Reagan: The Movie Star President Who Shaped an Era | The Kids History Podcast Inspired by Billy Joel

Roll out the red carpet, because in this episode, we are looking at a U.S. President who started out in Hollywood! In this installment of our We Didn't Start the Fire series, we unpack the lyric "Ronald Reagan" and explore how a movie actor and sports broadcaster became one of the most influential Presidents of the 20th century. We’ll travel back to the 1980s to see how his famous "Great Communicator" nickname helped him connect with people, learn why he loved keeping jars of jelly beans in the Oval Office, and explore how he faced off in the Cold War, famously telling another world leader to "tear down this wall!" Tune in to find out how this optimistic leader went from the silver screen to the White House, leaving a massive mark on American history. Send us Fan Mail About History Ignited: History Ignited is the award-winning kids and family history podcast inspired by Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire. Each short episode explores the real stories behind the people, events, inventions, and cultural moments that shaped the world from the 1950s through the 1980s. Winner of the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast.