Throughout history, there has been continual negotiation over who gets to access fireworks. Control over them has swung like a pendulum between ordinary people and institutions of power—like monarchies, the church, and the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives). And this ongoing tension begs the same question as the myth of Prometheus: who should really be in control of the fire? Join us as we explore the history of our fascination with making things explode and go behind the scenes with both professional and amateurs from the Western Pyrotechnic Association.

Host: Alexis Pedrick
Executive Producer: Mariel Carr
Senior Producer: Rigoberto Hernandez
Sound Design: Seth Samuel
Fact-Checking: Alexandra Atiya
Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Chaldu, Michael. From morning to night, Santa Ynez Valley celebrates nation's 250th birthday. Santa Ynez Valley Star. August 7, 2026

Dig Deeper: Fireworks and Pyrotechnics. Flash! Bang! Boom! Resource Guide

Flash! Bang! Boom! A History of Fireworks

National Fireworks Association: Tariff Updates

Seven people missing after explosion at fireworks facility. NBC News.

Tauszik, Brandon. Chasing the Light. Distillations. June 30, 2023.

Waters, Michael. The 1900s Movement to Make the Fourth of July Boring (but Safe). Smithsonian Magazine. July 2, 2019.

Western Pyrotechnic Association

Withington, John. A History of Fireworks. The University of Chicago Press. 2024.

Jayson Porter has written for Distillations magazine on topics ranging from mules and sesame seeds, to arsenic and porgy fish. At first, these things might sound kind of random, but they share a common thread. Together they reveal hidden stories about the black experience in Mexico and the United States. Join us for a conversation with Jayson about using the traces left by everyday objects to examine histories that weren't always written down.

This episode was filmed in our studio, and you can watch it on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ScienceHistoryInstitute.

Host: Alexis Pedrick
Executive Producer: Mariel Carr
Senior Producer: Rigoberto Hernandez
Sound Design: Seth Samuel
Fact-Checking: Alexandra Atiya
Music by Blue Dot Sessions

Porter, Jayson. Rings of Fire, Distillations magazine. February 1, 2024.

Porter, Jayson. Mule Power, Distillations magazine. October 16, 2025.

Porter, Jayson. Sesame Plots, Distillations magazine. April 17, 2025

Come celebrate our newest Distillations podcast season, American Vice. From cigarettes to alcohol to fireworks, this season is all about our relationship with risk, how science plays a role in it, and how it has shaped the American experience.

To do it, we're partnering with our friends at the Crossroads Comedy Theater to bring you a special edition of their popular Study Hall: Comedy Inspired By Lectures show. Join us for an experience unlike any you have seen before—or will ever see again!

Enjoy short talks about topics from our podcast episodes, after which Crossroads' cast of amazing improvisers will use what they learned (or didn't learn) to create hilarious scenes right before your eyes!

You'll learn, laugh, and leave without homework.

The museum will stay open until 6pm, at which time the show will begin. The event is free, but registration is required. Light refreshments will be served.