The Preamble

Find Relief in the Regular Stuff with Nora McInerny

21 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, author Nora McInerny joins Sharon to talk about vibes: good vibes, bad vibes, and the fact that m...

What Makes a Great Leader Stand Out with Stephen M. R. Covey

19 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, Sharon has a conversation with bestselling author Stephen M. R. Covey about effective leader...

The U.S. and the Holocaust with Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, we are thrilled to sit down with documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein. Their ...

How History Can Give Us Hope with Dr. Jemar Tisby

14 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

During this episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, historian Dr. Jemar Tisby speaks with Sharon about racism and what we can do about it. We ...

The Formidable Change-Makers of Women’s Suffrage with Dr. Elisabeth Griffith

12 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, Sharon talks with Dr. Elisabeth Griffith, who has written a new book called Formidable: Amer...

Independent State Legislature Theory Explained with Akhil Reed Amar, Part 2

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, Sharon continues her conversation with constitutional law professor Akhil Reed Amar. They shift g...

The Enduring Value of the U.S. Constitution with Akhil Reed Amar, Part 1

07 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, Sharon sits down with constitutional law professor Akhil Reed Amar to talk about the importance o...

Life Lessons from The Little Mermaid with Jodi Benson

02 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode, Sharon sits down with the voice of a generation: Jodi Benson, the performer who voiced Disney’s Ariel in The Little Mermaid. J...

175. Daniel Boone: Finding Facts in the Folklore

31 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

So far, we’ve been concentrating on a fairly small geographical area of the United States, and even though much of the political action was happenin...

Elizabeth Monroe’s Journey from Parisian Prison to White House

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Join us on Here's Where It Gets Interesting today as we dive into the First Ladyship of Elizabeth Monroe. As the reserved wife of 5th President, James...

The Violence Project with Dr. Jillian Peterson

26 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, Sharon is joined by Dr. Jillian Peterson, a leading expert in the research of violence, mental il...

Scandal Sells: The Rise of the American Exposé

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today on Here's Where It Gets Interesting we are going to switch gears a bit. We’ve been talking about first ladies and the many people who were clo...

Hello, Dolley!: How to Become the Icon of a Nation

22 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting we are going to meet the woman who set the gold standard for the role of First Lady. Dolley Madiso...

How to Move Forward: Changing the Two Party System with Andrew Yang

19 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, Sharon has a conversation with former presidential candidate Andrew Yang. After coming off the ca...

Freedom and the Art of Cookery

17 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, on Here's Where It Gets Interesting, we returned to Monticello and the lives that were intertwined with third President Thomas Jefferson. The y...

The Widower Jefferson and the Women He Loved

15 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, we hear about the wife of Thomas Jefferson, Martha, who is listed as an official First Lady,...

The Economic Cost of Racism with Heather McGhee

12 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon is joined by economic policy expert and author Heather McGhee. McGhee began her career as an economist but when she took a tri...

Ben Franklin: Beyond the Squeaky Clean Reputation

10 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, on Here's Where It Gets Interesting, Sharon talks about one of the most famous American historical figures: Benjamin Franklin. The history book...

From Paris With Love: Abigail Adams Travels Abroad

08 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, on Here's Where It Gets Interesting, we revisit a favorite first lady, Abigail Adams. Follow along as Abigail travels across the Atlantic, adve...

A Tale of Two Theodosias and a Well-Kept Secret

05 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, Sharon takes us deep into the lives of the women who greatly influenced the same man: Aaron ...

163. The Hidden Life of Martha Washington

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Over the next several weeks Sharon will be sharing stories about the lives of American first ladies and the different ways in which they have influenc...

162. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 17

01 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On the last episode in our series, Momentum, Sharon ties up a few loose ends. The 1950s was a decade full of change, but the Civil Rights Movement did...

161. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 16

29 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On our second to last episode in our series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, We learn about the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and the commission born ...

160. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 15

27 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode in our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, we learn about the women who gave the movement its backbone. Listen i...

159. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 14

25 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode in our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, Sharon talks about some of the most important components of a success...

158. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 13

22 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode in our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, Sharon tackles the vast topic of religion within the Civil Rights Mov...

157. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 12

20 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today in our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, Sharon rewinds and takes us back to the origin story of a life lost far too soon due...

156. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 11

18 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today in our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, Sharon talks about the rising popularity of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how, with...

155. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 10

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today in our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, Sharon begins with a woman who is surely familiar to anyone who has received a crash...

154. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 9

13 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today in our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, Sharon begins by picking up after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision was rele...

153. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 8

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of Momentum, Sharon talks about America’s push to eradicate communists during the Red Scare and Korean War. Many people working...

152. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 7

08 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, Sharon establishes the foundation of another man who played a pivotal...

151. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 6

06 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, Sharon continues a riveting conversation with pulitzer-prize winning ...

150. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 5

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, Sharon speaks with pulitzer-prize winning author, Gilbert King. It's ...

149. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 4

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, Sharon makes the connection between the desegregation of the United S...

148. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 3

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, Sharon guides us to a lawsuit years in the making, that shaped Americ...

147. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 2

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s episode of our special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s, Sharon continues the story of young Thurgood Marshall as he travels t...

146. Momentum: The Ripples Made by Ordinary People, Part 1

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the first episode of our new special series, Momentum: Civil Rights in the 1950s. Today, Sharon introduces us to a few key people who becam...

The Immoral Choices of Rogues with Patrick Radden Keefe

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon is joined by writer and author Patrick Radden Keefe, whose new book, Rogues, tells twelve stories of people with big personali...

Legislating at the State Level with Representative Jen Schultz

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon talks to Minnesota State Legislator Jen Schultz. Jen is currently running for Congress, and is also an educator who has taught...

The Power of Community, Micro Actions, and Boundaries with Jenna Kutcher

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Jenna Kutcher sits down to talk with Sharon about the release of her first book, How Are You, Really?: Living Your Truth One Ans...

Why We Love the Things We Love with Aaron Ahuvia

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon spends time speaking with Dr. Aaron Ahuvia, who is an expert on a specific kind of love: our love of things–things like plac...

The History of Gerrymandering with Nick Seabrook

10 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon chats with Professor Nick Seabrook, who has written a new book, One Person, One Voice, that details the long history of gerrym...

A Dream Twenty-Three Years in the Making with Tabitha Brown

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon sits down with America’s favorite mom, Tabitha Brown. Tabitha talks about how grateful she is that fame and opportunity came...

The Importance of Preserving Democracy with Senator Mitt Romney

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon talks with one of listeners’ most-requested guests, Senator Mitt Romney. A current Senator of Utah, Romney has a long h...

138. Respect is Contagious: Restorative Justice with Judge Victoria Pratt

03 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon has a conversation with Judge Victoria Pratt, who’s new book, The Power of Dignity, looks at the ways in which respect in th...

How to Ensure the Stories of our Lives Don’t Stink with Donald Miller

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon talks with Donald Miller, entrepreneur, podcast host, and bestselling author, about the stories in our lives and how we live t...

I Never Thought of It That Way with Mónica Guzmán

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon talks with Mónica Guzmán, whose new book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Da...

The Powerful Value of Melancholy with Susan Cain

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon has a conversation with Susan Cain, the best-selling author of the international phenomenon Quiet: The Power of Introverts in ...

The Lightness of Choosing Peace with Barb Schmidt

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon chats with Barb Schmidt, better known to her many social media followers as @peaceful_barb. Barb and Sharon talk about ways we...

Consume Smarter: Recognizing News Media Bias with Vanessa Otero

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon speaks with Vanessa Otero, the founder of Ad Fontes Media–the media company that is responsible for the dynamic Media Bias C...

How to Reboot America with Will Hurd

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon talks with Will Hurd, a former CIA officer and member of Congress. Will recently released his book, American Reboot: An Ideali...

131. Embrace Your Almost with Jordan Lee Dooley

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon and entrepreneur, author, and podcast host, Jordan Lee Dooley have a discussion about the lessons to learn in the almost space...

The Brain-Tingles of Narrative Non-Fiction with Candice Millard

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon speaks with best-selling author Candice Millard about the history she explores in her new book, River of the Gods. Candice is ...

An Impactful Career in Cold Cases with Paul Holes

13 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Content Warning: This episode contains subject matter that is not suitable for children. In this episode, Sharon has a conversation with retired cold ...

Influence is Your Superpower with Zoe Chance

11 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon talks with Zoe Chance, author of Influence is Your Superpower and Yale professor (who teaches the most popular course at the u...

Connecticut: The Vital Something of Katharine Hepburn with Emily Ley

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon and Simplified founder, Emily Ley, recount the life and quirks of Hollywood’s infamous Katharine Hepburn. Katharine, a ...

The Many Roles of Lady Bird Johnson with Julia Sweig

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon talks with author Julia Sweig about her newest book, Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight . The research and writi...

When Fixing the Problem Isn't the Answer with Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers

04 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon reunites with the hosts of Pantsuit Politics, Sarah and Beth, to talk about their brand new book, Now What? How To Move Forwar...

Slow Growth Equals Strong Roots with Mary Marantz

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, author Mary Marantz joins Sharon to talk about Mary’s new book, Slow Growth Equals Strong Roots. Together, Sharon and Mary touch on...

The Many Meat Thermometers of Sharon's Kitchen with Kendra Adachi

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon has a light-hearted conversation with her friend, Kendra Adachi, the genius behind The Lazy Genius books, podcast, and on...

Arizona: The Navajo Code Talkers with Lindsay Sherbondy

27 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon is joined by artist, designer, and mom, Lindsay Sherbondy. Together, they talk about the Navajo Nation’s WWII Code Talk...

Lessons to Save Your Life with Dr. Edith Eger and Dr. Marianne Engle

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon sits down with psychologist and best-selling author, Dr. Edith Eger and her daughter–who is also a psychologist–Dr. Marian...

Alaska and the Largest Earthquake Ever Recorded with Jeff Dauler

22 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon is joined by podcaster Jeff Dauler and the two sit down and talk about Alaska’s 1964 earthquake–the largest earthquak...

A Prolific Public Media Career with Cathy Wurzer

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon talks with Emmy-Award winning broadcast journalist Cathy Wurzer about the role of public media in the U.S. To start, Cathy sha...

Alabama: The Barrier-Breaking Tuskegee Airmen with Emma Chapman

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon welcomes guest Emma Chapman, one of the founders of A Beautiful Mess, to hear the story of Alabama’s infamous 99th Purs...

Northern Mariana Islands: A Deep and Vast History with Sharon McMahon

15 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon continues her tour of the U.S territories by talking about the history of the Northern Mariana Islands. This island terri...

The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism with Matthew Continetti, Part 2

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In the second part of a two-part conversation, Sharon continues her talk with journalist and author Matthew Continetti about the evolving history of c...

The Right: The Hundred Year War for American Conservatism with Matthew Continetti, Part 1

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon speaks with journalist and author Matthew Continetti about the evolving history of conservatism over the past one hundred year...

U.S. Virgin Islands: Pirates, Rum, and a Steep Price Tag with Sharon McMahon

08 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s solo episode, Sharon continues to talk about the territories of the U.S., this time focusing on the U.S. Virgin Islands. USVI spent many ...

I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet with Shauna Niequist

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon sits down with author Shauna Niequist, who–along with her husband and young sons–moved from their suburban midwestern home...

Puerto Rico: The U.S. Territory Stuck in Statehood Limbo with Jeena Wilder

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Jeena Wilder joins Sharon to hear about the history of Puerto Rico. Sharon walks listeners through how the U.S. acquired Puerto ...

The Evolution of Independent Journalism with Emma Jade

01 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon talks with 7-time Emmy Award winning news anchor, Emma Jade, about the evolution of journalism and news in the age of soc...

What About Bunny: The Power of Canine Communication with Alexis Devine

30 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon speaks with Alexis Devine, human to Bunny, the sheepadoodle whose viral videos showing off her FluentPet communication sk...

Guam: A Strategic War Island, a Twin Shipwreck, and a Pesky Snake with Adrienne Rolon

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon tells the story of Guam’s history as a U.S. Territory to Adrienne Rolon, the owner of Hearts Content Events & Design. A...

How to Seek Truth and Find Freedom in Our Stories with Lisa Sharon Harper

25 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon speaks with Lisa Sharon Harper, whose book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World–and How to Repair It All, i...

American Samoa: The Southernmost U.S. Territory with Ashley Spivey

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon talks with social activist Ashley Spivey about how American Samoa became a U.S. territory. While we all grew up learning facts...

The Three Mothers Who Shaped a Nation with Anna Malaika Tubbs

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon chats with author and scholar Anna Makaika Tubbs about the mothers of three well-known Civil Rights activists, Martin Lut...

Washington DC: The Secret Illnesses of Presidents with Sharon McMahon

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s solo episode, Sharon dives into a topic the American public has long been interested in: the illnesses of past presidents. Sharon gives d...

The Art of Insubordination with Todd Kashdan

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon speaks with psychologist, Dr. Todd Kashdan, about the ways in which insubordination can be an effective and valuable way ...

Why We Deserve a Fair Criminal Justice System with Jason Flom

11 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon hears from Jason Flom, a successful record label executive who followed his passion into working for criminal justice reform. ...

Wisconsin’s Master Architect with Sharon McMahon

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sharon dives beyond the basics to talk about the life and career of a man with whom you may already be familiar: Frank Lloyd Wri...

Your On-Ramp to Cryptocurrency with Brit Morin

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon gets the scoop on the emerging space of cryptocurrency from well-known entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Brit Morin. Brit i...

West Virginia: Proving that Timing is Everything with Annie F. Downs

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon shares the story of how West Virginia broke away from the state of Virginia with author and speaker Annie F. Downs. Unhappy wi...

Bridging the Divide with Representatives Phillips (D) and Fitzpatrick (R)

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

During this episode, you’ll join Sharon as she sits down with two members of the US Congress: Representatives Dean Phillips and Brian Fitzpatrick. P...

Washington in Flight: The Boeing Aerospace Legacy with Carolyn LePine

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon’s sister Caroyln joins her to hear a bit about the history of flight and the Boeing family. While German immigrant Wilhelm B...

Raising Critical Thinkers with Julie Bogart

25 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon chats with Julie Bogart, creator of the award-winning Brave Writer program. Sharon and Julie talk about the benefits of leavin...

95. Virginia: The Women Who Did The Next Needed Thing with Sharon McMahon

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this solo state episode, Sharon returns us to a tumultuous time in US history: Reconstruction. After the Civil War, rebuilding the country was a me...

Two Midwesterners Record a Podcast Episode with Charlie Berens

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

To kick off the week, Sharon sits down to chat with comedian and fellow Midwesterner, Charlie Berens. Charlie talks about how he doubled down on his M...

Vermont’s Spitting Lyon with Chrissy Lawler

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Chrissy Lawler of The Peaceful Sleeper, joins Sharon to hear the story of Matthew Lyon, one of Vermont’s most eclectic historical f...

Creating Change Through Radical Optimism with Dr. Paul Zeitz

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon talks with Dr. Paul Zeitz, author of Waging Optimism, about how to identify our complacency and make a move toward impacting t...

Utah: The Magic of the Osmonds with Sharon McMahon

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this solo state episode, Sharon takes us back to the 1970s to follow the rise of two of the most iconic names in showbiz… Donny and Marie Osmond....

The Importance of Hometown Change Makers with Michael Tubbs

11 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon sits down to speak with Michael Tubbs, who was the youngest mayor to serve in an American city at age 26. Tubbs served as the ...

Texas: The Original Goal-Getter with Ashley Rose Reeves

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Ashley Rose Reeves joins Sharon to hear the story of one of Texas’s most iconic business owners: Mary Kay Ash. Tired of being passe...

How to Teach Our Children Emotional Resilience with Dr. Becky Kennedy

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon talks with Dr. Becky Kennedy, a clinical psychologist who was recently named “The Millennial Parenting Whisperer” by TIME ...

Tennessee’s Incorrigible Andrew Jackson with Richard Lim

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon is joined by This American President Podcast host Richard Lim. Together they “nerd out” on facts about an under-the-radar ...

The Power of Storytelling in Politics with Richard Fowler

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon is joined by FOX News and Forbes contributor, Richard Fowler, to talk about storytelling and how it shapes American politics. ...

Mt. Rushmore: The Good, The Bad, and the Dynamite with Kelli France

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sharon and guest Kelli France talk about the not-so-stellar history of the construction of Mt. Rushmore in the Black Hills of South D...

The Popularity of True Crime with Kate Winkler Dawson

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's episode, Sharon sits down with author and podcast host, Kate Winkler Dawson, to discuss the ways in which we talk about and consume true cr...

South Carolina’s Islands of History, Mystery, and Monkeys with Sharon McMahon

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s solo episode, Sharon dives into some of the unique stories of South Carolina’s beautiful barrier islands. The Sea Islands in South Caro...