Rephonic
Artwork for In Pursuit

In Pursuit with Colleen Shogan

PRX
George Washington
Slavery
John Quincy Adams
Constitution
Abraham Lincoln
Martha Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Dolley Madison
Alexander Hamilton
Aaron Burr
Democracy
Union
William Henry Harrison
Religious Freedom
James Madison
Philadelphia Convention
Three-Fifths Compromise
Bill Of Rights
Republicanism
Louisa Catherine Adams

We call it the American experiment, and over the last 250 years, we've learned a lot about what's worked.....and what hasn't. So what can we learn from Americans' quest to form a more perfect union? Join Colleen Shogan, the 11th Archivist of the United States, along with some of our nation's most prominent historians, journalists, and public servants as we go in pursuit of lessons from America's p... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes15Founded6 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for In Pursuit

Latest Episodes

How did Abraham Lincoln redefine the American Union amidst the horrors of the Civil War? Colleen Shogan talks with historian Harold Holzer about Lincoln's early life, his emergence as a leader of the Republican Party, and his vision for a new birth o... more

Franklin Pierce had all the makings of a successful president - the experience, the military service, the charm - and yet he is often remembered as one of America's worst chief executives. So how did a man with such a fine resume plunge the nation de... more

Vice President Millard Fillmore never expected to be president, but Zachary Taylor's death in 1850 thrust him into the White House and the national spotlight. So how did the "man of hesitation and double opinions" confront the growing crisis over sla... more

By some measure, James K. Polk is among the most successful presidents in American history. But what were the costs of his many achievements? Colleen Shogan talks with Matthew Costello about the nation’s first dark horse presidential candidate, his a... 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.

Recent Guests

Harold Holzer
Historian and Lincoln scholar
Episode: Abraham Lincoln's Union
David Blight
Historian, professor (Yale)
Yale University
Episode: Franklin Pierce Fails to Read the Room
Steve Israel
Former Congressman
Former U.S. Representative from New York
Episode: Millard Fillmore Kicks the Can Down the Road
Matthew Costello
Historian and essayist on James K. Polk
Episode: James K. Polk Manifests A Destiny
Sharon McMahon
Historian and civics communicator who contributed an essay on William Henry Harrison
Independent / Essay contributor
Episode: William Henry Harrison Delivers a Warning
Jon Meacham
Historian and author
Historian
Episode: In Pursuit Live: America at 250 Town Hall at the National Constitution Center
Danielle Allen
Political theorist and author
Harvard University (as context in conversation)
Episode: In Pursuit Live: America at 250 Town Hall at the National Constitution Center
Robert Costa
CBS News correspondent
CBS News
Episode: In Pursuit Live: America at 250 Town Hall at the National Constitution Center
Louisa Thomas
Author of the Louisa Adams biography and essayist
Author; Essayist
Episode: Louisa Catherine Adams Finds Her Voice

Host

Colleen Shogan
Host of In Pursuit

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 130 ratings
  • History from Historians

    With the attack on our true history from the present administration, tell the true story of American history has never been more important. This is a great podcast and I am happy to recommend to to anyone who is interested in the American experience.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Frank Seitz
    United States2 months ago
  • Awesome

    Love the show. Thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IlliniGuy1234
    United States3 months ago
  • Informative

    This podcast is great and incredibly informative. In the James Madison episode, the dismissive tone of racism around the three fifths compromise was incredibly disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Abc News User331
    United States3 months ago
  • Left wingers

    Should not try to teach history because they can't. Don't waste your time.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Marines of 75
    United States3 months ago
  • Educated, Timely, & Necessary

    Beautifully thought provoking and insightful podcast. The subject matter in each episode not only strengthens our understanding of the past, but more importantly, lends a necessary filter through which we may uniquely comprehend the gravity of our own time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ElizabethWaters
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The host delivers nonpartisan history with thoughtful questions and scholarship.
Episodes are praised for clarity in connecting past events to current civic themes.
Listeners appreciate the depth and scholarly guests.
Guests are well-chosen and bring credible expertise to historical debates.
Some criticisms note perceived biases in coverage, though overall feedback emphasizes educational value.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#41
Israel/History
Apple Podcasts
#184
Philippines/History
Apple Podcasts
#241
Indonesia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Franklin Pierce Fails to Read the Room
Q: So, what is at stake in the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and why did Pierce end up signing it?
The Act repealed the Missouri Compromise line, allowing popular sovereignty to decide the fate of slavery in new territories, which in practice led to conflicts like Bleeding Kansas and split the Democratic Party, ultimately accelerating the rise of Republicans.
Abraham Lincoln's Union
Q: What are their different conceptions of what the Union is, as debated with Douglas?
Holzer explains that Douglas favored popular sovereignty to shape new states, while Lincoln argued for a Union that could expand morally and politically, ultimately contending with slavery's future in a way that would preserve the Union while limiting its expansion.
Abraham Lincoln's Union
Q: Now his early years are less clear. So can you tell us about them?
Harold Holzer outlines Lincoln's origins from a self-educated youth in a Kentucky upbringing to a relentless self-improver who built a legal and political career that laid the groundwork for his later national leadership.
Millard Fillmore Kicks the Can Down the Road
Q: Was Fillmore satisfied with the Compromise of 1850, and did he enforce it?
Yes, he supported the passage as a necessary union-preserving move, even though he remained personally opposed to slavery, and he aggressively enforced the Fugitive Slave Act.
William Henry Harrison Delivers a Warning
Q: What messages did his inaugural address convey about democracy and power?
He warned that executive power must be checked, majority rule has limits, and democracy must protect minority rights while resisting political fraud and party zeal that could undermine constitutional principles.

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 In Pursuit

What is In Pursuit about and what kind of topics does it cover?

- This show consistently centers historic figures, presidential era politics, constitutional development, and the evolution of democratic institutions, anchored by rigorous historical analysis and contextual storytelling. Episodes frequently pair scholarly guests with a media-savvy host to unpack long-running threads in American history, from founding era debates to 19th-century political culture and first ladies' influence. A notable strength is the clear emphasis on nonpartisan analysis, accessible narrative, and linking past decisions to contemporary civic questions, which can help listeners understand the big-picture arc of American governance without losing sight of detail.

- A distinctive angle is the series' reliance on top historian... more

Where can I find podcast stats for In Pursuit?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for In Pursuit. 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 In Pursuit and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does In Pursuit get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for In Pursuit, 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 In Pursuit?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for In Pursuit, 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 In Pursuit have?

To see how many followers or subscribers In Pursuit 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 In Pursuit?

These podcasts share a similar audience with In Pursuit:

1. Saigon
2. The Art of Adventure
3. Hidden History with Dr. Harini Bhat
4. Suspicious Minds: AI and the Apocalypse
5. Government That Doesn't Suck

How many episodes of In Pursuit are there?

In Pursuit launched 6 months ago and published 15 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 In Pursuit?

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 In Pursuit?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for In Pursuit 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 In Pursuit?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of In Pursuit. 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 In Pursuit?

Recent guests on In Pursuit include:

1. Harold Holzer
2. David Blight
3. Steve Israel
4. Matthew Costello
5. Sharon McMahon
6. Jon Meacham
7. Danielle Allen
8. Robert Costa

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