Dig: A History Podcast

Save it for the Rag-and-Bone Man: The Premodern History of Recycling, Salvage, and Reuse In 1851, a journalist named Henry Mayhew set out to document the lives of London's working poor. What he found was astonishing. In the richest city in the world, thousands of people made their living by picking through other people's trash. There were the bone-grubbers, who scavenged bones from gutters to sell to soap manufacturers. There were the mudlarks, mostly children, who waded through the filthy banks of the Thames searching for coal, rope, and bits of metal.

Save it for the Rag-and-Bone Man: The Premodern History of Recycling, Salvage, and Reuse

In 1851, a journalist named Henry Mayhew set out to document the lives of London's working poor. What he found was astonishing. In the richest city in the world, thousands of people made their living by…

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 This year, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the moment when American patriots pledged their lives and their sacred honor to declare the American colonies independent of the British crown. By the time the Continental Congress signed that document, American blood had already been shed and the colonies were already fighting the war that would ultimately lead to the birth of the United States as an independent nation.

The Constitutional Convention of 1787

This year, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the moment when American patriots pledged their lives and their sacred honor to declare the American colonies independent of the British crown. By the time the Continental…

The Constitutional Convention of 1787, with an Introduction Reflecting on January 24, 2026 This year, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the moment when American patriots pledged their lives and their sacred honor to declare the American colonies independent of the British crown. By the time the Continental Congress signed that document, American blood had already been shed and the colonies were already fighting the war that would ultimately lead to the birth of the United States as an independent nation.

The Constitutional Convention of 1787, with an Introduction Reflecting on January 24, 2026

This year, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the moment when American patriots pledged their lives and their sacred honor to declare the American colonies independent of…

 Orange Slices, Simmer Pots, and Naked Dancing: A Brief and Incomplete History of Modern Witchcraft Yule logs, dried orange slices strung across your windows, decorated trees and simmer pots - all the marks of a neopagan holiday season! Wait, that's Christmas, you say? Well, can't it be both? A brief history of modern witchcraft, just in time for the winter solstice celebration. Orange Slices, Simmer Pots, and Naked Dancing: A Brief and Incomplete History of Modern Witchcraft…

 Orange Slices, Simmer Pots, and Naked Dancing: A Brief and Incomplete History of Modern Witchcraft

Yule logs, dried orange slices strung across your windows, decorated trees and simmer pots - all the marks of a neopagan holiday season! Wait, that's Christmas, you say? Well, can't it be both? A…

Martian Visitors in the Gilded Age Over an eight-month period in 1896-1897, thousands of people across North America reported seeing mysterious ships in the air or lights in the sky. There were over 12,000 newspaper accounts published about the phenomenon in 408 different newspapers in 41 American states and six Canadian provinces. The airships were usually described as oblong, cigar-shaped objects, sometimes with wings that would flap up and down.

Martian Visitors in the Gilded Age

Over an eight-month period in 1896-1897, thousands of people across North America reported seeing mysterious ships in the air or lights in the sky. There were over 12,000 newspaper accounts published about the phenomenon in 408 different newspapers in 41 American…

Perfect episode for #Halloweek #Halloween #spoopyszn Marissa's are always so GOOD!

Beasts and Believers: A History of Werewolf Trials in Early Modern Europe In 1220 CE, St. Francis of Assisi tamed a ferocious werewolf terrorizing Gubbio, Italy—transforming "Brother Wolf" from savage beast to peaceful townsperson. But why did Christianity need to conquer the wolf? For millennia, werewolves have stalked the boundaries between civilization and savagery, humanity and monstrosity. From ancient Mesopotamian curses to Greek myths of divine punishment, from medieval theology to early modern courtrooms where hundreds died in werewolf trials, the shape-shifter has embodied our deepest anxieties about human nature itself.

Beasts and Believers: A History of Werewolf Trials in Early Modern Europe

In 1220 CE, St. Francis of Assisi tamed a ferocious werewolf terrorizing Gubbio, Italy—transforming "Brother Wolf" from savage beast to peaceful townsperson. But why did Christianity need to conquer the wolf? For millennia,…

Mediums of Change: Women, Spiritualism, and Social Reform | The New York Historical The Page Act of 1875 forbade the entry of Chinese women based on assumptions of immorality and was the first restrictive federal immigration law in the United States.

This Wednesday! Join us and the @nyhistory.bsky.social for a FREE virtual event on mediums, Spiritualism, and women's history. Celebrating our book's first anniversary with the wonderful folks at the NY Historical!

Register here:

www.nyhistory.org/programs/med...

@dig-history.bsky.social is wide ranging in topics and a fun listen.

Neko Case really cornered the market on murder ballads
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAG-...

You’re Bound to Die: The Long History of the Americal Murder Ballad If you look through recordings of country, western, and folk music ranging from the 1920s and 1930s through to present, you’ll notice a theme: songs about crime, murder, and executions are ever-present. From Grayson & Whittier’s recording of the centuries-old ballad “Rose Connelly” in 1927, to Lloyd Wilson’s “Stagger Lee”recorded in the 1950s, Bob Dylan’s “The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll”in the 1960s, to Johnny Cash’s “Delia’s Gone”in the 1990s, to Jason Isbell’s “Live Oak” or “Yvette”or Zach Bryan’s “Birmingham” in more recent years, songs about the murder are a staple of the American musical tradition.

You’re Bound to Die: The Long History of the Americal Murder Ballad

If you look through recordings of country, western, and folk music ranging from the 1920s and 1930s through to present, you’ll notice a theme: songs about crime, murder, and executions are ever-present. From Grayson & Whittier’s…

Chronicles | Kellar: The Greatest American Magician | Season 3 | Episode 7 Harry Kellar was an American magician born in Erie, Pa.

Sarah and Elizabeth were interviewed for a recent episode of @pbs.org Chronicles - check them out, showcasing our Spiritualist history expertise! (and Civil War, because duh, Sarah ;P) www.pbs.org/video/kellar...

Suffer a Witch to Live? Religious Conflict and Witchcraft Persecutions; or, No One Expects the Inquisition How would you expect the Spanish Inquisition to treat a confessed witch? Does the suggestion conjure visions of fire, torture, and lots of murdered women? You aren’t alone - but this is a history we definitely need to unpack.  Transcript for: Suffer a Witch to Live? Religious Conflict and Witchcraft Persecutions; or, No One Expects the Inquisition Researched and written by Averill Earls, PhD…

Suffer a Witch to Live? Religious Conflict and Witchcraft Persecutions; or, No One Expects the Inquisition

How would you expect the Spanish Inquisition to treat a confessed witch? Does the suggestion conjure visions of fire, torture, and lots of murdered women? You aren’t alone - but this is a…

We're officially members of the very cool #Amplify network - joining a small group of scholars with a collective commitment to the Mandate of the Amplify project: open scholarship and critical pedagogy rooted in anti-racism and feminist social justice. www.amplifypodcastnetwork.ca/sustain-stream

Yellow Rose of Texas: Myth-making and Race in the 19th Century Today we're exploring one of Texas's most enduring legends - the story of the "Yellow Rose of Texas" and her supposed role in the Battle of San Jacinto. We are going to unravel the myth of “The Yellow Rose of Texas.” We will explore the woman at the heart of the tale, Emily D. West, who was a free woman of color working in Texas, and untangle her real life from the Texan myth.

Yellow Rose of Texas: Myth-making and Race in the 19th Century

Today we're exploring one of Texas's most enduring legends - the story of the "Yellow Rose of Texas" and her supposed role in the Battle of San Jacinto. We are going to unravel the myth of “The Yellow Rose of Texas.” We will explore…

This was a fun one to record! Marissa writes some of my fave episodes

Whispers and Wives’ Tales: A History of Women & Gossip in Premodern Society Whispers and Wives' Tales: A History of Women & Gossip in Premodern Society Written by Marissa Rhodes, PhD Recorded by Marissa Rhodes, PhD and Averill Earls, PhD Marissa: On September 9, 1838, a humble woman named Mary Grout descended the stairs outside of her cramped apartment on Rich-street in the poverty-stricken Limehouse district of London. She was visiting her neighbor, Sara Tarrall who lived two floors below her.

Whispers and Wives’ Tales: A History of Women & Gossip in Premodern Society

Whispers and Wives' Tales: A History of Women & Gossip in Premodern Society Written by Marissa Rhodes, PhD Recorded by Marissa Rhodes, PhD and Averill Earls, PhD Marissa: On September 9, 1838, a humble woman named Mary…

One way to understand this Health Bizarre guy is to read Teddy Roosevelt’s “Strenuous Life” speech.

@dig-history.bsky.social has a fantabulous episode on the @nationalparks.bsky.social that features this speech. Thank you, intrepid historians!

Treat yourself to some smart, smart, smart thinking about what we really do as historians & as teachers: "Rule One in the Intro to Art History class that I teach is: these things on the slides here are not the works of art that you're studying; they're digital copies of them." #MedievalSky

Love in the Lav with Averill Earls | NACBS Join NACBS to celebrate the publication of Love in the Lav: A Social Biography of Same-Sex Desire in Ireland, 1922-1972.

📢Book Event📢

Join us next Thursday for a discussion with @aearls.bsky.social and @jaretthenderson.bsky.social about Earls' latest work Love in the Lav: A Social Biography of Same Sex Desire in Ireland, 1922-1972

📅Thursday, Sep 4
⏰9amPT/12pmET

Free and open to the public
Info and RSVP at the link!

The #CFP for the Queer/Trans History Conference #QTHC2026 is live, and submissions are due in November. We hope you can all join us in Michigan for a fantastic conference! lgbtq-ha.org/conferences/...

Thank you!!!! (And sounds like a VERY fun class!)

I love assigning @dig-history.bsky.social to my students! I have assigned multiple episodes for my History of Sex honors course this fall.

Women and Slavery: How Harriet Jacobs Revealed Women’s Experience of American Enslavement In 1861, one of the most powerful slave narratives in American history was published under the title, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, written by Harriet Jacobs and edited by the famous aboli…

Women and Slavery: How Harriet Jacobs Revealed Women’s Experience of American Enslavement

In 1861, one of the most powerful slave narratives in American history was published under the title, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl... [listen now] digpodcast.org/2025/08/17/w...

We've got over 100 history podcasts featured here. We especially love other academic history podcasts - like our friends at amplifypodcastnetwork.ca, so let us know if you'd like to be included!

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My latest on the podcast

About Us Your Historians Dig: A History Podcast is a narrative-driven, open access, and accessible digital history project bridging the worlds of popular and academic history with an explicitly feminist per…

@dig-history.bsky.social has EXCELLENT, digestible work on this history. One of them just wrote a book called The Sentimental State, about the origins of the labor movement in textile mills.

They are 4 history professors, all women, with a mix of different subspecialties.

digpodcast.org/about-us/