Six episodes talking to people who met Baldwin, know his work, are writers and critics themselves…offers a depth and level of reflection I didn’t know I needed. He was such a man of his time, and a tormented soul of his century, and he grappled with so much, long before the shortcuts of our recent generations of slogans. He returned to be such a worthy, striving public figure at such a critical time - these shows have been a good tribute, and both balm and inspiration in these crazy, noisy, divided, sometimes nonsensical times of our own.

Once again you guys knocked it out the park. Thank you for an insightful, educating and enlightening experience. As a native New Orleanian I appreciate this perspective on Pops. October 31st Arab American vote report These people (Arabs) are so confused which reflects the state of the situation in the Middle East. If you feel you have no voice, then don’t vote, because that is better than voting for someone who initiated an Arab ban. This rationale is irrational. Let’s not be STUPID about this.

I am a moderate white hispanic woman who is looking to listen to a wide range of perspectives. I really liked some episodes of this podcast, but the last one turned me off to the show. One of the guests made a reference to “mediocre white men,” which came across as racist and intolerant. I will say that I intend to keep trying in hopes that there will be better guests in the future. My advice to folks on the left is to be more careful with your language. There are LOTS of moderates out there and the way you speak has an influence on which way we lean. Using non-attacking language is a great tool for keeping your audience with you. I hope this helps!

I really enjoy how Kai has conversations with everyone. Especially with individuals whom I do not agree with or would not listen to on my own. He knows how to ask the questions that get to tough talks and brings it all together. Bravo to Kai and his great team.

I really appreciate the depth of the conversations, the respectful discourse, and the fearlessness

Kai Wright does an excellent job of making complex issues understandable, and sometimes discusses topics which I wouldn't think interesting at first glance, but he makes them interesting, relevant and valuable to my understanding of what it means to be American. Bravo.

please don't advertise an episode until it’s available (heard on political scene, the new yorker 1/15/24). sounds interesting but not there….

Ultra processed food stuffs are causing a lot of these problems re: weight that is out of control. So, too, please review BMI and it’s meaning and thus it’s relevance…

Unbalanced naive and bias confirming drivel. Avoid.

Isn’t it interesting how racism transcends from generation to generation. It was thought in 1955 white america fear would go away by 1970, lol. Even today stil we can’t rationalize whether a doll named Barbie should be represented as an American institution or the decentralization of the government.

If I had to be monogamous with a podcast it would be this one. I love the balance of history, art, culture, politics…I always learn something new and see this country differently.

Get ready, because this show hates straight white men.

Kai Wright had a remarkable gift to see and say things in a novel way, so that they are both fresh and deeply resonant. Highly recommend!

This show dives headfirst into topics that other shows may shy away from. It is insightful and informative. However, the more recent addition of listener call-ins hampers the flow and wastes time. I’m all for listener participation but perhaps this would be better served with voice messages instead of live calls. Most of the time the callers overstay their welcome and have to be shoved off the air anyway. The strength lies in the interviews and deeper dives.

Kai and the team at United States of Anxiety are offering important and thought-provoking discussions of social and cultural issues to help listeners try to make more sense of the world around us.

Kai is a great interviewer. He and Jelani Cobb had me wanting more in the Critical Race Theory discussion. Keep ‘em coming.

I’m very happy that this series exists. We are one nation, and we need to understand each other and the stresses that exist in each other’s communities. Whichever way the election goes, we will all still be here together afterward. OK, that was written during the 2016 election season. The format and emphasis have changed a bit, but this remains an extremely insightful and well-researched show. I have learned a lot about this country I’ve always lived in from this show.

I love Kai Wright’s perspective, the engaging stories he chooses, and the eye-opening information from the guests he brings on. This podcast is so unique and Kai’s repeated goal of “making sense of our country’s unfinished history,” is noble and necessary. Please listen and share, this Podcast needs all ears!

Reading this historical and eye-opening book, I learned about this podcast. I’m most appreciative for the effort of all those participating as I am eager to learn and become more knowledgeable about the past and ongoing struggles of people of color. I am passionate about doing my part to support whenever I find an opportunity. I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus. Every human being has value. I believe that we are all created by God. Thank you!

This is one of the best podcasts ever - and I listen to WAY too many! Well researched and superbly well thought out - very impressive and valuable

I truly cannot begin to explain how amazing this podcast is. Fascinating, illuminating, riveting, important and interesting. Can't recommend more!!!

Representation does matter. Thank you from all of us who are starved for these deep conversations led a brilliant thinker in touch with his heart.

I have listened to this podcast since it began and taken so many of the crucial conversations to heart and back to my larger community. Kai is an incredible host not only in his insight but also in who he includes and how he jokes space to go deeper as country into our collective history and future. Today’s dialogue with Brittney Cooper was no exception and in fact may have been the best episode thus far. Her impassioned, articulate, well researched point of view is the kind of thing we as America need more of. Thank you Kai for having her, thank you Brittney for your meaningful piece in Time, your sharing on the podcast and your ongoing work.

I look forward to each episode. Thoughtful and open to intelligent passionate discussion.

The MLK / liberation theology episode was fantastic !

I don’t believe this callers background he claims to be multiracial. These people need to elect people that don’t lie to the public and need to lead by example

Such a brilliant and accessible show. The host Kai Wright speaks in a way that is inviting and intriguing making me feel like he’s learning with me, even though I know he’s done so much work to bring history alive and show us the way to a better future. The guests are all amazing and keep up this vibe. Thank you for this show it really helps me as a forever student of history and social movements keep learning and putting in my work for justice in policy that follows the importance of organizing.

I learn something every time I listen to this show. Each week breaks down some part of our social/legal history as it relates to race and features both experts and citizens with diverse perspectives. I most appreciate hearing listener calls - an interactive part of radio that rarely translates to podcasts.

I love Kai’s obsession with Reconstruction Era history! It gives the stories on this podcast great context, perspective, juice, fire. 🔥 The past is never dead. It is not even past. Keep at it folks!

All medications have repercussions and Western Medical training addresses that with more medications, then injections, next surgery, hospital stays , nursing homes. Basically, Western Medicine does not take responsibility for the harm pharmaceuticals have on our health long, or short term. Secondly, it is to be noted that the Fauci and his team have never advised ways to improve our immune systems with better diet, etcetera during this pandemic. Nada. The medical industry is just that. It makes money when people are sick and encourages dependency on medications that ultimately damage our health. Learning while listening to people who I share opinions, and at times disagree with is something I appreciate. This podcast also help me question what I already think I know. Thanks to all involved.

This show addresses important issues of our times — race, equality, privilege — constructively and methodically, with new perspectives and heart.

Love this podcast and so happy I found it! I started listening early on in the pandemic and haven’t stopped. It provides context for current events and explores untold parts of history that still have ongoing impacts today. Can’t recommend it enough. Also Kai is a joy to listen to

I’ve listened to a handful of episodes but already learned so much about our history and what it means for our current multicultural society. The title of the show makes it sound like it will be stressful listening but instead I find my heart and mind opened in new ways that make me feel hopeful about our future.

Love this show and glad it is getting to more people by being on the radio as well. Definitely worth subscribing!

I’m a longtime “Trump, Inc.,” listener, so I encountered Kai on the “Who Matters in America?” Crossover podcast that he and Andrea Bernstein did for “Trump, Inc.,” which was excellent. I’ve now listened to the last 2 episodes (“MAGA Lost Cause” and “Affirmative Action case in Louisiana”) and have enjoyed and learned a lot from both. The second episode lacks the call-in bit, which I think only works on a podcast when it’s questions for an expert guest (rather than “hopes and dreams of listeners”).

This podcast brings together the history behind many contentious political issues. As a history student, I love seeing the past connected to the present, as this makes it easier to understand both. I could see a historian of the future using this podcast to conceptualise how we in 2020 are thinking about our own place in history. Highly recommended. The host also has a really smooth voice well suited to podcasts, which is a bonus.

Love the way this is conversational, historical and insightful. Room for the past in the present, and meaningful perspectives all around.

Thank You for reaching across the radio waves and offering a thoughtful historical context. You make us feel less alone.

I was rather disappointed in the quality of the podcast and it’s very tiny area of just the NY City and doesn’t even discuss how the anxiety is throughout the country.

Show narrator and guest(s) state opinions as facts without citing any evidence to back it up. Would not recommend this show to anyone capable of critical thought.

So this breaks my white privileged heart. I know there are programs and meds, hopefully he is on something that helps him be his calm self, but mostly I wish he could have had as much of a normal environment as possible for a kid. The silver lining is that he was locked up so he didn’t do something worse before his brain matures. I wish him the best.

Hello - I want to second what another listener said about disliking the call in format. It is better suited to radio and what I like most about the podcast is that you can do a well-researched deep dive into something. Don't really see the point in taking random calls.

It’s the tone of his voice, the cadence that makes these difficult conversations not only tolerable, but enjoyed. Listened to every episode and Caught and the Labor episodes are heart wrenching and amazing.

How disappointing hearing your callers. They don’t like trump but are going to be voting for them anyway. Have they been watching and hearing trump turn our country into a illiberal, authoritarian state. Have they not felt vulnerable during the pandemic with his horrible response. Heavy sigh.

I have been a dedicated listener and my view points have been informed and expanded by your compelling coverage. I’m kind of hating the live show. :( Call in shows are better suited to radio and even then they are mostly just background noise. Please be careful with this great resource.

This break my heart I know how it feels to have a young love one locked up .

The narration is beautiful, and the show stays on topic.

The topics are relevant. The reporting is top notch. The host narrates beautifully. Educational, instructional, and a must-listen.

So well done. Just excellent topics, research and stories.

Love this podcast. Have sent individual episodes to many friends and family because they’re that good. Makes you get perspective. Super introspective as well.