Outrage Overload

A Connors Institute podcast

Outrage on the Mic, Part 2: Outrage Has Always Been With Us

Aired Jul 9, 2025

Part of our special three-part series: Outrage on the Mic

In this second installment, we explore how public outrage is far from a modern invention.

Host David Beckemeyer sits down with Ernest Granson, creator of the Outrageous History! podcast, to trace the long arc of human outrage—from the French Revolution to World War I, the Spanish-American War, and beyond.

You’ll hear how newspapers, pamphlets, political cartoons, and even semaphore systems acted as the “social media” of their day—amplifying passions, polarizing societies, and sometimes pushing the public toward violence and division.

This episode offers a vivid reminder: while our technologies may be new, our emotional responses—and the way they get manipulated—are as old as civilization itself.

Whether you’re a history buff, a media skeptic, or someone trying to make sense of today’s chaotic climate, this conversation offers a fascinating—and sometimes sobering—look at how outrage has shaped the past and continues to shape our present.

Ernest Granson is a journalist, writer, editor, and reporter with a deep passion for uncovering the stories that shape our world. As founder of Northern Flicker Media and creator of the Outrageous History! podcast, he explores the surprising and often scandalous moments of the past.

About the Series: Outrage on the Mic

Throughout July, Outrage Overload is teaming up with fellow podcasters to examine outrage from multiple perspectives—comedy, history, and media critique.