Best Benjaminfranklin Podcasts (2025)

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BFW Revisited: The Mayflower 59:35

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4h ago59:35

59:35

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…

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426 Indigenous Agriculture and the Hidden Science of Native Foodways 52:32

9d ago52:32

52:32

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…

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425 Ken Burns' The American Revolution 55:14

7d ago55:14

55:14

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, Ken Burns’ The American Revolution. Their work promises to deepen, complicate, and transform our unders…

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424 Dunmore's Proclamation & the American Revolution in Virginia 1:06:04

23d ago1:06:04

1:06:04

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…

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BFW Revisited: Disruptions in Yorktown 1:02:26

21d ago1:02:26

1:02:26

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 independen…

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423 The Forgotten Artists of the American Revolution 1:11:03

1M ago1:11:03

1:11:03

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 Del…

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BFW Revisited: The World of John Singleton Copley 52:51

1M ago52:51

52:51

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 …

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422: Plantation Goods: How Northern Industry Fueled Slavery 1:12:45

2M ago1:12:45

1:12:45

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 objec…

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BFW Revisited: Origins of American Manufacturing 1:02:35

2M ago1:02:35

1:02:35

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 Lindsay Schakenbach Regele of Miami University in Ohio joins us to explore how manufacturing became central to the nation's post-Revolution identity. Drawing…

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421 Loyalism and Revolution in Georgia 1:01:01

2M ago1:01:01

1:01:01

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 ide…

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BFW Revisited: Loyalism in the British Atlantic World 1:10:19

2M ago1:10:19

1:10:19

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 Brad Jones of Fresno State University, author of Resisting Independence: Popular Loyal…

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420: Creating the U.S. Federal Government 1:20:25

3M ago1:20:25

1:20:25

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 reac…

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BFW Revisited: Women & the Constitutional Moment of 1787 1:16:19

3M ago1:16:19

1:16:19

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 …

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419 The North Carolina Regulator Movement 1:04:24

3M ago1:04:24

1:04:24

What happens when the very people meant to uphold justice become the ones exploiting it? In the 1760s, North Carolina farmers watched sheriffs pocket their tax payments, judges rule in favor of corrupt land speculators, and government officials literally steal their land, all while claiming to represent the Crown’s interests. Nathan Schultz, a publ…

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BFW Revisited: The Tory's Wife 1:05:42

3M ago1:05:42

1:05:42

Revolutionary upheaval didn't just reshape governments—it transformed daily life for ordinary families across colonial America. In this revisited episode, historian Cynthia Kierner reveals the remarkable story of Jane Spurgin, a woman navigating loyalty, survival, and family obligations in Revolutionary-era North Carolina. Through Jane's experience…

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418 The Driver's Story 1:02:11

3M ago1:02:11

1:02:11

We often learn about slavery in early America through broad economic or political terms—cotton, sugar, markets, revolutions. But what happens when we turn our focus to the lived experiences of enslaved people themselves? What did slavery feel and look like on the ground? What did survival look like day to day? And what do we make of the enslaved pe…

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BFW Revisited: The Business of Slavery 52:28

4M ago52:28

52:28

When we think about slavery in early America, we often rightfully focus on the human toll–the violence, the exploitation, the dehumanization that defined the institution. But slavery wasn’t just a system of forced labor; it was also a business. Next week, in Episode 418, we’ll be investigating a different facet of the business of slavery: the story…

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417 Roger Williams, Rogue Puritan 1:13:49

4M ago1:13:49

1:13:49

When we think of early American champions of religious liberty, one name often rises above the rest: Roger Williams. Best known as the founder of Rhode Island and a fierce advocate for the separation of church and state, Williams was a man who defied convention at every turn. He turned down a prestigious post in Boston, challenged Puritan orthodoxy…

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BFW Revisited: The History of Genealogy 47:38

4M ago47:38

47:38

Why do we trace our family histories? What drives our desire to know who our ancestors were and how we’re connected to past people and events? Genealogy is often seen as a modern pursuit, spurred by DNA tests and online records–but in reality, early Americans were deeply invested in understanding and documenting their familial ties. Their desire to…

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416: Lineage: Genealogy in Early America 1:05:31

5M ago1:05:31

1:05:31

Have you ever wondered why genealogy captivates so many people? Whether it’s tracing a family tree back generations or holding on to stories told around the dinner table, genealogy offers a powerful sense of connection—a connection that can shape identities, claims of property, and even arguments for freedom. But genealogy isn’t just a modern-day h…

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BFW Revisited: A Declaration in Draft 1:18:03

4M ago1:18:03

1:18:03

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most iconic documents in United States history. But what do we really know about how it came to be? In our most recent episode, historian Emily Sneff helped us explore the Declaration through your questions–questions that revealed just how complex, living, and contested this document still is. So in tod…

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Lineage Book Preview 2:33

4M ago2:33

2:33

Preview of Karin Wulf’s book, Lineage: Genealogy and the Power of Connection in Early America. In eighteenth-century America, genealogy was more than a simple record of family ties--it was a powerful force that shaped society. Lineage delves into an era where individuals, families, and institutions meticulously documented their connections. Whether…

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415: The Many Declarations of Independence 1:03:31

5M ago1:03:31

1:03:31

When you picture the Declaration of Independence, what comes to mind? Most people envision a single, iconic document–parchment, signatures, maybe even a scene from National Treasure. But what if I told you, the Declaration of Independence isn’t just one document, but many documents? And that each version of the Declaration tells a different story–a…

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414 Queerness and Reputation in Revolutionary America 1:00:03

5M ago1:00:03

1:00:03

How do we uncover queer lives from the distant past, especially in an era when language and records often erased or obscured them? What did queerness look like in early America, and how might it have intersected with power, religion, and empire on the eve of the American Revolution? John McCurdy, a Professor of History and Philosophy at Eastern Mic…

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413 Dr. Joseph Warren & the Battle of Bunker Hill 1:13:30

5M ago1:13:30

1:13:30

June 17, 2025, marks the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, the first full-scale battle of what would become the American War for Independence. Although technically a British victory, Bunker Hill proved that colonial soldiers could hold their own against the might of the British Empire. New England militiamen inflicted 1,054 casualties…

Benjaminfranklin Podcasts

101
Ben Franklin's World

Liz Covart

1
BFW Revisited: The Mayflower 59:35

1
426 Indigenous Agriculture and the Hidden Science of Native Foodways 52:32

1
425 Ken Burns' The American Revolution 55:14

1
424 Dunmore's Proclamation & the American Revolution in Virginia 1:06:04

1
BFW Revisited: Disruptions in Yorktown 1:02:26

1
423 The Forgotten Artists of the American Revolution 1:11:03

1
BFW Revisited: The World of John Singleton Copley 52:51

1
422: Plantation Goods: How Northern Industry Fueled Slavery 1:12:45

1
BFW Revisited: Origins of American Manufacturing 1:02:35

1
421 Loyalism and Revolution in Georgia 1:01:01

1
BFW Revisited: Loyalism in the British Atlantic World 1:10:19

1
420: Creating the U.S. Federal Government 1:20:25

1
BFW Revisited: Women & the Constitutional Moment of 1787 1:16:19

1
419 The North Carolina Regulator Movement 1:04:24

1
BFW Revisited: The Tory's Wife 1:05:42

1
418 The Driver's Story 1:02:11

1
BFW Revisited: The Business of Slavery 52:28

1
417 Roger Williams, Rogue Puritan 1:13:49

1
BFW Revisited: The History of Genealogy 47:38

1
416: Lineage: Genealogy in Early America 1:05:31

1
BFW Revisited: A Declaration in Draft 1:18:03

1
Lineage Book Preview 2:33

1
415: The Many Declarations of Independence 1:03:31

1
414 Queerness and Reputation in Revolutionary America 1:00:03

1
413 Dr. Joseph Warren & the Battle of Bunker Hill 1:13:30