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Artwork for Listening to America

Listening to America

Listening to America
Thomas Jefferson
John Steinbeck
John Adams
Slavery
George Washington
American History
Constitution
Donald Trump
Lewis and Clark Expedition
United States
Public Lands
Louisiana Purchase
Christmas
Civil Rights Movement
American Revolution
Theodore Roosevelt
Declaration Of Independence
Alexander Hamilton
Civil Rights
Conspiracy Theories

Listening to America aims to "light out for the territories," traveling less visited byways and taking time to see this immense, extraordinary country with fresh eyes while listening to the many voices of America's past, present, and future. Led by noted historian and humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson, Listening to America travels the country's less visited byways, from national parks and forests ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes566Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Artwork for Listening to America

Latest Episodes

Author and explorer Denis Belliveau talks with Clay about his epic journey along the entire Silk Road in the footsteps of Marco Polo. Polo (ca. 1254-1324) traveled from Venice to the far end of China between 1271 and 1295 AD. He visited Kublai Khan i... more

Host David Horton asks Clay Jenkinson what we have learned from the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and all that has transpired since 2001. Clay offers six lessons — beware of overreacting; avoid endless wars that have little to... more

Clay's conversation with historian Jim Rasenberger, the author of "A Perfect Coincidence: The Extraordinary Friendship and Astonishing Deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson." Jefferson and Adams collaborated on the Declaration of Independence in ... more

Host David Horton interviews the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, about the days and weeks following the Fourth of July 1776. How quickly did the printed texts of the Declaration circulate? What was the information network of t... more

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Recent Guests

Denis Belliveau
Explorer, photographer, writer; co-author of In the Footsteps of Marco Polo
Episode: #1723 On the Trail of Marco Polo
Jim Rasenberger
Author of A Perfect Coincidence: The Extraordinary Friendship and Astonishing Deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson
Author, A Perfect Coincidence
Episode: #1721 Jefferson and Adams: A Fresh Interpretation
David Osborne
Author and education reformist, Reinventing Government author and Turnaround filmmaker
Author, Turnaround filmmaker
Episode: #1719 Reinventing America's Educational System
Richard Battle
Author of Americans Who Made America series (18th–20th centuries)
Author, historian
Episode: #1717 Optimism and American Success
Ben Abbott
Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Sustainability at Brigham Young University; Executive Director of Grow the Flow
Brigham Young University; Grow the Flow
Episode: #1715 Can We Save Great Salt Lake?
Joshua Jay
Professional magician and educator
Vanishing Ink
Episode: #1713 The Magic of Joshua Jay
Sandra Murray
Trailblazing producer behind the scenes of more than 250 films
Hollywood/Behind-the-Scenes Production
Episode: #1712 The Changing Face of Hollywood
Joseph Ellis
Pulitzer Prize–winning historian
Yale University; author of biographies on Jefferson, Washington, Adams
Episode: #1711 Pulitzer Prize-Winning Historian Joe Ellis on America at 250
Peter Stark
Author of The Lost Cities of El Norte, Coronado's Quest, The Unconquered West, and The Birth of American Indian Resistance
Author, The Lost Cities of El Norte
Episode: #1708 The Amazing Explorations of Francisco Coronado

Hosts

Clay Jenkinson
Host of Listening to America; historian and humanities scholar.
David Horton
Co-host and interview facilitator; frequently guest-host/interviewer.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Jefferson and Adams of fresh interpretation

    I listen to most of the podcasts and I enjoy what I hear. I also look forward to your emails every week. This podcast was so good I pulled out my book, The Adams Jefferson Letters the complete Correspondence.

    What a fine conversation I really enjoyed it, and read the letters that were mentioned toward the end. Great podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hist4Me
    United States18 days ago
  • Still remember the first time I heard CJ as TJ

    I was a regular listener to Christopher Lydon’s The Connection. CJ was a guest in character. The experience and perspective blew my mind. I’ve been a TJH listener ever since. While the newest iteration, LtA, leaves me wanting a return to the original formula, I still enjoy most shows.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    MatthewWanderer
    United Statesa month ago
  • Cut out the woke talk clay!

    Some good content, but intermixed w some wack job lefty views on politics/economics… like the familiar “progressive” trope that there are too many billionaires and too little “equality”… while failing to mention that even the poorest in our capitalist republic live better today than the kings of yesteryear (better medicine, technology, transportation, food…)…

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    los altos bear
    United States3 months ago
  • Subject matter is great

    But I find the host to be an egotistical blowhard.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Caper127
    United States5 months ago
  • Very disappointing

    The Thomas Jefferson Hour was a rare source of optimism and inspiration. Listening to America is just another overly pessimistic political show that presents few facts. It is higher brow than most, but it is shocking the click bait qualities it has acquired.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Trot87
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critics feel the format has become more political, and a few reviews mention perceived podcast bias.
Listeners appreciate careful historical analysis and civil discourse, with strong praise for guests and host storytelling.
Audio quality and pacing receive mixed feedback, with some long-time fans noting improvements and others calling for format adjustments.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#1720 The Declaration of Independence: The Days After Adoption
Q: What did the Declaration mean for people of color and slaves at the time?
Jefferson explains that the universal language of rights was intended in principle, but practical constraints and political realities prevented immediate emancipation; the discussion reveals both aspiration and fear of unintended consequences.
#1719 Reinventing America's Educational System
Q: But is this scalable? Could this be done in 50 states?
Yes, and DC and several states have already implemented similar models; the discussion highlights how governance, funding, and local leadership can be aligned to scale charter-like flexibility while maintaining accountability.
#1719 Reinventing America's Educational System
Q: What are your thoughts?
Osborne outlines that the core path to reform lies in charter schools, which provide autonomy and clear accountability metrics, and argues this approach can address inadequacies in the current system.
#1717 Optimism and American Success
Q: Richard, do you have a religious perspective? Is there a Christian focus on these books? Is it secular? Is it neither?
I have a couple of Christian examples. I am a Christian and a believer, and that influence is visible in some of the examples I include, though the books themselves are not faith‑based; they include diverse figures across centuries.
#1715 Can We Save Great Salt Lake?
Q: Is a recovery by 2034 realistic, and what would it take to get there?
It would require a combination of demand management, market-based incentives, interstate coordination, and federal support, along with a cultural shift toward conservation and collaborative governance; progress is happening but the timeline is tight and not guaranteed.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Listening to America

What is Listening to America about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Historically minded hosts explore American civic life, public policy, and national identity by traveling to parks, monuments, and lesser-known locales, pairing first-person explorations with deep archival and scholarly discussions. Episodes often feature historians, writers, conservationists, and journalists who illuminate constitutional questions, public lands, and national narratives, while weaving in contemporary events to highlight enduring tensions between liberty, governance, and public memory. A standout aspect is the show's willingness to blend traditional historical inquiry with accessible storytelling and civics education, making complex topics approachable for curious adults with an appetite for context-driven perspectives.

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Which podcasts are similar to Listening to America?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Listening to America:

1. Ben Franklin's World
2. For the Ages: A History Podcast
3. Lectures in History
4. Booknotes+
5. The Road to Now

How many episodes of Listening to America are there?

Listening to America launched 20 years ago and published 566 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 Listening to America?

Recent guests on Listening to America include:

1. Denis Belliveau
2. Jim Rasenberger
3. David Osborne
4. Richard Battle
5. Ben Abbott
6. Joshua Jay
7. Sandra Murray
8. Joseph Ellis

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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