The Preamble

In this episode, Sharon speaks with journalist and author Matthew Continetti about the evolving history of conservatism over the past one hundred years. Continetti has spent the past few years researching and writing about the American Right. History is the study of change, and Continetti’s book leads readers through the changing landscape of America as it has shaped conservative politics since 19...

In today’s solo episode, Sharon continues to talk about the territories of the U.S., this time focusing on the U.S. Virgin Islands. USVI spent many centuries as a colony of Denmark and a hot spot in the European trade routes. What prompted the U.S. to become interested in the acquisition of the islands? Sharon shares the reason… and the high price tag! You’ll also hear some fun facts about the isl...

In this episode, Sharon sits down with author Shauna Niequist, who–along with her husband and young sons–moved from their suburban midwestern home to NYC. When her sons expressed discomfort and frustrations with learning a new way of living, Shauna set about softening their mindsets by writing “I guess I haven’t learned that yet” on a sticky note for the whole family to see. The mantra expanded, a...

In today’s episode, Jeena Wilder joins Sharon to hear about the history of Puerto Rico. Sharon walks listeners through how the U.S. acquired Puerto Rico through the Treaty of Paris, and how the island’s people are split on the issue of statehood. While many would like to see Puerto Rico become the 51st state of the U.S., others are hoping to see the island become its own independent nation. Sharon...

In today’s episode, Sharon talks with 7-time Emmy Award winning news anchor, Emma Jade, about the evolution of journalism and news in the age of social media. After working hard for a successful career in traditional television journalism, Emma realized that she wanted better balance between her work and family, which led her to explore new ways to communicate the news to others, specifically moth...

In today’s episode, Sharon speaks with Alexis Devine, human to Bunny, the sheepadoodle whose viral videos showing off her FluentPet communication skills delight viewers all over the world. Outside of memorizing over 100 English language words, Bunny often uses her word buttons to create conversation, putting thoughts together in surprising, delightful, and incredibly intelligent ways. Sharon asks...

In today’s episode, Sharon tells the story of Guam’s history as a U.S. Territory to Adrienne Rolon, the owner of Hearts Content Events & Design. Adrienne’s six year old son, James, is a big fan of history, facts, and Sharon. Learn along with Adrienne and James as Sharon relays the significant history of Guam’s involvement in both the Spanish-American War and World War II. Sharon also shares pl...

In today’s episode, Sharon speaks with Lisa Sharon Harper, whose book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World–and How to Repair It All, is the result of thirty years of family history research. Lisa believes that there is a power in knowing your story and the story of your ancestors. Many African Americans face the challenge of gaps in their family history, origins obscured by enslavement...

In this episode, Sharon talks with social activist Ashley Spivey about how American Samoa became a U.S. territory. While we all grew up learning facts about states in our history and government classes, U.S. territories are often left out of the conversation. Sharon talks about how American Samoa became of interest to the U.S., and how the South Pacific Ocean archipelago is represented in governme...

In today’s episode, Sharon chats with author and scholar Anna Makaika Tubbs about the mothers of three well-known Civil Rights activists, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin. Anna, influenced by the Black women in Hidden Figures , began researching Black mothers, a demographic that often goes unnoticed or even erased. Through their own stories, and through their love for their so...

In today’s solo episode, Sharon dives into a topic the American public has long been interested in: the illnesses of past presidents. Sharon gives details about the secretive ways three of our former presidents–Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt–kept the people in the dark about their surgeries and sicknesses. She talks about how presidential health was often tied to the n...

In today’s episode, Sharon speaks with psychologist, Dr. Todd Kashdan, about the ways in which insubordination can be an effective and valuable way to make the change you want to see in the world. Effective dissent looks like encouragement and collaboration for the good of many. Change does not always happen as an immediate result from going against the status quo, but it does open up others to th...

In this episode, Sharon hears from Jason Flom, a successful record label executive who followed his passion into working for criminal justice reform. After reading about a young man’s conviction where the crime did not fit the punishment, Flom rolled up his sleeves and began working to help overturn wrongful convictions and change criminal justice policies and practices through the Innocence Proje...

In today’s episode, Sharon dives beyond the basics to talk about the life and career of a man with whom you may already be familiar: Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright’s legendary career spanned seventy years but his personal life is just as often talked about as his revolutionary building style. Learn a little more about his eccentricities, his love of fancy, expensive things, his scandalous romances, an...

In this episode, Sharon gets the scoop on the emerging space of cryptocurrency from well-known entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Brit Morin. Brit is an expert who founded BFF, an open-access community where women and nonbinary people can connect, exchange ideas, and grow their knowledge in crypto. Blockchain, Bitcoin, NFT, web3… if these terms leave you feeling a little uncertain, consider this...

In this episode, Sharon shares the story of how West Virginia broke away from the state of Virginia with author and speaker Annie F. Downs. Unhappy with their representation in state legislature, the Appalachian communities in the Northwestern part of Virginia took advantage of Virginia’s secession during the Civil War to apply for their own statehood. Sharon and Annie talk about what makes West V...

During this episode, you’ll join Sharon as she sits down with two members of the US Congress: Representatives Dean Phillips and Brian Fitzpatrick. Phillips is a Democrat from Minnesota and Fitzpatrick is a Republican from Pennsylvania. Together, they have used their time in congress to work across the aisle, serving on the Problem Solvers Caucus and promoting bipartisan collaboration. Listening to...

In this episode, Sharon’s sister Caroyln joins her to hear a bit about the history of flight and the Boeing family. While German immigrant Wilhelm Boeing made his fortune in natural resources like timber and iron ore, his son, William, is best known for–you guessed it–taking the fledgling field of aviation to new heights. Learn about what prompted William to build his first seaplane, how both Worl...

In this episode, Sharon chats with Julie Bogart, creator of the award-winning Brave Writer program. Sharon and Julie talk about the benefits of leaving behind our information safety nets–the communities that only reinforce our own opinions–to explore information in new and open ways. Julie emphasizes that the best way to understand and care about each other is to be open to, and become fascinated...

In this solo state episode, Sharon returns us to a tumultuous time in US history: Reconstruction. After the Civil War, rebuilding the country was a messy task, but Black Americans knew that creating educational opportunities for their children was highly important. What started in rural Virginia as the success of one teacher–Virginia Randolph–who put love, care, and oftentimes her own salary into...

To kick off the week, Sharon sits down to chat with comedian and fellow Midwesterner, Charlie Berens. Charlie talks about how he doubled down on his Midwestern character after realizing just how different he sounded to people when he traveled outside of the Midwest. He channels his dad and his grandfather in his comedy, turning on that gruff but unfailingly polite Wisconsinite personality. Sharon...

In this episode, Chrissy Lawler of The Peaceful Sleeper, joins Sharon to hear the story of Matthew Lyon, one of Vermont’s most eclectic historical figures. Lyon, a “redemptioner” from Dublin, made a name for himself as a fierce Democratic-Republican when he got into not one–but two–scuffles with a congress member of the opposing party… during an active House session. His story gets more bizarre fr...

In this episode, Sharon talks with Dr. Paul Zeitz, author of Waging Optimism, about how to identify our complacency and make a move toward impacting the world around us. Together, the pair discusses how optimism leads to courage, and how courage leads to action. Oftentimes, making change requires experimentation; Plan A doesn’t always work out, so it’s good to have more than one Plan B in place. W...

In this solo state episode, Sharon takes us back to the 1970s to follow the rise of two of the most iconic names in showbiz… Donny and Marie Osmond. Follow along as we learn about the siblings’ long history in entertainment, from five year old Donny’s first appearance on the Andy Williams Show to Marie’s number one country hit at the tender age of thirteen. The brother and sister pair have spent t...

In this episode, Sharon sits down to speak with Michael Tubbs, who was the youngest mayor to serve in an American city at age 26. Tubbs served as the mayor of his hometown of Stockton, CA. On a fast-track from Stanford University to the White House, Tubbs decided instead to return home, walking from door-to-door to campaign for a seat on city council and, ultimately, mayor. Sharon and Michael talk...