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)
Episodes
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
Thursday Feb 10, 2022
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?
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Mentioned in the show:
Urban vs rural populations (1790-2010)
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William Penn and Philadelphia's City Grid
"Saints & Strangers" (Netflix)
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
Thursday Jan 13, 2022
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/
Monday Dec 20, 2021
Monday Dec 20, 2021
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!
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Sunday Oct 31, 2021
Sunday Oct 31, 2021
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.
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Further Reads:
mRNA technology being used in other applications:
Thursday Sep 09, 2021
Thursday Sep 09, 2021
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.
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Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
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 !
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Tuesday May 11, 2021
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!
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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
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
Wednesday Apr 21, 2021
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
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
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&lang=en&
J.J. Cale - Cocaine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWmD_HcOcfU
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
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:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHuQy0mqW5I