#366 A Trip to the Hermitage w/ Ben & Bob
The Road to Now
Ben & Bob took a trip to the home of Andrew Jackson, so they took the opportunity to record an episode on their impressions of the Hermitage and why Bob doubts they’ll ever have a copy of in the bookstore. They also talk about Cuba’s place in American history and other current events. Make sure to check out the upcoming and plan to catch a show if you can! This episode was recorded in Ben’s pickup truck. It was ‘edited’ by Ben Sawyer and produced by the bumpy roads of Middle Tennessee.
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#365 Taxes: An American History w/ Vanessa S. Williamson
The Road to Now
Did you know that the Boston Tea Party was sparked by a corporate tax cut? Or that during the explosive post-WWII economic boom, the highest tax bracket in the US was about 90%? Or that the more democratic a country is, the more taxes its citizens tend to pay? In this episode, joins us for a conversation about her new book, (Basic Books, 2025), the misunderstandings that shape both liberal and conservative attitudes toward tax policy, and the reasons she thinks that taxation and democracy are inseparable in US history. Dr. Vanessa S. Williamson is Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the...
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#364 Henry David Thoreau w/ Erik Ewers & Christopher Loren Ewers
The Road to Now
Directors & join us to discuss their new film, . Erik & Christopher talk about their rediscovery of Thoreau’s place in American history, their process for capturing his story, and why Thoreau’s views of his own time might resonate with those seeking to make sense of the modern world. The two-part series premieres on PBS March 30-31, so make sure to check your local listings and tune in! This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.
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Martin Van Buren: America’s First Politician w/ James M Bradley
The Road to Now
Martin Van Buren served just one term as President from 1837 to 1841, but as the architect behind the founding of the Democratic Party, his legacy lives on in the US today. In this episode, we speak with James M. Bradley, author of the new book , to learn how Van Buren helped reshape politics in the 19th century and laid the groundwork for America’s two-party system. You can learn more about the work being done to preserve the papers of Martin Van Buren at . Love history and want to go on a cruise? Join Ben and Greg Jackson for a 5-day/4-night cruise of the Caribbean that runs from...
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#363 What are America’s Founding Principles? w/ Hans Zeiger
The Road to Now
Ben & Bob speak with of for Teaching America’s Founding Principles & History. We discuss the work that the JMC is doing to promote teaching the founding principles and civics to Americas young people from kindergarten through college. The JMC will be hosting a National Summit on Civil Education in Philadelphia, May 18-19. Love history and want to go on a cruise? Join Ben and Greg Jackson for a 5-day/4-night cruise of the Caribbean that runs from May 18-22! And don’t forget that Bob’s new book America’s Founding Son: John Quincy Adams from President to Political...
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#362 America’s Founding Son: John Quincy Adams w/ Bob Crawford
The Road to Now
Bob Crawford’s first book has arrived! launches March 10 via Zando Press and we’re celebrating with an episode dedicated to the book. Bob will be speaking about his new at bookstores across the country. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher
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#361 The Oscars: A History of the Academy Awards w/ Monica Sandler
The Road to Now
The Oscars hold a special place in popular culture, but the first Academy Awards ceremony, held in 1929, bore little resemblance to the spectacle most of us know today. In this episode, media expert Monica Sandler takes us from that first award ceremony – when both Los Angeles and the films made there struggled for respectability – to the modern extravaganza that draws tens of millions of viewers worldwide. Monica also breaks down the way voting has changed over time, the evolution of categories, and what she thinks was the greatest snub of all time. Dr. Monica Sandler is a film and media...
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#360 The Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame w/ Joe Spaulding and Casey Soward
The Road to Now
Since opening in 2019, the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF) has worked to preserve and share the rich heritage of American music with the people of Boston and the world. In this episode Ben & Bob speak with FARHOF founder, Joe Spaulding, and J. Casey Soward, President of the Boch Center, which hosts FARHOF in Boston’s Wang Theater. To learn more about FARHOF, make sure to visit their website: And if you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.
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The Stone Pony w/ Nick Corasaniti
The Road to Now
The Stone Pony and its hometown of Asbury Park, New Jersey are iconic settings in the story of some of America’s greatest rock musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, and Southside Johnny Lyon. The Pony’s path from high-risk passion project to iconic venue was, however, anything but direct; from its founding in 1974, the club was caught in the greater forces at work in late-20th century America. So how did the Stone Pony thrive when so many other venues closed? And what set Asbury Park apart from so many other American towns? In this episode, The New York Times’ ...
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#359 Slippery Roads w/ Ben & Bob
The Road to Now
Having recently been hit with winter storms, Ben & Bob catch up to talk about the literal and figurative slippery roads all around us. The conversation covers talking politics when we don’t agree, the Epstein files and more. We also talk about one of the more exciting events on the horizon: Bob’s new book, America’s Founding Son: John Quincy Adams, from President to Political Maverick, which drops on March 10! Make sure to This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
info_outlineThe recent drone strike on Saudi oil fields has implications for the entire world, but we remain uncertain who is responsible for the attack. Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility, but Trump claims it was actually Iran. There’s a lot at stake here, so Ben sat down with his MTSU colleague Sean Foley to learn about the history of the conflict and how that might inform policy moving forward.
In the second part of the episode, Bob and Ben talk about Bob’s research and what he’s learned about Monsanto since our last episode. We also share an exciting announcement about upcoming plans for the podcast!
Dr. Sean Foley is a Professor of History at Middle Tennessee State University, where he specializes in the contemporary history and politics of the Middle East and the wider Islamic world. He frequently visits Asia and the Middle East, follows events in both regions closely, and speaks Arabic and Bahasa Malaysian. Dr. Foley has held Fulbright fellowships in Syria, Turkey, and Malaysia, and lived in Saudi Arabia from April 2013 until January 2014. His most recent book is Changing Saudi Arabia: Art, Culture, and Society in the Kingdom (Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2019). You can follow him on twitter at @foleyse.