the resulting Battle of Normandy. In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, Justin and I discussed stories from D-Day and the meaning of this particular anniversary as we continue to lose the World War II generation to the ravages of time. We chat about how we first remember learning about D-Day and how our societal memory of D-Day and the Second World War has continued to evolve and shift in the eight decades since...
2024-06-271h 09
The History Things PodcastHTP EP 71: The Battle of Jutland w/Justin VoithoferSend us a textPat and Matt have a deep interest in World War One, and while they have got you down into the trenches and high above them, they have only brushed the war at sea when talking about the tragic sinking of the Lusitania. That all ends now as the guys take on the largest naval engagement of the war, the Battle of Jutland!To help the work through this clash of navies, Pat and Matt are joined by Justin Voithofer, an up and coming historian and veteran with a real passion for...
2024-06-033h 19
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyOctober Sky (1999) In this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, we review one of our favorite movies about Sputnik, rocketry, coal mining, and West Virginia - the 1999 film "October Sky." This year marks 25 years since the film came out and we thought it would be the perfect time to talk about this film. It tells the story of Homer Hickam, a teenager from a mining town in West Virginia who becomes interested in science and rockets after watching the Soviet satellite Sputnik fly over his hometown of Coalwood, West Virginia. The...
2024-05-3154 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyYearbook Superlatives... But for MuseumsIn this episode of Public History with Jake and Justin, it's the end of the school year and we are handing out superlatives to our favorite museums. Justin and I share our opinions about museums we've visited across the United States and around the world. In this episode we discuss: Museum superlatives! Categories such as: Most Innovative Exhibits Coolest Hidden Gem Class Clown Bucket List Museum And...
2024-05-241h 14
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyMaking a Public Historian with Becky Oakes In our newest episode in the "Making a Public Historian" series, we chat with Becky Oakes, a historian with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In this role, Becky seeks to inspire innovation by telling the stories of past and present inventors, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers, as well as maintaining a robust repository of institutional history. Becky previously served as the USPTO's social media specialist. Prior to the USPTO, Becky worked for the National Park Service in the field of historic interpretation. She holds a B.A...
2024-05-1552 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyKilled at Spotsylvania Court House - A Pennsylvania Family's StoryIn this episode of Public History, we are sharing the story of the Workman family of Wiconisco, Pennsylvania and their ties to the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in May 1864. Josiah and Franklin Workman were young soldiers in the 96th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry who lost their lives during the fighting on May 10, 1864. Their story is one that reveals the legacy of tragedy left behind in the wake of the Overland Campaign, one of the Civil War's deadliest periods that left tens of thousands dead. This month marks the 160th anniversary of this crucial moment in American history. ...
2024-05-0713 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyUseless - Reviewing Manhunt Episodes 5-7 and MoreIn this episode of Public History, we conclude our reviews of the Apple TV+ miniseries "Manhunt" with guest co-host Rich Condon. We also discuss NPR's investigation into the nation's historical markers. In this episode, we talk about: Manhunt's significant departures from historical fact Edwin Stanton's frequent flyer miles Writers who talk down to television viewers Historical markers and their role in shaping public memory of historical events NPR's Up First episode about the investigation HERE And in our Postscripts, we discuss...
2024-05-0346 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyDranesville - A Forgotten Civil War Battlefield with Ryan QuintIn this episode of Public History, we talk to author and public historian Ryan Quint about his new book, Dranesville: A Northern Virginia Town in the Crossfire of a Forgotten Battle, Dec. 20, 1861. His previous book, Determined to Stand and Fight: The Battle of Monocacy, July 9, 1864, was published in 2017. You can purchase the book here! Or find a Kindle version here. In this episode, we talk about: The Battle of Dranesville Civilian experiences during the early stages of the Civil War in northern Virginia. Why the exp...
2024-04-2351 minPublic History with Justin, Jake, and MollyThe Wolves Aren't Fleeing - Manhunt Episodes 3-4 ReviewIn this pod we discuss episodes 3 and 4 of the Apple TV+ limited series "Manhunt" about the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after the Lincoln assassination in 1865. We are joined by our friend and fellow public historian Rich Condon to discuss the show's portrayal of the early stages of Reconstruction. In this show you'll hear: Our unvarnished opinions about Manhunt Laments about too much artistic license used in some historical dramas How this show does a fairly good job of showing the implications of Reconstruction And more!
2024-04-1943 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyMaking a Public Historian - Maureen LavelleIn our first conversation of our Making a Public Historian series, we chat with Maureen Lavelle who currently works as the History Programs Manager for the City of Boise Department of Arts and History. We discuss her career journey as a public historian, her unique experiences in the National Park Service, and her advice for aspiring young historians with an interest in working with the public. Lavelle has previously worked for the National Park Service at numerous parks around the country, including Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Death Valley National Park...
2024-04-1649 min
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyCSI: Lincoln Assassination - Manhunt Episodes 1-2 ReviewIn the inaugural episode of the pod, Jake and Justin discuss the first two episodes of the Apple TV+ limited series "Manhunt." This show, based on James Swanson's book of the same name, follows the hunt for John Wilkes Booth following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in April 1865. In the show, you'll hear about: A beardless, not grumpy enough Edwin Stanton Attempts to steal Daniel Day-Lewis's Lincoln voice John Wilkes Booth's fame level - before the assassination Centering the narrative of race and Reconstruction in the stor...
2024-04-051h 10
Public History with Justin, Jake, and MollyIntroducing Public History with Jake & JustinWelcome to "Public History with Jake & Justin," the podcast where the past is never far behind. Join us as we delve into the ever-changing world of public history. In this show we will examine how the public consumes history at museums, historic sites, national parks, battlefields and through popular culture. With over a decade of experience in public history, Jake has spent years sharing stories from the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania. His career as a public history began in Frederick, Maryland at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and online at WynningHistory.com and PennCivilWar.c...
2024-03-2501 min