America@250

The final Episode of the America@250 Podcast... I am Kevin Caldwell and I devoted this project to enabling us to see and feel America through the eyes and hearts of others, and as a result take concrete steps to make America truly great. In order to pursue the purpose of this project, throughout the podcast I invited a very diverse set of guests to share how they would answer “what would make Amer...

“What if Christian Nationalism is to Communism what religious freedom is to Capitalism?” I ask that as a precursor to asking some bigger questions: Is America a Christian Nation? Should it be? Was it ever intended to be? And what place might religion play in making America great? This is another Episode of the America @ 250 Podcast, devoted to enabling us to see and feel America through the eyes a...

250 years since America’s first 4th of July. 26 years since the Twin Towers. This Episode explores the way American and Christian rhetoric has been shaped since 9/11, our tendencies to pain “others” with broad mono-chromatic brushes in which “we” are the good guys and “they” are the bad guys. I explore the hypocrisy inherent in much of our anti-Muslim rhetoric and by extension, our anti-immigrant...

In this Episode Joseph Tseng returns as my guest as we continue to explore Joseph’s project, “Shanghai: An American Story.” For more about Joseph and where to find his work, see below.   One of the themes we explore together in this conversation is the idea of grains of sand as “irritants” which, in an oyster shell, create pearls!   Another topic which surfaced is what Joseph calls “artivism.”   W...

My guest in this interview is Salman Ghani...a family man, a professional, and a devout Muslim from Pakistan. Salman arrived in the United States to work in Silicon Valley, and not long after his arrival... 9/11 happened. We talk about his experiences during that time, his friendships with Americans, and his experiences since then. In particular we talk about what it is like to be a Muslim living...

This is a special Episode, an exercise in what is termed “artivism”...an intentional expression of the inherent connection between art and activism. Art enables us to see and feel through the eyes and hearts of others And Artivism can do so in ways that lead us to take concrete steps towards change. Combined I believe artivism is a way to express the fact that deep change arises from true empathy...

Welcome to the America @ 250 Podcast, devoted to enabling us to see and feel America through the eyes and hearts of others, and as a result take concrete steps to make America truly great.   This Episode is titled, “Shanghai: An American Story” and my guest is Joseph Tseng.   Joseph is an American “artivist,” a singer/songwriter, community-weaver, and educator working to expand the American story....

Welcome to the America @ 250 Podcast, devoted to enabling us to see and feel America through the eyes and hearts of others, and as a result take concrete steps to make America truly great. This is my second interview with Kali Spicer. Throughout the podcast I have been inviting a diverse set of guests to share how they would answer “what would make America Great?” This only seems fitting, during t...

Welcome to the America @ 250 Podcast, devoted to enabling us to see and feel America through the eyes and hearts of others, and as a result take concrete steps to make America truly great. In order to pursue the purpose of this project, throughout the podcast I will be inviting a very diverse set of guests to share how they would answer “what would make America Great?” This only seems fitting, dur...

This is my second interview with Robbie McDonald. We cover questions of gender and sexuality, what makes a good "ally," and other topics as we explore what can help America become great... Robbie is a native Angeleno, born in Los Angeles to Irish immigrant parents. Robbie found early success in what were known as “hair bands” then gracing L.A.’s iconic Sunset Strip. At the same time his inner song...

My guest for this Episode is Robbie McDonald. Robbie is a native Angeleno, born in Los Angeles to Irish immigrant parents. Robbie found early success in what were known as “hair bands” then gracing L.A.’s iconic Sunset Strip. At the same time his inner songwriter soul was forever deepened by his time living in Ireland, where he absorbed centuries of timeless poetry and song. His 2006 release, Migh...

Welcome to the America @ 250 Podcast, devoted to enabling us to see and feel America through the eyes and hearts of others, and as a result take concrete steps to make America truly great. This Episode is my second interview with Tamara Lanier, author of the book, ‘From These Roots.” In this conversation we explore recovery, restitution, reconciliation, and the difficult topic of reparation. I bel...

Welcome to the America @ 250 Podcast, devoted to enabling us to see and feel America through the eyes and hearts of others, and as a result take concrete steps to make America truly great. My guest for this Episode is Tamara Lanier, author of the book, ‘From These Roots.” Tamara grew up listening to her mother’s stories about her ancestors. As her mother’s health declined, she "commissioned" her d...

Borders are not just geo-political…they are linguistic and cultural…and psychological. This Episode explores some aspects of these other borders and suggests that at least one avenue to greatness in America is more diversity, not less. More languages and cultures, not in isolated pockets, but embraced and welcomed and celebrated. This is my second interview with Gabriella Gutierrez y Muhs. Please...

Imagine looking at AMerica as we know it, not as if there were a map, not as oif we are looking down from the sky, but as if we are on our backs looking up…from ancient land, before SPain and Russia, and the rest of Europe. Before Mexico. Before America. How would things look? That is just one topic I will talk about with my guest in this interview, Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs. Please see some of t...

In this second interview with Joey Williams (see below for more about him) we explore more tangible ideas about what might make America Great. There are a number of things Joey talks about that we could have learned, and should have learned, and still CAN learn, from indigenous peoples. These are things that, had we learned them, would have helped to make us great. Things which, if we do learn the...

The America @ 250 Podcast is devoted to enabling us to see and feel America through the eyes and hearts of others, and as a result take concrete steps to make America truly great. That seems like a fitting question during the year in which America turns 250. I am Kevin Caldwell, and in order to pursue the purpose of this project, throughout the podcast I will be inviting a very diverse set of gues...

Welcome to the America @ 250 Podcast, devoted to enabling us to see and feel America through the eyes and hearts of others, and as a result take concrete steps to make America truly great. That seems like a fitting question during the year in which America turns 250. I am Kevin Caldwell, and in order to pursue the purpose of this project, throughout the podcast I will be inviting a very diverse se...