Say It With History: Conversations That Shaped The Past with Holley Snaith

Holley Snaith

From unsung trailblazers to cultural icons, Say It with History explores how the past shapes the stories we tell—and the lives we lead. Hosted by historian Holley Snaith, who has worked at two presidential libraries, a nonprofit honoring a beloved First Lady, and published numerous pieces on influential historical figures, each episode offers engaging, insightful, and often surprising journeys through time. Whether you’re a lifelong history lover or simply curious about the stories behind the past, this show brings history to life in fresh and meaningful ways.

  1. Women in Historic Preservation: Saving America’s Landmarks and Legacy with Amanda Roper

    19h ago

    Women in Historic Preservation: Saving America’s Landmarks and Legacy with Amanda Roper

    Public historian Amanda Roper joins Holley to explore the often overlooked role of women in historic preservation. Together, they discuss how women have played a central role in saving places like George Washington’s Mount Vernon, how preservation goes beyond buildings to protect cultural memory and identity, and why these stories remain so important today. Amanda also reflects on her own path into public history and the importance of sharing underrepresented stories. Amanda Roper Biography Amanda Roper is a public historian who has dedicated her career to preserving historic places and sharing stories that have often been underrepresented in the American historical narrative. She holds a degree in history from the College of Charleston and has worked with several leading cultural and preservation institutions, including the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, as well as at historic sites in Charleston, South Carolina, and Alexandria, Virginia. Amanda currently serves on the boards of the Historic House Museum Consortium of Washington, District of Columbia; Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages; and the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites. She is a 2025–2026 Research Fellow at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon and is currently researching and writing a book exploring the history of women in historic preservation. About Amanda’s Upcoming Book Saving America’s Past: Women in Preservation explores the vital but often overlooked role women have played in preserving America's historic places—from early localized efforts in the nineteenth century to continued leadership in the modern era. Long before preservation became professionalized, women led the charge to save buildings and landscapes, protect cultural heritage, and shape public memory and civic identity. Women have stewarded some of our most famous historic homes, parks, battlefields, neighborhoods, and cities and served as essential keepers of community stories and material culture. This book will take readers on a journey through America’s preservation history, highlighting key women who worked individually and collectively to save our past. This book traces the various and evolving motivations women had for engaging in this work, revealing how women used their skills, networks, and vision to shape the way American’s remember their own history. Books Mentioned: Black Majority by Peter Wood Paperback | Ebook Connect with Amanda: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn   Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

    47 min
  2. Julius Caesar Explained: The Fall of the Roman Republic and the Rise of Empire with Phil Mathew

    Jun 5

    Julius Caesar Explained: The Fall of the Roman Republic and the Rise of Empire with Phil Mathew

    Professor Phil Mathew joins Holley to explore the life and legacy of Julius Caesar and the forces that led to the fall of the Roman Republic. Together, they discuss how military power and political ambition shaped Caesar’s rise, the role of loyalty and leadership in his success, and how intelligence and strategy influenced his campaigns. Phil also shares insights into how myth and reality intertwine in ancient sources and reflects on what Caesar’s story reveals about power, leadership, and the fragility of political systems. Phil Mathew Biography Professor Phil Mathew was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He holds a graduate degree in World History from Norwich University in Vermont and teaches history at Joliet Junior College, located just outside of Chicago. His research focuses on the military and political history of Ancient Greece and Rome. In particular, he is interested in the impact of war on society, the relationship between soldiers and their commanders, intelligence gathering in the Roman army, and the life and legacy of Alexander the Great. His broader interests also include the history of the Roman emperors and their imperial dynasties, as well as Roman Britain, Roman Judaea, and Roman Egypt. His graduate capstone examined the use of military intelligence in Julius Caesar’s army during the Gallic War. He is a member of the Association of Ancient Historians and the Society for Classical Studies. Books Mentioned: Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy Paperback | Ebook Connect with Phil: LinkedIn Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

    40 min
  3. Classic Hollywood Films Explained: Why They Still Matter Today with Simone O. Elias

    May 29

    Classic Hollywood Films Explained: Why They Still Matter Today with Simone O. Elias

    Writer and cultural critic Simone O. Elias joins Holley to explore the enduring relevance of classic Hollywood and why these films continue to resonate today. Together, they discuss the bold storytelling of the Pre-Code era, the portrayal of women on screen, and how actresses like Judy Holliday and Joan Blondell challenged expectations. Simone also reflects on her perspective as a Gen Z critic and how classic films continue to shape modern culture and conversation. Simone O. Elias Biography  Simone O. Elias is a cultural critic and author whose work has been featured on Turner Classic Movies, Psychology Today, The Forward, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Her writing explores classic Hollywood, feminism, mental health, and Jewish identity. About Old Films, Young Eyes Why would a modern teenager find classic films enthralling? In Old Films, Young Eyes, Simone O. Elias offers an eye-opening exploration of how classic Hollywood movies foreshadowed, influenced, and continue to shape popular culture in surprising ways. From anticipating today’s image-driven social media landscape to helping usher rock music into the mainstream—and even sparking elements of the #MeToo movement—these films remain remarkably relevant. Despite the common belief that old movies are outdated, many classic films boldly confronted issues such as racism, antisemitism, gender roles, and shifting attitudes toward relationships. They also helped shape the cultural foundations behind modern icons like Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga, while at times even foreshadowing more sobering developments, including the global Covid-19 pandemic. Drawing on her perspective as a Gen Z cultural critic, Elias provides a fresh and thoughtful look at the enduring socio-cultural impact of classic Hollywood and why these films continue to resonate with new generations. Connect with Simone: Website | Instagram | YouTube Old Films, Young Eyes: Bookshop | McFarland Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

    39 min
  4. Teaching Critical Thinking: How Students Learn to Think, Not Just Memorize with Keith Pakela

    May 22

    Teaching Critical Thinking: How Students Learn to Think, Not Just Memorize with Keith Pakela

    Educator and historian Keith Pakela joins Holley to explore how civics and history are taught in today’s classroom and why the focus is shifting from memorization to critical thinking. Together, they discuss how students are engaging with questions about democracy and the political system, what gaps educators are seeing in civic understanding, and how classroom discussions can create space for meaningful dialogue. Keith also reflects on the growing role of AI in education, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and why helping students learn how to think rather than what to think is more important than ever. Keith Pakela Biography Keith Pakela is an adjunct professor and AP Government teacher, working with students at both the high school and college level. Connect with Keith: LinkedIn Books Mentioned: Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin Paperback | Ebook | Hardcover Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

    30 min
  5. Anna May Wong and Early Hollywood: Race, Representation, and Asian American History with Katie Gee Salisbury

    May 15

    Anna May Wong and Early Hollywood: Race, Representation, and Asian American History with Katie Gee Salisbury

    Author Katie Gee Salisbury joins Holley to explore the life and legacy of Anna May Wong, Hollywood’s first Asian American movie star, and the barriers she faced in early film. Together, they discuss Wong’s rise during the Jazz Age, the limitations placed on her by stereotypical roles, and her bold decision to leave Hollywood for Europe in search of greater creative freedom. Katie also reflects on the myths that have shaped Wong’s story, the complexities of representation on screen, and why her legacy continues to resonate today. Katie Gee Salisbury Biography Katie Gee Salisbury is the author of Not Your China Doll, a biography of Anna May Wong, Hollywood’s first Asian American movie star. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Believer, the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, and elsewhere. She was a finalist for the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship in 2021 and gave the TED Talk “As American as Chop Suey.” She also writes the Substack Half-Caste Woman. A fifth-generation Chinese American who hails from Southern California, she now lives in Brooklyn. About Not Your China Doll Nominated for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards in History & Biography PW Weekly Top 10 Memoirs & Biographies for Spring 2024 Entertainment Weekly “Books We Are Excited to Read in 2024” Set against the glittering backdrop of Los Angeles during the gin-soaked Jazz Age and the rise of Hollywood, this debut book brings Anna May Wong—Hollywood’s first Asian American movie star—back into focus, reclaiming her place as a pioneering and often overlooked figure in cinema history. Before Constance Wu, Sandra Oh, Awkwafina, or Lucy Liu, there was Anna May Wong. In her time, she was a celebrated beauty, a witty conversationalist, and a fashion icon. Plucked from her family’s laundry business in Los Angeles, she rose to stardom in Douglas Fairbanks’s blockbuster The Thief of Bagdad. Audiences and the press clamored for more, but as Hollywood continued to confine her to stereotypical roles, she made the bold decision to leave and pursue opportunities abroad. In Europe, Anna May starred in acclaimed films in Berlin, Paris, and London, captivating audiences and moving within elite international circles. When she returned to the United States, she confronted Hollywood directly, speaking out against the industry’s racism and working to break free from limiting roles like the “China doll” and “dragon lady.” In doing so, she helped reshape the possibilities for Asian American representation on screen. Filled with vivid stories of capricious directors, admiring costars, glamorous parties, and far-flung romances, Not Your China Doll captures the vibrant and defiant life of a groundbreaking artist. Connect with Katie: Book Website | Website | Instagram | Anna May Wong Book Instagram | Bluesky | Half-Caste Woman Substack Not Your China Doll: Hardcover | Ebook | Website Recommended Films: Song (1928) Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn | Bluesky | Instagram | Medium

    46 min
  6. World War I Fighter Aces: Myth vs Reality in Early Air Combat with Abby Whitlock

    May 8

    World War I Fighter Aces: Myth vs Reality in Early Air Combat with Abby Whitlock

    Historian and cultural heritage professional Abby Whitlock joins Holley to explore the myth of the World War I fighter ace and how wartime hero narratives are carefully constructed. Together, they discuss how figures like Arthur Rhys Davids were transformed into symbols of heroism, how social class and media shaped who was remembered, and what these stories reveal about masculinity and national identity. Abby also reflects on her own path into aviation history and the importance of looking beyond the legend to understand the complex human experiences behind it. Abby Whitlock Biography Abby Whitlock is a historian, writer, and cultural heritage professional whose research centers on the social and cultural history afterlives of the Victorian Era and the World Wars. Specializing in First World War aviation history, her current research focuses on the tension between the fighter pilot archetype, mental health, and the transformation of complex individuals into national symbols.  She has delivered lectures on topics such as morale, mental health, and comradeship within the air services for the Royal Air Force Museum, Society for Military History, and Great War Aviation Society, and has published extensively on the evolving image of the aviator from wartime media coverage to post-war popular culture.  Abby writes and consults on military history, aviation, and cultural heritage projects, with a focus on making rigorous research accessible beyond academia. She works in the Digital Content Strategy and Experience Division at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, where she leads program management and strategic planning for the Chief Digital Officer. Books Mentioned: Käte & the Red Baron: Käte Oltersdorf & Manfred von Richthofen – Her “Restless Patient” by Lance J Bronnenkant PhD and Reinhard Schröder Oberst Amazon Connect with Abby: Website | Bluesky | LinkedIn   Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

    52 min
  7. Sigrid Schultz and Nazi Germany: Journalism, Resistance, and Reporting the Truth with Pamela Toler

    May 1

    Sigrid Schultz and Nazi Germany: Journalism, Resistance, and Reporting the Truth with Pamela Toler

    Historian Pamela Toler joins Holley in the first episode of Season 3 to explore the life and legacy of Sigrid Schultz, an American journalist who reported from Nazi Germany during one of the most turbulent periods of the twentieth century. Together, they discuss how Schultz navigated censorship, used a pseudonym to report dangerous truths, and became one of the most influential foreign correspondents of her time. Pamela also reflects on the broader role of women in journalism and why Schultz’s story reminds us of the vital connection between a free press and a healthy democracy. Pamela Toler Biography  Armed with a PhD in history, a well-thumbed deck of library cards, and a large dose of curiosity, author, speaker, and historian Pamela D. Toler writes historical nonfiction for a popular audience. She moves beyond the familiar boundaries of American history to tell stories from around the world and from perspectives often overlooked—from the other side of the battlefield, the gender line, or the color bar. Toler is the author of ten books of popular history for children and adults, including Heroines of Mercy Street: Real Nurses of the Civil War, Women Warriors: An Unexpected History, and The Dragon from Chicago: The Untold Story of an American Reporter in Nazi Germany. Her work has appeared in The American Scholar, Aramco World, Calliope, History Channel Magazine, MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History, Ms., Time.com, and The Washington Post, and has been featured by National Geographic. About The Dragon from Chicago In The Dragon from Chicago, historian Pamela Toler tells the story of Sigrid Schultz, an American journalist who spent years courageously reporting from Berlin, covering events from the revolts of 1919 through the Nazi rise to power and the Allied air raids over the city in 1941. At a time when women reporters rarely wrote front-page stories, Schultz consistently reported the truth about Nazi Germany despite censorship and the constant threat of expulsion, internment, or even death. The Nazis called Schultz “that dragon from Chicago.” One fellow correspondent described her as “Adolf Hitler’s greatest enemy.” Schultz herself simply insisted she was “just a reporter.” Her story is a powerful account of one woman standing up for truth in an era increasingly shaped by disinformation and propaganda fueled by hate. Connect with Pamela: Website | History in the Margins Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky | LinkedIn The Dragon from Chicago: Bookshop | Beacon Press Books Mentioned: Fighting Words by Nancy F. Cott Hardcover Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

    51 min
  8. Hollywood Musicals and American History: How Film Reflects Society with Miles Eady

    Mar 20

    Hollywood Musicals and American History: How Film Reflects Society with Miles Eady

    In the final episode of Season 2, film historian Miles Eady joins Holley to explore how four landmark Hollywood musicals illuminate the shifting moods of twentieth-century America. Their conversation traces the evolution of the genre from Depression-era escapism to wartime unity, postwar disillusionment, and the rebellious energy of the 1960s. Together, they examine how song, spectacle, and storytelling captured the hopes, fears, and cultural currents of their time, offering listeners a fresh perspective on the musical as a mirror of American history. Miles Eady – Biography  Miles Eady is a film historian, writer, and public speaker specializing in Hollywood musicals. His work explores the history, artistry, and cultural impact of the movie musical—from its vaudeville and Broadway origins to its golden age at MGM and beyond. Miles has presented at venues including the British Film Institute and has appeared on BBC Radio 3’s Free Thinking. Known for his engaging style and deep knowledge of classic Hollywood, he brings to life the stories behind the stars, songs, and studios that shaped a century of cinematic magic. Movies Mentioned 42nd Street (1933) This Is The Army (1943) It’s Always Fair Weather (1955)  Hair (1979)  Connect with Miles: Website Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

    1h 20m
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From unsung trailblazers to cultural icons, Say It with History explores how the past shapes the stories we tell—and the lives we lead. Hosted by historian Holley Snaith, who has worked at two presidential libraries, a nonprofit honoring a beloved First Lady, and published numerous pieces on influential historical figures, each episode offers engaging, insightful, and often surprising journeys through time. Whether you’re a lifelong history lover or simply curious about the stories behind the past, this show brings history to life in fresh and meaningful ways.

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