Hollywood or History Podcast
๐๏ธ Hollywood or History Hosted by Dr. Scott Roberts Hollywood or History is a podcast that explores the powerful intersection of film and social studies education. Hosted by educator and author Dr. Scott Roberts, each episode features interviews with contributing authors from the Hollywood or History? book seriesโa collection of classroom-ready lesson plans designed to help teachers critically engage students with historically themed Hollywood films. From exploring what Hollywood gets right (and wrong) to unpacking the educational strategies behind effective film-based instruction, this series equips Kโ12 educators and teacher educators with tools to promote historical thinking, inquiry, and civic literacy. Whether youโre a social studies teacher, curriculum designer, or history enthusiast, Hollywood or History offers practical insights and thought-provoking conversations that bring historyโand filmโinto sharper focus. ๐ฌ Where does Hollywood end and history begin? Tune in to find out.
Episodes
Jul 29, 2026
Jul 29, 2026
1 hr 5 min
Dr. Tom E. Malewitz and Dr. Sarah Beach join Dr. Scott Roberts to explore how Avengers: Age of Ultron can be used to teach media literacy, technology ethics, and the real-world implications of artificial intelligence and social media. How do films like Age of Ultron reflect our relationship with technology? Is AI a hero, a villain, or something in between? In this episode, we examine how superhero narratives open the door to deeper conversations about fear, innovation, and the ways technology shapes our lives.๐ Show notes: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/fdcgwix7saa58dn7/Hollywood_or_History_episode_13_DP7rt7p.pdf
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๐ Book: https://bookstore.emerald.com/an-inquiry-based-approach-for-using-comic-based-stories-to-teach-liberal-arts-and-social-sciences-hb-9781805920335.htmlSarah's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@sarahbeachliketheocean
#HollywoodOrHistory #Avengers #MediaLiteracy #AI #Education #TeachingWithFilm
Jun 24, 2026
Jun 24, 2026
1 hr 25 min
Dr. Jessica Ferreras-Stone joins us to explore how the animated film Vivo can be used to teach Cuban history, U.S.โCuba relations, and the lived experiences of separation, migration, and cultural identity.
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๐ Show notes: ttps://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/jzgsthia9xtscvja/Hollywood_or_History_episode_12_DP27jamg.pdf๐ Book: https://bookstore.emerald.com/hollywood-or-history-hb-9798887309026.html๐ Website: https://sites.google.com/view/latinxhollywoodorhistory/home๐ง Vivo Songbook Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-vivo-songbook/id1578898390
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Oct 22, 2025
Oct 22, 2025
1 hr 33 min
Dr. Annie McMahon Whitlock, Dr. Timothy N. Constant & Kymberli Wregglesworth join Dr. Scott Roberts to explore how episodes of The Simpsons can be used to teach economics, government, and civic identity in the classroom.๐ Show notes: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/7v989y7y66xiq65p/Hollywood_or_History_episode_117xnq1.pdf๐ Book: https://bookstore.emerald.com/hollywood-or-history-hb-9798887304045.html
Oct 8, 2025
Oct 8, 2025
1 hr 19 min
Dr. Sarah Kaka & Lucas George join Dr. Scott Roberts to discuss teaching inequality through Hidden Figuresโfrom race and gender in STEM to systemic inequities across U.S. history.๐ Show notes: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/jpszf97sat3qwph6/Hollywood_or_History_episode_108pt84.pdf
๐ Book: https://bookstore.emerald.com/hollywood-or-history-hb-9781648027925.html
Sep 24, 2025
Sep 24, 2025
1 hr 30 min
Dr. Paul Yoder & Leona Calkins join Dr. Scott Roberts to discuss teaching genocide, trauma, and resilience through the film Hotel Rwanda. This episode unpacks strategies for helping students critically engage with difficult histories.๐ Show notes: [PDF link HERE]๐ Book: https://bookstore.emerald.com/hollywood-or-history-hb-9781648029363.html
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Sep 10, 2025
Sep 10, 2025
1 hr 2 min
Dr. Timothy Monreal & Dr. Jesรบs Tirado join Dr. Scott Roberts to discuss how the film Apocalypto can be used to critically examine Mayan civilization, media bias, and world history through inquiry.๐ Show notes: [PDF link]๐ Book: [Book Link]
Aug 27, 2025
Aug 27, 2025
1 hr 12 min
Dr. Scott Roberts welcomes Kate Van Harren to explore how An American Tail can be used to teach U.S. immigration, labor history, and cultural identity in the elementary classroom.๐ Show notes: [Insert PDF link]๐ Book: [Link to the Book]
Aug 13, 2025
Aug 13, 2025
1 hr 26 min
Dr. Starlynn Nance joins Dr. Scott Roberts to explore how sitcoms like Black-ish and Derry Girls help students unpack civic identity, voting rights, and race.๐ Show notes: [Link Here]ย ๐ Book: [Link to the Book]
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
58 min
Dr. Scott Roberts joins Dr. Mark Pearcy to explore how films like Saving Private Ryan and Glory can help students evaluate the ethics and realities of war through the lens of Just War Theory.๐ Show notes: [PDF link]๐ Book: [Book link]
Jul 16, 2025
Jul 16, 2025
59 min
Dr. Scott Roberts speaks with Drs. Pennington, Fortune, Tackett & Horst on using The One and Only Ivan to teach elementary students about empathy, activism, and civic engagement.
๐ Show notes: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/vcpviustfx6tmsg8/Hollywood_or_History_Podcast_Episode_4azm52.pdf๐ Book: https://bookstore.emerald.com/hollywood-or-history-hb-9798887307633.html







