History That Doesn’t Suck Podcast Comes to Providence
Dr. Greg Jackson took his passion for history and storytelling to the stage for a live touring show.
History That Doesn’t Suck podcast.
Dr. Greg Jackson, host of the podcast History That Doesn’t Suck, took his passion for history and storytelling to the stage. He blends academics with humor and love and brings U.S. history to life in History That Doesn’t Suck: The Unlikely Union, an educational and entertaining live touring show that recently came to Providence.
“I’m a people person,” Jackson says. “As much as I love writing and recording, I missed connecting face-to-face. This show gives me the chance to do that — with the entire country as my classroom.”
The performance takes us through a century of American history, through the Revolution and the Civil War, and teaches us the perspective of the Union itself. We get an entertaining glimpse into how our country was formed, framed and came together. Jackson considers it a “reminder that we’ve faced division before and come out stronger.” Each show has a set performance for everywhere it goes, but details are tailored to each city the show visits to add to a level of familiarity.
Jackson mentions that even as a passionate professor in history, he keeps politics and his personal opinions out of the storytelling. “I don’t pull punches on the hard things, and I celebrate the good,” he says. “But I want people to let history speak for itself.”
At the core of History That Doesn’t Suck, there is a simple yet effective message: Hope. “Yes, we’ve made mistakes,” Jackson says. “But America is built on ideas; on the right to pursue happiness and to keep striving for better. That’s the story I want people to walk away with.”
Dr. Jackson’s passion for history is why the podcast and live performance are so engaging. It is there to remind Americans of our history and strife, and how we can do better as a country.
