Touring History 6-24-25

Touring History Podcast Script - June 24th, 2025

Opening

LANE: Welcome back to Touring History, the podcast where we prove that any random date contains enough constitutional upheaval to power a Supreme Court documentary. I'm Lane—

DAVE: And I'm Dave, and this is our third episode of Touring History "X, Y, and Z"—our shorter format designed to entertain and educate across the three largest generations.

LANE: Three days in, and this format is really clicking. We're focusing on the events that shaped how each generation sees the world, rather than just listing everything that happened.

DAVE: Think of it as historical pattern recognition with better snacks. And before we dive into a day that gave us everything from space exploration breakthroughs to reproductive rights controversies to social media justice movements, we need to talk about Ike's Love & Sandwiches.

LANE: Are we really segueing from constitutional law to sandwich architecture?

DAVE: Lane, when you're about to discuss Sally Ride, the Dobbs decision, and the power of viral activism all in one episode, you need sustenance that understands complexity. Ike's Love & Sandwiches doesn't just make sandwiches—they engineer edible experiences.

LANE: Since 2007, they've been proving that creativity scales. Over 600 sandwich combinations, each one named after someone who matters—from "The Tony Soprano" to "The Menage a Trois."

DAVE: Check them out at ikessandwich.com, because when history gets this consequential, you deserve food that's equally intentional.

LANE: And today's history is definitely consequential. June 24th—the day America sent its first woman into space, overturned constitutional precedent, and showed how social media can drive real-world change. Three moments about breaking barriers, changing rules, and organizing resistance.

Birthdays

DAVE: Let's start with birthdays, because June 24th is basically a creativity showcase. Lionel Messi turns 38 today—arguably the greatest soccer player ever and proof that artistic genius can exist in any medium.

LANE: Plus we've got Mindy Kaling at 46, who went from "The Office" writer to creating her own shows and proving that representation in comedy isn't just nice to have—it's essential.

DAVE: Mick Fleetwood's 78—the drummer who held Fleetwood Mac together through enough interpersonal drama to fuel several reality shows.

LANE: Carly Simon at 81, who gave us "You're So Vain" and made speculation about song subjects into a decades-long cultural mystery.

DAVE: And Solange Knowles at 39, creating art that's both deeply personal and politically powerful, often in ways that complement and challenge her sister's work.

LANE: Plus some TikTok and YouTube creators like Nick Bencivengo and Brooke Morton, proving that creative platforms keep evolving even when the talent pool stays consistently impressive.

1983 - Sally Ride Returns from Space

DAVE: June 24th, 1983, Sally Ride returns to Earth after becoming the first American woman in space, and this is peak Gen X representation right here.

LANE: Oh, here we go. Dave's connecting space exploration to generational identity again.

DAVE: No, seriously! Sally Ride became the symbol of Gen X possibility—she was 32 years old, had a physics PhD, and literally broke the ultimate glass ceiling by leaving Earth's atmosphere.

LANE: And the media coverage was... something. "Do you weep when things go wrong on the job?" "Will the flight affect your reproductive organs?" Questions that no male astronaut ever got asked.

DAVE: Right! But Gen X kids watching this saw someone who just handled the sexism with competence and humor. She didn't waste energy fighting stupid questions—she just did the job better than anyone expected.

LANE: That became the Gen X template for dealing with institutional barriers—don't argue with the system, just outperform it so thoroughly that the barriers become irrelevant.

DAVE: Exactly! Sally Ride showed Gen X that you could break into exclusive spaces not by demanding inclusion, but by being so obviously qualified that exclusion became absurd.

LANE: And she did it with this matter-of-fact attitude that really resonated. No drama, no speeches about making history—just "Yeah, I'm going to space, and yes, I'm qualified."

DAVE: What's fascinating is how this shaped Gen X women specifically. They grew up assuming that competence plus persistence could overcome almost any barrier.

LANE: Although let's be honest—Sally Ride dealt with way more scrutiny and pressure than her male collea