Episode 12: Silence in Order to Listen

Bonus: Twelve Titans Song Cycle

In this bonus episode, we are sharing recordings from the Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness podcast launch event featuring a performance of Jeffrey Rosen’s The Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness and Twelve Titans: Songs of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses in Philadelphia.   Jeffrey Rosen, author of The Pursuit of Happiness and host of the podcast, performs his original songs inspired by the book’s exploration of the classical writers on virtue that shaped the founders.    This performance features Jeffrey Rosen and pianist Jennifer Blyth with arrangements by Greg Strohman. Pursuit of Happiness: Song Cycles © ℗ Jeffrey Rosen. All Rights Reserved. Resources * Watch the full performance of the ⁠Pursuit of Happiness: Song Cycles⁠ [https://constitutioncenter.org/news-debate/americas-town-hall-programs/pursuit-of-happiness-song-cycles-by-jeffrey-rosen] by Jeffrey Rosen   * Twelve Titans: Songs of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses [https://constitutioncenter.org/media/files/Twelve-Titans-Lyrics.pdf], music and lyrics by Jeffrey Rosen [PDF]  * Jeffrey Rosen, ⁠The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America⁠ [https://constitutioncenter.org/go/the-pursuit-of-happiness], (2024)   * Jeffrey Rosen, ⁠The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1668053748?tag=simonsayscom], (2025) Stay Connected and Learn More * Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org [podcast@constitutioncenter.org] * Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr  * Explore the America at 250 Civic Toolkit [https://constitutioncenter.org/america-at-250] * Learn more about the NCC’s and Arizona State University's new online course on civic virtue, 'What the Founders Meant by “Happiness”: A Journey Through Virtue and Character’ [https://constitutioncenter.org/about/press-room/press-releases/national-constitution-center-and-arizona-state-university-announce-new-online-course-on-civic-virtue] and sign up for email updates [https://constitutioncenter.org/forms/civic-virtue-online-course]  * Sign up [http://bit.ly/constitutionweekly] to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate * Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen * Join us for an upcoming live program [https://constitutioncenter.org/news-debate/americas-town-hall-programs] or watch recordings on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoAU4X6DUZSt5n6aI74Hw0A] * Support our important work: DONATE [https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form/?svcid=tcs&formId=4e7ea4bb-4b30-44fd-b810-4df9746c0941&envid=p-kujBsRHWQkmaI9zD7QzCfg&zone=usa&_gl=1*k6rc0*_gcl_au*MTUxNDk3MDgyMy4xNzUzMTI3MDgy*_ga*MTk0Mzc2MDA5Ni4xNjY5OTkwMTUy*_ga_0H9LQSTDVE*czE3NTczNDIxNTUkbzM1MSRnMSR0MTc1NzM0MjI2MyRqNDEkbDAkaDA] Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness is made possible with support from the John Templeton Foundation. © 2025 National Constitution Center. All Rights Reserved.

Bonus: The Golden Mean Song Cycle

In this bonus episode, we are sharing recordings from the Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness podcast launch event featuring a performance of Jeffrey Rosen’s The Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness and Twelve Titans: Songs of the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses in Philadelphia.   Jeffrey Rosen, author of The Pursuit of Happiness and host of the podcast, performs his original songs inspired by the book’s exploration of the classical writers on virtue that shaped the founders.    This performance of The Golden Mean features pianist Jennifer Blyth and baritone James Martin with arrangements by Greg Strohman. Pursuit of Happiness: Song Cycles © ℗ Jeffrey Rosen. All Rights Reserved. Resources * Watch the full performance of the ⁠Pursuit of Happiness: Song Cycles⁠ [https://constitutioncenter.org/news-debate/americas-town-hall-programs/pursuit-of-happiness-song-cycles-by-jeffrey-rosen] by Jeffrey Rosen   * ⁠The Golden Mean: Songs for the Pursuit of Happiness⁠ [https://constitutioncenter.org/media/files/The-Golden-Mean-Lyrics.pdf], music and lyrics by Jeffrey Rosen [PDF]   * Jeffrey Rosen, ⁠The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America⁠ [https://constitutioncenter.org/go/the-pursuit-of-happiness], (2024)   * Jeffrey Rosen, ⁠The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1668053748?tag=simonsayscom], (2025) Stay Connected and Learn More * Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org [podcast@constitutioncenter.org] * Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr  * Explore the America at 250 Civic Toolkit [https://constitutioncenter.org/america-at-250] * Learn more about the NCC’s and Arizona State University's new online course on civic virtue, 'What the Founders Meant by “Happiness”: A Journey Through Virtue and Character’ [https://constitutioncenter.org/about/press-room/press-releases/national-constitution-center-and-arizona-state-university-announce-new-online-course-on-civic-virtue] and sign up for email updates [https://constitutioncenter.org/forms/civic-virtue-online-course]  * Sign up [http://bit.ly/constitutionweekly] to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate * Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen * Join us for an upcoming live program [https://constitutioncenter.org/news-debate/americas-town-hall-programs] or watch recordings on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoAU4X6DUZSt5n6aI74Hw0A] * Support our important work:

Episode 12: Silence in Order to Listen

In our last episode, listeners share some big and small changes that they have made. Plus, Jeffrey Rosen, filmmaker Ken Burns, and scholar Robert P. George explore Benjamin Franklin’s virtue of silence, which he defines as “speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”  Watch the full performance of the Pursuit of Happiness: Song Cycles [https://constitutioncenter.org/news-debate/americas-town-hall-programs/pursuit-of-happiness-song-cycles-by-jeffrey-rosen] by Jeffrey Rosen.  Stay Connected and Learn More * Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org [podcast@constitutioncenter.org] * Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr  * Explore the America at 250 Civic Toolkit [https://constitutioncenter.org/america-at-250] * Learn more about the NCC’s and Arizona State University's new online course on civic virtue, 'What the Founders Meant by “Happiness”: A Journey Through Virtue and Character’ [https://constitutioncenter.org/about/press-room/press-releases/national-constitution-center-and-arizona-state-university-announce-new-online-course-on-civic-virtue] and sign up for email updates [https://constitutioncenter.org/forms/civic-virtue-online-course]  * Sign up [http://bit.ly/constitutionweekly] to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate * Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen * Join us for an upcoming live program [https://constitutioncenter.org/news-debate/americas-town-hall-programs] or watch recordings on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoAU4X6DUZSt5n6aI74Hw0A] * Support our important work: DONATE [https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form/?svcid=tcs&formId=4e7ea4bb-4b30-44fd-b810-4df9746c0941&envid=p-kujBsRHWQkmaI9zD7QzCfg&zone=usa&_gl=1*k6rc0*_gcl_au*MTUxNDk3MDgyMy4xNzUzMTI3MDgy*_ga*MTk0Mzc2MDA5Ni4xNjY5OTkwMTUy*_ga_0H9LQSTDVE*czE3NTczNDIxNTUkbzM1MSRnMSR0MTc1NzM0MjI2MyRqNDEkbDAkaDA] Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness is made possible with support from the John Templeton Foundation. © 2025 National Constitution Center. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 11: Justice with Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln

In this episode, Jeffrey Rosen, Professor David Blight and filmmaker Ken Burns explore how a lifelong love of learning and a desire to promote justice shaped the life of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. He met Abraham Lincoln three times, and those three meetings helped shape Lincoln’s evolving views on emancipation. Stay Connected and Learn More * Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org [podcast@constitutioncenter.org] * Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr  * Explore the America at 250 Civic Toolkit [https://constitutioncenter.org/america-at-250] * Learn more about the NCC’s and Arizona State University's new online course on civic virtue, 'What the Founders Meant by “Happiness”: A Journey Through Virtue and Character’ [https://constitutioncenter.org/about/press-room/press-releases/national-constitution-center-and-arizona-state-university-announce-new-online-course-on-civic-virtue] and sign up for email updates [https://constitutioncenter.org/forms/civic-virtue-online-course]  * Sign up [http://bit.ly/constitutionweekly] to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate * Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen * Join us for an upcoming live program [https://constitutioncenter.org/news-debate/americas-town-hall-programs] or watch recordings on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoAU4X6DUZSt5n6aI74Hw0A] * Support our important work: DONATE [https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form/?svcid=tcs&formId=4e7ea4bb-4b30-44fd-b810-4df9746c0941&envid=p-kujBsRHWQkmaI9zD7QzCfg&zone=usa&_gl=1*k6rc0*_gcl_au*MTUxNDk3MDgyMy4xNzUzMTI3MDgy*_ga*MTk0Mzc2MDA5Ni4xNjY5OTkwMTUy*_ga_0H9LQSTDVE*czE3NTczNDIxNTUkbzM1MSRnMSR0MTc1NzM0MjI2MyRqNDEkbDAkaDA] Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness is made possible with support from the John Templeton Foundation. © 2025 National Constitution Center. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 10: Cleanliness with John Quincy Adams

By the end of his life, John Quincy Adams was an ardent opponent of slavery, earning the nickname “Old Man Eloquent” for his fierce advocacy in the House of Representatives. In this episode, Jeffrey Rosen, Professor David Waldstreicher and filmmaker Ken Burns unpack how this son of the Revolution became Congress’s primary enemy of slavery. Stay Connected and Learn More * Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org [podcast@constitutioncenter.org] * Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr  * Explore the America at 250 Civic Toolkit [https://constitutioncenter.org/america-at-250] * Learn more about the NCC’s and Arizona State University's new online course on civic virtue, 'What the Founders Meant by “Happiness”: A Journey Through Virtue and Character’ [https://constitutioncenter.org/about/press-room/press-releases/national-constitution-center-and-arizona-state-university-announce-new-online-course-on-civic-virtue] and sign up for email updates [https://constitutioncenter.org/forms/civic-virtue-online-course]  * Sign up [http://bit.ly/constitutionweekly] to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate * Follow, rate, and review wherever you listen * Join us for an upcoming live program [https://constitutioncenter.org/news-debate/americas-town-hall-programs] or watch recordings on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoAU4X6DUZSt5n6aI74Hw0A] * Support our important work: DONATE [https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form/?svcid=tcs&formId=4e7ea4bb-4b30-44fd-b810-4df9746c0941&envid=p-kujBsRHWQkmaI9zD7QzCfg&zone=usa&_gl=1*k6rc0*_gcl_au*MTUxNDk3MDgyMy4xNzUzMTI3MDgy*_ga*MTk0Mzc2MDA5Ni4xNjY5OTkwMTUy*_ga_0H9LQSTDVE*czE3NTczNDIxNTUkbzM1MSRnMSR0MTc1NzM0MjI2MyRqNDEkbDAkaDA] Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness is made possible with support from the John Templeton Foundation. © 2025 National Constitution Center. All Rights Reserved.