Former President Barack Obama is exploring America’s Reconstruction era with bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell in a new eight-part podcast series that debuted on Audible in June 2026 and is now available on all major podcast platforms through mid-July. The series, titled Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise, examines the 12-year period from 1865 to 1877 when the United States attempted to rebuild itself after the Civil War.
Produced in collaboration with The History Channel, Obama and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, Gladwell’s Pushkin Industries, and Audible, the podcast draws on archives, letters, diaries, court records, and eyewitness testimonies to unpack a transformative moment in American history. Episodes begin and end with candid conversations between Obama and Gladwell, framed by additional commentary from historians and cultural figures including Jelani Cobb, Wyatt Cenac, David Blight, Kai Wright, Kellie Carter Jackson, Ashley C. Ford, Manisha Sinha, Kidada Williams, and Eric Foner.
“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,” Obama said in a statement announcing the series. “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.”
The podcast centers on a critical historical moment when reformers attempted to radically reimagine American society. After the Civil War ended slavery, the nation faced fundamental questions about citizenship, voting rights, and economic reconstruction. The Reconstruction era redefined U.S. citizenship and expanded voting rights through constitutional amendments, marking what historians describe as a brief period of interracial democracy—though it ultimately faced fierce backlash that reversed many of those gains.
The series is part of The History Channel’s History Honors 250 campaign, which marks the semiquincentennial of the United States in July 2026. Higher Ground Productions, founded by Barack and Michelle Obama in 2018, has expanded beyond its initial Netflix partnership to collaborate with multiple platforms and partners. The company previously produced The Michelle Obama Podcast and Renegades: Born in the USA with musician Bruce Springsteen, and has backed acclaimed documentary films and television projects.
Sources
- People.com — Announced the eight-part podcast series, debut dates, guest commentators, and Obama’s statement about the Reconstruction era
- Deadline — Confirmed production details, partners, release schedule, and Obama’s statement
- Britannica — Provided historical context on how the Reconstruction era redefined U.S. citizenship and expanded voting rights
- PBS — Described Reconstruction as marking a brief era of interracial democracy with Black Americans holding office
- The Hollywood Reporter — Reported on Higher Ground Productions’ transition from Netflix exclusivity to independent operation
