Relevant or Irrelevant
In 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!
- Update frequency
- every 3 days
- Average duration
- 21 minutes
- Episodes
- 545
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Negro Leagues Museum History
Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds
Appalachian Reckoning: A Region Responds
Dr. 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 Appal…
BONUS: Award-Winning Show Retrospective
Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Award-Winning Show Retrospective
Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
BONUS: The Western Iowa Journalism Foundation
BONUS 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
Kyle 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 …
BONUS: Time, Autonomy & Obsolescence
BONUS questions from the 418th episode of ROI.
Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Time, Autonomy & Obsolescence
"Time, Autonomy and Obsolescence: Inequality, Precarity and Work Amidst 21st Century Technology Change and Pandemic Crisis" is the scope of the topic on this edition of ROI with special guest Dr. Amy…
BONUS: Iowa's Rural-Urban Schism
BONUS questions from the 417th ROI.
Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Iowa's Rural-Urban Schism
Dr. Paul Lasley, professor of sociology at Iowa State University, is the guest for the 417th episode of Relevant or Irrelevant. He joins the panel to discuss Iowa's Rural-Urban Schism.
Relevant or Irr…
BONUS: The Long Grove Bank Robbery of 1921
BONUS questions from the 416th episode of ROI.
Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
The Long Grove Bank Robbery of 1921
John Brassard Jr. is the guest for the 416th episode of this series. He discusses The Long Grove, Iowa, Bank Robbery of 1921 with the "ROI" team.
Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of K…
BONUS: The Ancient History of Fire
BONUS questions from the 415th episode of ROI.
Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
The Ancient History of Fire
Dr. Andrew Sorenson joins the "Relevant or Irrelevant" team to discuss the ancient history of fire. Fr. Sorenson is a post-doctoral researcher in Human Origins and Material Culture Studies at Leiden …
BONUS: Experimental Archaeology as Participant Observation
BONUS questions from the 413th episode of ROI.
Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Experimental Archaeology as Participant Observation
Dr. Scott Stull is the guest for the 413th episode of this series to discuss his article, "Experimental Archaeology as Participant Observation: A Perspective from Medieval Food."
Relevant or Irrelevan…
BONUS: Execution & Exile in Medieval and Early Modern Europe
BONUS questions from the 412th episode of ROI.
Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.
Execution & Exile in Medieval and Early Modern Europe
Larissa "Kat" Tracy, Ph.D., Professor of Medieval Literature at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, is the guest on the 412th edition of Relevant or Irrelevant. She joins the team to discuss …
BONUS: Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age
BONUS questions from the 411th ROI.
Relevant or Irrelevant is recorded at the studios of KALA-FM, Davenport, IA-Quad Cities.