Episódios
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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 [email protected]
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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 [email protected] - we'd love to hear from you!
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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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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 [email protected]
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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 [email protected]
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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 [email protected]
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Your favourite American history podcast is coming back!
America: A History Podcast has taken a little winter hiatus, but we are back with a new look and sound and we are READY for a huge year.
As Donald Trump and Nikki Haley battle it out to determine who goes to the Presidential polls against Joe Biden, we have been hard at work doing what any good politician should be doing... listening.
That's right. We paid attention to your feedback and we have given the show a revamp, so that we can continue to bring you the best content in the best way for as long as you will allow us.
So tell your friends, tell your family, and tell your therapist that America: A History Podcast is coming back.
We will be covering everything from the Oscars to the election, and you do not want to miss it.
February 2024.
Put it in your diaries.
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It all started with (a now public domain) Mickey Mouse, but today Disney is a cultural behemoth. A global household name. Walt Disney is synonymous with childhood, nostalgia, and joy. Recently, their multi-billion dollar empire continues to grow, with a string of high-profile and big money acquisitions. So is the magic still there? And why does everyone love Disney?
Special guests:
Janet Wasko, an author and professor in Communication Research at the University of Oregon, whose book Understanding Disney was a huge resource for me during my time as an American Studies student.
In this episode, Janet and I discuss how Disney has become so embedded in childhood, and how many adults grow up with such a Disney obsession. We also look at recent acquisitions of Star Wars, Marvel and Fox, and consider how Disney manage to keep growing without losing their magic.
Additional resources:
BOOK: Understanding Disney by Janet Wasko
ARTICLE: Steamboat Willie enters the public domain
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Christmas is a season of goodwill... or so we thought. Conservative pockets of America would argue that Christmas is now a battleground, where the Christian traditions of the holidays are under threat. It is, in the words of Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly, a 'War on Christmas'. So what exactly is it, what is being fought, and will it ever be won?
To help me answer this question, who else but Dr. Emma Long, Associate Professor of American History and Politics and Head of the Department of American Studies at the University of East Anglia.
And if you enjoy this episode, please do follow us on your podcast platform of choice. If you can spare a few seconds, please also leave us a review and a rating, as it bumps us up the charts and helps other people find us.
Alternatively, you can contact the show by email via [email protected]
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From Home Alone to Love Actually, Hollywood Christmas movies are as much a part of the festivities as Santa Claus and Christmas trees. There’s nothing quite like watching your favourite seasonal film to get you in the spirit. But what makes them so watchable? In this episode, we unpick some of our favourite festive treats as we find out… how to make a Hollywood Christmas movie.
Guests on this episode:
Thomas Ruys Smith, a Professor of American Literature and Culture and Deputy Director of Area Studies at the University of East Anglia.
Jon Mitchell, an Associate Professor of American Studies at the University of East Anglia. He is interested in late 20th Century US culture, with a particular interest in the representation of gender and sexuality.
Additional resources:
BOOK: The Last Gift: The Christmas Stories of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman by Thomas Ruys Smith
BOOK: Christmas Past: An Anthology of Seasonal Stories from Nineteenth-Century America by Thomas Ruys Smith
If you enjoy America: A History Podcast, and we hope you do, we'd love you to tell us. Leave a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts, or email us via [email protected]
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In the words of Andy Williams, It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but do we really know why we celebrate Christmas? Do our modern day traditions of Santa, trees and TV specials blind us from the real history of the holidays? This episode is definitely NSFK - not safe for kids - as we answer… what is the history of Christmas in America?
Guests on this episode:
Thomas Ruys Smith - a Professor of American Literature and Culture and Deputy Director of Area Studies at the University of East Anglia. His latest book, The Last Gift: The Christmas Stories of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, is available now.
Brian Earl tells the fascinating stories behind our favourite holiday’s traditions through the popular podcast, Christmas Past. The podcast, one of the longest-running of its kind, delivers holiday cheer with a storytelling style inspired by public radio.
Talking points:
When did Christmas stop being a religious holiday?
The Americanization of Christmas
Santa Claus / Father Christmas / Saint Nicolas
How Coca-Cola hijacked the holidays
Additional resources:
PODCAST: Christmas Past by Brian Earl
BOOK: Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions by Brian Earl
BOOK: The Last Gift: The Christmas Stories of Mary E. Wilkins Freeman by Thomas Ruys Smith
BOOK: Christmas Past: An Anthology of Seasonal Stories from Nineteenth-Century America by Thomas Ruys Smith
POEM: The Children’s Friend
If you enjoy the podcast, do give us a follow and leave us a review.
If you would like to suggest an episode idea or request to be a guest on the show, please email [email protected]
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The Presidency is considered one of the most important jobs in the world, and as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. But where’s the line? How much power is too much power? In this episode, we look at Presidents past and present to figure out… are they really above the law?
To help me answer this question, who else but 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 what you hear, don't forget to subscribe, rate and review this podcast.
NEWS UPDATE, 20TH DECEMBER 2023: The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled Donald Trump CANNOT run for President in the state due to an insurrection clause in the state's constitution. More info here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67768873
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In America, Thanksgiving is comparable to Christmas on the holiday calendar. It’s when everyone gets together with turkey, football, and the Macy’s parade to be thankful for what they have. But where did this holiday really come from? In this episode we explore the history and the real meaning of America’s favourite holiday as we answer… what is Thanksgiving?
Our guest this week is David Silverman, a Professor of history a George Washington University. He specializes in Native American, Colonial American, and American racial history, and his most recent book is This Land is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving.
Additional reources:
BOOK: This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving by David J. Silverman
If you like the podcast, please show your support and leave a review and rating wherever you're listening. Additionally you can connect with Liam on LinkedIn or X (@thisistheheff) or with UEA's American Studies department on X (@AmericanStudies)
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Insomnia Cafe doesn't sound like the name of one of the most successful TV shows of all time. And yet, this was almost the title for little comedy about 6 new yorkers navigating life, love and work.
So in this episode, as we remember the late Matthew Perry, we discuss why it became so huge and what that tells us about America, as we ask... could Friends BE any bigger?
Joining the podcast is Dr Rachael McLennan, Senior Lecturer in American Literature and Culture, and Head of School for Art, Media and American Studies at the University of East Anglia.
If you enjoy this podcast, please follow wherever you get your podcasts, and let us know you love us on X via @AmericanStudies and @thisistheheff
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In 1979, author Octavia Butler published a novel which would become a foundational text in our understanding of slavery. Kindred tells the story of Dana, an African American writer from California, who travels back uncontrollably to early 1800s Maryland to protect her ancestors and ensure her own existence.
In this episode, we are going to take a closer look at Kindred, both the book and its recent 2023 TV adaptation, as we answer the question... what does Kindred tell us about plantation life?
Guests on this episode:
Dr. Rebecca Fraser, a historian of 19th century America with a particular interest in the history of African Americans, especially relating to their resistance against slavery and the enslaved experience.
Dr. Hilary Emmett, an Associate Professor in American Studies at the University of East Anglia. She researches the afterlives of enslavement in literature and visual culture, with a particular interest in the transnational reach of the late, great, Nobel prize winner, Toni Morrison.
Additional Resources:
BOOK: Kindred (1979) by Octavia E. Butler
SERIES: Kindred (2023)
BOOK: Closer to Freedom: Enslaved Women & Everyday Resistance in the Plantation South (2004) by Stephanie Camp
BOOK: Dispossessed Lives: Enslaved Women, Violence and the Archive (2016) by Marisa J. Fuentes
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Halloween has become a distinctly American holiday, but it wasn't always like this. In fact, the roots of this holiday may be frighteningly closer to home than you might think!
In this episode, Professor Thomas Ruys Smith returns to the podcast for an unscripted chat about the history of Halloween, and why it managed to proliferate so much in America and become the commercial holiday staple we know and love today.
And remember, if you enjoy this podcast please do click follow or subscribe wherever you're listening, and leave us a rating or review. Or alternatively you can give us a shout out on X via @thisistheheff and @AmericanStudies.
If you have an episode idea or would like to be a guest on the show, please get in touch and email [email protected]
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Ahead of the release of our Halloween special, Professor Thomas Ruys Smith recites a lost poem from 19th century America.
This is 'Twas the Night of All Hallows in its full, original glory.
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You may not have heard the name Ed Gein before, but he's probably your worst nightmare. Otherwise known as the butcher of Plainfield, his crimes inspired some of the most iconic American horror characters of all time, including Norman Bates and Leatherface.
So in this episode, we get to know a little more about Eddie - who he was, what he did, and how he became one of the most influential serial killers in American history, as we ask... who is Ed Gein?
Guests:
Alex James, an American Studies postgraduate student at the University of East Anglia, with an interest in American’s obsession with serial killers and true crime.
Harold Schecter, a Professor Emeritus at Queens College, the City University of New York, where he taught American literature for forty-two years. He has published over forty books including ‘Deviant: The True Story of Ed Gein’ and he is a two-time Edgar Award nominee. If you want to know anything about American serial killers, this is the man to speak to.
Additional Resources:
BOOK: Deviant by Harold Schecter
GRAPHIC NOVEL: Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done? By Harold Schecter
BOOK: Psycho by Robert Bloch
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You might think that the civil rights movement ended in the 1960s, but America is still a deeply divided country. In recent years, thanks to high profile cases of racially motivated police brutality such as George Floyd, Black Lives Matter has become a global movement.
So in this episode, we explore what it is, why now, and what this means for the US, as we ask... what challenge does Black Lives Matter represent to America?
This week's guest:
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.
Key talking points:
The history of Black Lives Matter, from the first raised fist at the 1968 Olympics to the formation of Black Lives Matter in 2013.
George Floyd really made BLM a key issue of public interest and garnered worldwide attention, so is Black Lives Matter just an American movement anymore?
What does the proliferation of the BLM movement in the last ten years tell us about America?
One of the key arguments from the critics of BLM is that all lives matter. So why is Black Lives Matter only about Black Lives?
Additional resources:
WEBSITE: Black Lives Matter
If you like this podcast, please do show your support by liking and following wherever you get your podcasts, and tell your friends by sharing across social media. Additionally, tell us your listening via Twitter/X at @AmericanStudies or @thisistheheff
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You have probably heard the names Harriet Tubman or Booker T. Washington (not the WWE superstar), but what about Frederick Douglass?
As an African American born into slavery, nobody would have suspected this man would grow up to be one of the greatest public speakers of all time. Learning how to read and write by exchanging bread for books with local white children, Frederick Douglass broke out of bondage and became the most photographed person in 19th century America.
In this episode celebrating Black History Month 2023, we discuss the life and achievements of an abolitionist, a politician and, most importantly, a free black man in 19th century America, as we ask... who is Frederick Douglass?
Guests on this episode:
Dr. Rebecca Fraser, a historian of 19th century America with a particular interest in the history of African Americans, especially relating to their resistance against slavery and the enslaved experience.
Tony Phillips, a former undergraduate in American Studies at UEA. He forged a career as a documentary maker at the BBC, later becoming a commissioning editor at BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4. He was also Vice President of Content at WNYC Studios in New York, and he’s currently the exec producer on Every Voice with Terrance McKnight for WQXR NY.
Key Points of Discussion:
Douglass' upbringing as a slave, and his time in Maryland.
What Frederick Douglass' can still tell us about the black experience in America today.
Douglass the abolitionist and public speaker
Post civil-war and his political career
Additional Resources:
BOOK: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave
BOOK: Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
PODCAST: Every Voice with Terence McKnight
BOOK: Frederick Douglass by Wililam S. Mcfeely
WEBSITE: Frederick Douglass’ Fifth of July Speech
If you like the show, please remember to follow, rate and review wherever you get your podcasts, or visit our website. Additionally, get in touch or tweet us at @AmericanStudies or @thisistheheff
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