Exploring History
FaktaHistorieExploring History with Ray Notgrass offers background on what you hear in the news, shares stories from history that will enlighten and inspire you, and provides encouragement about homeschooling, family life, and your walk with God.
Siste episoder av Exploring History podcast
- The American Revolution in Books (00:11:41)
America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. On today's Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells about five books that your family would enjoy reading to enhance your understanding of the American Revolution. Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/ Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/ Encouragement for homeschool moms: https://charlenenotgrass.com/
- Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette (00:22:38)
Most people know the Marquis de Lafayette as an aide to General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. On the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells how Lafayette lived an entire life of service to the United States and France, often at great sacrifice to himself. Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/ Supplemental videos, field trips, and other resources: https://homeschoolhistory.com/ Encouragement for homeschool moms: http...
- Secret Soviet Documents Revealed! (00:09:31)
The former Soviet Union had a project to map the entire world. They produced over one million distinct maps of places around the world. On his latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass discusses this amazing project and the amazing detail work that went into it. Read the transcript and find more resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/secret-soviet-documents-revealed-313 Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/ Supplemental v...
- The Letters of Julia Sand (00:17:42)
One woman's letters to a president may have changed his thinking and may have helped bring about needed reforms in our country. On the next Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells how the letters of one woman might have affected the presidency of Chester Arthur. Read the transcript and find more resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-letters-of-julia-sand-312 Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/ Supplemental videos,...
- When Riding a Streetcar Turned Into a Battle (00:09:01)
A little known incident in 1854 was part of the struggle for equal rights for all Americans. It reminds us today of our need to be done with prejudice and scapegoating. In the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells how a standoff on a New York City streetcar furthered the cause of civil rights. Read the transcript and find more resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/when-riding-a-streetcar-turned-into-a-battle-311 Homeschool curriculum and resourc...
- Fighting Two Wars at Once: The Tuskegee Airmen (00:10:02)
During World War II, the American military and American society were marked by segregation and prejudice. Many Americans believed that black persons were not capable of flying airplanes. But a training program at Tuskegee Institute showed that black persons were fully capable of flying airplanes and performing skillfully and courageously in battle. In his latest podcast, Ray Notgrass tells the story of the Tuskegee Airmen. Read the transcript and find more resources: https://shop.notgrass.com...
- The Hiss Case (00:12:17)
Seventy-five years ago, Whittaker Chambers accused highly respected U.S. government official Alger Hiss of being a Communist. Hiss denied the accusation. Who was telling the truth? In his latest podcast, Ray Notgrass examines the controversy, the court trial that resulted, and the impact that the controversy had on American politics. Read the transcript and find more resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-hiss-case-308 Homeschool curriculum and resources fo...
- The Overcomer: The Story of Mabel Fairbanks (00:05:42)
Mabel Fairbanks was an African American ice skater who overcame poverty, prejudice, and a host of other hardships to become an international skating star. In his latest podcast, Ray Notgrass tells Mabel's story to inspire us all to overcome the hardships we all endure to make a contribution to the world in which we live. Visit our website for a transcript and links to additional resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-overcomer-307 Homeschool curriculum and...
- The Music of Christmas (00:12:08)
One of the special aspects of Christmas is hearing and singing the same songs, even though we have heard them year after year. Perhaps it is the memories that these songs bring to mind, or the beautiful music these songs contain, or perhaps it is the thrilling message these songs convey. On the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells the background stories of some of our favorite Christmas hymns, and then you can hear performances of those hymns from different parts of the world....
- Thankful for Our Country (00:06:51)
On the Exploring History podcast for Thanksgiving, Ray Notgrass tells the true story of a man who escaped Poland in 1938, came to the United States, and lived with gratitude for the country that gave him freedom and opportunity. Read the transcript, see photos, and find additional resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/thankful-for-our-country-302 Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/ Supplemental videos, field trips, and oth...
- The Little Rock Nine (00:13:53)
In 1957 nine brave teenagers showed remarkable courage and conviction as they integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. On his latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass shares the story of this remarkable group and how they overcame often violent opposition to achieve a milestone in America's civil rights movement. See photos, read a transcript, and find links to additional resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-little-rock-nine-300 Hom...
- The Great War and Its Greatest Hero (00:23:38)
World War I brought unprecedented loss of life and destruction. But it also provided stories of amazing heroism. In the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass examines the causes of the war, how the war progressed to a bitter end, and tells stories of American heroes in the war. Read the transcript, see photos, and explore additional resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-great-war-and-its-greatest-hero-299 Homeschool curriculum and resources for a...
- What Can You Learn from History? (00:12:10)
Why should anyone, especially our students, bother to learn history? In his latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass offers six specific things we can gain from a study of history that can enrich our lives and help us make a positive contribution to the world around us. Read a transcript and find additional resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/what-can-you-learn-from-history-298 Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/ S...
- The Faith of a President (00:18:10)
Ronald Reagan was a man of faith: faith in God, and faith in the strength of our country. In the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass looks at the life and presidency of Ronald Reagan, focusing especially on his faith in God and his approach to the Soviet Union that changed the dynamics of the Cold War and helped lead to the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Read a transcript, see photos, and find links to additional resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog...
- The Cool History of Air Conditioning (00:16:46)
Hot enough for you? We can be thankful that we can do something about it, but it hasn't always been this way. In this podcast, Ray Notgrass traces the history of attempts to produce conditioned air, from awnings to fans blowing over ice to the invention of systems that really provided cooler air to homes, businesses, and cars. We hope you enjoy this really cool presentation. Read the transcript and find links to additional resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9...
- And the Fall of That House Was Great: Richard Nixon and Watergate (00:26:01)
Richard Nixon resigned the office of president of the United States fifty years ago, on August 9, 1974. This was the result of the Watergate scandal and other failings of the Nixon administration. On the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass surveys what the scandal involved and how the Nixon presidency unraveled after achieving unprecedented political success. Read the transcript and find additional resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/and-the-fall-...
- Running to Win the Prize: The Story of Eric Liddell (00:14:38)
As the Summer Olympics in Paris, France, take place this year, we hearken back one hundred years to another Paris Olympics, and the accomplishments of a man of faith, Eric Liddell, both in the Olympics and in his later life. Ray Notgrass shares the remarkable story of this man of Christian conscience who won the race of serving God. Read the transcript, see photos, and find resources for further study: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/running-to-win-the-prize-the-sto...
- National Political Party Nominating Conventions (00:26:01)
It’s time for that quadrennial exercise in American democracy, when thousands of people spend millions of dollars and take several days to make a decision that’s already been made. Of course I’m talking about our national political party presidential nominating conventions. On the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass discusses the history of conventions and how they work today. Read the transcript and find links to more resources: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-po...
- From Jail to the Supreme Court: The Career and Citizenship of Fred Vinson (00:21:32)
Fred Vinson's life went from being born in a jailer's house in Eastern Kentucky to serving as chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. He was a key player in American government during and after World War II. In this podcast, Ray Notgrass tells Vinson's life story and shows how it encourages all of us to take part in the great story of America. Read the episode transcript, see photos, and find links to more resources about Fred Vinson and the Supreme Court: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exp...
- Juneteenth: America's Second Independence Day (00:23:20)
On June 19th, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger announced in Galveston, Texas, that all enslaved persons were free. Slavery was ended. On the latest episode of the Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells how slavery ended in the United States and how people began to celebrate Juneteenth (June 19th) as America's second Independence Day. Visit our website for a transcript, photos, and links to more resources related to Juneteenth: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-p...
- The War (World War II) (00:49:21)
June 6, 2024, marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces invaded Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. On the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass explains the causes of World War II, gives a brief history of the war including the significance of D-Day, and tells how the world changed as a result of the war. Visit our website for a transcript and a link to resources for further study and exploration: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/the-wa...
- Irving Berlin and "God Bless America" (00:10:56)
In 1938, as war clouds built in Europe, the popular American singer Kate Smith debuted a song written by the successful songwriter Irving Berlin. That song was "God Bless America," which has become an American classic. On the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass surveys Berlin's life and tells how the song has encouraged generations of Americans, especially during difficult times. Homeschool curriculum and resources for all ages: https://notgrass.com/ Supplemental videos, field tr...
- The Great Stone Face (00:51:34)
Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 short story "The Great Stone Face" is the fictional account of how the geological formation of the Old Man of the Mountain in New Hampshire inspired a boy to pursue the worthy and noble things of life. In the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells how the story is also a reminder to Christians to "fix our eyes on Jesus," and he reads the story for the listeners to enjoy. Read a transcript and find more resources on our website: https://shop.notgrass.c...
- In the Presence of Soldiers: The Tennessee Maneuvers During World War II (00:10:58)
During World War II, over a million soldiers trained for combat in Europe by taking part in maneuvers in Tennessee. In his latest podcast, Ray Notgrass discusses how the maneuvers took place and what they meant for the soldiers and for the residents of the counties and towns of Tennessee where they happened. Read a transcript and get links to more resources on our website: https://shop.notgrass.com/blog/exploring-history-podcast-9/in-the-presence-of-soldiers-the-tennessee-maneuvers-during-wo...
- Helping a Continent Be Strong and Free (00:21:50)
Following World War II, the nations of Europe lay devastated. The threat of Communist invasion was real. Just as the United States came to the aid of Europe during World War II, the U.S. provided assistance to the Europeans after the war to help them rebuild and maintain their freedom. In the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass describes how the Marshall Plan benefited Europe and the U.S. and opened a pathway for cooperation and growth instead of conflict. Visit our website for a ...