Episodios

  • Inside the Invention Factory with Kathleen Carlucci

    Inside the Invention Factory with Kathleen Carlucci
    May 21 2025
    Kathleen Carlucci, director of the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park, joins AMSEcast to discuss Edison’s lasting impact on American innovation. From his early love of telegraphy to his system-wide inventions in sound, light, and film, Edison redefined how ideas were developed and assembled skilled teams in the world’s first “invention factory.” Carlucci highlights his resilience, collaborative spirit, and ability to turn failure into progress. Visitors to the Center can explore original artifacts, interactive exhibits, and hands-on demonstrations that bring Edison’s legacy to life, reminding us that with perseverance, innovation is within anyone’s reach. Guest Bio Kathleen Carlucci is the Director of the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park, where she leads efforts to preserve and share the legacy of one of America’s greatest inventors. With degrees in history and secondary education, she combines her passion for storytelling with a strong background in management and customer service. Kathleen has played a key role in enhancing the museum experience through engaging tours, educational programs, and community outreach. Her work ensures that visitors of all ages connect with Thomas Edison’s innovations and are inspired by his enduring message of curiosity, perseverance, and the power of hands-on learning. Show Highlights
    • (1:14) Edison’s process for thinking up ideas and bringing them to fruition
    • (2:40) How Edison overcame hearing loss to accomplish so much
    • (3:42) Edison’s improvements to the telegraph and telephone
    • (6:36) How Edison organized and staffed his Menlo Park lab
    • (9:51) Why he moved to West Orange, NJ, and what became of Menlo Park
    • (12:28) Edison’s work with light bulbs, motion picture technology, and batteries
    • (19:03) What Edison would do when he hit a wall on a project
    • (20:39) Lessons from Menlo Park that future innovators should learn
    • (22:43) What a tour of the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park includes
    Links Referenced
    • Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park: https://www.menloparkmuseum.org/
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    28 m
  • A Library of Treasures in American History with Josh Levy

    A Library of Treasures in American History with Josh Levy
    May 14 2025
    Dr. Josh Levy is a historian of science and technology at the Library of Congress. In this episode of AMSEcast, he highlights key figures and artifacts from all across America’s innovation history. From Samuel Morse’s early telegraph designs to George Washington Carver’s advocacy for sustainable farming, Levy reveals stories of invention and resilience. He also discusses aviation pioneer Lt. Thomas Selfridge and Claude Shannon’s groundbreaking work in information theory. Josh and Alan finish with Gladys West, whose geoid calculations became foundational for GPS. Her later recognition reflects how major technological advances often depend on unsung, collaborative contributions across generations. Guest Bio Dr. Josh Levy is the historian of science and technology in the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress, where he helps uncover and share the stories behind key figures in American innovation. He holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Illinois and brings years of teaching experience at both high school and college levels, including the University of South Florida, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the College of Micronesia. Since joining the Library of Congress in 2020, Dr. Levy has curated collections that illuminate the complex, collaborative nature of scientific and technological breakthroughs. Show Highlights
    • (1:50) What led Samuel Morse to invent the telegraph
    • (4:03) Morse’s letter regarding the telegraph
    • (7:36) Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver
    • (8:47) Carver’s letter to John Washington, Booker T. Washington’s brother
    • (12:02) Alfred Graham Bell’s interest in aviation
    • (15:02) Thomas Selfridge
    • (17:28) Claude Shannon, the Father of the Information Age
    • (18:46) Shannon’s schematic of Theseus, the maze-solving robotic mouse
    • (20:11) Gladys West’s impact on GPS technology
    Links Referenced
    • Library of Congress website: https://loc.gov
    • For specific questions about manuscripts at the Library of Congress: https://ask.loc.gov/manuscripts
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    28 m
  • Sailing the High Seas of History with Peter Armstrong

    Sailing the High Seas of History with Peter Armstrong
    May 7 2025
    Alan is joined by Peter Armstrong, president of Mystic Seaport Museum, to continue our celebration of 250 years of American innovation. Peter reflects on his 25 years in museum leadership and shares insights into Mystic’s long shipbuilding history. The museum, the largest maritime museum in the U.S., features historic vessels like the Charles W. Morgan, clipper ships, and a converted diesel-electric steamboat. From Fresnel lenses to nuclear submarines, Peter highlights how the museum preserves maritime heritage while embracing modern innovation. Guest Bio Peter Armstrong has been president of Mystic Seaport Museum since 2020, the largest maritime museum in the United States. With over 25 years in museum leadership, Peter previously served as senior director of museum operations and education at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Before moving to the U.S., he held key roles at the UK’s National Museum of Arms and Armor, which includes iconic sites like the Tower of London. Peter brings a deep passion for history, education, and preservation to every project, making him a leading voice in connecting heritage with innovation. Show Highlights
    • (1:30) How Mystic became a hub for shipping and shipbuilding
    • (3:02) What you can see and do at the Mystic Seaport Museum
    • (5:55) What makes whaling ships and clipper ships different from any other types of ships
    • (9:26) When and how steamboat technology made its way to the United States
    • (14:00) How the Fresnel lens revolutionized lighthouses
    • (15:34) Where America builds its ships today
    • (17:53) Where you can learn more about the Mystic Seaport Museum
    Links Referenced
    • Website: https://mysticseaport.org
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    22 m
  • The Legacy of George Washington Carver with Curtis Gregory

    The Legacy of George Washington Carver with Curtis Gregory
    Apr 30 2025
    AMSEcast continues celebrating 250 years of American innovation with Curtis Gregory. A park ranger at the George Washington Carver National Monument, Curtis sits down with Alan to share Carver’s inspiring journey from enslavement to becoming a pioneering scientist and educator who transformed Southern agriculture. Known for promoting peanuts and sweet potatoes as sustainable crops, Carver created hundreds of uses for them! Beyond his lab, he educated rural farmers through lectures, pamphlets, and the innovative Jesup Wagon. His legacy endures in food security and agricultural education. Visitors can explore his story at the Carver Monument in Diamond, Missouri. Guest Bio Curtis Gregory is a longtime park ranger at the George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond, Missouri, where he has shared Carver’s legacy with visitors for nearly 20 years. With deep knowledge and passion, Curtis brings to life the story of George Washington Carver—scientist, educator, and agricultural innovator—highlighting his contributions to sustainability, food security, and education. As a dedicated steward of this historic site, Curtis helps connect the past to the present, inspiring new generations through Carver’s enduring impact. We’re thrilled to have Curtis join us on AMSEcast to celebrate the remarkable life and innovations of one of America’s greatest minds. Show Highlights
    • (2:00) How George Washington Carve went from being born a slave to a professor by 30
    • (6:53) The state of agriculture in the South when Carver arrived at Tuskegee
    • (8:25) What led him to the peanut in the first place
    • (10:45) George Washington Carver’s innovations with the sweet potato
    • (15:51) His impact on agriculture in the South and nationwide
    • (17:12) What to expect at the George Washington Carver National Monument
    Links Referenced
    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeWashingtonCarverNM/
    • X: https://twitter.com/gwcarvernps
    • Website: https://www.nps.gov/gwca/index.htm
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    21 m
  • Engineering a Nation with Guru Madhavan

    Engineering a Nation with Guru Madhavan
    Apr 23 2025
    Alan speaks with Dr. Guru Madhavan at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC, as we continue our series marking 250 years of American innovation. Guru, a leader at the National Academy of Engineering, explores the Academy’s Civil War origins, its lasting role in advising the U.S. government, and its influence on everything from compass design to pandemic response. He discusses how innovation must balance bold ideas with long-term systems like sanitation and maintenance. Calling for a “deep time” perspective, Guru urges us to value resilience, inclusivity, and the often-unseen foundations that truly sustain progress. Guest Bio Dr. Guru Madhavan is the Norman Augustine Senior Scholar and Senior Director of Programs at the National Academy of Engineering. With a background in biomedical engineering (MS, PhD) and an MBA from the State University of New York, he previously led innovations in the medical device industry before turning his focus to national science and engineering policy. He is the acclaimed author of Applied Minds: How Engineers Think and Wicked Problems: How to Engineer a Better World. A valued member of AMSE’s National Advisory Committee, Guru was honored with the 2024 AMSE Foundation National Excellence Award for his outstanding contributions. Show Highlights
    • (1:54) An introduction to the National Academy of Sciences
    • (7:59) Lincoln’s impact on the sciences in the United States
    • (11:06) How Vannevar Bush’s principles from Science: The Endless Frontier are implemented
    • (19:30) The impact the arts are having on STEM
    • (20:13) How the National Academies have supported and encouraged innovation
    • (24:10) Guru’s list of most important American innovations
    • (30:23) The frameworks and institutions that have supported America’s innovations
    • (37:51) The United States and the ideology of innovation
    • (43:27) Using deep time to gain perspective on innovation
    Links Referenced
    • Applied Minds: How Engineers Think: https://www.amazon.com/Applied-Minds-how-Engineers-Think/dp/039335301X
    • Wicked Problems: How to Engineer a Better World: https://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Problems-Engineer-Better-World/dp/0393651460
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    52 m
  • The History of Spies with Andrew Hammond

    The History of Spies with Andrew Hammond
    Apr 16 2025
    AMSEcast celebrates 250 years of American innovation with Dr. Andrew Hammond, historian and curator at the International Spy Museum. Hammond explores the evolution of intelligence and espionage, from trial-and-error codebreaking by pioneers like the Friedmans to today’s cutting-edge technology. He highlights cryptographic breakthroughs, spy tools, and covert communication methods like one-time pads and suitcase radios. The conversation traces the U.S.’s rise as a global intelligence leader, fueled by Cold War innovation and British collaboration. Stories like the CIA’s Glomar Explorer mission illustrate the secrecy and complexity of spycraft. Hammond also hosts SpyCast, sharing these stories with a global audience. Guest Bio Dr. Andrew Hammond is the historian and curator at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC. He has held teaching positions and fellowships at esteemed institutions, including the British Library, the Library of Congress, and the 9/11 Memorial Museum. A veteran of the Royal Air Force with assignments to the British Army and Royal Navy, he brings deep expertise in intelligence and national security. Dr. Hammond is also a fellow at the Global National Security Institute and the author of the upcoming book Struggles for Freedom: Afghanistan and US Foreign Policy Since 1979. Show Highlights
    • (1:52) About the International Spy Museum
    • (5:01) How the U.S. has found information about adversaries in the past
    • (10:54) Tools that can be found in the museum
    • (14:03) The difference between a spy and an agent
    • (17:04) Popular examples of field weapons and how the museum documents them
    • (19:17) Sabotage tools developed in the U.S. and used by American spies
    • (25:53) How the Enigma machine helped crack German and Japanese codes in WWII
    • (29:05) How men and women are represented at the museum
    • (36:22) Spycraft innovations that have made it into public life
    • (43:31) SpyCast, the museum's official podcast
    Links Referenced
    • Struggles for Freedom: Afghanistan and US Foreign Policy Since 1979: https://www.amazon.com/Struggles-Freedom-Afghanistan-Foreign-Policy/dp/1474405460
    • SpyCast: https://www.spymuseum.org/podcast/
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    47 m
  • Inside the U.S. Mint with Don Bennett

    Inside the U.S. Mint with Don Bennett
    Apr 9 2025
    We continue to celebrate 250 years of American innovation with Don Bennett, Deputy Associate Director of the U.S. Mint’s Manufacturing Directorate. He joins Alan on this episode of AMSEcast to talk about the Mint’s history, operations, and cutting-edge advancements. With facilities in Philadelphia, Denver, West Point, and San Francisco, the Mint produces coins using robotics, high-speed presses, and laser die processing. Don discusses the importance of physical currency, the American Innovation Dollar Coin Program, and upcoming designs for the nation’s 250th anniversary. This episode is made possible with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Guest Bio Don Bennett is the Deputy Associate Director of the U.S. Mint’s Manufacturing Directorate, bringing over 30 years of experience in manufacturing, supply chain management, and process improvement. Before joining the Mint in 2008, he held key roles at Oasis Corporation and Pinnacle Data Systems. At the Mint, Don helps oversee coin production across multiple facilities, ensuring efficiency and innovation in minting processes. His expertise spans high-speed manufacturing, precision engineering, and operational strategy. Passionate about both the art and science of coin production, Don plays a vital role in shaping the future of U.S. currency while preserving its rich history. Show Highlights
    • (1:21) Where the U.S. Mint fits in the organization of the government and its components
    • (3:24) How the U.S. Mint relates to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
    • (3:40) How often new coins are created and old ones revised
    • (4:42) The major innovations in how the U.S. has produced coins over time
    • (6:21) The U.S. Mint’s American Innovation Dollar Program
    • (8:44) How the U.S. Mint is commemorating the 250th birthday of America
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    12 m
  • The Presidents and Science

    The Presidents and Science
    Apr 7 2025

    What you didn't know about the Presidents and the scientific process is on exhibit at AMSE.
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    4 m
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