Relevant or Irrelevant
437 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★ - 3 ratingsIn this weekly show, hosts John Kealey and Jay Swords examine events of history through the discussion of books, journal articles, papers, and presentations, then historians and history buffs ask the question, what is relevant or irrelevant in today’s world.
For more than a decade, this show has aired over-the-air on KALA-FM in the Quad Cities. Now, we're bringing it here to make listening easier than ever!
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Episodes
Uniting Through History
February 19, 2022 04:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBThe "Relevant Or Irrelevant" historians welcome Rachelle Chase, author and Creator of the Non-Profit Uniting Through History Program (Iowa) for the 445th edition of this series. The host of this episode is John Kealey. History buffs for episode #445 are Jay Swords and Rick Sweet. This series is recorded at KALA-FM, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, USA.
Were The Vikings Brutal And Bloodthirsty, Or Was There Just A Misunderstanding?
February 12, 2022 04:00 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBDr. Larissa (Kat) Tracy, Professor Of Medieval Literature at Longwood University, Virginia, returns to "ROI" for the 444th episode to ponder the question, "Were The Vikings Brutal And Bloodthirsty, Or Is There Just A Misunderstanding?" This episode's host is John Kealey, joined by "History Buffs" Jay Swords and Rick Sweet. "ROI" is recorded at the KALA Studios, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, USA.
BONUS: Were The Vikings Brutal And Bloodthirsty, Or Is There Just A Misunderstanding?
February 12, 2022 04:00 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBDr. Larissa (Kat) Tracy, Professor Of Medieval Literature at Longwood University, Virginia, returns to "ROI" for the 444th episode to ponder the question, "Were The Vikings Brutal And Bloodthirsty, Or Is There Just A Misunderstanding?" This episode's host is John Kealey, joined by "History Buffs" Jay Swords and Rick Sweet. "ROI" is recorded at the KALA Studios, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa, USA.
BONUS: Dr. Kristy Nabhan-Warren - Meatpacking America
February 07, 2022 18:53 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBBONUS DISCUSSION: Dr. Kristy Nabhan-Warren, Professor, V.O. and Elizabeth Kahl Figge Chair in Catholic Studies Departments of Religious Studies and Gender and Women's and Sexuality Studies at The University Of Iowa, joins the "ROI" panelists to discuss her book Meatpacking America: How Migration, Work, and Faith Unite and Divide the Heartland.
Dr. Kristy Nabhan-Warren - Meatpacking America
February 07, 2022 18:50 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBDr. Kristy Nabhan-Warren, Professor, V.O. and Elizabeth Kahl Figge Chair in Catholic Studies Departments of Religious Studies and Gender and Women's and Sexuality Studies at The University Of Iowa, joins the "ROI" panelists to discuss her book Meatpacking America: How Migration, Work, and Faith Unite and Divide the Heartland.
BONUS: Dr. Bruce Greyson - Exploring What Near-Death Experiences Reveal
February 07, 2022 18:10 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MBBONUS DISCUSSION: Dr. Bruce Greyson, Chester Carlson Professor Emeritus Of Psychiatry at The University Of Virginia, is the guest for episode #442 to talk about his book After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal About Life And Beyond.
Dr. Bruce Greyson - Exploring What Near-Death Experiences Reveal
February 07, 2022 17:50 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBDr. Bruce Greyson, Chester Carlson Professor Emeritus Of Psychiatry at The University Of Virginia, is the guest for episode #442 to talk about his book After: A Doctor Explores What Near-Death Experiences Reveal About Life And Beyond.
BONUS: Don O'Shea - Memories Of The Great Depression: A Time Forgotten
February 07, 2022 17:39 - 12 minutes - 11.3 MBJoin us for a bonus discussion of this episode! Author Don O'Shea is the guest for the 440th edition of "Relevant Or Irrelevant." He joins the group to talk about his book Memories of The Great Depression: A Time Forgotten.
Don O'Shea - Memories Of The Great Depression: A Time Forgotten
February 07, 2022 17:36 - 28 minutes - 26 MBAuthor Don O'Shea is the guest for the 440th edition of "Relevant Or Irrelevant." He joins the group to talk about his book Memories of The Great Depression: A Time Forgotten.
BONUS: Ceasarea Maritima: Excavating in the City of Herod
January 01, 2022 04:35 - 11 minutes - 11 MBBONUS questions from the 439th episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Ceasarea Maritima: Excavating in the City of Herod
January 01, 2022 04:30 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBDr. Dan Davis, associate professor of classics at Luther College, joins the ROI team to discuss "Caesarea Maritima: Excavating in the City of Herod." Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed
December 25, 2021 04:35 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBBONUS questions from the 438th episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed
December 25, 2021 04:30 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBEric H. Cline, author, historian, archaeologist, and professor of ancient history and archaeology at The George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, DC, is a Professor of Classics and Anthropology and the former Chair of the Department of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, as well as Director of the GWU Capitol Archaeological Institute. He joins the "ROI" team for the 438th edition of this series to discuss his book: "1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Colla...
BONUS: Mount St. Helens is not where it's supposed to be
December 18, 2021 04:35 - 15 minutes - 14 MBBONUS questions from the 437th episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: Mount St. Helens Is Not Where It's Supposed To Be
December 18, 2021 04:35 - 15 minutes - 14 MBBONUS questions from the 437th episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Mount St. Helens Is Not Where It's Supposed To Be
December 18, 2021 04:30 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBDr. Seth Moran, a research seismologist at The Cascades Volcano Observatory, joins the ROI team to talk about Mt. St. Helens in Washington State and why the volcano is not where it should be. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Mount St. Helens is not where it's supposed to be
December 18, 2021 04:30 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBDr. Seth Moran, a research seismologist at The Cascades Volcano Observatory, joins the ROI team to talk about Mt. St. Helens in Washington State and why the volcano is not where it should be. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: The True Age of Fairytales
December 11, 2021 04:35 - 14 minutes - 13.8 MBBONUS questions from the 435th episode. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
The True Age of Fairytales
December 11, 2021 04:30 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBDr. Jamie Tehrani, professor of anthropology at Durham University, is the guest for the 435th edition of this series. He discusses the topic, "The True Age of Fairytales." Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: How America's War on the Poor is Harming Our Most Vulnerable Children
December 04, 2021 04:35 - 13 minutes - 12.5 MBBONUS questions from the 434th episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
How America's War on the Poor is Harming Our Most Vulnerable Children
December 04, 2021 04:30 - 34 minutes - 31.4 MBBoston University Clinical Professor Lenette Azzi-Lessing is the guest for the 434th episode of this series to discuss her article, "Behind from the Start: How America’s War on the Poor is Harming Our Most Vulnerable Children." Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: The Pursuit of Happiness 1680-1790
November 27, 2021 04:35 - 11 minutes - 10.1 MBBONUS questions from the 433rd episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
The Pursuit of Happiness 1680-1790
November 27, 2021 04:30 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBRitchie Robertson, D.Phil. (M.A. Edinburgh), FBA, Taylor Professor of the German Language and Literature, Emeritus Fellow of The Queen’s College (The University Of Oxford), is this episode's distinguished guest. The subject of this discussion is his recent work, The Enlightenment: The Pursuit of Happiness 1680-1790 (London: Penguin, 2020; New York: HarperCollins, 2021). Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: The California Gold Rush and Middle-Class Culture
November 20, 2021 04:05 - 19 minutes - 17.6 MBBONUS questions from the 432nd episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
The California Gold Rush and Middle-Class Culture
November 20, 2021 04:00 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBDr. Brian Roberts, professor of history at the University of Northern Iowa, discusses his book published in 2000, "American Alchemy: The California Gold Rush And Middle-Class Culture," which won awards for best work on the cultural history of the American West. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: How Bad Medieval History Feeds Far-Right Fantasies
November 13, 2021 04:05 - 15 minutes - 13.8 MBBONUS questions from the 431st episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
How Bad Medieval History Feeds Far-Right Fantasies
November 13, 2021 04:00 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBDr. Thomas Lecaque, a faculty member at Grand View University, joins the Relevant or Irrelevant team to talk about how bad medieval history feeds far-right fantasies. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: Art In Lockdown
November 06, 2021 03:05 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MBBONUS questions from the 441st ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Art In Lockdown
November 06, 2021 03:00 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBDawn Wohlford-Metallo, visual arts director at Quad City Arts, is the guest for the 441st edition of Relevant or Irrelevant. Dawn joins the group to discuss the current exhibit at Quad City Arts: Art In Lockdown. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: Ghost Stories
October 30, 2021 03:00 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBBONUS questions from our Halloween Special! Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Ghost Stories
October 30, 2021 02:30 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBIt's Halloween weekend, and the Relevant or Irrelevant team gets into the holiday spirit with a special episode focused on ghost stories! Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: Shattering the Myth of Spartan Warrior Supremacy
October 23, 2021 05:05 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBBONUS questions from the 430th episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Shattering the Myth of Spartan Warrior Supremacy
October 23, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBMyke Cole, author of The Bronze Lie: Shattering the Myth of Spartan Warrior Supremacy, is the guest for the 430th episode of Relevant or Irrelevant. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: RAGBRAI
October 15, 2021 05:05 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBBONUS questions from the 428th episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
RAGBRAI
October 15, 2021 05:00 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MBDieter Drake, RAGBRAI's ride director, is the guest for this episode of Relevant or Irrelevant. He discusses the annual bicycle race across the state of Iowa. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: A World of Music From Illinois
September 18, 2021 05:05 - 10 minutes - 9.61 MBRelevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
A World of Music From Illinois
September 18, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBChristina Shutt, from The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library And Museum, is the guest for the 425th edition of "ROI" to discuss "State Of Sound: A World of Music From Illinois." Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: Precarious Paradise: Toolesboro, IA
September 11, 2021 05:05 - 12 minutes - 11.4 MBBONUS questions from the 424th episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Precarious Paradise: Toolesboro, IA
September 11, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 26.6 MBNancy Priester Hayes is the guest on the 424th edition of this series to discuss her thesis: "Precarious Paradise: Toolesboro, Iowa." Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: Medieval Catholicism's Influence on European Democracy
August 28, 2021 05:05 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBRelevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Medieval Catholicism's Influence on European Democracy
August 28, 2021 05:00 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBRelevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: Negro Leagues Museum History
August 21, 2021 05:05 - 15 minutes - 14.4 MBBONUS questions from the 422nd episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Negro Leagues Museum History
August 21, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MBRelevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds
August 14, 2021 05:05 - 15 minutes - 14.7 MBBONUS questions from the 421st episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds
August 14, 2021 05:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBDr. Meredith McCarroll joins the ROI team to discuss "Appalachian Reckoning." McCarroll is the co-editor of this book. It is a collection of essays and creative work from people who live in the Appalachian. McCarroll is English Director of Writing and Rhetoric, Director of the First-Year Writing Seminar Program, and a Lecturer in English at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: Award-Winning Show Retrospective
August 07, 2021 05:05 - 17 minutes - 16 MBRelevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Award-Winning Show Retrospective
August 07, 2021 05:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBRelevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: The Western Iowa Journalism Foundation
July 31, 2021 05:05 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBBONUS questions from the 419th episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
The Western Iowa Journalism Foundation
July 31, 2021 05:00 - 30 minutes - 28.4 MBKyle Munson, a lifelong journalist, storyteller, writer, and content creator, who spent 24 years in daily news with The Des Moines Register, is the guest for the 419th edition of ROI. Kyle joins the panel to talk about The Western Iowa Journalism Foundation. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: Time, Autonomy & Obsolescence
July 24, 2021 05:05 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBBONUS questions from the 418th episode of ROI. Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.