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GEORGE KENNAN: A Life Caught Between the United States and the Soviet Union

Author: Andrew Keen January 20, 2023 Duration: 36:04

Podcast episode

Keen On America

Keen On America is a sharp, fast-moving podcast hosted by author and commentator Andrew Keen. Known for asking impertinent questions, Keen cross-examines some of the world’s most thoughtful voices on politics, economics, history, culture, the environment, and technology. Each episode digs beneath headlines and hype to uncover what is really shaping America today and how those forces connect to global change. Listeners can expect challenging conversations rather than easy talking points, as Keen presses guests to explain not just what is happening, but why it matters and what might come next. Whether you are trying to make sense of polarized politics, rapid technological disruption, or shifting social norms, this show offers a bracing, critical lens. Tune in and listen episodes of Keen On America to hear Andrew Keen interrogate the ideas and assumptions that define contemporary American life.

In this KEEN ON episode, Andrew talks to Frank Costigliola, author of KENNAN; A Life Between Two Worlds. They discuss the life of the 20th century American diplomat George Kennan with a focus on:

-- Kennan's role in the origins of the Cold War

-- Kennan's interest in Freudian theory

-- Kennan's love of Russian culture

-- Kennan's history of womanizing and his imperfect marriage

-- How Kennan would view today's war in Ukraine

-- The challenge for the historian of writing biography

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