Rephonic
Artwork for The Road to Now

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
American Music History
Racial Identity
Blackface Minstrelsy
My Old Kentucky Home
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes445Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Road to Now

Latest Episodes

Guerilla violence in the American Civil War was once considered a fringe topic of study, but the scale of the violence and its impact on society had a tremendous impact on the US during and after the conflict. In this episode, we speak with historian... more

Chinese immigrants helped establish America’s foothold on the western coast, yet few of us know what life looked like for those Chinese people who came to live in the US. In this episode, Beth Lew-Williams joins us to discuss her new book, John Doe C... more

Washington Post Global Economics Correspondent David J. Lynch joins Ben & Bob for a discussion about his new book The World’s Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong (and What Would Make it Right) (Public Affairs, 2025). David has a uniqu... more

It’s Labor Day, so we’re sharing one of our favorite conversations on the history of labor in the US- our 2018 conversation with Louis Hyman on his book Temp: The Real Story of What Happened to Your Salary, Benefits & Job Security. We hope you have ... 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

Beth Lew-Williams
Dan David Prize winner and author of 'John Doe Chinaman, A Forgotten History of Chinese Life Under American Racial Law'
Princeton University
Episode: #346 A Forgotten History of Chinese Life in the United States w/ Beth Lew-Williams
David J. Lynch
Journalist and author
Washington Post
Episode: #345 How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong w/ David J. Lynch
Louis Hyman
Historian and author of 'Temp,' analyzing American labor and the gig economy
Cornell University
Episode: How the American Dream Became Temporary w/ Louis Hyman
Peter Stark
Author of Gallop Toward the Sun
Episode: Tecumseh and William Henry Harrison’s Struggle for a Nation w/ Peter Stark
Dayton Duncan
Author and writer, known for his collaboration with Ken Burns
Episode: The American Buffalo w/ Dayton Duncan
Ken Burns
Renowned Documentary Filmmaker and collaborator with Dayton Duncan
Episode: The American Buffalo w/ Dayton Duncan
Jack Matlock
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union and long-time Foreign Service officer
U.S. State Department
Episode: US Diplomacy and the End of the Cold War w/ Jack Matlock
Jeff Bieber
Documentarian and director of "Hannah Arendt Facing Tyranny"
Episode: #342 Hannah Arendt: Facing Tyranny w/ Jeff Bieber
Kathleen DuVall
Author of "Native Nations, A Millennium in North America" and Pulitzer Prize winner
Episode: #341 Native Nations w/ Kathleen DuVal

Hosts

Bob Crawford
Co-host and a musician known for his engaging storytelling and passionate discussions on history.
Ben Sawyer
Co-host and history scholar, bringing academic insights to the discussions that bridge the past and present.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 791 ratings
  • 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 States16 days 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 States3 months ago
  • American Historical Association episode

    Not only is this podcast geared toward teaching incredibly useful history instead of just fun tidbits, but as a high school history teacher hearing the head of the American Historical Association call secondary history teachers professionals healed something in me after my profession has been vilified so consistently over the last 5 years. Thank you!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yorgasol
    United States5 months ago
  • Makes History Interesting

    I enjoy this podcast because it makes history so interesting. The discussions are always relevant and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Larkin2057
    United States5 months ago
  • Fascinating and Engaging History Podcast

    The Road to Now is one of the best history podcasts out there, blending expert storytelling with deep historical insights. Bob and Ben have an incredible ability to make the past feel relevant and engaging, connecting historical events to our present in a way that’s both educational and entertaining. Their research is thorough, their guests are top-notch, and their conversations are always thought-provoking. Whether you’re a history buff or just curious about how the past shapes our world today,... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Martin D 28 R
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The podcast is praised for making history accessible and relevant to contemporary issues.
Listeners appreciate the depth and quality of the discussions, often emphasizing the intelligence and expertise of the guests.
Some negative feedback mentions a perceived political bias that skews discussions more towards liberal ideologies, which may not resonate with all audiences.
Overall, listeners find the content engaging and enlightening, often recommending it to those interested in thoughtful conversations about history.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#245
United States/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How the American Dream Became Temporary w/ Louis Hyman
Q: What does Hyman propose for balancing freedom and stability in the workforce?
He suggests that while the gig economy offers autonomy, society must ensure economic security and rethink the relationship between workers and employers.
How the American Dream Became Temporary w/ Louis Hyman
Q: What does Hyman mean by the second industrious revolution?
Hyman discusses a shift in work organization where technology facilitates remote work and individual productivity rather than traditional corporate structures.
The Wide Awakes: The Forgotten Force that Elected Lincoln and Spurred the Civil War w/ Jon Grinspan
Q: In your research, what have you found about The Wide Awakes' impact on why the Civil War broke out?
The Wide Awakes transformed from a political movement into a paramilitary group, contributing to the escalating tensions that led to the Civil War, and their presence was used by Southern leaders to advocate for secession.
US Diplomacy and the End of the Cold War w/ Jack Matlock
Q: How did you convince others that Reagan and Gorbachev could have a good relationship?
Matlock recounts the importance of focusing on human rights in private negotiations while maintaining a supportive dialogue about Russia's internal reforms.
US Diplomacy and the End of the Cold War w/ Jack Matlock
Q: How did we get from the end of the Cold War to where we are now?
Matlock explains the misconceptions surrounding the end of the Cold War and emphasizes that it was not an American victory but rather a negotiation involving both sides.

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 Road to Now

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

Featuring engaging conversations that traverse the intersections of history, culture, and society, this podcast explores a variety of topics through discussions with historians, artists, and public figures. Episodes often highlight lesser-known historical narratives, address contemporary issues through a historical lens, and feature experts who provide unique insights into the human experience across time. The dialogue not only connects past events to current realities but also captivates listeners by presenting history as a living, dynamic entity that shapes our present and future. Listeners can expect to gain a deeper understanding of historical contexts that inform today's cultural and societal discussions, making the episodes both infor... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Road to Now?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Road to Now. 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 Road to Now and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Road to Now get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Road to Now, 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 Road to Now have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Road to Now 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 Road to Now?

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

1. The Consumers
2. The Nateland Podcast
3. My History Can Beat Up Your Politics
4. We're Having a Good Time
5. This American President

How many episodes of The Road to Now are there?

The Road to Now launched 9 years ago and published 445 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?

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 Road to Now?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Road to Now 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 Road to Now?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Road to Now. 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 Road to Now?

Recent guests on The Road to Now include:

1. Beth Lew-Williams
2. David J. Lynch
3. Louis Hyman
4. Peter Stark
5. Dayton Duncan
6. Ken Burns
7. Jack Matlock
8. Jeff Bieber

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