Writers on a New England Stage: Heather Cox Richardson

By Hannah McCarthy,

Published February 18, 2026 at 11:11 AM EST

Hannah McCarthy interviews Heather Cox Richardson at The Music Hall in Portsmouth.

Heather Cox Richardson joined Civics 101 host Hannah McCarthy on Sept. 29, 2023 to discuss her book Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America.

Richardson, known for her viral daily newsletter Letters from an American, brings her signature historical perspective to the stage, making sense of the chaotic present by looking closely at our past.

Listen to new and archival conversations from Writers on a New England Stage, Authors on Main, and Check This Out each Saturday at 3 p.m. on NHPR Books.

Writers on a New England Stage is a partnership of The Music Hall and New Hampshire Public Radio.

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Hannah McCarthy

Hannah McCarthy first came to NHPR an intern in 2015, returned as a Fellow the following year and then bounced around as a reporter and producer before landing as co-host of Civics 101. She has reported on everything from the opioid epidemic to State House politics to haunted woods of New Hampshire.

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Sara Plourde

Sara has been a part of NHPR since 2011. Her work includes data visualizations, data journalism, original stories reported on the web, video, photos and illustrations. She is responsible for the station's visual style and print design, as well as the user experience of NHPR's digital platforms.

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Emily Quirk

Before becoming Program Director, Quirk served as NHPR's production manager. During that time she's voiced and crafted the 'sound of the station,' coordinated countless on-air fundraisers, produced segments for Give Back NH, Something Wild, New Hampshire Calling, and developed NHPR's own NHPR Music vertical with features such as Live from Studio D, and long-loved favorites like Holidays By Request.

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Writers on a New England Stage: Heather Cox Richardson

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