The Bewitching of the American Mind (Replay) - with Molly Worthen

It's far more than simply charm, or rhetorical skill, or political savvy. Charisma is a powerful force that has shaped American public and religious life--for both good and ill--for more than four centuries. Could an undertanding of this phenomenon help us make better sense of our national story? And why does it seem that Americans of faith are particularly vulnerable to its allure?

Interview with Molly Worthen, author of Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Purtians to Donald Trump.

Note: This is a replay of our July 15, 2025 interview with Molly Worthen. The video version of this episode can be found on Youtube:

Show Notes

• Book | Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump, by Molly Worthen - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746737/spellbound-by-molly-worthen/
• Article | "Charisma Rules the World" by Molly Worthen, New York Times (June 16, 2025) -  https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/opinion/charisma-history-trump.html