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The Road to Now

RTN Productions
It's a Wonderful Life
FBI
Civil Rights Movement
Frank Capra
Stephen Foster
J. Edgar Hoover
Civil War
American Cinema
The Stephen Foster Story
Race Relations
Masculinity
San Quentin
World War II
14th Amendment
Blackface Minstrelsy
My Old Kentucky Home
Racial Identity
American Music History
Red Scare
The New Deal

Bob Crawford (The Avett Brothers) & Dr. Ben Sawyer (MTSU History) share conversations with great thinkers from a variety of backgrounds – historians, artists, legal scholars, political figures and more –who help us uncover the many roads that run between past and present. For more information, visit TheRoadToNow.com If you'd like to support our work, join us on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheRoadToNow

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes467Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Road to Now

Latest Episodes

Martin Van Buren served just one term as President from 1837 to 1841, but as the architect behind the founding of the Democratic Party, his legacy lives on in the US today. In this episode, we speak with James M. Bradley, author of the new book Marti... more

Ben & Bob speak with Hans Zeiger, President of the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America's Founding Principles & History. We discuss the work that the JMC is doing to promote teaching the founding principles and civics to Americas young people from... more

Bob Crawford's first book has arrived! America's Founding Son: John Quincy Adams from President to Political Maverick launches March 10 via Zando Press and we're celebrating with an episode dedicated to the book.

Bob will be speaking about his new... more

The Oscars hold a special place in popular culture, but the first Academy Awards ceremony, held in 1929, bore little resemblance to the spectacle most of us know today. In this episode, media expert Monica Sandler takes us from that first award cerem... more

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Recent Guests

Hans Zeigler
President of the Jack Miller Center
Jack Miller Center
Episode: #363 What are America's Founding Principles? w/ Hans Zeiger
Bob Crawford
Author of the book Americas Founding Son: John Quincy Adams from President to Political Maverick
Zando Press
Episode: #362 America's Founding Son: John Quincy Adams w/ Bob Crawford
Monica Sandler
Historian and Oscar-Industry expert
Independent researcher / academic
Episode: #361 The Oscars: A History of the Academy Awards w/ Monica Sandler
Nick Corasaniti
Political journalist for The New York Times and author
The New York Times
Episode: The Stone Pony w/ Nick Corasaniti
Dr. Lina Britto
Associate Professor of History specializing in Colombian history and the history of the international drug trade.
Northwestern University
Episode: Colombia, the US and the War on Drugs w/ Lina Britto
Mary Clare Jalonick
Capitol Hill reporter for the Associated Press
Associated Press
Episode: #358 Storm at the Capitol w/ Mary Clare Jalonick
Michelle Paranzino
TC SAS Chair in Maritime Irregular Warfare and Associate Professor of Strategy and Policy at the US Naval War College
US Naval War College
Episode: #357 Venezuela in Context: US Foreign Policy in Latin America w/ Michelle Paranzino
Jay Sexton
Professor of History at the University of Missouri and expert on the Monroe Doctrine
University of Missouri
Episode: #356 The Monroe Doctrine w/ Jay Sexton
Jeff Clements
Founder of American Promise
American Promise
Episode: #355 Money in American Politics w/ Jeff Clements

Hosts

Bob Crawford
Host of The Road to Now; co-host; musician and public figure.
Dr. Ben Sawyer
Co-host and historian; educator with a focus on history.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 827 ratings
  • Great Show

    This show is thoughtful, measured, informative and always interesting

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    royalhinesh
    United Statesa month ago
  • Relevant, informational and timely

    Always well researched, informative guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    craig.winchell
    United States2 months ago
  • Intriguing Topics

    I love the intriguing topics and unique ideas I get from the conversations on this podcast. Keep up the good work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Srl311rpm
    United States6 months ago
  • Great listen

    I’ve been listening ever since Ben was on the Nate land podcast. This pod is good easy listening full of great information. That is actually interesting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    nighttrain007
    United States6 months ago
  • Not what I thought

    I have been looking for a good podcast on history that helps explain some of the famous stories a little better but this was not it. Instead it’s just them putting their political spin on everything and that’s not what I was looking for. I just want to hear about the story not why you think all republicans are awful. If you love hearing why being a liberal is right with a little history sprinkled in this is the podcast for you.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SRusso04
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews note perceived ideological bias and requests for more balanced framing.
Thoughtful, insightful discussions with top-tier guests are the show's hallmark.
Listeners appreciate the depth and breadth of topics, from presidential history to cultural movements.
Overall, feedback highlights strong research, engaging hosts, and high-quality guest selections.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#109
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#223
United Arab Emirates/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#363 What are America's Founding Principles? w/ Hans Zeiger
Q: What are the founding principles that Jack Miller Center focuses on teaching?
They start with the equality of all people, rights inherent to individuals, and the social contract; they emphasize reading and debating foundational documents like the Declaration and Constitution to understand the responsibilities of citizenship.
The Stone Pony w/ Nick Corasaniti
Q: Is it a misnomer that he defined himself at the Stone Pony, or had he already defined himself and then came to the Spirit Stone Pony?
Corasaniti explains that while Springsteen is closely associated with the venue, he had already built his career and was more connected to the upstage club.
The Stone Pony w/ Nick Corasaniti
Q: How did this book come to be? What made you want to write this book as your first book?
Corasaniti describes his connection to Asbury Park through the New Jersey punk scene in the late 90s and how it evolved over time, reflecting on the cultural significance of the venue.
#358 Storm at the Capitol w/ Mary Clare Jalonick
Q: Can you talk about how that fits into The Greater Story you're telling?
There were hundreds of trials... having that volume of material to be able to really tell the story of what he was thinking and what he was feeling in that moment.
#358 Storm at the Capitol w/ Mary Clare Jalonick
Q: What do we know? What's the story?
Basically there were many rioters, or I shouldn't say rioters, and they didn't come to Washington as rioters... But a huge crowd marched down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol.

Audience Metrics

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

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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Road to Now

What is The Road to Now about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A history-forward show that pairs two longtime hosts with leading thinkers from academia, journalism, law, and the arts to explore how past events shape today's world. Episodes frequently center on big ideas in U.S. foreign and domestic policy, cultural history, and political dynamics, colored by fresh interview voices—from presidential historians and policy researchers to historians of music and culture—with a knack for tying historical threads to contemporary issues. A standout element is the diverse guest slate, which often includes prominent academics, journalists, and public figures, plus notable musicians who illuminate cultural movements; this blend creates thoughtful conversations that are accessible to curious listeners who want cl... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Road to Now?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Road to Now:

1. Fresh Air
2. We the People
3. Listening to America
4. For the Ages: A History Podcast
5. Revisionist History

How many episodes of The Road to Now are there?

The Road to Now launched 10 years ago and published 467 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 Road to Now?

Recent guests on The Road to Now include:

1. Hans Zeigler
2. Bob Crawford
3. Monica Sandler
4. Nick Corasaniti
5. Dr. Lina Britto
6. Mary Clare Jalonick
7. Michelle Paranzino
8. Jay Sexton

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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