Winston Churchill famously said that, "History is written by the victors." Another truism about history is that it is more accurately recorded and interpreted by those not too close to the history being made.
That's why America: A History is such an ear-worthy podcast.
"From elections to mass shootings, and from Trump to Hollywood, this is U.S. history without the fake news, as we have honest and frank conversations about the things that really matter; the moments that shaped America."
This history podcast is from award-winning podcast producer Liam Heffernan, and is in collaboration with the University of East Anglia’s American Studies faculty.
Every week, host Liam Heffernan and a faculty member answer a different question about America, with the help of some very special guests including Gary Younge, Stephanie Pratt and Jon Sopel, as he takes listeners on a revolutionary journey through American history.
Heffernan has a long history in podcasting, from 2 Minute Movies, The Friday Film Club, In Ukraine: A Civilian Diary, and Bingewatch. Heffernan is the Audio Director at The Podcast Boutique.
A British host of a history podcast about another country --especially one that has a lot of checkered history with the host's nation -- is a delicate balancing act. On one hand, being from a different country provides a person like Heffernan with a unique and more objective perspective. No fake or impassioned patriotism or America First agenda to cloud the accuracy of historical events and interpretation of those events.
So far, my favorite episodes include the July 3, 2023, show about the slave trade. Here are the show notes: "Today, it's hard to imagine why anyone would risk their lives to preserve the institution of slavery, so in this episode we are going to take a closer look at those people and their reasons. Who supported slavery? What was in it for them? And ultimately... why did America ban slavery?
"Joining the podcast this week is Dr. Rebecca Fraser, a historian of 19th century America with a particular interest in the history of African Americans, especially relating to their resistance against slavery and the enslaved experience."
The podcast doesn't always delve into deep historical issues but can focus its high-powered lens on events such as holidays. In 2023, the podcast had three episodes on Christmas -- What is the War on Christmas, How to make a Hollywood Christmas movie, and What's the History of Christmas in America. I recommend these shows for their informational value and their insight on American consumerism and its often-fabricated culture wars.
One of my favorite shows was about Frederick Douglass. As an African American born into slavery,
nobody would have suspected this man would grow up to be one of the
greatest public speakers of all time. Learning how to read and write by
exchanging bread for books with local white children, Frederick Douglass
broke out of bondage and became the most photographed person in 19th
century America, and one of the most influential.
With too many U.S. politicians pandering to whiny citizens who wish to sanitize the darker aspects of U.S. History (It is admittedly very dark), it may be that outsiders are the only people available to offer a fair accounting of the history of the USA. To be fair, other nations, such as China, Japan, and Poland, have invested heavily in revising their national historical narrative.
Check out America: A History. I love the brazenly patriotic music before these scholars unveil all our dirty laundry. There's a lot of it.
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