The Preamble

Latest Episodes:

Sure, I'll Join Your Cult with Maria Bamford Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

Joining Sharon today is comedian and author Maria Bamford, who shares the hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. Together, they discuss how Maria began her career as a comedian, and dive into her book: Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere. In this delightful conversation, they playfully banter about the irony of fundraising benefits, what makes one susceptible to cult-like mentality, and explore the cultural shift that has allowed society to speak more openly about mental health. Maria’s quirky and personal comedy style gives room to breathe, and to not be offended if something is not your style.

Special thanks to our guest, Maria Bamford, for joining us today.

Host/Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon

Guest: Maria Bamford

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democracy Awakening with Heather Cox Richardson Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

Sharon welcomes back political historian, author, and professor Heather Cox Richardson, one of our most popular podcast guests of all time, who has a new book out: Democracy Awakening. Taking a different approach to this book from her previous work, Heather answers some of the big picture questions – once and for all – that readers have asked for years, relating directly to America’s current standing as a Democracy. When did the political parties change sides? Is America a Democracy, or a Constitutional Republic? How has America always managed to preserve Democracy as a global symbol, and how can we reclaim some of those Democratic principles?

Special thanks to our guest, Heather Cox Richardson, for joining us today.

Host/Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon

Guest: Heather Cox Richardson

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before the Movement with Dylan Penningroth Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

In today’s episode, Sharon’s guest is Dylan Penningroth, whose new book, Before the Movement: The Hidden History of Black Civil Rights, brings to light a new narrative of Black life in America. It’s a fascinating history of how African American communities used law, talked about law, and thought about law for almost two centuries, in ways that enabled the Civil Rights Movement before it even began. Pulling back the curtain, it explores how race actually works in American law, and does so by looking at local court cases that are not directly about race. When we zoom out, a new more complex story emerges of how law impacted Black Americans in ways that stretched far beyond segregation and race relations.

Special thanks to our guest, Dylan Penningroth, for joining us today.

Host/Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon

Guest: Dylan Penningroth

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What an Owl Knows with Jennifer Ackerman Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

Joining Sharon today is Jennifer Ackerman who has written a new book titled, What an Owl Knows, to discuss some new, rich scientific discoveries about these captivating and intriguing birds. Owls have often been a symbol of knowledge and wisdom, but what does an owl truly know? In a conversation both kids and adults can enjoy, Jennifer shines a light on the 260+ species of owls, to understand the depth and complexities of these enchanting creatures. Scientists are still discovering owl species due to their eerily quiet flight and camouflaged nature, but if you have ever wondered about their uniquely sophisticated communication sounds and family dynamics, or questioned how their brains work, this episode is for you.

Special thanks to our guest, Jennifer Ackerman, for joining us today.

Host/Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon

Guest: Jennifer Ackerman

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Secret Societies and American Democracy with Colin Dickey Sep 18, 2023

Show notes

Sharon is joined today by cultural historian and author Colin Dickey, to discuss America’s fascination with conspiracies, and fear of secret societies. In his new book, Under the Eye of Power, Colin walks through the history of how paranoia is woven into the very fabric of The United States from its inception, and how conspiratorial thinking and even the most irrational beliefs reach the mainstream. From the Salem Witch Trials to Freemasonry to the Satanic Panic, the Illuminati, and QAnon, Colin breaks down this cycle in history and explains why people of all walks of life subscribe to conspiracy theories, and what can be done to break the cycle.

Special thanks to our guest, Colin Dickey, for joining us today.

Host/Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon

Guest: Colin Dickey

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming of Age in a Digital World with Devorah Heitner Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode of Here’s Where It Gets Interesting, Sharon sits down with Dr. Devorah Heitner, author of Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World. At a time where every minor detail, fleeting thought, and potential misstep can be publicly documented and scrutinized online, how are parents, teenagers, and mentors expected to navigate growing up in the digital age? We all want the “right” answers, and have valid questions such as, when is it ok for a kid to have their own phone? How does one safely help their child navigate texting and social media? And where is the line between allowing someone to make mistakes, learn from them, and move forward, versus having controversial posts haunt them the rest of their lives? Let’s dive in together, with radical empathy, for kids who are growing up in a digital world.

Special thanks to our guest, Devorah Heitner, for joining us today.

Host/Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon

Guest: Devorah Heitner

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rough Rider and the Professor with Laurence Jurdem Sep 13, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode, Sharon is joined by author and professor Laurence Jurdem to discuss his book, The Rough Rider and the Professor, about the unusual thirty-five-year political friendship between President Theodore Roosevelt and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. While Roosevelt famously “rose like a rocket,” in the political spotlight with his larger-than-life personality, it was arguably his machiavellian friend Cabot who lit the fuse, and used his vast social network to boost Roosevelt. In his research, Laurence Jurdem immersed himself in 2,500 letters of archives from the Massachusetts Historical Society to write the story of this unique Presidential friendship, and to remind us that close, meaningful friendships do not always have to perfectly align politically. We can disagree without being disagreeable.

Special thanks to our guest, Laurence Jurdem, for joining us today.

Host/Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon

Guest: Laurence Jurdem

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oppenheimer with Kai Bird Sep 11, 2023

Show notes

Sharon’s guest today is Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of American Prometheus, which is the biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer that the blockbuster Christopher Nolan film was based on. Join us while Kai shares his experience of what it was like to have his work turned into a historically accurate major motion picture, and how he conducted the research required to capture the life of Oppenheimer. If you are interested in learning more about the mid-Century, World War II, his wife Kitty, or what happened to them immediately after the war, you will not want to miss this episode.

Special thanks to our guest, Kai Bird, for joining us today.

Host/Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon

Guest: Kai Bird

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tyranny of the Minority with Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt Sep 08, 2023

Show notes

American Democracy has faced some challenging times, living through a modern day political crisis. Today, Sharon is joined by Harvard professors of government, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt to dig into all things Democracy. In their new book, Tyranny of the Minority, they explore how democracies break down throughout history and find the striking pattern that political minorities often govern over political majorities. Factor in the unsettling truth that the Constitution – even with its brilliance and reverence – has flaws, which limit the power of majorities, and we’re left wondering: Why have we stopped working to reform and improve the Constitution over the last half century? What are other Democracies doing to fight Authoritarianism? And what is a “Constitutional Republic” in relation to a Democracy?

Special thanks to our guests, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, for joining us today.

Host/Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon

Guests: Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Myth of Educational Reform with Dr. Bettina Love Sep 06, 2023

Show notes

On today’s episode of Here’s Where It Gets Interesting, we’re discussing all things public schools: The good, the bad, and the controversial. Joining Sharon is Dr. Bettina Love, Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University who has a new book out: Punished for Dreaming. Between chronic school underfunding, pressure placed on standardized testing, the devaluing of educators, teacher burnout, and a list of ongoing systemic challenges, many agree that something needs to change in the school system. The word “reform” is bandied about, but what does “reform” actually mean? And how do school segregation issues – past and present – show up, and impact education for generations to come?

Special thanks to our guest, Dr. Bettina L. Love, for joining us today.

Host/Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon

Guest: Dr. Bettina L. Love

Audio Producer: Jenny Snyder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.