Nation Aug 06 How American English evolved from its British roots How did American English become so distinctly American? On her “In Pursuit of Happiness” podcast, Judy Woodruff sat down with linguists Anne Curzan and Valerie Fridland. They look at how Americans from the very beginning reshaped the English language by…
Nation Aug 06 American English and how its evolving How did American English become distinctly American? In this episode of “In Pursuit of Happiness”, Judy Woodruff explores the 250-year evolution of the language we speak with linguists Anne Curzan and Valerie Fridland. From revolutionary-era spelling changes and regional expressions…
Nation Aug 05 How the Battle of the Little Bighorn reshaped U.S. policy toward Native Americans It’s been 150 years since the Battle of the Little Bighorn, one of the most famous and enduring events in American history. While Native Americans were victorious, the battle reshaped the government’s policy toward Indigenous people and still resonates so…
Arts Jul 30 How music has helped tell America's story from the very beginning Music has helped tell America's story from the very beginning, reflecting our triumphs, struggles and the many cultures and traditions that have shaped the country. On her “In Pursuit of Happiness” podcast, Judy Woodruff sat down with music historian Ted…
Nation Jul 30 The music that's shaped America Music has long been one of America's most influential cultural exports. In this episode of “In Pursuit of Happiness,” Judy Woodruff talks with music historian Ted Gioia and journalist Sidney Madden about the Black and Indigenous roots of American music,…
Nation Jul 24 Jason Epperson on the history found at national parks America's national parks preserve not only the nation's most spectacular landscapes, but also some of its most important history. On Judy Woodruff's podcast, "In Pursuit of Happiness," she spoke with Jason Epperson. He is a podcaster and RV traveler who…
Nation Jul 23 How America's national parks shape our identity What makes America’s National Parks so special? In this episode of “In Pursuit of Happiness,” Judy Woodruff talks with longtime RV traveler and public lands podcaster Jason Epperson to explore the remarkable history of the National Park System and the…
Nation Jul 22 Thomas Jefferson's complicated legacy 250 years after the Declaration of Independence It's been 250 years since Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, a document that declared all men equal even while hundreds of thousands of people remained enslaved. Judy Woodruff traveled to his Virginia home of Monticello to learn more…
Nation Jul 16 How conspiracy theories have shaped America From the American Revolution to today, conspiracy theories have been part of the American story in ways that may surprise us. In this episode of Judy Woodruff’s “In Pursuit of Happiness,” she sits down with Jesse Walker, author of “The…
Arts Jul 09 What political satire can reveal about the strength of a democracy Satire plays a powerful role in challenging authority, exposing hypocrisy and testing the boundaries of free expression. It's among the forces Judy Woodruff explores in the podcast, “In Pursuit of Happiness.” She sat down with The Onion Network’s Joshua Johnson…