America 250: A Journey Through American History

First America: Merciless Indian Savages | Episode 1

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:36:00 +0000

We’ve all been told the American Revolution was fought over taxation and representation. But that's not what the Declaration of Independence says. According to our founders, in their own words, what they were most upset about was Native Americans. How did we all miss that? Rebecca sits down with historian Ned Blackhawk (Western Shoshone) to talk about how hunger for Indigenous land drove the Revolution. Welcome to First America, the true story of how the United States came to be, and how our current political moment was 250 years in the making.

Resources:
- Dig into more of Ned Blackhawk's scholarship here

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Newt's World: Episode 999: America 250 – Guide to Historic Sites with Brenda Hafera

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Newt talks welcomes Brenda Hafera of The Heritage Foundation to discuss the Heritage Guide to Historic Sites, an interactive website launched ahead of America's 250th anniversary that profiles historic sites across the original 13 colonies, with more states to follow. Hafera and Newt reflect on the power of visiting places like Mount Vernon, Gettysburg, and Independence Hall, where history can be felt rather than just read. The conversation turns to growing efforts to distort America's founding story, including a major foundation's push to remove monuments to figures like Washington and Lincoln in the name of "inclusivity." Hafera explains why preserving accurate, accessible history at the local level is essential to civic education and to passing on an informed, grounded patriotism to the next generation.

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If You Can Hear Me with Ben Higgins: Young Washington: The Origin Story of the Original American, with Diederik Hoogstraten

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 17:33:43 +0000

What happens when a kid from the Netherlands grows up to write the origin story of America's first president?

In this episode, screenwriter Diederik Hoogstraten joins Ben to talk about Young Washington — the Wonder Project film releasing July 3rd to mark America's 250th — and why an immigrant might be uniquely positioned to remind us what this country actually is.

We get into:

- Growing up progressive in 1980s Holland and how Family Ties (yes, really) planted the seeds
- Becoming a U.S. citizen in 2019 and what most Americans miss about their own country
- The Wonder Project, House of David, and building a studio for the audience Hollywood forgot
- Writing George Washington from age 11 to 22 — the failures, the loss, the overbearing mother
- Why failure shaped Washington's character (and what that means for the rest of us)
- A Native American chief, a battlefield, and the moment Washington's purpose became clear

A conversation about country, craft, and the kind of leader formed in the quiet years.

Young Washington hits theaters July 3rd.

CHAPTERS:
00:48 Welcome & guest intro
02:18 Why an immigrant celebrates America 250
03:51 Family Ties and discovering America
06:28 World Cup as a unifying moment
12:48 What the Wonder Project is
17:15 Faith-based or family-friendly?
22:19 The loneliness of screenwriting
27:10 Why focus on young Washington
30:34 Balancing history with creative license
36:36 How failure shapes leaders
43:05 What viewers should take away
48:09 How the project changed him

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Stuff You Should Know: Three Mile Island

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0000

The disaster at Three Mile Island thankfully did not cost any lives directly, but the notion that it didn't harm people is very much up in the air. Learn all about the worst nuclear disaster in the history of the United States today.

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Stuff They Don't Want You To Know: CLASSIC: Secrets of the Founding Fathers, Chapter One: Some Very Weird Dudes

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In this week's Classic episode, Ben, Matt and Noel explore some extremely weird dudes known as the Founding Fathers of the United States. They're memorialized in monuments, museums, currency, holidays -- the list goes on. For more than a century they were deified, held up as paragons of statecraft. Yet the way they've been portrayed in textbooks often skips over details that ran counter to the shining image sold to generations of school children. You see, the Founding Fathers had secrets... so many, in fact, that we had to make this a two-part episode.

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United Tastes of America: Episode 2: Pennsylvania

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Listen to this weeks 'Companion Playlist' featuring songs inspired by: Pennsylvania

In this episode of the United Taste of America podcast, host Rick K. Jones delves into the rich culinary and historical tapestry of Pennsylvania, the second state in the union. He begins by discussing the state's early settlement by Quakers and its pivotal role in the American Revolution, particularly through Philadelphia, which hosted significant events like the Continental Congress and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The conversation highlights key figures such as Benjamin Franklin and the hardships faced by soldiers during the winter at Valley Forge, emphasizing the state's historical significance in shaping the nation.

As the episode progresses, Rick explores Pennsylvania's diverse culinary landscape, shaped by waves of immigration. He discusses the influence of the Pennsylvania Dutch, Italian immigrants, and Eastern Europeans on the state's food culture, highlighting iconic dishes like shoo-fly pie, cheesesteaks, and pierogies. The episode wraps up with recommendations for must-visit eateries, including the famous Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's, both renowned for their cheesesteaks, and other notable restaurants that showcase the state's culinary heritage. This episode serves as a delicious journey through Pennsylvania's history and its vibrant food scene.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Pennsylvania's Culinary History
09:02 The Role of Pennsylvania in American Independence
14:54 Immigrant Influences on Pennsylvania Cuisine
28:42 Iconic Foods and Culinary Landmarks in Pennsylvania

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Revisionist History: Americana Music Live with Drew Holcomb and Malcolm Gladwell

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 16:04:13 +0000

Wrapping up our summer music series, the Memphis-born, East Nashville-based singer songwriter Drew Holcomb talks with Malcolm in front of a live audience at the Cherry Lane Theater in Greenwich Village. Drew plays original songs and a few covers you might recognize on this exploration of his journey to Americana music.

For more interviews like this, check out Pushkin’s Broken Record podcast. For more Drew Holcomb visit his website, drewholcomb.com.

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United States of Kennedy: The Family Tree

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Joe Kennedy, the patriarch of the Kennedy family, lived out the American dream. He amassed a fortune and gave his children a launching pad to political and cultural dominance. Lyra and George introduce themselves, the show, and the cast of characters who will be featured throughout.

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Stuff You Missed in History Class: Skyline Drive & Shenandoah National Park

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park is a scenic road tied to the “See America First” movement of the early 20th century. The acquisition of land for the project was difficult, and displaced many families from their homes.

Research:

Harrison, Sarah Georgia. “The Skyline Drive: A Western Park Road in the East.” From Parkways: Past, Present and Future. International Linear Parks Conference. Appalachian State University. (1987). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1xp3kv8.13
Jolley, Harley E., “Blue Ridge Parkway: The First 50 Years,” Appalachian State University Libraries Digital Collections, accessed May 14, 2025, https://omeka.library.appstate.edu/items/show/43667.
Jones, Jenny. “Skyline Drive: Engineered with Nature In Mind.” Civil Engineering. April 2001.
Kyle, Robert. “The Dark Side of Skyline Drive.” Washington Post. 10/17/1993.
Miles, Kathryn. “Shenandoah National Park Is Confronting Its History.” Outside. 9/23/2019. https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/shenandoah-national-park-segregation-history/
Nash, Carole. “Native American Communities of the Shenandoah Valley: Constructing a Complex History.” 2020. https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/sites.lib.jmu.edu/dist/9/133/files/2019/04/Native-American-Communities-of-the-Shenandoah-Valley.pdf
National Park Service. “Shenandoah National Park: Skyline Drive: Virginia.” From Highways in Harmony online books exhibit. https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/hih/shenandoah/index.htm
Roberts, Brett G. “Returning the Land: Native Americans and National Parks.” Ave Maria Law Review 148 (Spring, 2023). https://www.avemarialaw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/v21.Roberts.final38.pdf
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano. “The Dedication of Shenandoah National Park.” https://drive.google.com/file/d/134q1Gkk6Af0zl6bb_wekgqs0k2Wt9VPT/view
Simmons, Dennis E. “Conservation, Cooperation, and Controversy: The Establishment of Shenandoah National Park, 1924-1936.” The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography , Oct., 1981. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4248512
S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. “America's Highways 1776-1976.” U.S. Government Printing Office. https://archive.org/details/AmericasHighways1776-1976
Zeller, Thomas. “Consuming Landscapes: What We See When We Drive and Why It Matters.” Johns Hopkins University Press. 2022. https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/book.103002

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Medal of Honor: Celebrating National Medal of Honor Day

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 04:01:00 +0000

March 25th was designated by Congress as a day of recognition and gratitude for those who have demonstrated extraordinary heroism and courage. Today marks one hundred and sixty two years since the very first medal of honor was ever awarded to Jacob Wilson Parrott, a private from the 33rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry’s Company K.

We are celebrating the day by thinking back on some of the incredible heroes we covered in our last season. We will continue to tell those stories in our second season coming up in May.

In the meantime, we also want to hear from you! Send us your personal story of courage, or highlight someone else’s bravery.

You might hear your stories on future episodes of Medal of Honor, or see them on our social channels. Email us at medalofhonor@pushkin.fm. We’ll see you all back here in May.

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