Drafting the Past
Drafting the Past is a podcast devoted to the craft of writing history. Historians face many of the same challenges as other writers along with some of their own, and we focus on the nuts-and-bolts of the writing process from their perspective. Each episode features a historian in conversation with host Kate Carpenter, discussing the approaches, tools, and philosophies they use in their writing. Guests include writers of academic and popular histories (and sometimes both!).
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From the Archive: Isabela Morales Protects the Writer's Spirit
02/10/2026
From the Archive: Isabela Morales Protects the Writer's Spirit
Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links. Sign up for the for updates on the show and more. Hi everybody! I’m taking this week off to work on some things behind the scenes, so I wanted to talk this chance to replay an episode from early in the podcast that I love. I know many of you are devoted listeners who have listened to every episode of the show, but in case you’re newer to the podcast, here’s a chance to revisit an earlier interview. Back in August 2022, I first released my interview with Dr. Isabela Morales. She had recently published her first book, , and she was working multiple jobs in public history. I particularly love this episode because Isabela speaks so poignantly about her commitment to narrative history and holding on to that writerly spirit in graduate school. I’m very pleased to report that after we spoke, Happy Dreams of Liberty went on to win multiple well-deserved book awards, including the prestigious Frederick Douglass Book Prize in 2023. I reached out to Isabela for an update on what she’s working on these days. At the end of 2025, she wrapped up her time at the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, and is now working full-time on her second book. She hinted at that book at the end of this interview, and it’s now under contract with Liveright for W. W. Norton and tentatively titled The Black Widow of Hazel Green. Here’s what Isabela told me about that book: It is a biography of Elizabeth Dale, a wealthy white plantation mistress and enslaver in antebellum Alabama, who was married six times and to this day is rumored to have murdered some or all of her husbands. While I think six dead husbands is enough to pique most people's interest, I also find Elizabeth Dale interesting historically as an embodiment of white women's deep but often-overlooked complicity in the institution of slavery. Having read Happy Dream of Liberty, I am eagerly awaiting Isabela’s new book. In the meantime, though, it’s inspiring to revisit this conversation with her. Even if you’re heard this one before, I think you’ll be rejuvenated by another listen. And if it’s your first time, you’re in for a treat. I’ll be back next week with another fantastic new episode. Until then, please enjoy this marvelous interview from the archive, with Dr. Isabela Morales. Original show notes: For this episode of Drafting the Past, I interviewed , writer and public historian. She is the editor and project manager of and the digital projects manager at the , central New Jersey’s first Black history museum. Dr. Morales received her Ph.D. in history from Princeton University in 2019, specializing in the 19th-century United States, slavery, and emancipation. Her first book, , was published earlier this year by Oxford University Press. We talked about how work as a public historian influences her writing, why guinea pigs are essential to her process, and the fiction she reads to learn how to evoke a place and time. MENTIONED IN THE SHOW: Find Isabela Morales on Twitter, , the software Isabela uses for organizing her research Tiya Miles, Martha Sandweiss, Erik Larson, Hilary Mantel, and Martha Hodes, Daniel Sharfstein, Suzanne Lebsock,
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Episode 86: Heather Ann Thompson Evokes the Moment
02/03/2026
Episode 86: Heather Ann Thompson Evokes the Moment
In this episode, host Kate Carpenter interviews historian Dr. Heather Ann Thompson. is the author of three books. The first was , which was first published in 2002. Her second book, published in 2016, was the astonishing . Blood in the Water won far more honors than I can list, most notably the Pulitzer Prize in History. And her newest book, which came out last week, is . It’s already drawing lots of well-deserved praise, and in this episode we’ll talk more about how Heather learned to bring gripping accounts of historical events to life. In case that wasn’t enough, Heather is a professor at the University of Michigan, the co-editor of two books series, and regularly writes for public outlets. She served as the consultant for the Academy Award-nominated documentary , and is a co-founder of , a consulting firm that aims to connect historians and the entertainment industry. Honestly, if I kept telling you all the cool things she has done we would never get to the interview, but you can see why I’ve been eager to learn more about her work. You’re going to love hearing about it too. Mentioned in this episode: Heather Ann Thompson, Heather Ann Thompson, Heather Ann Thompson, The audiobook, narrated by Erin Bennett Heather Ann Thompson, The Atlantic, January 26, 2026 Michelle Alexander, Elliot Williams, LaShawn Harris, Bench Ansfield, Jonathan Mahler, Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links. For a complete transcript, visit . Sign up for the for updates on the show and more.
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Episode 85: Fahad Bishara Tells the Story of a World in Motion
01/27/2026
Episode 85: Fahad Bishara Tells the Story of a World in Motion
In this episode of Drafting the Past, host Kate Carpenter is joined by Dr. Fahad Bishara. is an associate professor at the University of Virginia, but he is currently on leave and teaching at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. His first book, , won multiple awards. His second book, which came out in 2025, is . In it, he follows one year of the voyages of a single dhow, a type of sailing ship, and its captain and crew as it travels around the Persian Gulf and Western Indian Ocean. Working at multiple scales, from the details of daily ship life to the circulation of goods and ideas across the Gulf, Fahad gives us a new, ocean-based perspective on Middle Eastern history. It’s also a beautifully written book, and I was eager to talk with Fahad about his inventive structure, how he organized his materials, and more. You’re going to get a lot out of this conversation with Dr. Fahad Bishara. Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links. Sign up for the for updates on the show and more. Mentioned in this episode: Jack Hart, Robert Harms, podcast Nicholas Thomas, In of Drafting the Past, Adam Sowards talked about trying to get three senses into a description Whichever episode someone talks about senses Greg Dening, Laila Lalami, and the episode with their formula for storytelling,
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Episode 84: Shaun Richman Wants to Know Who the Rats Were
01/20/2026
Episode 84: Shaun Richman Wants to Know Who the Rats Were
In this episode, host Kate Carpenter interviews labor historian Dr. Shaun Richman. is a program director at SUNY Empire State College, and he recently completed his PhD in American Studies. But before that, he spent more than a decade as a union organizer and representative. That experience inspires much of his writing, including two books, magazine articles, and op-eds in numerous outlets. His first book was . His second book, which came out in 2025, is . In addition to being an enthusiastic labor historian, Shaun has a personal connection to this history, as a onetime member of one of the union’s featured in the narrative. We talked about how that perspective shapes his work, how he found his way to writing history after years as a labor organizer, and why he’s determined to write books that other labor organizers will want to read. Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links. For links to the books we talked about and a complete transcript, visit . Sign up for the for updates on the show and more. Mentioned in this episode: · Shaun’s website: · Shaun Richman, · Shaun Richman, · Nick Salvatore, · Ray Ginger, · George Orwell, · · Ahmed White, and
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Episode 83: Renata Keller Makes Space for Herself Through Writing
01/13/2026
Episode 83: Renata Keller Makes Space for Herself Through Writing
In this episode of Drafting the Past, you’ll hear from a historian who had to figure out how to wrangle narratives from twenty different countries to tell a new history of the Cuban Missile Crisis. But keeping track of all those threads wasn’t her only formidable challenge. In this episode, host Kate Carpenter is joined by historian Dr. Renata Keller. Dr. Keller is a . She is the author of two books, , and . I was eager to talk with Renata about how she grappled with the wide-ranging source material for The Fate of the Americas, but I also wanted to talk with her about another challenge: writing a book while dealing with the isolation of new parenthood, the struggle of postpartum depression and anxiety, and the exhaustion of balancing parenthood and research. In this conversation, you’ll hear how she made space for herself and her writing, both physically and mentally, while working on her book. Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links. Sign up for the for updates on the show and more. Mentioned in this episode: Renata Keller, Renata Keller, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Anne Rice, , which includes the special series on the Cuban Missile Crisis that Renata co-produced
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Episode 82: Jeff Roche Knows Exactly Who His Reader Is
01/06/2026
Episode 82: Jeff Roche Knows Exactly Who His Reader Is
This is the first episode of 2026, which means that we are at the beginning of the fifth season of this show. That’s a lot of great conversations about writing history, and I want to thank you for being here for them. There are many more to come this year! First up, in this episode I’m talking with Dr. Jeff Roche, author of the new book . at the College of Wooster in Ohio. Along with his new book, he is the author of and the editor of two additional books. I’ll confess to you that I wasn’t entirely sure about this book when the press first reached out to tell me about it, but it blew me away. The history is fascinating, but even more, Jeff’s writing is lively, smart, and often funny. I was excited to get to ask Jeff about how the book came together and how he has developed such an engaging writing voice. You’ll even learn why he considered ’90s hip-hop and Texas country music to be essential to his writing process. Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links. For links to the books we talked about and a complete transcript, visit . Sign up for the for updates on the show and more.
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Episode 81: The Best History Books You Read This Year
12/30/2025
Episode 81: The Best History Books You Read This Year
Welcome back to Drafting the Past, and to the final episode of 2025. This episode is all about you! I asked listeners to call in and share the best history books they read in 2025, and they delivered. We’ve got history books covering a huge range of subjects. Some were published recently, some as long as 90 years ago. Some are about huge subjects, others about tiny places. We even let one historical novel sneak into the mix. It’s a reminder that the Drafting the Past community is awesome, full of thoughtful, smart listeners who love talking about great history writing just as much as I do. In this episode, you’ll hear from some of those listeners, and, if you’re anything like me, you’ll add a bunch of new books to your reading list. For links to the books we talked about and a complete transcript, visit . Sign up for the for updates on the show and more.
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Episode 80: Amy Erdman Farrell Leaps Into Something New
12/23/2025
Episode 80: Amy Erdman Farrell Leaps Into Something New
I have a soft spot for historians who follow their curiosity through a range of subjects that might, at first glance, seem unrelated. So I was especially delighted to get to interview this episode’s guest, Dr. Amy Erdman Farrell. Her first book was . From there, she wrote a second book titled , followed by an edited collection, . For her newest book, out earlier this year, she turned her focus to an American institution: the Girl Scouts. The book is called . I was eager to talk more with Amy about how she has come to each of her books, how her publishing career has unfolded, and especially her decision to sign with an agent to represent her most recent book. A little extra note for this episode: Amy followed up after we spoke to tell me that she forgot to add an additional important note about her organization and research process. Here's what she had to say: "The key for me is: my paper notebook! For both Fat Shame and Intrepid Girls I have always carried a paper notebook (turned out to be two for Intrepid Girls) in which I would take notes along the way, jotting down the date, where I was doing research, and perhaps more detailed notes depending upon the archive and the context. It was really fundamental to my process. I carried it everywhere. I referred to it constantly in doing my writing, revising, thinking, confirming footnotes, following leads. It’s so important I can’t believe I didn’t mention it." An excellent idea for research--a project notebook! Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links. For links to the books we talked about and a complete transcript, visit . Sign up for the for updates on the show and more.
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Episode 79: Alex Wellerstein Reminds Us That Writing Is a Skill to Hone
12/16/2025
Episode 79: Alex Wellerstein Reminds Us That Writing Is a Skill to Hone
Welcome back to Drafting the Past, a podcast about the craft of writing history. For this one, I’m joined by . I’ve been a fan of Alex since at least his first book, , which came out in 2021. But I was first introduced to Alex’s work, like many people are, through his , which is a web-based nuclear weapons effects simulator. It’s a great—and terrifying—teaching tool, and just one of many projects that Alex has worked on as not only a historian but also a computer programmer. Alex is an associate professor at the Stevens Institute of Technology, and he’s currently also a visiting researcher at the Nuclear Knowledges program at the Center for International Studies in Paris. You can also find Alex’s writing on his blog and his Substack newsletter, both of which I’ll link in the show notes. He has also written extensively for popular publications. Today, we’re talking about his brand-new book, . This was a fascinating and wide-reaching conversation into how Alex researches and writes and how he sees his work. You’ll hear about everything from why he does not recommend programming your own research database to why he has to talk himself out of italicizing every other word when he writes. Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links. For links to the books we talked about and a complete transcript, visit . Sign up for the for updates on the show and more.
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Episode 78: Edward Watts Looks to the Ancient Past for Writing Advice
12/09/2025
Episode 78: Edward Watts Looks to the Ancient Past for Writing Advice
Welcome back to Drafting the Past. For this episode, I’m thrilled to be joined in this episode by historian Dr. Edward Watts. Ed is a professor of history at the University of California San Diego. He is the author of seven books, including , and . He has published extensively in academic journals and his work is regularly featured in the popular press. You can also check out his , where he shares bite-size facts about Roman history. Ed’s newest book is , which came out earlier this year with Basic. I was excited to talk with Ed about how he tackled such a vast subject. I was also eager to hear how he gets so much writing done. But above all, I really wanted to dig into his style and talk about what goes in to making such a huge history so enjoyable to read. Let me tell you, he did not disappoint. Even if you focus on history far removed from the Roman Empire, you’re going to get a lot out of this one. Enjoy my conversation with Dr. Edward Watts. P.S. This one was so much for that I even asked Ed a bonus question! You can hear that one (truffle hunter or parachutist, IYKYK) as an . For as little as $2 month, you can help to keep the show going and get access to ad-free episodes, too. Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links. For links to the books we talked about and a complete transcript, visit . Sign up for the for updates on the show and more.
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Episode 77: Marc James Carpenter Calls A Lie A Lie
12/02/2025
Episode 77: Marc James Carpenter Calls A Lie A Lie
This episode’s guest and I share a last name (no relation, though), but that’s not the only thing we have in common. We both grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where our history education left out most of the violence by white settlers against the region’s Indigenous people. It was his righteous anger over the differences between what he had learned and what he read in the archives that prompted my guest today to write first a dissertation and now a book about that violence and the efforts of historians to cover it up. You’re listening to , a podcast about the craft of writing history. I’m Kate Carpenter, and in this episode I’m joined by Dr. Marc James Carpenter. Marc is an . His first book, out with Yale University Press, is . I was delighted to have him on the show to talk more about how he dealt with layers of deceptive source material, the research loops he employed to work through those sources, and how a dash of humor is a vital ingredient in this and other dark histories. Here’s my conversation with Dr. Marc James Carpenter. Want to give me a little holiday gift this year? Consider taking a minute to leave a review for the show on your favorite podcast app. It helps new people find the show, and it makes me do a little happy dance in my office. Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links. For links to the books we talked about and a complete transcript, visit . Sign up for the for updates on the show and more.
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Episode 76: Karin Wulf Keeps Her Brain Humming Along
11/25/2025
Episode 76: Karin Wulf Keeps Her Brain Humming Along
Fair warning, listeners: in this episode of Drafting the Past, my guest and I geeked out pretty hard for a minute about our favorite pens. I’m hoping a lot of you can relate, but if not, you’ll just have to forgive our moment of office supply nerdiness. I’m Kate Carpenter, the host of this podcast about the craft of writing history. In this episode, I’m thrilled to be joined by . Karin is a historian and the current director and librarian of the John Carter Brown Library, as well as a professor at Brown University. Previously, she was the director of the Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture. She writes and speaks regularly for public audiences. Her new book, , came out this summer. In this episode, you’ll hear me talk with Karin about what it was like to research a book whose sources were scattered in many different archives, and how she keeps her research and writing alive even in the midst of a very busy schedule. She also told me about a little archival challenge that she likes to give herself that I think will make you smile. Let’s be real, we’re all nerds here, at least when it comes to history. Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links. For links to the books we talked about and a complete transcript, visit . Sign up for the for updates on the show and more.
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Episode 75: Jessica Lepler Knows That Criticism Is Praise
11/18/2025
Episode 75: Jessica Lepler Knows That Criticism Is Praise
I’ve heard from many academics that writing their second book can be even harder than writing their first book. That might be surprising, especially if you’re still struggling with the first book. But with less free time and without the support of a dissertation adviser, some historians find that second book to be more challenging than they expected. But today’s guest turned that struggle into an opportunity for herself and other writers by launching a workshop specifically for writers of second books. I’m Kate Carpenter, and this is Drafting the Past, a podcast about the craft of writing history. In this episode, I’m joined by . Jess is an associate professor of history at the University of New Hampshire. Her first prize-winning book was . Her second book came out this year. It’s called . It’s a history of the ultimately failed effort to build the world’s first interoceanic canal in the 1820s. Even though it was published a decade after her first book, I was surprised to learn that she actual started working on it alongside her dissertation and first book. We talk more about that research process in our interview. You’ll also hear more about starting a second-book workshop, and why some of her best ideas come in the swimming pool. For links to the books we talked about and a complete transcript, visit . Sign up for the for updates on the show and more. Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links.
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Episode 74: Mary Frances Phillips Works From a Place of Play
11/11/2025
Episode 74: Mary Frances Phillips Works From a Place of Play
I’ve talked to many historians who have interviewed sources in order to write their histories over more than 70 episodes of Drafting the Past, but I don’t think any has spent quite as much time getting to know their subject in person as today’s guest. I’m Kate Carpenter, and in this episode I’m joined by to talk about her first book, . Mary is an associate professor of African American studies at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and considers herself a historian and scholar-activist. Black Panther Woman is the first biography of Black Panther Party member Ericka Huggins, emphasizing Huggins’ use of spiritual wellness practices to care for herself and her community during her unjust incarceration and following her release. Mary and I talked about what it was like to write a book about a subject she had gotten to know so well. And while Black Panther Woman shared a subject with Mary’s dissertation, in many ways it was an entirely different project. We talked about that change, how she keeps a sense of joy and play in her writing even when the subject is difficult, and I pushed for details on her accountability system, because I know many of us could use ideas for keeping our writing projects on track. For links to the books we talked about and a complete transcript, visit . Sign up for the for updates on the show and more. Note that bookshop.org links are affiliate links that generate a small commission to support the show if you purchase books using these links.
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Episode 73: Tyler Anbinder Revises Every Day That He Writes
11/04/2025
Episode 73: Tyler Anbinder Revises Every Day That He Writes
Historians never quite know what kind of discoveries will enable them to write a history. For today’s guest, the list of things that contributed to his most recent book included a long-shot grant proposal, an elementary school fundraiser, and the rise of digitized genealogical records. On this episode of Drafting the Past, Kate spoke with . Tyler is an emeritus professor history at George Washington University. He is the award-winning author of four books, including , and . His most recent book, which came out last year, is . You’ll hear Tyler talk about how each of his research projects led to the next, how he works to blend remarkable detail with compelling writing, and how he tries to teach writing skills to his students—including one featured on a previous episode of Drafting the Past. We also talked about the humbling process of having his book reviewed by a fact checker. For show notes and a transcript of this episode, visit . Note: Bookshop.org links are affiliate links. If you purchase books through these links, Drafting the Past gets a small percentage that helps to keep the show going.
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Episode 72: Joanne Paul Isn't Afraid to Call Herself an Artist
10/28/2025
Episode 72: Joanne Paul Isn't Afraid to Call Herself an Artist
Even though Dr. Joanne Paul had wanted to be a writer for a long time, she had lost sight of that identity and had to find her way back to it. But now, she has embraced creativity and imagination as a historian, and is here to encourage you to do the same. I was thrilled to be joined in this episode by Dr. Joanna Paul. Joanne is a historian of the Renaissance and Early modern periods, especially of their political, intellectual, and cultural histories. In addition to two academic books, she is the author of two books for a general audience. The first The House of Dudley, was published in 2022. It follows the Dudley family’s history alongside that of the Tudors, telling the story of the family’s proximity to the throne and, as she puts it, “revealing some of the period’s most talented, intelligent, and cunning individuals.” Her most recent book, out this year, is Thomas More: A Life and Death in Tudor England. In it, she tells the story of one of the most infamous figures in English history in a fascinating biography on this complicated man. I can tell you that both of these books are genuine page-turners, and I loved getting to ask Joanne more about how she wrote them. For links to the books and other subjects mentioned in this episode and a complete transcript, visit draftingthepast.com.
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Episode 71: Raphael Cormack Makes Meaning from Unreliable Sources
10/21/2025
Episode 71: Raphael Cormack Makes Meaning from Unreliable Sources
How do you write a history if you’re not quite sure which—if any—of your sources is telling the truth? All historians have to deal with sources who exaggerate, or mislead, or just come from differing perspectives. But my guest in this episode had to wrestle with this question on a whole different level for his newest book. Were his subjects performing miracles, or conning people with magic tricks? And in the end, does it really matter? This is Drafting the Past, a podcast about the craft of writing history. I’m Kate Carpenter, and in today’s episode I’m joined by Dr. Raphael Cormack. Raph is an editor, writer, and translator, as well as an assistant professor of modern languages and cultures at Durham University in the United Kingdom. He is the author of two books. The first, in 2021 and is now available in paperback. And his newest book, out earlier this year, is . In it, he follows two charismatic and mysterious faith leaders who emerged in the uncertain interwar period in both Europe and the Middle East. We talked about how he dealt with those deeply unreliable sources, why the narrative structure that came so easily to one book didn’t work for the second one, and, well, his mother. You’ll see what I mean. For complete show notes, visit . For updates on the show and more on writing history, .
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Episode 70: Tracy Slater Finds Her Footing in Narrative History
10/14/2025
Episode 70: Tracy Slater Finds Her Footing in Narrative History
I talk to a lot of history professors on this show, of course, but I’m always excited when I get a chance to talk to someone who is writing great history but working outside of a university setting. And my guest today didn’t even start out as a historian, she found her way to narrative history after writing in other genres and venues first. joins me in this episode to talk about her path as a writer and the challenges and freedoms of writing outside the academy while also balancing the work of a caregiver. Tracy has a PhD in English and American literature. You’ll hear more about her career path shortly, which includes some adjunct teaching, a freelance writing career, and founding a literary series called Four Stories that took place in both Boston and Japan, where Tracy is now based with her family, although she was temporarily living in Toronto when I spoke with her this summer. Her first book was a memoir about her marriage, her struggle to start a family, and establishing a life in Japan called . Her newest book is a work of narrative history called . It’s a history that is both intimate and expansive and, unfortunately, continues to have increasingly relevant connections to our present-day experiences. For complete show notes, visit . If you enjoyed this episode, please tell a friend about it!
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Episode 69: Andrew Hartman Takes the Time to Get It Right
10/07/2025
Episode 69: Andrew Hartman Takes the Time to Get It Right
This is Drafting the Past, a podcast about the craft of writing history, and I’m your host, Kate Carpenter. In each episode, I’m joined by a historian to dig into their writing process and find out how they bring history to the page. This time around, I’m happy to get to chat with Dr. Andrew Hartman. is a professor of history at Illinois State University. Before that, as you’ll learn in this episode, he was a high school social studies teacher, and he specializes in teaching future social studies teachers. He is the author of three books: ; ; and his newest book, . He has also written extensively in publications like the Washington Post, Slate, Jacobin, Bookforum, and more. You’ll hear how Andrew tackled such a huge project, a decade in the making, how he became a subject in his own history, and why being an endurance athlete might help if you’re a writer. .
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Episode 68: Ruby Lal Paints a Lush World
09/30/2025
Episode 68: Ruby Lal Paints a Lush World
In this episode, I’m thrilled to be joined by historian . When I first started thinking about this interview more than a year ago, I read Ruby’s book . I was swept away by the book, which is a history biography of Princess Gulbadan in the early decades of the Mughal Empire. Ruby is also the author of , another remarkable narrative about a remarkable woman in the Mughal Empire. But before I had a chance to interview her, Ruby came out with another project: , which she describes as an illustrated remix of Empress for a young adult audience. I can’t tell you how excited I was to talk about all of these projects, and how Ruby brings these narratives from hundreds of years ago to life in such vibrant, enchanting books. Dr. Ruby Lal is a professor of South Asian History at Emory University. In addition to the books I’ve already mentioned, she is also the author of two academic books, , and . And as you’ll hear in the episode, she thinks deeply and beautifully about crafting historical narrative and the stakes of bringing these stories to readers of all ages.
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Episode 67: Stephanie Gorton Puts Authentic Interactions on the Page
06/12/2025
Episode 67: Stephanie Gorton Puts Authentic Interactions on the Page
is a writer, editor, and journalist whose work has been published in a range of outlets including The New Yorker, Smithsonian, and Paris Review Daily. She has worked in editorial roles at several independent presses, and her first book came out in 2020, titled . Her second book, which came out in November, is . It’s a fascinating dual biography that brings to life two complicated leaders of the birth control movement in the early 1900s, and the lasting impact of their actions and interactions. We spoke early this year, and I loved getting to hear more about Stephanie’s research and writing process, especially how she thought about narrative structure and revising with feedback.
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Episode 66: Padraic Scanlan Makes the Medicine Go Down
05/30/2025
Episode 66: Padraic Scanlan Makes the Medicine Go Down
In this episode, I’m joined by . Padraic is an associate professor at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on the history of labor in Britain and the British empire. He’s the author of three books, including and . His newest book, out this year, is called , and it offers a reinterpretation of the Irish Great Famine of the mid-1800s that shows how massive income inequality, debt, housing prices, precarious employment and more contributed to the disaster. I spoke with Padraic about how he thinks about writing for a general audience, his work with a developmental editor and why he loves editors, and his writerly inspirations.
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Episode 65: Omar Valerio-Jiménez Puts in the Hours
05/09/2025
Episode 65: Omar Valerio-Jiménez Puts in the Hours
Drafting the Past is a show about the craft of writing history, hosted by historian and writer Kate Carpenter. In this episode, Kate is joined by historian . Omar is a professor of history at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he is also an associate dean for graduate studies. He originally worked as an engineer before going back to school to become a historian. His work focuses on histories of Mexican American civil rights, citizenship, education, and memory. His first book was called , and his second book, which is the focus of this interview, is . Remembering Conquest explores the collective memories of the U.S.-Mexico War and how those memories motivated civil rights campaigns among several generations of Mexican Americans. Omar is a pleasure to speak with, and his thoughtful approach to his work came through in our conversation. Keep an ear out especially for his work log system, which I might have to try out myself.
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Episode 64: Emily Herring Listens For the Rhythm
04/25/2025
Episode 64: Emily Herring Listens For the Rhythm
Welcome back to Drafting the Past, a podcast where we talk all about the craft of writing history. I’m Kate Carpenter and for this episode, I’m delighted to be joined on the podcast by . As you’ll hear, I’ve been following Emily’s career for a while now, and I was eager to ask about her first book and her shift from academia to full-time writing. Her book is called . It’s an intellectual biography of philosopher Henri Bergson, who achieved remarkable fame in the early 1900s, and it’s a genuinely fascinating and pleasurable read. Let’s dig into it. Here’s my interview with Dr. Emily Herring. Find links and show notes at Sign up for the
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Episode 63: Surekha Davies Has No Lack of Deadlines
04/11/2025
Episode 63: Surekha Davies Has No Lack of Deadlines
Welcome back to Drafting the Past. I’m Kate Carpenter, and this is a podcast about the craft of writing history. In this episode, I’m joined by historian and writer . Surekha is a former history professor who now writes full-time, and she can also be found speaking about history and consulting on monsters. In fact, monsters have played a major role in much of her research. Her first award-winning book was titled . Her second book, which is aimed at a general audience, is out now; it’s called . The book looks at, as she puts it, how people “have defined the human in relation to everything from apes to zombies, and how they invented race, gender, and nations along the way.” I spoke with Surekha about how she made the switch to full-time writing, her newsletter, , and how she organized what could have been an unruly book. Enjoy my conversation with Dr. Surekha Davies.
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Episode 62: Lyndal Roper Takes a Journey by Page and Pedal
03/26/2025
Episode 62: Lyndal Roper Takes a Journey by Page and Pedal
In this episode of Drafting the Past, host Kate Carpenter is joined by historian . Lyndal is a professor at the University of Oxford and the author of six books on gender, religion, witchcraft, and German history. Her newest book out this year is a history of the sixteenth-century German Peasants’ War titled . The book follows the movement, beliefs, hopes, and actions of the peasants in this mass uprising. I loved the opportunity to talk with Lyndal about how she wrote about such a massive and relatively obscure event for a general audience, the way her own movement across the land shaped her work, why she prefers the screen to the handwritten page, and much more.
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Episode 61: Judith Giesberg Resists Giving Readers What They Want
03/11/2025
Episode 61: Judith Giesberg Resists Giving Readers What They Want
In this episode of Drafting the Past, host Kate Carpenter is joined by . Dr. Giesberg is a historian and professor at Villanova University. She is the author of six books focused on the U.S. Civil War and its aftermath. She is also an active digital and public historian, and her newest book is the culmination of these interests. Inspired by an ongoing digital project, draws on advertisements placed by formerly enslaved people after the Civil War—in some cases, long after—attempting to find loved ones who had been stolen away from them when they were sold by enslavers. It’s a fascinating book, at turns heartbreaking and inspiring, and I was delighted to get to ask Judy more about the project and her research process.
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Episode 60: Rebecca Brenner Graham Gives Us the Publicity Behind-the-Scenes
02/25/2025
Episode 60: Rebecca Brenner Graham Gives Us the Publicity Behind-the-Scenes
In this episode Kate is joined by writer and historian . Rebecca is a post-doctoral research associate at Brown University, but before that she taught high school history, an experience that we talk a lot more about in this episode. Her first book, out now, is called , and it is not only a compelling history but holds valuable lessons for readers now. I also asked Rebecca to dig into her approach for publicizing a recently released book, and I think her advice will be a big help for other authors.
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Episode 59: Marlene Daut Returns to Storytelling
02/11/2025
Episode 59: Marlene Daut Returns to Storytelling
This is Drafting the Past, a podcast about the craft of writing history. In this episode, host Kate Carpenter is joined by historian . Marlene is a professor at Yale University and is the author of four books, as well as an editor of several more. The most recent two of those books are , which was a winner of the 2024 Frederick Douglass Book Prize, and . She is also the author of many articles and essays in places like The New Yorker, Harper’s, Essence, The Nation, and more. Our conversation covers some burning questions about Marlene’s work, including how she works on more than one book at a time, why you might find her typing into her phone at the grocery store, and she is inspired by the work of investigative journalists. Enjoy Kate’s conversation with Dr. Marlene Daut.
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Episode 58: James Tejani Aims for Smart, Elegant Simplicity
01/28/2025
Episode 58: James Tejani Aims for Smart, Elegant Simplicity
In this episode, host Kate Carpenter is joined by . James is an associate professor of history at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. His first book, came out last year with Norton, and it’s a fascinating history that covers Western settlement, slavery, the Civil War, science and engineering, and much more. Our interview ranges from how Tejani came to think of himself as a writer to how developing tendonitis changed his writing practice.
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