Drawing from the archetypes of the hero’s journey found in narratives of myth, religion, culture, and politics, Susan Travis presents American democracy and its citizens as flawed heroes on an aspirational expedition of hope and determination.
EP10 | American Bureaucracy & the Draining of Institutional Expertise
Historian Tom Nichols discusses the decline of trust in expertise and the resulting damage to American institutions, highlighting the impact on governmental agencies and their effectiveness in this interview.
3 May 2025
EP09 | The Courage to Resist Tyranny
As America slides ever deeper into an authoritarian regime hell-bent on achieving the aims of Project 2025, one Facebook user speaks truth to power through his inspiring post to American citizens, reminding them that non-violent resistance is needed to save democracy. This episode places the outcome of democracy in the hands of Americans. We are reminded that "this isn't fate, unless we accept it as such," and in this episode find a three-pronged approach to actions for self, communit...
27 Dec 2024
EP08 | The Quest for America's Multi-Racial Democracy
As America poises on the brink of the authoritarian vision posed by Project 2025, pro-democracy citizens must brace for an assault on democratic principles by stewarding themselves. The real work lies ahead in a resistance to the oncoming efforts to dismantle our democracy. A hero's journey is always fraught with struggles, and this one is no different. In this episode, American Musecast seeks to identify the vision of America that was promised by our founders and framers....
30 Oct 2024
EP07 | American Democratic Backsliding Into Project 2025
America is at a crossroads between saving our democracy and a hard right turn toward fascism. Our journey to this crossroads has been of our own making, through a citizenry disinterested, complacent and cynical about our political future. Our inattention has allowed "democratic backsliding" characterized by the erosion of our democratic institutions, restrictions on our civil liberties, a relentless manipulation of electoral processes, attacks on political opponents, a weakening of our ...
10 Oct 2024
EP6B | Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny" - Daily Life
Timothy Snyder's On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, offers important reflections on the fragility of democratic systems and the rising momentum toward authoritarianism in contemporary politics. Most importantly, it offers citizen tools aimed at fortifying vulnerabilities characteristically targeted by autocrats, dictators, despots and tyrants, each of whom aim at consolidating power for their own ends. This week looks at the distinction between those terms rel...
20 Sept 2024
EP6A | Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny" - The Big Picture
Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century offers important reflections on the fragility of democratic systems and the rising momentum toward authoritarianism in contemporary politics. Most importantly, it offers citizen tools aimed at fortifying vulnerabilities characteristically targeted by autocrats, dictators, despots, and tyrants, each of whom aim at consolidating power for their own ends. This week, we look at the broader socio-political journey of th...
13 Aug 2024
EP5B | Sorting the Language of Dynamic Citizenry
America needs an engaged and informed citizenry capable of defending democracy, but what if they aren't sure what democracy means? Too many Americans have become disillusioned or disengaged when they encounter confusing concepts amid a fire hose of misguided conspiracies, fact-free opinions and disinformation. In order to grasp the complexities of our political system, it's time to embark on a little “refresher course” of civic vocabulary needed to navigate today’s complex politic...
3 Aug 2024
EP5A | The Naming of Parts in a New Normal
As our host, Susan Travis, reports on the fires and floods in her hometown of Ruidoso, New Mexico, the Summer of 2024 roars through its own tumultuous times, and for both, a new normal emerges. This episode is a prelude to Episode 5B: Sorting the Language of Governing, and includes a reading of the poem, "The Naming of Parts," by Henry Reed. Topics Discussed in this Episode: [00:50] Ruidoso, New Mexico fires[02:05] Ruidoso, New Mexico floods[11:25] "The Naming of Par...
11 Jun 2024
EP04 | Richard Haass' "The Bill of Obligations" for American Citizens
As Americans waken to the authoritarian threats facing democracy, Richard Haass' book, The Bill of Obligations; Ten Habits for Good Citizens, offers a 10-habit plan for stewarding ourselves toward a more robust dynamic citizenry. His gracious regard for democracy postures Americans of every party and persuasion to become better, more competent citizens for the 21st century. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Haass, Richard. The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citiz...
25 May 2024
EP03 | American Democracy Relies on an Engaged Citizenry
Throughout history and culture, throughout our personal and collective lives, we are at times “called,” to a task, epic to the moment. Yet, the scope of such a calling can seem overwhelming, and for a number of reasons, many never get past an initial resistance to be more, be better, solve the problem, or to heed the call. This episode explores American resistance to political engagement, despite alarming threats to democracy. Right wing extremism, white nationalism, and the rise ...
As those with authoritarian tendencies escalate their rhetoric and show their intentions, the work, How Democracies Die, by Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky offers a guide for identifying the markers we're seeing around us. For citizens unconvinced that democracy is at stake, this episode makes clear that the fate of America lies in the hands of a new dynamic citizenry. Topics discussed in this episode: [9:29] Rejecting or holding weak commitment to democratic rules[14...
31 Mar 2024
EP01 | America on a Hero's Journey
The literary construct of Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey" offers insight into the America’s quest for a stronger democracy, and for its citizens, struggling to appropriately engage in pursuit of that healthier democracy. This episode outlines the ways that citizens individually, and America, as a collective, engage in aspects of the hero’s journey. Topics discussed in this episode: [08:40] Departure. The Ordinary World. [09:00] The Call to Adventur...
30 Mar 2024
EP00 | American Democracy's Call to Quest
In these troubling times, the rule of the people requires our participation lest democracy slip from our fingers altogether. American Musecast invites listeners to a journey through civics, current events, and the charms and challenges of our socio-political institutions. Using elements of positive psychology and drawing from the archetypes of the hero’s journey found in narratives of myth, religion, culture, and politics, Susan Travis presents American democracy and its citizens as fla...
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
46
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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