Rephonic
Artwork for The Last Best Hope?

The Last Best Hope?

Adam Smith
American Revolution
Bill Clinton
Boston Tea Party
Fascism
George H.W. Bush
Civil Rights Movement
Kennedy Assassination
U.S. Presidential Elections
Ross Perot
Lee Harvey Oswald
Samuel Adams
Boston
Ku Klux Klan
Franklin Roosevelt
German American Bund
Abraham Lincoln
Dred Scott Decision
Phyllis Wheatley
Belinda
Declaration Of Independence

Historian and broadcaster Professor Adam Smith explores the America of today through the lens of the past. Is America - as Abraham Lincoln once claimed - the last best hope of Earth?

Produced by Oxford University’s world-leading Rothermere American Institute, each story-filled episode looks at the US from the outside in – delving into the political events, conflicts, speeches and songs that have s... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes79Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistoryArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Last Best Hope?

Latest Episodes

It is one of the most famous speeches in the English language and one of the most consequential. In this special two-part documentary, we explore Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address – why he gave it, what it meant, and its impact at the time and eve... more

It is one of the most famous speeches in the English language and one of the most consequential. In this special two-part documentary, we explore Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address – why he gave it, what it meant, and its impact at the time and eve... more

A year on, what does Trump’s comeback say about Biden’s understanding of the country he led? Was his vision of America already obsolete — a relic of the bipartisan consensus forged in the 1950s when young Joe was coming of age? 

In this episode, we ... more

If America is the last, best hope of earth, one reason is the frontier. The frontier has been imagined as the place—or perhaps the process—through which the American character is forged—rugged individualism, the possibility of acquiring land and weal... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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

Patricia Nelson Limerick
Professor of History at the University of Colorado, Boulder, author of Legacy of Conquest.
University of Colorado, Boulder
Episode: The Myth of the Frontier
Greg Grandin
Professor of History at Yale and author of The End of the Myth, which won the Pulitzer Prize.
Yale University
Episode: The Myth of the Frontier
Daniel Drezner
Distinguished professor of international politics and author
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University
Episode: Trump’s Second Term Foreign Policy in Historical Context
Jay Sexton
President of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, author
University of Missouri
Episode: Trump’s Second Term Foreign Policy in Historical Context
Marty Baron
Former Executive Editor of the Washington Post and author of "Collision of Power, Trump, Bezos and the Washington Post"
Washington Post
Episode: Journalism and Democracy: Lessons from Walter Lippmann
Tom Arnold Forster
Author of "Walter Lippmann, An Intellectual Biography"
Princeton University Press
Episode: Journalism and Democracy: Lessons from Walter Lippmann
Ursula Hackett
Academic from Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London
Episode: The Age of Polarization Election Special Part 4: 2016
Patrick Andelic
Academic from the University of Northumbria
University of Northumbria
Episode: The Age of Polarization Election Special Part 4: 2016
EJ Dionne Jr.
Distinguished journalist and author, long-time op-ed columnist for the Washington Post
The Washington Post
Episode: God and Trump: Evangelicals and Politics in today's America

Host

Adam Smith
Historian and broadcaster with extensive experience in American history, also serves as Director of the Rothermere American Institute.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 257 ratings
  • Tim Robison

    Thank you for your excellent work. I’ve especially enjoyed the Gettysburg Address show that you’ve done. Please keep up this important work, not just for the U.S. and U.K. but for the whole world.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tim Robison
    United States6 days ago
  • Wasted of time

    Came for history, got politics… that didn’t age well. Out of touch which suggest if this person is a scholar he was educated by fools. No true sense of actual insight or even attempt to understand different MODERN/CURRENT political views… which I have no idea why they are even needed for historical storytelling which makes the commentary on past political stances suspect. Thankfully the episodes are short so I didn’t waste too much time. gave a second episode and try and five mins in I couldn’t ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    dAnRam
    United States4 months ago
  • Excellent

    I found The Last Best Hope through The Rest Is History. The guests are serious scholars, and each episode offers thought-provoking insights into the historical forces that shape modern America.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    InfamousLN
    United States9 months ago
  • Consistently intriguing

    I love the framing of the podcast and the host and his producers bring interesting voices to the show. I have learned new things about American history from every episode. And every one is well organized and very engaging.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KiraGould
    United Statesa year ago
  • Top Notch

    A first class podcast. Informed, thoughtful and tells you the things that you don’t already know or hear from mainstream media.

    Great to have a historian of Smith’s stature sharing such insights.

    One of the very best.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ipaul321
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Content is both academic and accessible, appealing to a broad audience interested in nuanced political analysis.
Commentary is insightful and thought-provoking, providing fresh perspectives on U.S. history and politics.
High-quality guests and engaging discussions enhance understanding of historical contexts in modern America.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#185
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#171
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#198
South Africa/History
Apple Podcasts
#221
Finland/History
Apple Podcasts
#231
Ireland/History
Apple Podcasts
#234
South Korea/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Myth of the Frontier
Q: Why is the myth ending? Is it ending?
The myth of the frontier might be ending as society faces challenges like economic policies and climate change, transitioning to nativism and border control.
The Myth of the Frontier
Q: What is the essence of the myth of the frontier in American history?
The frontier is a bundle of images and stories that give meaning to American identity, representing a unique aspect of the United States' history of expansion.
Trump’s Second Term Foreign Policy in Historical Context
Q: What national project supported American internationalism in the post-WWII era?
The legitimacy in leadership positions contributed significantly to the buy-in for internationalism.
Trump’s Second Term Foreign Policy in Historical Context
Q: Could we almost go so far as to say that the last 80 years was a strange diversion in American foreign policy?
It's possible future historians may question how NATO endured so long after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Trump’s Second Term Foreign Policy in Historical Context
Q: Does this all strike a familiar chord to you?
Yes, there's a style of talking about foreign affairs that's reminiscent of past policies.

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 The Last Best Hope?

What is The Last Best Hope? about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast offers a unique historical perspective on contemporary America, exploring essential themes and events that have shaped the nation. With each episode, the host, a historian and broadcaster, connects key historical moments and figures to current political, social, and cultural issues, prompting listeners to consider what it means for America to be viewed as 'the last best hope' of Earth. Topics discussed range from significant elections and social movements to the influence of media and dark money in politics, accompanied by insightful commentary from various experts across multiple fields.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Last Best Hope??

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Last Best Hope?. 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 The Last Best Hope? and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Last Best Hope? get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Last Best Hope?, 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 The Last Best Hope??

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Last Best Hope?, 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 The Last Best Hope? have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Last Best Hope? 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 The Last Best Hope??

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Last Best Hope?:

1. The Rest Is History
2. Empire
3. The Rest Is Classified
4. Dan Snow's History Hit
5. WW2 Pod: We Have Ways of Making You Talk

How many episodes of The Last Best Hope? are there?

The Last Best Hope? launched 6 years ago and published 79 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 The Last Best Hope??

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 The Last Best Hope??

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Last Best Hope? 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 The Last Best Hope??

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Last Best Hope?. 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 The Last Best Hope??

Recent guests on The Last Best Hope? include:

1. Patricia Nelson Limerick
2. Greg Grandin
3. Daniel Drezner
4. Jay Sexton
5. Marty Baron
6. Tom Arnold Forster
7. Ursula Hackett
8. Patrick Andelic

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