James McWilliams

James McWilliams is an historian at Texas State University. He's currently at work on a book on the art and literature of the American South. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Girl sitting at window reading

Uncommon Podcasts

Three outlets for the radically curious

By James McWilliams | Thursday September 5, 2019
Black and white photo of a Greek statue

The Paradox of Poetry

A podcast from a leading poetry magazine helps demystify contemporary poems

By James McWilliams | Wednesday July 17, 2019
Black and white photograph of a bicycle leaning on the ground

Pessimists and Progress

Lessons from skeptics throughout history

By James McWilliams | Monday June 10, 2019
Photo of two hands holding an iPhone

Words Under Siege

How Big Tech’s intrusion into public and private life undermines the promise of democracy

By James McWilliams | Monday May 6, 2019

Storytelling in the Podcast Age

Critics allege that the Fourth Estate is biased and out of touch. Here’s how one band of podcasters breaks down barriers between journalists and their audience.

By James McWilliams | Tuesday April 2, 2019

Not Waving

Frank Delaney and the nearing tide

By James McWilliams | Thursday February 28, 2019

Of Poets and a President

Was Walt Whitman right when he said that America’s “common referee” is not its presidents but its poets?

By James McWilliams | Tuesday January 29, 2019

A Symphony of Sounds

The surprising storytelling powers of background noise

By James McWilliams | Wednesday December 26, 2018

Podcasts To Get You Thinking

Our new Daily Scholar columnist reviews the best educational offerings

By James McWilliams | Monday November 26, 2018

Here’s the Beef with Chicken from China

The Trump USDA favored a powerful lobby over American food safety

By James McWilliams | Monday December 4, 2017
Girl sitting at window reading

Uncommon Podcasts

By James McWilliams | Thursday September 5, 2019
Black and white photo of a Greek statue

The Paradox of Poetry

By James McWilliams | Wednesday July 17, 2019
Black and white photograph of a bicycle leaning on the ground

Pessimists and Progress

By James McWilliams | Monday June 10, 2019
Photo of two hands holding an iPhone

Words Under Siege

By James McWilliams | Monday May 6, 2019

Not Waving

By James McWilliams | Thursday February 28, 2019

Of Poets and a President

By James McWilliams | Tuesday January 29, 2019

A Symphony of Sounds

By James McWilliams | Wednesday December 26, 2018

Podcasts To Get You Thinking

By James McWilliams | Monday November 26, 2018

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