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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
World War II
Masculinity
San Quentin
14th Amendment
My Old Kentucky Home
American Music History
Racial Identity
Blackface Minstrelsy
The New Deal
Red Scare

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes464Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Road to Now

Latest Episodes

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

Since opening in 2019, the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF) has worked to preserve and share the rich heritage of American music with the people of Boston and the world. In this episode Ben & Bob speak with FARHOF founder, Joe Spaulding, an... more

The Stone Pony and its hometown of Asbury Park, New Jersey are iconic settings in the story of some of America's greatest rock musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, and Southside Johnny Lyon. The Pony's path from high-risk passion... more

Having recently been hit with winter storms, Ben & Bob catch up to talk about the literal and figurative slippery roads all around us. The conversation covers talking politics when we don't agree, the Epstein files and more. We also talk about one of... more

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Recent Guests

Nick Corasaniti
Political journalist for The New York Times and author
The New York Times
Episode: The Stone Pony w/ Nick Corasaniti
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
Dr. Eric Smoodin
Professor in American Studies and Film Studies at UC Davis
UC Davis
Episode: It's a Wonderful Life: The Story Behind America's Favorite Christmas Film w/ Eric Smoodin
Bruce Carlson
Historian and host of My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
Episode: America's First War on Christmas w/ Bruce Carlson
Emmylou Harris
Influential singer-songwriter in Americana music
Episode: Americana w/ Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter known for his contributions to Americana and country music
Episode: Americana w/ Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell

Hosts

Bob Crawford
Co-host of the conversation, bringing his musicianship and perspective from the arts to historical discussions.
Dr. Ben Sawyer
Co-host contributing scholarly insights and historical analysis drawn from his academic background.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 823 ratings
  • Relevant, informational and timely

    Always well researched, informative guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    craig.winchell
    United Statesa month 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 States5 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 States5 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 States6 months ago
  • Great!

    If you’re liberal and want to remain in your echo chamber. If they took to liberal policies, ideas, and politicians the way they do conservative ones, it’d be fair.

    So if you suffer from TDS, you’ll absolutely enjoy this show of everything you don’t agree with is fascist and/or literal Hitler.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nashville Bulldawg
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many find the insights from expert guests add significant value and depth to the conversations.
Listeners appreciate the informative and engaging nature of the discussions, highlighting the ability of the hosts to connect historical themes to modern contexts.
There are some critiques regarding perceived political biases influencing the narrative, especially from listeners preferring a more neutral historical approach.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#236
United States/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
#358 Storm at the Capitol w/ Mary Clare Jalonick
Q: Could you just open up by telling us your story? How did you come to do this?
I was there in the Capitol on January 6th. I'm a reporter for the Associated Press, and I have been covering January 6th since it happened...

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

Conversations hosted by a musician and a history professor explore intersections between past and present through discussions with historians, artists, and other experts. The content covers a wide array of subjects, from pivotal historical events and cultural phenomena to music and literature, emphasizing their relevance to contemporary society. With a focus on storytelling, these exchanges provide listeners with unique insights into how historical narratives continue to shape modern identity and thought, catering to both history enthusiasts and those interested in cultural discussions.

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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. History That Doesn't Suck
2. History Unplugged Podcast
3. American History Hit
4. Public Figures
5. The Bowery Boys: New York City History

How many episodes of The Road to Now are there?

The Road to Now launched 10 years ago and published 464 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 Road to Now?

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What guests have appeared on The Road to Now?

Recent guests on The Road to Now include:

1. Nick Corasaniti
2. Mary Clare Jalonick
3. Michelle Paranzino
4. Jay Sexton
5. Jeff Clements
6. Dr. Eric Smoodin
7. Bruce Carlson
8. Emmylou Harris

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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