Podcasts about american culture

Karol Markowicz sits down with Kevin Smith, founder of Loud Majority and host of Loud Majority Live, for a wide-ranging conversation about grassroots activism, New York politics, the culture wars, and the power of getting involved at the local level. Kevin shares how the COVID lockdown era transformed him from a delivery driver into a political activist, beginning with Trump car parades across Long Island before expanding into school board races, local elections, campaigns, and political media. He explains why COVID restrictions awakened many Americans to the importance of local government—and why changing a school board or city council can sometimes have a more immediate impact on your life than national politics. Karol and Kevin also discuss the political transformation of Long Island, why so many New Yorkers are leaving the state, personal responsibility in an era of economic frustration, the WNBA and the culture wars, celebrities getting political, the decline of Hollywood entertainment, and whether American culture is beginning to shift away from ideological preaching. Plus, Kevin offers his prediction for the rise of economic populism and shares his advice for anyone who wants to improve their life: focus on what you can control, take responsibility, and don't be afraid to stand up for what you believe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Explaining History Podcast, we are joined by James Loeffler, the Felix Posen Professor of Modern Jewish History at Johns Hopkins University, to discuss his new book, An Exceptional Hatred: Antisemitism and the Fight Over Free Speech in Modern America.The book traces a century of struggle over antisemitism and free speech in the United States, from the violent anti-Jewish riots of the 1940s to the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville in 2017, and the ferocious campus debates over Israel-Palestine today. Loeffler argues that antisemitism has always been a uniquely contested category in American life – weaponised by both the right and the left, and often used to obscure rather than clarify the fight against hate.We explore the surprising rise of antisemitic attitudes in America after World War II and the Holocaust, the complex relationship between anti-communism and antisemitism in the 1950s, and the long history of Jews being viewed as "not quite white" – a racial ambiguity that has made them a persistent target of conspiracy theories.The conversation also examines the politicisation of antisemitism. Today, conservatives often use the accusation of antisemitism as a weapon against the left, while some on the left dismiss legitimate concerns about antisemitism as a smokescreen for defending Israel. Loeffler argues that this instrumentalisation of hatred does a disservice to the victims of real antisemitism and creates a toxic environment where genuine debate is impossible.Topics covered:The 2017 Charlottesville rally and its significanceThe history of antisemitic violence in post-WWII AmericaThe "Judeo-Bolshevik" conspiracy theoryJews, whiteness, and racial ambiguityThe politicisation of antisemitismFree speech, hate speech, and the campus debatesThe Israel-Palestine conflict and its impact on American JewsJames Loeffler's An Exceptional Hatred is available from all good bookshops. Please consider buying from an independent retailer or directly from the publisher.If you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting us – we are migrating from Patreon to Substack. Details in the show notes.Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 357 features author Rob Weir, who discusses his book 7 Swings at 7: Mickey Mantle — Legend and Victim of American Culture and takes us behind the myth of one of baseball's most iconic figures. We also revisit our memorable interview with barbecue legends Moe Cason and Bob Trudnak. Rob Weir holds a PhD in American social history and is a retired University of Massachusetts Amherst professor.  He is the author of the book, 7 Swings at 7: Mickey Mantle - Legend and Victim of American Culture.  Weir's lifelong fascination with Mantle began when he was five years old. That personal connection, combined with his academic training, provides the foundation for 7 Swings at 7 and his exploration of why Mickey Mantle continues to fascinate generations of baseball fans. Mickey Mantle remains one of the most fascinating and complicated figures in baseball history. He was a Yankees superstar, a three-time MVP, a seven-time World Series champion, and one of the most celebrated athletes of the 1950s and 1960s. But behind the legendary home runs, incredible speed, and larger-than-life image was a man whose life was shaped by injuries, expectations, personal struggles, and the enormous cultural forces surrounding him. Moe Cason AKA Big Moe is an award winning pitmaster who has toiled for many years creating his well respected brand, Moe Cason Barbeque and his instantly recognizable, Big Moe persona.  Moe is a television personality, cookbook author, and a Navy veteran.  He has been featured in national television segments, including Steve Harvey's and Harry Connick Jr.'s talk shows and had his own segment on NatGeo's World of Flavor.  For more information on Big Moe Cason and to purchase his products go to  https://moecasonbbq.com/ Bob Trudnak has loved barbecue since the age of seven, when his dad placed him "in charge" of putting charcoal in the grill and from that day forward he was hooked.  In 1999, Bob helped co-found the company, BBQ Guru.  He is an award winning competive pitmaster.  Beyond competitions, he is a renowned judge and instructor, having hosted hundreds of in-person and virtual barbecue classes.  He is the creator of BBQ Bob's Sauces and BobbyT's Pizza Products.  His latest accomplishment is winning season seven of BBQ Brawl on the Food Network to become the Master of 'Cue.  For more information on Bob Trudnak go to https://bobtrudnakbbq.com/ We recommend you go to Rogue Cookers website, https://roguecookers.com/ for award-winning rubs, Chef Ray Sheehan's website, https://www.raysheehan.com/ for award-winning saucess, rubs, and cookbooks, Baseball BBQ, https://baseballbbq.com for special grilling tools and accessories, Magnechef https://magnechef.com/ for excellent and unique barbecue gloves,  Mantis BBQ, https://mantisbbq.com/ to purchase their outstanding sauces with a portion of the proceeds being donated to the Kidney Project, and for exceptional sauces, Elda's Kitchen https://eldaskitchen.com/ To team up against prostate cancer go to https://fansforthecure.org/ for Fans for the Cure, and to subscribe to Bill Chuck's newsletter, Billy-Ball go to  https://billchuck.substack.com/    We conclude the show with the song, Baseball Always Brings You Home from the musician, Dave Dresser and the poet, Shel Krakofsky. If you would like to contact the show, we would love to hear from you. Call the show:  (516) 855-8214 Email:  baseballandbbq@gmail.com Twitter:  @baseballandbbq Instagram:  baseballandbarbecue YouTube:  baseball and bbq Website:  https//baseballandbbq.weebly.com Facebook:  baseball and bbq       Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

America has a crisis of young men—and Tony Woodlief believes fatherhood, faith, and stronger communities could be part of the answer. On The Karol Markowicz Show, Karol sits down with writer, political scientist, and author Tony Woodlief for a wide-ranging conversation about fatherhood, masculinity, parenting, faith, politics, education, artificial intelligence, and finding purpose in an increasingly disconnected culture. Woodlief explains why he believes too many young men have been left without meaningful friendships, employment, education, or connections to institutions and communities. He discusses the difference between simply being a parent and intentionally being a father, why modern portrayals of masculinity often miss the mark, and what can be done to help men searching for direction and purpose. Karol and Tony also explore his unconventional approach to politics and federalism, including why he believes massive school districts have weakened parents’ control over their children's education and why breaking them into smaller, locally accountable districts could produce better results. Plus, Tony offers his provocative prediction about artificial intelligence and the future of writing and art, explains why AI may expose rather than destroy bad creative work, and shares the simple daily practice he believes can dramatically improve your life: intentional gratitude. It’s a thoughtful conversation about raising children, becoming better men, strengthening families, reclaiming local control, and finding meaning in a rapidly changing America.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is American culture really changing rapidly or are we being told that it is? https://thelibertydaily.com/heteroflexible-shocking-survey-finds-that-only-35-percent/ GOP Rep Greg Smith's legal corruption costs him only 12k in fines though he made millions: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2026/08/longtime-oregon-lawmaker-loses-leadership-position-after-agreeing-to-12000-ethics-fine.html Drazan clip needs to be ad that Kotek is responsible for high gas prices: https://oregoncatalyst.com/98740-drazan-tv-clip-kotek-culpable-high-gas.html Media double standard on full display: Dems get away with what Republican is being accused of: https://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/2026/08/clackamas-county-commissioner-ben-west-under-state-ethics-investigation.html  US conducting stealth oil transport through Hormuz with 50% of pre war flow restored: https://www.axios.com/2026/08/19/hormuz-iran-oil-gulf-trump Trump declares economic D-Day for Iran and those who evade sanctions with them in trade: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/08/19/us-iran-war-trump-hormuz-economic-warfare.html  

Breaking Free from the Old Gods: The Spiritual War Behind the World System | KIB545 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing DESCRIPTION What if many things modern believers consider normal are actually remnants of a world system from which Christ has called us to separate? In Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Episode 545, Dr. Michael Lake and Mary Lou Lake examine the continuing spiritual battle between the Kingdom of God and the systems of this world. Beginning with the influence of ancient Greek and Roman culture and moving deeply into the Apostle Paul's teaching in Ephesians, this episode challenges the Remnant to recognize just how thoroughly the ways of the old world can become embedded in culture, religion, education, tradition, and everyday life. Dr. Lake focuses particularly on Ephesians 2:1–3, where Paul describes three interconnected dimensions of humanity's former bondage: the world, the devil, and the flesh. But Paul does not leave believers there. Christ has been raised above every ruler and authority, and those who belong to Him have been called into an entirely different Kingdom and way of life. This leads directly into the spiritual warfare of Ephesians 6. The believer's struggle is not merely against bad ideas, political systems, cultural movements, or human opponents. Paul identifies principalities, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and spiritual forces of evil. The enemy continually schemes to entangle believers in the very system from which Christ delivered them. That makes TRUTH indispensable. The armor of God does not begin with emotionalism, religious excitement, or spiritual spectacle. It begins with the belt of truth. Dr. Lake explains why believers cannot merely SAY that they are putting on the armor of God. The armor must become a lived spiritual reality through obedience, sanctification, prayer, faith, and the renewing of the mind through the Word of God. This episode also examines: ·      The continuing influence of Greek and Roman religious ideas on Western civilization ·      Ancient gods, principalities, and the spiritual warfare behind human systems ·      Why Paul was uniquely prepared to confront Greco-Roman culture with biblical truth ·      Ephesians 2:1–3 and the world, the flesh, and the prince of the power of the air ·      Why Christ's authority is greater than every principality and power ·      How cultural traditions can pull believers back toward the world system ·      Why true biblical Christianity will never comfortably conform to darkness ·      The spiritual meaning of the armor of God ·      Why spiritual warfare is an ongoing wrestling match ·      Emotionalism versus genuine conversion and transformation ·      Why forgiveness is essential in breaking the enemy's influence ·      Torah as the loving instruction of God ·      Jesus as the perfect example of walking in the Father's ways ·      The brazen laver, the altar, and becoming a living sacrifice ·      Why the Remnant must learn again to discern clean from unclean and good from evil ·      How believers can begin disentangling themselves from the world system one decision at a time The early Church could not be conquered by persecution because believers possessed the Scriptures, the testimony of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Lake argues that abandoning the biblical foundations of the faith has left much of the modern Church unable to discern good from evil and vulnerable on the spiritual battlefield. The answer is not fear. The answer is a return to God. Every time we choose God's ways instead of the ways of the world, another strand connecting us to the world system is broken. Every act of obedience removes another avenue through which darkness attempts to influence our lives. The Kingdom of God is coming. Daniel 2:44 declares that God will establish a Kingdom that will never be destroyed. Revelation 11:15 announces: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." And that Kingdom can begin reigning within the hearts and lives of God's people RIGHT NOW. The Remnant must prepare. It is time to hunger for the Word of God again. It is time to learn His ways. It is time to recognize the schemes of the enemy. It is time to become disentangled from the world system. And it is time to walk as citizens of the Kingdom of God. CALL TO ACTION If this teaching strengthened your understanding of biblical spiritual warfare, help us place it into the hands of others. LIKE this video so that more believers can discover this teaching. SUBSCRIBE to Biblical Life TV and turn on notifications so you do not miss future Kingdom Intelligence Briefings. SHARE this episode with believers who are hungry for deeper biblical truth and want to understand the spiritual battle unfolding around us. Most importantly, STUDY these Scriptures for yourself. Open your Bible, examine the passages discussed in this program, and ask the Holy Spirit to deepen your understanding and help you apply the Word of God faithfully. PARTNER WITH BIBLICAL LIFE TV Kingdom Intelligence Briefing and Biblical Life TV are made possible through the prayers and faithful financial support of our partners around the world. Your partnership helps us continue producing biblical teaching designed to inform, equip, and prepare the Remnant for the days ahead. If this ministry has strengthened your walk with God, prayerfully consider becoming a financial partner with Biblical Life. Biblical Life P.O. Box 160 Seymour, Missouri 65746-0160 Online giving is available through the Biblical Life store. Thank you to every partner who stands with us in prayer and financial support. Your faithfulness enables us to continue taking these teachings to believers around the world. FEATURED RESOURCE – THE KINGDOM PRIESTHOOD The Kingdom Priesthood is Dr. Michael Lake's training manual for the Remnant, exploring the biblical priesthood, principalities wars, the fire of God, the believer as both priest and tabernacle, and the calling of God's people to represent Messiah in the earth. The book is designed to help believers understand their priesthood, purpose, and service to Almighty God—and how the Remnant must prepare to stand against the agenda of darkness in the last days. YOUTUBE CHAPTERS / TIMELINE 00:00 – Biblical Life TV Introduction 01:30 – KIB 545: Welcome to the Remnant 01:57 – Prayer for Fires, Flooding & Families Across America 03:20 – The Feasts, Traditions & Examining Their Origins 05:20 – Artemis, Hecate & Ancient Sacrifice 09:15 – Kronos, Saturn & the Ancient Death Cult 12:00 – Greek and Roman Gods Behind Western Culture 14:48 – Pagan Influence Embedded in American Culture 16:13 – Saturnalia, the Old Gods & Spiritual Influence 17:33 – Why the Apostle Paul Was Uniquely Prepared 20:25 – Ephesians 2:1–3: The World, the Devil & the Flesh 23:00 – Christ Above Every Principality and Power 25:04 – A Biblical Theology of Darkness 27:43 – Paul's Message to the Ephesians 29:18 – Why Biblical Christianity Will Never Fit the World 31:40 – Leaving Babylon and Learning God's Ways 33:01 – The Power of God Against Cultural Conformity 33:35 – Ephesians 6 and the Schemes of the Devil 35:00 – Emotionalism Versus Genuine Conversion 38:41 – Forgiveness, Sanctification & Breaking Bondage 40:23 – Spiritual Warfare Is a Constant Wrestling 41:50 – The Spider Web: Understanding the Wiles of the Devil 44:20 – How the World System Tries to Pull Believers Back 46:24 – The New Walk in Christ 48:00 – Why the Armor of God Begins with Truth 49:39 – What Made the Early Church Unconquerable? 50:40 – You Cannot Simply "Say" You Put On the Armor 52:00 – Torah, Jesus & the Perfect Law of Liberty 54:58 – Breaking Free from the Old Gods 56:46 – The Kingdom That Will Never Be Destroyed 57:22 – Revelation 11:15 and the Coming Kingdom 58:20 – Learning Clean from Unclean Again 59:09 – Small Victories Become Greater Victories 59:33 – Closing Prayer: Hunger for the Word of God 1:00:19 – The Kingdom Priesthood 1:02:43 – Biblical Life TV / Partner Information

English, please is a podcast designed to help improve your English by listening to clear, intermediate English about many different topics like history, culture, art, music, travel, and language.Episode 74: Las Vegas: A City That Doesn't Feel Like the United StatesToday's episode takes you to one of the strangest cities in the country: Las Vegas, built from scratch in the middle of the desert. You'll learn why the city is full of fake landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Venetian canals, pick up real English expressions about risk and luck like take a risk, the odds, and hit the jackpot, and hear what life is actually like for the people who live there once the lights go off.Want to keep practicing after you listen? Subscribe to the free English, please newsletter at comullen.com/free. You'll get English practice tips and activities with every new episode, plus three FREE resources delivered straight to your inbox: a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator, 60 Phrases Native English Speakers Use Every Day, and 25 Idioms Native English Speakers Use Every Day.Want more structured practice? Try a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. I'm on YouTube! I share short, practical English content on my channel!Episode transcriptPodcast website Get the English Listening Accelerator!Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What if the key to building a successful life isn’t having everything figured out—but simply doing the job that’s right in front of you? On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show, Karol sits down with Matthew Hennessey, editor of Free Expression at The Wall Street Journal, for a wide-ranging conversation about career, marriage, ambition, failure, and finding your path in life. Hennessey shares his unconventional journey from chasing an acting career in Hollywood to becoming a journalist and eventually landing at The Wall Street Journal. He explains why meeting his wife became a pivotal moment in both his personal life and career, and why young people may have it backwards when they believe they need to establish themselves professionally before getting married. Karol and Matthew also discuss the value of taking risks, learning to do difficult things, supporting children as they pursue uncertain dreams, and why success often comes one small step at a time. Hennessey also explains what The Wall Street Journal represents beyond finance and Wall Street, shares his concerns about the possibility of a major economic downturn, and offers a surprisingly optimistic perspective on artificial intelligence and the economy. Finally, he leaves listeners with a simple piece of advice that has guided his career and life: Do the job that’s in front of you, and the future will take care of itself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who Is a True Christian?: Contesting Religious Identity in American Culture (Cambridge UP, 2024) examines how American Christians have tried to determine who qualifies as an authentic Christian and which beliefs should be treated as authoritative. Congdon approaches the question historically, tracing debates over terms such as orthodox, historic and biblical Christianity across the twentieth century and into the present. The book distinguishes between describing Christianity as it has existed and prescribing what Christianity ought to be. It considers how theological disagreements, cultural identity and political conflict have influenced the boundaries Christians draw around their faith. In its conclusion, the book proposes a more plural understanding of Christian identity through the ideas of polydoxy and religious autonomy. These proposals form the author's alternative to fixed definitions of a single, universal Christian norm. Key Ideas: The meaning of “true Christian” has remained contested rather than historically uniform. Descriptive accounts of Christianity do not necessarily settle prescriptive questions about what Christians should believe. Labels such as orthodox, historic and biblical Christianity developed within particular historical and cultural debates. Religious identity in the United States is often connected to broader questions of culture, authority and politics. The book closes by considering polydoxy and religious autonomy as alternatives to a single fixed standard of Christian identity. Takeaway From the Conversation: The conversation centers on the difficulty of defining authentic Christianity in a diverse and divided religious culture. Congdon's analysis raises questions about who has the authority to establish religious boundaries, how those boundaries have changed over time and what happens when one group claims the power to determine who belongs. About Podcast Host Angela Marie Hutchinson is the author of “Create Your Yes! When You Keep Hearing No,” named a Forbes No. 4 book to advance your career. She is a podcast host for New Books Network, where she leads conversations for the neuroscience and Christianity channels. Hutchinson is also a talent and intellectual property executive, former social media professor and BBC commentator. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and three children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Who Is a True Christian?: Contesting Religious Identity in American Culture (Cambridge UP, 2024) examines how American Christians have tried to determine who qualifies as an authentic Christian and which beliefs should be treated as authoritative. Congdon approaches the question historically, tracing debates over terms such as orthodox, historic and biblical Christianity across the twentieth century and into the present. The book distinguishes between describing Christianity as it has existed and prescribing what Christianity ought to be. It considers how theological disagreements, cultural identity and political conflict have influenced the boundaries Christians draw around their faith. In its conclusion, the book proposes a more plural understanding of Christian identity through the ideas of polydoxy and religious autonomy. These proposals form the author's alternative to fixed definitions of a single, universal Christian norm. Key Ideas: The meaning of “true Christian” has remained contested rather than historically uniform. Descriptive accounts of Christianity do not necessarily settle prescriptive questions about what Christians should believe. Labels such as orthodox, historic and biblical Christianity developed within particular historical and cultural debates. Religious identity in the United States is often connected to broader questions of culture, authority and politics. The book closes by considering polydoxy and religious autonomy as alternatives to a single fixed standard of Christian identity. Takeaway From the Conversation: The conversation centers on the difficulty of defining authentic Christianity in a diverse and divided religious culture. Congdon's analysis raises questions about who has the authority to establish religious boundaries, how those boundaries have changed over time and what happens when one group claims the power to determine who belongs. About Podcast Host Angela Marie Hutchinson is the author of “Create Your Yes! When You Keep Hearing No,” named a Forbes No. 4 book to advance your career. She is a podcast host for New Books Network, where she leads conversations for the neuroscience and Christianity channels. Hutchinson is also a talent and intellectual property executive, former social media professor and BBC commentator. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and three children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

Who Is a True Christian?: Contesting Religious Identity in American Culture (Cambridge UP, 2024) examines how American Christians have tried to determine who qualifies as an authentic Christian and which beliefs should be treated as authoritative. Congdon approaches the question historically, tracing debates over terms such as orthodox, historic and biblical Christianity across the twentieth century and into the present. The book distinguishes between describing Christianity as it has existed and prescribing what Christianity ought to be. It considers how theological disagreements, cultural identity and political conflict have influenced the boundaries Christians draw around their faith. In its conclusion, the book proposes a more plural understanding of Christian identity through the ideas of polydoxy and religious autonomy. These proposals form the author's alternative to fixed definitions of a single, universal Christian norm. Key Ideas: The meaning of “true Christian” has remained contested rather than historically uniform. Descriptive accounts of Christianity do not necessarily settle prescriptive questions about what Christians should believe. Labels such as orthodox, historic and biblical Christianity developed within particular historical and cultural debates. Religious identity in the United States is often connected to broader questions of culture, authority and politics. The book closes by considering polydoxy and religious autonomy as alternatives to a single fixed standard of Christian identity. Takeaway From the Conversation: The conversation centers on the difficulty of defining authentic Christianity in a diverse and divided religious culture. Congdon's analysis raises questions about who has the authority to establish religious boundaries, how those boundaries have changed over time and what happens when one group claims the power to determine who belongs. About Podcast Host Angela Marie Hutchinson is the author of “Create Your Yes! When You Keep Hearing No,” named a Forbes No. 4 book to advance your career. She is a podcast host for New Books Network, where she leads conversations for the neuroscience and Christianity channels. Hutchinson is also a talent and intellectual property executive, former social media professor and BBC commentator. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and three children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Who Is a True Christian?: Contesting Religious Identity in American Culture (Cambridge UP, 2024) examines how American Christians have tried to determine who qualifies as an authentic Christian and which beliefs should be treated as authoritative. Congdon approaches the question historically, tracing debates over terms such as orthodox, historic and biblical Christianity across the twentieth century and into the present. The book distinguishes between describing Christianity as it has existed and prescribing what Christianity ought to be. It considers how theological disagreements, cultural identity and political conflict have influenced the boundaries Christians draw around their faith. In its conclusion, the book proposes a more plural understanding of Christian identity through the ideas of polydoxy and religious autonomy. These proposals form the author's alternative to fixed definitions of a single, universal Christian norm. Key Ideas: The meaning of “true Christian” has remained contested rather than historically uniform. Descriptive accounts of Christianity do not necessarily settle prescriptive questions about what Christians should believe. Labels such as orthodox, historic and biblical Christianity developed within particular historical and cultural debates. Religious identity in the United States is often connected to broader questions of culture, authority and politics. The book closes by considering polydoxy and religious autonomy as alternatives to a single fixed standard of Christian identity. Takeaway From the Conversation: The conversation centers on the difficulty of defining authentic Christianity in a diverse and divided religious culture. Congdon's analysis raises questions about who has the authority to establish religious boundaries, how those boundaries have changed over time and what happens when one group claims the power to determine who belongs. About Podcast Host Angela Marie Hutchinson is the author of “Create Your Yes! When You Keep Hearing No,” named a Forbes No. 4 book to advance your career. She is a podcast host for New Books Network, where she leads conversations for the neuroscience and Christianity channels. Hutchinson is also a talent and intellectual property executive, former social media professor and BBC commentator. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and three children.

Who Is a True Christian?: Contesting Religious Identity in American Culture (Cambridge UP, 2024) examines how American Christians have tried to determine who qualifies as an authentic Christian and which beliefs should be treated as authoritative. Congdon approaches the question historically, tracing debates over terms such as orthodox, historic and biblical Christianity across the twentieth century and into the present. The book distinguishes between describing Christianity as it has existed and prescribing what Christianity ought to be. It considers how theological disagreements, cultural identity and political conflict have influenced the boundaries Christians draw around their faith. In its conclusion, the book proposes a more plural understanding of Christian identity through the ideas of polydoxy and religious autonomy. These proposals form the author's alternative to fixed definitions of a single, universal Christian norm. Key Ideas: The meaning of “true Christian” has remained contested rather than historically uniform. Descriptive accounts of Christianity do not necessarily settle prescriptive questions about what Christians should believe. Labels such as orthodox, historic and biblical Christianity developed within particular historical and cultural debates. Religious identity in the United States is often connected to broader questions of culture, authority and politics. The book closes by considering polydoxy and religious autonomy as alternatives to a single fixed standard of Christian identity. Takeaway From the Conversation: The conversation centers on the difficulty of defining authentic Christianity in a diverse and divided religious culture. Congdon's analysis raises questions about who has the authority to establish religious boundaries, how those boundaries have changed over time and what happens when one group claims the power to determine who belongs. About Podcast Host Angela Marie Hutchinson is the author of “Create Your Yes! When You Keep Hearing No,” named a Forbes No. 4 book to advance your career. She is a podcast host for New Books Network, where she leads conversations for the neuroscience and Christianity channels. Hutchinson is also a talent and intellectual property executive, former social media professor and BBC commentator. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and three children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/christian-studies

Host Andrew Camp interviews University of Michigan lecturer and food studies scholar Margot Finn about her book "Discriminating Taste: How Class Anxiety Created the American Food Revolution." Finn describes shifting from a post-9/11 media project to food studies, tracing how contemporary “common sense” food ideals—sophistication, thinness, purity, and cosmopolitanism—are learned, historically recurring (notably in the 1920s), and tied to inequality and middle-class status striving, rather than steady progress. They discuss how taste is shaped by context and social cues (including studies on wine perception), and how post–World War II values emphasized reliable, shared abundance over distinction. Finn cautions against individual consumer fixes, critiques simplified organic/local claims and fraud examples, and argues for policy-level change and reform efforts shaped by target communities. They affirm inclusive tables, reciprocity metaphors, and share personal food preferences and a last-meal choice.Margot Finn holds an MA and Ph.D in American Culture focusing on Food Studies, Media Studies, and 20th Century U.S. History. As a lecturer in Applied Liberal Arts and affiliate of the Sustainable Food Systems Initiative at the University of Michigan, Margot seeks to help students integrate the many different academic disciplines they encounter in their liberal arts degrees and connect their academic work to their personal lives. She encourages students to develop critical thinking skills and more informed perspectives on contemporary food debates such as the ecological impact of Organic vs. conventional agriculture, local vs. imported foods, the biology and culture of fatness, immigrant labor in the food system, and the history of elite food reform efforts.  Her writing has been featured in the collection Sensory Rhetorics: Sensation, Persuasion, & the Politics of Feeling (Penn State UP 2026, eds. Steph Ceraso and Jonathan W. Stone), the anthology Food Fights: How History Matters to Contemporary Food Debates (UNC Press 2019, eds. Charles Ludington and Matthew Morse Booker), The Breakthrough Journal, Slate, and Vox. She is also co-editor with Mark Johnson of Critical Food Studies, a new series out of University of Arkansas Press. Follow Andrew CampFacebook: andrew.camp.9Instagram: @andrewcamp80Substack: @thebiggesttableThis episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.  (00:00) - Meet Margot Finn (05:40) - Origins of Food Revolution (13:28) - Taste Class and Virtue (32:55) - Urban Gardens Beyond Food (34:30) - Food Narratives and Field Shifts (41:28) - Sharing, Reciprocity, and Wrap-Up

English, please is a podcast designed to help improve your English by listening to clear, intermediate English about many different topics like history, culture, art, music, travel, and language.Episode 73: How to Read in English Without Stopping to TranslateThis episode tackles something almost every learner does without thinking about it: stopping to translate every unfamiliar word while reading. You'll learn a simple three-stage approach to break that habit, why finishing the sentence first often gives you the answer before you even reach for a dictionary, and how fiction and nonfiction each hand you clues in slightly different ways.Want to keep practicing after you listen? Subscribe to the free English, please newsletter at comullen.com/free. You'll get English practice tips and activities with every new episode, plus three FREE resources delivered straight to your inbox: a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator, 60 Phrases Native English Speakers Use Every Day, and 25 Idioms Native English Speakers Use Every Day.Want more structured practice? Try a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. I'm on YouTube! I share short, practical English content on my channel!Episode transcriptPodcast website Get the English Listening Accelerator!Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Join the conversation!Welcome to the Midwest, where the winters are cold, the cheese curds are fried, and saying goodbye can take forever. Join us as we talk food, culture, traditions, and more! Show Notes Support the showTo get the most out of this podcast, be sure to download the show notes for each episode. There you will find more information about the vocabulary used in the conversation and additional cultural and language notes regarding this topic. realcoolenglish.com/podcastMusic: Wake Up to the Renaissance by AudioCoffee from Pixabay

Gang, let's get back to work. Last night, I started lecturing again, and in light of recent events, I thought it would be good to address: 1. White knights and neocolonialism2. The projection of disempowering narratives into marginalized groups especially women in the name of “protecting them from themselves” 3. The weaponizing of those narratives of disempowerment for a consumer capitalism obsession with internet controversy at the expense of truth for the currency of attention and acclaim 4. The Reagan-esque virtue signaling and explicit hypocrisy 5. Ineffectual fear based anger driven activism. Live weekly classes are back: Monday 7pm PST, Thursday 7pm PST & Friday 11am PST here. Jai Mā! Satyam Eva Jayate, truth alone triumphs. Hit Me Up xSupport the showLectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and again at Friday 11am PST Use this link and I will see you there:https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnishTo get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show, Karol sits down with National Review staff writer Jeffrey Blehar for a wide-ranging conversation about politics, music, media, and the future of American culture. Blehar shares his unconventional path from practicing law to political commentary, explains why authenticity matters more than partisan loyalty, and discusses the philosophy that guides his writing. The conversation also explores Blehar's popular Political Beats podcast, where political personalities leave politics behind to discuss their favorite music. Together, Karol and Jeff examine whether it's possible to separate artists from their political beliefs and why music can transcend ideology. Finally, Blehar offers his predictions for America's future, warning about increasing political polarization, the erosion of reading and literacy, and a culture increasingly driven by podcasts, video, and social media instead of books. He closes with a reminder not to make politics your religion—a lesson he believes is essential for preserving perspective in today's polarized world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robin Dunn is originally from Scotland and is a master of linguistics. William Heath writes poems of American Culture. Each present new books of poems.

Todd examines a report that 38% of American adults are estranged from at least one family member and focuses on political and values differences as a leading cause. He argues that schools, universities, and a culture increasingly hostile to traditional American and biblical values can deepen divisions between parents and children. For families facing estrangement, Todd offers a practical path: pray for wisdom, respond with humility, avoid forcing the debate, listen without reacting, ask sincere questions, and make clear that love and peace do not require political agreement. He also reflects on America's approaching 11th anniversary of The Todd Huff Show, the need to preserve truth, and the importance of persuading rather than excluding people who disagree.

Todd examines a report that 38% of American adults are estranged from at least one family member and focuses on political and values differences as a leading cause. He argues that schools, universities, and a culture increasingly hostile to traditional American and biblical values can deepen divisions between parents and children. For families facing estrangement, Todd offers a practical path: pray for wisdom, respond with humility, avoid forcing the debate, listen without reacting, ask sincere questions, and make clear that love and peace do not require political agreement. He also reflects on America's approaching 11th anniversary of The Todd Huff Show, the need to preserve truth, and the importance of persuading rather than excluding people who disagree.

America Is Exhausted: Is Tuning Out Self-Care—or Surrender? Political chaos, economic anxiety, extreme heat, social media outrage—America is running on empty. In this episode of The Karel Cast, Karel examines the growing sense of national fatigue under Donald Trump. As controversies pile up and tempers rise, more Americans are tuning out to protect their peace. But does stepping away help us recover—or allow the chaos to continue unchecked? Karel also discusses Ariana Grande's reported retreat from the spotlight amid relentless criticism of her appearance and the negativity surrounding social media. Her decision raises a question many exhausted Americans are asking: When the noise becomes unbearable, is pulling back the healthiest response? What are you tuning in to when you tune out—television, music, silence, or something else? Share your thoughts in the comments. Support The Karel Cast: https://patreon.com/reallykarel Watch, like, and subscribe: https://youtube.com/reallykarel The Karel Cast streams Monday through Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Pacific and is available on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Spreaker, TikTok, Instagram, and other major platforms. Karel is a history-making broadcaster and entertainer based in Las Vegas with his service dog, Ember. #AmericaIsExhausted, #PoliticalFatigue, #DonaldTrump, #TrumpNews, #AmericanPolitics, #PoliticsToday, #PoliticalCommentary, #NewsCommentary, #CurrentEvents, #NationalFatigue, #NewsFatigue, #TuningOut, #MentalHealth, #SocialMediaFatigue, #DigitalDetox, #ArianaGrande, #CelebrityNews, #SelfCare, #Burnout, #AmericanCulture, #USPolitics, #BreakingPoint, #MediaOverload, #PoliticalPodcast, #ProgressivePolitics, #TheKarelCast, #ReallyKarel, #KarelCast, #Podcast, #LasVegas https://youtube.com/live/Wspe8B6FooA

Old guys listening to the lyrics, Fauci's "testimony," Back to the Future shows us that American culture has completely stalled, and Kelly pulls a sailing beefer. Tag us on Instagram and Matt or Kelly will buy you a sandwich at some future date and yet to be determined place As always, if you like (or don't like) what we're doing, let us know on your podcast app by leaving a review or reach out to us on Instagram. And, check out our website for the best subversive shirts, door mats, and coffee mugs while your money can still buy them at libertytreelifestyle.com Wanna support the show? Go to patreon.com/libertytree and become a member of the Liberty Tree Social Club Follow us and give us a review @Libertyupatree on twitter @Libertytreebrand on Instagram Order Kelly's Book The Great American Contractor  Love you guys Kelly and Matt  

Host Eric Newman and LARB Editor-in-Chief Medaya Ocher speak with Columbia history professor Kim Phillips-Fein about her new book Country of Lords: Neo-Aristocrats, Social Darwinists, Tech Utopians, and the Long Fight Against Equality in America. Phillips-Fein examines a powerful countertradition that has challenged our well-mythologized national ideal of equality from the United States's founding to today. Moving from accounts about John Adams and William Graham Sumner to Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, and Peter Thiel, she traces how these and other influential figures defended hierarchy and sought to normalize inequality as a defining and even necessary feature of the American experiment.

On Friday's show, we visit with author and Professor Andrew Joppa about a variety of issues including the pending nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, the extended war in Iran, anti-Semitism, and the compatibility of Islam with American culture. We have terrific guests on Monday's show including the Founder and Publisher of HistoryCentral.com Marc Schulman, AIER.org Senior Editor Jon Miltimore, and author Jim McTague. Access this and past shows at your convenience on my web site, social media platforms or podcast platforms.

Thank you so much for listening to the Bob Harden Show, celebrating nearly 15 years broadcasting on the internet. On Friday's show, we visit with author and Professor Andrew Joppa about a variety of issues including the pending nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, the extended war in Iran, anti-Semitism, and the compatibility of Islam with … The post Is Islam Compatible with American Culture? appeared first on Bob Harden Show.

After taking some time away to help my family through my dad's open-heart surgery, I'm back with a new episode of Uncommon Sense with Ginny Robinson. Thank you to everyone who reached out and supported my family during this time.Today, I share my opinions on several current events. I discuss why I believe America must remain a sovereign nation and why I have concerns about the growing military relationship between the United States and Israel, including why I believe these actions raise real constitutional and legal questions.I also share my thoughts on the continued loss of American service members in the Iran War and explain why the United States should NOT be involved in another foreign war.Finally, I discuss the assassination of Charlie Kirk and how it is connected to the Epstein files, and why I think Americans deserve greater transparency and accountability from those in power.--https://www.youversion.com/bible-app

English, please is a podcast designed to help improve your English by listening to clear, intermediate English about many different topics like history, culture, art, music, travel, and language.Episode 70: The Strange Contradictions of Los AngelesPalm trees and sunshine are only part of the story. In this episode, we look at three things that exist in Los Angeles at the same time: a beautiful coastline built on a fault line, an entire industry built on illusion, and the ordinary reality of traffic underneath it all.Want to keep practicing after you listen? Subscribe to the free English, please newsletter at comullen.com/newsletter. You'll get English practice tips and activities with every new episode, plus three FREE resources delivered straight to your inbox: a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator, 60 Phrases Native English Speakers Use Every Day, and 25 Idioms Native English Speakers Use Every Day.Want more structured practice? Try a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. I'm on YouTube! I share short, practical English content on my channel!Episode transcriptPodcast website Get the English Listening Accelerator!Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

English, please is a podcast designed to help improve your English by listening to clear, intermediate English about many different topics like history, culture, art, music, travel, and language.Episode 69: Why It's Harder to Speak Than to UnderstandYou understand more English than you can say out loud, and that gap is confusing. In this episode, you'll learn why listening and speaking are two different skills that build at different speeds, and four practical ways to close the gap between them.Want to keep practicing after you listen? Subscribe to the free English, please newsletter at comullen.com/newsletter. You'll get English practice tips and activities with every new episode, plus three FREE resources delivered straight to your inbox: a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator, 60 Phrases Native English Speakers Use Every Day, and 25 Idioms Native English Speakers Use Every Day.Want more structured practice? Try a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. I'm on YouTube! I share short, practical English content on my channel!Episode transcriptPodcast website Get the English Listening Accelerator!Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Join the conversation!From soccer and hockey to Scrabble and Uno, this episode covers all things sports and games. Donielle and Khrystyna share childhood memories, debate spectator sports, swap game-night stories, and discover that winning isn't nearly as important as having fun... unless you're a sore loser! Show Notes   Support the showTo get the most out of this podcast, be sure to download the show notes for each episode. There you will find more information about the vocabulary used in the conversation and additional cultural and language notes regarding this topic. realcoolenglish.com/podcastMusic: Wake Up to the Renaissance by AudioCoffee from Pixabay

The two most famous women's tennis champions of their generation, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, talk about being friends and rivals. After they had retired, they were both diagnosed with cancer. A new Netflix documentary follows their careers and friendship as they navigate their lives on and off the court. Also, we talk about religious and political attacks on the arts with cultural historian Isaac Butler. His book is ‘The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art and the Birth of America's Culture Wars.' Critic John Powers  reviews ‘Alice and Steve,' a British comedy series  about a 50-something man who starts dating his best friend's much younger daughter.Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to our YouTube channel Check out the Fresh Air ArchivesSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

WNYC & Gothamist arts editor Matthew Schnipper introduces a new series exploring the ideas, traditions and cultural touchstones that began in New York before spreading across the country. He also tells us about a dance party offering free dental screenings and recommends a few upcoming events. Photo: Edith Young for Gothamist -Got any questions, comments or story ideas? Send us a message at NYCNow@WNYC.org Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Guest Chris Burgard, producer of documentary "Remember the Alama", joins to discuss the cultural batle in Texas with radical Islamists looking to change the state. Discussion of the long term cultural war, American freedom of expression, and the upcoming midterm season.  Breakdown of Colorado Primary elections as another "Democratic Socialist" beats a Democrat incumbent Congresswoman. Will the party fight back? Discussion of the militant radicalized sect of the party, and the upcoming midterm season. 

In March 1953 and May 1955, government officials—including the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA), the US Department of Defense, and the Atomic Energy Commission—released nuclear bombs on two model towns at Nevada Test Site, the continental nuclear test facility during the Cold War. These so-called “Doom Towns” were designed to illustrate in the most vivid way possible what might happen to a “typical American home” caught in a Soviet atomic blast. Instead of training troops for war overseas, the Doom Towns literally brought the Cold War home. Drawing on newspaper articles, FCDA reports, and corporate documents, in Doom Town, USA: The Nevada Test Site as Ground Zero of 1950s American Culture (University Press of Kansas, 2026), Dr. John Wills brings readers into Doom Town, USA—a place where life-size mannequins of the archetypal Mr. and Mrs. America walked the streets in JCPenney clothes, drove Chrysler cars, and lived in the latest trailer homes, tailor-made to escape in the event of nuclear war. The two Doom Towns of Operation Doorstep (1953) and Operation Cue (1955) were far more than just an exercise in developing a new civilian home front. They were a media spectacle and a cultural flashpoint, attracting corporate sponsors, drawing in atomic tourists, and generating new consumer products. The atom bomb may have been bad for world peace, but it was good for business. In the excitement about these experiments, real people even volunteered to be living test subjects—but most were turned away. Doom Town became an unusual but effective banner for corporate and consumer life in the 1950s. Doom Town was an effective simulacrum of white middle-class America, right down to the racially segregated social spaces and the hierarchical gender roles of the dummies living in their classic suburban homes. But these homegrown Hiroshimas also contributed to a broader culture of catastrophe and fear in the late 1950s. Concerns over Communist invasion, Soviet spies, and ICBM missiles coalesced in the Nevada desert, framing a national culture of anxiety. The sudden explosion of the model towns revealed the shocking fragility of postwar living, calling into question the 1950s American Dream and the survivability of American ideals. The cultural crater left by these nuclear test sites exists even today in the many movies, television shows, and video games that dwell on the existential crisis of impending apocalypse. Doom Town, USA is an eye-opening tour guide of one of the most bizarre and uniquely American places in history. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In March 1953 and May 1955, government officials—including the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA), the US Department of Defense, and the Atomic Energy Commission—released nuclear bombs on two model towns at Nevada Test Site, the continental nuclear test facility during the Cold War. These so-called “Doom Towns” were designed to illustrate in the most vivid way possible what might happen to a “typical American home” caught in a Soviet atomic blast. Instead of training troops for war overseas, the Doom Towns literally brought the Cold War home. Drawing on newspaper articles, FCDA reports, and corporate documents, in Doom Town, USA: The Nevada Test Site as Ground Zero of 1950s American Culture (University Press of Kansas, 2026), Dr. John Wills brings readers into Doom Town, USA—a place where life-size mannequins of the archetypal Mr. and Mrs. America walked the streets in JCPenney clothes, drove Chrysler cars, and lived in the latest trailer homes, tailor-made to escape in the event of nuclear war. The two Doom Towns of Operation Doorstep (1953) and Operation Cue (1955) were far more than just an exercise in developing a new civilian home front. They were a media spectacle and a cultural flashpoint, attracting corporate sponsors, drawing in atomic tourists, and generating new consumer products. The atom bomb may have been bad for world peace, but it was good for business. In the excitement about these experiments, real people even volunteered to be living test subjects—but most were turned away. Doom Town became an unusual but effective banner for corporate and consumer life in the 1950s. Doom Town was an effective simulacrum of white middle-class America, right down to the racially segregated social spaces and the hierarchical gender roles of the dummies living in their classic suburban homes. But these homegrown Hiroshimas also contributed to a broader culture of catastrophe and fear in the late 1950s. Concerns over Communist invasion, Soviet spies, and ICBM missiles coalesced in the Nevada desert, framing a national culture of anxiety. The sudden explosion of the model towns revealed the shocking fragility of postwar living, calling into question the 1950s American Dream and the survivability of American ideals. The cultural crater left by these nuclear test sites exists even today in the many movies, television shows, and video games that dwell on the existential crisis of impending apocalypse. Doom Town, USA is an eye-opening tour guide of one of the most bizarre and uniquely American places in history. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history

In March 1953 and May 1955, government officials—including the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA), the US Department of Defense, and the Atomic Energy Commission—released nuclear bombs on two model towns at Nevada Test Site, the continental nuclear test facility during the Cold War. These so-called “Doom Towns” were designed to illustrate in the most vivid way possible what might happen to a “typical American home” caught in a Soviet atomic blast. Instead of training troops for war overseas, the Doom Towns literally brought the Cold War home. Drawing on newspaper articles, FCDA reports, and corporate documents, in Doom Town, USA: The Nevada Test Site as Ground Zero of 1950s American Culture (University Press of Kansas, 2026), Dr. John Wills brings readers into Doom Town, USA—a place where life-size mannequins of the archetypal Mr. and Mrs. America walked the streets in JCPenney clothes, drove Chrysler cars, and lived in the latest trailer homes, tailor-made to escape in the event of nuclear war. The two Doom Towns of Operation Doorstep (1953) and Operation Cue (1955) were far more than just an exercise in developing a new civilian home front. They were a media spectacle and a cultural flashpoint, attracting corporate sponsors, drawing in atomic tourists, and generating new consumer products. The atom bomb may have been bad for world peace, but it was good for business. In the excitement about these experiments, real people even volunteered to be living test subjects—but most were turned away. Doom Town became an unusual but effective banner for corporate and consumer life in the 1950s. Doom Town was an effective simulacrum of white middle-class America, right down to the racially segregated social spaces and the hierarchical gender roles of the dummies living in their classic suburban homes. But these homegrown Hiroshimas also contributed to a broader culture of catastrophe and fear in the late 1950s. Concerns over Communist invasion, Soviet spies, and ICBM missiles coalesced in the Nevada desert, framing a national culture of anxiety. The sudden explosion of the model towns revealed the shocking fragility of postwar living, calling into question the 1950s American Dream and the survivability of American ideals. The cultural crater left by these nuclear test sites exists even today in the many movies, television shows, and video games that dwell on the existential crisis of impending apocalypse. Doom Town, USA is an eye-opening tour guide of one of the most bizarre and uniquely American places in history. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

In March 1953 and May 1955, government officials—including the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA), the US Department of Defense, and the Atomic Energy Commission—released nuclear bombs on two model towns at Nevada Test Site, the continental nuclear test facility during the Cold War. These so-called “Doom Towns” were designed to illustrate in the most vivid way possible what might happen to a “typical American home” caught in a Soviet atomic blast. Instead of training troops for war overseas, the Doom Towns literally brought the Cold War home. Drawing on newspaper articles, FCDA reports, and corporate documents, in Doom Town, USA: The Nevada Test Site as Ground Zero of 1950s American Culture (University Press of Kansas, 2026), Dr. John Wills brings readers into Doom Town, USA—a place where life-size mannequins of the archetypal Mr. and Mrs. America walked the streets in JCPenney clothes, drove Chrysler cars, and lived in the latest trailer homes, tailor-made to escape in the event of nuclear war. The two Doom Towns of Operation Doorstep (1953) and Operation Cue (1955) were far more than just an exercise in developing a new civilian home front. They were a media spectacle and a cultural flashpoint, attracting corporate sponsors, drawing in atomic tourists, and generating new consumer products. The atom bomb may have been bad for world peace, but it was good for business. In the excitement about these experiments, real people even volunteered to be living test subjects—but most were turned away. Doom Town became an unusual but effective banner for corporate and consumer life in the 1950s. Doom Town was an effective simulacrum of white middle-class America, right down to the racially segregated social spaces and the hierarchical gender roles of the dummies living in their classic suburban homes. But these homegrown Hiroshimas also contributed to a broader culture of catastrophe and fear in the late 1950s. Concerns over Communist invasion, Soviet spies, and ICBM missiles coalesced in the Nevada desert, framing a national culture of anxiety. The sudden explosion of the model towns revealed the shocking fragility of postwar living, calling into question the 1950s American Dream and the survivability of American ideals. The cultural crater left by these nuclear test sites exists even today in the many movies, television shows, and video games that dwell on the existential crisis of impending apocalypse. Doom Town, USA is an eye-opening tour guide of one of the most bizarre and uniquely American places in history. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-west

In March 1953 and May 1955, government officials—including the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA), the US Department of Defense, and the Atomic Energy Commission—released nuclear bombs on two model towns at Nevada Test Site, the continental nuclear test facility during the Cold War. These so-called “Doom Towns” were designed to illustrate in the most vivid way possible what might happen to a “typical American home” caught in a Soviet atomic blast. Instead of training troops for war overseas, the Doom Towns literally brought the Cold War home. Drawing on newspaper articles, FCDA reports, and corporate documents, in Doom Town, USA: The Nevada Test Site as Ground Zero of 1950s American Culture (University Press of Kansas, 2026), Dr. John Wills brings readers into Doom Town, USA—a place where life-size mannequins of the archetypal Mr. and Mrs. America walked the streets in JCPenney clothes, drove Chrysler cars, and lived in the latest trailer homes, tailor-made to escape in the event of nuclear war. The two Doom Towns of Operation Doorstep (1953) and Operation Cue (1955) were far more than just an exercise in developing a new civilian home front. They were a media spectacle and a cultural flashpoint, attracting corporate sponsors, drawing in atomic tourists, and generating new consumer products. The atom bomb may have been bad for world peace, but it was good for business. In the excitement about these experiments, real people even volunteered to be living test subjects—but most were turned away. Doom Town became an unusual but effective banner for corporate and consumer life in the 1950s. Doom Town was an effective simulacrum of white middle-class America, right down to the racially segregated social spaces and the hierarchical gender roles of the dummies living in their classic suburban homes. But these homegrown Hiroshimas also contributed to a broader culture of catastrophe and fear in the late 1950s. Concerns over Communist invasion, Soviet spies, and ICBM missiles coalesced in the Nevada desert, framing a national culture of anxiety. The sudden explosion of the model towns revealed the shocking fragility of postwar living, calling into question the 1950s American Dream and the survivability of American ideals. The cultural crater left by these nuclear test sites exists even today in the many movies, television shows, and video games that dwell on the existential crisis of impending apocalypse. Doom Town, USA is an eye-opening tour guide of one of the most bizarre and uniquely American places in history. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/science-technology-and-society

A New Christianity for the New South: Paul Sanchez on William Louis Poteat and Liberal Religion in the Baptist SouthCan science and faith coexist? In the early twentieth-century Baptist South, that question was explosive — and few embodied it more than William Louis Poteat. In this episode, Chad sits down with Dr. Paul Sanchez of Oklahoma Baptist University to discuss his new book, A New Christianity for the New South, which examines the life and legacy of Poteat: biologist, devout Baptist, and influential president of Wake Forest College who insisted that modern science and Christian faith need not be enemies.Paul and Chad trace how Poteat became an unlikely champion of theological liberalism in a region that largely resisted modern intellectual currents — and how debates over evolution, biblical interpretation, education, and social order unsettled both the Baptist Church and Southern society. They explore why the New South's rising professional class praised Poteat for modernizing the region's image, why his critics resented his progressive theology, and what his story reveals about the broader modernization of the American South.Dr. Paul Anthony Sanchez (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the Ruth Dickinson Chair of Religion and Assistant Professor of Religion and History in the Herschel H. Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry at Oklahoma Baptist University. He is also the author of California Dreaming: Evangelical Christianity and American Culture in the Golden State (forthcoming, Eerdmans).Links:

International fans traveling to North America for the World Cup are experiencing wholesome "culture shock" by discovering everyday American staples like ranch dressing and large supermarket aisles. Listeners call in to share when they've experienced culture shocks, whether as immigrants or moving to another city or region. Photo: Scotland fans walk on board a boat cruise in Miami ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 group match against Brazil on Wednesday. Picture date: Tuesday June 23, 2026. (Photo by Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Christine Romans stops by to highlight the best and most creative ways to find extra cash. Also, Dylan and Al take a road trip down to the Jersey Shore and visit historic Atlantic City. Plus, actor Jesse Eisenberg stops by to talk about his latest role in the new movie “Minions and Monsters”. And, ahead of July 4th, NBC News Entertainment Contributor Chris Witherspoon and VP of Global PR at Virtuoso Misty Belles list out beloved films that capture the American spirit, as well as the iconic destinations that brought them to life.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this latest installment of their collaborative podcast series, Ken Fong and Ken Kemp discuss what's going on with the growing rise of anxiety among white American identitarian groups who believe that their identity and culture are in danger of being erased by Americans and immigrants of color.

Today on Uncommon Sense, we're discussing the ongoing controversy surrounding the Epstein files, its blackmail, the political implications of Charlie Kirk's assassination, and the growing conflict between Israel and Iran. We'll also talk about the influence of powerful Israeli interests on American foreign policy and ask whether the United States is being drawn into another Middle Eastern war against the will of its own citizens (and at our cost, yet again).--https://www.youversion.com/bible-app

What if the biggest story in America isn't politics at all?In this episode of The Right Side:  After watching the massive UFC event associated with President Trump, Doug Billings realized the real story wasn't the fights, the celebrities, or even Trump himself.The story was the crowd.Why do America's media elites, Hollywood elites, and political elites seem perpetually shocked by election results, cultural trends, and the values of ordinary Americans?Doug explores the growing disconnect between the people who shape America's culture and the people who actually live in America.Drawing on his experiences growing up in Kansas City, years in education, and conversations with thousands of listeners across the country, Doug explains why millions of Americans are rediscovering confidence in their own values, their own observations, and their own common sense.This isn't really a story about UFC.It's a story about family, faith, patriotism, personal responsibility, culture, and why ordinary Americans are no longer willing to let elites define reality for them.Topics include:• The cultural significance of Trump's UFC event• Why media elites keep misreading America• The disconnect between Hollywood and Main Street• Family, faith, and traditional American values• Why ordinary Americans are pushing back• The Great American Pushback and the future of the RepublicThe story isn't politics. The story is culture. And culture always comes first.Contribute to The Right Side with Doug Billings at: www.DougBillings.usWe're in this together. Believe it.For the Republic!Cheers. #DougBillings #TheRightSide #AmericaFirst #MAGA #ConservativePodcast #Patriot #AmericanCulture #Trump #UFC #MediaBias #PoliticalCommentary #CultureWar #FaithFamilyFreedom #Podcast Support the show

The FBI says it disrupted an alleged terror plot targeting UFC Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C., preventing what authorities described as a potentially deadly attack involving explosive-laden drones and sniper teams. Todd examines the disturbing rise of political hatred and asks a difficult question: how far has the radical left gone in normalizing violence against its opponents?Todd also responds to criticism surrounding UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, exploring why traditional masculinity, combat sports, and American culture continue to spark outrage among political activists. Plus, a look at historical White House sporting events, Teddy Roosevelt's boxing sessions, and the double standards surrounding what is considered acceptable on White House grounds.

The FBI says it disrupted an alleged terror plot targeting UFC Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C., preventing what authorities described as a potentially deadly attack involving explosive-laden drones and sniper teams. Todd examines the disturbing rise of political hatred and asks a difficult question: how far has the radical left gone in normalizing violence against its opponents?Todd also responds to criticism surrounding UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, exploring why traditional masculinity, combat sports, and American culture continue to spark outrage among political activists. Plus, a look at historical White House sporting events, Teddy Roosevelt's boxing sessions, and the double standards surrounding what is considered acceptable on White House grounds.

 “Have you ever wondered what America looks like… through someone else's eyes?”

As America approaches its 250th birthday, visitors from around the world are getting an up-close look at the United States—and many are discovering that what they've been told about America doesn't match reality. Todd explores the reactions of World Cup fans who are experiencing American hospitality, small-town culture, road trips, sports traditions, and everyday life firsthand. Why are so many surprised by what they find? Todd discusses the gap between America's reputation and its reality, the influence of media and culture on global perceptions, and why gratitude for the freedoms and opportunities available in this country still matters. Plus, reflections on UFC 250 at the White House and the importance of appreciating the nation we call home.

As America approaches her 250th birthday, a deeper question emerges: Are we still America?In this episode of THE RIGHT SIDE, Doug Billings explores the ideas that made America exceptional—faith, liberty, personal responsibility, self-government, and the belief that rights come from God. Have we forgotten those principles, or are Americans beginning to rediscover them?This conversation isn't about politics. It's about identity, culture, and the future of the American experiment.Prayerfully consider donating to the show at: www.DougBillings.us #AreWeStillAmerica #America #America250 #Faith #Family #Freedom #ConservativePodcast #DougBillings #TheRightSide #Liberty #PatriotPodcast #AmericanCulture #SelfGovernment #FYP #USASupport the show

What is the actual job of a civilization?In this episode of THE RIGHT SIDE, Doug Billings explores a simple but powerful framework that has guided successful civilizations throughout history:Protect the children. Secure the borders. Preserve the culture.From family and community to national identity and sovereignty, this episode examines the foundational responsibilities that determine whether civilizations thrive, decline, or disappear.As America approaches her 250th birthday, these questions may be more important than ever.Prayerfully consider donating to the show at: www.DougBillings.us #Civilization #AmericanCulture #America250 #Faith #Family #Freedom #ProtectTheChildren #SecureTheBorders #PreserveTheCulture #DougBillings #TheRightSide #AmericanIdentity #Liberty #ConservativePodcast #America #USA #FYPSupport the show