The United States of Amnesia
Welcome to The United States of Amnesia, where yesterday's history meets today's realities. History, politics, and religion are full of forgotten lessons, misunderstood events, and stories shaped by myth and bias. But the past never stays buried. Its ideas, conflicts, and consequences continue to shape the world we live in, often in ways we fail to recognize. We look beyond familiar narratives to examine what happened, why it matters, and what we might be missing. Because understanding where we've been is essential to understanding where we are, and where we may be headed. The past isn't past. It's still making history.
Spotify 
Amazon Music 
Apple Podcasts 
YouTube The United States of Amnesia
Welcome to The United States of Amnesia, where yesterday's history meets today's realities.
History, politics, and religion are full of forgotten lessons, misunderstood events, and stories shaped by myth and bias. But the past never stays buried. Its ideas, conflicts, and consequences continue to shape the world we live in, often in ways we fail to recognize.
We look beyond familiar narratives to examine what happened, why it matters, and what we might be missing. Because understanding where we've been is essential to understanding where we are, and where we may be headed.
New episode every other Wednesday.
Recent
Oct. 14, 2026
"Redacted No More" by Sharon Bibee on Substack
Sharon Bibee joins us for our latest series, "The U.S. and Iran: What Went Wrong." For more from Sharon, read her column, "Redacted No More," in which she explores history, politics, travel, culture, and whatever else sparks her curiosity. You can …
Oct. 14, 2026
Upcoming Episodes!
Episode 503: "The Road to Victory" (coming October 28!) Mohammed Reza Shah seeks to curry favor with the United States as a counterweight to the British and Soviets. But when Germany invades the Soviet Union in June 1941, support to the Soviet war e…
2
Oct. 14, 2026
The U.S. And Iran: What Went Wrong? - Meet the Pahlavis
Can a nation modernize and reclaim its independence when powerful foreign empires are determined to keep it within their grasp? Between 1920 and 1941, Iran's attempt to forge its own future collides with the ambitions of Britain, the Soviet Union, and the upheaval of World War II. Reza Pahlavi rises to power as Reza Shah, founding the Pahlavi dynasty and launching an ambitious campaign to transform Iran, inspired in part by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's modernization of Turkey. But strengthening his
Oct. 13, 2026
How the South's Priorities Backfired #shorts #history #civilwar
We often debate the role of government in building infrastructure and connecting the country, and these arguments are nothing new. Before the Civil War, Henry Clay and John Quincy Adams advocated for national investment in transportation and economic development. The South, meanwhile, built much of its railroad network around getting cotton to port. When war came, those priorities became a serious liability. How did a debate over the nation's future help shape the outcome of the Civil War? Expl
Oct. 12, 2026
Image Gallery for "The U.S. and Iran: What Went Wrong?"
This gallery of photos, maps, and other images add to our "The U.S. and Iran: What Went Wrong?" audio series about how America's relations with Iran – where the United once was viewed as a refreshing alternative to predatory imperial powers and some…
Oct. 12, 2026
"In God We Trust" Isn't as Old as You Think! #history #shorts #usoa
“In God We Trust” is not an ancient American tradition. It first appeared on U.S. currency during the Civil War, when some Christians interpreted the conflict as divine punishment for the nation’s lack of faith. Nearly a century later, during the Cold War and the Red Scare, it became the official motto of the United States. How did a phrase shaped by the Civil War become a national symbol in the fight against communism? And what does that history tell us about the assumptions we project onto
Oct. 11, 2026
Are You Voting for a Politician or Buying a Product? #history #usoa
Catchy slogans. Political spectacle. Candidates marketed like consumer products. From Andrew Jackson's era to JFK's campaign trail, American politicians have long relied on image, emotion, and memorable slogans to win voters. So how much has political campaigning really changed? Do we see any patterns continuing today? #AmericanHistory #USHistory #Politics #PoliticalHistory
Oct. 10, 2026
The Founding Fathers Didn't Trust the Voters? #shorts #history
The Founders designed a government where the states had far more power, and ordinary voters had far less direct influence, than we might expect today. Senators were chosen by state legislatures, and presidential electors were meant to exercise their own judgment. The idea was to keep the will of the people in check. How much of that original vision can we see in American government today? #USHistory #AmericanHistory #Founders #USGovernment #Politics
Join Our Mailing List!
Never miss a new episode again!
Listen On
