Talk About Teddy - Theodore Roosevelt Podcast

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Talk About Teddy - Conversations Exploring the World of Theodore Roosevelt

  1. 2D AGO

    Episode 38 - Theodore Roosevelt's Tennis Cabinet with Michael Cullinane

    Hosts Larry Marple & Kurt Skinner are joined by historian Michael Cullinane to discuss his highly anticipated new book "Theodore Roosevelt and the Tennis Cabinet."  In his final days in office in 1909, Theodore Roosevelt invited dozens of friends to the White House for lunch. They had never met as a group, but they had one thing in common: Each played tennis with the president and advised on policy matters. Roosevelt half-joked that the public would never know how much these tennis partners did to make his administration a success. Journalists dismissively called them the “Tennis Cabinet,” making light of their contribution, but Roosevelt knew otherwise. This inner circle led the administration’s campaigns against corporate greed, investigated public health violations, and formulated consumer protections. They founded environmental conservation policies, prosecuted civil rights violations, and implemented bureaucratic efficiencies that saved the government billions. Roosevelt’s tennis mates shaped the nation’s diplomacy, ending wars and promoting American interests abroad.  (notes from the publisher University of Nebraska Press)

    58 min

  2. APR 19

    Episode 37 - The Repurposed Parks of Theodore Roosevelt (TR Park Series part 4) with Valerie Naylor

    Hosts Kurt Skinner and Larry Marple are joined by National Park Service veteran, Valerie Naylor, to discuss parks and monuments established by Theodore Roosevelt, focusing on four "repurposed" sites no longer within the National Park System. Parks included in this episode are Lewis and Clark Caverns National Monument (proclaimed 1908) which became a Montana state park; Wheeler National Monument (proclaimed 1908) which is now a protected geologic area in wilderness; Platt National Park (established 1906) which evolved into Chickasaw National Recreation Area; and Sullys Hill National Park (established 1905) which became a national game preserve.

    57 min

  3. MAR 20

    Episode 36 - American Maccabee: Theodore Roosevelt & the Jews with Andrew Porwancher (Part 2)

    Hosts Kurt Skinner & Larry Marple are joined by Historian Andrew Porwancher to discuss his award-winning new book, "American Maccabee: Theodore Roosevelt & the Jews." Professor Porwancher's insightful work investigates how Jewish issues were part of the greater questions America faced at the turn of the 20th century during Theodore Roosevelt's years in public service.

    49 min

  4. MAR 15

    Episode 35 - American Maccabee: Theodore Roosevelt & the Jews with Andrew Porwancher (Part 1)

    Hosts Kurt Skinner & Larry Marple are joined by Historian Andrew Porwancher to discuss his award-winning new book, "American Maccabee: Theodore Roosevelt & the Jews." Professor Porwancher's insightful work investigates how Jewish issues were part of the greater questions America faced at the turn of the 20th century during Theodore Roosevelt's years in public service.

    48 min

  5. FEB 26

    Episode 34 - Theodore Roosevelt the Naturalist with Darrin Lunde

    Hosts Kurt Skinner & Larry Marple are joined by Smithsonian naturalist, Darrin Lunde, author of "The Naturalist: Theodore Roosevelt, A Lifetime of Exploration, and the Triumph of American Natural History." The conversation highlights the behind-the-scenes work of museum naturalists, Theodore Roosevelt’s life-long fascination with the natural world, his life as a hunter-naturalist-conservationist, and his contributions to the scientific study of animals that culminated in the 1909-10 Smithsonian African expedition.

    1h 9m

  6. FEB 12

    Episode 33 - TR & the American Military with Matthew Oyos

    In this episode of the Talk About Teddy Podcast, hosts Kurt Skinner & Larry Marple welcome Professor Matthew Oyos to discuss his extensive research on Theodore Roosevelt's influence on U.S. military policy as detailed in his book 'In Command: Theodore Roosevelt and the American Military'. The conversation covers Roosevelt's strategic vision for America's role in the world, his efforts to modernize the Navy and Army, the civil-military tensions involved with reform, and TR's fascination with the evolution of military technology. The discussion also touches on controversial episodes, such as Roosevelt's dismissal of Black soldiers in the 1906 Brownsville affair, and his relentless campaign for American military preparedness in the lead up to the Great War.

    1h 16m

  7. 11/29/2025

    Episode 32 - The Roosevelt White House Restoration of 1902

    In this episode of the 'Talk About Teddy' podcast, hosts Kurt Skinner & Larry Marple are joined by Edith Roosevelt historian, Julia Marple, to discuss the 1902 restoration of the White House overseen by Theodore Roosevelt and his wife, Edith Roosevelt.  The conversation highlights the historical significance of the restoration, the challenges faced, and the roles played by TR and especially Edith.  The episode includes discussion of the architects involved, the financial aspects, the public's reaction, and the specific architectural changes made during the restoration, emphasizing the Roosevelts' dedication to preserving the historical integrity of the White House.

    1h 13m

  8. 09/26/2025

    Episode 31 - Theodore Roosevelt Center Staff

    Kurt and Larry chat with the Theodore Roosevelt Center staff members that are daily bringing to life a comprehensive online digital library dedicated to the life and legacy of Theodore Roosevelt  - they’re creating an item-level catalogue of searchable documents, making the available record of TR free and accessible to on-line researchers everywhere.  The folks at the Theodore Roosevelt Center are truly accomplishing “work worth doing”!

    59 min
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Talk About Teddy - Conversations Exploring the World of Theodore Roosevelt

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