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The Road to Now

RTN Productions
Civil War
American Revolution
It's a Wonderful Life
World War II
Frank Capra
Donald Trump
John Quincy Adams
Cold War
George Washington
Andrew Jackson
Woodrow Wilson
American History
Democratic Party
Soviet Union
Vietnam War
Native American History
Declaration Of Independence
Monroe Doctrine
Voting Rights
Ukraine

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes493Founded10 years ago
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HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Road to Now

Latest Episodes

Hannah Arendt witnessed the rise of Nazism in Germany and her groundbreaking works, including The Origins of Totalitarianism, sought to understand how regular people could be seduced by horrendous ideologies such as antisemitism and fascism. In this ... more

Catherine Grace Katz joins us to talk about her new book, Shadow Before the Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War, and just how much the story of the ill-fated German Zepplin can tell us about the world in the years between World War ... more

George Carlin had a comedy career that spanned half a century, and his take on the US remains relevant more than a decade after his death in 2008. The HBO documentary George Carlin's American Dream tells Carlin's story as he evolved from a clean-cut ... more

North Carolina's Research Triangle has been a hub of innovation and economic growth for more than half a century, but the most remarkable invention in the area's history might be the park itself. In this episode, Mack Paul explains how residents of o... more

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Recent Guests

Catherine Grace Katz
Author of Shadow Before the Flame
Author
Episode: #377 The Hindenburg w/ Catherine Grace Katz
Michael Bonfiglio
Co-director of the George Carlin documentary
HBO documentary project
Episode: George Carlin's American Dream w/ Michael Bonfiglio & Kliph Nesteroff
Kliph Nesteroff
Historian of comedy
Episode: George Carlin's American Dream w/ Michael Bonfiglio & Kliph Nesteroff
Mack Paul
Author of Miracle Road, The Story of Research Triangle Park
Author, Mirage Road book
Episode: #376 Miracle Road: The Story of Research Triangle Park w/ Mack Paul
Jeffrey Rosen
President and CEO of the National Constitution Center; author
National Constitution Center
Episode: The Pursuit of Happiness w/ Jeffrey Rosen
Lindsey Cormack
Associate Professor of Political Science at Stevens Institute of Technology; author of How to Raise a Citizen; host of Government That Doesn't Suck
Stevens Institute of Technology
Episode: #373 Good Government w/ Lindsey Cormack
Michael Tackett
Author of The Price of Power, biographer of Mitch McConnell
Oxford University Press / book author
Episode: Mitch McConnell: The Price of Power w/ Michael Tackett
Bart Elmore
Author of Citizen Coke, The Making of Coca-Cola Capitalism
Episode: Citizen Coke: The History of Coca-Cola w/ Bartow Elmore
Dayton Duncan
Writer for the Ben Franklin documentary (Ken Burns project)
Florentine Films/Ken Burns Films
Episode: Benjamin Franklin w/ Dayton Duncan and David Schmidt

Hosts

Ben Sawyer
Co-host; historian; frequent host and interviewer on historical topics.
Bob Crawford
Host; musician and historian; adept at guiding historical conversations with guests.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 867 ratings
  • Great Show

    This show is thoughtful, measured, informative and always interesting

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    royalhinesh
    United States7 months ago
  • Relevant, informational and timely

    Always well researched, informative guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    craig.winchell
    United States8 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests and hosts are consistently described as knowledgeable and engaging.
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Listeners praise thoughtful, well-researched history and strong guests.
Some reviews note perceived political bias and desire for more neutral historical storytelling.
Feedback highlights the show's ability to connect history to present-day issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#142
Ukraine/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Pursuit of Happiness w/ Jeffrey Rosen
Q: Could you talk about that? (referring to returning to primary sources and the broader sources of happiness in the Founders' context)
Rosen explains how examining primary texts reveals a shared thread: happiness rooted in virtue, self-control, and reason, rather than hedonic gratification, with a cosmopolitan influence from East and West helping to unify the Founders' moral framework.
Necropolis: Disease, Power & Capitalism in 19th Century New Orleans w/ Kathryn Olivarius
Q: Take us through what happens when someone gets yellow fever. What are the symptoms and progression?
The illness can advance rapidly over hours or slowly over weeks; initial nausea and chills give way to intense fever, back pain, weakness, delirium, and in severe cases, black vomit and death. Recovery, when it happens, comes with fever decline and lucid intervals, but many patients die in the final stages, and treatment often involved mercury-based medicines with serious toxic risks.
#373 Good Government w/ Lindsey Cormack
Q: What's the goal of Government That Doesn't Suck, and how is it different from other political discourse?
The goal is to present nonpartisan stories of American government doing things right and to highlight how collective efforts improve lives, while acknowledging missteps, in order to inspire constructive civic engagement.
#372 Obstinate Daughters: Women in the American Revolution w/ Denise Kiernan
Q: What drew you to write about women, enslaved people, and Native Americans in the Revolutionary era?
Kiernan explains that including those groups provides a fuller, more accurate picture of the period, showing how different communities imagined and fought for freedom, and how their everyday actions mattered just as much as battlefield events.
Montgomery C. Meigs: Master Builder of the Union Army w/ Robert O'Harrow Jr.
Q: How did Meigs's approach to logistics revolutionize the Union Army's capabilities?
By organizing cottage industries into a national supply web—boots, uniforms, weapons, and even sewing machines—Meigs created an industrial-scale logistics apparatus that dramatically boosted efficiency and the army's endurance.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Road to Now

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

Two history-focused hosts guide conversations with leading thinkers—from professors and authors to journalists and documentary-makers—to illuminate how past ideas and events shape today's politics, culture, and institutions. Episodes often connect deep archival research with contemporary debates, weaving in discussions on democracy, governance, public policy, and the media landscape. A standout trait is the mix of rigorous historical context with accessible storytelling, plus a steady stream of high-profile, multidisciplinary guests that help render complex topics engaging for curious, educated listeners. The show frequently bridges academia and public life, offering practical takeaways for listeners interested in civics, history, and how i... 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. Government That Doesn't Suck
2. History That Doesn't Suck
3. American History Hit
4. American History Hotline
5. My History Can Beat Up Your Politics

How many episodes of The Road to Now are there?

The Road to Now launched 10 years ago and published 493 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. Catherine Grace Katz
2. Michael Bonfiglio
3. Kliph Nesteroff
4. Mack Paul
5. Jeffrey Rosen
6. Lindsey Cormack
7. Michael Tackett
8. Bart Elmore

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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