Ever wonder what it would be like to be a hundred years old? Or what America looks like to somebody who lived through the Second World War? 

Well, don’t wonder anymore. Peggy Jemison Bodine is turning a hundred this July. In a nation that is 248 years old, she's personally witnessed over 40% of American history.

Over the course of her life, Peggy has raised a large and prosperous family, become deeply involved with the civic life of Memphis, and, by the way, lived next door to Elvis Presley. She used to watch the young Elvis play touch football in the yard with her kids.

This week, Peggy and I discuss the fracturing of the national narrative, the secret to a long and happy life, and the new season of Matlock.

America's small farmers are a resilient bunch—but they're subject to powerful forces outside their control. In the words of Jim Sayle: "We can either do death by a thousand cuts of playing the game the way it was being played—or we can do something about it."

Jim runs a small farm in Northwest Mississippi. He's growing cotton, corn, and soybeans on 2500 acres that his family has been farming for the last seven generations. It's a beautiful way of life—but there are dark clouds gathering on the horizon.

During our conversation, Jim said the combination of extreme weather and government interference threaten to make the economics of what he does unworkable. So how do we protect our ecosystems without hobbling America's small farmers? How do we keep US agricultural products competitive on the world stage? Finally, how do we lower the temperature on our political discourse?

In our current political climate, it can feel like the middle is drying up. It’s more and more difficult to find common ground—or even communicate with people you disagree with.

Dorcas Young Griffin is our first podcast guest; she's a senior administrator with Shelby County Government, a mother of two amazing children, and a PhD Candidate in Urban Studies at the University of Memphis.

During our conversation, we take a hard look at the state of American democracy. The middle class is where America gets its strength—so how do we protect it and build it up? How do we regrow the connective tissue that was wiped out during COVID? How do we build a society where all kinds of people can find peace and opportunity?

What is America? It's a big question. Maybe we used to be able to agree on the answer—but we can't take it for granted anymore.

In this episode, meet host John Minervini and learn a bit about the podcast. Over the next year, we'll drive all around the country together and talk with people about their lives. The goal is to help rebuild our broken politics.

The road trip has only just begun, but it's already been an adventure. Learn about John's drive from Joshua Tree, CA, to Memphis, TN—including a surprise appearance by the haboob, a legendary dust storm in the American Southwest.