Bonus Episode! What Liberal Arts Actually Means, with Nick Romeo
In spring 2025, the OSU Department of History was lucky to host the writer Nick Romeo, who visited campus to speak about the history and future of capitalism. Those themes are also the subject of his recent book, The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy. Join guest host Dr. Greg Kosc for a wide-ranging conversation with Romeo about everything from ancient Greek philosophy and Virginia Woolf to economic inequality and the current challenges facing both journalism and higher education
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"History is a Lesson in Leadership," with Dr. Jim Hess
Dr. Jim Hess is the president of Oklahoma State University and a seasoned leader with over forty years of experience in healthcare and higher education. He is also an enthusiast of the study of history and a champion of the land-grant mission. To quote President Hess: “Of all the things you could do in life, working for a land-grant university, it’s like a moral calling.” Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with OSU's 20th president about leadership of a land-grant institution, the study of history, and the study of history as a lesson in leadership.
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On Being a Good Citizen, with Rhys Gay
Rhys Gay has worn many hats: advocate for Oklahoma families, VP for the Butterfly Network, Pistol Pete (OSU’s cowboy mascot, for which Rhys literally did wear a huge hat), and OSU history major. Join us for a conversation about how historical thinking gained at OSU shaped Rhys journey into the US healthcare industry, community leadership, and personal ethics. To quote from the interview: “A history degree is actually is just a key to being a good human and a good citizen.”
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Cherokee History on Film, with Jennifer Loren and LeeAnn Dreadfulwater
Jennifer Loren and LeeAnn Dreadfulwater are the force behind the Cherokee Nation’s film office, Cherokee Film, including the Emmy-winning docuseries, Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People. Their work is creative and critical, and fundamentally historical. “The stories that we’re telling now are archival. Nobody will ever be able to say, ‘we don’t know,’ because we’re doing this.” Join us for a conversation about filmmaking, narrative sovereignty, and creating a historical archive on film.
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Investigative Indigenous Journalism, with Allison Herrera
Growing up Indigenous in California shaped Allison Herrera’s identity, fueling her passion for journalism, particularly on Indigenous Affairs. Join us for a discussion about Allison’s deep family ties, her work in documentary filmmaking, and the impacts of her investigative reporting in the Midwest and Southern Plains, including Oklahoma.
Studying History is not for the faint of heart. It knocks us out of our comfort zone. But maybe that's the point. Good History is a podcast from the Oklahoma State University History Department inspired by Oklahoma native Dr. John Hope Franklin's wisdom that "A good historian is a moralist at heart." We ask historians: why do you study what you study? We ask people: how does knowing more about the past make your life, and our lives, better? And along the way we dig into a paradox: Americans love history—we fight over it bitterly--but many voice skepticism about its value in education. Why? Tune in to "Good History" to join the conversation and learn more about us here: https://cas.okstate.edu/history/
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