logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
48m 39s

How Did The Vietnam War Start?

Sony Music Entertainment / Jonathan Van Ness
About this episode

The Vietnam War caused a ton of strife both domestically and internationally, but so many details were hidden from the public for a long time. Naturally, Jonathan has a lot of questions about this period of time, and historian Dr. Osamah Khalil has the answers! Join us for a deep dive on a fascinating period of American history, as we examine what was happening abroad and at home from 1945-1980.


Dr. Osamah Khalil is a historian of U.S. foreign relations and chair of the international relations program at Syracuse University. He’s a frequent media commentator and contributor for outlets like the Los Angeles Times, NPR, USA Today, PBS Newshour, The Hill, and Al Jazeera.


His new book “A World of Enemies: America’s Wars at Home and Abroad from Kennedy to Biden” is available now.


You can find Osamah on X @Osamah_Khalil. You can find more information about his first book, America’s Dream Palace, here.


Follow us on Instagram @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN.


Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com.


Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn.


Our senior producers are Chris McClure and Julia Melfi. Our associate producer is Allison Weiss. Our engineer is Nathanael McClure. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Anne Currie, and Chad Hall.


Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com.


Curious about bringing your brand to life on the show? Email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
Are You Trapped In High-Functioning Depression? with Dr. Judith Joseph
Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn JVN is joined by the brilliant Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher, to explore high-functioning depression — what it is, ... Show More
52m 23s
Jul 8
Presenting: “Mantra with Jemma Sbeg"
Ready to take a fresh path to self-discovery? Every Monday, Jemma Sbeg brings you a new mantra and shares how you can apply it to your own life. Whether you’re facing a major transition or just looking to evolve your everyday routine, Mantra is the podcast for you. Join Jemma eve ... Show More
11m 47s
Jul 7
Big Beautiful Bill, Future of Planned Parenthood, and A Potential Cure for HIV
Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn This week on The Monday Edit: the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill, updates on the Idaho Four Case, JVN’s life as Pet Parent, beating the summer heat ... Show More
32m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
USA: We Have Ways - Vinegar Joe's China
Al Murray, James Holland and John McManus discuss the life of Joseph Stilwell - the United States Army general best known for his service in the China-Burma-India Theatre during the Second World War. What was his relationship like with Chiang Kai-shek, and what about his personal ... Show More
46m 30s
Aug 2023
Folk Heroes: Dung Hà
Dung Ha (c. 1965-2000) was a powerful Vietnamese gangster who challenged the “Godfather of Saigon.” She broke gender expression rules and sexuality norms, creating a name for herself that lives on today. For Further Reading: Dung Ha: Vietnam’s Lesbian Mob Boss Dung Hà Police Fina ... Show More
4m 45s
Feb 2024
Prisoners Of War
Over 150,000 British and Commonwealth troops were imprisoned by the Germans or Japanese during the Second World War. What were their lives like, what diseases did they suffer, and how good were their musicals? Al Murray and James Holland delve into the National Archives to find o ... Show More
46m 52s
Feb 2024
Enemy Aliens
As the Nazis waged war on Europe, Britain had to take extreme measures to protect its shores. German and Italian nationals were imprisoned across the UK, including a small community of women on the Isle Of Man. Al Murray and James Holland return to the National Archives, to disco ... Show More
33m 30s
Feb 2024
The Future of the Future: A Discussion with Jonathan White
"An air of finality pervades today’s world." That is the opening sentence of Jonathan White’s book In the Long Run: The Future as a Political Idea (Profile, 2024). What role, the book asks, has the idea of "the future" played in past politics? What role does it play in contempora ... Show More
41m 56s
Nov 2022
#49 Another Roadside Attraction
When Stephanie was in high school, a bookstore seemingly dropped out of the sky into her small Texas town. Then, just as quickly, it was gone. Credits If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, dial the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Those outside the ... Show More
45m 39s
Feb 2024
The Pledge: Who Really Wrote the Pledge of Allegiance?
In today's Episode, Dana, Zaron and Jason tackle a 130-year-old mystery. Although American schoolchildren still recite The Pledge every morning in nearly every classroom, we still aren't sure who actually wrote it. And all these years later, the long-accepted story is showing som ... Show More
46m 18s
May 2024
US vs. Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Body
Black women are under attack—from eyelashes in Congress, to venture funds for Black businesses.  This week’s episode is a recording of Native Land Pod’s first LIVE audience show! Hosts Angela Rye, Tiffany Cross, and Andrew Gillum paid a visit to the women’s global leadership summ ... Show More
1h 3m
Jun 2024
Liz Oliva Fernández
For the past six years on this show, we've talked to working people from across the United States, from virtually every walk of life, about their lives, jobs, dreams, and struggles. But today, we’re going to talk about what it’s like to live and work in a country that has been de ... Show More
1h 23m
Aug 2021
Oh dam! Water is all this about? The GERD dispute and the future of the Nile River
This week we discuss the crisis in Afghanistan with The New Arab's Kamal Afzali, and our US correspondent, Brooke Anderson. Then we explore the issues surrounding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and ask what the future holds for the mega project, and who could benefit the mo ... Show More
31m 35s