Ken Burns: How To 250 [Teaser]

Ken Burns: How To 250 [Teaser]

Author: Jody Avirgan & Radiotopia April 5, 2026 Duration: 11:26
We’re kicking off a series of chats that (until we find a better name) we’re calling “How to 250.” This is our chance to check in with some friends of the show - historians, writers, podcast folks - about how they are marking America 250, and what it means to do the work of history in this moment. And what better way to kick it off than with filmmaker Ken Burns! We get into his work, the idea of American history as a “series of revolutions,” and how to counter simplistic narratives. To hear the full episode, become a paying subscriber of newsletter - sign up at thisdaypod.substack.com

Hosted by Jody Avirgan alongside historians Nicole Hemmer and Kellie Carter Jackson, This Day is a historical podcast from Radiotopia that steps back from the relentless news cycle to find context in the past. The series "50 Weeks That Shaped America" serves as its core, offering a rich, narrative-driven examination of pivotal moments that have fundamentally influenced the nation's political landscape and cultural identity. This isn't a dry recitation of dates but a deep, engaging exploration of the stories and decisions that collectively brought us to the present. Each episode functions as a carefully researched journey, unpacking the complexities and unintended consequences of historical events you might think you know, revealing the surprising threads that connect them to contemporary life. By focusing on these formative weeks, the podcast provides a unique and clarifying lens, arguing that to understand today's headlines, you often need to listen to the echoes of yesterday. The conversations between Avirgan, Hemmer, and Jackson are insightful and accessible, blending scholarly depth with compelling storytelling. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining a new set of tools for thinking about America, its ongoing struggles, and its evolving character, all through the meticulous and thoughtful work of its hosts.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

This Day (An America 250 History Show)
Podcast Episodes
How To 250: Live from On Air Fest! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:59
This past week, we took part in On Air Fest in Brooklyn, soft-launching a series of bonus conversations about America 250 and the work of history in 2026. We talked about which events we're actually excited to attend, ho…
How Valley Forge Forged George Washington [Part Two] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:21
Our conversation about the Continental Army's winter at Valley Forge, PA continues with a look at how the troops were trained, and what the winter of 1777-1778 tells us about the truth and legend of George Washington, hu…
Valley Forge: From Militia To US Army (1778) [Part One] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:33
This week on "50 Weeks That Shaped America," we're headed to the winter of 1777-1778 and the strategic retreat by the Continental Army to Valley Forge, PA. Over the course of that winter, George Washington worked to turn…
The Bomb And The Flag [Some Sunday Context] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:29
For our "Sunday Context" series, we advance the story from Iwo Jima by a few months to August 1945, when the United States drops nuclear weapons on Japan in order to bring an end to WWII. We're joined by Garrett Graff to…
The Iwo Jima Mystery And The Power Of War Images [Part Two] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:17
It's part two of our look at Joe Rosenthal's iconic photo "Raising The Flag On Iwo Jima." Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the mystery over who is actually in the photograph, how the photo shaped American's perception of t…
"Raising The Flag On Iwo Jima" (1945) [Part 1] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:56
This week on "50 Weeks That Shaped America," we're headed to February 1945, when attention in WWII has shifted to the Pacific. American forces are "island hopping" towards Japan, and in February a fierce battle broke out…
Roots: The Book [Some Sunday Context] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:38
For our "Sunday Context" series, we look at Alex Haley's book "Roots" -- how it became a sensation, accusations of plagiarism, and how it led to the TV series. Join our America250 newsletter community! Subscribe for free…
What Roots Viewers Saw [Part 2] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:08
It's part two of our "50 Weeks That Shaped America" look at the premiere of Alex Haley’s “Roots.”Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss some of the key scenes and characters in the eight-part epic, and why so many Americans were…
Roots Takes Over The Airwaves (1977) [Part 1] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:04
This week on "50 Weeks That Shaped America," we're headed to the winter of 1977, when everyone was tuned into a major TV phenomenon -- Alex Haley’s “Roots.” It aired over eight parts and was the most watch TV show of all…
A Compromise To Avert Civil War [Some Sunday Context] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:23
For our "Sunday Context" series, we discuss the political pressures that the arrival of California as a new state put on the country as a whole -- and the various attempts to avoid a conflict over the question of slavery…