The Americanist: Recent Episodes
Johannes Ehrmann
Two friends reach out across the Atlantic to discuss the state of America. From Germany to California and back: Mike is a professor at Stanford, Johannes is a journalist from Berlin. Where are the United States coming from, and where is it all headed? Politics, History, Society: Welcome to The Americanist Podcast! Email us at theamericanistpod@gmail.com
(Cover Art: Flickr / Nicolas Raymond / flickr.com/82955120@N05/ CC BY 2.0)
After Russia has invaded Ukraine, everything seems to have changed in Germany and Europe from one day to the next. THE AMERICANIST is also shifting focus. Johannes shares his personal feelings of shock, sadness, and urgency in Berlin. Mike offers some consolement from abroad. What can be done? How to fight this threat? Episode 24 of the podcast - slightly more explicit than usual. Email us at theamericanistpod@gmail.com
Mentioned in the show:
John Object
https://www.instagram.com/johnobject/
Since the United States were founded, its urban population has risen from 5 % to over 80 %. Yet its political institutions remain the same. Mike and Johannes discuss this issue, the American obsession with suburbia, and how to possibly move forward. Also, what would actually happen if you took 5 % of Californians and move them to Wyoming?
Rate and subscribe wherever you listen! Email us to theamericanistpod@gmail.com
Mentioned in the show:
Urban vs rural populations (1790-2010)
William Penn and Philadelphia's City Grid
"Saints & Strangers" (Netflix)
Muhammad Ali would have turned 80 this week. What does he mean for us today? Mike talks about how Ali came up several times in his American history class, how impressed he is by his reinvention of identity, while struggling with his narcissistic side. Johannes shares the story how he met Ali in person, when he came to Germany to pull off his famous magic yet again...
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Mentioned in the show:
„I am Ali“ Documentary https://www.amazon.de/I-Am-Ali-Muhammad/dp/B00O9HY402
Billy Crystal Eulogy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XB3sD9QJCI
„Facing Ali“ Documentary https://www.amazon.com/Facing-Ali-George-Chuvalo/dp/B002Z8CW60
„Ein Held, wie aus der Tragödie“ (German interview) https://www.arte-magazin.de/ein-held-wie-aus-der-tragoedie/
Mike and Johannes look back on their highlights from 2021 and share their thoughts and outlook on what they are planning for and hoping to achieve in 2022. Thanks for listening to THE AMERICANIST in the past twelve months. Happy holidays everyone!
Email us at theamericanistpod@gmail.com and rate and subscribe on Apple iTunes, Spotify, and wherever you listen to us.
As we've talked plenty EU/US crisis in past episodes, the October episode of THE AMERICANIST PODCAST is all about good news! From COVID-19 booster vaccination shots to more regional supply chains and the upcoming German coalition government.
Subscribe and rate us - and email with any feedback to theamericanistpod@gmail.com
Further Reads:
mRNA technology being used in other applications:
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd4278 Better supply networks: https://hbr.org/2020/09/global-supply-chains-in-a-post-pandemic-world The change in worker relations to jobs https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/19/business/economy/economy-workers-labor-force.html
20 years after the terrorist attacks in New York City on September 11, 2001, Mike and Johannes remember their personal 9/11 stories, where they were and how this day has changed life in the United States and in Europe.
Please subscribe and leave a rating on iTunes, Spotify or anywhere you listen - and email us with feedback to theamericanistpod@gmail.com !
In the latest episode of THE AMERICANIST Podcast, Mike updates Johannes on the first 130+ days (yeah, we missed the other one) of Joe Biden's presidency: What has been achieved, what is missing, and can America possibly heal and how? All on how Number 46 is doing ... and the usual nonsense in between ... in episode #18.
Please subscribe and leave a rating on iTunes, Spotify or anywhere you listen - and email us with feedback to theamericanistpod@gmail.com !
Why are healthcare costs in the United States twice as high compared to similarly developed countries? And why has Obamacare not been able to level out systemic inequalities? This and more in the latest episode of our German-American therapy session. Johannes has dug up some history on the German public health insurance system, while Mike shares the story of when he went toe-to-toe with a major insurer in the States. Tune in to see who won!
Leave a rating and email us with feedback to theamericanistpod@gmail.com
Mentioned in this show:
Ronald Gerste: Die Heilung der Welt
The Social Transformation of American Medicine
Relative healthcare costs US / world
US Health Care and Race Relations
Just how bad is our daily sugar intake - and what happens if you try to cut sweets and chocolate out? Johannes has been trying it lately - with crazy consequences. High time THE AMERICANIST talked about just how unhealthy the sweet stuff in our life can be. Mike shares some perspective on the healthcare implications as well as the political side of the issue in the United States that has also been greatly influencing lifestyle throughout global societies.
Email us at theamericanistpod@gmail.com and leave a rating anywhere you listen!
Mentioned in the show:
45 American Stats on Americans‘ Sugar Consumption https://www.thediabetescouncil.com/45-alarming-statistics-on-americans-sugar-consumption-and-the-effects-of-sugar-on-americans-health/
Subway Bread Ruled Not Bread https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/01/irish-court-rules-subway-bread-is-not-bread
Big news for The Americanist crew (well, for one half of it): Mike got vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine in California. Time to celebrate this milestone with a Japanese whiskey, while Mike shares his take on the much-talked about AstraZeneca vaccine that German authorities seem to struggle so mightily with. What does any of that have to do with singer-songwriter J. J. Cale? All of that and more in the latest episode of THE AMERICANIST.
Email us to theamericanistpod@gmail.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook!
Mentioned in the show:
AstraZeneca: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/03/astrazeneca-vaccine-blood-clot-issue-wont-go-away/618451/
Bradford Hill: https://obsstudies.org/reprint-of-hills-the-enviroment-and-disease-association-or-causation-and-comments/
Book about vaccine rumors and hesitancy: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/stuck-9780190077242?cc=us⟨=en&
J.J. Cale - Cocaine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWmD_HcOcfU
One year after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States as well as Germany and Europe, Mike talks about his mental health struggles last year and what helped him get through this tough time. If you liked the show or have suggestions, you can email us at theamericanistpod@gmail.com !
Sources Quoted:
Emergency Department Visits https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2775991?guestAccessKey=38d6409f-0b67-4608-9b7f-ba796a6263b1
Pandemic's Impact on Friends https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/01/pandemic-goodbye-casual-friends/617839/ How to Shoot an Anvil into the Air https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHuQy0mqW5I
In a historic week when THE AMERICANIST is ranked the #1 Politics Podcast in Kosovo, Johannes and Mike talk about the impatient wait for the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out. While Germany has been starting slow, President Biden wants to have 100 million Americans vaccinated within his first 100 days in office. A realistic scenario? And what about all these vaccines, then? Will they get the job done and help us return to a more normal life?
Mentioned in the show:
NY Times: A Wall of Grief
Book: "Stuck - How Vaccine Rumors Start, and Why They Don't Go Away"
Lancet Study Israel Vaccination
Russian Trolls and the Vaccine Debate | Pro-Kremlin Corona Disinformation
Is Super Bowl Sunday the last big thing the entire country can agree on? The quarterback mythology for the duel between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes is running wild. Mike might be American, but he could actually care less about American Football. Turns out he needs help from a German guy to even know how many players are on each team... More importantly, Mike and Johannes discuss NFL politics and put the GOAT discussion into historical perspective in the latest episode of 'THE AMERICANIST'. Email us to theamericanistpod@gmail.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook!
Why did it take an old white man to replace the other in the White House again? In the first episode of 2021, Johannes and Mike catch up on recent events in Washington. The deadly riots fanned by Ex-President Trump were followed, at long last, by the official inauguration of Joseph R. Biden as the 46th US President. Is all now going to be good with the first Philadelphia Eagles fan in the Oval Office? This and more in the latest AMERICANIST pod. Send an email to theamericanistpod@gmail.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook!
In the last AMERICANIST episode of the year, Mike gets all excited talking about the COVID-19 vaccines currently under development. Johannes shares what his small kids taught him during this crisis year. So what to expect from 2021? All in our latest pod. Subscribe and rate and send us an email to theamericanistpod@gmail.com ! Happy holidays and talk to you in 2021!
Thanksgiving is all about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans? Johannes shares a different historical truth behind America's most popular national holiday. It connects a belief in divine intervention with the American wars since 1776. As the two friends interpret the documents from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln, Mike shares his vision of an All-American Thanksgiving going forward. Email us to theamericanistpod@gmail.com and follow us on Twitter!
Resources mentioned in the show:
Congress 1777: https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.04001400/
Washington 1789: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-04-02-0091
Lincoln 1863: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/thanks.htm
Native American Thanksgiving: https://time.com/5457183/thanksgiving-native-american-holiday/
Two weeks after the election, Donald Trump has yet to concede his loss. Meanwhile, the Democratic party is debating the way forward: Should moderates or progressives like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez lead the way? Mike has traveled to his home state Maine to finally answer the question: Is he a liberal or a progressive? And Johannes remembers the German chancellor pulling a Trump on Election Night some years ago. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @AmericanistPod and email us to theamericanistpod@gmail.com !
Joe Biden will be the 46th President of the United States. And Philly celebrates! Mike and Johannes are all excited that the votes of their former student hometown of Philadelphia (and Pennsylvania) have decided the race for the Democratic nominee and VP Kamala Harris. And guess what ... Donald Trump won't concede. What that says about his image of masculinity, the American national character, and some other scary things we learned in this election cycle - all in the latest episode of THE AMERICANIST PODCAST. Follow us on Twitter and on Facebook!
Resources for this episode:
The Atlantic: QAnon is more important than you think
The Guardian: Trumpism lives on
One and half days into the US Presidential Election 2020, votes are still being counted across the country. It looks like Joe Biden might be the winner - but Donald Trump's supporters are also protesting in some places. Where are we at? Mike shares his emotions and Johannes recounts his election night in Germany. Email us at theamericanistpod@gmail.com and follow us on Twitter @AmericanistPod !
The week of the US Presidential Election 2020 is finally here. Mike's anxiety level is already off the charts, and Johannes has pulled up some fun and not-so-fun facts around the history of the American presidents and the voting process. Will Biden or Trump make it to 270 electoral votes on Tuesday? Will Trump declare himself the winner? And what would George Washington say about all of it? This and more in the latest episode of THE AMERICANIST PODCAST. Twitter: @AmericanistPod
The big election night in the United States is just one week away - and Mike tries hard to explain how Americans can vote for their favorite candidate for president. But, well, it's a little complicated: Electoral College, early vote counting, states that are no states ... In the end, Mike and Johannes do find some common ground and take some time also to assess the American media landscape - from The Boston Globe to The Fresno Bee. Part 1 of the THE AMERICANIST Election 2020 Extravaganza!
The Republican party has decided to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg's spot at the United States Supreme Court with conservative judge Amy Coney Barrett. The US Senate hearings were little more than a farce. Mike feels embarassed, and Johannes wonders whether the Republicans want to turn back the time. And, anyway, how is "Whip" pronounced properly? All of this and more in the latest episode of The Americanist Podcast.
2020 has been overshadowed by the coronavius pandemic and the rise of COVID-19 cases in both Europe and the United States. Johannes remembers the early guidance by virologists like Professor Christian Drosten and politics from German chancellor Angela Merkel. Mike says American individualism and economic concerns might have contributed to the very different reaction to the virus by the Trump administration and others in the USA. (Follow us on Twitter @AmericanistPod )
After a crazy week for the United States and President Trump, a lot of questions are flying around. How are the USA doing four weeks before the US presidential election 2020? Just how bad has this year been so far? And what else can come? Mike shares his take on the Trump-Biden race, talks about the division in American society, and Johannes has a suggestion for new White House Speaker. From Berlin to California and back, this is the first episode of The Americanist Podcast.
How is America? Let's find out. In a crucial time in US history, two friends reunite across the Atlantic to try and make sense of American politics, history, and culture. The Trump presidency, the election 2020, the science behind COVID-19 and Corona. Mike is an epidemiologist and professor at Stanford University, Johannes is a Berlin-based writer and journalist. Every week, they discuss their own personal state of the union. A podcast with Johannes Ehrmann and Mike Baiocchi.