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.

5.9 The Monroe Presidency 10/16/2026

5.9 The Monroe Presidency This week we cover most of James's first term as president, including relations with Spain regarding the Floridas and the complicated situation that led to the Missouri Compromise. This episode is sadly lacking in Elizabeth-related material, but the family does make an appearance toward the end. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/42795995

5.8 President and Mrs. Monroe 10/09/2026

5.8 President and Mrs. Monroe This week we cover the beginning of James and Elizabeth's first four years as President and First Lady (even though, you know, she wasn't called by that title). And this episode contains the most first-hand quotes about Elizabeth's appearance and decorum as a hostess, so let's be grateful for that! Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/42777425

5.7 The War of 1812, Again 10/02/2026

5.7 The War of 1812, Again This week we take a quick jaunt through the War of 1812, focusing on it from the Monroes' perspective, rather than the Madisons'. And we cover the election of 1816 and James's inauguration as the 5th POTUS. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/42719860

5.6 The Failures of Diplomacy 09/25/2026

5.6 The Failures of Diplomacy This week we follow James's diplomatic maneuvers in London, the family's trip back to America, the birth of the Monroes' first grandchild, and end up on the doorstep of the War of 1812. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/42663400

5.5 The Continent Beckons Once More 09/18/2026

5.5 The Continent Beckons Once More This week James wraps up his terms as Virginia governor, and then is appointed as special minister to France and Spain to acquire New Orleans and the Floridas from France and Spain. So the entire Monroe family, this time with a young child, sails for France once again. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/42397220

5.4 Of Diplomacy and Duels 09/11/2026

5.4 Of Diplomacy and Duels This week we cover the remainder of James and Elizabeth's time in France, the birth of their second child, and that time when James and Alexander Hamilton almost fought a duel, which was prevented by none other than Aaron Burr. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/42384200

5.3 The Monroes in France 09/04/2026

5.3 The Monroes in France This week we travel with the Monroes to France, where James takes up his post as American minister, and Elizabeth undertakes a special mission to save the life of Adrienne de Lafayette, wife of the Marquis de Lafayette. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/42372330

5.2 The Early Monroe Marriage 08/28/2026

5.2 The Early Monroe Marriage This week we cover the period from the Monroes' marriage in 1786 through 1792. The Monroes bounce back and forth between Virginia and Philadelphia, and Elizabeth gives birth to their first child. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/42366300

5.1 The Early Lives of Elizabeth and James 08/21/2026

5.1 The Early Lives of Elizabeth and James We kick off Season 5 with an introduction to Elizabeth Kortright and James Monroe, covering their early lives up until the point when the met, sometime in 1785. Transcript and portrait of Elizabeth available at Links to sources materials for this season available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/42351560

S4 Supplemental Part III 08/07/2026

S4 Supplemental Part III This week we wrap up our jaunt through 2000 years of Anglo-French relations by covering (albeit briefly) everything that happened between the 1490s and 2026. Spoiler alert: it's a lot of wars. And marriages. And assassinations. Transcript available at Music by Further listening and reading: by Mike Duncan (I've recommended this podcast repeatedly. He covers a different revolution each season.) In Our Time episode on (Wars of the Roses) In Our Time episode on (first wife of Henry VIII) In Our Time episode on In Our Time episode on In Our Time episode on In Our Time episode on (Hundred Years' War) In Our Time episode on In Our Time episode on (Napoleonic Wars) In Our Time episode on Seriously, there are a ton of good episodes from that podcast. I can't list them all! Any book by the author Alison Weir - she writes extensively about British history. I especially recommend her series on the Queens of England (, , and ). by Mike Duncan (yes, the Revolutions podcast guy) /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/41986365

S4 Supplemental Part II 07/31/2026

S4 Supplemental Part II In part 2 of our quick dash through 2000 years of Anglo-French relations, we cover the period from 1274 to 1498, including The Hundred Years' War, the Wars of the Roses, and a whole lot of drama and murder. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/41959010

S4 Supplemental Part I 07/24/2026

S4 Supplemental Part I We're taking a short break from First Ladies to do a crash course in the history of relations between England and France. Because their constant warring has a large impact on early America, I thought it would be a fun detour to give you more context. Map and transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/41835410

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

America's First Ladies

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