A Practical Guide to American History

About A Practical Guide to American History

American history, but in a fun, practical way. Listen, learn, and hopefully use something to become a better American.

Publisher

The Americana Scrapbook

Category

history

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Apr 2026

Latest episode

19 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

17 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   19 Oct 2026

   Brave New World: 1946-1959

   Finally, America comes into its own as a global superpower! Although it's not all sunshine, because when you're at the top, you naturally have enemies. And what you'll rationalize is needed to stay at the top might just betray all your ideals. Feat. the UN, Israel, the Iron Curtain, foreign aid, spies, white picket fences, sci-fi, Norman Rockwell, blacklists, the Korean War, television, teenagers, hipsters, and the highway system. Further reading 📚: https://bookshop.org/lists/brave-new-world-1946-1959 (https://bookshop.org/lists/brave-new-world-1946-1959) Era playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3TozuvvXbucDWsoDcULCPK?si=PcN23k0WTj-NCJgSFMif4g (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3TozuvvXbucDWsoDcULCPK?si=PcN23k0WTj-NCJgSFMif4g) Buy me a coffee, maybe? ☕️: https://ko-fi.com/americanascrapbook (https://ko-fi.com/americanascrapbook) Israel-Palestine, but make it not controversial: COMING SOON

2. 

   17 Sept 2026

   World War II: 1941-1945

   Combine two competing political ideologies and the unfinished business of World War I, and you get another war that encompasses the entire planet. The world would never be the same. Feat.: sad men with inferiority complexes, proxy war in Spain, tanks, dogfights, whether or not eating carrots gives you good eyesight, mathematicians, and physicists. Further reading 📚: https://bookshop.org/lists/world-war-ii-1941-1945 (https://bookshop.org/lists/world-war-ii-1941-1945) Era Playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0nWS5MJtVDYdYzp20FLsb8?si=J2CKwBLSRi2nL2LpxNp0vw (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0nWS5MJtVDYdYzp20FLsb8?si=J2CKwBLSRi2nL2LpxNp0vw) This show will always be free! But the notion struck you, would you want to buy me a coffee ☕️?: https://ko-fi.com/americanascrapbook (https://ko-fi.com/americanascrapbook)

3. 

   10 Sept 2026

   A Lost Generation: 1919-1940

   When a catastrophic, world-changing event occurs, how do people respond? They party, of course! But what happens when the party stops? That's a lot darker... Feat. Art Deco, flappers, jazz, rum runners, Hollywood, financial crisis, the rise of fascism, and the New Deal. Further reading 📚: https://bookshop.org/lists/a-lost-generation-1919-1940 (https://bookshop.org/lists/a-lost-generation-1919-1940) Era playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jITx0r2hcI4zqxHPQnfAB?si=iGNI0R64QliuAfqqwxYIFQ (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2jITx0r2hcI4zqxHPQnfAB?si=iGNI0R64QliuAfqqwxYIFQ) This podcast will always be free! But if you did enjoy it, would you maybe wanna think about buying me a coffee ☕️?: https://ko-fi.com/americanascrapbook (https://ko-fi.com/americanascrapbook)

4. 

   13 Aug 2026

   World War I: 1914-1918

   What happens when all the major powers in Europe bind themselves together in a complex series of alliances? War on a global scale. Only this time, with 20th-century technology. Feat. trench warfare, shipwreck, an infamous telegram, Canadians, Charlie Chaplin, Freud, and Lenin. Era playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4QA4GT6i7Kb7yP3fxVngaY?si=y2YNMXpITLCmarMfLl2BQA (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4QA4GT6i7Kb7yP3fxVngaY?si=y2YNMXpITLCmarMfLl2BQA)

5. 

   12 Aug 2026

   The Progressive Era: 1893-1913

   When society becomes unlivable for the average person, the government needs to step in and change things. But what does that look like? And how does the continued dominance of big business hurt us today? Feat. the gold standard, unions, the origins of a beloved children's classic, the current wars, advances in medicine, the automobile, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and the only successful coup d'etat in United States history. Eras playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3WZSVzxeBt6YCYulKXgtSD?si=1EoF25nSQZae_SEWFU8jRA (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3WZSVzxeBt6YCYulKXgtSD?si=1EoF25nSQZae_SEWFU8jRA) Food consolidation 🌽🍎: https://nutritionstudies.org/consolidation-in-the-food-system/ (https://nutritionstudies.org/consolidation-in-the-food-system/)

6. 

   7 Aug 2026

   The Gilded Age: 1876-1892

   It may glitter, but is it gold? Does there come a point where the downsides of growth outweigh the benefits? Feat. world's fairs, sewing machines, steel, the largest private home in America, tenement buildings, and a completely manmade environmental disaster. Eras playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ELBgncOypCFDcAueQ0Kzd?si=-VthkkvjQpCuHKvlQRtRUQ (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ELBgncOypCFDcAueQ0Kzd?si=-VthkkvjQpCuHKvlQRtRUQ)

7. 

   29 Jul 2026

   Reconstruction: 1866-1875

   A shorter episode, since I cover a lot of this ground in the episodes on Black and Indigenous history. What was life like after the Civil War? How did different regions and groups cope? Feat. internal improvements, civil rights legislation, amendments, impeachment, and the first transcontinental railroad. Eras playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/06SnCmcFTvUImWdqdroGts?si=WAYGAaccQLSFW6o639aGjg (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/06SnCmcFTvUImWdqdroGts?si=WAYGAaccQLSFW6o639aGjg) I'm keeping this podcast completely free! But if you did enjoy it... wanna buy me a coffee ☕️?: buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory (http://buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory)

8. 

   15 Jul 2026

   Civil War: 1861-1865

   Why do we have such difficulty talking about the Civil War? Why do so many of us have such different ideas about it? And what lessons should we be taking away from it today? Feat. ironclads, telegraphs, trench warfare, dog tags, hard tack, and, of course, the statue debate. Era playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Pwm4aQF0tRajRAVxPFvth?si=SDtIgVVnRH22lBXYHlGQBw (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3Pwm4aQF0tRajRAVxPFvth?si=SDtIgVVnRH22lBXYHlGQBw) This episode (and all future episodes) are free! But if you did enjoy it... would you wanna maybe buy me a coffee ☕️?: buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory (http://buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory)

9. 

   13 Jul 2026

   The Compromise Era: 1832-1860

   The Antebellum Period, that is, the decades immediately before the Civil War, is a period of anxious anticipation. That’s why this episode has proved to be the longest one to date; to fully understand the road to war, you have to examine all the nuances and minute details. What caused the cracks to show? How can you account for people’s differing attitudes? Feat. a flouted Supreme Court decision, more tariffs, financial panic, urban planning, gold dust, the Oregon Trail, the middle class, the Mississippi, the lessons of Ancient Sparta, and the time someone was almost beaten to death on the floor of the Senate. Eras playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3VVsYUqZVI9Z57cq5XxeSx?si=xQS_gFdLTPKJBLVIn2_ekw (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3VVsYUqZVI9Z57cq5XxeSx?si=xQS_gFdLTPKJBLVIn2_ekw) Everything in this podcast will always be free! But if you enjoyed it... maybe you would want to buy me a coffee ☕️? buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory (http://buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory)

10. 

    10 Jul 2026

    An Era of Good Feelings: 1816-1831

    The War of 1812 proved that Americans can stand on their own two feet, holding their own against the British, even without the aid of the French this time. But what is it exactly that they're fighting for? What does it truly mean to be "American"? And now that everyone is no longer united against an external threat, how long can they remain united? Feat. tariffs, central banks, canals, factory towns, steam engines, and cotton. Plus a hefty dose of nostalgia and populism. Era playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2MpUxXo0tQTZiHqYwCpX2I?si=frhnUNNkTRi8fFQRDKlv_Q (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2MpUxXo0tQTZiHqYwCpX2I?si=frhnUNNkTRi8fFQRDKlv_Q) This podcast is totally free! But if you did enjoy this episode, buy me a coffee ☕️?: buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory (http://buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory)

11. 

    20 Jun 2026

    Proof of Concept: 1801-1815

    How does a nation heal after as contentious an election as 1800? What exactly does the president need to do to keep everything running smoothly? And if Britain were to come back for round 2, could the United States fight them off another time? Feat. a pirating war, tariffs, Canada, the US Navy, the writing of the most important poem in US history, and maybe the fanciest ball in history. Era Playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0wqgqZkgpxzoZxJWWZj7CK?si=-EEqm9yZSJWLiPQklwm8kw (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0wqgqZkgpxzoZxJWWZj7CK?si=-EEqm9yZSJWLiPQklwm8kw)

12. 

    25 May 2026

    Now what?: 1784-1800

    This one is on the longer side... but that's because this is possibly the one period in our history that people need to know the most: the formation of the United States of America that we live in today. Feat. Founding Fathers, merchants, carpenters, Quakers, an international scandal, and the birth of party politics in America. Further reading 📚: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e9itKacIiCfEuu7fnpOwFhRYDEQMqpRKk9BoMxRt5eE/edit?usp=sharing (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e9itKacIiCfEuu7fnpOwFhRYDEQMqpRKk9BoMxRt5eE/edit?usp=sharing) Eras playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/471rYzdZMCG9hqSE1yeeb9?si=scOtF1rGTE2Pg8COjaeF1w (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/471rYzdZMCG9hqSE1yeeb9?si=scOtF1rGTE2Pg8COjaeF1w) Notes available on Substack 📨: https://americanascrapbook.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web (https://americanascrapbook.substack.com?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web) Buy Me a Coffee ☕️?: buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory (http://buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory)

13. 

    9 May 2026

    American Revolution: 1764-1863

    What were the conditions to make people say, "enough's enough"? What examples did they look to? And how did they pull off what should have been impossible? Feat. marriage certificates, 13th-century barons, tar-and-feathering, state militias, and the birth of American espionage. Further reading 📚: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18vlI3M__K5E-ogxEnenuPUQmIxQrUvfS3qNsaIUjg_E/edit?usp=sharing (https://docs.google.com/document/d/18vlI3M__K5E-ogxEnenuPUQmIxQrUvfS3qNsaIUjg_E/edit?usp=sharing) Era playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4MfeLgaVYcVxxB2doorR9g?si=v6zWf2hoTq-HTQSdzcPYgg (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4MfeLgaVYcVxxB2doorR9g?si=v6zWf2hoTq-HTQSdzcPYgg) Substack 📨: https://americanascrapbook.substack.com/ (https://americanascrapbook.substack.com/) The podcast will always be free, but if you enjoyed it, maybe you'd like to buy me a coffee ☕️?: buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory (http://buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory)

14. 

    29 Apr 2026

    Finding Our Balance: 1693-1763

    How does the culture of a society develop? What factors in the 18th century convened to create more egalitarian conditions? How did people work and live? What was America's evolving relationship to the wider world? Feat. fraternal organizations, taverns, coffeehouses, accusations of libel, the origins of Yankee Doodle, the minuet, evangelicals, Daniel Boone, and French raiding parties. Further reading 📚: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GJ22LV0dRfxz1NSWNmJznBpIMvoiuiizWqOqoDE49Eg/edit?usp=sharing (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GJ22LV0dRfxz1NSWNmJznBpIMvoiuiizWqOqoDE49Eg/edit?usp=sharing) Era playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1ZmdQSewXQUmI842flmd7U (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1ZmdQSewXQUmI842flmd7U) Substack 📨: https://americanascrapbook.substack.com/ (https://americanascrapbook.substack.com/) All these episodes will always be free... but if you enjoyed it, maybe you'd want to take the time to Buy Me a Coffee ☕️?: buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory (http://buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory)

15. 

    22 Apr 2026

    Laying the Foundations: 1492-1692

    European beginnings in the Americas-- as well as my own beginnings in long-form recording! 😅 What actually were Spanish attitudes towards their American endeavors? What was the business model for colonization, and how did it change over time? And what did each of the different English colonies contribute to our current idea of America? Feat. explorers, Italian bankers, chocolate plantations, second sons, vagrants, King Henry VIII, religious extremists, and the Devil! Further reading 📚: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12i8wkNdh95KLYxcDDVeawNB-oiKWFl17Wuo13GWnAwQ/edit?usp=sharing (https://docs.google.com/document/d/12i8wkNdh95KLYxcDDVeawNB-oiKWFl17Wuo13GWnAwQ/edit?usp=sharing) Era playlist 🎧: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hH6yTdTZM1UMnvDbvYidk (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1hH6yTdTZM1UMnvDbvYidk) Substack 📨: https://americanascrapbook.substack.com/ (https://americanascrapbook.substack.com/) All these episodes will always be free... but if you enjoyed it, maybe you'd want to take the time to Buy Me a Coffee ☕️?: buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory (http://buymeacoffee.com/guidetoamericanhistory)

16. 

    2 Apr 2026

    How to Use This Guide

    Some things to know before we begin.

17. 

    1 Apr 2026

    A Practical Guide to American History

    History should be practical.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact A Practical Guide to American History

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.