Places and Profiles Podcast with Adam Camac - podcast cover

Places and Profiles Podcast with Adam Camac

This is the podcast that uses storytelling, history, and current events to explore the issues, stories, and people that have shaped different places into what they are today. The Places and Profiles Podcast is hosted by Adam Camac with new episodes published every Thursday.
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Episodes

27. The Life and Legacy of One of the Most Unusual US Presidents with Matt Briney

Matt Briney, Chief Communications Officer at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the life and legacy of President Theodore Roosevelt. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/27 . 1:28 - The guest’s interest in Theodore Roosevelt and why Theodore Roosevelt is one of the guest’s favorite presidents 2:27 - Theodore Roosevelt’s early life, family background, and early political career 4:23 - How Theodore Roosevelt was diffe...

Sep 28, 20241 hr 4 minEp. 27

26. The Tragedies, Abuses, Atrocities, and Heroes of the West Virginia Mine Wars with Wess Harris

Wess Harris, a sociologist, miner, union organizer, author, and editor, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures, issues, and events from the West Virginia Mine Wars and the history of coal mining in West Virginia. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/26 . 1:25 - The guest’s background and interest in the West Virginia Mine Wars, the guest’s experiences and background as a miner, union organizer, labor historian, and sociologist 7:26 - Background of West...

Sep 20, 20241 hr 12 minEp. 26

25. The Truth About Vietnam's History with Christopher Goscha

Christopher Goscha, professor in the Department of History at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) and author of "Vietnam: A New History" and "The Road to Dien Bien Phu: A History of the First War for Vietnam," joins host Adam Camac to discuss key events, figures, and influences from the history of Vietnam. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/25 . 1:18 - The guest’s interest in Vietnam, why he has been so interested in Vietnam and its history, how he ...

Sep 13, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 25

24. The Truth About the Construction of Mount Rushmore with Sarah Beth Cox

Sarah Beth Cox, Lead Park Ranger Interpreter at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the history and significance of Mount Rushmore. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/24 . 1:23 - The origins of the idea for Mount Rushmore 2:25 - How Mount Rushmore ended up being the location that was chosen for the carving 3:33 - Where the name Rushmore comes from, who Rushmore was 4:17 - Background on the Black Hills of South Dakota, the are...

Sep 06, 202440 minEp. 24

23. The People, Events, and Places That Made Country Music with Tracey Laird

Tracey Laird, Professor of Music at Agnes Scott College and author of several books about country music, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the history and cultural significance of country music, key figures and themes in country music history, and how country music has changed and grown over the decades. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/23 . 1:31 - What is country music? When and where did it start? 5:28 - What influenced early country music, types of mus...

Sep 01, 20241 hr 20 minEp. 23

22. The Life and Legacy of England's Controversial King Henry VIII with Author Margaret George

Margaret George, author of "The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers: A Novel," joins host Adam Camac to discuss the life, legacy, controversies, accomplishments, wives, advisors, and kids of King Henry VIII of England. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/22 . 1:26 - The guest’s interest in King Henry VIII and her decision to write a book about him 3:19 - Overview of how King Henry VIII’s character changed over time and of just h...

Apr 27, 202452 minEp. 22

21. Taking a Deep Dive into Mexico's History with Salvador Rueda from the National Museum of History at Chapultepec Castle

Salvador Rueda, Director of the National Museum of History at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures, issues, and events from the history of Mexico. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/21 . 1:26 - The history of Chapultepec Castle 5:43 - What is covered at the National Museum of History at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City 6:05 - The Spanish Empire’s conquest of the Aztecs and of Mexico 10:18 - Life during the years ...

Apr 25, 202452 minEp. 21

20. The Real History of Chicago with Peter Alter

Peter Alter, Chief Historian at the Chicago History Museum, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures, issues, and events from the history of Chicago. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/20 . 1:15 - The origins of the city of Chicago, where the name Chicago comes from, the founding of the city of Chicago 5:03 - The initial growth of Chicago, what Chicago looked like as of 1871 when the Great Chicago Fire occurred 9:12 - Truths and myths about the Great C...

Apr 19, 20241 hr 14 minEp. 20

19. Exploring Utah's Mormon Legacy with Paul Reeve

Dr. Paul Reeve, Simmons Chair of Mormon Studies at the University of Utah, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the origins and history of Mormonism in Utah, how life in Utah has been shaped by Mormonism, and how the influence of Mormonism can be seen in Utah today. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/19 . 1:32 - The founding of Mormonism, Mormonism as it developed in upstate New York, the origins of Mormonism and how Mormonism came about, Joseph Smith 3:48 - W...

Apr 17, 20241 hr 13 minEp. 19

[4/10/24] 18. The Life and Legacy of President James K. Polk with Rachel Helvering

Rachel Helvering, Executive Director of The President James K. Polk Home and Museum, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the life and legacy of President James K. Polk. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/18 . 1:20 - The guest’s background and connection to President James K. Polk, why the guest has an interest in President Polk 2:41 - Early life and family background of President Polk, his upbringing, how he initially finds his way into politics 6:14 - How Pr...

Apr 11, 202449 minEp. 18

[4/4/24] 17. The History of NASA and the US Space Program with Dr. Bill Barry

Dr. Bill Barry, former NASA Chief Historian, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the history of NASA and the US space program, including the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs. The future of NASA and of space travel is also discussed. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/17 . 1:12 - Space research in the US before NASA, the establishment of NASA 8:07 - How the Soviets launching Sputnik 1 helped lead to the establishment of NASA and how the larg...

Apr 04, 20241 hr 32 minEp. 17

[3/26/24] 16. The Legacy of Chinese Workers on the Transcontinental Railroad in Utah with Chris Merritt

Chris Merritt, an archaeologist who is Utah’s historic preservation officer, joins host Adam Camac to discuss the legacy of Chinese railroad workers on the transcontinental railroad in Utah and what we are learning about their work through archaeological investigation. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/16 . 1:28 - Overview of the work of the guest (Chris Merritt) and his interest in the legacy of Chinese railroad workers on the transcontinental railroad i...

Mar 27, 202459 minEp. 16

[3/24/24] 15. Hawaiian History and Culture with a Focus on Maui with Kainoa Daines

Kainoa Daines, Senior Director, Destination Education at the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, joins host Adam Camac to discuss Hawaiian history and culture with a focus on Maui. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/15 . 1:32 - Brief overview of Hawaii, key figures, key historical events, and unique characteristics 5:22 - Hawaii as an independent kingdom before joining the US and how that period of time shaped Hawaii and eventually came to an end 18:19 ...

Mar 24, 20241 hr 8 minEp. 15

[2/29/24] 14. The Illegality, Torture, Secret Prisons, and Tragedies of Operation Condor with John Dinges

John Dinges, Professor Emeritus of International Journalism at Columbia University and author of " The Condor Years: How Pinochet and His Allies Brought Terrorism to Three Continents " and "Death and the Revolution," joins host Adam Camac to discuss the illegality, torture, secret prisons, and tragedies of Operation Condor in Chile and across South America. We also discuss Salvador Allende, Augusto Pinochet, the 1973 Chilean coup, CIA involvement in Operation Condor and across the Southern Cone ...

Feb 29, 20241 hr 11 minEp. 14

[12/31/23] 12. Mexican Politics, US-Mexico Relations, and the 2024 Mexican Presidential Election with Tony Payan

Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key figures and issues in Mexican politics in recent decades, key issues in US-Mexico relations and how relations have been affected by Mexican politics, and the 2024 Mexican presidential election. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/12 .

Jan 01, 20241 hr 6 minEp. 12

[12/28/23] 11. The Successes, Issues, and Challenges of Singapore with Jeevan Vasagar

Jeevan Vasagar, author of "Lion City: Singapore and the Invention of Modern Asia," joins host Adam Camac to discuss key events in the development of Singapore, how Singapore became so successful economically, and some of the issues and challenges faced by modern Singapore. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/11 .

Dec 28, 202341 minEp. 11

[9/25/23] 6. Key Switzerland Historical Events and Characteristics with Randolph Head

Dr. Randolph Head, co-author of “A Concise History of Switzerland”, joins host Adam Camac to discuss key events in the historical and cultural development of Switzerland and some of the issues and challenges faced by modern Switzerland. The show notes page for this episode can be found at placesandprofiles.com/6 .

Sep 25, 20231 hr 18 minEp. 6
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