[1] The program features host Jesse Thorn interviewing personalities in arts and culture, with a special focus on comedy.

The Sound of Young America began in 2000 on the college radio station KZSC-FM, based at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

[2] At first, The Sound of Young America was a variety college radio show featuring Thorn and two other cohosts, Matt Dobbs (who soon dropped out in favor of Jordan Morris)[3][4] and Gene O'Neill.

[citation needed] Past contributors to the show include Jordan Morris, "Boy Detective", and "Big Time" Gene O'Neill as co-hosts, and regular appearances from Thorn's joke-telling and sometime rock-and-roller younger brother, the Master of "Would You Rather?"

[9] During this time, Thorn received a call from the director of programming at Public Radio International, who had heard one of the podcasts and expressed interest in distributing the show.

[1] In April 2006, The Sound of Young America launched a second podcast, The College Years, chronicling the pre-podcasting history of the show.