Nations Apart: How Clashing Regional Cultures Shattered America, with Colin Woodard

About this Episode

In this episode of Give and Take, Scott Jones talks with Colin Woodard about his latest forthcoming book, Nations Apart. Woodard maps the deep regional cultures of America, tracing their historical roots and showing how they continue to shape today’s most urgent issues—from gun violence and health disparities to the tension between individual liberty and the common good. To truly understand the roots of America’s political polarization, economic inequality, public health crises, and democratic collapse, Woodard argues, we must examine the country’s longstanding regional divides. Together, they explore why America struggles to find common ground, the risks of fragmentation, and why a renewed civic national story may be essential to protecting democracy against rising authoritarian threats.

You can pre-order Nations Apart here. . The book will be released on November 4th, 2025.