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After Words

C-SPAN
Donald Trump
China
Mental Health
Democracy
Ukraine
Russia
Social Media
Elon Musk
Nuclear War
American Dream
Feminism
United States
Resilience
Barbara Walters
Project 2025
Critical Race Theory
CIA
Immigration
America
Climate Change

Best-selling nonfiction authors in in-depth conversations about their books, ideas, and the issues shaping today’s world. New episodes drop every Saturday after 10 pm ET. From C-SPAN, the network that also brings you the Lectures in History and Q&A podcasts.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes396Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsArtsNewsBooks

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Artwork for After Words

Latest Episodes

The John Locke Institute's Stephen Davies argued that the world is witnessing the emergence a permanent new form of "right-wing" politics. He spoke at the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, DC.

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Reporter Aaron Davis argued the Trump administration has politicized the Justice Department. This was part of Maryland's 2026 Gaithersburg Book Festival.

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Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham told America's complicated story through the words of those who have shaped our national debates from 1619 into the early 21st century. To read highlights from those accounts, he was joined by Academy Awar... more

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Atlantic Staff Writer Megan Garber argued that screens and social media have changed how we relate to each other. Politics and Prose in Washington, D.C., hosted this event.

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Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

Aaron Davis
Washington Post investigative reporter and co-author of Injustice
The Washington Post
Episode: The Politicization of the Justice Department
Jon Meacham
Historian and author of American Struggle, Democracy, Dissent and the Pursuit of a More Perfect Union
Author, Historian
Episode: American Struggle with Jon Meacham
Stephen Lang
Actor and performer reading historical texts on stage
Actor
Episode: American Struggle with Jon Meacham
Ellen Burstyn
Award-winning actress reading historical texts on stage
Actor
Episode: American Struggle with Jon Meacham
Eyck Freymann
Author of Defending Taiwan, A Strategy to Prevent War with China
Hoover Institution
Episode: Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China
Aziz Abu Sarah
Palestinian peace advocate and co-author of The Future is Peace
Interact (co-executive director)
Episode: The Future is Peace with Palestinian Aziz Abu Sarah and Israeli Maoz Inon
Maoz Inon
Israeli peace advocate and co-author of The Future is Peace
Interact (co-executive director)
Episode: The Future is Peace with Palestinian Aziz Abu Sarah and Israeli Maoz Inon
Edward Snowden
Whistleblower who exposed mass NSA surveillance
Former NSA surveillance whistleblower
Episode: Suing the NSA and Fighting Digital Surveillance
Elise Stefanik
Republican New York Congresswoman
U.S. Congress
Episode: "Poisoned Ivies" with R-NY Rep. Elise Stefanik

Hosts

Sarah Catalan
Host of Afterwards on C-SPAN; interviewer
Dan Blewett
Host of Afterwards on C-SPAN; interviewer

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 267 ratings
  • Trash

    They have insurrectionist , Qanoners , and maga scum on their show. . It’s true garbage

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Murphy Tim
    United States8 months ago
  • Omar El Akkad’s book

    Hamas broke the ceasefire by its surprise attack pogrom killing 1,200 and taking 200 hostages. Iran & Hamas’ mission is the destruction of Israel and the US/West. How should Israel and the US have acted?

    Mr. El Akkad, should blame Hamas for building its military around civilian infrastructure, using civilians as human shields. The Hamas Gaza medical ministry does not differentiate Hamas fighters from civilians. Hamas uses civilian deaths as propaganda against Israel.

    Why haven’t Arab governme... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    another RJF
    United Statesa year ago
  • Immigration

    It’s not anti-immigration, we are just about all Legal immigrants to the US.

    It’s anti-Illegal immigration.

    People can come to the US, but they have to do it legally, with skills, ready to work, pay taxes, assimilate & become US citizens.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    another RJF
    United States2 years ago
  • Dei

    Woke trash now. Sad.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Rogan is Trash
    United States2 years ago
  • Matilka Wilbur and the 562 project

    Matika knows all the leftist woke ideology but doesn’t seem to know anything about Native American culture

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    This Ken
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host sometimes dominates the conversation which can hinder guests at times
Audience values in-depth, idea-forward interviews, though some reviews note perceived bias or mentoring of questions
Clear guest curation with strong book-centered conversations,

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#236
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#21
Saudi Arabia/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#107
Saudi Arabia/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Politicization of the Justice Department
Q: What role did non-governmental actors play in influencing DOJ decisions during this period?
The narrative notes clinicians of influence from political figures and external advisory groups, including House committees and internal prosecutors who sought accountability, but ultimately governance depended on the internal culture and leadership choices within the DOJ.
The Politicization of the Justice Department
Q: How did the January 6 investigations evolve under Merrick Garland, and what was the aim?
Garland and his deputies aimed to conduct a meticulously executed investigation that could be viewed in a way that the public would accept over decades, avoiding a rushed or politicized approach while maintaining legal integrity.
Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China
Q: What are the key pillars of deterrence, and which ones need strengthening?
Pillars include political deterrence (one China policy and coalition-building), military deterrence (conventional and strategic), economic deterrence (integrated with allies), and a balanced approach that leverages allied scale; none should be single-handedly relied upon.
Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China
Q: What makes deterrence possible? Is Xi deterring or deterring a country, a person, or a regime?
Deterrence hinges on understanding Xi's incentives and showing credible resolve and restraint across a spectrum of options, not relying on a single capability.
"Poisoned Ivies" with R-NY Rep. Elise Stefanik
Q: What concrete reforms do you advocate for higher education?
Cap foreign funding to ensure transparency, prioritize American students, and restore academic rigor through a more diverse ideological faculty landscape and a strong civics education focus.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About After Words

What is After Words about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features in-depth conversations with best-selling nonfiction authors and thought leaders, focusing on their books and the big ideas shaping politics, policy, culture, and science. Episodes often center on timely controversies, historical analysis, and practical implications, pairing rigorous inquiry with personal storytelling. Notable strengths include high-caliber guests spanning politics, technology, environment, and culture, plus a format that blends bookish exploration with broader societal context. Potential listeners who enjoy long-form, idea-forward interviews with thoughtful questions and a mix of history, policy, and science will likely find this appealing. A recurring edge is the ability to connect complex topics to curr... more

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Which podcasts are similar to After Words?

These podcasts share a similar audience with After Words:

1. Booknotes+
2. Q&A
3. Lectures in History
4. For the Ages: A History Podcast
5. Washington Today

How many episodes of After Words are there?

After Words launched 21 years ago and published 396 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on After Words?

Recent guests on After Words include:

1. Aaron Davis
2. Jon Meacham
3. Stephen Lang
4. Ellen Burstyn
5. Eyck Freymann
6. Aziz Abu Sarah
7. Maoz Inon
8. Edward Snowden

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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