America: The Story of the USA

Liam Heffernan | A Mercury Podcast

This is your deep‑dive guide to how the United States became what it is today - politically, culturally, and socially. We unpack the pivotal moments, defining conflicts, influential leaders, and overlooked voices 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. . AD FREE & BONUS CONTENT: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa . GET THE NEWSLETTER: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.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

  1. Who is Benjamin Franklin?

    12h ago

    Who is Benjamin Franklin?

    Benjamin Franklin is one of the most recognisable figures in the founding of America - a printer, scientist, diplomat, inventor, and political thinker whose life spanned continents and revolutions. But before he became a Founding Father, Franklin was a young runaway apprentice, a self‑made writer, and later a London resident who spent nearly two decades in the very house we’re recording this episode from. His story is one of ambition, curiosity, and transformation, and we are going to explore his life, career and influence in the years prior to the American Revolution. So in this episode, I’m asking… who is Benjamin Franklin? . Special Guest: Henry Wilkinson, the Head of Education at Benjamin Franklin House. He leads public programmes, historical interpretation, and research into Franklin’s London years, offering unique insight into how he lived, worked, and shaped ideas on both sides of the Atlantic. Visit Benjamin Franklin House: https://benjaminfranklinhouse.org/ . Highlights: 02:40 - Silence Dogood 10:18 - The Quakers and Poor Richard's Almanac 17:15 - Franklin Goes to London 25:29 - America's First Ambassador 28:08 - Franklin and Slavery 33:27 - Revolution is Coming 37:06 - Franklin's Legacy and Benjamin Franklin House 42:31 - WWBFD? . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brands & advertises: liam@mercurypodcasts.com . Credits: Location Producer - Clara Burns Executive 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

    55 min
  2. Who is George Washington?

    Jun 30

    Who is George Washington?

    He is the most iconic figure in American history - the general who won the Revolution, the president who defined the office, and the man whose character became a national benchmark. But behind the myth was a complex human being shaped by ambition, discipline, and the contradictions of his time. He led America to its independence, defined the spirit and values of his new nation, and set precedents that have lasted to this day, some now codified in the constitution itself. But he was also not without his critics, and a man who participated in, and profited from, the institution of slavery. Today, we will explore his life from the early years in Virginia to the Revolution, the presidency, and his final years at Mount Vernon. So in this episode, I’m asking… who is George Washington? . Special Guest: Lindsay Chervinsky, Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library, and author of The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution. Get the book: https://a.co/d/05PJXSlx . Highlights: 02:36 - The Third Child 06:10 - The Washingtons' Social Status 10:24 - He Was a Brit 16:01 - The Worst Thing About George 20:25 - From the Seven Years War to the Revolution 25:26 - The Turning Point 29:18 - Not the White House 34:37 - Presidents and Precedence 40:46 - A Life of Public Service 45:09 - Retirement and Legacy . For an extended reading list and to learn more, join our Patreon community now: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa⁠ . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Get the newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠ Brands & advertises: liam@mercurypodcasts.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 hr
  3. In the Making: Does Trump Want a New Prime Minister in the UK

    Jun 25

    In the Making: Does Trump Want a New Prime Minister in the UK

    This week, as the UK's Prime Minister announces his resignation, we discuss what this means for the special relationship, and if Donald Trump will even care. Plus. the current status of the peace deal in Iran, and AP News have reported extreme levels of fentanyl entering the US. Joining me this week is Gina London, an Emmy-winning former CNN correspondent and global expert on leadership communications. . Stories: 05:26 - Fentanyl in the US 14:15 - Iran US Peace Talks 32:17 - Keir Starmer Resigns 48:18 - Unidentified Flying Potato . Sources: US and Iran peace talks: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/06/22/world/live-news/iran-war-trump-israel-lebanon-hnk Weapons of mass destruction: https://apnews.com/article/dea-fentanyl-unseized-drugs-new-mexico-8f5b546e668e5007c64078da74b90903 The next Prime Minister: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20y1zvg50lo Why did the UK PM resign: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0qyllvpkw8o Potato shaped UFO sighting in Colorado: https://metro.co.uk/2026/06/16/giant-potato-shaped-ufo-sighting-revealed-new-batch-government-files-28796316/ . 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://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/americathestoryoftheusa Get in touch: america@podcastsbyliam.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min
  4. PastMaster Feed Drop: Make America Great – The "true" story of the founding of the USA, ft Liam Heffernan

    Jun 23

    PastMaster Feed Drop: Make America Great – The "true" story of the founding of the USA, ft Liam Heffernan

    As The United States of America celebrates 250 years, we've sent our operative undercover to meet the Founding Fathers and make a few key changes... Philadelphia, October 1774. The First Continental Congress is wrapping up its final sessions inside the Pennsylvania State House, and 56 of the most influential men in the colonies are filing out into the street — tricorn hats, righteous indignation, and a very tall Virginian named Washington who already looks like he's won something. Into this steps Abraham Starsen-stripes, a man who has arrived from the future with a musket, three pounds in his pocket, and an extremely ambitious CV. Liam Heffernan — podcast producer, self-described America obsessive, and the man behind "America: The Story of the USA" — has come on PastMaster to do one thing: become the first US president. His plan is to win over the founding fathers before Washington can consolidate power, using diplomacy, an eye-catching party trick, and a flexible definition of what counts as presidential gravitas. The Game Master notes that the path to the presidency typically runs through reputation and alliances, and probably not juggling. Liam disagrees. The First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia from September to October 1774, as tensions between the thirteen colonies and the British Crown approached breaking point. The Intolerable Acts, Parliament's punitive response to the Boston Tea Party, had united delegates from across the colonies in a way nothing else had managed. What they produced was a petition and a plan; what they didn't produce was a president. That role wouldn't exist for another fifteen years, which means there's technically still a vacancy, and technically still time to apply. If you were sent back in time, could you survive and thrive — or would you be burnt at the stake for being a witch? PastMaster is the show that turns history into an interactive adventure game. Each episode, a comedian is dropped into the past with nothing but modern knowledge and terrible ideas. The AI Game Master is strict. The chaos is inevitable. The past will be mastered. Era: Modern | 1774 CE | Philadelphia, United States Featuring: Liam Heffernan — podcast producer (host of America: The Story of the USA, Big Cheese at Mercury Podcasts) . EPISODE LINKS Follow Liam's adventure on the PastMaster Interactive Map 👉 https://map.pastmasterpod.com Liam Heffernan: America: The Story of the USA podcast 👉 https://mercurypodcasts.com . GET IN TOUCH Sign up to our newsletter 👉 www.pastmasterpod.com Instagram 👉 @pastmasterpod TikTok 👉 @pastmasterpod X 👉 @pastmasterAI Email us 👉 pastmasterpod@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 7m

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

This is your deep‑dive guide to how the United States became what it is today - politically, culturally, and socially. We unpack the pivotal moments, defining conflicts, influential leaders, and overlooked voices 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. . AD FREE & BONUS CONTENT: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa . GET THE NEWSLETTER: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.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

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