America: A History, the podcast for anyone fascinated by the people and events that shaped the USA, marks a major milestone with its 100th episode.
Hosted by Liam Heffernan on the Mercury Podcast Network, the podcast has built a growing audience by connecting the United States’ past, present and future through in-depth conversations with leading historians, academics, experts and broadcasters.
Each week, the show explores the people, movements and decisions that have shaped the country, with previous high-profile guests including John Sopel, Gary Younge and Heather Thompson, as it continues to position itself as a guide to understanding modern America through its history.
To mark the release of its 100th main episode today, the podcast is launching a brand-new ad hoc strand titled America’s Living Legends, designed to spotlight extraordinary individuals whose lives and work have shaped the country and influenced the wider world.
The new series will feature politicians, philanthropists, pioneers, artists, athletes and cultural influencers, with each edition giving listeners the chance to hear these figures tell their own stories in their own words, reflecting on impact, motivation and legacy.
Speaking on the milestone, host Liam Heffernan said: “The best way to understand America’s past is to listen to the people who have shaped its present.
“With our 100th episode, we’re creating space for the voices who have made a real impact on this country and the wider world.
“Jody Williams is an extraordinary example and a reminder that history isn’t just written in books; it’s lived, fought for, and carried by individuals who refuse to accept injustice. I’m proud that America: A History can help tell those stories.”
The first edition of America’s Living Legends features a wide-ranging and conversation with Jody Williams, winner of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize and founder of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, in what is being described as one of the most powerful episodes produced by the show so far.
In the landmark episode, Williams reflects on growing up with a deaf schizophrenic brother and how that experience shaped her lifelong fight for social justice, alongside her decades-long international campaign against landmines and the continuing work of the Nobel Women’s Initiative.
She also addresses her views on global leadership, explains why she believes Donald Trump does not deserve a Nobel Prize, and explores the deeply personal motivations and moral convictions that continue to drive her global activism.
The episode is being positioned as a rare and intimate portrait of one of America’s most fearless advocates for peace and human rights, offering listeners a chance to hear directly from a figure who has shaped policy, protest and progress on a global scale.
The 100th episode of America: A History and the first edition of America’s Living Legends is released today, on 9 December.
