America: The Story of the USA

Liam Heffernan | A Mercury Podcast

SOTUS is your deep‑dive guide to how the United States became what it is today. From George Washington to Donald Trump, we unpack the people, places and events that shaped, and continue to shape, the nation’s identity. Designed for curious listeners, students, educators, and lifelong learners, this series blends accessible storytelling with historically grounded insight to help you understand not just what happened in America’s past, but why it still matters now. If you want a clear, compelling, and richly narrated journey through U.S. history, this is the podcast that brings the American story to life. Made in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. . JOIN THE COMMUNITY: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community GET THE NEWSLETTER: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ BRANDS & ADVERTISING: liam@mercurypodcasts.com . America: A History is a part of the Mercury Podcast Network, hosted by your resident US expert Liam Heffernan, in partnership with The British Association for American Studies: baas.ac.uk . rex-verify-zkitiaihtdgv

  1. 2d ago

    Study Notes: Ted Bundy

    America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today, Ted Bundy and his lasting impact on American life. . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Study Notes: Ted Bundy

  2. 3d ago

    In the Making: The End of Donald Trump?

    This week, Donald Trump is told to attend a deposition hearing, if he wants to continue suing the BBC for defamation. Donald Trump has told his Attorney General Todd Blanche to challenge the outcome of the Alaska senator race... but only if they lose. And as we get closer to the midterms, we're looking back at two years of Trump 2.0, to try and understand his recent behaviour, as we stare at the possibility of lame duck Trump for the next two years. Joining me this week is Iwan Morgan, an Emeritus Professor in the Institute of the Americas at University College London. . JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    In the Making: The End of Donald Trump?

  3. 5d ago

    What Was the Wall Street Crash of 1929?

    The Wall Street Crash is one of the defining moments in modern economic history - a sudden collapse in stock prices that helped trigger the Great Depression and reshape global politics, finance, and society. But the crash didn’t come out of nowhere. It emerged from a decade of speculation, fragile banking systems, global instability after the First World War, and domestic political choices that left the American economy dangerously exposed. To understand the crash, we need to understand the world that produced it: the roaring markets of the 1920s, the rise of Wall Street as a cultural and financial force, and the individuals whose decisions fuelled both the boom and the bust. So in this episode, I’m asking… what was the Wall Street Crash of 1929? . Special Guest: Dr Sean Vanatta, a historian of American finance and political economy at the University of Glasgow. . Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . Highlights: 02:19 - . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Team SOTUS: ⁠⁠⁠https://sotus.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠community Brands & advertisers: matt@mercurypodcasts.com . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan In Partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    What Was the Wall Street Crash of 1929?

  4. Oct 23

    Study Notes: The History of the U.S. Attorney General

    America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today, The History of the U.S. Attorney General - where the role came from, why it was created, what it does, and the most consequential Attorneys General in American history. . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Study Notes: The History of the U.S. Attorney General

  5. Oct 22

    In the Making: How to Buy a Political Movement

    This week, I speak with Adam Swart, founder of Crowds on Demand, in an extended conversation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. He explains how political rallies are funded, why “grassroots” movements rarely exist in the way people imagine, and how his company navigates ethics, safety, and influence in an increasingly polarised America. We also explore Adam’s proposed Transparency in Political Demonstrations Act - a push to force major rallies to disclose who’s paying for them. This is a pretty mindblowing conversation that reframes how political pressure is manufactured in the 21st century. Visit Crowds on Demand: https://crowdsondemand.com/ . JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    In the Making: How to Buy a Political Movement

  6. Oct 20

    Who Owns Democracy?

    Democracy is often described as a system in which power ultimately rests with the people. But history shows that democratic power is never guaranteed - it must be structured, protected, and constantly renewed. The relationship between citizens and government is shaped by laws, institutions, norms, and behaviours that can either sustain democracy or allow it to erode. Across the world, democracies have collapsed not only through coups or revolutions, but through gradual shifts: weakened checks and balances, concentrated executive power, politicised courts, and citizens who stop paying attention. Today, in the final part of our series on democracy, we explore how democratic systems distribute power, how governments earn and lose legitimacy, how authoritarianism emerges from within democratic structures, and what warning signs citizens should recognise. So in this episode, I’m asking… who owns democracy? . Special Guest: Ira Chaleff, author of To Stop a Tyrant and one of the leading thinkers on power, followership, and resisting authoritarian behaviour. His work examines how systems break down, how leaders accumulate dangerous levels of authority, and how citizens and institutions can prevent democratic backsliding. Buy Ira's book: https://a.co/d/0coCQuEs . Join our new 24/7 SOTUS community now: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . Highlights: 02:19 - Did the Framers Believe in Democracy? 07:13 - The Benevolent Dictator 15:34 - Too Much People Power? 18:59 - Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely 26:02 - Can't We All Get Along? 30:21 - The Danger of Complacency 39:34 - The Normalization of Deviance 44:25 - Protecting Today's Democracy 49:24 - A Blind Spot in the System . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Team SOTUS: ⁠⁠⁠https://sotus.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠community Brands & advertisers: matt@mercurypodcasts.com . Credits: Producer - Liam Heffernan Host - Liam Heffernan Editor - Liam Heffernan In Partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Who Owns Democracy?

  7. Oct 16

    Study Notes: The Presidents - Zachary Taylor (1849–1850)

    America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. Today, the twelfth President of the United States, Zachary Taylor - his election, his presidency, his key achievements and challenges, and his lasting legacy. . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Study Notes: The Presidents - Zachary Taylor (1849–1850)

  8. Oct 15

    In the Making: The Pope, Katie Zacharia, and America’s Silent Killer

    This week, we discuss a debut to forget for the White House's new press secretary, and the sad news that Pope Leo has lung cancer. Plus, the latest from Cornell University as they impose bans on frat parties and introduce new support for victims of sexual assault. To discuss this and the other big stories from the US this week, I'm joined by Emma Long, Associate Professor of American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia. Plus, I speak to Daniel Cox, the director and founder of the Survey Center on American Life and a senior fellow in polling and public opinion at the American Enterprise Institute. His new book, Generation Uncoupled pulls together years of research and data to address these big questions facing America today. . JOIN TEAM SOTUS: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community . 02:01 - Nobel Peace Prize 08:27 - Pope Leo 15:12 - Cornell University 24:49 - Daniel Cox 1:08:02 - Katie Zacharia . News Sources: Generation Uncouple by Daniel Cox: https://danielcoxbook.com/  American Storylines newsletter: https://www.americanstorylines.com/  2026 Nobel Peace Prize: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2026/press-release/  Pope Leo Diagnosed with Lung Cancer: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2026/10/13/pope-leo-diagnosed-with-lung-cancer-successful-surgery/92237630007/  Cornell University Suspends Frat Parties: https://metro.co.uk/2026/10/14/cornell-bans-frat-parties-rest-year-gang-rape-claims-29708717/  Reaction to New Press Secretary: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/13/katie-zacharia-trump-press-briefing  Highlights from Katie Zacharia’s Debut: https://youtu.be/bfvq1eta_aM?si=9ws_p4gmowXfXhXB . America: The Story of the USA is a Podcasts by Liam production for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, in partnership with the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠British Association for American Studies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    In the Making: The Pope, Katie Zacharia, and America’s Silent Killer
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3.7
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

SOTUS is your deep‑dive guide to how the United States became what it is today. From George Washington to Donald Trump, we unpack the people, places and events that shaped, and continue to shape, the nation’s identity. Designed for curious listeners, students, educators, and lifelong learners, this series blends accessible storytelling with historically grounded insight to help you understand not just what happened in America’s past, but why it still matters now. If you want a clear, compelling, and richly narrated journey through U.S. history, this is the podcast that brings the American story to life. Made in partnership with the British Association for American Studies. . JOIN THE COMMUNITY: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/community GET THE NEWSLETTER: https://sotus.beehiiv.com/ BRANDS & ADVERTISING: liam@mercurypodcasts.com . America: A History is a part of the Mercury Podcast Network, hosted by your resident US expert Liam Heffernan, in partnership with The British Association for American Studies: baas.ac.uk . rex-verify-zkitiaihtdgv

Information

  • Creator
    Liam Heffernan | A Mercury Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    304
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mercury Podcasts

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