In this episode The American Tapestry Project begins a new series – “Americans and Their Games: Sports in American History and Culture”. Why are Americans so passionate about sports? What does their sports passion tell us about the American Story? What impact did sports have on minority civil rights, women’s quest for equality, and the assimilation of immigrants into American culture? And, just how big a business is the business of sports? “All this and more”, as they say on late night TV, on Episode 34 of The American Tapestry Project.

This episode of The American Tapestry Project revisits that uniquely American art form – baseball music. From 1858’s “The Baseball Polka” to the Dropkick Murphy’s 21st century punk rock recreation of the Boston Red Sox’s “Tessie”, we’ll hear the music and learn the backstory behind some classic American tunes celebrating America’s grand old game – baseball. “All this and more”, as they say on late night TV, on Episode 33 of The American Tapestry Project.

The struggle for full participation in American society continues by all Americans continues – from the ongoing effort to ensure equal access to voting for all Americans to the role of sports in American history and culture as an engine of social progress. This episode explores “Our Unfinished March” in seeking equal access to the ballot and “Passion Plays” about how religion shaped American sports and American sports shaped American culture

What’s the hardest job in the world? Is it the American presidency? With four or five Baby Boomer presidents, as the internet meme “OK Boomer” implies, did the Boomers, as some claim, break America? All these questions explored (if not answered) in Episode 30 of The American Tapestry Project.

Seeking to create a unified American culture, in the early and mid-19th century Americans created their own fashion for celebrating Christmas – The American Way of Christmas. In this episode we explore that creation and the folks who made it – Washington Irving, Clement Clarke Moore, Charles Dickens, Sarah Josepha Hale, and Thomas Nast. Ho, ho, ho -- all this and more” on Episode 29 of The American Tapestry Project.

This episode reprises The American Tapestry Project’s exploration of Christmas music as A-caroling We Will Go, looking into the history of American Christmas carols – both religious and festive. What was the first American carol? Is it true “Jingle Bells” was written as a drinking song for hot rodding sleigh racers? How is it that many of the iconic American Christmas songs were written by Jewish artists. Yes, a-caroling we will go discovering the back story to many of America’s best loved Christmas songs. All this and more” on Episode 28 of The American Tapestry Project.

In this episode we chat with St. Bonaventure University historian Phil Payne about how he became a historian, what’s the difference between commemoration and history, how and why the President of the United States became the avatar of all of American cultures; hopes and fears!

In this episode The American Tapestry Project we chat with Chris Magoc about his book A Progressive History of American Democracy Since 1945: American Dreams, Hard Realities. We’ll discover the Freedom Train, hear Sam Cooke sing “A Change is Gonna Come” and learn what Jackson Browne thought about ‘60s rebels become ‘80s Yuppies. That’s this week on The American Tapestry Project Episode #26

In this episode of The American Tapestry Project asks “Who owns history?” Building on the work of Eric Foner, this episode explores the current hullabaloo about what constitutes “accurate” American history and who gets to decide and why. Who owns history -- on The American Tapestry Project Episode #26.

In this episode The American Tapestry Project examines patriotic American poetry. We ask who is a patriot, what does patriotism mean, what have America’s poets said about an open-eyed American patriotism? We’ll hear what Whitman, Howe, McKay, Longfellow, Sandburg and many others past and present understood about patriotism American style. One if by land, two if by sea said Paul Revere! Whether by land or sea, that’s on The American Tapestry Project Episode #24.