00:00 This episode of "Throughline" explores the impact of Soul Train on black culture and why it mattered.

04:12 This episode explores the origins of Soul Train, how it started as a local dance show in Chicago and eventually gained a TV deal with the help of a sponsorship from Sears.

07:51 Soul Train was brought to life through syndication with the help of Johnson Products, which led to national success and the inclusion of ads in the episodes.

11:59 Don Cornelius successfully convinced TV stations around the country to air Soul Train, despite the challenges of targeting a minority audience, and by the end of its first year, Soul Train was in many markets nationwide, making Don one of the first black people to create their own national TV franchise in the US.

16:10 Soul Train had a joyful simplicity that focused on the people and the dancing, without trying to overcomplicate or add heavy messages to the show.

20:00 Don Cornelius turned the stroll, a slow and stiff dance, into the iconic and dynamic Soul Train line by borrowing its structure and making it more pleasing, with changes such as moving the people closer together and speeding up the music, and by not tying it to a single song, allowing dancers to showcase their skills and adapt to different types of music.

24:58 Don Cornelius's discomfort with dancing in the Soul Train line was a break from his cool persona, but it showed that he was just like everyone else, and over time, Soul Train struggled to keep up with the direction of black music and eventually lost its cultural force.

29:02 The lasting influence of Soul Train can be seen in the way that black people can break into dance in the midst of any gathering, demonstrating an unspoken understanding and connection to the spirit of the show.

32:52 The lasting legacy of Soul Train is the beauty in the spectacle of dance and music, and the uplifting power of black joy and black music that can be shared by all.