RTN Theology #11 The Character of Virtue w/ Stanley Hauerwas
Release Date: 07/29/2019
The Civilian Conservation Corps w/ Neil Maher
The Road to Now
Between 1933 and 1942, the Civilian Conservation Corps enlisted more than three million young men in a project that planted two billion trees, slowed soil erosion on forty million acres of farmland, and enjoyed support across political and geographic divides. In this episode we talk with Neil Maher, author of about how the CCC helped solidify FDR’s New Deal and spread the seeds of environmental activism for generations to come. is a Professor of History and Master Teacher in the Federated History Department at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University-Newark. He is...
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Mitch McConnell: The Price of Power w/ Michael Tackett
The Road to Now
Journalist joins Ben & Bob to discuss his book (Simon & Schuster, 2024). Tackett, who wrote the biography with McConnell’s consent, was granted unprecedented access to McConnell’s vast personal archives, his staff, and even the Senator himself, who sat for about 50 hours of interviews. If you’ve ever wondered how Mitch McConnell rose to power, how he's stayed there despite challenges from both parties, or what makes the man tick, this conversation has the answers. Michael Tackett covers . His work has earned him multiple awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and the Edgar...
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Citizen Coke: The History of Coca-Cola w/ Bartow Elmore
The Road to Now
Coca-Cola is one of the most well-known products on planet earth, but did you ever wonder how a brown fizzy drink fueled the rise of a corporate juggernaut? The answer, says Ohio State historian Bartow Elmore, has everything to do with its business structure. In this episode, Bart offers his take on how Coke went from Atlanta soda parlors in the late 19th century to markets across the globe in less than a century, all along reaping tremendous benefits from public infrastructure while passing the bulk of its environmental costs on to others. Bart also talks about the difficulties of doing...
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The Declaration of Independence
The Road to Now
On July 2nd, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted a resolution stating that “that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states.” Two days later, on July 4, they adopted the Declaration of Independence, read here for you by (in order of appearance): Bob Crawford, The Road to Now Lindsay Graham, History Daily Greg Jackson, History That Doesn’t Suck Lindsey Cormack, Government That Doesn’t Suck Ben Sawyer, The Road to Now Colleen Shogan, In Pursuit With final commentary by Lindsay Graham.
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Benjamin Franklin w/ Dayton Duncan and David Schmidt
The Road to Now
This week, as we approach the 250th anniversary of American independence, we shine a light on one of the founding generation’s greats: Benjamin Franklin It’s difficult to fathom how Franklin accomplished so much in a single lifetime. It’s equally difficult to imagine how to take such an incredible life and consolidate it into four hours of documentary film. In this episode, we cover both feats with writer Dayton Duncan and producer David Schmidt, two of the great minds behind Ken Burns’ documentary on Benjamin Franklin. Dayton and David discuss Franklin’s life, the work that...
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#372 Obstinate Daughters: Women in the American Revolution w/ Denise Kiernan
The Road to Now
The American Revolution touched the lives of everyone living in the American colonies, and though the focus is often on the battlefields and political debates, those who were excluded from those places nevertheless played a crucial role in gaining independence. In this episode, joins us to discuss her new book, Obstinate Daughters: The Rebels, Writers and Renegade Women Who Ignited the Revolution and how looking at the revolution through women’s lives gives us a more perfect understanding of the events that founded the United States of America. Denise Kiernan is the author of...
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#371 Been There, Done That w/ Greg Jackson
The Road to Now
If you feel like America is facing hard times right now, you’ve got a lot in common with your forebearers. Greg Jackson of joins Ben for a live conversation to discuss his new book and why he thinks highlighting some of America’s hardest moments can strengthen us as we work to preserve the American Republic on the eve of its 250th anniversary. If you enjoy this conversation, come join us in Nashville on June 24th as Ben hosts a live event with Greg to celebrate the launch of the book. The event, sponsored by Ben’s local bookstore, The Bookshop, is at 7pm at the Noelle. You can...
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#370 The Declaration of Independence: A Biography of America’s Founding Text w/ Ted Widmer
The Road to Now
The Declaration of Independence has a story that is much bigger than July 4th, 1776. From its origins in enlightenment thought to its evocation by modern politicians, the document has had a life that can teach us a lot about who we are and have been. In this episode, joins us to discuss his new book, The Living Declaration: A Biography of America’s Founding Document, which brings together an impressive set of documents that demonstrate the Declaration’s impact on people in the US and around the world. The Living Declaration drops on June 23, 2026. and make sure to visit for a...
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A Forgotten History of Long Island w/ Tim Keogh
The Road to Now
The suburbs have long been a symbol of American prosperity in the post-WWII era. Yet the contrast between suburban wealth and “inner city” poverty overlooks the stories of those living in suburbia who were unable to reach “the good life.” In this episode Ben & Bob talk with Tim Keogh, whose new book (Univ. of Chicago Press, 2023), explores the history of suburbanization in Long Island, New York, and argues that post-WWII prosperity relied on those impoverished suburbanites who we’ve since forgotten. is assistant professor of history at Queensborough Community College, part of...
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Montgomery C. Meigs: Master Builder of the Union Army w/ Robert O’Harrow Jr.
The Road to Now
Washington D.C. in the 1850s was a tale of two cities. It was the Capitol city of a rapidly expanding new nation while at the same time ground zero for a politically fractured and divided nation hurtling toward disunion. Standing in the middle of it all was Montgomery C. Meigs, a military engineer who led the construction of two massive public works projects at the same time: the expansion of the Capitol building and an aqueduct to provide water to the residents growing city. Meigs would go on to serve as Quartermaster for the Union Army under Abraham Lincoln. Meigs was an innovator, public...
info_outlineRTN Theology now is now on its own podcast feed! Subscribe anywhere you get The Road to Now for RTN Theology episodes 12-19 and more!
RTN Theology #11 features “America’s Best Theologian” (according to Time Magazine), Stanley Hauerwas. Chris Breslin brings an intimate conversation from Dr. Hauerwas’ office at Duke Divinity School that touches on the recent passing of his friend, Jean Vanier, the life of the church in the era of Trump, and what it means to become people of virtue and character. Professor and author, Dave Fitch chimes in with some of his favorite Hauerwasisms and the ways that Dr. Hauerwas has shaped his life and work. He also shares his most recent book project, The Church of Us vs. Them. We’re also treated to a special reading of a chapter on the virtue of Justice by Stanley Hauerwas from his recent book of letters written to his Godson. Throughout the episode are selections from Deeper Well Music Collective’s (Portland, OR) new release, Volume III.
For more on this episode and a full bibliography on the essential Hauerwas, check out our episode page by clicking here.
The Road to Now is Part of the Osiris Podcast Network.