Confessions of History Geeks

June is LGBTQ+ Month. Public Historian, Sara Jane Ruggles, sat down with Michelle Beach, Trooper with the Idaho State Police, for a day in the life discussion about being a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

June is LGBTQ+ Month. Public Historian, Sara Jane Ruggles, sat down with Jessica Mahuron, outreach coordinator for the North Idaho Pride Alliance, to discuss the CDA4Pride events this month and the resources available to the LGBTQ+ community in North Idaho.

This podcast is a conversation between a local senior citizen, Kazuko Watanabe, and a senior in high school, Sam Owens. We call this segment Seniors and Seniors. This intergenerational conversation demonstrates the humanity that binds us all, no matter what age. Kazuko and Sam discuss their different perspectives of Asian American Heritage Month.

Hear the amazing story of a baby who started as a Japanese refugee and grew to be a woman working for World Airways helping people evacuate on the last flight from Da Nang and Operation Babylift from Saigon. Later, Atsuko Kroetch brought her art, talent, and patriotism to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho where she became a citizen and continues to support local charities.

Silent Movie Star, Nell Shipman, had a lot to say and through her writings, we can see how she became a legend.

Silent Movie Star, Nell Shipman, had a lot to say and through her writings, we can see how she became a legend. 

Hear the incredible true story of a girl who grew up in a North Idaho logging family and started skidding logs at age 4.

This podcast is a conversation between a local senior citizen, the amazing Mary Lou Reed, and a senior in high school, Miss Kennedy Krajack. We call this segment Seniors and Seniors. This intergenerational conversation demonstrates the humanity that binds us all, no matter what age. These amazing ladies discussed their different perspectives of how technology has influenced our world.

This podcast explores the history of Sergeant Eugene Settle from Moscow, Idaho and his unique experiences, including: growing up as one of the few African American children in North Idaho; his perspective of the 1918-1919 Flu Pandemic; his career in agriculture and working in management; and the legacy the Settle Family had on our region. The voice of Eugene Settle is read by David Casteal. The part of interviewer is read by host Sara Jane Ruggles, Public Historian. Special thanks to the University of Idaho’s Latah County Oral History Collection for transcripts, photos, and audio recordings.⁠

February is African American History Month. Public Historian, Sara Jane Ruggles, sat down with Robert Singletary, In-Resident Historian for the Museum of North Idaho, to discuss how the Buffalo Soldiers tamed the West, particularly the 25th Infantry's role in Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, and Montana.

January is National Mentorship Month. As part of our Living History Now segment, Public Historian, Sara Jane Ruggles, sat down with Ryan Arnold, Director of Regional Entrepreneurial Strategy for North Idaho College to discuss how the Venture Center is supporting innovative start ups in our community. Coeur d'Alene has the highest density of startups in Idaho and those entrepreneurs are making history- today.

January is National Mentorship Month. Public Historian, Sara Jane Ruggles, sat down with Mayor Steve Widmyer to discuss his mentors from growing up in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and his role as a mentor.