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2.1 Abigail's Early Years

America's First Ladies

Release Date: 10/03/2025

4.3 The Young James Madison show art 4.3 The Young James Madison

America's First Ladies

This week we hit pause on Dolley Madison to focus on young James Madison as he develops into the statesman who will eventually play such a large role in creating the U.S. Constitution. Transcript available at Music by

info_outline 4.2 A Young Lady in Philadelphia show art 4.2 A Young Lady in Philadelphia

America's First Ladies

This week we'll learn about Dolley's teenage years in Philadelphia, her first marriage to John Todd, Jr., and the aftermath of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic. Transcript available at Music by

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America's First Ladies

Welcome to Season 4! We're covering Dolley and James Madison this season, and today we cover Dolley's family history and early life in North Carolina and Virginia. List of reference books available at Transcript available at Music by

info_outline Supplemental: The Amendments to the U.S. Constitution show art Supplemental: The Amendments to the U.S. Constitution

America's First Ladies

Part 2 of our supplemental series on the Constitution. There were too many amendments to put them in the same episode as the main body of the document. Transcript available at Music by

info_outline Supplemental: The U.S. Constitution show art Supplemental: The U.S. Constitution

America's First Ladies

The one where I read the Constitution of the United States of America to you. If nothing else, you can listen to it when you can't sleep! Transcript available at Music by

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America's First Ladies

This week we wrap up Martha Patsy Jefferson Randolph with a gallop through the final 18 years of her life. Transcript and the final portrait painted of Martha available at  Music by

info_outline 3.6 The President's Daughter show art 3.6 The President's Daughter

America's First Ladies

This week we cover Thomas Jefferson's presidency and Patsy/Martha's admittedly minor role in it. Transcript available at Music by

info_outline 3.5 Marriage and Motherhood show art 3.5 Marriage and Motherhood

America's First Ladies

This week, the Jefferson family returns to America, and Patsy almost immediately decides to marry and start having children. Transcript available at Music by

info_outline 3.4 The Jeffersons in Paris show art 3.4 The Jeffersons in Paris

America's First Ladies

This week we travel from Philadelphia to Boston, and then on to Paris. Thomas and Patsy spent about five years in Paris, leaving just as the French Revolution was getting underway in 1789. Transcript available at Music by

info_outline 3.3 The Death of Mrs. Jefferson show art 3.3 The Death of Mrs. Jefferson

America's First Ladies

We'll make it to the end of the Revolutionary War this week, but Patty Jefferson doesn't live to see the end. Thomas Jefferson serves two terms as Virginia governor during the war, and the Jefferson family has to evade the British army after they invade Virginia. Transcript available at Music by

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Welcome to Season 2 of the show! We kick off this season with Abigail Adams's early years, when she was still Abigail Smith. We cover her childhood in Massachusetts, her courtship by John Adams, and their marriage.

Transcript available at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/2-1/

Links to the books I read for this season and a photo of young Abigail at americasfirstladiespodcast.com/season-2/

Music by Matthew Dull