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In Pursuit of Happiness with Judy Woodruff

PBS News 7 Episodes Aug 6, 2026

Judy Woodruff hosts a limited six-episode podcast series exploring American history as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary. Each episode looks at milestones of American history and the culture, places, and ideas that shaped the country. The series complements Woodruff's 'Crossroads: America at 250' reporting for PBS News, uncovering surprising stories from the past that illuminate the present.

Episodes

American English and how it's evolving Aug 6, 2026 40:08 How did American English become distinctly American? In this episode of "In Pursuit of Happiness," Judy Woodruff explores the 250-year evolution of the language we speak with linguists Anne Curzan and Valerie Fridland. From revolutionary-era spelling changes and regional expressions to the many accents and dialects that shape the country today, they examine how American English has been transforme

The music that's shaped America Jul 30, 2026 45:31 Music has long been one of America's most influential cultural exports. In this episode of "In Pursuit of Happiness," Judy Woodruff talks with music historian Ted Gioia and journalist Sidney Madden about the Black and Indigenous roots of American music, the power of protest songs and how music continues to shape our understanding of who we are. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/news

How America's national parks shape our identity Jul 23, 2026 38:31 What makes America's National Parks so special? In this episode of "In Pursuit of Happiness," Judy Woodruff talks with longtime RV traveler and public lands podcaster Jason Epperson to explore the remarkable history of the National Park System and the stories behind some of the nation's most iconic parks. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See

How conspiracy theories have shaped America Jul 16, 2026 37:19 From the American Revolution to today, conspiracy theories have been part of the American story in ways that may surprise us. In this episode of Judy Woodruff's "In Pursuit of Happiness," she sits down with Jesse Walker, author of "The United States of Paranoia: A Conspiracy Theory," to explore how conspiracy theories take shape -- and what they tell us about who we are. PBS News is supported by

How satire shaped American history Jul 9, 2026 49:00 From Benjamin Franklin to The Onion, satire has long been a part of how Americans process politics and power. In this episode of "In Pursuit of Happiness," Judy Woodruff talks to Sophia McClennen of Penn State University and Joshua Johnson of The Onion about the history of satire and its relationship with news and democracy today. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funde

How George Washington shaped America Jul 2, 2026 35:30 What can George Washington's life tell us about the country he helped found? In the first episode of her new limited-run podcast, "In Pursuit of Happiness," Judy Woodruff speaks with historian Lindsay Chervinsky about Washington's achievements, contradictions and enduring influence on the American presidency. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. S

Promo: In Pursuit of Happiness with Judy Woodruff Jun 29, 2026 0:41 Join PBS News' Judy Woodruff on a limited six-episode journey this summer as our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary. She'll explore the stories behind the milestones of American history and look at some of the culture, places and ideas that have defined us. A companion to her "Crossroads: America at 250" reporting for PBS News, the series will uncover surprising tales from America's past that

In Pursuit of Happiness with Judy Woodruff

Episodes

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