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Artwork for The Way of Improvement Leads Home: American History, Religion, Politics, and Academic life.

The Way of Improvement Leads Home: American History, Religion, Politics, and Academic life.

John Fea
Karl Marx
Bernie Sanders
The Squad
Civil War
Great Depression
New Left
American Socialism
Eugene Debs
Identity Politics
Black Lives Matter
Evangelicalism
Sports
Slavery
Black Evangelicals
Christianity
Race Relations
Christian Athlete Movement
The American Revolution
Suburbanization
John Quincy Adams

A biweekly discussion dedicated to American History, historical thinking, and the role of history in our every day lives. Hosted by historian John Fea

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes141Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Way of Improvement Leads Home: American History, Religion, Politics, and Academic life.

Latest Episodes

In this episode, we talk to historian Marc Stein, the current president of the Organization of American Historians, about the 200th anniversary of the United States. Stein's new book Bicentennial: A Revolutionary History of the 1970s chronicles the B... more

This year, our host John Fea has been participating in a new podcast venture on the history of American evangelicalism with historians Daniel Hummel and Maggie Capra. We want listeners to The Way of Improvement Podcast to be aware of this new 12-part... more

After an uneventful one-term presidency, John Quincy Adams was elected to the House of Representatives and fought against the institution of slavery. Our guest is Bob Crawford, bass player for the Avett Brothers and author of America's Founding Son: ... more

How did the suburbs shape American Catholicism? Today's guest on the podcast is historian Stephen M. Koeth, author of Crabgrass Catholicism: How Suburbanization Transformed Faith and Politics in Postwar America. Koeth argues that postwar suburbanizat... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Marc Stein
Professor of History at San Francisco State University; President of the Organization of American Historians
San Francisco State University; Organization of American Historians
Episode: Episode 137: "Remembering America's Bicentennial"
Bob Crawford
Musician and author of America's Founding Son, John Quincy Adams, from President to Political Maverick
The Avett Brothers; Zando Press
Episode: Episode 136: America's Greatest Post-President
Stephen M. Koeth
Author of Crabgrass Catholicism; Assistant Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame; Catholic priest
University of Notre Dame
Episode: Episode 135: The Suburbanization of American Catholicism
Annette Laing
Renegade historian, proprietor and chief content creator of Non Boring History on Substack
Non Boring History, Substack
Episode: Episode 134: Non-Boring History
Douglas Jake Jacobsen
Scholar in religious studies and distinguished professor emeritus of church history and theology
Messiah University
Episode: Episode 133: Thinking as Pilgrimage
Rhonda Husted Jacobsen
Psychologist and higher education scholar with experience in faculty development
Messiah University
Episode: Episode 133: Thinking as Pilgrimage
Kevin M. Schultz
Chair of the Department of History at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and author specializing in 20th and 21st-century American history with a focus on religion and intellectual life.
University of Illinois, Chicago
Episode: Episode 132: Why Do People Hate White Liberals?
Andrew Hartman
A distinguished professor of history at Illinois State University and the author of "Karl Marx in America," Hartman has a significant background in the history of American culture and politics.
Illinois State University
Episode: Episode 131: Karl Marx in America
Jeffrey Rosen
President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, professor of law at George Washington University Law School
National Constitution Center
Episode: Episode 130: Hamilton vs. Jefferson in History and Memory

Host

John Fea
Historian and host, affiliated with The Way of Improvement Leads Home blog/podcast; frequently interviews scholars and authors.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 131 ratings
  • Still listening

    I’m so glad this podcast is back after a long hiatus. Prof. John Fea of Messiah College is a unique thinker and historical scholar who goes into the weeds concerning different topics like politics and religion. Speaking with his brash Jersey accent, Fea interviews intriguing guests and presents interesting historical points.

    I encourage everyone to listen to this podcast because the way of improvement does indeed lead home!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ReportThis505
    United States7 months ago
  • Perfect for my commute.

    I first heard Jon on an episode of PA books. Where he referenced this podcast, and I’m so glad I checked it out and subscribed. On my commute it is great time too as a joke get smarter. This definitely fits the bill. Through Jon’s podcast. I also found some new favorite voices in American contemporary history.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gggyoung
    United States4 years ago
  • Excellent Interviews and Insights

    John Fea's podcasts are enjoyable to listen to and very informative. The interviews are always well prepared and gives some much needed attention to Christian political discourse on the American "left".

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bill Garrett
    United States4 years ago
  • Wonderful

    I have enjoyed every episode. I suppose I am new to the podcast and it looks like the podcast has ended - strike that last sentence, Dr Fea still releases new episodes - not as often as I’d like, but he seems to be a very busy man. The new platform is called Current and I have enjoyed the site (looks like the podcasts there are only for subscribers $), but, once I finish all of the back episodes here - well, I will have to go back and listen to them again. Well worth the time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NM CK
    United States5 years ago
  • Wonderful

    I have enjoyed every episode. I suppose I am new to the podcast and it looks like the podcast has ended. The new platform is called Current and I have enjoyed the site (looks like the podcasts there are only for subscribers $), but, once I finish all of the back episodes here - well, I will have to go back and listen to them again. Well worth the time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NM CK
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Accessible public-history storytelling that translates scholarship for a broad audience.
Thoughtful, civil history discussions with top-shelf guests.
High-quality interviews praised for preparation and thoughtful questions.
Brash, charismatic host voice noted by listeners as a distinctive vibe.
Strong appreciation for the breadth of topics, from religion to politics to sports and culture.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 135: The Suburbanization of American Catholicism
Q: How did lay involvement transform parish life before Vatican II?
The rapid growth of suburbs required lay participation to organize schools, fund buildings, and run CCD programs, leading to a shift in leadership from clergy to laypeople and setting the stage for broader lay authority in the church.
Episode 135: The Suburbanization of American Catholicism
Q: What makes this book different from other histories of the suburbs and religion?
Koeth argues that suburbanization was a driving force of religious reform long before Vatican II, reshaping parish life, clergy-laity relations, and lay-led education, which challenges the idea that Vatican II alone sparked these changes.
Episode 131: Karl Marx in America
Q: What is it about identity politics that Marxists are often skeptical of?
Hartman points out that Marxists believe the major focus should be on class struggle rather than identity divisions that can distract from the shared working-class struggles.
Episode 131: Karl Marx in America
Q: How did Debs bring Marxism, Republicanism and Christianity together in his activism?
Debs blended his Christian ethics with Republicanism and labor activism, seeing Marxist ideas as consistent with his early beliefs about standing up for the little guy.
Episode 131: Karl Marx in America
Q: How does Genovese turn Marx's view of the Civil War on its head?
Hartman explains that Genovese criticized Marx for being too sympathetic to the industrial north and dismissed Marx's interpretations as liberal.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Thoughtful, scholarship-forward discussions at the intersection of American history, religion, and politics. Episodes frequently feature historians, theologians, and authors who illuminate how historical thinking informs current civic debates, culture, and public life. The show is known for well-prepared interviews, accessible public-history storytelling, and a willingness to tackle controversial topics with civility. Listeners are likely drawn to the thoughtful synthesis of scholarly rigor with accessible storytelling, and the host's distinctive voice and editorial perspective.

Noteworthy is a consistent focus on how history shapes contemporary discourse, with recurring guests who are university professors, public-history writers, and sub... more

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1. The Holy Post
2. Good Faith
3. The Esau McCaulley Podcast
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How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 11 years ago and published 141 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 this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Marc Stein
2. Bob Crawford
3. Stephen M. Koeth
4. Annette Laing
5. Douglas Jake Jacobsen
6. Rhonda Husted Jacobsen
7. Kevin M. Schultz
8. Andrew Hartman

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