History Matters
History Matters is a podcast where the host, Natalye Harpin, explores historical topics in a relaxed, conversational style. The show often incorporates themes of drinking and socializing, making history feel like a happy hour chat. Episodes cover a wide range of historical subjects, aiming to make learning about the past enjoyable and accessible.
Episodes
Throwback: Wounded Knee, 1890
Throwback episode this week! See you next week :)
Ballot Measures, 2026
Let's go over the Propositions for California! We do this every 2 years, it is important. Check out the Secretary of State (SOS) website here for a detailed explanation of what a 'yes' or 'no' vote means for each proposition, measure, and bond.
Colombia, Law 70 (Throwback)
Throwback episode this week! Happy Latinx/Hispanic Heritage month!
Converse & the Klan
HOW ORIGINAL.... *not*
California Senate Bill 928
Read the text here on CalMatters!
Far-Right Germany, 2026
Read about the AfD (Alternative for Germany) party platform here from CNN. This is big news, and not in a good way.
Shut up, (Fat) Joe
Race is not felt, it is assigned. Pack this up, quickly!!
Consumption & Cannibalism
TW: talks of sexual violence and cannibalistic ritual.
Meat Market Index
Rising prices of meat and the status of the meat markets. Read the Newsweek article here.
After the Salute: Interview with a Veteran
Interview with CW04 James Pass, USN (Retired). Also known as: my dad.
Throwback: Bayou of Pigs, Dominica, 1981
Throwback episode today :D Have a happy Monday!
Odyssey-ing
Beloved, you had 3,000 years to read the book! Spoilers abound, so don't listen yet if you have not seen the film and want to.
A Tale of Two Wilsons
The two sides of Woodrow Wilson. Happy Summer! Happy Birthday to meeee this coming week! :D
Citizenship in the Territories
Shout out to the 671. Read about the proposed bill here.
Big Government is Necessary!
Read about North Carolina HB 1232 here.
Thomas Jefferson, 1788
This ended up sort of being a roast... sort of. All historical tea, though! Read the excerpt from Notes on the State of Virginia here. Read from the Monticello website history timeline here.
Burkina Faso, 2026
Al Jazeera article linked here.AP News article linked here.
New Veterans Bill Proposal
Read about HR 9237 here, via Congress' website.
Bastardizing Degrees
LA Times article here about reinstating standardized testing at the UC.
Medicare Changes into 2027
So much for "state's rights"... Read the information from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) here.
Convenience as a Scam
You read that right. Is it weakening us to the economic realities? Let's discuss!
San Diego, 1971
Rest in power to Harold K. Brown, read more about him here.
The War on Poverty
Connecting 1964 to 2026, and the gutting of the Voting Rights Act of 1964.
Willowbrook, 1946
Shout out to Ms. Velma Grant!! :D
Revisiting Prop 32 (2024)
Discussing why people voted against raising the minimum wage. Read the voting breakdown here at CalMatters.
Patrice Lumumba, 1960
Have you heard of Lumumba? If not, there is a reason for that. Let's get into it!
Fetal Death Registry?! (HB 754)
Proposed in Ohio State, linked here.
Homelessness Court Program (HB 211)
Louisiana State legislation linked here. Remember, other states are doing similar initiatives, including California...
Black Argentina, Then & Now
Yes, there are still Black people in Argentina. Afro-Argentinians, if you will.
Chinese Jamaicans, 1884
More Chinese diasporic history!
¡Viva Dolores!
Addressing the allegations in the room. TW: discussions of allegations of sexual assault.
Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025
aka Senate Bill 3283 (read about it here)
Frauen Warte (1934)
Connecting German ladies content from the Nazi reich to today. Check out the archive from Calvin University here.
Colombia's Law 70
AFRO-COLOMBIA STAND UPPPPP!!!Read the translated government document here.
Mississippi Chinese, 1880
Check out The Mississippi Chinese here
Blackstone vs. BlackRock
Housing-crisis related... we shall see...
Attempted Coup of Gonave, Haiti
It's as bad as it sounds. Read about it at the Texas Attorney's website here.
Irvine and Affordable Housing
Irvine has recently approved a development that apparently does not have to adhere to affordable housing guidelines. Read about it from LAist here.
California New Laws, 2026
Happy New Year, everyone! Let's get into New Laws for 2026... this the 1st list I mention, here is the 2nd list.
Throwback: Tepanec History
Still on vacation! :D Next Monday is a new episode. Love, Natalye!
Throwback: HUD & Project 2025
Happy Holidays, enjoy this throwback episode!
Which Degrees Are Professional?
Read the Code of Federal Regulations definitions here.
J. Edgar Hoover Was Black?!
Here is a letter archive re: Dr. King. Here is the article from Dia Kayyali
Barbados Slave Code, 1667
Read the original document here.
Queen City, 1892
History of the destroyed all-Black town of Queen City, established in the 1890s. Read more from the BBC's coverage here.
Guaranteed CSU Admissions (SB 640)
Starting with the 2026-2027 school year. Let's discuss!!
Skyrocketing Healthcare Premiums
Read about the ACA & pre-existing conditions here
Oh, Snap! (Part 2)
Read more about SNAP statistics here.
Prop 50 & the Voting Rights Act
Only trust official government websites for information on what your YES or NO vote means! Here is CA's Secretary of State voter guide linked.
Throwback: Latinx Colonial Trailblazers
Enjoy this old episode!! Happy Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month.
Privatizing Military Operations
Nothing to see here, just more of the (new) same...
USDA & Rising Food Costs, 2020-2025
Read the report here
"Drained Pool Politics"
Literal and metaphorically...
Equal Pay Act, 1963
Talk about it among your colleagues, it's not "rude".
Native Scalp Bounties, 1733
Read about Petersham, MA here. Read about the Upstander Project & "Bounty" film here
Chinese Mexicans, 1931
Life happens in the margins! Let's discuss some Chinese history in Mexico from the 1910s-1960s.
Immigration & Naturalization Acts in History
Naturalization Act of 1790 linked here
Throwback: New Laws, 2025
Throwback this week! :)
The Cult of the Middle Class: Age & Ability (Part 6)
Happy August, y'all! :D #LeoSeason
Sisters of the Sourdough Starter
Will be back tomorrow for a regular episode :) but wanted to tie the micro-aggressions I've noticed in the Bravo Housewives Universe + the American Eagle ad + Sourdough Trad Wives into some things, historically and present.
New Loan Caps
New changes with the Big Bill from July 4th.
Liberia, 1847
Tying recent news to past history...
Lake Lanier, 1912 (aka Oscarville)
Stay away from Lake Lanier! - Management
Alligator Bait (Here We Go Again...)
Ferris State University - Jim Crow "Alligator Bait"
Big Bill, 2025
Read it for yourself, as always.
Coolie Labor, 1862
Transpacfic trade of people from India, China, and Japan.
Throwback: Gender Was Never Binary
Happy June, y'all! Happy Pride! Enjoy this throwback episode from 2023.
Wounded Knee, 1890
Accurate history matters. See the information about H.R. 3609 here.
Gatsby Was Black?
Happy Summer! Read the literature professor's analysis here!
Alien Land Law, 1913
History of Japanese-American (& Asian-American in general) exclusion in California.
The Black Dandy, Explained
Check out the Vogue article I referenced, here.
Sinners (Film) Analysis
I'm just a historian! :)
Pay-to-Parent
$5,000?! That's a low offer...
Tariffs, 2025
Read the Al Jazeera article here.
Autism Science Foundation & RFK Jr.
Late, but hope you find it worth the wait! Thanks as always for listening!
"Bayou of Pigs", Dominica, 1981
The time the Klan tried to take over Dominica, a Black Caribbean island.... figures. Read the New York Times article here.
Throwback: Clean Girls & Hot Cheetos
This has been a WEEK, ok! Enjoy this old episode: "Clean Girls & Hot Cheetos". See y'all next week with a new episode.
Throwback: Defunding DEI, But What's Next?
Enjoy this throwback episode from 2022!
What is Genocide?
Audio is a little wonky, but thanks for listening!Check out the Raphael Lemkin Collection via the New York Public Library.
Altadena, 1960
Read more about Altadena here
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