From Oil Fields to Asylums: How Two Pennsylvania Women Changed Journalism Forever

In this special Women’s History Month episode of Start Here, America Did, we uncover the fearless legacies of two Pennsylvania trailblazers who revolutionized investigative journalism: Ida Tarbell and Nellie Bly. From exposing the corrupt practices of Standard Oil to going undercover in a mental asylum to reveal inhumane treatment, Tarbell and Bly reshaped the role of the journalist and challenged the systems of their time. Hear from Jennifer Burden of the Oil Region Alliance, who shares how Ida Tarbell’s upbringing in Pennsylvania’s oil country fueled her fearless reporting, and from Alan Morgan and Bill Miller of the Apollo Area Historical Society, who reflect on Nellie Bly’s courage and relentless pursuit of truth. These women didn't just write stories—they changed them. Listen now!