Exploring History

June 6, 2024, marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces invaded Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II. On the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass explains the causes of Wo…

In 1938, as war clouds built in Europe, the popular American singer Kate Smith debuted a song written by the successful songwriter Irving Berlin. That song was "God Bless America," which has become a…

Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 short story "The Great Stone Face" is the fictional account of how the geological formation of the Old Man of the Mountain in New Hampshire inspired a boy to pursue the wor…

During World War II, over a million soldiers trained for combat in Europe by taking part in maneuvers in Tennessee. In his latest podcast, Ray Notgrass discusses how the maneuvers took place and what…

Following World War II, the nations of Europe lay devastated. The threat of Communist invasion was real. Just as the United States came to the aid of Europe during World War II, the U.S. provided ass…

God places a beautiful young woman in a position of influence. She risks her own life to save her entire people group from merciless execution. The book of Esther in the Old Testament gives the backg…

In a time and place where racial tensions were high, one woman followed her faith in Jesus and made a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of people. In this podcast, Ray Notgrass tells about…

On December 1, 1955, the courageous act by a simple, quiet, private citizen changed America. On the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass tells the story of Rosa Parks, including many detail…

Congress is the branch of the federal government that enacts the laws of our land. The House and the Senate follow Constitutional guidelines, laws that Congress itself has passed, and rules and tradi…

The relationship between Christians and the secular government has been filled with tension since the early days of the church. In the latest Exploring History podcast, Ray Notgrass examines Paul's t…

The story of the birth of Jesus that the Bible tells is a story of God's plan, His intervention in our world, and the lives of those involved who, like us, were forever changed. In this episode, Ray …

In an election, voters are deluged with candidates' biographies and their positions on multiple issues. But one characteristic stands out as more important than any of that. In this episode, Ray Notg…

The Thanksgiving holiday encourages us to pause and reflect on the blessings in our lives. In his latest podcast, Ray Notgrass shares his personal story about his health challenges this year and why …

How can high school students be motivated to learn about government and to help make our country more just? On the latest Exploring History podcast, author Ray Notgrass talks about his long standing …

We hear a lot of economic numbers in the news: inflation rises, unemployment falls, the stock market goes up and down, and more. What does it all mean? In this episode, Ray Notgrass takes a look at s…

A big reason behind the economic world in which we live is international trade. On this episode of Exploring History, Ray Notgrass examines the development and international impact of the humble sea …

Can science and faith coexist? On this episode of Exploring History, Ray Notgrass looks at the remarkable life, work, and faith of internationally-renowned transplant surgeon, Nobel Prize recipient, …

Of all the books you might read and study, the Bible is the most important. Ray Notgrass shares perspectives on the inspiration and authority of the Bible and why it is the most powerful book you can…

An old saying goes, "The child is father to the man." In other words, childhood experiences influence who adults are and what they do. In this episode, producer Titus Anderson interviews Ray and Char…

Every parent is strongly influenced by his or her own childhood. In this episode, producer Titus Anderson interviews Ray and Charlene Notgrass about how their childhoods in the 1950s and 1960s influe…