The Great American Story: Beginnings

The Great American Story: Beginnings

Author: Hillsdale College March 25, 2026 Duration: 34:03

On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss the legacy of Christopher Columbus before introducing Wilfred McClay.

Americans have overcome many challenges throughout our history, including the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Great Depression, two World Wars, and the Cold War. Studying the great stories from our past inspires us to preserve the blessings of liberty in our day. Now you can study these stories with Hillsdale College.

Hillsdale’s free online course, “The Great American Story: A Land of Hope,” explores the history of America as a land of hope founded on high principles. In presenting the great triumphs and achievements of our nation’s past, as well as the shortcomings and failures, it offers a broad and unbiased study of the kind essential to the cultivation of intelligent patriotism.

America has stood as a land of hope from the time of the explorers. Yet Christopher Columbus—eager to find a trade route to the East—could not see the great import of his discovery.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast delivers the core of a classical liberal arts education directly to your preferred listening app. Hosted by Online Learning Directors Kyle Murnen and Juan Davalos, this series transforms the college's foundational mission into an accessible audio format. Each episode serves as a lecture or discussion drawn from Hillsdale's complete, free online courses, covering enduring topics in history, government, culture, and the principles of a free society. You'll hear in-depth explorations of the ideas, events, and figures that have shaped Western civilization and American institutions, all presented with the clarity and depth of a classroom setting. The podcast is designed for lifelong learners seeking substantive content beyond the headlines, offering structured education through the convenience of an audio feed. Listen for thoughtful commentary that introduces each course's themes, followed by the full lecture material, allowing you to engage with rigorous academic content on your own schedule. This is more than a series of talks; it's a curated curriculum aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of the philosophical and historical foundations necessary for informed citizenship and personal enrichment.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol: Introduction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:21
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan introduce the course "Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol." By taking this course, you’ll learn profound lessons from the Ghosts of Christ…
American Citizenship and Its Decline: The Global Elite [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:42
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss how much the COVID Pandemic changed their understanding of government overreach before introducing Dr. Victor Davis Hanson. Citiz…
American Citizenship and Its Decline: The Unelected Deep State [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:52
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss the rapid growth of the federal government introducing Victor Davis Hanson. Citizenship is rare in human history but essential to…
American Citizenship and Its Decline: The Rise of Tribal Politics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:43
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss the source of tribal politics before introducing Dr.Victor Davis Hanson. Citizenship is rare in human history but essential to fr…
American Citizenship and Its Decline: The Disappearing Middle Class [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:29
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan discuss the economic roots of the decline of citizenship before introducing Victor Davis Hanson. Citizenship is rare in human history but…
American Citizenship and Its Decline: Introduction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:52
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan introduce the course "American Citizenship and Its Decline." Citizenship is rare in human history but essential to free government. Today…
The History of Classical Music: Beethoven and Schubert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:41
On this episode of The Hillsdale College Online Courses Podcast, Jeremiah and Juan (and a very special guest) discuss the groundbreaking work of Ludwig van Beethoven before introducing Dr. Hyperion Knight. In “The Histor…