The Preamble

Sharon McMahon

The world feels complicated. The Preamble is where it starts to make sense. Hosted by Sharon McMahon — known for making sense of complex issues — she and her guests dive deep into the stories and ideas driving our future, bringing clarity and honesty to every headline. If you want real insight, bold conversation, and answers that matter, this podcast is your must-listen. Hit play, and join the movement that will shape history.An Audacy Podcast.

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503 episodes
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Episodes503

Newest first

Jul 7, 2025 · 45 min
Poverty In America with Matthew Desmond
Sharon talks with Princeton Sociologist Matthew Desmond to examine why poverty endures in America, and how reframing the way we see it could lead to real change.
Jun 30, 2025 · 45 min
Modern Democracy with Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky
American democracy is at a crossroads, and Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt reveal how outdated constitutional rules and minority power put it at risk.
Jun 23, 2025 · 43 min
The Hate Next Door with Matson and Tawni Browning
A look inside the world of white supremacist extremism, as an undercover agent and his wife expose how hate spreads and who it targets.
Jun 16, 2025 · 33 min
Book Bans and Free Speech with Suzanne Nossel
Over 4,000 books have been banned across the U.S., but what’s really behind the push to censor diverse voices in schools?
Jun 9, 2025 · 44 min
Growing Up In Public with Devorah Heitner
Sharon talks with Dr. Devorah Heitner about how parents, teachers, and mentors can support kids as they navigate the digital world.
Jun 2, 2025 · 36 min
How Animal Senses Reveal Hidden Realms with Ed Yong
Pulitzer Prize winner Ed Yong uncovers the secret sensory lives of animals, and what they can teach us about our world.
May 26, 2025 · 40 min
The Extraordinary Women Who Helped Win WWII with Lena Andrews
Sharon is joined by CIA military analyst, WWII expert, and debut author, Lena Andrews, to unveil the scale and scope of what women in uniform contributed during WWII.
May 19, 2025 · 38 min
The Virtues Behind the American Constitution with Jeffrey Rosen
What did the Founders mean by “the pursuit of happiness,” and how do virtue and moral philosophy shape our understanding of this unalienable right?
May 12, 2025 · 41 min
Parliamentary America with Max Stearns
Sharon is joined by law professor and author Max Stearns, to hear his most recent book, Parliamentary Democracy and how Americans might benefit from reimagining Democracy?
May 7, 2025 · 11 min
Introducing: What We Spend
Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets—and their lives—to tell you everything: what they make, what they want, and—for one week—what they spend.
May 5, 2025 · 37 min
Democracy and America with Heather Cox Richardson
The historian with more than a million subscribers to her newsletter tells me the dangers of listening to those trying to create a false history of the country.
Apr 28, 2025 · 35 min
Navigating Media Bias with Vanessa Otero
Sharon talks with Vanessa Otero, the founder of Ad Fontes Media, creator of the dynamic Media Bias Chart, about how to better evaluate the reliability of your news sources.
Apr 21, 2025 · 33 min
Master Slave Husband Wife with Ilyon Woo
Sharon explores William and Ellen Craft's epic journey from slavery to freedom in author Ilyon Woo’s book, “Master Slave Husband Wife.”
Apr 14, 2025 · 52 min
Punished for Dreaming with Bettina Love
Sharon sits down with Dr. Bettina Love, Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University to discuss education reform, standardized testing, the devaluing of educators, and a list of ongoing systemic challenges in the U.S. school system.
Apr 7, 2025 · 39 min
A Biography of George Washington with Alexis Coe
Sharon speaks with presidential historian Alexis Coe. She talks about her goal as a historian to tell the whole story and shares some maybe not so fun–facts about our first president, George Washington.
Apr 3, 2025 · 50 min
Welcome to The Moth: The Rest is History
We're excited to bring you a beautiful episode of The Moth, The Rest is History. In this hour, Henny Lewin, a young Jewish girl, is smuggled out of a Lithuanian ghetto during WWII, Musician Frank Almond makes a historic discovery, and Sivad Johnson takes us behind the scenes of the Detroit Fire Department. On Tuesdays and Fridays, The Moth’s podcast feed presents episodes of the Peabody-Award Winning Moth Radio Hour and original episodes of The Moth Podcast. Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of true stories, told live and without notes, to standing-room-only crowds worldwide. Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating. Since 2008, The Moth podcast has featured many of our favorite stories told live on Moth stages around the country.
Mar 31, 2025 · 39 min
Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight with Julia Sweig
Sharon talks with author Julia Sweig about her book, Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight. The research and writing took Julia over six years, as she meticulously poured over the details of not only Lady Bird’s life, but also the 1960s and the state of the nation at that time.
Mar 24, 2025 · 36 min
Eleanor Roosevelt and WWII
It's the trifecta of listener-favorite subjects: an American First Lady, World War II, and a secret adventure. Shannon McKenna Schmidt joins us to share about her new book, The First Lady of World War II:, which chronicles Eleanor Roosevelt’s journey to the Pacific theater during wartime.
Mar 17, 2025 · 44 min
The Tell with Amy Griffin
Venture capitalist and author Amy Griffin reveals how facing the truth she’d been running from, set her on a powerful journey of self-discovery, vulnerability, and healing.
Mar 10, 2025 · 42 min
Make Magic with Brad Meltzer
#1 NYT best-selling author Brad Meltzer shares about his newest books, “Make Magic,” based on his viral commencement speech from last year, and “The JFK Conspiracy,” his most recent political thriller.