In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the history of Christmas cards.

Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: 

• Holiday cards have remained popular amid the digitization of many other print products. Neil referred to this Washington Post article by Peter Manseau about the trend of Christmas photos with guns. Natalia drew on this Atlantic piece about the popularity of holiday cards among millennials. Niki discussed the morbid imagery on nineteenth century Christmas cards explored in this History Channel post.

In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

• Natalia shared about her first piece for CNN Opinion, “ Big’s Clapback Sells a Familiar Fantasy.”
• Neil discussed Gabe Stutman’s Jewish News article, “A Carmel School Refused to allow an inflatable menorah at a ‘holiday tree’ lighting. A Jewish parent filed a lawsuit.”
• Niki recommended Melissa Borja’s Patheos article, “Delightful Trolling and the Political Possibilities of Christmas Carols.”

In this episode, Niki, Neil, and Natalia discuss Dr. Oz running for the U.S. Senate and the history of celebrity politicians.

Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: 

• Celebrity doctor-entertainer Mehmet Oz is running for Senate in Pennsylvania, as a Republican. Niki drew on historian Kathryn Brownell’s book, Showbiz Politics: Hollywood in American Political Life, and Neil referred to Nicholas Kristof’s gubernatorial run. Natalia referred to Olga Khazan’s Atlantic article about Trump’s celebrity candidacy.

In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

• Natalia discussed the latest season of Selling Sunset, now streaming on Netflix.
• Neil recommended historian Paul Renfro’s Teen Vogue article, “Ryan White, Teen Who Contracted AIDS, Shifted Narrative Around The Disease.”
• Niki shared Dahlia Lithwick’s Slate article, “SCOTUS Will Gaslight Us Until the End” and referred to Michele Goodwin’s New York Times guest essay.

In this episode, Natalia, Niki, and Neil discuss the history of cookbooks and the question of recipes as intellectual property.

Support Past Present on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pastpresentpodcast

Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: 

• As online recipes and cookbooks become big business, issues of plagiarism and copyright are becoming more common. Natalia referred to Helen Zoe Veit’s Smithsonian article and larger body of work and, along with Niki, to this history of cookbooks in the Atlantic. 

In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

• Natalia recommended Amanda Mull’s Atlantic article, “Peloton Is Stuck, Just Like the Rest of Us.”
• Neil discussed Jonathan D. Sarna’s Forward article, “How Hanukkah Came To The White House,” and his column at The Week, “The History and Gravity of Hanukkah In The White House.”
• Niki shared her latest column for CNN, “Marcus Lamb’s Career and Anti-Vax Message Speak to Power of Christian Broadcasters.”