In Pursuit with Colleen Shogan

How did Abraham Lincoln redefine the American Union amidst the horrors of the Civil War? Colleen Shogan talks with historian Harold Holzer about Lincoln's early life, his emergence as a leader of the Republican Party, and his vision for a new birth of freedom in the United States.Harold Holzer is the Jonathan F. Fanton Director of The Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College in New York City. He is the author of numerous books on Abraham Lincoln. Read President Barack Obama's essay on Abraham Lincoln. Hosted by Colleen Shogan, Ph.D. Written and Produced by Jim Ambuske, Ph.D. Audio mixing by Curt Dahl of CD Squared. Music from Music Bed. Production Services by Stand Together. In Pursuit is a podcast by More Perfect.Join the Conversation:Tell us who inspires you: https://www.inpursuit.org/join.Please leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners find the show.Follow In Pursuit:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/In-Pursuit-USA-61580409336588/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inpursuitusa/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inpursuitusaBlueSkye: https://bsky.app/profile/inpursuitusa.bsky.socialX: https://x.com/InPursuitUSA

Franklin Pierce had all the makings of a successful president - the experience, the military service, the charm - and yet he is often remembered as one of America's worst chief executives. So how did a man with such a fine resume plunge the nation deeper into crisis over the expansion of slavery? Colleen Shogan talks with Pulitizer Prize-winner author David W. Blight about Pierce's pedigree, the Northern Democrat's pro-Southern sympathies, and his misreading of national politics on the eve of the Civil War.David W. Blight is the Sterling Professor of History at Yale University. He is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom (2018). Read Blight's essay on Franklin Pierce. Hosted by Colleen Shogan, Ph.D. Written and Produced by Jim Ambuske, Ph.D. Audio mixing by Curt Dahl of CD Squared. Music from Music Bed. Production Services by Stand Together. In Pursuit is a podcast by More Perfect.Join the Conversation:Tell us who inspires you: https://www.inpursuit.org/join.Please leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners find the show.Follow In Pursuit:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/In-Pursuit-USA-61580409336588/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inpursuitusa/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inpursuitusa BlueSkye: https://bsky.app/profile/inpursuitusa.bsky.social X: https://x.com/InPursuitUSA

Vice President Millard Fillmore never expected to be president, but Zachary Taylor's death in 1850 thrust him into the White House and the national spotlight. So how did the "man of hesitation and double opinions" confront the growing crisis over slavery? Colleen Shogan talks with former congressman Steve Israel about Fillmore's surprising rise, his contradictory opinions, and the compromises that hastened the coming of the civil war.Steve Israel served as a congressman from New York from 2001 to 2017. He is the owner of Theodore’s Books in Oyster Bay and author of the novel, The Einstein Conspiracy (2025).Read Israel's essay on Millard Fillmore.Hosted by Colleen Shogan, Ph.D. Written and Produced by Jim Ambuske, Ph.D. Audio mixing by Curt Dahl of CD Squared. Music from Music Bed. Production Services by Stand Together. In Pursuit is a podcast by More Perfect.Join the Conversation:Tell us who inspires you: https://www.inpursuit.org/join.Please leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners find the show.Follow In Pursuit:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/In-Pursuit-USA-61580409336588/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inpursuitusa/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inpursuitusaBlueSkye: https://bsky.app/profile/inpursuitusa.bsky.socialX: https://x.com/InPursuitUSA

By some measure, James K. Polk is among the most successful presidents in American history. But what were the costs of his many achievements? Colleen Shogan talks with Matthew Costello about the nation’s first dark horse presidential candidate, his ambitions for western expansion, and the triumphs that set the United States on a path toward civil war. Featuring Matthew Costello, Ph.D., is Chief Education Officer, the Gerard B. Lambert Foundation Chair in White House History and director of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History at the White House Historical Association.Read Costello's essay on James K. Polk.Hosted by Colleen Shogan, Ph.D. Written and Produced by Jim Ambuske, Ph.D. Audio mixing by Curt Dahl of CD Squared. Music from Music Bed. Production Services by Stand Together. In Pursuit is a podcast by More Perfect.Join the Conversation:Tell us who inspires you: https://www.inpursuit.org/join.Please leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners find the show.Follow In Pursuit:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/In-Pursuit-USA-61580409336588/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inpursuitusa/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inpursuitusaBlueSkye: https://bsky.app/profile/inpursuitusa.bsky.socialX: https://x.com/InPursuitUSA

As a special treat for In Pursuit listeners, we're thrilled to bring you an episode of History Daily from our friends at Noiser and Air Ship. Hosted by public historian Lindsay Graham, the series tells fascinating stories about what happened “on this day” in history. Today, we're going back to July 12, 1804, when American founding father, Alexander Hamilton, died from a fatal wound he suffered during a duel with his longtime adversary, Aaron Burr.History Daily releases new episodes every weekday.  You'll get a broad mix of history, from famous battles to fashion firsts. There’s medicine, science, technology, religion, politics, and sports – everything that made us who we are today. Most episodes are under 20 minutes long, and you’ll discover amazing facts you’ve never learned before about history. And even if you think you know a certain day’s events, you might be surprised. Check out History Daily on your favorite podcast app. Join the Conversation:Tell us who inspires you: https://www.inpursuit.org/join.Please leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners find the show.Follow In Pursuit:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/In-Pursuit-USA-61580409336588/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inpursuitusa/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inpursuitusaBlueSkye: https://bsky.app/profile/inpursuitusa.bsky.socialX: https://x.com/InPursuitUSA