In 1944, a young Black GI shot a white lieutenant on the Ledo Road—and vanished. Months later, Herman Perry reappeared deep in the Indo-Burma jungle, living with a Naga headhunter village, married to the chief’s daughter, speaking the language, and rumored as the “jungle king.” Journalist Brendan I. Koerner, author of Now the Hell Will Start, retraces the greatest manhunt of World War II and the system that pushed Perry to the brink: segregated units, brutal stockades, disease, drugs, and a boondoggle road project that washed away within a year.

We dig into how a footnote sent Koerner across archives and mountains—FOIA files, an MP’s long-lost booklet, and a journey along the remains of the Ledo Road. He explains Perry’s mental collapse, his improbable reinvention among the Naga, the Army’s relentless pursuit, and the execution that followed. We also talk about Spike Lee’s option of the book, the missing child Perry fathered in the hills, and what this story reveals about America—race, authority, and who pays for decisions made far from the ground.

If you’re into WWII true crime, untold Black military history, and field reporting that smells of mud, opium, and monsoon, this one pulls you upriver.

Follow, rate, and share with anyone who thinks they’ve already heard every WWII story. They haven’t.

Is our education system ready for AI—or still grading with yesterday’s rules? In this episode of Back in America, Stan talks with Shahid, an award-winning fractional CTO and CISO with 35+ years in regulated industries, from medical devices to federal health tech. He argues that AI isn’t just a tool; it’s a colleague, a co-student, and a force multiplier—if teachers and teams learn context engineering and treat AI as a companion.

We dig into:

• AI in education: hyper-personalized learning, teacher workflows, and why schools must let students “pair program” with AI.
• Hiring in the AI era: why entry-level jobs are shrinking, how juniors can win by mastering prompts and fundamentals, and the risk of skipping a generation of talent.
• Safety and ethics: lessons from life-or-death medical device software, where reliability, empathy, and human oversight matter.
• Parents & teachers: practical ways to co-work with AI without abdicating judgment.

Clear take: AI can elevate learning and work—if humans stay in the loop and standards stay high.

In this episode of Back in America, I sit down with Clayton Weimers, Executive Director of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) USA, to talk about the state of press freedom in America and beyond. From the decline of local journalism to the rise of AI in newsrooms, we explore the paradox of living in an age of information abundance while losing access to trustworthy reporting.

Clayton explains why the U.S. now ranks 57th out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index, how economic pressures are creating “news deserts” across the nation, and why trust in journalism continues to erode. We also discuss the role of citizen journalism, podcasts, and independent newsletters in reshaping the media landscape.

The conversation touches on broader themes that Back in America often explores: the fight against disinformation, the legacy of democratic ideals, and the tension between freedom of expression and corporate or political power.

World Press Freedom Index 2025: over half the world's population in red zones
https://rsf.org/en/world-press-freedom-index-2025-over-half-worlds-population-red-zones

Americans remain concerned about press freedoms, but partisan views have flipped since 2024
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/04/24/americans-remain-concerned-about-press-freedoms-but-partisan-views-have-flipped-since-2024/

Revitalizing America’s News Deserts
https://progressive.org/magazine/revitalizing-americas-news-deserts-pickard/

“Leave all your hope, family, and dreams behind.” That’s the banner Darryl Burton saw when he first walked into Missouri State Penitentiary—infamously known as the “bloodiest 47 acres in America.” He was 22. He was innocent.

In this episode of Back in America, Darryl shares his extraordinary story: how a false accusation, coached jailhouse informants, and prosecutorial misconduct stole nearly 25 years of his life. With no DNA, no weapon, no motive—and no justice—Darryl was sentenced to life without parole for a crime he didn’t commit.

Thanks to the relentless efforts of Princeton, NJ, based Centurion, the pioneering innocence organization, Darryl was finally exonerated. But his story didn’t end there.

He founded Miracle of Innocence, a nonprofit helping other wrongfully convicted individuals reclaim their lives—legally, emotionally, and spiritually. As Darryl says, “It’s a miracle to get out of prison. Now, we work to create more miracles.”

Contact & Support

• Learn more or donate: www.miracleofinnocence.org / Centurion
• Personal site: www.darrylburton.org

Books that Inspired Darryl in Prison

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X
• Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
• Stride Toward Freedom by Martin Luther King Jr.
• The Bible — especially Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

In this episode, Stan speaks with Prof. Maurice Wallace of Rutgers University about the enduring impact of James Baldwin, the evolution of Black American vernacular, and the complex relationship America has with its history of slavery and race. Prof. Wallace explores Baldwin’s profound influence on his own academic journey, how language and sound shape Black cultural identity, and why America continues to struggle with the legacy of emancipation, mass incarceration, and systemic inequality.

Through insights into literature, photography, and the “Black modernist soundscape,” this conversation reveals deeper truths about America’s culture, values, and identity.

Recommended reading from Prof. Wallace:

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Listen and subscribe to explore what makes America, America

For over a century, a small group of dedicated cowboys has upheld a fading American tradition: the Highwood Mountains cattle roundup. In this episode of Back in America, we explore Only Roundup Remains, a documentary capturing the grit, camaraderie, and deep generational ties that keep this way of life alive. Filmmakers Brian Liu and Andrew Labens, alongside the cowboys themselves, share their journey of documenting this historic event, the challenges they faced, and the profound reflections on a changing America.

From saddle sores to late-night campfire discussions, this is a rare glimpse into a vanishing world where pride, skill, and endurance define the men who refuse to let their heritage slip away. Tune in to hear their stories, their struggles, and why, for these cowboys, the roundup is more than just a job—it’s a way of life.

Watch the documentary trailer on YouTube. Follow Only Roundup Remains on Facebook & Instagram for updates. And don’t forget to subscribe to Back in America for more thought-provoking stories.

Only Roundup Remains

Watch on Amazon Prime

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onlyroundupremains
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlyroundupremains/

A green card interview is supposed to be the last step before legal residency—but what if it’s actually a setup?

This episode of Back in America features filmmakers Sam and David Cutler Kreutz discussing their short film, "A Lien," a story about a couple navigating the complexities of the US immigration system. The conversation delves into the film's themes of family, the "banal cruelty" of the immigration process, and the broader political context surrounding immigration in America.

Key Topics

Discuss The Inspiration Behind "A Lien" The New York Times article that sparked the idea for the film and their desire to tell a story that highlights the human side of immigration. They emphasize the film's focus on families and the emotional toll of the legal process.
They share their efforts to accurately portray the immigration process, including working with lawyers and individuals who have experienced similar situations. They discuss the specific forms and procedures mentioned in the film
The podcast explores the film's unique cinematography, including its use of kinetic visuals and the focus on the wife's perspective through her iPhone.
They discuss how the film resonates with the current political climate, particularly concerning immigration.
The conversation explores what viewers can do after watching "A Lien" to support immigration reform or get involved in advocacy. They emphasize the importance of dialogue and understanding the human stories behind immigration.

In just 15 minutes, A Lien delivers an emotional gut-punch, following an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador and his American wife as they step into what should be a routine interview—only to find themselves entrapped. With haunting cinematography and nail-biting suspense, the film exposes the brutal side of a system designed to keep immigrants on edge.

Watch A Lien (link here https://vimeo.com/997805490), then tune in as we break down the film, the real-life cases that inspired it, and what this means for America today.

What does the First Amendment mean in a modern, diverse America? In this episode of Back in America, host Stan Berteloot speaks with Knox Thames, an international human rights lawyer, advocate, and author with over 20 years of experience across U.S. administrations. Thames, who served as the Special Advisor for Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia, unpacks the historical roots and contemporary challenges of religious freedom in the United States.

From the First Amendment’s foundational promise of freedom of religion to the complexities of pluralism in a globalized world, this thought-provoking conversation delves into the importance of protecting the rights of all religious minorities. Thames also reflects on his book, Ending Persecution: Charting the Path to Global Religious Freedom, offering insights into how the U.S. can lead by example in a world grappling with religious intolerance.

#ReligiousFreedom, #HumanRights, #GlobalAffairs, #FirstAmendment, #USForeignPolicy, #ReligiousMinorities, #HumanRightsAbroad