Barack Obama Joins Malcom Gladwell on Podcast Series About Reconstruction Era’s ‘Unfinished Promise’

President Barack Obama is one of the prominent voices featured in a new podcast, “Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise,” hosted by author and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell.

The eight-part audio series from the History Channel is produced in collaboration with Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground production company, Malcom Gladwell’s Pushkin Industries and Audible. It’s available starting Thursday, June 4, exclusively from Amazon’s Audible. All episodes from the series will later be released on all major podcast platforms beginning Thursday, June 18, through Thursday, July 16.

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The podcast explores “the history, complexities and enduring legacy” of America’s Reconstruction Era, the period beginning in 1865 immediately following the Civil War in which the U.S. established civil rights for formerly enslaved African Americans. “Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise” highlights “the missed opportunities and complicated legacy of that moment while drawing lessons that continue to shape the nation today,” according to producers. (Listen to the trailer below.)

Obama said in a statement: “The Reconstruction Era was a brief but pivotal and turbulent chapter in our nation’s history — one that is often overlooked, even though its consequences are still felt today. In confronting this period honestly, I hope audiences can rediscover an essential part of our past and remember that even in moments of deep conflict and contradiction, persistence and perseverance remain powerful sources of hope.”

In the series, Gladwell draws on archives, letters, diaries, court records and eyewitness testimonies, along with interviews with American scholars and storytellers. “Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise” begins and concludes with a “candid conversation” between Barack Obama and Malcolm Gladwell. It also features commentary from cultural figures such as Jelani Cobb, Wyatt Cenac, David Blight, Kai Wright, Kellie Carter Jackson, Ashley C. Ford, Manisha Sinha, Kidada Williams and Eric Foner.

“Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise” is part of the History Honors 250 campaign, leading up to the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S.

Higher Ground has collaborated with Audible on podcasts under their first-look deal. Titles under that agreement include “Michelle Obama: The Light Podcast,” “Your Mama’s Kitchen: Conversations From the Heart of the Home” hosted by Michele Norris, “The Wonder of Stevie” hosted by Wesley Morris and Peabody Award-winner “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man” hosted by Jad Abumrad.

Higher Ground’s other podcasts also include “IMO” with siblings Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson; weekly interview podcast “Talk Easy With Sam Fragoso”; “Stories From a Stranger” with Hunter Prosper, based on his digital series of the same name; and “Lemme Say This” with Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix.

“Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise” is produced by Higher Ground, Pushkin Industries and Audible, in partnership with the History Channel. Nick White, Mukta Mohan, and Dan Fierman serve as executive producers for Higher Ground. Jacob Smith and Gretta Cohn serve as executive producers for Pushkin Industries. Kate Navin, Ann Heppermann and Glynn Pogue serve as executive producers for Audible. Eli Lehrer and Mike Stiller serve as executive producers for the History Channel.

A+E Global Media, parent of the History Channel, holds worldwide distribution rights to “Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise.”

Listen to the podcast’s trailer: