The Ground Below
Shane explores the history and science of cotton. A prehistoric coastline from North Carolina to Texas laid the foundation for a crop that re-shaped our history, our culture, and even our DNA.
Previews + Extras
Episode 6 Preview
S1 E6 - 30s
Shane explores the history and science of cotton. A prehistoric coastline from North Carolina to Texas laid the foundation for a crop that re-shaped our history, our culture, and even our DNA.
How Geology Influenced Cotton Production
S1 E6 - 3m 1s
Meet Craig McClain, the selfie-master turned biological oceanographer. While he studies tiny creatures in the ocean, he's also unraveling the secrets hidden within the rock formations. Join us as we delve into the past to understand the incredible ripple effect behind each layer of time.
Why the Boll Weevil is this Alabama Town's Mascot
S1 E6 - 2m 36s
Over an ice cream with Historian Laponce Harrison, Shane learns the boll weevil’s history – and how this insect became an icon in the town of Enterprise, Alabama.
Meet the 'Puff Daddy' of Cotton
S1 E6 - 2m 28s
Shane’s journey begins in North Carolina, where Julius Tillery – a.k.a. “The Puff Daddy of Cotton” – is a 5th-generation Black cotton farmer. Julius and Shane dig into the rich soils that underlie the “Black Belt,” a broad swath of the South that formed the heart of the U.S. cotton industry.
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