America's First Ladies

How much do you really know about America’s First Ladies? This podcast takes a deep look at every woman who has served as First Lady, going chronologically and starting at the beginning, with Martha Washington. This is an easy listen, not like sitting through a boring lecture. These women led vibrant lives, and together, we can get to know them better. Each season is a long-form narrative covering the life of a different First Lady. New episodes released on Fridays.

4.14 Life After James 07/10/2026

4.14 Life After James We wrap up the life of Dolley Madison this week with a quick jaunt through the 1830s and 1840s. There are plenty of fun anecdotes in this episode! See the earliest known photo of a First Lady (technically a daguerrotype) and find the transcript at Music by You can stream Matt's latest musical work by searching for his stage name "Austin Matthew" on any streaming platform. His new album is called Before My Heart Explodes. /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/41554365

4.13 Retirement (Again) to Montpelier 07/03/2026

4.13 Retirement (Again) to Montpelier After 16 years of service to the government, Dolley and James finally get to leave Washington and retire to Montpelier for good. Portraits and transcript available at Music by The book I mention toward the end of this episode, Madison's Hand: Revising the Constitutional Convention by Mary Sarah Bilder, can be found . /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/41539000

4.12 The Rest of the War 06/26/2026

4.12 The Rest of the War We finally wrap up the War of 1812 this week, but not without plenty of drama. Note: at one point, I say that James sent instructions to the peace commissioners on October 4, 1815, but I meant to say 1814. By October 1815, the war was long over. Sometimes it's hard to keep track of all these dates! Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/41526775

4.11 The War of 1813 06/19/2026

4.11 The War of 1813 This week we cover two more years of war, 1813 and 1814, including the dramatic burning of Washington and the President's House in August 1814. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/41512290

4.10 The War of 1812 06/12/2026

4.10 The War of 1812 This week we finally get to the War of 1812! Also, Dolley's sister gets married in the first-ever White House wedding (even though we're still not calling it the White House). And James Madison wins reelection. Transcript and further reading available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/41500865

4.9 President and Mrs. Madison 06/05/2026

4.9 President and Mrs. Madison This week we cover the early part of James's first term as President, including Dolley's work redecorating the President's House and throwing parties left and right. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/41319480

4.8 On the Brink of War 05/29/2026

4.8 On the Brink of War This week we cover James's second term as Secretary of State, the election of 1808, and more background on the run-up to the War of 1812. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/41315020

4.7 The President's Hostess 05/22/2026

4.7 The President's Hostess This week we learn more about Dolley's role as Jefferson's presidential hostess, and cover a couple of important events that took place during Jefferson's first term; namely, the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis & Clark expedition. Maps, portraits, and transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/41301085

4.6 Retirement to Montpelier 05/15/2026

4.6 Retirement to Montpelier This week we cover the four short years that the Madisons spent at Montpelier before James was dragged back into government service, and we get our first look at Dolley's new role as presidential hostess. Transcript and links available at Music by Link to Link to /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/40733645

4.5 Dolley and James Meet Cute 05/08/2026

4.5 Dolley and James Meet Cute After taking a brisk review of the ratification of the new U.S. Constitution, we finally get Dolley and James together this week, covering their courtship, wedding, and early years of marriage in Philadelphia. Transcript and portaits available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/40729305

4.4 The Constitutional Convention 05/01/2026

4.4 The Constitutional Convention This week we do a deep dive into the Constitutional Convention - think of it as getting to see how the sausage is made, with the sausage being the legal document that still rules our lives today. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/40718340

4.3 The Young James Madison 04/24/2026

4.3 The Young James Madison 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 /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/40717845

4.2 A Young Lady in Philadelphia 04/17/2026

4.2 A Young Lady in Philadelphia 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 /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/40518360

4.1 Little Dolley Payne 04/10/2026

4.1 Little Dolley Payne 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 /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/40506520

Supplemental: The Amendments to the U.S. Constitution 04/03/2026

Supplemental: The Amendments to the U.S. Constitution 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 /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/40275570

Supplemental: The U.S. Constitution 03/27/2026

Supplemental: The U.S. Constitution 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 /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/40275260

3.7 A Nomadic Life 03/06/2026

3.7 A Nomadic Life 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 /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/39987765

3.6 The President's Daughter 02/27/2026

3.6 The President's Daughter This week we cover Thomas Jefferson's presidency and Patsy/Martha's admittedly minor role in it. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/39973265

3.5 Marriage and Motherhood 02/20/2026

3.5 Marriage and Motherhood This week, the Jefferson family returns to America, and Patsy almost immediately decides to marry and start having children. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/39956280

3.4 The Jeffersons in Paris 02/13/2026

3.4 The Jeffersons in Paris 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 /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/39607045

3.3 The Death of Mrs. Jefferson 02/06/2026

3.3 The Death of Mrs. Jefferson 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 /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/39601115

3.2 Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson 01/30/2026

3.2 Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson This week we cover the majority of Patty and Thomas Jefferson's marriage, which happens to overlap with some signficant moments in the American Revolution, including the Declaration of Independence, which Thomas Jefferson wrote. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/39595960

3.1 Little Patty Wayles 01/23/2026

3.1 Little Patty Wayles We kick off season 3 with background information on Martha "Patty" Wayles and her future second husband, Thomas Jefferson. Transcript and background materials available at Links to the books I used this season and some photos of the two Marthas at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/39580395

Supplemental: The Declaration of Independence 01/16/2026

Supplemental: The Declaration of Independence Before we kick off season 3, I want to read you the Declaration of Independence, which Thomas Jefferson wrote, and John Adams played such a large role in getting approved by Congress. I'm willing to bet you've never read it in full, so it's worth a listen! Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/39568980

2.13 Retirement to Peacefield 12/26/2025

2.13 Retirement to Peacefield We wrap up Abigail Adams's season with the final year of her husband's presidency and the years they spent post-presidency, finally getting to enjoy a private retirement. Programming note: we'll take a couple of weeks off to let listeners catch up. New episodes will resume on January 16, 2026. Transcript available at Links to books for Season 2 Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/39158380

2.12 The Second First Lady 12/19/2025

2.12 The Second First Lady This week covers John Adams's sole term as President, and Abigail's four years as First Lady. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/39158195

2.11 The Adamses in Philadelphia 12/12/2025

2.11 The Adamses in Philadelphia This week we cover the rest of Abigail's tenure as the Vice President's wife, and the election of 1796, which results in John Adams being elected President. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/39158175

2.10 The First Second Lady 12/05/2025

2.10 The First Second Lady Abigail and John wrap up their time in London, return home to the United States, and settle into a normal life back in Massachusetts. And then John is elected as the first Vice President of the United States, forcing Abigail into public life in a new way. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/39154130

2.9 Life in London 11/28/2025

2.9 Life in London From 1785-1788, the three Adamses lived in London. Nabby got married while there, and Abigail and John became grandparents for the first time. Transcript and further information available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/38317165

2.8 Life in Paris 11/21/2025

2.8 Life in Paris Abigail, Nabby, and John spent one year living in Paris. It was quite the adjustment for Abigail. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/38317005

America's First Ladies

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