Making Things Explode

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.

Credits

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

Resource List

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.