I had the huge honor of getting the opportunity to interview the historian, Yale professor and pulitzer-prize winning author Beverly Gage. Our interview centered around two overarching topics. First off, we discussed her latest book \"This Land Is Your Land,\" which recounts her experiences during a series of road trips to historical sites around America in the lead-up to the 2026 semiquincentennial. The book explores how we as Americans confront and discuss the past amidst our tumultuous present. I wanted to post this today on July 4th because in the book, Professor Gage explores how in past moments of chaos and change Americans comforted themselves with the belief that our country is always moving forward to a better more democratic nation. In times like these, it might be difficult to feel that way but hopefully this book helps us see how much progress we as Americans have and continue to make in the pursuit of a more perfect union. This was one of the first history books I read that focused on how we portray history in the present day and it inspired me to learn more about how history is discussed and used by those right now. Professor Gage and I discussed what motivated her to write the book and what she encountered on her journey, in addition to more specific conversations surrounding topics and sites she focused on. In the second half of our conversation we talked about her professional journey, love for history, and how she became a professor and author.
I hope you enjoy the episode!
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