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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes406Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsArtsBooksNews

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Latest Episodes

MIT Professor Thomas Levenson describes the history of vaccine skepticism. His book is titled, "A Pox on Fools - True Believers, Grifters, and Cynics Who Convinced Us to Reject Vaccines." He was interviewed by senior writer at Ars Technica, Jennifer ... more

Chris Pope argued for policies that he believes would improve the current welfare system in the United States. The Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., hosted this event.

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Longtime ABC News war correspondent Martha Raddatz profiled American military service members and their families who have served in the 25 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. She was interviewed by San Francisco ABC7 News Anchor,... more

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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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Recent Guests

Chris Pope
Author of The American Way of Welfare
Manhattan Institute
Episode: The American Way of Welfare
Martha Raddatz
ABC News Anchor, Chief Global Affairs Correspondent, author of The Hero Next Door
ABC News
Episode: Stories of Patriotism and Purpose with Martha Raddatz
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
Chris Smalls
Founder of the Amazon Labor Union; author of When the Revolution Comes
Amazon Labor Union
Episode: Amazon Labor Union Co-Founder, Chris Smalls
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

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
#61
South Korea/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The American Way of Welfare
Q: What incremental changes do you see as most practical for entitlements?
Focus on well-targeted, incremental reforms rather than sweeping overhauls, and adjust small aspects of programs—such as eligibility criteria and benefit design—while constantly evaluating fiscal impact and outcomes.
The American Way of Welfare
Q: What is the role of 'crowding out' in evaluating expansion of entitlements?
Crowding out is the risk that public benefits replace private provisions and incentives to work; the prudent approach is to weigh crowd-out against unmet needs and design programs to minimize displacement while addressing real needs.
The American Way of Welfare
Q: How do you measure whether a welfare program is effective or well-targeted?
Use counterfactual thinking and cost-benefit framing: ask what would happen without the program, assess costs, evaluate unmet needs, and consider who benefits versus who bears costs, with attention to who is being helped and who is displaced.
Amazon Labor Union Co-Founder, Chris Smalls
Q: How did the media treatment shift after the union emerged, and what impact did that have on your work?
Smalls notes that early media attention labeled him a fired worker, but once leadership formed, coverage shifted to celebrity activist and then to scrutiny about leadership and the union's strategy, highlighting the tension between publicity and substance.
Amazon Labor Union Co-Founder, Chris Smalls
Q: What sparked the decision to organize a walkout during the pandemic, and how did media play a role?
He recounts how reports of COVID in the workplace and a perceived lack of transparency led to the walkout, with initial media indifference gradually turning into broader coverage as workers took action.

Audience Metrics

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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. Q&A
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 406 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. Chris Pope
2. Martha Raddatz
3. Joanna Stern
4. Chris Smalls
5. Molly Beer
6. Jean Becker
7. Tom Collamore
8. Matthew Campbell

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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