Associate Professor of History, Eugene Lang College, The New School

Past Present

Cabin Fever

Past Present Podcast, Episode 221

March 23, 2020 • by Nicole Hemmer, Natalia Mehlman Petrzela and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: As social distancing becomes the new norm for many Americans, so too does the stress and anxiety of being cooped up, also known as “cabin fever.” Natalia mentioned Jonathan Zimmerman’s Chronicle of Higher Education article about online learning. Neil referred ...

Past Present

Quarantines

Past Present Podcast, Episode 220

March 17, 2020 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, quarantining is becoming a fact of life. Natalia referred to Anne Helen Petersen’s essay on selflessness and social isolation and recommended historian Howard Markel’s New York Times opinion piece. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: Natalia discussed the Netflix show, Love ...

Past Present

Plastic Bag Bans

Past Present Podcast, Episode 219

March 10, 2020 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: On March 1, a plastic bag ban went into effect in New York City. Neil referred to this Washington Post article about such bans around the world and Niki recommended this Atlantic piece on the rise of the plastic bag’s popularity. Natalia cited this Washington Post column by Alexandra Petri. In our regular closing feature, What’s ...

Past Present

Fat Activism

Past Present Podcast, Episode 218

March 3, 2020 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: In recent years, “body positivity” has become a buzzword. Natalia cited The Fat Studies Reader and this Campus Reform article about more extreme forms of fat liberation. Niki referred to this Bitch Media article about the connections between fat and queer liberation. We previously discussed plus-size models on Episode ...

Past Present

COVID-19 and Protective Face Masks

Past Present Podcast, Episode 217

February 25, 2020 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: The threat of coronavirus has lately made protective face masks a fixture in many global cities. Natalia cited this Vox article about the hoarding of such masks. Neil referred to this Quartz piece about the broader use of face masks in Asian countries. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: Natalia recommended Mac ...

Past Present

A Proposal to “Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again”

Past Present Podcast, Episode 216

February 18, 2020 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Conservative architectural organization the National Civic Art Society has drafted an executive order that establishes the style for federal buildings nationwide. Natalia cited this Intelligencer article about the false dichotomies on which the ensuing debate rests. Niki referred to Ross Douthat’s New York Times opinion piece on the ...

Past Present

The 2020 Iowa Caucuses

Past Present Podcast, Episode 215

February 11, 2020 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: The 2020 Iowa caucus was a logistical disaster. Natalia cited this POLITICO piece about longer standing concerns about Iowa. Neil wrote about Pete Buttigieg’s historic showing in Iowa in his column for The Week. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: Natalia discussed the Amazon ...

Past Present

Moderate Republicans

Past Present Podcast, Episode 214

February 4, 2020 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Where have all the moderate Republicans gone? Neil wrote about Susan Collins and the end of moderate Republicans in his column for The Week. Niki shared Geoffrey Kabaservice’s book Rule and Ruin as the definitive history of moderate Republicans. Natalia discussed Ezra Klein’s recent New ...

Past Present

Little Women

Past Present Podcast, Episode 213

January 28, 2020 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Greta Gerwig’s Little Women has received enthusiastic critical praise. Natalia referred to this New York Times article about the nearly all-white cast, and Niki recommended this New Yorker article about Laura Dern’s portrayal of Marmee. Natalia also cited this American Conservative article about the absence of faith in the latest adaptation. In our regular ...

Past Present

Jeopardy!

Past Present Podcast, Episode 212

January 21, 2020 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Jeopardy! is in the news thanks to its GOAT tournament. Natalia referred to this Smithsonian article about the show’s origin story. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: Natalia recommended Sarah Schrank’s new book, Free and Natural: Nudity and the Cult of the American Body. Neil discussed Katie Reilly’s Time article, “Donald Trump ...

Past Present

The Australian Bushfires

Past Present Podcast, Episode 211

January 14, 2020 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Fire is ravaging Australia. Natalia referred to this Washington Post piece about the politicization of the fires. Niki discussed the long history of bushfires in Australia. In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History: Natalia recommended Ashley Fetters’ Atlantic article, “The Boys Who Wear Shorts All Winter.”Neil discussed Campbell Robinson and Elizabeth Dias’ New ...

Past Present

U.S. Embassy Attack in Baghdad

Past Present Podcast, Episode 210

January 7, 2020 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Iraqi militants stormed the American embassy in Baghdad last week. Neil referenced the recently leaked cable communications between Iran and Iraq. Natalia referred to this Middle East Eye essay on the historical significance of attacks on American embassies and to this Guardian piece on the history of U.S. embassies. In our ...