Best Paul Anderson II Podcasts (2025)

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CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig Discusses the Special Counsel Cases of Nixon, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Biden, Trump, and More! 51:09

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3h ago51:09

51:09

Send us a text Let's get legal! CNN's Elie Honig talks his book When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ's Pursuit of the President, from Nixon to Trump. Buy When You Come at the King Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Ross Benes on How 1999 Echoes in Our Culture Today 33:42

2d ago33:42

33:42

Send us a text Let's revisit the 90s! Author Ross Benes joins me to talk 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times. Buy 1999 Check out Ross' website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Samuel Marquis Sets the Record Straight About his Ancestor "Pirate" Captain William Kidd 39:01

12d ago39:01

39:01

Send us a text Let's hang'em from the yardarm! Samuel Marquis joins me to talk his book Captain Kidd: A True Story of Treasure and Betrayal. Buy Captain Kidd Check out Samuel's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Suzanne Cope Talks the Women of the Italian Resistance in World War II 40:25

13d ago40:25

40:25

Send us a text Let's tell the Germans arrivederci! Suzanne Cope joins me to talk Women of War: The Italian Assassins, Spies, and Couriers Who Fought the Nazis. Buy Women of War Check out Suzanne's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Kate Sidley Talks About The Weird and Wonderful World of Catholic Saints 30:44

22d ago30:44

30:44

Send us a text Let's get canonized! Kate Sidley joins me to discuss her book How to Be a Saint: An Extremely Weird and Mildly Sacrilegious History of The Catholic Church's Biggest Names. Buy How to Be a Saint Check out Kate's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Joanne Paul on the life of Saint Thomas More 50:25

28d ago50:25

50:25

Send us a text Let's make our own utopia! Joanne Paul joins me to talk her book Thomas More: A Life. Buy Thomas More: A Life Check out Joanne's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Scott Anderson on the Iranian Revolution 52:51

1M ago52:51

52:51

Send us a text Let's predict a revolution! Scott Anderson joins me to discuss his book King of Kings: The Iranian Revolution: A Story of Hubris, Delusion and Catastrophic Miscalculation. Buy King of Kings Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Haley Cohen Gilliland on Argentina's History and the Mission of the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo Who Fought to Find Their Lost Grandchildren 48:48

1M ago48:48

48:48

Send us a text Let's find family! Haley Cohen Gilliland joins me to talk A Flower Traveled in My Blood: The Incredible True Story of the Grandmothers Who Fought to Find a Stolen Generation of Children. Buy A Flower Traveled in My Blood Check out Haley's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Laurie Gwen Shapiro Talks Amelia Earhart, Her Husband George Putnam, and the Making of an American Icon 54:54

2M ago54:54

54:54

Send us a text Let's take to the skies! Laurie Gwen Shapiro joins me to talk The Aviator and the Showman: Amelia Earhart, George Putnam, and the Marriage that Made an American Icon. Buy The Aviator and the Showman Check out Laurie's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Scott Ellsworth on the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, a Country Divided, and the People Overlooked in Civil War History 37:45

2M ago37:45

37:45

Send us a text Let's look a different way! Scott Ellsworth joins me to talk his book Midnight on the Potomac: The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Rebirth of America. Buy Midnight on the Potomac Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Amy Helen Bell Talks the Murders of the London Blitz and Stan Haynes Talks Roosevelt to Roosevelt 56:10

2M ago56:10

56:10

Send us a text Let's have two! In our first ever double episode, Amy Bell joins me to talk Under Cover of Darkness: Murders in Blackout London. Then Stan Haynes joins me to talk Roosevelt to Roosevelt: Presidential Nominating Conventions from 1904 to 1944. Buy Under Cover of Darkness Check out Amy's website Buy Roosevelt to Roosevelt Check out Stan…

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Nathalia Holt Tells the Story of the Roosevelt Brothers' Search for the Elusive Giant Panda 29:35

2M ago29:35

29:35

Send us a text Let's find a panda! Nathalia Holt joins me to discuss her book The Beast in the Clouds: The Roosevelt Brothers' Deadly Quest to Find the Mythical Giant Panda. Buy The Beast in the Clouds Check out Nathalia's Website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Eleanor Barraclough Talks the Viking Age and the Lives of Everyday Norsemen and Norsewomen 1:00:03

3M ago1:00:03

1:00:03

Send us a text Let's pillage (but also more than that)! Eleanor Barraclough joins me to talk her book Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age. Buy Embers of the Hands Check out Eleanor's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Nicholas Jubber Returns to Talk the Greatest Monsters of History Including Vampires, Rougarou, Dragons, and Even Godzilla 42:06

3M ago42:06

42:06

Send us a text Let's go monster hunting! Nicholas Jubber Returns to talk his book Monsterland: A Journey Around the World's Dark Imagination. Buy Monsterland Check out Nick's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Pulitzer Prize Winner Caroline Fraser Talks Ted Bundy, the Rise of Serial Killers, Pacific Northwest Life, and the Lead Crime Hypothesis 36:44

3M ago36:44

36:44

Send us a text Let's talk the age of serial killers! Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Fraser joins me to talk her book Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers. Buy Murderland Check out Caroline's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Helen Carr Talks English Kings, Their Favorites, and the Upheaval of the 14th Century 38:52

4M ago38:52

38:52

Send us a text Let's pick a favorite! Helen Carr joins me to talk her book Sceptred Isle: A New History of the Fourteenth Century. Buy Sceptred Isle Check out Helen's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Alexander Rose Returns to Talk the Battle of the Atlantic and the Heist of a German U-Boat 43:01

4M ago43:01

43:01

Send us a text Let's go sub hunting! Alexander Rose returns to talk his book Phantom Fleet: The Hunt for Nazi Submarine U-505 and World War II's Most Daring Heist! Buy Phantom Fleet Check out Alex's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Martin Dugard Returns to Talk the History of Midway Island and the World War II Battle That Changed the Pacific Theater 32:55

4M ago32:55

32:55

Send us a text Let's turn the tide! Martin Dugard returns to talk his new book Taking Midway: Naval Warfare, Secret Codes, and the Battle that Turned the Tide of World War II. Buy Taking Midway Check out Martin's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Michelle Young Tells the Story of World War II Art Spy Rose Valland 30:33

4M ago30:33

30:33

Send us a text Let's track some art! Michelle Young joins the podcast to talk her book The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland. Come listen! Buy The Art Spy Check out Michelle's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Kate Summerscale Talks WWII Era Serial Killer Reg Christie and (Maybe?) the Execution of an Innocent Man 33:00

5M ago33:00

33:00

Send us a text Let's right a wrong! Kate Summerscale joins me to talk her book The Peepshow: The Murders at Rillington Place. Murder, yellow journalism, and justice denied. Come listen! Buy The Peepshow Check out Kate's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Todd Doughty Talks the Publishing World and How to Be More Grateful About the Little Things 36:29

5M ago36:29

36:29

Send us a text Let's be happy! Author and bigwig at Doubleday Books, Todd Doughty, joins me to talk the publishing world and his own book, Little Pieces of Hope: Happy-Making Things in a Difficult World. Buy Little Pieces of Hope Follow his Instagram Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Julie Satow Talks When Women Took Over the American Fashion Industry in 1900s New York City 36:37

5M ago36:37

36:37

Send us a text Let's go shopping! Julie Satow joins me to discuss her book When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion. Buy When Women Ran Fifth Aveune Check out Julie's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Russell Shorto Tells the Story of How New Amsterdam Became New York 31:17

5M ago31:17

31:17

Send us a text Let's do some renaming! Russell Shorto joins me to talk his book Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America. Buy Taking Manhattan Check out Russell's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Hallie Rubenhold Talks the True Crime Case of Dr. Crippen and What History Has Missed 35:03

6M ago35:03

35:03

Send us a text Let's tell the whole story! Hallie Rubenhold, celebrated author of The Five, joins me to talk her true crime book Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress, and Dr. Crippen. Buy Story of a Murder Check out Hallie's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Comedian and Writer Mike Drucker Talks His Life in Video Games 38:49

6M ago38:49

38:49

Send us a text Let's boot up! Comedian and Writer (Full Frontal/The Tonight Show) Mike Drucker joins me to talk his book Good Game, No Rematch: A Life Made of Video Games. Buy Good Game, No Rematch Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Eric Vickrey Discusses Postwar Baseball, the Spokane Indians, and the Deadliest Accident in American Professional Sports 22:19

6M ago22:19

22:19

Send us a text Let's play ball! On this special baseball opening weekend episode, Eric Vickrey joins me to talk his book Season of Shattered Dreams: Postwar Baseball, the Spokane Indians, and a Tragic Bus Crash That Changed Everything. Come listen! Buy Season of Shattered Dreams Check out Eric's website Support the show…

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The Final Episode 2:17:04

6M ago2:17:04

2:17:04

Goodbye, goodbye. For our final episode of this run, Austin, Raymond & Henry talk about how they watch movies, some mailbag questions, some musings on the craft, and more. Thanks again for tuning in each week, everybody. Stay safe, and we'll see you at the movies! Follow us on Twitter! @austin_hayden (Austin) @creamatoria (Raymond) and on Letterbox…

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William Geroux Tells the Story of World War II Nazi POWs in America and a Risky Prisoner Swap 35:30

6M ago35:30

35:30

Send us a text Let's make an exchange! Author William Geroux joins me to discuss his book The Fifteen: Murder, Retribution, and the Forgotten Story of Nazi POWs in America. Come listen! Buy The Fifteen Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Mulholland Drive: It Was All A Dream 1:33:55

6M ago1:33:55

1:33:55

Our penultimate episode! The guys get into Mulholland Drive (directed by David Lynch) on this one. This film is a great segue for conversation as it weaves through film studies, what it means for something to be Lynchian, what it means to make movies - and more. Enjoy! Join the LAST Livestream of SHOW ME THE MEANING! next Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the…

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NPR Correspondent Emily Feng Talks China and its People 35:05

6M ago35:05

35:05

Send us a text Let's bloom! NPR Correspondent Emily Feng joins me to talk her book Let Only Red Flowers Bloom: Identity and Belonging in Xi Jinping's China. I learned a lot and hope you do, too. Come listen! Buy Let Only Red Flowers Bloom Check out Emily's Website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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The Boy and The Heron: A Filmmaker's Legacy 1:41:53

6M ago1:41:53

1:41:53

Raymond is back from filming his movie! The guys get into The Boy and The Heron - Hayao Miyazaki's swan (heron?) song. Who will take over Studio Ghibli? Does more money make a better movie? Is this film a bigger metaphor for Miyazaki's retirement? They get into these questions and more - and more! Enjoy! We only have TWO episodes left! So be sure t…

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Gary Krist Talks San Francisco's Turbulent History and an Unbelievable Gilded-Age Murder 34:26

6M ago34:26

34:26

Send us a text Let's go digging! Author Gary Krist joins me to talk his book Trespassers at the Golden Gate: A True Account of Love, Murder, and Madness in Gilded-Age San Francisco. Come listen! Buy Trespassers at the Golden Gate Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Conclave: Catholic Camp 1:25:45

6M ago1:25:45

1:25:45

Get your cigarettes out for this one - we're talking Conclave! Austin, Henry, and Michael talk the intersection of humanity and religion, the campiness of this film, pope names - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! https://youtube.com/@wisecrack_2 Follow us on Twitter! @aus…

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Gareth Harney Talks the History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins 32:32

7M ago32:32

32:32

Send us a text Toss a coin to your nerd! Author Gareth Harney joins me to talk his book A History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins. Come listen! Buy A History of Ancient Rome in Twelve Coins Check out Gareth's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Babygirl vs. May December: Giving and Taking 1:12:23

7M ago1:12:23

1:12:23

We got another cage match: Babygirl vs May/December! Austin is joined by Wisecrack's Amanda! They get into age gap films, the philosophy of the male gaze, the role of eroticisim in this era of films, and more! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! https://youtube.com/@wisecrack_2 Follow us on…

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Nancy Goldstone Talks the Lives of the Rebel Empresses Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France 43:36

7M ago43:36

43:36

Send us a text Let's rebel! Author Nancy Goldstone joins me to talk her new book The Rebel Empresses: Elisabeth of Austria and Eugénie of France, Power and Glamour in the Struggle for Europe. Come listen! Buy The Rebel Empresses Check out Nancy's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Aftersun: We Got Daddy Issues 1:27:53

7M ago1:27:53

1:27:53

The best movie for a cry (if you got daddy issues). Austin is joined by Producer Henry for a chat on Aftersun! They get into realizing the frailty of our parents, the nature of memory and music, some narrative structure of the film - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! http…

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Richard Goodrich Returns to Talk the First Airshow in American History 35:46

7M ago35:46

35:46

Send us a text Let's take to the skies! Richard Goodrich returns to talk L.A. Birdmen: West Coast Aviators and the First Airshow in America. Come listen! Buy L.A. Birdmen Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Pulitzer Prize Winner Megan Mashall Talks Biography, Japan, Personal Loss, Family, and How the Little Things are What You Remember 43:47

7M ago43:47

43:47

Send us a text Let's talk about everything! Pulitzer Prize Winner Megan Marshall joins me to talk her new book After Lives: On Biography and the Mysteries of the Human Heart. So good. Come listen! Buy After Lives Check out Megan's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Hypernormalisation Explains EVERYTHING Going On Right Now 1:05:39

8M ago1:05:39

1:05:39

Austin is again joined by Wisecrack's very own: Michael Burns! Join the convo on the movie that explains EVERYTHING that is happening politically right now. We get into where Hypernormlisation originated from, our changing views on the Occupy movement, a Patti Smith-Sam Shepard play - and more! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday…

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Rebecca Bratspies on the New York City Names Like Major Deegan, Outerbridge, and Hutchinson 32:21

8M ago32:21

32:21

Send us a text Let's figure out who we are cursing in traffic! Rebecca Bratspies joins me to talk her book Naming Gotham: The Villains, Rogues, and Heroes Behind New York's Place Names. It's not just for city folk. Come listen! Buy Naming Gotham Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Will The Brutalist Be Remembered? 1:22:13

8M ago1:22:13

1:22:13

Today Austin is joined by Wisecrack's very own: Michael Burns! Raymond is out shooting his movie. Join the convo as they get into the commodification of art (both in the film and by the director himself), the concepts of home explored in the epilogue, some "PTA-ish" notes that the film could have used - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING…

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Buddy Levy Returns Again To Talk Airships in the Arctic, Roald Amundsen, and a Rescue at the Top of the World 33:20

8M ago33:20

33:20

Send us a text Let's go north! Buddy Levy is back to talk his new book Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History's Greatest Arctic Rescue. Enough said. Come listen! Buy Realm of Ice and Sky Check out Buddy's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Nosferatu: The Consequence of Repression 1:46:01

8M ago1:46:01

1:46:01

Nosferatu. Raymond returns. Henry takes the mic. Join the crew as they talk the merits of this adaptation, the messages around desire and sexuality, viewing this film as a western, and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! https://youtube.com/@wisecrack_2 Follow us on Twitter! @a…

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Patrick Winn on Drug Empires, Burma, The Wa State, and the DEA vs. the CIA 39:49

8M ago39:49

39:49

Send us a text Let's investigate a drug empire! Journalist Patrick Winn joins me to discuss Narcotopia: In Search of the Asian Drug Cartel That Survived the CIA. It's as wild as you expect. Come listen! Buy Narcotopia Check out Patrick's website Support the showBy Brendan Dowd

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Dune: Part Two - Is Revolution In Art Possible? 1:49:09

8M ago1:49:09

1:49:09

Lisan al-Gaib! Austin and Raymond get into Dune: Part Two this week! How much of this film is aesthetic versus substance? What does it say about power structures in our mythos? Does this film oversimplify revolution? Join us as we ask those questions! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREAM every Tuesday at 5 PM PST on the Wisecrack 2 channel! htt…

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Mark Galeotti Returns to Talk the Wars of Russian History, Putin's Historical Inaccuracy, and the Charm of The Great 39:17

8M ago39:17

39:17

Send us a text Let's jump into the forge! Mark Galeotti returns to talk his newest book, Forged In War: A Military History of Russia From Its Beginnings to Today. We talk wars, Putin, and how much we both enjoyed the Hulu series The Great! Come listen! Buy Forged in War Read his blog and Listen to his podcast In Moscow's Shadow Support the show…

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Covering Our Best Films of 2024 1:48:41

8M ago1:48:41

1:48:41

Happy New Year! Austin and Raymond get into their best films of 2024. What makes a film a "best" film? Was it your experience of watching the film? The performances? The craft? Because it was made by Sean Baker? And stick around until the end for our best performances of the year! Here are the films we get into! Raymond's Top 5: I Saw the TV Glow F…

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The Wild Robot: Technology Will Not Save Us 1:40:12

9M ago1:40:12

1:40:12

Roz! Today we cover The Wild Robot (dir Chris Sanders)! We get into narrative issues that both give this movie colonial undertones and undermine the themes it's trying to explore, the robotic emotional journey it takes the audience on, some philosophy on technology and the hierarchy of life - and more! Enjoy! Join the SHOW ME THE MEANING! LIVESTREA…

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Elizabeth Reese talks the Return of American Revolution Hero the Marquis de Lafayette 34:13

9M ago34:13

34:13

Send us a text Let's welcome back the Marquis! Elizabeth Reese joins me to discuss her book Marquis de Lafayette Returns: A Tour of America's National Capital Region. I finally found someone to nerd out with about my favorite Frenchman. Come listen! Buy Marquis de Lafayette Returns Check out Elizabeth's website Support the show…