American Musecast
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.
Episodes
11 episodes
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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42:52
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....
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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56:43
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 impo...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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55:08
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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40:13
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 fi...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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46:23
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: Sor...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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15:50
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. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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46:41
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 pas...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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32:22
EP02 | American Mayday - Ziblatt & Levitsky's: "How Democracies Die"
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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36:33
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 episo...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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28:54
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 0
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11:24