#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.
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Colombia, the US and the War on Drugs w/ Lina Britto
The Road to Now
Most Americans are aware of Colombia’s role in the international drug trade, but we know less about the role that Americans’ played in the story as consumers, smuggling pioneers, and practitioners of a foreign policy that facilitated the rise of Colombian drug production. In this episode, shares the fascinating story of how Colombia emerged as a major supplier of drugs to American consumers and how this relationship affected people in both countries. She also explains the origins of the “War on Drugs” in the US and tells the story of how Americans hippies in search of marijuana...
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#358 Storm at the Capitol w/ Mary Clare Jalonick
The Road to Now
In just five years, the story of the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US capitol has already seen more bad faith reinterpretations than most events get over the course of generations. Fortunately, has brought a diverse set of voices together in her new book, . In this episode, Mary joins us to talk about her experience as a journalist who was on the ground that day covering Congress for the Associated Press, what she learned from talking to others about their experiences, and the core facts about the insurrection that should underpin any serious discussion of that day. This episode...
info_outlineThe Monroe Doctrine has provided Presidents and foreign policy leaders with the rhetorical justification for their actions going back as far as James K. Polk, but the symbolic power attributed to the doctrine is far more substantial than the impact it had when it was published in 1823. In this episode, historian Jay Sexton walks us through the evolution of the Monroe Doctrine in political rhetoric, its implications for modern US foreign policy and why he claims that, in its original form, it amounted to a “nothingburger.”
Dr. Jay Sexton is the Rich and Nancy Kinder Chair of Constitutional Democracy, Professor of History and Director of the Kinder Institute at the University of Missouri. He has published extensively on the Monroe Doctrine, including The Monroe Doctrine: Empire and Nation in Nineteenth-Century America (Hill and Wang, 2011) and “The Monroe Doctrine in an Age of Global History” (Diplomatic History, 2023).
This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer