The American Idea

Jeff welcomes Dr. Natalie Taylor of Skidmore College to discuss the place of feminism within the American sociopolitical reform tradition, and its connection to the contemporary #MeToo movement. Jeff and Natalie focus, in particular, on Susan B. Anthony, discussing her ideas and place in the arc of women's reform movements in American history and society.

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer

Producer: Jeremy Gypton

In this episode The American Idea Jeff is joined by Stephen Knott, Professor of National Security Affairs at the United States Naval War College and the Thomas and Mabel Guy Professor in American History and Government at Ashland University, for a conversation on John F. Kennedy and his leadership during the Cold War. Their conversation explores Kennedy's anti-Communist policies, his relationship with Nikita Khrushchev, tensions surrounding West Berlin and Cuba, and the great American Space Race. Stephen is a renowned presidential scholar, having recently participated in the C-SPAN Presidential Leadership survey and published a book on the lost soul of the presidency. He is the author of the upcoming book, Coming to Terms with John F. Kennedy from the University of Kansas Press.

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer

Producer: Jeremy Gypton, Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff is joined once again by Cara Rogers, Professor of History at Ashland University and Co-Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program, for a conversation on the friendship of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Jeff and Cara explore the development of their friendship during the American Revolution and the Second Continental Congress, the fracturing of the relationship during the Adams Administration and the Election of 1800, and their beautiful reconciliation in the last few years of their lives before their passing on July 4th, 1826 -- the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer

Producer: Jeremy Gypton, Tyler MacQueen

Jeff and Dr. Chris Burkett of Ashland University discuss the ideas and ideals expressed in America's most fundamental document, the Declaration of Independence.

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer

Producer: Jeremy Gypton

In this special episode, Jeff sits down with Dr. Joshua Dunn to discuss the overturning of Roe v. Wade and blockbuster decisions about religious liberty, free speech, and the 2nd Amendment.

You can download a free PDF copy of Josh's Core Documents Collection on the Judiciary.

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer

Producer: Jeremy Gypton

Jeff talks with Dr. Lucas Morel about Ralph Ellison, his novel Juneteenth, the role of literature in sociopolitical discourse and thought, and their connection to American history and politics.

Mentioned in this episode are Lucas' book, Ralph Ellison and the Raft of Hope: A Political Companion to Invisible Man, Ellison's Juneteenth, and Ellison's essay, What America Would Be Like Without Blacks (1970).

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer

Producer: Jeremy Gypton

In this episode Jeff discusses two fascinating heroes of the American Civil War with Dr. Jason Stevens of Ashland University, and Pat Maloney of the Ashbrook Center.

Learn more about Ashbrook's programs for students, teachers, and citizens at Ashbrook.org.

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer

Producer: Jeremy Gypton

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes back Dr. Jason Stevens, Professor of Political Science at Ashland University and the Co-Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program, to talk about the Great Triumvirate; the greatest American statesmen of the early nineteenth century. Over the course of nearly forty years, Henry Clay of Kentucky, Daniel Webster of Massachusetts, and John C. Calhoun of South Carolina shaped the destiny of the republic and saved it several times from falling into disunion. Jeff and Jason's conversation explores these men, their fame and notoriety during their own times, and their lasting influence on future statesmen like Abraham Lincoln and on the country.

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer

Producer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff is joined by David Davenport, Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and Senior Fellow at Ashbrook, for a conversation exploring the crisis in civic education and what we can do about it. The former president of Pepperdine University from 1985-2000, David is a regular columnist for the Washington Examiner and his study, "Commonsense Solutions To Our Civics Crisis," was published by the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation in 2020. He earned a BA with distinction in international relations from Stanford University and a JD from the University of Kansas’s School of Law, where he was elected to Order of the Coif and earned national and international awards in moot court competitions.

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer

Producer: Tyler MacQueen

In this episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes back Dr. Greg McBrayer, Associate Professor of Political Science at Ashland University and Ashbrook's Director of Citizen Programs, for a conversation on Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 Letter from a Birmingham Jail.

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Greg McBrayer

Producer: Tyler MacQueen