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Stop Judging People. Go Meet Them. | Peter Santenello

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Aug 8, 2026

Guest

Peter Santenello

Peter Santenello, independent journalist and filmmaker who has traveled to 85+ countries, shares stories from his cross‑country reporting. He talks about how road trips reveal America’s variety. He explains why labels and politics miss local complexity. He describes meeting people who challenge stereotypes and how living abroad changed his view of the U.S.

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insights

INSIGHT

People Are People Across Regions

People are people even across vast regional differences.
Peter Santenello argues accents, politics, and lifestyles vary but basic humanness remains when you actually meet someone.

insights

INSIGHT

Your Bubble Distorts The Country

Bubbles shape our view of the country and obscure realities outside them.
Peter says everyone lives in a bubble, and getting into other bubbles reveals vastly different experiences.

insights

INSIGHT

Return Trips Reveal Hidden Layers

Repeated visits deepen understanding more than skimming many places.
Ryan and Peter compare re-reading books to revisiting cities like Rome or Istanbul to discover newly opened layers.

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Road Trips Reveal America's Variety

06:17 • 48sec

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Why Labels Fail to Capture Places

07:05 • 2min

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Meeting People Erodes Stereotypes

08:44 • 2min

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Seeing America Through Foreign Eyes

10:52 • 2min

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Politics Don't Define Everyday Life

12:23 • 3min

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Out-of-the-Way Communities Persist

14:56 • 2min

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Cultural Islands and Historical Echoes

16:41 • 2min

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Migration and the Pioneer Myth

Traveling vs Rereading

23:41 • 1min

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Depth vs Breadth in Travel

24:58 • 2min

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Tradeoffs: Travel, Work, Family

26:42 • 5min

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International Perspective Clarifies America

31:54 • 38sec

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How Peter Crafts His Videos

32:32 • 1min

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Common Ground in Local Problems

33:41 • 5min

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Meeting the Amish: Different Realities

38:26 • 5min

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Regional Contrasts and Migration Choices

Space, Housing, and Opportunity

48:48 • 6min

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Company Towns and Seasonal Work

54:21 • 5min

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Introducing Your Fellow Americans

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Life on the Mississippi

Mark Twain

In 'Life on the Mississippi,' Mark Twain combines autobiography, travel writing, and historical reflection centered on the Mississippi River and his experiences as a young steamboat pilot. The book captures the river's changing landscape, its economic and cultural significance, and Twain's characteristic wit and social commentary. He examines the river's role in American expansion and the transformation of river towns over time. The narrative alternates between nostalgic reminiscence and sober historical analysis, offering readers both entertainment and insight. Twain's vivid storytelling and observational skill make the book an enduring classic of American literature and travel writing.

#80401

Ghost Rider

Neil Peart

Neil Peart's 'Ghost Rider' is a poignant memoir detailing his motorcycle journey across North America after the deaths of his daughter and wife. Combining travelogue and introspection, Peart describes the healing power of movement, solitude, and the open road. The book delves into grief, recovery, and the practicalities and philosophy of long-distance motorcycling. Peart's reflective prose and lyrical sensibility provide emotional clarity while documenting a physical odyssey. The work resonates with readers interested in memoir, travel, and the transformative potential of solitary journeys.

#12437

• Mentioned in 6 episodes

Nomadland

Bruder jessica / peronny nathalie

Jessica Bruder

Harper Audio

In 'Nomadland', Jessica Bruder delves into the lives of older Americans who, unable to afford traditional housing, have taken to living in vehicles and traveling for seasonal work. The book highlights the resilience and creativity of these individuals while exposing the darker aspects of the American economy. It follows characters like Linda May, who navigates this lifestyle with hope and determination.

#1468

• Mentioned in 38 episodes

How to Hide an Empire

A History of the Greater United States

Daniel Immerwahr

María Luisa Rodriguez Tapia

This book delves into the history of the United States' expansion beyond its contiguous territories, including its governance of islands, atolls, and archipelagos. It explores how the U.S. transitioned from colonialism to a new form of influence leveraging technology, culture, and military presence. The book covers topics such as the U.S. occupation of the Philippines, the role of English as a global language, and the impact of U.S. bases worldwide. Immerwahr argues that American empire-building began early and continued through various means, often without significant territorial expansion.

#333

• Mentioned in 114 episodes

Wisdom Takes Work

Ryan Holiday

#21423

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Your Fellow Americans

Dispatches from Across the Country We Call Home

Peter Santenello

In 'Your Fellow Americans,' Peter Santenello compiles narratives drawn from his documentary-style travels across the United States, aiming to show the country's cultural diversity beyond media headlines. The book mixes stories featured on his YouTube channel with new, behind-the-scenes content that highlights resilient communities, local entrepreneurs, and unique American subcultures. Santenello frames the work as a pro-USA perspective intended to remind readers of the country's strengths while honestly addressing problems like drugs and corruption. He emphasizes authentic human interaction and curiosity, presenting profiles that foster empathy and reduce polarization. The book is positioned as a counterbalance to negative media narratives, celebrating the variety and opportunities within the United States.

#2780

• Mentioned in 23 episodes

The Warmth of Other Suns

The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

Isabel Wilkerson

In 'The Warmth of Other Suns', Isabel Wilkerson provides a detailed historical account of the Great Migration, a movement of approximately six million African Americans from the Southern United States to the Midwest, Northeast, and West between 1915 and 1970. The book follows the lives of three primary subjects: Ida Mae Gladney, George Starling, and Robert Foster, illustrating the broader historical context of the migration. Wilkerson examines the social, economic, and political factors that drove this migration, including economic opportunities in Northern industrial cities, escape from Jim Crow laws and racial violence in the South, and the impact of World War I and II on labor demands. The book is notable for its blend of historical analysis and narrative storytelling, making complex historical events accessible through the personal and societal perspectives of those who lived through the Great Migration.

#33998

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Spying on the South

Tony Horwitz

In this book, Tony Horwitz follows the footsteps of Frederick Law Olmsted, who traveled through the South in the 1850s as an undercover correspondent for the precursor to the New York Times. Horwitz contrasts Olmsted's findings with the contemporary South, exploring themes of racial suppression, civil war, and the complexities of the region. The book is a blend of history, travelogue, and social commentary, highlighting the enduring issues and changes in the American South over time.

It is easy to judge people from a distance. It is much harder to reduce them to a stereotype once you have sat with them, listened to their story, and tried to understand how they see the world. In this episode, Ryan talks with filmmaker, traveler, and author Peter Santenello about what he has learned from meeting people across America. They discuss how our bubbles distort the way we see others and why curiosity is more useful than judgment. Peter also explains how traveling to 85 countries changed the way he sees the United States, why America is more hopeful than the headlines suggest, and what happens when we stop talking about people and start talking to them.

Peter Santenello is an independent journalist and filmmaker with over four million subscribers on YouTube. He’s traveled to eighty-five countries and lived in five, building a global audience by letting people tell their stories in their own words. These days, Peter’s lens is focused squarely on the United States, where he explores the diverse, complex, and often misrepresented communities that make up the fabric of America.

📕 Pick up a signed copy of Your Fellow Americans: Dispatches from Across the Country We Call Home by Peter Santenello at The Painted Porch: https://www.thepaintedporch.com/

Check out Peter’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PeterSantenello

Follow Peter on Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/petersantenello/?hl=en

Peter’s Website | https://petersantenello.com/

📚 Pick up a copy of the books Ryan recommended to Peter at The Painted Porch: https://www.thepaintedporch.com/

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