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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes403Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsArtsBooksNews

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Artwork for After Words

Latest Episodes

Chris Smalls told his story of becoming the co-founder of the Amazon Labor Union. He was interviewed by Journalist & Author Karen Attiah at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C.

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Technology reporter Joanna Stern describes the year she spent using artificial intelligence and robots in all aspects of her life. The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, provided this event.

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Historian Molly Beer took a woman's-eye view of the revolutionary era through the life of Angelica Schuyler Church, Alexander Hamilton's sister-in-law. Thomas Jefferson's Monticello hosted this event.

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Jean Becker and Tom Collamore, former staffers to President George H.W. Bush and co-authors of Don't Tell the President, discuss the work done by advance teams for presidential events, including foreign trips, state visits, and campaign rallies.

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Joanna Stern
Technology reporter and author of I Am Not a Robot
The Verge
Episode: Joanna Stern's Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything
Molly Beer
Author of Angelica, For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution
Author, Angelica book
Episode: A Woman's-Eye View of the Revolutionary Era
Jean Becker
Former White House Deputy Press Secretary and advance lead for First Lady; co-author of the book
Don't Tell the President (with Tom Collamore)
Episode: "Don’t Tell the President" Stories from Presidential Advance
Tom Collamore
President Bush advance team member and co-author of the book
Dont Tell the President (with Jean Becker)
Episode: "Don’t Tell the President" Stories from Presidential Advance
Matthew Campbell
Author of The Man Who Stole the Gods
Author, The Man Who Stole the Gods
Episode: A True Story of War, Obsession, and a Global Art Conspiracy
Maya Kornberg
Author of Stuck, political scientist
University/Author
Episode: Stuck - How Money, Media and Violence Prevent Change in Congress
Derek Kilmer
Former Democratic Washington Congressman
U.S. House of Representatives
Episode: Stuck - How Money, Media and Violence Prevent Change in Congress
Sanjay Gupta
Neurosurgeon and medical journalist
CNN, University of Michigan
Episode: Managing Chronic Pain with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Stephen Davies
Author of The Great Realignment, Why the New Right Is Here to Stay
Institute of Economic Affairs (Senior Education Fellow)
Episode: Political Realignment and the "New Right"

Host

Elizabeth Varon
University of Virginia history professor; host of interview segments

Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars from 268 ratings
  • Trash

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

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Murphy Tim
    United States10 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 States2 years 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 States3 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.

Guests and topics are consistently timely and idea-forward, appealing to policy-minded audiences.
Listeners praise high-caliber guests and deep-dive conversations, though some criticize pacing or host interruptions.
Production quality and the ability to translate complex books into engaging discussions are frequently noted as strong points.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#176
India/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Joanna Stern's Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything
Q: What companies or projects make you optimistic about the future?
She cites advancements in health care, such as drug discovery efforts at large labs, and progress from major players like DeepMind, suggesting that investment in AI is yielding meaningful benefits in medicine and science.
Joanna Stern's Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything
Q: Anonymous asks, what is your favorite AI tool that people don't really know about?
Joanna Stern mentions under-the-radar back-end tools like Zapier as a powerful, practical option for building workflows and automations that underpin a writer's site and projects.
"Don’t Tell the President" Stories from Presidential Advance
Q: How large is a typical advanced team?
The team typically includes at least a dozen people, often many more on foreign trips, with dedicated roles for press, logistics, and the shot of the day, plus pre-advance staff who go out early to map out arrangements.
Stuck - How Money, Media and Violence Prevent Change in Congress
Q: How can reformers leverage the megaphone of social media without amplifying dysfunction?
Kornberg suggests using the megaphone to elevate issues and public awareness while coupling it with stronger institutional supports and a culture that prioritizes deliberation over spectacle.
Stuck - How Money, Media and Violence Prevent Change in Congress
Q: What actionable reforms does your book advocate for to unstick Congress?
The book proposes strengthening Article I powers, revisiting and tightening the War Powers Resolution and Impoundment Control Act, expanding staffing and resources, and creating more inclusive, cross‑party spaces for members to collaborate outside the glare of televised proceedings.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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?

Listeners of this program typically engage with in-depth, long-form conversations centered on nonfiction books and ideas across politics, history, science, and culture. Episodes frequently feature authors and experts who dissect complex topics—from revolutionary history and presidential policy to realignment of political systems and digital privacy—through nuanced questions, archival context, and contemporary relevance. A standout is the mix of high-profile interviews with rigorous, research-driven discussions, plus performances or readings that illuminate historical texts. This combination makes it a strong fit for professionals seeking thoughtful, well-sourced insights that can inform PR positioning, sponsorship alignment, and thought-lea... more

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Which podcasts are similar to After Words?

These podcasts share a similar audience with After Words:

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

How many episodes of After Words are there?

After Words launched 21 years ago and published 403 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. Joanna Stern
2. Molly Beer
3. Jean Becker
4. Tom Collamore
5. Matthew Campbell
6. Maya Kornberg
7. Derek Kilmer
8. Sanjay Gupta

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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