Episodes

  • Q&A: Peniel Joseph, "Freedom Season"

    Q&A: Peniel Joseph, "Freedom Season"
    Jun 23 2025
    University of Texas at Austin history professor Peniel Joseph, author of "Freedom Season," talks about the pivotal events of 1963 that impacted the Civil Rights Movement in America. That year, which marked the centenary of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, also saw the assassinations of President Kennedy and Mississippi civil rights activist Medgar Evers, the publication of James Baldwin's bestseller "The Fire Next Time," and the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, which killed 4 little girls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Mark Bauerlein, The Dumbest Generation Grows Up: From Stupefied Youth to Dangerous Adults

    Mark Bauerlein, The Dumbest Generation Grows Up: From Stupefied Youth to Dangerous Adults
    Jun 22 2025
    Emory University professor Mark Bauerlein argues that the lack of general civics knowledge by Millennials poses a threat to America's political and social institutions. He was interviewed by the Federalist's culture editor Emily Jashinksy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • BN+: Claire Hoffman, "Sister, Sinner"

    BN+: Claire Hoffman, "Sister, Sinner"
    Jun 17 2025
    It's a story from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. The book by Claire Hoffman is called "Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple MacPherson." FSG, the publisher, further emphasizes that the story is "the dramatic rise, disappearance, and near fall of a woman called Sister Amy who changed the world." Author Claire Hoffman, who has a master's in religion from the University of Chicago, says Aimee Semple MacPherson may not be known to many today, but she was a global star at the inception of global media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • Q&A: Mark Whitaker, "The Afterlife of Malcolm X"

    Q&A: Mark Whitaker, "The Afterlife of Malcolm X"
    Jun 16 2025
    Former Newsweek editor and managing editor of CNN Worldwide, Mark Whitaker, discusses the life and legacy of the Black nationalist leader Malcolm X, who was assassinated in 1965. Mr. Whitaker, author of "The Afterlife of Malcolm X," talks about Malcolm X's split with the Nation of Islam, his relationship with Martin Luther King Jr. and Muhammad Ali, and his posthumous impact on Barack Obama, Clarence Thomas, and others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • AW: Teresa Ghilarducci, "Work, Retire, Repeat - The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy"

    AW: Teresa Ghilarducci, "Work, Retire, Repeat - The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy"
    Jun 15 2025
    New School economic professor Teresa Ghilarducci offered her thoughts on how to make retirement in the U.S. attainable for more Americans. She was interviewed by Washington Post economics correspondent Abha Bhattarai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    59 mins
  • BN+: Kathryn Olmsted, "Red Spy Queen"

    BN+: Kathryn Olmsted, "Red Spy Queen"
    Jun 10 2025
    In several recent episodes of the podcast, we have featured books about the World War II era. An important figure from that time has been mentioned but not discussed during any of those interviews. Her name is Elizabeth Bentley. She was the first person to reveal, to the FBI and the Congress, the names of people living in the United States and spying for the Soviets, both Americans and foreign-born operatives. To better understand this former communist spy turned informant, we asked Kathryn Olmsted, author of "Red Spy Queen," a biography of Elizabeth Bentley, to tell us the late spy's story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Q&A: Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK Co-Founder

    Q&A: Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK Co-Founder
    Jun 9 2025
    Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the pro-peace, feminist grassroots organization CODEPINK, talks about her life as an activist and CODEPINK's current campaigns focusing on Gaza, Ukraine, Iran, and Latin America. She also talks about the nonviolent, disruptive actions taken by CODEPINK at congressional hearings and elsewhere to bring attention to their causes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • AW: Stephanie Land, "Maid"

    AW: Stephanie Land, "Maid"
    Jun 8 2025
    Stephanie Land discusses her path from working as a maid to earning a journalism degree and later writing about the working poor. She was interviewed by Rachel Schneider, co-author of "The Financial Diaries." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 5 mins