We have been going mainly chronologically thus far, and with 2026 being the 250th anniversary of our country, we decided to mix in some different types of episodes to recognize where we have been, along with reminders of how we got there, and what we need to do to keep it going!   Today's podcast title, It Starts with Us: Keeping Democracy Alive for the Next 250 Years, delves into the responsibilities we have as citizens to stay educated and remember that the power is in the hands of the people. We assign that power to our elected officials in order for them to represent US! Today, Jeananne is joined by Ira Chaleff   Ira and Jeananne discuss open dialogue with people who have differing views, not being closed off to other opinions, and more importantly, educating yourself with the viewpoints from the political left, center, and right.   There is always more to learn, talk to you soon! -Jimmy & Jean

Our podcast on the legislative branch and civic engagement focuses on the interactions between politicians and their constituents.  Do you know who your congressman is? Do you know who your two state senators are? Do you know how to reach them? Well we will get into all of this and more! Jeananne is joined by Bradford Fitch, the former CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation. He has spent 40 years in Washington as a journalist, congressional aide, consultant, college instructor, Internet entrepreneur, and writer/researcher. He is a leading trainer of citizen-advocates in the U.S., with more than 50,000 Americans participating in one of his programs. Take a listen as there is always more to learn! -Jimmy & Jean BradfordFitch.comFind Your Members in the U.S. Congress | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

In this podcast we continue our coverage of the civil rights movement with a discussion on Brown vs. The Board of Education.  Most of us know Brown v. Board of Education as the Supreme Court decision that struck down racial segregation in public schools. But what’s often forgotten is that this landmark case has deep roots in a place that, nearly a century earlier, was a battleground over the issue of slavery. That place? Kansas. As students of history, you may have heard the phrase “Bleeding Kansas." This wasn’t just a metaphor. From 1854 to 1859, the Kansas Territory became a war zone as pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers fought over whether the state would enter the Union as free or slave-holding state. In an earlier episode, we discussed John Brown and his infamous raid on Harpers Ferry. And here's a little-known fact: Kansas had four competing constitutions during its territorial years. Yes — four! Each one representing a different vision of the state’s future. The debate over slavery wasn’t just national — it was hyperlocal, fought at the ballot box, in homes, and with rifles. When Kansas finally entered the Union in 1861, it did so as a free state — just months before the Civil War began. And a century later, it would once again become a frontline in the battle for civil rights, this time in the classrooms of Topeka. On this episode, our resident history expert, Jeananne Xenakis is joined by Ms. Fatimah Purvis, who serves as the Education Specialist at Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park in Topeka,  Kansas.

We continue our conversation on The Civil Rights Movement and in this podcast we delve into the story of Emmett Till. Emmett Till was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered. We delve into his story and how it was a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement here in The United States.  We are joined by Devery Anderson, author of Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement (Race, Rhetoric, and Media Series): Anderson, Devery S., Bond, Julian: 9781496814777: Amazon.com: Books There is always more to learn! Talk to you soon, Jimmy & Jean  

With this podcast we begin our coverage of the Civil Rights Movement here in the United States. There will be multiple podcasts, which Jeananne will introduce some topics later on in this one.  To understand the importance of The Civil Rights Movement and why it was such an uphill battle to get legislation passed to protect voting rights, to desegregate schools and public facilities and allow for equal protection under the law, we have to go back to the era of Reconstruction and look at the journey from slavery to segregation.  We reference content from earlier podcasts, so if you want to take a refresher, go back and listen to our podcasts on: The Civil War (Parts 1 & 2) Reconstruction / Presidency of Andrew Johnson Booker T. Washington Plessy v. Ferguson & The Emergence of Segregation in the US Take a listen, there is always more to learn! -Jimmy & Jean

Season 6 is here, and with it comes an exciting opportunity to dive deep into the past of one of America's most iconic landmarks. The White House may just seem like a building, but its rich and layered history reveals so much more—untold stories of decisions that shaped the world, whispered conversations, and personal moments of the nation's leaders. Stewart McLaurin, White House Historical Association President, joins us for an incredible discussion on the history of The White House as we gear up to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of The United States of America. Imagine the secrets held within its walls—the lives of those who constructed it, the leaders who governed from its rooms, and the historic choices that forever altered the course of the country. Too often, these pivotal moments go unnoticed, lost to time. But there's a solution: Tune in to our newest discussion, led by our resident history expert, Jeananne Xenakis and Stewart McLaurin, White House Historical Association President. Together, they'll unpack "The History Of The White House," and explore the legacy of The White House.  If you're visiting Washington, D.C., make time for a visit to The White House Historical Association’s new immersive exhibit. Help preserve history and ensure future generations can experience its grandeur—visit their website to support their vital mission.  The People's House: A White House Experience: https://thepeopleshouse.org/  The White House Historical Association: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/

Well we all know the TV today, and there are a few hundred channels that we all gave access to today. We dive into the invention, the adoption by the population, the programming explosion, and some popular shows that became staples of the 1950s.    Shows like I Love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver, The Honeymooners and more entertained the masses at the end of their work days.  The televsion became a must have in every home.  With the popularity of the programming came the inevitable insurgence of advertisers. It was a whole new media to use to get in front of the consumers. As you listen to this podcast, think how similar a time we live in today with the advent of social media, digital ads, and inflencer marketing!   There is always more to learn, talk to you soon!   Jimmy & Jean

This podcast covers the polio outbreak in the 1950s, along with the subsequent vaccine invented by Jonas Salk.  We delve into the spread, the treatments, as well as the eventual vaccine created by Mr. Jonas Salk.  There is always more to learn, talk to you soon!   Jimmy & Jean

With this podcast, we complete our coverage of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  This is episode is the final of three parts. This episode delves into the foreign and domestic agendas of the Eisenhower presidency. We get into U2 spy planes, Russia and the Cold War, happenings in the Middle East with Iran and Egypt, along with issues with the Suez Canal. So many things to discuss in this IKE finale! We are joined by Dr Todd Arrington, Director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Museum & Library. If you would like to take a look at their website and take a visit, here is the link! Home | Eisenhower Presidential Library   There is always more to learn, talk to you soon! Jimmy & Jean

We continue our coverage of General & eventually President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  This is episode is the second of three parts. This episode begins with the story of the election of 1952, how he came to be the nominee, and the 8 years of his presidency, along with the impact that President Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie. Take a look at the fudge recipe we promised from Mamie! Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge Recipe We are joined by Dr Todd Arrington, Director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Museum & Library. If you would like to take a look at their website and take a visit, here is the link! Home | Eisenhower Presidential Library   There is always more to learn, talk to you soon! Jimmy & Jean

We begin our coverage of General & eventually President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  We will be braking these up into three parts. This first part will cover Eisenhower's earlier years at West Point, his military appointments, and all the way up to, but not including the election of 1952.   We are joined by Dr Todd Arrington, Director of the Dwight D Eisenhower Museum & Library. If you would like to take a look at their website and take a visit, here is the link! Home | Eisenhower Presidential Library   There is always more to learn, talk to you soon! Jimmy & Jean

Our 1950's podcast has a bit of everything. The 1950s can be called the decade of conformity. There is tremendous growth. Population is BOOMING, hence the term "Baby Boomers" came into vogue.  The roles of women changed, going from aspirations of Rosie the Riviter in the work force to stay at home mother and homemaker. Television, movies, and other media, all showcased the idealized images of what family life should be.  Pop culture gave us rock n roll, "The King", Chuck Berry, and others.  Toys like The Barbie Doll, Mr Potato Head, and PlayDoh became very popular.    President Eisenhower championed projects related to infrastructure. The suburbs were born, and roads, highways, bridges, and tunnel projects were all undertaken.  This episode has it all, along with a little fun at the end.    There is always more to learn! -Jimmy & Jean

So in order to recap how we got to what became known as the "McCarthy era", we need to take a look at recent events.  Many events occurred before Senator Joseph McCarthy's rise to national fame. There was first the breakdown of the wartime alliance with the Soviet Union, and President Harry S. Truman signed an executive order in 1947 to screen federal employees for possible association with organizations deemed "totalitarian, fascist, communist, or subversive", or potentially advocating "to alter the form of Government of the United States by unconstitutional means." Then, you had Czechoslovak coup by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia which heightened concern in the West about Communist parties seizing power and the possibility of subversion. In 1949, a high-level State Department official was convicted of perjury in a case of espionage, and the Soviet Union tested a nuclear bomb. The Korean War started the next year, significantly raising tensions and fears of impending communist upheavals in the United States. In a speech in February 1950, McCarthy claimed to have a list of members of the Communist Party USA working in the State Department, which attracted substantial press attention, and the term McCarthyism was published for the first time in late March of that year in The Christian Science Monitor, along with a political cartoon by Herblock in The Washington Post.   So there is the quick intro, and Jeananne will pick up all of the details of McCarthyism and the Second Red Scare.   there is always more to learn! Jimmy & Jean

Welcome to episode number 102. This one is on the Korean War.    Jean and I discuss the events leading up to the war. The Korean War is a byproduct of post WWII events and how land was divided up after the war.  We dig into the 38th parallel, communist influences vs US influence, and the beginnings of war yet again.  We delve into what becomes the first of many proxy wars between the US and Russia, as well as the conclusion of the war, which believe it or not, is still not technically over.   Take a listen, and let us know what you think.  There is always more to learn! -Jimmy & Jean

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) serves as a fundamental institution in shaping international relations, particularly between NATO and the West. Established in the aftermath of World War II, NATO was formed to ensure collective defense and maintain peace among its member states. Its creation responded to the urgent need for a stable and secure geopolitical environment in a world recovering from the devastation of war.  Its member countries agreed to mutual defense commitments, meaning an attack against one would be considered an attack against all. This principle aimed to deter aggression and promote a united front against any adversary. As the alliance grew, NATO adapted its objectives to address new global challenges beyond traditional military threats, such as terrorism and cyber warfare.   Take a listen to what Jimmy and Jean have to say about the formation and evolution of NATO. There is always more to learn!   -Jimmy & Jean

Thank you for checking in to our podcast on The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan. While both the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine were US policies aimed at containing the spread of communism during the Cold War, there are a number of key differences.  The main difference is that the Truman Doctrine focused on providing military and political support to countries threatened by communist takeover, while the Marshall Plan offered large-scale economic aid to rebuild war-torn Western Europe after World War II, aiming to prevent communist influence by stabilizing their economies.   For all the details, take a listen and know that there is always more to learn!   -Jimmy & Jean  

In our podcast on the history of US Troop Entertainment we take a deep dive into the launching of the USO, celebrity visits to the troops, the mobilization of US mail to get the letters to our troops as well as Jeep Shows.    Our Special guest in this podcast is author Robert B. O'Connor, who wrote Jeep Show: A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge To take a peek at Robert's book, please visit this link to his book on Amazon.    There is always more to learn! -Jimmy & Jean

We conclude our coverage of the presidency of Harry S. Truman with part three here in this podcast.  We are again joined by Mr Mark Adams from the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum & Library.  Foreign Policy wise, throughout his two terms as President, Truman has one development after another. The start of the Cold War, the rebuilding of Europe – not just borders, rebuilding cities and reviving the economy through programs like the Truman Doctrine and The Marshall Plan and of course The Korean War which we will do a separate episode on. Truman also shocks US officials and world leaders with another shocking decision. What was it? Take a listen and find out! We do not want to put too much into the description, and hope you enjoy the podcast. There is always more to learn, Jimmy & Jean

We continue our coverage of Harry S. Truman, which is in three parts.  In part two we are joined by Mr Mark Adams from the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum & Library.  We discuss his acclimation to The Presidency after suddenly being thrust into the role, the decisions to drop "The Bomb" in hopes of ending the war, as well as post WWII politics and the desired influence of democracy on the globe.  We do not want to put too much into the description, and hope you enjoy the podcast There is always more to learn, Jimmy & Jean

We begin our coverage of Harry S. Truman, which will be done over three parts. Part one will discuss the early life and the beginnings ofhis political career.  Truman was born in Lamar Missouri on May 8, 1884. He was named after his uncle Harrison and was given the middle initial of S to honor both of his grandfathers. Back in 1905, Truman joined the Missouri National Guard. Knowing his poor eye sight might prevent him from being accepted, he memorized the eye chart! When the US got involved in WWI in 1917, Truman reenlisted, he was 33 years old. He served in France and is the only US President who saw military action in WWI. In 1922, Truman began his time in public office.  We do not want to put too much into the description, and hope you enjoy the podcast There is always more to learn, Jimmy & Jean