America’s Constitution with Akhil Reed Amar

Here's Where It Gets Interesting

Sharon McMahon

Government, History, Storytelling, Education

4.9 • 15.1K Ratings

🗓️ 4 August 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In a time when division often makes the headlines, what truly binds us together? Sharon sits down with Yale constitutional law professor Akhil Reed Amar to explore why the U.S. Constitution remains a powerful force in bringing Americans together. Despite our different regions, backgrounds, cultures, and even languages, what we share is a constitutional framework and the historic events and documents that shaped our nation. Amar reflects on his own journey as a first‑generation American, from the gift of citizenship at birth to his evolving understanding of the Constitution’s role in defining our common identity. Credits: Host and Executive Producer: Sharon McMahon Supervising Producer: Melanie Buck Parks Audio Producer: Craig Thompson To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, friends. Welcome. Delighted to have you with me today. My guest is the Scholar of Scholars.
0:11.3	He is one of America's most beloved and renowned constitutional scholars. His name is Akeel Reed Amar.
0:20.3	And I cannot wait to share this conversation with you.
0:23.7	I think it's something we really need in this moment, the enduring value of the United
0:29.5	States Constitution.
0:31.1	So let's dive in.
0:33.5	I'm Sharon McMahon.
0:35.5	And here's where it gets interesting.
0:39.5	This is one of those conversations that I've been hoping to have for a very long time.
0:44.3	You're so gracious to give us your time today, and I would love to have you give somebody
0:49.2	who is not already familiar with your prodigious work.
0:52.9	Can you give us a little overview of who you are and what you do?
0:57.0	My name is Akeel Amar on the page. I often introduce myself as Akeel Reed Amar, and I'm first
1:03.8	generation American. And the Akeal and the Amar, that's from my, and they were immigrants to the United States from India,
1:13.7	but I'm born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My parents meet at the University of Michigan, and that's
1:18.4	where the Reed comes from. I am a professor of constitutional law at Yale. I teach in the college
1:25.1	and the law school. And what I teach about basically is America,
1:30.1	the American Constitution in particular, American history. But I also cover contemporary events,
1:37.4	modern day events that have constitutional significance. So all things constitutional, I'm your guy.
1:44.1	That is so true. I mentioned to you earlier that I have a number of your books on So all things constitutional, I'm your guy.
1:44.9	That is so true.
1:49.9	I mentioned to you earlier that I have a number of your books on the bookshelf behind me, and I fully embrace my dirtiness, that my idea of a good Thursday afternoon is getting to chat
	...

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