May 28, 2023 – KitchenAid – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 471

A mini-episode from Bill and Rachel on how a major defense contract led to the iconic KitchenAid stand mixer, followed by some announcements about the podcast for the summer months ahead.

Links and notes for ep. 471 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/AFD-Ep-471-Links-and-Notes-KitchenAid-Mini-episode.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Apr 15, 2023 – The Nye Committee – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 466

From 1934 to 1936, the US Senate’s Nye Committee examined the role of the private defense industry (and capitalism more broadly) in fomenting global conflict and dragging the US into WWI. (Bill and Rachel)

Links and notes for ep. 466 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/AFD-Ep-466-Links-and-Notes-The-Nye-Committee.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

[Unlocked] May 25, 2021 – The Red Ark – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 377

Unlocked from our Patreon: Bill and Rachel discuss the Red Ark (or Soviet Ark) deportations of Russian-born American anarchists in 1919. (Don’t miss our two part series from 2019 on American anarchist history!)

Links and notes for ep. 377 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Bonus-AFD-Ep-377-Links-and-Notes-The-Red-Ark.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Feb 5, 2023 – Watch City – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 458

In 1857, Waltham, Massachusetts jumped from the First to the Second Industrial Revolution by becoming the global home of the mass-produced pocketwatch, capitalizing on the railroad industry and then the American Civil War.

Links and notes for ep. 458 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/AFD-Ep-458-Links-and-Notes-1IR_-Watch-City.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

May 8, 2022 – Hard Hats – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 425

A quick episode on hard hats from Bill and Rachel: It wasn’t until after World War I that standardized, tactical equipment for the prevention of workplace noggin bonking came into existence and use.

Links and notes for ep. 425 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AFD-Ep-425-Links-and-Notes-Hard-Hats.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Feb 6, 1922: The Washington Naval Treaty – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 411

100 years ago today, the US, Britain, Japan, France, and Italy signed the Washington Naval Treaty. Intended to de-escalate a battleship arms race, it ended up marking the dawn of the aircraft carrier age, which makes it very relevant even now. Bill and Rachel.

Links and notes for ep. 411 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/AFD-Ep-411-Links-and-Notes-Washington-Naval-Treaty-of-1922.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.