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…
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 28 On 'Settle In,' Emilee Hackney and Amna Nawaz discuss Appalachian stereotypes Appalachia is often stereotyped as a region defined by struggling coal towns and substance abuse. Writer Emilee Hackney says those portrayals don’t reflect her life growing up in southwestern Virginia. Her debut memoir, “All That’s Unseen,” covers growing up inside…
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 17 The surprising role of conspiracy theories in the American Revolution Conspiracy theories may seem like a modern phenomenon, but they've been a part of America's story since the nation's founding. On Judy Woodruff's "In Pursuit of Happiness" podcast, she speaks with journalist and author Jesse Walker about the surprising role…
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…
Nation Jul 09 How satire shaped American history From Benjamin Franklin to The Onion, satire has long been a part of how Americans process politics and power. In this episode of “In Pursuit of Happiness,” Judy Woodruff talks to Sophia McClennen of Penn State University and Joshua Johnson…
Nation Jul 03 Why George Washington believed in the strength of differing viewpoints This week, PBS News launched “In Pursuit of Happiness,” a six-episode podcast series hosted by Judy Woodruff, exploring the people, culture and ideas that have shaped America. In this clip from the first episode, presidential historian Lindsay Chervinsky takes a…