“Where Are My People to Go?:” Violence and Resilience in West Baden
Transcript for episode 7 of the 2024/2025 season of Talking…
Moy Kee: The “Mayor” of Indianapolis’s Chinese Community
Transcript for Episode 6 of the 2024 season of Talking…
“The Most Righteous War:” The Leadership and Sacrifice of Lt. Col. William Swaim
Transcript for Episode 5 of the 2024 season of Talking…
Gloria Frankel & The Seahorse: The South Bend LGBT Club’s Fight for Gay Rights
Transcript for Episode 3 of the 2024 Season of Talking…
The “Buzz Wagon:” Studebaker’s Electric Cars
Transcript for Episode 2 of the 2024/2025 Season of Talking…
Hoosier Radical: Theodore Luesse Takes On the Great Depression
In this episode of Talking Hoosier History, we’ll meet radical organizer Theodore Luesse, who agitated for relief measures during the Great Depressions. His actions culminated in a sentence at the notorious State Penal Farm in Putnamville, where he ran for governor on the Communist ticket. Luesse’s sentence increased Hoosiers’ interest in communist ideals and ignited a series of social protests, ultimately modernizing Indiana government and cultivating a new generation of organizers, who demanded more from their government.
Horseshoe Punch: The Meteoric Rise of Boxer Ray Bronson
In this short episode of Talking Hoosier History, we’ll learn about Hoosier fighter Ray Bronson, who rocked the boxing world during the early 20th century. A horseshoe fitter-turned-welterweight champion, Bronson’s considerable wins, international bouts, and successful management of other boxers put him a cut above most fighters.
“Justice and the Square Deal:” The Political Alliance of Mother Jones and John W. Kern
In this episode of Talking Hoosier History, we’ll learn about labor organizer Mary “Mother” Jones’s political partnership with John W. Kern, the U.S. Senator from Indiana, and how their alliance represented a real shift in attitudes regarding organized labor during the Progressive Era.
Nixon’s Favorite Mayor: The Early Career of Richard Lugar
In this episode of Talking Hoosier History, we’ll explore the mayoral career of “Nixon’s Favorite Mayor,” future U.S. Senator Richard G. Lugar. Learn more about Mayor Lugar’s controversial city-consolidation plan known as Unigov, how Lugar attracted the attention of the sitting president, and how Nixon’s 1972 visit to Indiana jumpstarted Lugar’s national career.
“Ambassadors of Goodwill:” Mexican Bracero Workers during WWII
In this short episode of Talking Hoosier History, we’ll discuss the Mexican bracero workers who came to Indiana during WWII, how Hoosiers welcomed them (or didn’t), and how the braceros helped the U.S. meet wartime agricultural needs. We’ll also get a glimpse of how the Bracero Program established immigration patterns that remain relevant today.