This episode of "Stuff You Should Know" explores the history of telephone switchboards in the United States. The hosts discuss the invention of the telephone, the subsequent need for switchboards to connect calls, and the evolution of switchboard technology, including the roles of switchboard operators (mostly women). They detail the challenges of scaling the system, the eventual shift to automated systems, and the surprising longevity of human operators in some areas, even into the 1990s. A key takeaway is the significant role women played as switchboard operators, facing both exploitation and eventual unionization. The podcast provides a fascinating look at a now-obsolete technology and its impact on society.
