Rephonic
Artwork for America: The Story of the USA

America: The Story of the USA

Liam Heffernan | A Mercury Podcast
Donald Trump
United States
Trump Administration
Civil Rights Movement
Disney
Santa Claus
Iran
Christmas
Civil War
California
Immigration Policy
Chinese Exclusion Act
Voting Rights Act
Disneyland
Media Representation
Pocahontas
Middle East
American Culture
War Of 1812
Rosa Parks

SOTUS is your deep‑dive guide to how the United States became what it is today. From George Washington to Donald Trump, we unpack the people, places and events that shaped, and continue to shape, the nation’s identity. Designed for curious listeners, students, educators, and lifelong learners, this series blends accessible storytelling with historically grounded insight to help you understand not ... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes282Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryNewsPolitics

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for America: The Story of the USA

Latest Episodes

This week, as Germany's far right AfD party win crucial state elections, we discuss Trump's celebration and how the MAGA blueprint is being used around the world to normalise extremism in politics.

Plus, Trump has created his own map of the world, a... more

Disclaimer: there may be short blips of incoherent sound in this episode. Please bear with us.

.

When Psycho premiered in 1960, audiences had never seen anything like it. Alfred Hitchcock - already one of the world’s most prolific directors - relea... more

America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask.

Today: the tenth President of the United States, John Tyler - his unexpected rise to the presidency, his turbulent time in office... more

This week, Donald Trump renames Lake Ontario to Lake America, and though nobody is going with it, Google and Apple have both updates their maps.

Trump received good news from the Supreme Court, who have allowed construction of his $400m ballroom to... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times
A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over
A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all overMartha Barnette and Grant Barrett. Produced by Stefanie Levine.

Recent Guests

Stephen Rebello
Author of Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho
Author; Hitchcock expert
Episode: Why is Psycho So Scary?
Alyssa Royse
gym owner, writer, call arounder of BS, common sense advocate
Episode: In the Making: Trump Taking Oil and People Giving Pizza
Thomas G. Weiss
UN expert on the United Nations, humanitarian intervention and global governance
Episode: What is the UN?
Marcia Chatelain
Penn Presidential Compact Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
Episode: In the Making: Natalie Harp, Canada, and Trump's War on Visas
Meryl Goldberg
Saxophonist and cipher creator for the KCB quartet
California State University, San Marcos; author of Notes of Deception
Episode: How Did Four American Musicians Outwit the KGB?
Corbin Trent
Former comms for AOC and Bernie Sanders; writer at America's Undoing; founder of A Fight Worth Having
America's Undoing; A Fight Worth Having
Episode: In the Making: Meta, TikTok, and Internet Safety
Bevan Sewell
Professor and historian of US foreign relations
Historian/Professor
Episode: Who is John Foster Dulles?
Brian Ward
Historian of American culture with a focus on music, politics, media, and identity in the US
UK-based historian, author and professor
Episode: How Did the Beatles Conquer America?
Andrew O'Shaughnessy
Historian of the Thomas Jefferson and the early American Republic
author of The Illimitable Freedom of the Human Mind
Episode: Why Did Thomas Jefferson Build a University?

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 34 ratings
  • Informative

    Great informative, interesting episode explaining US projects

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lesinbrenrford
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Excellent

    Engaging and informative. Good for people with not much knowledge of US history and politics, but also plenty of interesting material/discussions for those with more knowledge of these topics.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NGG1986!
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Brilliant informative podcast

    This is a great show. A Brit’s informed look at our American cousins’ way of life and history. Well researched and a really interesting listen!

    Loads about slavery in the first show that I had no idea about such as the myth of the North/ South divide

    Highly recommend 👍

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fatarchie
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Would recommend

    I’ve found the first two episodes really interesting. The experts have been engaging with the host asking pertinent questions. Looking forward to listening and learning more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LeedsTerrier
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Very Insightful

    An excellent new podcast for anyone interested in American history. An immediate follow from me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    maetheforcebewithyou
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality production and depth in historical analysis, with clear storytelling.
Shows are informative and well-researched, making US history accessible for newcomers and enthusiasts alike.
Guests are engaging and the host asks pertinent, thought-provoking questions.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What is the Supreme Court Term, and Why Does it Matter?
Q: Could you outline some of the headline cases and themes from the past term?
Emma Long describes birthright citizenship as a headline issue, alongside themes such as executive power, immigration, voting rights, LGBTQ rights, and gun rights, with many decisions highlighting the court's approach to constitutional questions and the political environment surrounding them.
Why is Psycho So Scary?
Q: How did Hitchcock's marketing and production choices contribute to Psycho's notoriety?
Rebello details how Hitchcock leveraged innovative marketing—from stunt-like theater hype to memorable poster copy—creating a buzz that drew audiences despite the era's censorship and skepticism toward horror, ultimately elevating Psycho beyond a standard crime thriller into a cultural touchstone.
Why is Psycho So Scary?
Q: Can you provide context about what the film industry was like in 1960 and why Psycho made such a big impact?
The host asks for context on the 1960 film industry, and Rebello explains that color films were common for big production, black-and-white was used for riskier or lower-budget projects, censorship and social norms shaped what could be shown, and Psycho's unconventional approach—its marketing, budget, and casting—allowed it to redefine horror and engage audiences in new ways.
What is the UN?
Q: Why was the UN created and what problem was it meant to solve?
It was intended to prevent a repeat of global conflict by providing a framework for multilateral cooperation, collective security, and the rule of international law, evolved from lessons learned after World War II and the failures of the League of Nations.
In the Making: Lindsay Clancy and America's Live Courtroom Obsession
Q: Should trials be broadcast live like a piece of reality TV?
Emma argues that while public access to trials is a constitutional principle, live broadcasting and social media ecosystems complicate fairness and can undermine the trial process by turning it into entertainment rather than legal proceedings.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About America: The Story of the USA

What is America: The Story of the USA about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A historically focused series that guides curious listeners through the people, events, and ideas that shaped the United States, from founding era figures to contemporary policy debates. Episodes emphasize clear storytelling paired with historical analysis, covering topics like elections, constitutional questions, notable diplomatic moments, and cultural shifts. The show frequently features historians and academics, sometimes alongside subject-matter experts or journalists, to provide context and nuance. It's likely to appeal to lifelong learners, students, educators, and professionals who want accessible yet rigorous insight into how America's past informs its present. A notable strength is its consistent historical grounding and the way i... more

Where can I find podcast stats for America: The Story of the USA?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for America: The Story of the USA. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to America: The Story of the USA and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does America: The Story of the USA get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for America: The Story of the USA, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for America: The Story of the USA?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for America: The Story of the USA, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does America: The Story of the USA have?

To see how many followers or subscribers America: The Story of the USA has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to America: The Story of the USA?

These podcasts share a similar audience with America: The Story of the USA:

1. The Rest Is History
2. The Daily
3. Politics Weekly America
4. A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over
5. The News Agents

How many episodes of America: The Story of the USA are there?

America: The Story of the USA launched 3 years ago and published 282 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact America: The Story of the USA?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for America: The Story of the USA?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for America: The Story of the USA from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for America: The Story of the USA?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of America: The Story of the USA. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on America: The Story of the USA?

Recent guests on America: The Story of the USA include:

1. Stephen Rebello
2. Alyssa Royse
3. Thomas G. Weiss
4. Marcia Chatelain
5. Meryl Goldberg
6. Corbin Trent
7. Bevan Sewell
8. Brian Ward

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days