What is America?
Hi! I'm John, and this is "What is America?" podcast. For the next year, I'm gonna drive around the country and talk to people about their lives. The goal is to help rebuild our broken politics. Wanna come?
Podcasting since 2025 • 8 episodes
What is America?
Latest Episodes
Ep 8: Imprisoned at age 13 + growing up in a war zone (with Joel Elliott)
Joel Elliott has a uniquely American story 👦🏾He grew up in Miami’s Overtown Neighborhood, which he affectionately refers to as Swamp City and Rat Town. As a kid, he was known as Lil Smurf; he loved skateboarding—he idolized Tony Hawke—an...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 8
•
52:41
Ep 7: What if we gave America a blood test? (Book Club - Adrift, by Scott Galloway)
What if we gave America a blood test? 🩸When you go to the doctor, they give you your numbers for cholesterol, blood pressure, body fat percentage, the whole deal. If you’re regular about getting your checkups, you can track your numbers ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 7
•
24:54
Ep 6: "The American Dream is harder for people now." (with Owen Williams)
When we talk about politics, we tend to use the word “should.” Like, we should level the playing field. We should work to correct historical inequalities.But we don’t do as good a job thinking about how federal policies will impact indiv...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 6
•
50:43
Ep 5: "Everyone deserves healthy, delicious food. Period." (with Kaya Lewis)
Life can be confusing and difficult for a 24-year-old in America. Especially if you happen to be a queer black woman living in the South, and you’re working three jobs.But somehow, in the midst of everything, Kaya Lewis is finding time t...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 5
•
1:00:10
Ep 4: Standing alone on the world stage + the view from 100 years (with Peggy Bodine)
Ever wonder what it would be like to be a hundred years old? Or what America looks like to somebody who lived through the Second World War? Well, don’t wonder anymore. Peggy Jemison Bodine is turning a hundred this July. In a nation...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 4
•
38:47