Podcast and blog post by: Kylee Mamon
Creating a podcast was something I had dabbled in prior to taking HST 485: History in the Wild course at ASU. My knowledge was limited, and I did feel intimidated in taking this course. Often when beginning a new project, I become paralyzed with the fear of failing. While fear of failing caused mental paralysis, success was also terrifying. I innately am a people pleaser so in this course I wanted to create something people felt connected to. What I found was that not all my cohorts resonated with the topics I wanted to engage with in my podcast. Some had more opinions of changes I needed to put into my episodes. But most of the feedback I received from my professor, our TA, and cohorts was that I was doing well, and they were intrigued and even excited to hear what I was going to discuss. This was surprising to say the least. This course changed, elevated, and inspired a new view of not only learning about podcasting, but historical research processes, creating solid work, and understanding the importance of discussions about different topics in history.
Prior to anyone seeing the work for my podcast idea, I had to complete the ominous task of finding what I was going to be discussing regarding history. History is vast and there are pieces of it we know well and are often discussed such as American History, the Wild West, wars, European kings and queens, etc. (mostly Eurocentric based). I wanted to find the ordinary people that we could connect with in these events. In conjunction with this course, I was taking HST 304: Crimes and Punishments in Early Modern Europe. For one of my episodes, I figured some material from this course would be fun to discuss as most of it wasn’t dealing with prominent figures. HST 304 explored the lives of criminals, people within judicial systems, and the consequences imposed or afflicted towards ordinary folks of this era. Both HST 485 and HST 304 inspired for another episode a deep dive into my own personal genealogy (which was something I hadn’t anticipated at all).
Uncovering my own personal history, while I knew some of it, transformed my knowledge of historical events such as colonization of the United States. History is told generally from an overview perspective of events and my goal was to give a more personalized perspective. My podcast – From Whose View – isn’t simply just telling someone’s story, but of their connection to things we already have learned about heavily in history in a new way. I also discovered that telling history in this way helped in resolving some of the cognitive dissonance I felt when discussing the polarization that often is entwined in much of the world’s dark history. History will never be simple because it’s made of billions of individuals. When discussing history then, we much remember how intrinsically complex, painful, and beautiful it can be.
I’ve been both an academic historian and a history podcaster for about six years. I love doing it and I am constantly confronting the inconsistent (and sometimes conflicting) skill sets required for my parallel roles. I chose the topic of history podcasting for my HST 485 History in the Wild course and designed the course to be as collaborative and applicable as possible to their real-world needs. ASU’s humanities students deserve to take courses that harness their passions and natural curiosities so that building a wide variety of skills (our end goal) doesn’t feel like work. The podcasts that resulted from this course exceeded my expectations. –Dr. Marissa Rhodes, professor of HST 485: History in the Wild
- Logo:
- Tagline: Taking you back through – From Whose View!
- Title: From Whose View
- Podcast Topic:
The topic of this podcast is to tell history from varying first person perspectives. For instance, reading journal excerpts or biographies of a variety of people from well-known to ordinary people whose story isn’t the history books. Timelines ranging from ancient history to present-day. For the history of the dead, their voices will be heard through the story they told. Some of this history will be explored by talking with the living who come from various backgrounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, etc. in hearing their experiences and how they’ve been impacted by various historic events. Through these perspectives the hope is garner more knowledge and learn about the spectrum of experiences and beliefs in understanding historical events. Because the context of history is in the perspectives of those who lived it.
5. Titles and descriptions of your two sample episodes:
- Ep 1: The Executioner
Do you really know who the executioner was beside the guillotine in France? Or the man swinging the sword do to slice the head of a criminal? Can you humanize a person who’s been portrayed as callous and inhuman? Come explore with us as we dive into the early modern European period (1500 – French Revolution) to show you not just who executioners were in general, but a story of one particular executioner from Germany. We’ll dispel the myths and legends of this profession and hopefully….show you a human being of circumstance rather than choice. Because perspective is the true context of history. - Ep 2: A Bit of Family History – Part 1
Genealogy is not just for old people looking for a hobby or sharing the stories of the good ol’ days. There may be pieces of your history you’ve yet to discover of an ancestor either living or dead. Join us in the episode as we explore my own family history back in the late 16th to early 18th century. A familiar part of American history that my ancestors were in the thick of but shared by their granddaughter over 9 generations later. The lens with be from the past mixed with feelings of the present. And of course, what’s a family story without a little drama.
- Topic Ideas for an additional eight episodes:
Ep. 3: A Bit of Family History – Part 2
A continuation from Part 1 in exploring my genealogical lines of Derby, Chipman and Howland in England. What do these three lines have in common? What were their roles and statuses in early modern English society? The drama of these lines is rampant and full happenstance. However, the influence of their beliefs and ideologies has been passed through the generations. But maybe we’ll leave some of the modern discussions for last in Part 3. - Ep. 4: A Bit of Family History – Part 3
Exploring the distant past of genealogy, we’ve now come to the concluding chapter of this familial series. While the past lay in graves, the living is learning to grapple with the unraveling the trauma passed through the generations. Some of my family members will be joining me in this final part to discuss our present feelings of our deceased relatives and what we believe hasn’t and should be addressed with our families. The hope of this episode is to show the past very much influences the present and show the healing that can transpire when we acknowledge and accept our history. - Ep. 5: The Slave Who Wrote His Story
Kidnapped as a child from a village in Africa and would later free himself to then write of his survival of slavery. This is the story of Olaudah Equiano. A man who fought for the abolition and freedom of slaves around the world. His story is unique in the fact that he wrote it. Discussing his life in slavery within the West Indies to how he ended up in London. His story gives us direct insight to the pains and horrors of slavery from someone who lived it. Remember the context of history is the PERSPECTIVE of those who lived it. Slavery has not been truly conceptualized because rarely has history listened to those who lived to survive its horrors. - Ep. 6: I Grew Up in The South
This episode will dive into the modern views of what it was like growing up in the southern United States. Viewing through the lens of race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation. What problems seem relevant to whom? Why does the lie of “the South will rise again” still echo in this region? And what changes do people wish to see to make a place that holds home to many SAFE for all. This will most definitely get spicy! - Ep. 7: Who Started Your Religion? Exploring the religions of the United States, primarily focusing on the Christian sects. A guest and friend of mine, Maggie Phillips, will be joining me to discuss the religious theologies where they cross, differences, and the present-day context religion holds in society. We’ll discuss the current exodus of people from religious sectors and the problematic histories that coincide with reasons WHY people have left. Lastly, there will be an exploration of faith transition, “crisis”, or deconstruction and how it plays into the evolution of religious beliefs.
- Ep. 8: Religion Just Got Political
Building off episode 7, Who Started Your Religion, my friend and guest Maggie Phillips will be joining me along with a mutual friend of ours, Kay Walker. All of us have left religious for various purposes. But we’re going to explore the politics within a religion itself and how it permeates into the society we live in. How does religion influence your political vote? What are policies you chose to endorse because of “beliefs?” Was religion the tool in the people you would or could be acquainted with? Ending with the current religious climate and it’s reminiscent of the Middle Ages and early modern Europe in beliefs of sins as crimes or is this a fallacy? And as always, context of history is the PERSPECTIVE in which people experienced the world. - Ep. 9: 3 Generations in a Room
How does someone who lived in the 1940’s view the world compared to a child born in the mid-2000’s? How well do we know our relatives? This episode will be a little different in discuss knowledge of pieces of well-known history. Joining as guests will be my Gramee, Vickee Wheatley, and my mom, Becca Mecham. Obviously, some of us have lived through different historical events, but HOW did we experience them or what have you learned about those events if you weren’t alive? We’ll be discussing topics ranging from the Civil Rights movements to COVID. It may sound a bit like trivia, but it also will be an opportunity for some oral history. Because for generations, over 7 decades of events. It’ll be interesting what we remember and see what was taught. - Ep. 10: Hide in the Closet or Embrace My Sexuality
We’ll begin by giving a history of the LBGTQIA+ community. Being gay has always been a part of history, more often considered as a crime than two people (or more) just wanting to love and be loved. Diving into the scientific explanation of the deconstruction of the gender binary and it’s evolution regarding the transgender community. Where finally we’ll enter presently sharing a few oral histories of the experience of coming out of the “closet” and what life is like now “living your truth” as it’s often put. Often “coming out” isn’t pretty or glamorous as many may think, in fact it’s normally the opposite. You may be surprised by how long ago the first gay person is on record.
7. Format & Rationale:
Because this podcast’s intent is to give perspectives of history through the lens of people who experienced, it will vary in the format. There will be guests with discussions of present history. Most of the content is casual and informal as to really help the listener feel transported into pieces of history whether ancient or current. History has often had serious tones and can generally feel off putting or distant. This podcast is not that, it’s rather more personal and intimate. There will be creation of specific series (or parts) and reference to other episodes as to be continued because who doesn’t love a great cliffhanger?
8. POV/Approach/Style/Voice & Rationale:
Point of view with be dependent on the content of the episode or series. This is again a journey through personal lived experiences and sometimes entwined with prominent historical events (or not so well-known events). As someone who has never felt comfortable in being the expert on a matter, rather I share information as a teacher or friend. Storytelling will often be the companion in the voice of this podcast. Often, we’re unaware of shared experiences and views of events or even people. The intent with the podcast is not condone atrocities or horrific pieces of history. It’s leaning into the discomfort of the human behind the atrocity and the victims that generations later are continuing to heal. I’m hoping to show people HOW to have discussions surrounding controversial topics in understanding that again, history’s context is from the PERSPECTIVE in which it was experienced.
8.Episode Frequency & Rationale
This one is a little difficult, but I decided it would be best to post weekly. Originally, I thought of posting biweekly, but then realized to garner an audience, frequency is key. Most episodes would be scripted without guests so it would be fairly easy to do weekly as the episodes would not be over 30 minutes (6-8 pages is nothing for a good ol’ historian). However, episodes with guests most often would be just once a month because of the need in making schedule accommodations and such. There would be limited series most definitely. Some topics need more than a singular episode!
9. About the Host:
I really hate talking about myself, I truly loathe it. BUT trust with an audience comes from sharing a bit about yourself. In my initial episodes I shared that I’m an undergrad history student at ASU currently and an “almost” historian. I believe this shows I maybe not have the certificate showing I “know my stuff,” rather the vulnerability that I’m learning about history too. IF (more like when) I pursue this podcast I intend to give a little bit more insight about me and this intent [and hopefully impact] of the podcast that’ll go along the lines of something like this:
“My name is Kylee Mamon, I am a historian, wife, mom, daughter, sibling, friend, neighbor…I’m considered “ordinary” like most of you. I’m not however your ordinary historian. I imagine I’m not the only one who doesn’t want to feel lost or forgotten or like their story hasn’t been told. I recognize I’m no one extraordinary and that’s why I thought this podcast was important. Each one of us are unique pieces of history! While some of these stories are familiar, maybe the characters within it you haven’t heard of. Maybe an event you experienced was different than what was shared in the news or in the history books. From whose view? Well, us “ordinary” folk! The context of history is the perspective in which society experienced the world and in turn how it’s impacted the present we now live in. This is the WHY in history – you and me – human beings.”
10: Target Audience:
Topics will range from ancient civilizations to present-day historic events and the humans apart of these pieces of history, so the age range will be 18+ as some (more like most) of these episodes could contain VERY graphic material. I would focus on age 60 and below as I know several people from this age range down that listen to podcasts. The audience dabbles in history – this podcast would be something you can listen to while driving on your way home from work, working out at the gym or while cleaning up around the house. This audience likes the “casual” content, but they’re not taking notes by any means.
A. Explain why your podcast topic, format, POV/style, episode frequency, and host identity are attractive to your target audience.
This is a weekly podcast, mildly long-form (generally 30-minute episodes), that will give you bits most likely unknown pieces of history. It’ll be a story you want to share after hearing it because that’s how wild some of the facts will be. Like, how is this real?! And just like you’re favorite TV show, a “tune-in next week” to find out what’s next.
B. Describe two ways you will reach your target demographic.
Because the audience is VAST and more age specific, social media will be the BIGGEST avenue to create an audience and target certain listeners!
- The creation of a specific hashtag that can be used across all social media platforms will help to garner attention and traffic to the podcast.
- Have my podcast promoted on various university social media pages, primarily in history/social/study related groups.
C. How will you develop a sense of community and belonging among your listeners?
I intend to create a social media page where you can follow, a website and blog discussing ALL the podcast content. Here they can meet other people, talk on lives directly with me, have a Q&A forum, and even ask to have their ideas as part of an episode! This podcast is to give history from a first-person perspective, that includes my audience! I will continually emphasize that the context of history is PERSPECTIVE of the society. If it’s present events, I would love to share the platform of the podcast to talk about current issues, events, and/or people. Also having interviews with a range of people I think will be important too. Maybe one of them could be a surprise guest!
D. What kinds of folks do you anticipate will object to or dislike your podcast?
Potentially very analytical academic listeners. While I will be discussing very real historic topics, it’s not in a very serious way. People who disagree with social movements such as intersectionality with women’s rights, the civil rights movement, Black Lives Matter, LBGTQIA+ community, the list goes on. But I’ll also be discussing in contrast the evolution of Christianity, religion(s), pseudo-science, patriarchy, colonization…other polarizing topics. I’m hoping I’ll maybe be able open to discussions about pieces of different history and help people understood in a new way. I’m open to feedback and that’s why there’ll be a Q&A section on the website, social media, and live events. But haters going to hate.
E. What kinds of folks do you anticipate will object to or dislike your podcast?
Potentially very analytical academic listeners. While I will be discussing very real historic topics, it’s not in a very serious way. People who disagree with social movements such as intersectionality with women’s rights, the civil rights movement, Black Lives Matter, LBGTQIA+ community, the list goes on. But I’ll also be discussing in contrast the evolution of Christianity, religion(s), pseudo-science, patriarchy, colonization…other polarizing topics. I’m hoping I’ll maybe be able open to discussions about pieces of different history and help people understood in a new way. I’m open to feedback and that’s why there’ll be a Q&A section on the website, social media, and live events. But haters going to hate.
F. Browse some of their reviews on Apple Podcast or other pod platform. What do people like or dislike about podcasts similar to yours?
Describe some of the feedback you received in your peer reviewers and what you did to address these criticisms:
Well, I didn’t receive a lot of criticisms. There were a few transitional issues and needing to give a little bit more clarity or spice to specific topics within my episode 1 & 2 scripts. Most of the feedback seemed surprised by my choice of content. I suppose this is a good indicator I’m on the right track for something that will catch people’s attention and possible interests. Most of my peers asked that I find ways to really bring the content to life, which I’m really hoping I’ve done with my audio. Sometimes what’s on paper translates differently when read aloud. All the feedback (and critiques) were incredibly supportive and affirming of my work, which I genuinely appreciated.
Describe some of the feedback you received in your peer reviewers and what you did to address these criticisms:
Well, I didn’t receive a lot of criticisms. There were a few transitional issues and needing to give a little bit more clarity or spice to specific topics within my episode 1 & 2 scripts. Most of the feedback seemed surprised by my choice of content. I suppose this is a good indicator I’m on the right track for something that will catch people’s attention and possible interests. Most of my peers asked that I find ways to really bring the content to life, which I’m really hoping I’ve done with my audio. Sometimes what’s on paper translates differently when read aloud. All the feedback (and critiques) were incredibly supportive and affirming of my work, which I genuinely appreciated.
Describe some of the feedback you received from the instructor and what you did to address those criticisms:
The pieces of criticisms I received were minute points again like that of my peers in transitional points and I think a word or two. Again, the biggest feat I found from my feedback was the surprise with my content. Which for me is a huge compliment! I was incredibly nervous on a one of my choices for a topic (my personal genealogy), but it turned out to be a huge hit!
