PODCAST · history
American Experience Presents
by GBH
American Experience Presents brings the storytelling power of TV's most-watched history series to your ears, exploring how individual stories illuminate pivotal moments in American history.Season 1 features three transformative 20th century figures: Joseph McCarthy, whose anti-communist crusade terrorized 1950s America; media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who shaped public opinion for decades; and Sgt. Isaac Woodard, the WWII veteran whose brutal assault sparked a civil rights awakening.Season 2 shifts to the veteran experience with American Veteran: Unforgettable Stories. This 8-part series features direct testimony from veterans across generations from a Coast Guard gunner's mate at Omaha Beach to an Army cook who became the first Black American woman POW in Iraq. Each episode centers on one veteran's story, creating an intimate portrait of military service and sacrifice.Follow the show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/americanexperiencepbs?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_she
Episodes
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The Shadow Side
Raised on her father’s stories as a Marine recruit, CJ Scarlet wanted to prove she could be as tough as her Dad. Like her twin brother, in 1981 she joined the Corps, and she excelled on the rifle range, became an expert marksman, and completed boot camp as an honor graduate. Scarlet planned on a...
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Get Me Airborne
Harold Brown earned his wings as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black aviators in the United States armed services. At the outset of his distinguished, two-decade-long career in the military, Brown flew for this ground-breaking World War II unit. On his 30th mission, his P-51 Mustang...
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The Reaper
Nick Irving was a member of the elite Army Rangers, serving three deployments each in Iraq and Afghanistan. He became a sniper and earned the nickname “The Reaper” for his deadly accuracy and high body count. But returning home wasn’t so simple. “Overseas,” Irving said, “I had all the control in...
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My Boys
Edie Meeks had two brothers, one who was serving in Vietnam and the other who was protesting the war. She loved them both but decided that if something happened to her brother in combat, she wanted him to have the best care. She volunteered for the Army Nurses Corps, one of 100,000 women who…
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No, I’m Not Good
As a teenager watching the 9/11 attacks, Clifton Hicks remembers that it was “our Pearl Harbor moment.” He joined the army as an M1 Abrams tank specialist and deployed to Germany, Kuwait, and finally to Iraq. There, his experiences in combat convinced him that what he was doing wasn’t glamorous…
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It Was Just Too Exciting
Edward Field grew up feeling out of place in Long Island, New York, a gay, Jewish “interloper.” When he joined the Army Air Corps in 1942, he felt he’d “escaped from a world I didn’t like to one I did.” Field became a navigator and flew twenty-seven missions over Germany. One mission ended in a...
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That Day
When she joined the Army, Shoshana Johnson figured that she’d “save some money, lose some weight, and come back home.” It didn’t work out as planned: in her first month in Iraq, working as a cook in a maintenance unit, her convoy took a wrong turn and she was wounded and captured, becoming the...
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She Never Knew
When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Frank DeVita wanted revenge. He enlisted in the Coast Guard, his quickest way into service. His mom figured he’d “patrol a beach on Coney Island.” Instead, on D-Day, he ended up on a landing craft transporting soldiers to the slaughterhouse that was Omaha...
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Introducing American Veteran: Unforgettable Stories
In war and in peace, the veteran experience is part of the American Experience. Welcome to American Veteran: Unforgettable Stories, an 8-part series built around the direct testimony of a single veteran - from a Coast Guard gunner’s mate who manned a landing craft at Omaha Beach on D-Day, to an...
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Bonus episode: How Isaac Woodard's Case Changed America
A single act of brutality. A spark that would ignite a revolution. In this bonus episode, hear how Isaac Woodard's tragic story rippled through history, transforming Judge Waties Waring, mobilizing the NAACP, and setting the stage for seismic shifts in American justice. Join filmmaker Jamila...
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Part 2: The Isaac Woodard Case
In a gripping courtroom confrontation, Isaac Woodard comes face to face with his attacker, revealing a miscarriage of justice that will shake the foundations of American racism. Discover President Harry Truman's stunning transformation from a man shaped by Southern prejudices to a bold champion…
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Part 1: Isaac Woodard's Fateful Bus Ride
Just hours after his honorable discharge from the Army, Isaac Woodard, a decorated World War II veteran, faces a brutal encounter with law enforcement that leaves him blind and ignites a national conversation about race and justice, highlighting the stark realities of returning home as a Black…
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Introducing: Isaac Woodard
In 1946, decorated World War II veteran Isaac Woodard is brutally beaten and blinded by police just hours after his honorable discharge – a shocking act of racial violence that ignites a firestorm of change. Join host Cameo George as she unravels this powerful, forgotten story that reveals how…
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Part 4: Hearst's Hollywood Dreams Meet the Great Depression
From Hollywood glamor to financial ruin, William Randolph Hearst's empire crumbles as the Roaring Twenties crash into the Great Depression. Facing economic collapse, a fractured relationship with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and whispers of communism, Hearst navigates a treacherous landscape....
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Part 3: Hearst Conquers Hollywood and Builds a Castle
By 1919, William Randolph Hearst had conquered the world of print media, but the ambitious mogul isn't satisfied. As America roars into the 1920s, Hearst sets his sights on a dazzling new frontier—the silver screen. From pioneering newsreels to lavish Hollywood productions, Hearst aims to…
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Part 2: Hearst vs. Pulitzer
William Randolph Hearst has one goal: to dethrone Joseph Pulitzer as the king of newspapers. What follows is a circulation war like no other, where no tactic is off-limits. Hearst slashes prices to a penny, poaches top talent, and even lures away Pulitzer's pressroom cat. But it's his sensational...
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Part 1: Hearst's San Francisco Sensation
In 1887, a 24-year-old Harvard dropout takes over a struggling San Francisco newspaper. Within weeks, he's arrested for libel. Meet William Randolph Hearst, the audacious young publisher who transforms The San Francisco Examiner from a money-losing headache into the 'Monarch of the Dailies.'...
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Introducing: William Randolph Hearst
American newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst's immense wealth and power transformed the media's role in politics and society. In this 4-part series, we delve into Hearst's early life and his rise as a media titan, revealing how his prodigious appetites and control over vast media holdings...
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Part 3: Downfall
At the height of his power, Senator Joseph McCarthy seems unstoppable. But his downfall comes from an unexpected place—the U.S. Army. Follow the dramatic escalation of McCarthy's anti-communist campaign in 1953 as his crusade collides with the military, leading to televised hearings that…
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Part 2: Chasing the Lie
As Cold War fears grip 1950s America, Joseph McCarthy weaponizes accusations of communist infiltration, rocketing from obscurity to national prominence. Discover how one man's relentless pursuit of a lie explodes into a nationwide witch hunt. Through rare audio and firsthand accounts, hear...
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Part 1: The Birth of McCarthyism
Joseph McCarthy grows up on a Wisconsin farm where he learns the value of hard work. After serving in World War II, he capitalizes on his military service to launch a successful Senate campaign. As the Cold War intensifies, McCarthy seizes the opportunity to exploit public fears of communism,...
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Introducing: Joseph McCarthy
In 1950, an obscure senator from Wisconsin stood before a small crowd in Wheeling, West Virginia, and ignited a firestorm that would change American politics forever. With a single speech, Joseph McCarthy thrust himself into the national spotlight, brandishing accusations of Communist…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
American Experience Presents brings the storytelling power of TV's most-watched history series to your ears, exploring how individual stories illuminate pivotal moments in American history.Season 1 features three transformative 20th century figures: Joseph McCarthy, whose anti-communist crusade terrorized 1950s America; media mogul William Randolph Hearst, who shaped public opinion for decades; and Sgt. Isaac Woodard, the WWII veteran whose brutal assault sparked a civil rights awakening.Season 2 shifts to the veteran experience with American Veteran: Unforgettable Stories. This 8-part series features direct testimony from veterans across generations from a Coast Guard gunner's mate at Omaha Beach to an Army cook who became the first Black American woman POW in Iraq. Each episode centers on one veteran's story, creating an intimate portrait of military service and sacrifice.Follow the show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/americanexperiencepbs?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_she
HOSTED BY
GBH
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does American Experience Presents have?
American Experience Presents currently has 22 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is American Experience Presents about?
American Experience Presents brings the storytelling power of TV's most-watched history series to your ears, exploring how individual stories illuminate pivotal moments in American history.Season 1 features three transformative 20th century figures: Joseph McCarthy, whose anti-communist crusade...
How often does American Experience Presents release new episodes?
American Experience Presents has 22 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to American Experience Presents?
You can listen to American Experience Presents on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts American Experience Presents?
American Experience Presents is created and hosted by GBH.
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