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Uncovering American heritage one artifact at a time

WLRN Public Media | By Mia Laurenzo
Published April 14, 2018 at 10:02 PM EDT

8pm HISTORY DETECTIVES - History/Mystery - Researchers identify and/or authenticate items which may have historical significance.

History Detectives explores the stories behind historic sites, artifacts and tall tales told in cities across the country, with the help of an inquisitive team of fact-finders with an uncanny talent for uncovering the truth.A hero in Hawaii, Civil War Cannon and Stuntman Pioneer - Mysterious airplane engine parts lead to a heroic story on a forbidden Hawaiian island; metal shavings are matched to the right Civil War cannon;  and a rodeo saddle connects to a star that changed Hollywood movie-making. 9pm FINDING YOUR ROOTS - Educator Henry Louis Gates Jr. examines U.S. history and continues his quest to "get into the DNA of American culture."  

In each episode, celebrities view ancestral histories, sometimes learn of connections to famous/infamous people, discover secrets, and share the emotional experience with viewers. Analyzing genetic code, DNA diagnosticians trace bloodlines and occasionally debunk long-held beliefs.

SOUTHERN ROOTS - Questlove learns the name of his original African ancestors, Dr. Phil discovers his ancestors understood servitude from both sides and Charlayne Hunter-Gault learns the truth behind a family rumor that her maternal grandmother was the product of an affair between a white man and the young black servant 

Copyright 2018 WLRN 91.3 FM
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Mia Laurenzo
Mia Laurenzo is a 30-year veteran of public television in Miami. She began her career learning every aspect of video production. Currently she is a writer, producer, on-air host and promotions coordinator for TV, radio and the web. Her experiences include producing for a series, special events and historical documentaries. As a native Floridian, she is a perfect fit for South Florida's Storyteller Station, WLRN. She has produced award winning, nationally distributed documentaries like Journey to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade where one year she followed a high school band and a clown as they prepared for the big day and the next year, she had the privilege of being a clown herself. Previously, she produced Weird Florida: On the Road Again, a sequel to the highly successful show Weird Florida: Roads Less Traveled, where the cast and crew travel over 1,500 miles searching the Sunshine State’s weirdest and wackiest places. On a more serious note and what she considers to be her most important work, she produced Out of Darkness, Into Light, a documentary on child sexual abuse,which delved into the lives of three adult survivors, a show in which she was awarded her first of two Emmys.
See stories by Mia Laurenzo