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The Preamble

Sharon McMahon
World War II
Leo Frank
Joseph Stalin
Democracy
Social Media
Anti-Semitism
Pearl Harbor
Mary Phagan
Empathy
Cynicism
Daniel Inouye
Defiance
Civil Rights Movement
Book Bans
Charles Duhigg
Newt Lee
Mental Health
Jimmy Carter
Atlanta
John Lewis

The world feels complicated. The Preamble is where it starts to make sense. Hosted by Sharon McMahon — known for making sense of complex issues — she and her guests dive deep into the stories and ideas driving our future, bringing clarity and honesty to every headline. If you want real insight, bold conversation, and answers that matter, this podcast is your must-listen. Hit play, and join the mov... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes505Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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Artwork for The Preamble

Latest Episodes

Shakespeare and Al Capone. What could possibly be a link between these two men who were born centuries apart? A master codebreaker named Elizebeth Smith Friedman. If her name doesn’t sound familiar, there’s a reason for that. Even though she is one o... more

It's time to return to the art of espionage. During World War II, Prime Minister Winston Churchill understood that boots on the ground were only one piece of the puzzle to drive out the enemy. In order to sabotage German operations across Europe, he ... more

In a previous episode of our series, we had a conversation about the combined efforts of the Allied science community to beat Germany in the race to understand and build atomic weapons. It was a team effort, and you know what? We barely scratched the... more

Let’s head to Great Britain and learn about a military organization that recruited women into the war effort all across the country. Women volunteered in great numbers and, throughout the war, thousands of women participated. You might even call them... more

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Recent Guests

Vera Atkins
Head of the F-section of the SOE during WWII, British intelligence officer of Romanian Jewish origin
Special Operations Executive (SOE)
Episode: How Women Won WWII: Sabotage and a Jewish Spymaster
Kim Holderness
Guest, from the Holderness Family Podcast
Holderness Family Podcast
Episode: Mayhem: The 1970s You Never Knew, Episode 4
Penn Holderness
Guest, from the Holderness Family Podcast
Holderness Family Podcast
Episode: Mayhem: The 1970s You Never Knew, Episode 4
Fred Haise
Astronaut, Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 13
NASA
Episode: Mayhem: The 1970s You Never Knew, Episode 1
Rainn Wilson
Actor and activist
The Office (Cast)
Episode: Growing Hope: What Depression-Era Gardens and Rainn Wilson Teach Us About Hard Times
Matt Beat
teacher, podcast host, and musician known as MrBeat
YouTube/MrBeat channel
Episode: America at 250: Staying Hopeful, plus Saying No in a World That Demands Yes
Sunita Sah
Cornell Professor and author of Defy, The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes
Cornell University
Episode: America at 250: Staying Hopeful, plus Saying No in a World That Demands Yes
Suzy Welch
Host of Becoming You, three-time New York Times bestselling author, NYU professor
Becoming You / NYU
Episode: Welcome to Becoming You with Suzy Welch
Condoleezza Rice
Former U.S. Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
Episode: Condoleezza Rice on Democracy, Patriotism, and Why She Still Has Hope

Host

Sharon McMahon
Host of the show; known for clarifying complex issues and presenting historical and current affairs with accessible storytelling.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 18.2k ratings
  • Wonder of history

    Growing up in the 70’s, I saw this history but not until now did I understand the chaos that I saw happening around me. So grateful for this podcast, Sharon and team!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    buttonsbel
    United States2 months ago
  • Loving the 70s

    Sharon and team thank you so much for The Preamble about the 70s. I am finding it fascinating. I was born in 1961 so I lived through the 70s but of course I was pretty young to remember a lot of things. I look forward to each and every episode. Love your work thank you for all you do to keep us informed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pamjo79
    United States3 months ago
  • Sharon is a national treasure

    Thank you for your work and for making history and government so interesting!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RachelLovesPodcasts
    United States4 months ago
  • Love it!

    Great podcast. Thoughtful guests and when there isn’t a guest there is always great information. I also really REALLY enjoyed the Mayhem 70’s series. Highly recommended especially what is going now days here is the USA in regards to Iran. Sharon , please PLeASe do other decades. Thank you so much

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jolanta De La Rosa
    United States6 months ago
  • Champions for knowledge

    It is nice to be able to gather insight with the encouragement to DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH not just follow blindly. Sharon has always promoted this as long as I’ve followed her platforms. Hanging on any one persons every word without looking for other viewpoints and credible sources, even those we don’t agree with, is irresponsible… So I will keep coming back for more! Outside of the horrible things that happen there is also good and Sharon shares both!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mrs.Millzy
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise clear, well-researched history and civics content.
Fans describe the host as a compelling educator who makes complex topics approachable.
Many note balanced, non-partisan presentation and engaging storytelling.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#178
United States/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Introducing Family Lore
Q: What made you so interested in ancestral lines and ancestral influences?
The host describes a long-standing curiosity about how stories travel through families and shape identity, emphasizing that they want to understand the circumstances that moved ancestors around the world rather than just collecting trivia.
America at 250: Staying Hopeful, plus Saying No in a World That Demands Yes
Q: How can listeners begin to practice defiance in their daily lives?
Anticipate common pressure points, script what you will say, role-play, and train your mind and mouth to express defiant statements while staying within constructive boundaries.
America at 250: Staying Hopeful, plus Saying No in a World That Demands Yes
Q: What role do coalitions play in moving big issues forward in a pluralistic democracy?
Coalitions are essential because most important legislative changes have historically required building broad, diverse support and crossing normal ideological boundaries to achieve common goals.
America at 250: Staying Hopeful, plus Saying No in a World That Demands Yes
Q: Your book is about defiance in a world that demands yes. How do you define being defiant in practical terms?
Defiance means acting in accordance with your own true values when there is pressure to do otherwise, and recognizing that true consent comes from within rather than from external expectations.
Growing Hope: What Depression-Era Gardens and Rainn Wilson Teach Us About Hard Times
Q: How did Rainn describe his shift from atheism to spirituality?
Rainn explained his journey through questioning faith, exploring spiritual questions, and ultimately embracing a spiritual perspective that informs his approach to life and creativity.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About The Preamble

What is The Preamble about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show focuses on clarifying complex current events and historical topics through thoughtful storytelling, expert guests, and rigorous analysis. It frequently covers history, politics, espionage, and social issues, aiming to illuminate how past and present headlines intersect. Listeners tend to value clear explanations, well-researched context, and a balanced approach, with episodes featuring deep dives into underexplored histories and contemporary implications. A standout trait is the host's ability to make dense subjects accessible and engaging, often pairing narrative storytelling with credible sourcing. This makes it a strong fit for audiences seeking educational, civics-minded discussion with actionable takeaways and a cadence suitab... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Preamble?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Preamble:

1. Pantsuit Politics
2. Mo News
3. The Lazy Genius Podcast
4. For The Love With Jen Hatmaker Podcast
5. The Next Right Thing

How many episodes of The Preamble are there?

The Preamble launched 5 years ago and published 505 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 The Preamble?

Recent guests on The Preamble include:

1. Vera Atkins
2. Kim Holderness
3. Penn Holderness
4. Fred Haise
5. Rainn Wilson
6. Matt Beat
7. Sunita Sah
8. Suzy Welch

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