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
10 episodes
EPISODE 7: 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
EPISODE 6B: The Daily Path of Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny"
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
EPISODE 6A: The Broader Lessons of Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny"
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
EPISODE 5B: 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
EPISODE 5A: 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
EPISODE 4: Notes on "The Bill of Obligations," by Richard Haass
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
EPISODE 3: Hope is an Engaged American Populace
Right wing extremism, white nationalism, and the rise of authoritarian tendencies are misunderstood, and fail to spark the engagement needed to strengthen and preserve democracy. Facing the greatest threat of our nation’s history since th...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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32:22
EPISODE 2: Mayday for America: "How Democracies Die," by Ziblatt & Levitsky
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
EPISODE 1: 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
EPISODE 0: The Call to Quest - American Democracy
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