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
Prohibition Arrives (1920) [Part 1] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:27
This week on "50 Weeks That Shaped America," we're headed to January 1920 and the first night of Prohibition. Hide your booze! Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss the long road to prohibition, going back decades, and the poli…
From Bicentennial to Semiquincentennial: History Under Trump [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:53
For our "Sunday Context" series, we build on this past week's coversation about the bicentennial to point out how this year's America 250 project is coming together. We look at some of the key figures in Trump world who…
The Bicentennial Boondoggles (1976) [Part 2] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:04
In part two of our look at the bicentennial, Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how the festivities played out, and how Philadelphia ended up becoming the center of the action, depsite (or because of) their corrupt mayor Fra…
Bicentennial Fever! (1976) [Part 1] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:18
It's Week 1 of "50 Weeks That Shaped America," and we're headed to 1976 to look at how America's last big birthday came together. In part one, Jody, Niki, and Kellie discuss how the country was in a deep malaise headed i…
2026 Predictions and Provocations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:48
2026 is here! As is America250. On Tuesday, we're launching our 50 Weeks That Shaped America series, but today we get together to ring in the new year with a few "predictions and provocation." Note: The full version of t…
"Give Me Liberty Or..." [2025 Favorite] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:36
We're bringing you some of our favorite episodes of 2025 while we get a holiday break -- and prepare for our big America250 series. See you in 2026! It's March 23rd. This day in 1775, Patrick Henry of Virginia gave a spe…
Wikipedia Saves The Internet [2025 Favorite] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:18
We're bringing you some of our favorite episodes of 2025 while we get a holiday break -- and prepare for our big America250 series. See you in 2026! It's June 24th. In 2003, Jimmy Wales, the owner of Wikipedia, made the…
Sanctuary Churches vs Immigration Enforcement [2025 Favorite] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:59
We're bringing you some of our favorite episodes of 2025 while we get a holiday break -- and prepare for our big America250 series. See you in 2026! It's March 25th. This day in 1980, a church in Tucson announces that it…
"I'm Just A Bill" [2025 Favorite] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:09
We're bringing you some of our favorite episodes of 2025 while we get a holiday break -- and prepare for our big America250 series. See you in 2026! It's March 27th. This day in 1976, Schoolhouse Rock premieres the song…
Starbucks Fixes Racism [2025 Favorite] [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:05
We're bringing you some of our favorite episodes of 2025 while we get a holiday break -- and prepare for our big America250 series. See you in 2026! It's April 3rd. In 2015, Starbucks announces that it is bringing its "R…