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.

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

2.7 An International Family 11/14/2025

2.7 An International Family John is in the Netherlands, John Quincy is in Russia, Charles sails home to America by himself, and then Abigail and Nabby leave Boston to join John in Europe when the war finally ends. This family gets around! Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/38316970

2.6 Separated By An Ocean 11/07/2025

2.6 Separated By An Ocean This episode finds Abigail and John living in separate countries, on separate continents, for the majority of 1778-1781. Find out how Abigail puts her entrepreneurial spirit to work. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/38316920

2.5 The War Drags On 10/31/2025

2.5 The War Drags On This week Abigail continues to struggle with running the farm in John's absence while he continues to live and work in Philadelphia. Note: this episode contains a somewhat harrowing description of a stillbirth. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/38026440

2.4 Independence 10/24/2025

2.4 Independence Note: when this episode went live on 10/24/25, there was a glitch that resulted in two sentences missing at around the 3:30 mark. A new version was uploaded on 10/30/25 with the correct version of the episode. This week covers the pivotal year of 1776. Abigail writes her most famous letter to John, asking Congress to "Remember the Ladies" when drafting the new laws for the new country. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/38026370

2.3 The Road to War 10/17/2025

2.3 The Road to War This week, the events leading to the Revolutionary War heat up. John spends his time traveling back and forth between home in Massachusetts and the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. The first shots of the war are fired in Lexington and Concord, and Abigail starts to develop her keen sense of political and social commentary. Transcript and further reading available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/38026215

2.2 A Happy Marriage 10/10/2025

2.2 A Happy Marriage We cover 10 years in this episode, from Abigail and John's marriage in 1764 through the turbulent decade leading up to the Revolutionary War, and right up until John gets ready to leave for the Continental Congress in September 1774. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/37885180

2.1 Abigail's Early Years 10/03/2025

2.1 Abigail's Early Years 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 Links to the books I read for this season and a photo of young Abigail at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/37885130

Programming Note 09/26/2025

Programming Note Just a brief programming note to let you know that I'll be activating ads starting with Season 2, which begins next week. /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/37885065

Season 1 Supplemental 09/19/2025

Season 1 Supplemental In this bonus episode, I read you an absolutely bonkers recipe for Martha's Christmas Yorkshire pie. I found the recipe in a book called Pie & Whiskey. You can find the transcript for this episode at And if you're interested in your own copy of Pie & Whiskey, here's a /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/37885040

1.11 Home at Last 09/12/2025

1.11 Home at Last Martha and George finally get to retire to Mount Vernon, after spending almost two decades in service of their country. Season 2: Abigail Adams coming soon! Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/37262025

1.10 Life in Philadelphia and a Second Term 09/05/2025

1.10 Life in Philadelphia and a Second Term The second half of George Washington's first term was spent in Philadelphia, and then he reluctantly agreed to serve a second term. Martha stood by him through thick and thin. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/37261940

1.9 President and Mrs. Washington 08/29/2025

1.9 President and Mrs. Washington The first half of George Washington's first term as president was spent in New York, the temporary American capital. Martha and George had to muddle their way through being the first to hold their positions, and it wasn't always pleasant. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/37261850

1.8 Yorktown and Peace 08/22/2025

1.8 Yorktown and Peace Lots packed into this episode! The battle of Yorktown in 1781, followed by the end of the war and Martha and George's return to Mount Vernon. But just a few years later, George was elected to be the first president, and he and Martha had to leave their home once again to serve their country. Transcript available at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/37261785

1.7 The Slog of War: 1778-1781 08/15/2025

1.7 The Slog of War: 1778-1781 Despite the assistance of the French, the war dragged on for years. Martha continued to join George every winter in camp for the season, returning to Mount Vernon each summer to spend time with her growing brood of grandchildren. Transcript at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/37212000

1.6 1776 08/08/2025

1.6 1776 This episode covers late 1775 into 1777, the winters that Martha spent with George in army encampments, the work she did to support the Continental Army, and the battles fought during that portion of the war. Transcript and further information at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/37211965

1.5 The Lady Washington 08/01/2025

1.5 The Lady Washington Tensions between America and Great Britain come to a head and the War of American Independence begins. Martha and George Washington are in the middle of it all, especially once he's named Commander-in-Chief of the combined colonial militias. Transcript and further information at Music by /episode/index/show/cfd75fd3-dd8b-4166-9771-72dcedccd84f/id/37210910

America's First Ladies

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