Honors Students Bring History into the Modern Era

On an early Thursday morning in the ground floor of the Melton Student Center, Honors students Victoria Ashley and Sofia Foradori carefully adjust their headphones and check their microphone levels in preparation to bring a little bit of history to the masses.

Ashley, a senior majoring in history and political science, and Foradori, a junior majoring in history and anthropology, co-host the WEGL radio show, “It’s All History To Me.”  Much as the name suggests, this history-focused morning show is a series of conversations with history professionals who are using their perspectives on the past to create meaningful change in the present day.

What started in the spring of 2023 as a attempt to revitalize the Auburn History Club is now a reputable talk show and podcast. Now in its fourth season, the show has become increasingly popular with students, faculty, family and fans across the nation and the world. 

“I have always hoped we are creating episodes that people enjoy listening to and that we are providing a platform for people to talk about histories that have not received as much discussion previously,” said Foradori.

Ashley and Foradori are no strangers to the world of history. Not only are they both history majors, but both are also co-presidents of the Auburn History Club, which aims to provide a community for the university’s history majors, minors and lovers.

“I think my interest in history is a passion that has grown as I have. At first, I rather begrudgingly visited the historic sites my parents took my siblings and me to on the weekends in the different places we lived. However, as I got older, I started to see more value in historic places my family visited. That interest naturally grew into a passion for history that I first tapped into in high school. That passion eventually motivated me to double major in history (and political science) here at Auburn,” said Ashley.

Styled as a talk show, “It’s All History To Me” has interviewed a variety of campus leaders, including our very own Honors Director Dr. Laura Stevens. Additionally, Ashley and Foradori have had conversations with Auburn legend Ms. Susan Nunnelly, the History Department Chair Dr. Melissa Blair, Dr. Mark Wilson of Pebble Hill, Dr. Randi Evans of the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art and representatives from the Museum of East Alabama, Equal Justice Initiative and the Sequoia Birthplace Museum.

During each show, Ashley and Foradori have an hour-long conversation with participants that includes questions about why they are passionate about history, and how their organizational ties fit into the radio show’s seasonal theme. A trivia round robin – a favorite segment for the co-host and fans -- always closes the show.

This season, the show airs on Thursday mornings at 8 am (CST) on 91.1 WEGL and is available afterward as a podcast wherever podcasts are distributed.

For museum professionals, history professors, public servants, and amateur enthusiasts in many walks of life, “It’s All History To Me” stands as a way to understand how the people who harness the power of history are ensuring the future is bright, thanks in part to two incredibly bright Honors students.