What happens when a country loses its story? In this episode, historian and bestselling author Professor Jeremy Suri joins host Matt Levinger to dig into the tangled roots of American identity. From 1619 to 1776, from Civil War legacies to today’s culture wars, Suri unpacks how competing origin stories shape our politics, our pride, and our fears. With his signature mix of honesty and hope, he explores how nations confront painful history without collapsing into shame or retreating into myth. This is the first of a two-part series that reframes the debate about America’s past and sets the stage for a deeper conversation about leadership in turbulent times.

Host: Matthew Levinger – Host of the America’s Why Podcast and Professor of Practice of International Affairs at the George Washington University.

Guest: Jeremy Suri – Professor of Public Affairs and History at the University of Texas at Austin.

Learn more about Jeremi Suri’s podcast This is Democracy and explore its episodes at: https://www.jeremisuri.net/this-is-democracy

Visit our website to learn more about the America’s Why Project and join the conversation: americaswhyproject.com

Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music

The views expressed in the podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those held by the America's Why Project team or the George Washington University.