#368 Women & the Civil War Pension System w/ Kristin Jorgensen
The Road to Now
The Civil War was the bloodiest military engagement in American history, and for the wives of those killed or wounded in battle, the struggle for survival continued long after the shooting ceased in 1865. In this episode we speak with longtime friend of the show Kristin Jorgensen about her recently-defended MA thesis, “From Private Misfortune to Public Entitlement: Rural New York Widows and the Civil War Pension System” which tells the story of how the Federal benefits offered to the wives of Union soldiers helped transform women’s roles in American politics and society. To find out more...
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#367 Ancient Coins w/ Dean Kinzer
The Road to Now
It took about ten years, but it looks like our road, like all of them, lead to Rome. Dean Kinzer of Kinzer Coins joins us for a conversation about the role that coins played in the ancient world. He explains how money evolved in ancient Europe, the process through which coins were produced, and how you can see the rise and fall of the Roman empire through the output of their mint. If you’re interested in learning more about ancient coins check out Dean’s podcast, , or visit Kinzer Coins’ website at This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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The Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East w/ Eugene Rogan
The Road to Now
At the beginning of the 20th century, most of the territory that we call the Middle East- including Syria, Iraq, Israel and Turkey- were part of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman alliance w/ Germany and Austria-Hungary during World War I provided Britain and France w/ the opportunity to divide the once-great empire into many states based on European imperial ambitions. In this episode Bob and Ben speak w/ Eugene Rogan to learn more about why the Ottoman Empire was divided, how that process shaped the Middle East, and how this history helps us understand the world today. is a Professor of Modern...
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The History of Golf w/ Tony Parker
The Road to Now
Throughout the latter part of the 20th century, Golf developed a reputation as a sport for wealthy white men who gathered at their exclusive country clubs to make business deals over 18 holes of golf, all the while smoking expensive cigars and drinking martinis (you know, like in CaddyShack?). But then, seemingly from out of nowhere, Tiger Woods burst onto the scene, changing the look and style of the sport forever. It turns out that most Americans’ perception of the sport is does not quite fit the reality. The truth behind golf’s history is much more complicated and a bit more noble....
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#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
info_outlineFixing the American healthcare system has been one of the most difficult and divisive problems in modern US history. The Affordable Care Act has helped more Americans than ever gain insurance, yet the remaining problems have led the Republican-controlled Congress to put “repeal and replace” at the top of their legislative agenda in 2017. Why has health insurance been such a tricky issue in the United States? Why did our insurance model develop differently than in other industrialized countries, and how can understanding this help us overcome the problems we face today?
In this episode of The Road to Now, Dr. Melissa Thomasson helps us answer these questions by taking us through the history of the American health insurance system. We also offer up another installment of Path to the Present (the podcast within a podcast) in which Matt Negrin and Alex Trowbridge provide a concise history of the 2010 passage of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). Believe me- this episode is YOUGE!
Melissa Thomasson is Julian Lange Professor of Economics at the University of Miami and an expert on the economic history of the American health care system.
For more on this episode can be found at our website: www.theroadtonow.com