The Road to Now

Епизоде

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  #377 The Hindenburg w/ Catherine Grace Katz 14.09.2026 54мин

  Catherine Grace Katz joins us to talk about her new book, Shadow Before the Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War, and just how much the story of the ill-fated German Zepplin can tell us about the world in the years between World War I and World War II.   You can pre-order your copy of Shadow Before the Flame at Catherine's website, CatherineGraceKatz.com.   This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  George Carlin's American Dream w/ Michael Bonfiglio & Kliph Nesteroff 07.09.2026 54мин

  George Carlin had a comedy career that spanned half a century, and his take on the US remains relevant more than a decade after his death in 2008. The HBO documentary George Carlin's American Dream tells Carlin's story as he evolved from a clean-cut comic in the 1950s into the edgy critic who remains one of the most influential comedians of all time. In this episode, Michael Bonfiglio, who directed the film (along with Judd Apatow) and Kliph Nesteroff, a historian of comedy who is featured in the film, join Bob & Ben for a conversation about the life and times of George Carlin.   If you enjoy this episode, check out our previous conversation w/ Michael in episode 174 Direction w/ Michael Bonfiglio.   This episode originally aired as RTN 237 on June 13, 2022. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #376 Miracle Road: The Story of Research Triangle Park w/ Mack Paul 31.08.2026 56мин

  North Carolina's Research Triangle has been a hub of innovation and economic growth for more than half a century, but the most remarkable invention in the area's history might be the park itself. In this episode, Mack Paul explains how residents of one of the poorest states in the union found a way to reimagine their future and transform the 'Old North State' into a global leader in scientific advancement.   Mack's new book, which he coauthored with his father, Allen, is Miracle Road: The Story of Research Park (Duke University Press, 2026. You can read excerpts from the book and order a copy at MiracleRoadBook.net.   If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out episode 136, in which we discuss Bob's MA thesis on the city of Apex, NC.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.
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  The Pursuit of Happiness w/ Jeffrey Rosen 24.08.2026 51мин

  The inalienable right to "the pursuit of happiness" is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, but what exactly does that phrase mean? While Americans today may associate it with the right to own land, opulence or some other act of acquisition, many prominent founders understood it to mean something quite different. In this episode National Constitution Center President & CEO Jeffrey Rosen returns to the show to give us the full story and discuss his new book The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America.   If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out Jeffrey's other appearances on our show in episodes 211 and 350.   Highlighted Resources from the National Constitution Center –The Interactive Constitution (also available as an app in the apple and android app stores) –We The People with Jeffrey Rosen podcast (available anywhere you get The Road to Now) –Educational Video Series If you're in Philadelphia, you can visit the National Constitution Center, which is located just steps from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Click here to plan your visit! Thie conversation originally aired on February 5, 2024 as episode 295. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #375 The Road to Venecky w/ Ben & Bob 17.08.2026 54мин

  Ben & Bob catch up for a conversation about bad Ai textooks, new discoveries about precolonial American societies and a new take on the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. Make sure to catch Bob at his endless book tour for America's Founding Son! Dates available by following him on Instagram at @bobcrawfordbass. Sources discussed in this episode: ·      John Green, Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of our Deadliest Infection, (Penguin, 2025). ·      Pärssinen, M., Kalliola, R., Ranzi, A. et al. "Over 20,000 precolonial earthworks in the Southwest Amazonia."Nature (2026). ·      Robert Sapolsky Behave: The Biology of Humans at our Best and Worst (Penguin, 2017). ·      Adi Schane, "'Venecky' instead of Kentucky," WDRB.com, July 29, 2026. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #374 The Senate's Hard Summer w/ Ben & Bob 10.08.2026 53мин

  Ben & Bob talk about the history of the US Senate and why the august body is now under attack from both the Freedom Caucus and the Democratic Socialists of America.   For readings discussed in this episode, check out Michael Trotti's "The Troubling Roots of Off-Year Gubernatorial Elections" from Made By History (Oct. 29, 2025) and Article 5 of the US Constitution, which states: "The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate."   This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #373 Good Government w/ Lindsey Cormack 03.08.2026 58мин

  In an era of cynicism towards politics, Lindsey Cormak wants you to focus on what government has gotten right and to raise your kids to be active citizens. And as the host of the new podcast Government That Doesn't Suck (alongside History That Doesn't Suck's Greg Jackson), and the author How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It's Up to You To Do It), she has evidence and a framework for how to get there. In this conversation we cover all this, as well as Lindsey's research on Veterans and her work to document political rhetoric via congressional emails at DCInbox.com.   Dr. Lindsey Cormack is Associate Professor of Political Science at Stevens Institute of Technology. Click here to follow her on substack.   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.  
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  Necropolis: Disease, Power & Capitalism in 19th Century New Orleans w/ Kathryn Olivarius 27.07.2026 52мин

  Kathryn Olivarius joins Bob & Ben to explain the powerful role that Yellow Fever played in shaping all aspects of life in New Orleans during the 19th Century. Kathryn is Associate Professor of History at Stanford University and the author of Necropolis: Disease, Power & Capitalism in the Cotton Kingdom, (Harvard University Press, 2022). She was also a 2024 recipient of the Dan David Prize.   This is a rebroadcast of #329, which originally aired on March 10, 2025. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.  
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  The Civilian Conservation Corps w/ Neil Maher 20.07.2026 51мин

  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 Nature's New Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Roots of the American Environmental Movement (Oxford University Press, 2008) about how the CCC helped solidify FDR's New Deal and spread the seeds of environmental activism for generations to come. Dr. Neil Maher 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 also the author of Apollo in the Age of Aquarius (Harvard University Press, 2017). You can find out more about his work at NeilMaher.com.   This is a rebroadcast of episode #274 which aired as The Original Green New Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps with Neil Mahr on May 29, 2023. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  Mitch McConnell: The Price of Power w/ Michael Tackett 13.07.2026 53мин

  Journalist Michael Tackett joins Ben & Bob to discuss his book The Price of Power: How Mitch McConnell Mastered the Senate, Changed America and Lost his Party (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 national politics for The New York Times. His work has earned him multiple awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and the Edgar A. Poe Award for National Reporting. This is a rebroadcast of RTN episode 322, which originally aired on December 9, 2024. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  Citizen Coke: The History of Coca-Cola w/ Bartow Elmore 06.07.2026 58мин

  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 research on powerful corporations, why he thinks we should care about environmental history, and the meaning of what he calls "Coca-Cola Capitalism."   Dr. Bartow Elmore is Professor of History at The Ohio State University and author of Citizen Coke: The Making of Coca-Cola Capitalism (W.W. Norton, 2015). You can find out more about his work, including his book on the history of Monsanto at his website, BartElmore.com.   This episode was originally aired as episode 140 on August 26, 2019. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  The Declaration of Independence 02.07.2026 9мин

  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 29.06.2026 51мин

  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 goes into creating a historical documentary film, and their process for deciding the best way to tell an American icon's story in a pair of two-hour episodes.   Benjamin Franklin: A Film by Ken Burns is available via PBS.org on your local PBS station and we highly recommend it!   If you enjoy this episode, check out Ben and Bob's conversation with Ken Burns in episode #191.   This episode originally aired as #229 on April 4, 2022. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #372 Obstinate Daughters: Women in the American Revolution w/ Denise Kiernan 22.06.2026 1ч

  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, Denise Kiernan 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 multiple New York Times Bestsellers including The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II (Atria, 2014). She is also a journalist, producer and former head writer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.   Obstinate Daughters is available June 23, 2026 from Dutton. You can find out more about the book and order your copy at DeniseKiernan.com   This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #371 Been There, Done That w/ Greg Jackson 15.06.2026 1ч 2мин

  If you feel like America is facing hard times right now, you've got a lot in common with your forebearers. Greg Jackson of History That Doesn't Suck joins Ben for a live conversation to discuss his new book Been There, Done That: How Our History Shows What We Can Overcome, 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. Click here for tickets. You can get your copy of Been There Done That here. This episode was recorded live on international waters during A Cruise That Doesn't Suck. A special thanks to Greg, Dossie McCraw and Riley Neubauer for inviting Ben to be part of the cruise and for all their hard work to organize and record this episode. This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.
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  #370 The Declaration of Independence: A Biography of America's Founding Text w/ Ted Widmer 08.06.2026 1ч 4мин

  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, Ted Widmer 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. Click here to preorder a copy and make sure to visit LivingDeclaration.org for a calendar of events related to the book.   Come join Ben as he hosts a live conversation with his friend and History That Doesn't Suck host Greg Jackson about Greg's new book Been There, Done That in Nashville on Thursday, June 24! Click here for more info and to get tickets!   This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  A Forgotten History of Long Island w/ Tim Keogh 01.06.2026 54мин

  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 In Levittown's Shadow: Poverty in America's Wealthiest Suburb (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. Dr. Tim Keogh is assistant professor of history at Queensborough Community College, part of the City University of New York. This is a rebroadcast of RTN #291 which originally aired as "A Forgotten History of American Suburbs w/ Tim Keogh" on December 4, 2023. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  Montgomery C. Meigs: Master Builder of the Union Army w/ Robert O'Harrow Jr. 25.05.2026 53мин

  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 servant, and one of the most important patriots of the nineteenth century.   This week Bob welcomes author and journalist Robert O'Harrow Jr. to discuss his 2016 book, The Quartermaster: Montgomery C. Meigs, Lincoln's General, Master Builder of the Union Army.   For thirty years Robert O'Harrow Jr. was an investigative journalist and contributing writer at The Washington Post and was among the first national journalists to cover cybersecurity. In 2017, he part of the team that won a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of notorious Alabama political Roy Moore.   This episode originally aired as RTN #281 on August 21, 2023. This rebroadcast was edited by Ben Sawyer.
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  #369 Ten Years of RTN w/ Bob Crawford & Ben Sawyer 17.05.2026 59мин

  May 18, 2026 marks exactly ten years since Bob Crawford and Ben Sawyer launched the first episode of The Road to Now, so we decided to get together for a conversation reflecting on our first conversation, the unexpected places the show has taken us, and what we've learned along the way.   We are grateful to everyone who has taken the time to listen to this show, sat down with us for an interview, or shared kind words with someone else. When we recorded the first episode in the basement of Bridgestone arena, we didn't know where the show would lead us (or how to make a podcast), but after a decade of great conversations, live shows, and a humbling amount of support from listeners and guests, we're still going strong. And a special thanks to anyone who has supported us on Patreon- we couldn't have made this show what it is without your support.   Here's to another ten years. -Ben & Bob   This episode was edited by Gary Fletcher.  
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  #368 Women & the Civil War Pension System w/ Kristin Jorgensen 11.05.2026 55мин

  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 about Kristin's work, you can follow her on linkedin or check out her business Pastward at PastwardHistory.com. This episode was edited by Ben Sawyer.