37 episodes
America: A History Podcast Liam Heffernan
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- History
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4.9 • 9 Ratings
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From George Washington to George Floyd, and from the Declaration of Independence to Donald Trump: this is America: A History, the podcast where we explore the people, places and events that make the US what it is today.
Each week, host Liam is joined by one of our panel of regular experts and occasionally a special guest to answer a different question about American history, society, politics and culture.
We are having important conversations with the biggest experts including political journalist Jon Sopel, Native American academic Stephanie Pratt and renowned author and journalist Gary Younge. No issue is off the agenda as we explore gun violence, slavery, the constitution, Hollywood, Presidents, presidential candidates, LGBTQIA+ culture, religion, football (not soccer) and more.
This is US history without the fake news, as we have honest and sometimes sensitive conversations about the things that really matter to understand how the alleged greatest country in the world came to be.
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What is The Battle Hymn of the Republic?
This week we are literally discussing the theme song to this podcast. It became synonymous with the Civil War, and in the years and centuries since it has been adapted, sampled, covered and repurposed in just about every way possible, by musicians, politicians, sports teams and more. So today I am asking… what is the Battle Hymn of the Republic?
To discuss this I am joined by Thomas Smith, Professor of American Literature and Culture and Deputy Director of Area Studies at the University of East Anglia.
And our special guest is Catherine Bateson, an Associate Professor of American History at the University of Kent, and also the author of Irish American Civil War Songs: Identity, Loyalty, and Nationhood, which we will link to in the show notes.
Mentioned in this episode:
BOOK: Irish American Civil War Songs: Identity, Loyalty, and Nationhood by Catherine Bateson
SONG: An American Trilogy by Elvis Presley
POEM: Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia Ward Howe
SONG: John Brown’s Body
SONG: Glory, Glory, Hallelujah by the London Community Gospel Choir
SONG: Glory Glory Man. United
If you enjoy this podcast, please follow and recommend to a friend, or leave a review so other people can find us. Alternatively, if you have a guest or episode suggestion, please email the show at hello@podcastsbyliam.com
And for those of you still using Twitter, connect with us @thisistheheff and @AmericanStudies
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Is America an Empire?
On this episode, as America’s foreign relations once again dominates headlines, I want to explore just how powerful the country really is, and whether we should be understanding it as more than just a single nation, as I ask… Is America An Empire?
And to discuss this I am joined by two very excellent guests:
Dr. Nicholas Grant, a historian of twentieth century United States and author of Winning Our Freedoms Together: African Americans and Apartheid, 1945-1960. His research focuses on race, internationalism and transnational activism.
Dr. Sarah Nelson, an Assistant Professor at the Netherlands’ Universiteit Leiden, and a historian of US empire, global governance, and decolonization. Welcome
Mentioned in this episode:
BOOK: Winning Our Freedoms Together: African Americans and Apartheid, 1945-1960 by Nicholas Grant
BOOK: The Blood of Government: Race, Empire, the United States, and the Philippines by Paul A. Kramer
BOOK: Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire by Niall Ferguson
BOOK: An Afro-Indigenous History of the United States by Kyle T. Mays
ONLINE: A New Menace in Africa by Nelson Mandela
If you like the podcast, please do share and follow the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can also email us with opinions, episode ideas and guest suggestions via hello@podcastsbyliam.com - we'd love to hear from you!
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Should Donald Trump Be Allowed to Run for President?
We are recording this week’s episode on Monday 4th March, 2024. This weekend Donald Trump continued his near clean sweep of caucus and primaries, and in a few hours, polls will open for Super Tuesday, where Trump is widely expected to secure the delegates needed to win the Republican nomination for a third consecutive Presidential election.
However, his journey has not been smooth sailing. Just four days ago Illinois became the third state, after Colorado and Maine, to kick Trump off the primary ballot, citing their insurrection clause - a move which will ultimately be debated by the Supreme Court.
His campaign has also been fought in the shadow of numerous court cases, which has already seen rack up hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.
So with all of the drama, the scandal, and the alleged criminality surrounding Trump, I want to know… should he be allowed to run for President?
Special Guest:
Dr. Emma Long, Associate Professor of American History and Politics and Head of the Department of American Studies at the University of East Anglia.
Additional Resources:
BBC Panorama, Trump: The Sequel?
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Are the Oscars Still Relevant?
This week, as the who’s who of entertainment descend on Hollywood for the glitziest night on the calendar, I want to know if anyone still cares about film awards, and when viewing figures continue to decrease, why do they still generate so many headlines, as I ask… are the Oscars still relevant?
And to discuss this I am joined by
Vaughn Joy, a PhD candidate at UCL studying mid-century Hollywood, politics, and their cross-section through a case study on Christmas films.
Useful Resources:
The Oscars Official Website
Subscribe to Vaughn's newsletter, Review Roulette
If you love the podcast, please consider connecting with either Liam @thisistheheff or UEA's American Studies team @AmericanStudies on Twitter/X. Alternatively, if you have an episode or guest submission, you can email hello@podcastsbyliam.com
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How Did Jackie Kennedy Transform the White House?
This week, I find out more about how one of America’s most popular first ladies turned her office, and residence of three years, into a living museum of US political history, as we ask… how did Jackie Kennedy transform the White House?
We discuss how Jackie Kennedy used her platform to champion one of the most radical projects ever undertaken by the First Lady, and in doing so, she redefines exactly what the role of First Lady means, and setting the blueprint for all that follow.
Special Guest:
Jess Alldred, a final year American history undergraduate from the University of East Anglia.
If you like the podcast, please remember to listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts, and if you can leave us a rating and review on Apple that would be lovely!
If you want to get in touch with the show, you can tweet either host @thisistheheff or UEA at @AmericanStudies, or if you have an episode or guest suggestion please email hello@podcastsbyliam.com
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What is a Primary and a Caucus?
America may be gearing up for Trump versus Biden already, but it remains in the middle of a nomination campaign... if only as a formality. So in this episode we speak with Dr. Emma Long to understand exactly how the nominations work, and what the heck a primary and caucus even is.
Guest this week:
Dr. Emma Long, Associate Professor of American History and Politics and Head of the Department of American Studies at the University of East Anglia
If you like this episode, you might also like:
How Are Presidents Elected?
Is the President Above the Law?
If you like the podcast, please follow wherever you're listening, and share to social media. You can also connect with us on X via @thisistheheff or @AmericanStudies, and if you have an episode suggestion or would like to be a guest you can email us via hello@podcastsbyliam.com
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Customer Reviews
Excellent
Engaging and informative. Good for people with not much knowledge of US history and politics, but also plenty of interesting material/discussions for those with more knowledge of these topics.
Brilliant informative podcast
This is a great show. A Brit’s informed look at our American cousins’ way of life and history. Well researched and a really interesting listen!
Loads about slavery in the first show that I had no idea about such as the myth of the North/ South divide
Highly recommend 👍
Would recommend
I’ve found the first two episodes really interesting. The experts have been engaging with the host asking pertinent questions. Looking forward to listening and learning more.