Interviews Episodes

Year(s) Discussed: 1866-2026Delve into the art of crisis management with insights from an expert PR consultant and journalist, Edward Segal. This episode uncovers the leadership strategies of US presidents, including insights on the importance of communication and information gathering for succ…

Year(s) Discussed: 1913-1945One of the most pivotal figures in 20th century history, as my guest David T Beito shares with us, Franklin D Roosevelt was also a complex figure who leaves a complicated legacy. Learn more about his rise to political prominence, the policies he pursued while in offi…

Year(s) Discussed: 1935-2025How presidents utilize the facilities put at their disposal can reveal much about the individual and their approach to the office. In my conversation with Charles Ferguson about his new book, Presidential Seclusion: The Power of Camp David, we explore tales from the …

Year(s) Discussed: 1682-2025Philadelphia is at the heart of American history from before there was even a United States, but how did this region come to play such a large role in the Revolution and Early Republic periods and what influence has it had in building the present-day nation? Historia…

Year(s) Discussed: 1789-2025The president is responsible for administering the federal budget, but how have our chief executives handled their personal finances? My guest for this episode researched each and every one to find out. Listen to my conversation with Megan Gorman, author of All the P…

Year(s) Discussed: 1817 - 1963With two presidents who made it their home, one who passed away there, and many others who have visited over the years, Buffalo has a special role in presidential history. In this episode, I am joined by John Fagant of the Buffalo Presidential Center to discuss som…

Year(s) Discussed: 1935-2025Like all of us, presidents need a place where they can relax and unwind. Having served as its commanding officer under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush, Michael Giorgione shares with us some of the history of the presidential retreat, Camp David, and what it…

Year(s) Discussed: 1789-2025In this episode, I talk with Dan Scudder about his magazine, Presidents for Kids, and his work in educating the next generation about US presidential history. More information can be found on the website at https://www.presidenciespodcast.com.

Year(s) Discussed: 1861-1871Most of us were taught that the Civil War ended with Lee's surrender at Appomattox. However, as my special guest, Michael Vorenberg, points out, pinpointing the end of the War is not quite as simple as standard history accounts would have us believe, and there is muc…

Year(s) Discussed: 1809-1865What seems at first glance to be a simple question - What is democracy? - is one that many have pondered over the ages. In my discussion with Allen C Guelzo on his new book, we explore how Abraham Lincoln approached that question, what influences led to the crafting …

Year(s) Discussed: 1945-1953Harry Truman is famous for asserting that "The Buck Stops Here," but as my special guest, John Robert "Bob" Greene, found in his research for his new book, this myth doesn't hold up to the reality of his administration's history. In our conversation, Bob and I discus…

Year(s) Discussed: 1789-1963In this episode, I am joined by Nathan Raab, the nation’s leading dealer in important historical documents, and we discuss his work and how he developed the skills necessary to assess the value and the authenticity of documents and other historical artifacts. He also…

Year(s) Discussed: 1790-1863In this episode, I am joined by historian Jordan Cash to discuss two pivotal figures in the push for Texas annexation: Sam Houston and John Tyler. Each dealt with unique challenges in their respective roles as president to get the Americans and Texians to agree to th…

Year(s) Discussed: 1807-presentIn this episode, I am joined by the Presidential Grave Hunter himself, Kurt Deion of the Congressional Cemetery to learn more about the history behind the site known as DC's greatest undertaking. Kurt shares stories about some of the famous (and infamous) permanen…

Year(s) Discussed: 1797-1836When he left office after his second term, George Washington had one more precedent to set: namely, what exactly did a president do once they were no longer president? In this episode, I am joined by Peter Zablocki, host of the History Shorts podcast, to discuss the …

Year(s) Discussed: 1904-1944They happen every four years, but how much do you know about the history of presidential nominating conventions in the US? In this episode, I am joined by Stan Haynes to discuss his research into the history of nominating conventions in the first few decades of the 2…

Year(s) Discussed: 1797-1801The presidency of John Adams often gets overshadowed by those of his predecessor and successor, but as highlighted in Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky's latest book, Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic, the four years that Adams was in…

Year(s) Discussed: 1781-1815The early republic was a tumultuous time for the United States both domestically and in the realm of diplomacy, and one man who rather consistently found himself at the center of its all in the nation's first few decades was James Madison. In my discussion with Tyson…

Year(s) Discussed: 1732-1989Leadership is naturally one of the main topics that comes up when talking about US presidents, but it’s not always talked about with practical implications in mind. In this conversation with Talmage Boston about his latest book, we discuss the insights that he found …

Year(s) Discussed: 1742-1814Nathanael Greene served as one of Washington's top generals during the Revolutionary War, but what lasting legacy did this man whose life was cut tragically short leave for the Early Republic? In this episode, I am joined by historical fiction author Salina B Baker t…

Year(s) Discussed: 1865-1877The history of the Reconstruction era has in the past been deliberately misconstrued to downplay the achievements of Black Americans and the inhumanity of self-described white supremacists. In his latest work, Fergus Bordewich dispels the myths and explores the histo…

Year(s) Discussed: 1850-1924US presidential history is filled with notable friendships and partnerships, and arguably one of the most impactful was that between President Theodore Roosevelt and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. In this episode, I am joined by Laurence Jurdem, author of The Rough Rider…

Year(s) Discussed: 1933-1945The presidency of Franklin D Roosevelt was faced with major challenges in terms of the Great Depression and World War II, and over the years, many decisions had to be made in order to navigate the political waters of the time with some involving questionable methods …

Year(s) Discussed: 1961-2023For this episode, I'm joined by author and journalist Kate Andersen Brower to discuss her research on modern First Ladies from Jackie Kennedy on and how the role of First Lady changed in the modern era and continues to evolve in the 21st Century. In addition to explo…