All Across America

In celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States, this episode features Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Beverly Gage, author of "This Land Is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History." Beverly is the John Lewis Gaddis Professor of History at Yale University. 

A fifth-generation Nebraskan, JT is the creator of The Corn Belt, a social media platform showcasing small towns, local culture, and overlooked experiences across the state of Nebraska. @thecornbelt

The author of "Call & Response: 10 Leadership Lessons from the Black Church," L. Michelle Smith is a gospel singer, keynote speaker, and executive coach. lmichellesmith.com

When lights go out, lineman turn the power back on. Matt Horan is a journeyman lineman with two decades of experience and an instructor at the Lineman Institute of the Northeast.  linemeninstitute.com 

An auctioneer for 50 years, Mike has conducted over 4,000 auctions. He is a National Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame inductee and the 1998 International Auctioneer Champion. Mike owns three of the nation’s largest auctioneer training schools: America’s Auction Academy in Texas, World Wide College of Auctioneering in Iowa, and the Nashville Auction School.  mikejonesauctiongroup.com

Daniella grew up as a third-generation member of the Children of God cult. After leaving the cult, she served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, completing two combat deployments to Afghanistan. Daniella is the author of "Uncultured," and her most recent book, "The Culting of America."

Elizabeth is a professor at the University of Georgia School of Law. She is the author of "The Pain Brokers: How Con Men, Call Centers, and Rogue Doctors Fuel America's Lawsuit Factory."

Erica is a third-generation doctor who practices family medicine in Santa Fe. Known as the "health detective," she specializes in treating chronic illness. Author of the recently released memoir “From Doctor to Healer," Erica was the first American woman to summit Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere. 

Trail name "Mighty Blue," Steve Adams is now attempting his third thru-hike of the 2,000 mile Appalachian Trail, walking north with spring. He is the host of the podcast "Mighty Blue on the Appalachian Trail," and the author of a series of books chronicling his hikes.

Andrew is the founder and team leader of Backcountry Unit Search & Rescue (BUSAR), serving the Great Smokies Mountains National Park. He is also a Wilderness Survival Instructor and member of the park's Wild Boar Eradication Team. He received the Department of the Interior Valor Award and the Tennessee Conservation Hero Award for his life-saving work. Teambusar.org | bigpigoutdoors.com

Jonathan is a mentalist, performer, and influence architect. A longtime mentee of The Amazing Randi, he vetted every entry submitted to the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge, a prize that was ultimately never claimed.

David is The Texanist, the author of the long-running advice column that appears in every issue of Texas Monthly, "the National Magazine of Texas."

Blake is an explorer of abandoned places and a multidisciplinary artist. He is the creator and host of abandoned: The All-American Ruins podcast.  *This episode was recorded on location from Blake's house.

Victor is a funeral director and the author of "Now Departing: A Small-Town Mortician on Death, Life, and the Moments in Between."

Jack is a distinguished professor of history at the University of Florida and a Pulitzer Prize–winning author of many books, including his latest: "The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America's Bird."

Author of "School Yearbook: The Untold Story of a Cringey Tradition and Its Digital Afterlife," Kate is a professor of culture and media at The New School.

The world's leading authority on prepping and preparedness, Jim is the author of "How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It," and is the founder of Survivalblog.com. He lives in an undisclosed location in the inland Northwest. 

Micah and Blessing spent the season as fire-tower lookouts from the 100-foot tall Walde Mountain tower in the Clearwater National Forest. In the New Year, they will embark on a cross-country adventure in a converted ambulance.  @theschweplerlife

Santa John has spent more than 25 years bringing the magic of Christmas to life, appearing at over 80 events every holiday season. He is a longtime member of the New England Society of Santas and the International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas.  *This episode was recorded on location from Santa's kitchen table.