Ben Franklin's World
Ben Franklin’s World is an award-winning podcast about early American history. It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world. Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history. It is produced by Colonial Williamsburg Innovation Studios.
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437 Civilian Life in America's Occupied Cities
03/24/2026
437 Civilian Life in America's Occupied Cities
The British Army is at your door. They need a room. What do you do? For thousands of civilians living in cities occupied during the American War for Independence — Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Newport, Charleston, Savannah — this wasn't a hypothetical. It was a reality that upended daily life and revealed a side of the revolution we rarely talk about. Lauren Duval, author of joins us to explore what the War for Independence actually looked like from inside the household. Women who negotiated quartering terms and held their ground. Men who came to blows over who controlled the parlor. Enslaved people who used the chaos of occupation to reunite families and reach British lines. The revolution didn't just happen on battlefields. It happened at kitchen tables, in back gardens, and on doorsteps. Lauren's | | Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:38 The Home Front of the American Revolution 00:05:24 The Gensis of the Revolutionary Household 00:10:49 Why Focus on Urban Port Cities 00:19:46 The British Occupation's Impact on City Life 00:25:55 Quartering a British Officer: The Drinker Household 00:33:38. Quartering Experiences in Male-Headed Households 00:39:22 Lower-Class Experiences During British Occupation 00:40:55 The Impact of British Hard Currency on Urban Labor Markets 00:44:21 Black Experiences During British Occupation 00:51:21 The Overall American Experience of the War for Independence 00:54:01. The Time Warp 00:59:47 Conculsion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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BFW Revisited: Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
03/17/2026
BFW Revisited: Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
250 years ago, the British evacuated Boston: driven out by cannon that had traveled 300 miles from Fort Ticonderoga. But where did the plan for those cannon take shape? In this Revisited episode, we return to our conversation with now Program Manager for Interpretation and Visitor Experience at Saratoga National Historical Park, to explore the in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This Georgian mansion served as George Washington's home and headquarters for nearly nine months during the Siege of Boston. In this house, Washington forged the Continental Army and plotted the moves that liberated the city. Garrett reveals the house's Loyalist origins, life inside during the siege, and how poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow later transformed it into a literary landmark. A companion to Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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Episode 436: Fort Ticonderoga & Henry Knox's Noble Train of Artillery
03/10/2026
Episode 436: Fort Ticonderoga & Henry Knox's Noble Train of Artillery
On March 17, 1776, the British evacuated Boston, driven out by cannon hauled 300 miles through winter wilderness from a crumbling fort in upstate New York. Join Curator at , as we trace the fort's dramatic history from its French origins in the Seven Years' War, its chaotic capture by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold in May 1775, and Henry Knox's legendary expedition to move nearly 60 tons of artillery to George Washington's army. Discover the logistics, rivalries, and resourcefulness behind one of the Revolution's most remarkable feats. Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:06:26 British Withdrawl from Boston 00:07:55 Fort Ticonderoga's Origins 00:25:05 British Capture of Fort Ticonderoga, 1756 00:28:04 British Improvements to Fort Ticonderoga 00:32:44 American Capture of Fort Ticonderoga, 1775 00:49:06 Henry Knox's Expedition 01:04:46 Cannon on Dorchester Heights 01:10:36 British Evacuation of Boston 01:13:43 Legacy of Knox's Noble Train of Artillery 01:17:36 Visiting Fort Ticonderoga 01:24:65 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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435 Common Sense at 250: The Unfinished Work of Democracy, A Live Conversation
03/03/2026
435 Common Sense at 250: The Unfinished Work of Democracy, A Live Conversation
In January 1776, Thomas Paine told the American colonies to break free from their king. But what was supposed to come next? 250 years later, that question still doesn't have a good answer. To mark the anniversary of *Common Sense*, we traveled to Lewes, England, the town where Paine lived before he ever set foot in America, and recorded our first-ever LIVE episode inside Bull House, the building where Paine honed his ideas about citizens and their government. Joseph Adelman chairs a panel with scholars , and as they dig into the legacy of *Common Sense*: democracy's "day two problem," the women Paine wrote out of his own story, why "the law is king" keeps showing up on protest signs, and what a 15th-century building in a small English town can teach us about where democratic ideas actually take root. Recorded live in partnership with the at Iona University. Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:06 What Happened After the Revolution? 00:02:59 Live from the Bull House in Lewes, England 00:04:49 A Template for Common Sense and Civic Life 00:07:12 Thomas Paine's Legacy in Lewes, England 00:10:24 Thomas Paine's Legacy in New Rochelle, New York 00:16:04 Democracy's "Day Two Problem" 00:22:50 Local Civic Engagement in Lewes 00:27:46 Women and Common Sense 00:34:54 Paine's Family Life in Lewes 00:35:31 Reconstituting Government 00:42:44 Violence and Change 00:49:31 "No Kings" Protest and 'The Law is King' 00:56:29 Thomas Paine's Legacy 00:58:10 Audience Q&A 01:18:20 Episode Wrap-Up RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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434 Freeborn Black Soldiers in the American Revolution
02/24/2026
434 Freeborn Black Soldiers in the American Revolution
What would you fight for if you were free but still not equal? In 1777, brothers William and Benjamin Frank answered that question by enlisting in the Second Rhode Island Regiment of the Continental Army. Freeborn men of color, they gambled that military service would earn them what freedom alone had not: equality, land, and a better future. Historian Shirley Green, author of Revolutionary Blacks: Freeborn Men of Color, Soldiers of Independence, joins us to tell their story. Drawing on genealogical research rooted in her own family history, Green reveals what daily life looked like for free Black families in Revolutionary Rhode Island, how the Frank Brothers fought at the Battles of Red Bank, Monmouth, and Rhode Island, and how the Revolution ultimately divided them—one brother serving through Yorktown, the other crossing to the British side and resettling in Nova Scotia as a Black Loyalist. Their story is a window into the full range of Black experiences during the Revolution, and a reminder that for men like William and Benjamin Frank, choosing a side was never simple. It was a calculated gamble, shaped by promises made—and promises broken. Shirley’s | | Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:19 The Frank Brothers' Revolutionary Choices 00:05:14 Discovering the Frank Brothers Through Family Oral History 00:09:01 Blending Genalogy and Microhistory 00:15:22 Life for Free Black Families in Early Rhode Island 00:20:50 Why Free Black Men Joined the Continental Army 00:24:00 Motivations: Land, Pay, and Equality 00:29:15 The Gamble of Military Service Amid Policy Shifts 00:41:13 Daily Life and Combat in the Integrated Regiments 00:44:46 Ben Frank's Desertion 00:52:51 The Book of Negroes 01:00:02 Postwar Outcomes: Did Promises of Land, Pay, and Equality Hold? 01:02:47 Lessons from Black Soldiers' Experiences 01:07:26 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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Revisited: The American Revolution's African American Soldiers
02/17/2026
Revisited: The American Revolution's African American Soldiers
More than 6,000 Black men—free and enslaved—served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Yet their stories remain some of the least told of the war. In this revisited episode, we rejoin Judith Van Buskirk, Professor Emerita of History at SUNY Cortland and author of , to explore what motivated African American men to fight for the Revolutionary cause, how the Continental Army's policies toward Black enlistment shifted over the course of the war, and what life and service looked like in units like the First Rhode Island Regiment. Judy's Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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433 Entangled Revolutions: Haiti, France, and the American War for Independence
02/10/2026
433 Entangled Revolutions: Haiti, France, and the American War for Independence
What if the American Revolution was never just an American story? Historian Ronald Angelo Johnson helps us uncover the deep connections between the American and Haitian Revolutions to reveal how both revolutions emerged from the same Atlantic imperial struggle for empire, racialized power, and war. Using details from his book Entangled Alliances, Ron will guide us from the Treaty of Paris in 1763 to the Siege of Savannah in 1779, where hundreds of Black soldiers from French Saint Domingue landed on Georgia’s shores—not as enslaved laborers, but as uniformed volunteers ready to fight for American Independence. Ron's | | Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:08 Episode Overview 00:04:50 The Treaty of Paris 1763 and its Impact 00:09:09 Consequences of the Seven Years' War for Saint Domingue 00:18:39 Saint Domingue Society Post-Seven Years' War 00:24:32 French Imperial Reaction vs. Local Resentment 00:28:36 Circulation of News Between British North America & Saint Domingue 00:39:22 France's Strategy to Assist American Revolutionaries 00:50:42 Reception of the Chasseurs Volontaires Regiment in Georgia 00:54:42 Re-evaluating the American Revolution 00:57:32 Time Warp 01:05:38 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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BFW Revisited: The Marquis de Lafayette
02/03/2026
BFW Revisited: The Marquis de Lafayette
What does it take to become a revolutionary in more than one revolution? In this revisited conversation with Mike Duncan, we explore the life of the Marquis de Lafayette—an ambitious young Frenchman who crossed the Atlantic to fight for the American cause and later carried those lessons into the political storms of France. From early idealism to a complicated role in two upheavals, Lafayette’s story reveals how ideas, alliances, and personal relationships shaped the Age of Revolutions. You’ll hear how Lafayette became close to George Washington, what he learned in America, and why his legacy makes the most sense when you follow him across borders. Mike’s | | Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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432 How France and Spain Helped Win the American Revolution
01/27/2026
432 How France and Spain Helped Win the American Revolution
The American Revolution wasn’t just a colonial rebellion; it was a global conflict shaped by European rivalries and high-stakes diplomacy. Without the help of foreign allies like France and Spain, the United States might never have won its independence. Historian John Ferling joins us to explore the international dimensions of the Revolutionary War. Drawing from his new book Shots Heard Round the World, Ferling reveals how secret aid, political gambles, and naval power from Europe (especially France) influenced the outcome of the war, and nearly derailed it. John’s | | Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:01:06 Introduction 00:01:52 Why European Powers Intervened 00:08:02 International Interest in the American Revolution 00:14:20 French Reaction to the Outbreak of War 00:19:28 Initiation of Foreign Aid 00:23:46 British Expectations of a Quick Victory 00:25:35 Saratoga as a Turning Point 00:31:46 French Naval and Military Support 00:37:36 Spain's Ambitions and Entry into the War 00:42:55 Britain's War Fatigue and Missed Opportunities 00:51:31 Outcomes for France and Spain 00:54:53 Time Warp 00:59:20 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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BFW Revisited: The Common Cause
01/20/2026
BFW Revisited: The Common Cause
Before Common Sense could ignite a revolution, colonists had to be convinced they shared a cause worth fighting for. So how did Revolutionary leaders turn thirteen very different colonies into “Americans”—and what stories did they tell to make that unity feel real? In this Ben Franklin’s World Revisited episode, historian Robert Parkinson returns to explore how newspapers and wartime messaging helped forge the Revolution’s “common cause”—and how that campaign leaned on fear, race, and exclusion to build a new national identity. Rob’s | | Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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431 Common Sense at 250: The Pamphlet That Sparked a Revolution
01/13/2026
431 Common Sense at 250: The Pamphlet That Sparked a Revolution
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense turned a colonial rebellion into a full-blown revolution. But how did one pamphlet move so many minds in 1776—and why does it still matter 250 years later? To commemorate the 250th anniversary of Common Sense, historian and Director of the at Iona University, , joins us to explore Paine’s life, the pamphlet’s explosive impact, and what this revolutionary text still teaches us about democracy, communication, and civic life. ITPS Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:06 Thomas Pain's Early Life and Influences 00:05:53 The Institute for Thomas Paine Studies 00:07:51 Thomas Paine as an English Excise Man 00:13:34 Paine's Ideas for Reform of the British Government 00:19:27 Reception of Paine's First Pamphlet 00:21:48 Paine's Intellectual Life in England 00:27:30 Thomas Paine and Benjamin Franklin 00:31:44 Paine's Migration to Philadelphia 00:35:55 Paine's View of the American Revolution 00:39:15 The Story of Common Sense 00:50:34 Measuring the Reach of Common Sense 00:59:34 The Legacy of Common Sense and Thomas Paine 01:02:54 Time Warp 01:05:02 Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of Common Sense 01:08:17 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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BFW Revisited: The Power of the Press in the American Revolution
01/06/2026
BFW Revisited: The Power of the Press in the American Revolution
Common Sense didn’t just make an argument for independence—it moved through a world of newspapers, pamphlets, and personal networks that carried revolutionary ideas from one doorstep to the next. So how did political news travel in 1776, and what made print such a powerful engine of persuasion? As we approach the 250th anniversary of Common Sense, Ben Franklin’s World Revisited returns to Episode 156 to explore how early Americans shared, debated, and embraced revolutionary ideas. You’ll discover how print and networks spread the Revolution, what made Common Sense a publishing phenomenon, and how media shaped political debate and public opinion. Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 TAKE THE QUIZ 🧭 Discover How You Explore History (under 2 minutes) 👉 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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The Founding Father of American Medicine: Benjamin Rush
12/30/2025
The Founding Father of American Medicine: Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush was one of early America’s most fascinating figures. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a leading Philadelphia physician, and a thinker who believed that a healthy body was the foundation of a healthy republic. In this episode, historian , author of introduces us to Rush as both doctor and political philosopher. We’ll explore: How Rush developed an “American system” of medicine His groundbreaking ideas on mental health and addiction And why he believed the human body modeled the ideal form of government. Rush may be what Sarah calls a “B-list Founding Father,” but his influence on early American science, politics, and public health was anything but minor. Sarah’s | | Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:06 Episode Introduction 00:04:48 Who Was Benjamin Rush 00:13:52 Benjamin Rush's Medical Practice 00:17:01 The American System of Medicine 00:22:30 Rush's Ideas about Civic Health 00:29:07 Rush's Approach to Mental Health 00:33:53 Rush's Views on Addiction 00:48:00 Rush's Legacy 00:52:13 Time Warp 00:55:00 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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BFW Revisited: Smuggling and the American Revolution
12/23/2025
BFW Revisited: Smuggling and the American Revolution
British officials had a problem: Their American colonists wouldn't stop smuggling. Even after Parliament slashed tea prices and passed laws to make legal imports cheaper, colonists kept buying Dutch and French goods on the black market. So what was really going on? If it wasn't just about saving money, what drove thousands of merchants and consumers to risk fines, seizure, and worse? In this revisited episode, we follow the illicit trade networks that connected colonial port cities to the "Golden Rock,” Sint Eustatius, a tiny Dutch island that became the Atlantic World's busiest smuggling hub. You'll discover why American merchants risked everything to trade there, how these underground networks shaped revolutionary resistance, and what Britain's crackdown on smuggling reveals about the deeper economic and political tensions that ignited the Revolution. Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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429 Coffee in Early America: Why Americans Really Drink Coffee
12/16/2025
429 Coffee in Early America: Why Americans Really Drink Coffee
Think the Boston Tea Party made America a coffee-drinking nation? Historian Michelle McDonald reveals the truth: colonists were already choosing coffee over tea because it was cheaper. , the Librarian/Director of the Library & Museum at the American Philosophical Society and author of , explains how coffee shaped American identity long before the Revolution. You'll hear about Revolutionary-era women storming a Boston warehouse to seize hoarded coffee and sell it at regulated prices. You'll discover why Parliament protected coffee while taxing tea. And you'll learn how enslaved Caribbean laborers made America's favorite beverage possible. From colonial coffee houses to debates about caffeine addiction in the early republic, discover how one imported commodity became distinctly American. Michelle's | | Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:20 Meet our Guest 00:04:35 Coffee vs. Tea in Early America 00:06:50 Coffeehouses and How Coffee Was Served 00:08:04 Medical Concerns About Coffee 00:09:12 Coffee Production 00:12:35 Attempts to Grow Coffee in North America 00:14:04 The Use of Enslaved Labor in Coffee Cultivation 00:19:50 The Early American Market for Coffee 00:22:21 Early American Coffee Connoisseurs 00:29:57 Early American Coffeehouses 00:34:48 Coffee and the American Revolution 00:36:40 The Boston Coffee Riot, 1777 00:42:48 Coffee in the Early Republic 00:45:00 Coffee and the Haitian Revolution 00:47:53 Early Republic Attempts to Grow Coffee 00:50:55 Early Republic Coffee Culture 00:53:56 Time Warp 00:58:31 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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428: America's Forgotten Quest to Link Two Oceans
12/09/2025
428: America's Forgotten Quest to Link Two Oceans
In the 1820s, American entrepreneurs, engineers, and politicians dared to dream big. They believed they could cut a canal, not through Panama, but through the wild, rain-soaked terrain of Nicaragua. Their goal: To link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and transform global trade forever. But what inspired these ambitious "canal dreamers?” And why did they believe Nicaragua held the key to controlling the future of commerce? Jessica Lepler, Associate Professor of History at the University of New Hampshire and author of Canal Dreamers: The Epic Quest to Connect the Atlantic and Pacific in the Age of Revolutions, joins us to explore this nearly forgotten story of innovation, illusion, and international ambition in early American history. Jessica’s | | Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:01:00 Introduction 00:04:05 Desire to Build a Canal Across Central America 00:08:01 Political Landscape of Central America During the 1820s 00:09:55 Creating a Stable Central American Government 00:11:55 Geography of the Nicaraguan Canal Route 00:16:03 Economic Opportunities of an Interoceanic Canal 00:17:57 Individual vs. State Interest in a Nicaraguan Canal 00:21:58 Why Americans Sought A Private Canal Contract 00:26:44 Information Canal Dreamers Relied On to Build a Canal 00:33:12 Competitive Advantages of American Canal Dreamers 00:35:40 American Surveys of a Central American Canal Route 00:39:12 Influence of the Erie Canal 00:42:32 Why the Nicaraguan Canal Failed 00:44:50 What Canal Dreamers Reveal About the Early United States 0046:40 Overview of the Panama Canal 00:49:50 Time Warp 00:56:00 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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427 How States Are Planning the 250th: Commemorating the American Revolution in 2026
12/02/2025
427 How States Are Planning the 250th: Commemorating the American Revolution in 2026
As we look ahead to the 250th anniversary—the semiquincentennial—of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, communities and commissions across the United States are asking big questions: How should we commemorate this historic milestone?
What’s the right balance between celebration and education? And how can this moment bring people together across political divides, generational gaps, and complex histories? To explore these questions, I’ve invited my friend, colleague, and co-founder to guest host a special conversation with two people who are leading the way: , Chair of the Rhode Island 250 Commission, and , Chair of the Virginia 250 Commission. Together, they reveal how their states are planning commemorative programs that center civic engagement, local storytelling, and inclusive history—and how the 250th can be more than a moment. It can be a spark. Karin’s | | Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:10 Welcome & Episode Overview 00:04:45 Guest Introductions 00:07:32 Virginia & Rhode Island's Commemorative Plans 00:11:21 State Efforts and Collaborations 00:16:32 Engaging Young People 00:20:11 Educational Initiatives 00:22:13 Ken Burns's The American Revolution 00:24:30 Navigating the Political Climate 00:32:05 Reflections on the Bicentennial 00:35:00 Challenges to Achieving Commemorative Goals 00:42:51 Conclusion and Future Opportunities 00:46:53 Final Thoughts RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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BFW Revisited: The Mayflower
11/25/2025
BFW Revisited: The Mayflower
Each November, we Americans come together to celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday that invites us to reflect on gratitude, community, and the stories we tell about our past. But what do we really know about the origins of this holiday? What did the “First Thanksgiving” look like, and who were the people who made it happen? In honor of Thanksgiving, we’re revisiting our 2018 conversation with Rebecca Fraser, author of . This rich conversation offers a look at the English Separatists or Pilgrims who settled in Massachusetts. It explores who they were, why they came to North America, and what their life was like in the early years of Plymouth Colony. Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 🌍 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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426 Indigenous Agriculture and the Hidden Science of Native Foodways
11/18/2025
426 Indigenous Agriculture and the Hidden Science of Native Foodways
As Thanksgiving approaches, many Americans are gathering to reflect on gratitude, family—and of course—food. It's the time of year when we may think about the so-called "First Thanksgiving" and imagine scenes of Pilgrims and Native peoples gathering in Massachusetts to share in the bounty of their fall harvests. But how much do we really know about the food systems and agricultural knowledge of Indigenous peoples of North America? In what ways were the Wampanoag people able to contribute to this harvest celebration—and what have we gotten wrong about their story? , Associate Professor of History at the University of North Texas and author of , joins us to challenge four persistent myths about Indigenous food practices. Discover how Native communities shaped and stewarded the land and its agriculture long before European colonists arrived—and why this history matters more than we might think. Michael’s | | Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:10 Episode Introduction 00:03:43 Guest Introduction 00:04:30 Myths about Indigenous Agriculture 00:11:29 Indigenous and European Gender Roles 00:15:56 Wampanoag Agriculture 00:17:29 Wampanoag Corn Cultivation 00:25:59 Wampanoag Cuisine 00:27:52 Indigenous Disspossesion in New England 00:32:58 Cherokee Agriculture 00:37:13 The Cherokee Hunter Myth 00:40:53 The Origin of the Myths about Native American Agriculture 00:45:40 Future Projects 00:47:13 Closing Thoughts & Resources RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast. =
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425 Ken Burns' The American Revolution
11/11/2025
425 Ken Burns' The American Revolution
What does it take to bring the American Revolution to life? How can an event that took place 250 years ago be conveyed to us through modern-day film? Ken Burns and his team worked to answer these questions in their new, epic six-part documentary, . Their work promises to deepen, complicate, and transform our understanding of the Revolution over 12 hours of film. But how did Burns and his team make this film? What stories did they choose to tell? And what challenges did they face in telling those stories? and , the two co-directors of Ken Burns’ The American Revolution, join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of their film and how they made it. Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:09 Guest Introduction 00:04:42 Becoming Involved in the Documentary 00:07:57 Approach to Telling the Story of the Revolution 00:18:57 Images and Representation 00:21:53 Challenges Faced 00:27:03 Choosing Which Stories to Include 00:39:00 Relevance and Meaning of the Revolution 00:45:45 Time Warp 00:52:15 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast. =
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424 Dunmore's Proclamation & The Revolution in Virginia
11/04/2025
424 Dunmore's Proclamation & The Revolution in Virginia
In November 1775, as tensions between the British Empire and its rebellious colonies continued to escalate, Virginia’s royal governor made a radical—and to some, terrifying—proclamation: Any enslaved person who fled a revolutionary enslaver and joined the British Army would gain their freedom. Known to history as Dunmore’s Proclamation, this single decree changed the course of the American Revolution in the South. It offered a lifeline to thousands of enslaved men, women, and their families, ignited fierce debates about loyalty and liberty, and revealed deep contradictions at the heart of a revolution that claimed to fight for freedom. In honor of the 250th anniversary of Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation, we’re taking a deeper look at the man behind it: John Murray, Fourth Earl of Dunmore, and at the Revolution in Virginia, which he helped fuel. Our guide for this exploration is , an award-winning journalist and author of . Andrew's | | Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast. =
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BFW Revisited: Disruptions in Yorktown
10/28/2025
BFW Revisited: Disruptions in Yorktown
What did it take to end the War for Independence? When we think of the American Revolution’s final chapter, we think of the Siege of Yorktown. Between September 28 and October 19, 1781, British forces endured a siege by the Franco-American forces that ultimately led to a triumphant Franco-American victory, British recognition of American independence, and the birth of a new nation. But the real story of the Yorktown victory is far more layered. It involved international alliances, enslaved people seeking freedom, and years of hardship. Today, we’re revisiting the events of October 1781 as we revisit Episode 333. In this episode, we join three historians–Marcus Nevius, Ed Ayers, and Gretchen Johnson– who help us uncover: How American, French, and British forces converged at Yorktown The vital role of the French army and navy in securing victory And what this final battle looked like on the ground for soldiers, civilians, and Black Virginians alike Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:03:59 Siege of Yorktown 00:05:13 The British Military Approach 00:08:50 The Importance of Virginia's Regions 00:18:57 The Impact of War on Yorktown 00:28:03 Dunmore's Proclamation and the British Strategy 00:33:44 The British Invasion of Virginia 00:48:00 Aftermath and Legacy 00:55:49 Conclusion RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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423 The Forgotten Artists of the American Revolution
10/21/2025
423 The Forgotten Artists of the American Revolution
Have you ever noticed how conversations about the American Revolution often center on great battles, founding documents, and famous statesmen? What if, instead, we explored that world through the eyes—and the hands—of everyday people who shaped it through art? Zara Anishanslin, Associate Professor of History and Art History at the University of Delaware and Director of its Museum Studies and Public Engagement Program, joins us to uncover the hidden world of artists, artisans, and makers who painted, stitched, and crafted the Revolution into being. Drawing from her book The Painter’s Fire: A Forgotten History of the Artists Who Championed the American Revolution, Zara helps us see how creativity and craftsmanship tell a fuller—and more human—story of America’s founding. Zara’s | | Show Notes: EPISODE OUTLINE 00:00:00 Introduction 00:41.79 Welcome & Episode Overview 00:02:59 Meet Our Guest 00:07:11 The Transatlantic Network of Revolutionary Artists 00:11:28 Why Revolutionary Artwork Didn't Survive 00:14:13 Prince Demah & His Mother Daphny 00:21:21 How Art Patronage Worked in the 18th Century 00:24:01 Finding Prince Demah a Teacher in London 00:27:40 Life as a Black Artist in London 00:41:22 Prince Demah's Life in Revolutionary Boston 00:49:24 Robert Edge Pine: The English Artist Who Supported America 00:59:24 How Revolutionary Art Differs from Later Commemorative Art 01:04:55 What Artists Reveal About the Revolution 01:07:29 Closing Thoughts & Resources RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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BFW Revisited: The World of John Singleton Copley
10/14/2025
BFW Revisited: The World of John Singleton Copley
What does it mean to be caught between two worlds? Between loyalty and liberty, artistry and commerce, and between the British North American colonies and the British Empire? We’re revisiting our exploration of the life of John Singleton Copley, one of early America’s most celebrated portrait artists. Copley’s story reveals much about the upheaval of the American Revolution and the choices people made as events unfolded around them. Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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422 Plantation Goods: How Northern Industry Fueled Slavery
10/07/2025
422 Plantation Goods: How Northern Industry Fueled Slavery
When we talk about slavery in Early America, we often focus on plantations: their large, fertile fields, their cash crops, and the people who labored on those fields to produce those cash crops under conditions of enslavement. But what about the ordinary objects that made slavery work? The shoes, axes, cloth, and hoes? What can these everyday objects reveal about the economic and social systems that sustained slavery in the early United States? , a Professor of History at Brown University and author of , which was a finalist for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in History, joins us to rethink how Northern manufacturing, labor, and commerce were entangled with the southern slave economy. Seth’s | | Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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BFW Revisited: Origins of American Manufacturing
09/30/2025
BFW Revisited: Origins of American Manufacturing
When we picture the early United States, we often imagine a young nation fighting for political independence. But what about economic independence—and what did it take to achieve it? Historian of Miami University in Ohio joins us to explore how manufacturing became central to the nation's post-Revolution identity. Drawing from her book , Lindsay reveals how the federal government championed industries like firearms and textiles as tools of sovereignty, security, and self-reliance. Tune in to discover: Why early leaders saw manufacturing as essential to independence. 2. How state-sponsored factories shaped key sectors like arms and textiles. 3. How these efforts laid the foundation for America’s industrial and social transformation This episode sheds light on the surprising role of government in jumpstarting the U.S. economy. Lindsay’s | | Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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421 Loyalism and Revolution in Georgia
09/23/2025
421 Loyalism and Revolution in Georgia
What if loyalty, not rebellion, was the default position in revolutionary British North America? It’s easy to forget that before 1776, most colonists identified as proud Britons. They didn’t see themselves as future Americans or revolutionaries; they saw themselves as subjects of a global empire. And in the colony of Georgia, many clung to that identity longer than we might expect. , a historian of the American Revolution in the South and a high school history and social studies teacher, joins us to explore the American Revolution in Georgia with details from his book . Greg’s | | Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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BFW Revisited: Loyalism in the Brtish Atlantic World
09/16/2025
BFW Revisited: Loyalism in the Brtish Atlantic World
When we think of the American Revolution, we often focus on the patriots who fought for independence. But what about the Loyalists—those who chose to remain faithful to the British crown? In this episode, we revisit a thought-provoking conversation with historian of Fresno State University, author of . Brad challenges the long-held view of Loyalists as passive or fearful, instead revealing Loyalism as a vibrant political identity shaped by faith, governance, and a broader sense of British belonging. Listen as we explore: Why the Revolution was also a civil war among neighbors. How Protestantism influenced Loyalist thought. What loyalty meant across the diverse communities of the British Atlantic. This episode offers a deeper, more nuanced view of the Revolution—and the people who resisted it. Brad’s | | Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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420 Creating the U.S. Federal Government
09/09/2025
420 Creating the U.S. Federal Government
When we think about the founding of the United States, we often focus on the Constitution, the Founding Fathers, and those first landmark elections. But how did the United States actually build its federal government, the entire apparatus of state that could collect revenue, manage international diplomacy, provide law and order, and extend its reach across a rapidly expanding nation? Who were the people who made that government work? And how did their service to the nation shape what it meant to be an American citizen? , a Professor of History and American Cultural Studies at Washington University in St. Louis, and the Founder of the digital project, joins us to explore the remarkable and often overlooked story of how the United States built its federal government between 1789 and 1829. Peter’s | | Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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BFW Revisited: Women & the Constitutional Moment of 1787
09/02/2025
BFW Revisited: Women & the Constitutional Moment of 1787
Each September, Constitution Day marks the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. But beyond celebration, this commemoration invites deeper reflection: Whose voices helped shape this foundational document? And who was imagined as part of the political community it created? In honor of Constitution Day and Constitution Month, we’re revisiting a pivotal conversation from Episode 339 with constitutional historian Mary Sarah Bilder. Drawing from her book, Mary challenges us to reconsider who influenced the Constitution and how women publicly engaged with its political possibilities. Join us as we explore: Eliza Harriot’s advocacy for “female genius” and intellectual equality. Why the Constitution’s gender-neutral language mattered. And, the debates over representation, education, and citizenship in 1787 Mary’s | | Show Notes: RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 🎧 SUPPORT OUR WORK 🎁 REQUEST A TOPIC 📨 📫 WHEN YOU'RE READY 👩💻 LISTEN 🎧 🍎 💚 🎶 CONNECT 🦋 👩💻 🛜 SAY THANKS 💜 💚 *Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast.
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