The Road to Now

A decade after Ken Burns decided it was time to take on the American Revolution, the film is finished and premieres on your local PBS station on Sunday, November 16! In this episode, we talk with Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, who directed the six-part series alongside Burns, to find out more about the stories and process that they used to construct this remarkable look at one of history's most fascinating and consequential events. Click here to find out more about The American Revolution: A Film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein & David Schmidt at PBS.com and make sure to tune in for the premiere on Sunday, November 16! This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.

Wakara was a Ute leader whose power stretched across western North America long before the US claimed the land on which he lived. In this episode, Max Perry Mueller joins us to discuss his new book, Wakara's America: The Life & Legacy of a Native Founder of the American West, and how a story of the west that excludes Native peoples leaves us with an incomplete and often dishonest account of US history. Dr. Max Perry Mueller is Associate Professor in the Department of Classics and Religious Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. You can find out more about Max and his work at his website, MaxPerryMueller.com. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

America's bookstores have always been about more than just books, but the role they play in American society has changed over the years. In this episode, Evan Friss joins us for a conversation about his New York Times Bestseller, The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore (Viking, 2023), and the unique place that bookstores – and those who operate them – have held in American society from the colonial era to our own. Dr. Evan Friss is Professor of History at James Madison University and the author of multiple books, including On Bicycles: A 200 Year History of Cycling in New York City (Columbia University Press, 2019). You can find out more about his work at his website, EvanFriss.com. A special thanks to our friend, Dane Honeycutt, for recommending that we invite Evan on the show to discuss The Bookshop. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.

National Constitution Center President & CEO Jeffrey Rosen returns to the show to discuss his new book The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America, and the ways that the contrasting visions of the founders live on in our political debates today. Make sure to check out the National Constitution Center's website for links to the Interactive Constitution and the many excellent resources they offer for free. If you enjoyed this episode, you can hear more from Jeffery Rosen in episode 295 (The Pursuit of Happiness) and episode 211 (The Constitution). This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.

Andy Polk, a history professor at Middle Tennessee State University, teams up with high school teacher Brandon Eldridge and sixth-grade educator Rupa Charles for a lively discussion. They explore how teaching history varies by age group, emphasizing the importance of context and critical thinking. The trio addresses modern challenges like misinformation and misconceptions about educators, while sharing heartfelt teaching moments that light up the classroom. They conclude with valuable advice for parents and new teachers on fostering a constructive learning environment.

The War on Terror that followed the 9/11 attacks took place on battlefields across the globe, but it also took place in our legal system. In this episode, CNN's Jake Tapper joins us to discuss his new book, Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War, and how dedicated public servants saved countless lives by bringing a terrorist to justice. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.

The American Civil War and the end of slavery in the US may seem like one and the same from our modern perspective, but for those living through the conflict, the abolition of human bondage was anything but certain. Even into the last days of the war, slave traders in Confederate-held cities continued to auction off human beings, realizing handsome profits as they imposed violence and family separation on their subjects. In his new book, An Unholy Traffic: Slave Trading in the Civil War South, Robert K.D. Colby brings together a wide variety of sources to offer up a never-before seen look into the slave trade during the American Civil War. In this episode, he joins Ben and guest co-host Tim Talbott to explain how the slave trade evolved, why slave traders remained confident in the future of slavery even during the Civil War, and how the combined trauma of slavery and war impacted enslaved Americans long after their freedom had been secured. Robert K.D. Colby is Assistant Professor of History at Ole Miss who specializes in the Civil War and the history of slavery. His newest book, An Unholy Traffic was published by Oxford University Press in April 2024 and is available in both print and audiobook. Tim Talbott is the Chief Administrative Officer for the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust in Fredericksburg, Virginia and founding member and President of the Battle of New Market Heights Memorial and Education Association. Tim holds a MA in Public History from Appalachian State University, where Ben had the great fortune to study alongside him. Relevant Links: · The Smithsonian Digital Volunteers Transcription Center website · RTN Episode 270: Women & American Slavery w/ Stephanie E. Jones Rogers · RTN Episode 117: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism w/ Edward Baptist This is a rebroadcast of RTN #308, which originally aired on June 17, 2024. Edited by Ben Sawyer.

Guerilla violence in the American Civil War was once considered a fringe topic of study, but the scale of the violence and its impact on society had a tremendous impact on the US during and after the conflict. In this episode, we speak with historian Andrew Fialka and illustrator Anderson Carmen about their new book, Hope Never to See It: A Graphic History of Guerilla Violence during the American Civil War (University of Georgia Press), how new approaches to the Civil War allow us to reimagine one of the most consequential moments in American history. Andrew Fialka is Associate Professor of History at Middle Tennessee State University. Anderson Carman is an Atlanta-based illustrator. You can see his illustrations from Hope Never to See It and other projects by following him on Instagram at @andersoncarman and subscribing to his Substack, Drawing Conclusions. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.

Chinese immigrants helped establish America's foothold on the western coast, yet few of us know what life looked like for those Chinese people who came to live in the US. In this episode, Beth Lew-Williams joins us to discuss her new book, John Doe Chinaman: A Forgotten History of Chinese Life Under American Racial Law, which blends extensive archival research with new technologies to illuminate stories that have long been buried in our history. Beth Lew-Williams is Professor of History at Princeton University and a recipient of the 2025 Dan David Prize. If you enjoy this episode make sure to check out our conversations with previous Dan David Prize winners: Women and American Slavery w/ Stephanie E. Jones Rogers (#270) and The Archaeology of Dust w/ Anita Radini (#269). This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.

Washington Post Global Economics Correspondent David J. Lynch joins Ben & Bob for a discussion about his new book The World's Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong (and What Would Make it Right) (Public Affairs, 2025). David has a unique perspective on globalization; first as a journalist who has spent the last four decades covering the global economy for some of America's most influential media outlets, and now as an analyst of how the optimism of the 1990s turned to the pessimism of today. If you enjoy this episode, make sure to check our conversation with Joe Lockhart in episode #344. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.