Rioters topple the statue of King George III in Lower Manhattan on July 9, 1776.

Doing interviews for media outlets is nothing new. I have spent decades now on both sides of the microphone, telephone, camera, reporter’s notebook… But no matter how many times I participate, I am never quite sure what the end result is going to sound like, read like, or look like. Unless, of course, the chat is over live radio, which is still one of my favorite ways to talk about a new book.

When I was contacted by Rund Abdelfatah, host and producer of NPR’s history podcast “Throughline,” I was delighted. The conversation was a long one—I usually have more to say than I think I do under these circumstances. If we’re live, I know how to edit and keep it short. If we’re taping, well…Let’s just say that I leave the editor’s work cut out for them.

Little known fact—and one I plan to write more on in the near future—I don’t listen to these things. Why? There’s nothing I can do to change how I phrased answers, no way I can take out the “ums” and “ers.” In short: There’s nothing I can do.

But for this particular podcast, I have gotten a lot of amazing—and unsolicited—feedback. Rund put together an episode that included interviews with me and the award-winning author and journalist Walter Isaacson, discussing the often misunderstood July 4th holiday. Push play above to give the podcast a listen, or read the full transcript over at NPR.

Hope you enjoy!