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About Rachel

Your friendly neighborhood microbiologist in Boise, Idaho.

Jan 30, 2022 – Late 19th Century Opiates in the US – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 410

Bill and Rachel discuss syringes, morphine, laudanum, the American Civil War, “women’s problems,” and the ongoing debate among historians today about how to understand opiate use and addiction in the late 19th century United States.

Links and notes for ep. 410 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AFD-Ep-410-Links-and-Notes-Late-19th-Century-Opiates-in-the-US.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Jan 23, 2022 – Agnes Smedley – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 409

Rachel and Bill discuss Agnes Smedley, an American journalist and activist who helped the Indian independence movement, Soviet intelligence, and the Chinese Communist forces.

Links and notes for Ep. 409 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AFD-Ep-409-Links-and-Notes-Agnes-Smedley.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Jan 16, 2022 – The Bracero Guest Worker Program – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 408

This week Rachel and Bill look at some of the cultural and economic effects of the controversial “wartime” Mexican Bracero guest farm worker program that ended up lasting from 1942-1964.

Links and notes for Ep. 408 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AFD-Ep-408-Links-and-Notes-The-Bracero-Guest-Worker-Program.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Jan 9, 2022 – Critical Space Theory – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 406

50 years ago, in January 1972, the US space shuttle program moved forward and humanity passed the top of the arc of manned spaceflight and began its descent away from the dream of the 1860s to the 1960s. Bill and Rachel.

Notes and links for Ep. 406 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AFD-Ep-406-Links-and-Notes-Critical-Space-Theory_-The-Arc-of-Spaceflight-Ambitions.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Dec 26, 2021 – 1971 Recap – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 405

Description: Bill and Rachel recap some developments of 50 years ago in 1971: anti-smoking campaigns; the launch of Starbucks, Southwest, Amtrak, and Disney World; desegregation busing; special education laws; the War on Drugs; a new voting age; the first e-book; and more.

Links and notes for Ep. 405 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AFD-Ep-405-Links-and-Notes-1971-Recap.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Dec 19, 2021 – Nitrocellulose and Newsreels – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 404

Description: Bill and Rachel discuss the era of newsreels from 1908 to the 1950s and the early plastic technology that made them possible.

Links and notes for Ep. 404 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AFD-Ep-404-Links-and-Notes-Nitrocellulose-and-Newsreels.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Dec 13, 2021 – Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 403

Description: PVC is a plastic all around us today, shaping our lives and the built environment. This week’s episode from Bill and Rachel is about that.

Links and notes for Ep. 403 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/AFD-Ep-403-Links-and-Notes-Vinyl-PVC.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.