Jason Knapp, a history teacher at Wadsworth High School, started recording a podcast this past summer, titled “What’s In My History Box?” The podcast is an in-depth look at different aspects of history, covering topics from American, European, and ancient history, all classes that Knapp teaches at Wadsworth High School.
“I have been wanting to do a podcast for a long time because I like podcasts,” Knapp said. “I listen to them all the time. I listen to them on the way to work, vacation, exercising, all of that kind of stuff.”
During the summer, Knapp researched the equipment needed for the podcast and how to record episodes and upload them for people to listen to.
“I am in my closet because of all the clothes,” Knapp said. “They say it helps with the sound.”
During Knapp’s classes, he occasionally uses a mystery box with a secret item inside that he reveals at the end of the class period. He uses the item to connect back to the lesson, as the item pertains to what the students had learned during Knapp’s lectures. He uses the same method during his podcast episodes.
“I start the podcast with a story,” Knapp said. “Then I tell the history of the story, and then at the end, I open up the box and bring out the artifact and then explain the artifact too. You could skip ahead but you do not want to cheat it.”
The latest episode of “What’s In My History Box?” is “Athens Unbound,” which explores the rise of ancient Athens and the legacy the civilization left in democracy, philosophy, and art.
“What is great about this [podcast] is that it could never end,” Knapp said. “The topics are just endless.”
Knapp introduced his new podcast to his students at the beginning of the school year, telling them about the new endeavor he took up during the previous summer.
“I think the podcast is unique,” said Garrett Preusser, a senior at Wadsworth High School and a listener of Knapp’s podcast. “I think the podcast is entertaining. A lot of people might think history is a boring topic, but Mr. Knapp puts a spin on it that makes it more entertaining.”
Knapp’s first official episode of his podcast is “Carthage Must Be Destroyed,” which covers the battles, strategies, and political attacks of three Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage.
“Originally when I was going into the podcast, I had no idea what I was going to expect, and I had high expectations, and those high expectations were met,” Preusser said.
The style of teaching Knapp takes is the lecture style, teaching the material of the day to his students as they take notes, while also asking his students questions about the material to make them think through the content.
“[The podcast] is the same level of passion and thought that Mr. Knapp puts into his class lessons,” Preusser said. “He really makes the effort to immerse you in the experience, and he really does make an effort to actually convey the correct information without any sort of bias.”
“What’s In My History Box?” is currently available to stream on Spotify.