The American Idea

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes back Dr. Jason Stevens, Professor of History and Political Science at Ashland University and the Director of Teacher Programs at the Ashbrook Center, to talk about the conflicting political ideologies at the heart of the Progressive Era, spanning three decades at the end of the nineteenth century and the dawn of the twentieth century. Particularl...

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Natalie Taylor, Associate Professor of Political Science at Skidmore College, to the show for a conversation on Susan B. Anthony's "Is it a Crime for a U.S. Citizen to Vote?" Their conversation explores how to understand the Constitution's relationship to the Declaration of Independence, the history of women's suffrage during the nineteenth centu...

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Daniel Gullotta, Doctoral Candidate in Religious Studies at Stanford University and the host of The Age of Jackson podcast, to the show for a conversation on American prophets. Daniel is a scholar on religion in early American history and is a graduate of Yale University’s Divinity School, in the Master of Arts in Religion program. Their conversa...

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes back Dr. Lucas Morel, Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University and a Visiting Graduate Faculty Member in Ashland University's Masters of American History and Government program, to talk about Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. Lucas is a renowned scholar on American political thought and Abraham Lincoln, having recently pub...

Building on our recent conversation with Fox News Contributor Mollie Hemingway, Jeff welcomes Joe Fornieri, Professor of Political Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the Director of the Center for Statesmanship, Law, and Liberty, to the show for a discussion on the history of free speech and journalism in America. Their conversation stretches from Colonial America and seditious l...

In this special episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Fox News contributor and Senior Editor of The Federalist, Mollie Hemingway, for a conversation on media and political society. Their conversation covers what's wrong with contemporary journalism, its relation to politics, and how thoughtful engagement with American Founding principles is good for journalism -- and for the country. Host: J...

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes friend and colleague Dr. Jason Stevens, Professor of History and Political Science at Ashland University and the Director of Teacher Programs at the Ashbrook Center, to talk about the most famous speech in American history: Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Their conversation covers the importance of the Battle of Gettysburg in the American C...

On this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Dr. Lucas Morel, Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University and a Visiting Graduate Faculty Member in Ashland University's Masters of American History and Government program, to talk about Frederick Douglass's most well-known and controversial speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" A long-time friend of Ashbrook, Lucas is...

On this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes Dr. Cara Rogers, Assistant Professor of History at Ashland University and published scholar of Thomas Jefferson, to talk about Jefferson's important (but understudied) Letters to Roger Weightman and Henry Lee. Their conversation will examine the surprising legacy of the Declaration of Independence in the days of the Early Republic, Jefferson's ho...

On this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes back Dr. Chris Burkett, Associate Professor of Political Science at Ashland University and Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program, to talk about George Washington's famous 1796 Farewell Address. Their conversation will examine the historical context of the speech and how George Washington's republicanism is on full display in this enduring piec...

On this episode of The American Idea, Jeff is joined by Dr. Greg McBrayer, Associate Professor of Political Science at Ashland University, Assistant Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program, and Director of Citizen Programs at Ashbrook, to talk about James Madison's contributions to the Federalist Papers. Their conversation will examine the theory and arguments of Federalist No. 10, 39, and 51, th...

On the inaugural episode of The American Idea, Jeff is joined by Dr. Chris Burkett, Associate Professor of Political Science at Ashland University and Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program, to talk about the most important American document: the Declaration of Independence. Their wide-ranging conversation will examine the document's historical context, political theory, and the impact of its Fo...

Coming to you from the Schramm Library, it's The American Idea ! Hosted by Jeff Sikkenga, The American Idea is an exciting new podcast presented by the Ashbrook Center. In this trailer for season one, Jeff talks about the new show, its focus, the power of conversation, and the historical documents that will serve as the topics of conversation this season.