What does it mean for half a million Oklahomans to be citizens of both the United States and of their tribal nations? We speak with Jay Hannah, who has served the Cherokee Nation as Secretary-Treasurer, Chairman of the 1999 Constitution Convention, and Chairman of all tribal enterprises, about the history and meaning of tribal citizenship within American democracy.


Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox  

View more about this episode: okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep14

Tribal Citizenship and Identity

Why do we use this complicated 18th century invention to elect U.S. presidents? Where did the Electoral College come from, what problems and controversies has it caused, and what are its potential benefits for our election system? Our guests, Dr. Aaron Mason and Dr. Eric Schmaltz of Northwestern Oklahoma State University, discuss this hugely consequential quirk of our electoral system and how it has affected American democracy. 

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox 

More information about this episode: https://www.okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep13 

Why Do We Have the Electoral College?

How can philosophical and ethical concepts help us navigate the challenges of our current world? We speak with Dr. Guy Crain, a professor of philosophy at Rose State College, about ways of understanding and using philosophy in our everyday lives. Dr. Crain discusses his particular interest in the ethics of violence, and we discuss the deep importance of the humanities and the concept of "intellectual humility" in dealing with the anxieties and problems of life in 2020. Dr. Crain also recommends some excellent resources, including his own open sourcebook, for further exploration into the world of philosophy.

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

More information about this episode: okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep12

Using Philosophy in Everyday Life

“Fantasy literature makes you look at the world from a different perspective, it makes you look at humanity in a totally different light.”


We’re looking at the value and deeper meanings of fantasy literature in this episode, featuring Dr. Joshua Grasso of East Central University. We discuss why humans need fantasy, some common themes like exile and reluctant heroes, and key examples of cultural diversity seen in fantasy literature. Dr. Grasso also recommends some lesser known works of fantasy, and we talk about how to deal with the legacies of authors whose beliefs or personal lives can be troubling to 21st century readers. 

 

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

More Information about this episode: okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep11

New Ways of Seeing the World: The Value of Fantasy Literature

“When you have shows that are centered on women, you allow for stories that finally give a platform to issues that women have been trying to put a spotlight on for years, whether it’s health care or sexual harassment or equal pay. Television is a perfect platform.”  

We talk with Dr. Sunu Kodumthara, a professor of American History at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, about ways women have been portrayed on television and what those portrayals reveal about American society and culture. We discuss depictions of traditional #genderroles, programs that showed women in the workplace, representations of #womenofcolor, and finally some of the most significant female rebels on American television. For that last category, we are joined by Elizabeth Bass of the Oklahoma Historical Society for a free-flowing discussion of Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia – possibly the four most amazing (and golden) portrayals of women in the history of television. 

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

 

More information on this episode: okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep10

From Lucy to Cersei: Portrayals of Women on Television

"Part of the story of the 1970s is the story of a decade that, at the time and for a couple of decades after, wasn't seen as being a very important decade. It is now seen as absolutely crucial." 
 
We talk with Dr. Ben Alpers, a Professor of American Intellectual and Cultural History at the University of Oklahoma Honors College, about the 1970s and some of its most interesting cultural touchstones. We discuss how 1970s movies like American Graffiti, hit TV shows like Happy Days and Roots, and musical movements like punk rock help us understand both that remarkable decade and our own life and culture in the 2020s.    
 


Facebook: @Ok.Humanities


Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

More information on this episode: okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep9

The 1970s and American Memory

Our guest, Dr. Tonnia Anderson, is the Founder and Director of the Dr. Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Center for Social Justice and Racial Healing at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, and she is an Associate Professor of History and American Studies at USAO. In this episode, we discuss the roots and consequences of #racism in America, ways to understand longstanding systems of racial oppression, and efforts to overcome racial trauma. Dr. Anderson also shares powerful stories of her own family's history dealing with racial issues in Oklahoma.
 


Facebook:  @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

More information on this episode: okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep8

Social Justice and Racial Healing in America

Viewing the Civil War through the lens of its largest battle, Gettysburg gives deeper insights into the war's misconceptions, mythologies, and memories. We speak with one of the leading scholars of the Battle of Gettysburg, Dr. Jen Murray of Oklahoma State University, about the context of the battle, its impact on the ultimate defeat of the Confederacy, its role in the "Lost Cause" narrative, and the many ways the Civil War's legacy still affects American society and culture.



Facebook:  @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

Additional information about this episode: okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep7

Gettysburg and the Legacy of the Civil War

Anthropologists Suzette Chang and Dr. Elisha Oliver illuminate the history and significance of Oklahoma’s Black Towns. We look at the origins of the Black Towns following the Civil War, examine the challenges their citizens faced before and after Oklahoma’s statehood, and discuss these communities’ historical and ongoing importance to the identity of Oklahoma. 



Facebook: @Ok.humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

Additional information about this episode: okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep6

Oklahoma's Black Towns

What can we learn from the "Spanish Flu" pandemic that claimed at least 50 million lives worldwide a century ago? Dr. Justin Olmstead, a professor of history at the University of Central Oklahoma and one of the leading historians of this time period, discusses the impact of this pandemic on American life and culture. We discuss the origins and various names given to this pandemic (3:15), its impact on the final stages of the First World War (20:30), and its wide-ranging effects on everyday life a century ago and how they compare with our own experiences with the Coronavirus in 2020 (49:30).

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

Additional information about this episode: okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep5

The Worst Pandemic of the 20th Century

How were over a quarter-million orphans and unwanted children resettled by trains across the United States from 1854 until 1929? We speak with Alison Moore and Phil Lancaster, whose "Riders on the Orphan Train" programs tell this little-known story from American history. Alison and Phil discuss the circumstances that led to the orphan train movement in the mid-19th century (1:40), tell how the program actually worked (12:30), and relate stories of orphan train riders brought to Oklahoma (27:15). We also discuss how circumstances have changed for orphans and unwanted children and how these situations help us understand our country and ourselves (42:00), and we hear Alison and Phil's song "Ezra's Lullaby," inspired by the stories of the orphan train riders (1:05:00).


Facebook: @Ok.Humanities


Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

Additional information about this episode: okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep4

Orphan Trains across America

Before the Civil War over 8,000 people were enslaved in Indian Territory, in what is now Oklahoma. A new exhibit on the site of a former plantation outside Tahlequah describes the lives and experiences of enslaved people on this land.  In this episode we speak with Jennifer Frazee, a historical interpreter at Hunter’s Home who has deeply researched the history of enslaved people in Indian Territory in an effort to keep their stories and history alive.

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

Additional information about this episode: www.okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep3

Find more information here about the historic site at Hunter’s Home: https://www.okhistory.org/sites/huntershome

Slavery in Indian Territory

How do public monuments and memorials express the values and concerns of their cultures? What makes an effective monument, and how can its planning and development be an example of public discourse at work? Our guest, Dr. Nathan Shank of Oklahoma Christian University, has thought and studied extensively about monuments and memorials. In this episode, we discuss their deeper meanings, the emotions they convey, and some of the controversies and new developments in monuments and memorials in Oklahoma and around the world. 

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

Additional information about this episode: www.okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s3-ep2

Monuments, Memorials, and Their Meanings

Why did it take nearly a century and a half for women to have the right to vote in America? We speak with one of the nation's leading scholars of the women's suffrage movement, Dr. Sunu Kodumthara of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, about key aspects of the movement. As we observe the centennial of the 19th Amendment in 2020, we discuss key figures in the movements both for and against women's suffrage, surprising controversies along the way, and the impact of women's voting rights on American democracy and society. 

 


Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

The Struggle for Women's Suffrage

“How do we live in time? How do we mark it? How do we make it meaningful?”

In this episode, we talk with cultural historian Dr. Alexis McCrossen about what New Year’s celebrations, advances in timekeeping technologies, conflicts over the meanings of weekends and holidays, and other aspects of time can tell us about American history and culture.

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

Additional information about this episode:  okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s2-ep12

 

Time in American Life

“The fact is, you can’t tell the story of country music without Oklahoma,” says our guest, Dr. Hugh Foley, a one-man encyclopedia of the state’s rich music history. In this episode, we discuss the huge importance and success of Oklahoma country music artists, and how country music reflects significant aspects of the state’s and the nation’s culture.  (So we basically take this podcast to the old town road and talk ‘til we can’t no more.)

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

Additional information about this episode:  okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s2-ep11

Honky Tonks, Outlaws, & Red Dirt: The Story of Oklahoma’s Country Music

How has #Oklahoma established perhaps the most liberal #medicalmarijuana law in the nation? We talk with two of the key activists involved in creating and solidifying the legislation, Chip Paul of Oklahomans for Health and Allison Sims of Green Country NORML. In this episode, we discuss the history of marijuana use and regulations in Oklahoma, the efforts to establish the state's #medical #marijuana program, and the current state of the industry and laws in Oklahoma.

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

Additional information about this episode:  www.okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s2-ep10

Medical Marijuana in Oklahoma

How should we remember the largest and deadliest conflict in human history, now that we are 75 years away from D-Day and 80 years from the beginning of the Second World War? We discuss the most significant aspects and some lesser-known parts of what might better be called “The Second Thirty Years War” with historian Dr. Justin Olmstead of the University of Central Oklahoma.

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

Additional information about this episode:  okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s2-e9

 

Revisiting the Second World War

How do college sports affect, and reflect, American culture and society? Our guest, Dr. Amy Carreiro, is a sports historian who has taught at Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa. (She is also probably the nicest New England Patriots fan you’ll ever meet.) In this episode, we discuss the evolution of college athletics and how sports can help us understand larger issues in American society.

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

Additional information about this episode: okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s2-ep8

 

The Wide World of Sports & the Humanities

Why should we still listen to Woody Guthrie’s music and a message over 50 years after his death? This #BrainBoxOK episode features a discussion with scholars and musicians who are keeping Guthrie’s legacy of social activism alive through the folk music tradition. We look at Guthrie’s childhood in Okemah, OK; the wide range of influences on his work; stories from his life of wandering; and his continuing impact on American culture.

 

Facebook: @Ok.Humanities

Twitter: @Okhumanities

Instagram: @Okhumanities

Our homepage: okhumanities.org/brainbox

Additional information about this episode: okhumanities.org/page/brainbox-s2-ep7

BrainBox

BrainBox

Get Started

Download the App